Puslinch council’s lame duck status has not prevented it from approving the purchase of a new pumper truck for the township’s fire department.
On Nov. 3 council unanimously approved the purchase of a $254,900 “suction tanker” from Carrier Centres, of Woodstock. The price includes the cost of the actual unit and a $5,000 hose tray.
“It’s a little cheaper because it is a demo,” Fire Chief Robert Gordon told council. He added members of the department are “very impressed” with the truck’s capabilities, especially its “very fast” loading time.
Under the Municipal Act, any outgoing councils that will not include 75% of the new council are considered “lame ducks.” Since Puslinch council will only have one returning member, it is unable to:
– appoint or remove from office any officer of the municipality;
– hire or dismiss township employees;
– sell municipal property with a value greater than $50,000; or
– make any expenditures or incur any other liability exceeding $50,000.
However, the latter two restrictions do not apply to expenditures already included in the annual budget, as long as the amount of the tender does not exceed the budgeted amount. Council included $310,500 in the 2010 budget for capital expenditures for the fire department, including $250,000 for the new tanker. While the total bill does exceed that amount, clerk Brenda Law explained the actual amount for the truck – $249,900 – is less than the budgeted amount and the $5,000 for the hose tray is a separate item.
