By : EMILY OPILO
Source : http://www.ydr.com
Category : Smll Business Grant
York's firefighters will breathe a little easier in 2012 thanks to a federal grant that will fund ventilation systems in the city's fire stations.
York City Council approved a $117,800 grant from FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security Tuesday night. The funding, which will include a $11,780 city match, will be used to install diesel exhaust systems in three of the city's four stations.
Several of York's fire stations, including Rex/Laurel on South Duke Street and Goodwill on East Market Street, were built for horse-drawn or even hand-pumped fire apparatus. As a result, the stations have no ventilation for the diesel exhaust that gathers inside as firefighters enter and exit or run checks on the city's fleet of fire vehicles.
In 2011, the city budgeted the money to install a ventilation system at one of the city's stations -- the Vigilant Station on West Market Street -- with plans to purchase one additional system each year. But funding wasn't available in the 2012 budget, and plans were delayed.
With the help of the grant, the city will be able to outfit all of the stations faster than expected, said Deputy Chief David Michaels.
"It's a commitment to the health and safety of our firefighters," he said. "We have people in those older buildings round the clock."
The city will have a year to install the systems, Michaels said. The components can be transferred to a new station should the city decide to build one as has been proposed in the past, he said.
The grant program has been in place since 2001, but this is the first time that York has received any funding, Michaels said.
Members of city council commended the fire department for seeking out the grant.
"It sounds like we were getting this one way or the other down the road here," Councilman Michael Helfrich said. "So now instead of paying $120,000 for it, we're paying $12,000 for it."
In other news: Council authorized a contract with The Waters Consulting Group to do a comprehensive study of the compensation, classification and benefits of all city employees. The contract is not to exceed $76,650.
The study will ensure that employees with the same level of qualifications are receiving equal pay, said city Business Administrator Michael O'Rourke. The results of the study will be useful when the city begins renegotiating its union contracts in 2012, he said.
Source : http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_19762071
Source : http://www.ydr.com
Category : Smll Business Grant
York's firefighters will breathe a little easier in 2012 thanks to a federal grant that will fund ventilation systems in the city's fire stations.
York City Council approved a $117,800 grant from FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security Tuesday night. The funding, which will include a $11,780 city match, will be used to install diesel exhaust systems in three of the city's four stations.
Several of York's fire stations, including Rex/Laurel on South Duke Street and Goodwill on East Market Street, were built for horse-drawn or even hand-pumped fire apparatus. As a result, the stations have no ventilation for the diesel exhaust that gathers inside as firefighters enter and exit or run checks on the city's fleet of fire vehicles.
In 2011, the city budgeted the money to install a ventilation system at one of the city's stations -- the Vigilant Station on West Market Street -- with plans to purchase one additional system each year. But funding wasn't available in the 2012 budget, and plans were delayed.
With the help of the grant, the city will be able to outfit all of the stations faster than expected, said Deputy Chief David Michaels.
"It's a commitment to the health and safety of our firefighters," he said. "We have people in those older buildings round the clock."
The city will have a year to install the systems, Michaels said. The components can be transferred to a new station should the city decide to build one as has been proposed in the past, he said.
The grant program has been in place since 2001, but this is the first time that York has received any funding, Michaels said.
Members of city council commended the fire department for seeking out the grant.
"It sounds like we were getting this one way or the other down the road here," Councilman Michael Helfrich said. "So now instead of paying $120,000 for it, we're paying $12,000 for it."
In other news: Council authorized a contract with The Waters Consulting Group to do a comprehensive study of the compensation, classification and benefits of all city employees. The contract is not to exceed $76,650.
The study will ensure that employees with the same level of qualifications are receiving equal pay, said city Business Administrator Michael O'Rourke. The results of the study will be useful when the city begins renegotiating its union contracts in 2012, he said.
Source : http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_19762071
