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Public Works budget review highlights salt, staffing and vehicle choices amid hiring constraints
Summary
Councilors and public works staff discussed salt and brine use, rising striping and crosswalk costs, large swings in internet and phone charges for departmental sites, and long‑running concerns about diesel versus gasoline fleet costs and vehicle maintenance.
The council spent substantial time on Public Works’ proposed 2026 budget, focusing on winter operations, fleet costs, staffing and capital needs.
Chris (public works staff) explained the town uses a molasses‑based brine mixed with salt to reduce required tonnage and truck wear, and that recent winters drive large year‑to‑year swings in salt and mailbox repair costs. He said the salt budget is set using a three‑year average of tonnage and the current supplier is procured through a cooperative arrangement (GPOG).
Fleet and maintenance questions drew extended comment. Councilor Ronald Copp urged the town to prefer gasoline engines for one‑ton and smaller trucks, citing higher purchase and maintenance costs for diesels and frequent diesel service issues; Chris said recent vehicle replacements include at least one gas pickup and that a gas replacement is planned in the CIP. Councilors asked staff to consider lifecycle and total‑cost analyses when scheduling replacements.
Contracted services: public works staff said contracted snow plowing costs rose under new bids and that the town has seen fewer contractors available for municipal routes. Staff noted the town retains a small contracted route with a single reliable operator but that market dynamics and labor shortages may require different arrangements in future years.
Operational details: councilors asked about the wash bay’s water usage (it is used to rinse undercarriages and reduce corrosion) and whether some pavement striping and crosswalk work could be done in‑house versus contracted; staff said striping costs rose because some crosswalks required multiple applications and added pavement markings. Councilors requested an estimate for a flashing crosswalk at Route 9 and Carroll Lane because of observed pedestrian safety concerns.
Staffing and regionalization: councilors and staff discussed hiring challenges for equipment operators and the potential for greater regional cooperation with neighboring towns for specialized equipment and services. Staff described prior and ongoing conversations with neighboring communities about shared resources.
Ending: councilors asked that staff provide more granular backup on particularly large line changes (internet, uniforms and striping) and to return with options on vehicle procurement, lifecycle costs and possible regional service arrangements.
