Township eyes new fire chief vehicle

[Cranbury Press]

Township eyes new fire chief vehicle

By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
Posted: Thursday, July 31, 2008 2:30 PM EDT

CRANBURY — The Township Committee has let it be known that future municipal vehicle purchases will be based on energy efficiency.

This announcement came after the township’s fire official put in an order for a sport utility vehicle.

The committee took the approximately $28,000 vehicle expense off the bill list at a July 14 meeting and then decided to add it back on at its July 21 meeting after learning the duties of the fire officials would require an SUV, said Township Administrator Christine Smeltzer.

”The fire official has to lug a lot of items around,” Ms. Smeltzer said.

The committee said it would purchase a Dodge Durango, but that the focus for future vehicle purchases will be fuel efficiency.

”It’s important to figure out all the ways to save energy and use less gas, which is a limited resource,” Ms. Smeltzer said. “I think the charge for this coming year in fall will be to look at all the vehicles.”

According to 2007 data, the township spent approximately $66,000 on gas for municipal vehicles last year, said Christine Smeltzer. Of that, the fire official used only about $80 worth of gas, she said.

”That (SUV) is going to last for a very long time,” Ms. Smeltzer said.
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http://www.packetonline.com/articles/2008/08/02/cranbury_press/news/doc4891ff09b1921868639830.prt