NORWICH — The City of Norwich Fire Department is considering buying a new ladder truck after learning there was one available for sale in Fayetteville.

The price of the rig is $385,000, according to Norwich Fire Chief Jan Papelino, which is a staggering comparison to the price of brand new ladder trucks, which he said clock in around $1.149 million.

Fayetteville and Manlius will be shelling out the cost for brand new trucks, however, as part of their new municipal agreement.

"Manlius and Fayetteville has entered into a municipal agreement where basically they respond to each other's calls when, you know, especially if it's a fire call. And as part of their municipal agreement they've decided to buy two brand new ladder trucks, and two brand new engines," said Papelino. "Altogether it's about a $4 million deal."

He added that Chief Jansen Casscles of the Manlius Fire Department informed the Norwich Fire Department of their newly available 2006 Pierce brand ladder truck, and he has held off advertising it in case the NFD is interested.

Papelino traveled to Fayetteville to look the truck over, and that it is "in exceptionally good shape,” and has "had excellent care."

"They've got dragging courts down behind their station that them and their police department utilize. So we took it down there and ran it through some paces. And then one of their firefighters took us and drove us up and down some of the bigger hills in Fayetteville," he said. "It's a nice truck."

While the NFD already has a ladder truck, a 1994 Pierce, Papelino said it would cost around $139,000 to refurbish it. Also taking into consideration the age of the truck, he said it is simply not worth the cost.

"In two years that truck's gonna be 30 years old. And it's just, you know, we just decided it's just not worth putting in that much money," he said.

Instead, the NFD would sell the old truck once it is replaced.

"I'm gonna say 70 to 75 [thousand dollars] I think we could get out of it," Papelino said.

Ladder trucks are especially useful for structure fires, Papelino said, and are usually the second rig out the door when firefighters are responding to a call.

"It goes on house fires. I mean typically we like it to be, especially if it’s in the city, we like it to be the second piece out the door. Because if it’s not, typically if you have a supply engine coming in second, they’re gonna lay a supply line for engine four and you can’t get it in then. So we try to have it be the second piece out the door on any structure fire," said Papelino.

Alderman Robert Jeffrey spoke to that as well, highlighting the need for a reliable ladder truck.

"We have one of the four aerial trucks in Chenango County. So if we don't have that, a lot of these second and third story businesses that are located in the city directly, or just outside, would be in a tough, tough spot," he said.

Other council members were also supportive of the purchase. Alderwoman Nancy Allaire called it a "no-brainer."

"I think it would be crazy not to pursue this," said Alderman Matthew Caldwell. "I really think you know what you're doing."

Papelino emphasized the need to take advantage of opportunities such as this one, as the NFD will never be able to spend over a million dollars on one single truck.

"We'll never buy another new one at that kind of expense. So you know, we continually look for good, used equipment that would meet the needs of the city and the taxpayers for, you know, 15 to 20 years, and cost a fraction of 1.149 million," he said. "When you find something like this, something that's of exceptional value, you gotta strike while the iron's hot."

The decision on whether or not to purchase the truck will be made at the upcoming common council meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, August 17.