Trustees authorized staff to apply for an ACOG regrant to fund replacement and repair of the town's aging fire hydrants. The motion was made during the meeting and passed by voice vote.
Trustees discussed the scope and cost of hydrant work. One estimate reported during the meeting showed roughly $6,500 per hydrant for a full replacement; trustees estimated that 10 hydrants would cost about $65,000 and 20 about $130,000. A board member also cited a planning figure of roughly $230,000 to replace all hydrants, but noted the grant maximum the town could reasonably pursue would be approximately $150,000, which could cover a substantial portion of the work. Trustees discussed volume discounts if the town grouped multiple replacements in a single contract.
The board instructed staff to solicit bids for hydrant replacement and repairs, and to hold a special meeting to approve contracts or accept awarded grant funds prior to the grant deadline. Trustees noted that some newer hydrants already exist in town but that other hydrants showed age and needed either replacement or repair to meet service expectations.
The motion to pursue the ACOG regrant passed by voice vote; the clerk recorded that staff will prepare bid solicitations and return to the board for final approval if a grant is awarded.