Phillipsburg Council's Approval on Near $450K for Six New Town Vehicles Scrutinized

PHILLIPSBURG, N.J.---Town council's approval Wednesday on spending just over $450,000 for six new 2024 trucks for both the public works and the fire department brought questions and comments from several councilmen and close attention being paid by residents attending the meeting.

Mayor Randy Piazza, Jr. explained the large expenditure for six town vehicles will be paid for out of special earmarked capital reserve funds approved through  several past town budgets providing for the purchase of new town trucks.

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Council President Peter Marino along with the mayor pointed out several currently in-use trucks have been repaired continuously over the years, and further repairs on rusted bodies, equipment, and specialty parts can no longer be addressed by public works employees.

Mayor Piazza noted as a result of winter road saltings and the vehicles' age increasing body rust is prevelant and the time has come for replacement. He mentioned the town has a 2005 truck still in its fleet.

Our vehicles haven't been rotated in and out in years," Marino said.

Objecting to the purchases, Councilman Keith Kennedy commented, "They say (council, admin) they don't know how they're going to afford new signs for the recently revised and approved truck routes in town, but they are willing to approve buying six trucks all at the same time."

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His solution would be to buy two trucks per year for the next six years, he said.

According to the proposa l, the prices for the other five vehicles (Ford F 350 and 450 trucks, pickups, and a dump truck) to be used for snow plowing, street projects, hauling, and other public works endeavors cost on average just over $68k each.

"Six vehicles is alot to buy in just one year," he remarked, however he did approve the purchase of a Ford F350 4X4 pickup red fire truck for just under $57K.

The vehicles will be purchased from Ciocca Ford of Flemington through the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council.

In other business, council approved the renaming of Frank Kneedler Avenue in town to Richard Williams Way. Introduced by Councilman Matthew Scerbo for a change, the renaming remained consistent with town values.

"The town now has a different dynamic, and the lack of a name change to Kneedler Avenue is a disservice to our community", Scerbo remarked.

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