While the borough of North Catasauqua has an all-volunteer fire department, emergency services have not come without a high price tag.

In a split vote, North Catasauqua Borough Council approved the future purchase of a fire truck that will cost the borough more than $600,000.

Reeling from sticker shock and questioning the ability of the borough to come up with the funding when it will be needed, council members Cherie Gebhardt and Michelle Hazzard voted to oppose the purchase.

In favor of the truck purchase were council President Joe Keglovits and council members Shawn McGinley, Michael Seng and William McGinley. Absent from the meeting was councilman John Yanek. Both McGinleys are volunteer firefighters; Shawn is president of the Charotin Hose Company, the social and fundraising arm of the borough fire department.

The truck proposed for purchase by the fire department is manufactured by Rosenbauer Firefighting Technology, a company based in Wyoming, Minn. The model proposed for purchase positions the aerial apparatus extension ladder by a remote-control device so a firefighter can monitor and control the ladder movement from the ground.

The truck is designed to maneuver on narrow streets with limited space, to maintain stability when the ladder is in use and to be controlled by a small firefighting crew, all attributes that make it attractive to the borough's volunteer firefighters.

Shawn McGinley supports the purchase because, he said, the high-tech equipment makes is possible for the small fire department to respond more quickly and efficiently with a smaller response team, as the number of volunteers has dwindled in recent years.

In discussion before the vote, McGinley said if the council voted to approve the purchase of the new truck, the fire company would advertise the current fire engine for sale.

Fire Chief Francis Hadik estimated the old truck, a 1993 Spartan/Darley pumper truck, would bring in about $50,000.

McGinley said the specs of the new customized truck are currently being refined. It's under $600,000 now, but the price is not yet locked in, as additional specs are to be added. He said the final cost could go up to $610,000.

"We're selling a 20-year-old truck and replacing it with a unique, multifunctional vehicle," he said.

Keglovits, while reluctant to face the high cost of the new truck, supported the purchase. The truck would not be completed and delivered until the latter part of 2013 and payment could be deferred until the middle of 2014.

A lengthy discussion ensued about the logistics of budgeting money from the general fund and the special projects fund and also paying back money borrowed in recent years from the borough's sewer fund.

Keglovits proposed borrowing a total of $1 million in order to buy the truck and have $400,000 for borough road projects as well. He argued that interest loan rates are very low now, something that is not likely to be true if the purchase is delayed until next year.

Gebhardt made a plea for putting off the vote until Councilman John Yanek could be present.

"This is too important a vote not to have everybody present on council," she said.

She was also concerned that the old truck might not sell for Hadik's $50,000 estimate and said shrinking fire department personnel availability should not be a reason for increasing spending on emergency equipment.

"We can't even afford a new police officer at $30,000," she said.

William McGinley countered that a new police officer will cost the borough more than the entry-level salary of that person, a cost that caused the council to delay approval on a new officer until later this year.

Keglovits made a lengthy statement on his reasons for supporting the truck purchase.

"Do I like to spend $600,000? No," he said.

He said he supports the purchase because it can be operated by fewer people and because he thinks the borough can work out the money issues.

"I am not a fireman," he said. "I saw what that equipment can do, with an operator on the ground [using a remote control]. The big issue is, could we afford the truck."

He said the low interest rates available now and the deferred payment offered by the dealer make it a good deal.

"If I had a fire at my house, I certainly would hope we would have the manpower and the best equipment available to fight it," he said.

Gebhardt said she was against the purchase.

"As an elected official, it is our duty that we are not constantly taking out loans," she said. "I love the truck. I just don't think we should do this today."

William McGinley characterized the loan as "controlled debt," and indicated it is unrealistic to expect to pay cash for major purchases.

When asked for her opinion, Hazzard said she felt the vote should wait until all council members could be present.

Seng withheld comment until the vote, when he added his support for the purchase.

The approval was for a truck purchase of no more than $612,000 once the final details are designed, to be purchased through the COSTARS program.