NORWICH - On Tuesday the City of Norwich Common Council approved the purchase of four new heart monitors for roughly $140,000 using moneys leftover from the 2018 budget.

The city council unanimously approved the purchase of four Zoll X Series Unit heart monitors following extensive discussion regarding how many new units needed to be purchased and if leasing was a viable option.

City EMS personnel have been using the same heart monitors since 2005, said Norwich Fire Chief Jan Papelino, units that are no longer being made and are considered obsolete. The department asked for four new units - one for each of its ambulances - to replace the old ones.

"There's just so much more technology out there than there was 14 years ago," said Papelino. "The bottom line is they're going to save lives. You can't put a price on the difference between the two and the lives they can save."

City of Norwich Alderman Ward 1 Matthew Caldwell said before approving the purchase the council deliberated whether the purchase of just two heart monitors would suffice, if the city should consider leasing, and if it should look into a financing package through a local bank as opposed to outright purchasing them.