It was an unusual situation but Centre Wellington council agreed in its committee of the whole meeting May 25 to purchase firefighting equipment from a volunteer firefighter.
Fire Chief Brad Patton recommended that the township buy the equipment, a bunker gear drier, from H&R Machinery, which is owned by Fergus station firefighter Jamie Hiller. The cost of the gear is $2,250.00 plus applicable taxes.
Patton pointed out the gear is included in this year’s fire department budget “and the price quoted is well within the budgeted amount.”
But, he noted, the township’s purchasing bylaw states, “No service or supply shall be purchased from any employee of the corporation or member of council without the express authority from Council.”
Patton added, “The Fire Department has reviewed, compared, and priced other units which are also built locally, and feel that the bunker gear dryer offered by H&R Machinery is best suited to meet the department’s needs.
Given that report, council approved the purchase.
