The Town of Woodstock Select Board approved purchasing a replacement backhoe after the public works department reported the current backhoe’s transmission had failed and the department was renting a machine. Board members discussed repair versus replacement, capital‑reserve balances and payment options; a motion to accept the proposed purchase carried.

Public works asked the board to replace the machine because repair would cost an estimated $20,000. Board members discussed using $13,000 held in the capital reserve toward a purchase and making the remaining payment after the town’s next investment in the reserve or via vendor financing. One member said the town had $13,000 short in the capital reserve if they paid for a full replacement now; another said the vendor offered trade and deferred payment options including taking the old machine in trade and allowing payment next year.

A board member summarized the commerce: the vendor would take the old backhoe in trade and apply roughly $20,000 toward the new machine; leasing options were considered but the board favored paying cash from the capital reserve and then replenishing the reserve later. The board also discussed temporary rental arrangements — the vendor would provide a machine to use until delivery of the replacement.

A motion to proceed with the purchase was made and seconded; the board voted in favor. Members asked staff to finalize specifications (the board referenced a comparable John Deere model during discussion) and to work out the trade‑in and payment schedule with the vendor.

Clarifying technical and budget points from the discussion:
- Current backhoe: transmission failure; an estimated repair cost cited at $20,000 (presented to the board as an estimate).
- Capital reserve: board members said roughly $13,000 was available short of full replacement cost; members discussed not drawing the reserve to zero.
- Vendor offer: trade‑in allowance and the option to pay next year were discussed; the vendor would deliver a temporary machine to use until the new unit arrives.

The board moved to enter nonpublic session later in the meeting for unrelated matters; the backhoe purchase decision was conducted in public and recorded as an approved action.