Common Council Tables Police, Fire Study

ONEONTA

Though the completed study of the Oneonta Fire Department’s equipment was on the table, Common Council decided early tonight to table a motion that would bring the Center for Public Safety Management back to the city to put together a comprehensive analysis of police, fire and EMS needs.

“I remain opposed to this,” said Council Member Mike Lynch, Fourth Ward. “Mayor Miller had us looking at how other communities address these needs constantly.  Why would we pay some outsider to tell us what we already know?”

“We’ve been arguing about this for years,” countered Council Member Dave Rissberger, third ward.  “They have a history of looking at things objectively, and we need to know how many cops, how many fire trucks, are enough.”

Murphy had recommended the study in addition to the Center’s analysis of the fire trucks, which recommended replacing the brush truck and 1987 aeriel apparatus ladder truck. However, the cost of the new study, which would be split between police and fire departments, drew concerns of repeating studies and wasting taxpayer dollars.

“I’d rather take that $84,000 and put another cop on the street,” said Lynch.

The decision was ultimately held for later discussion.  “We need to really think about this,” said Mayor Russ Southard.  “If we do this study and it comes back that we need three or four more police officers, are we ready to do that?”