Warwick Fire Department seeks $264K for CECOM radio alarm system upgrade

The Warwick City Council convened on July 7, 2025, to discuss several key agenda items, primarily focusing on the fire department's request for funding and the purchase of new vehicles for public works.

The meeting began with Assistant Chief Ben Howard presenting a request for a 60-56-6 exception to bid for the purchase and installation of a CECOM radio fire alarm reporting system. The fire department is seeking an award to Signal Communications of Wilburn, Massachusetts, for $264,781, which will be funded from the capital expenditures for fiscal year 2026. This upgrade is essential for the city's fire alarm communication system, which serves approximately 1,000 municipal fire alarm receiving stations. The project is part of a larger initiative to relocate the dispatch center to Station 10, requiring additional equipment to ensure proper functionality.

Chief Howard noted that the capital budget had allocated $300,000 for this project, with an additional antenna system still pending. The council discussed the sole-source nature of the provider, SIGCOM, which holds proprietary equipment for the system. The chief emphasized the reliability of the service, stating that maintenance costs have been minimal over the past three years.

Following the fire department's request, the council moved on to discuss the purchase of four Chevy 3,500 heavy-duty pickups for public works. The vehicles, priced at $61,000 each, are intended for the road crew and inspectors. The council questioned the cost differences between these pickups and other utility vehicles, with Director Christie explaining that the pickups do not include additional utility bodies, which significantly increases the price.

The discussion included the assignment of vehicles to specific employees and the operational flexibility required during snow events. Council members expressed concerns about the necessity of heavy-duty vehicles for inspectors, with Director Christie clarifying that the vehicles must be capable of navigating off-road construction sites.

The council ultimately voted on the public works vehicle purchase, with a motion for favorable action. The vote resulted in a tie, with two members in favor and two opposed, prompting the council president to call for a recess to further discuss the matter.

The meeting concluded with the council reconvening to address additional agenda items, indicating ongoing discussions about city operations and budget allocations. The council's next steps will involve further deliberation on the vehicle purchases and the fire department's funding requests.