Council committees authorize $225,000 budget amendment to buy four pickup trucks for Scribe Water District operations

The Fiscal Service and Administrative Services committees authorized a $225,000 budget amendment to purchase four pickup trucks for use in the Scribe Water District.

The amendment, described as a change to the "source of power and pumping equipment" account, was presented by Craig Rebbior, Commissioner of Public Works and Parks and Recreation. Rebbior said the trucks are part of a tentative operating agreement under which the city will operate Scribe’s water system in New Haven and Lowney and that Scribe will pay for the vehicles as part of its payments to the city. "It takes time to get them," Rebbior said of acquiring the vehicles, explaining the city expects a three- to nine-month lead time for delivery and that a follow-up amendment will cover outfitting the trucks with toolboxes, beacon lights and safety items.

Committee members asked questions and then voted to approve the authorization. Councilors voting yes included Plunkett, Burridge, Allen, Venucci and Walton (recorded on the committee roll). The committees recorded a motion to move the authorization forward to the full council for final approval.

Why it matters: The trucks are a capital cost tied to the city's prospective operations contract with Scribe Water District and will be funded by payments from Scribe, not by a new local tax levy.

Implementation: The city expects to complete a second, smaller amendment to outfit the vehicles once they are procured. Rebbior said the contract establishing operations is nearly finalized and will be brought to the council for signature.