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DPW reports on winter operations, agrees to relist dump truck and to start dam study procurement
Summary
Public Works updated the board on salt and sand stocks and winter operations, discussed nonworking neighborhood streetlights, agreed to relist an old dump truck with a $7,000 start and authorized staff to seek an RFQ for study/design work on the Swansea Lake dam.
Public Works Director provided a multi‑topic operations update, covering winter materials, aging equipment, neighborhood streetlights, and dam planning.
Salt and sand: DPW staff said a long‑stored wet stockpile had been cleared and the town now has a usable stockpile — roughly 400 tons on hand, with routine use of 35–45 tons per winter operation — and that budget and stock from the prior year helped absorb demand during recent storms. Staff explained that sand is used on dirt roads and selectively on paved roads when temperatures make salt ineffective.
Streetlights in Perry Lane area: staff reported approximately eight or nine streetlights in a Perry Lane development are not functioning. Those fixtures were originally maintained by a condo association that disbanded; Eversource offered to remove the nonworking fixtures for free, or the town could assume replacement costs (roughly $400 per pole for replacement, plus ongoing electric charges). The board directed staff to consult the town attorney and notify residents before removing lights if no private association responsibility is established.
Dump truck sale/trade: the board discussed a municipal auction for an older International dump truck that received no bids at a $10,000 starting price. Gordon Services offered $7,000 as a trade for equipment and materials; the board indicated consensus in favor of relisting the truck at $7,000 on the municipal auction platform and authorized DPW to negotiate a trade if that provides value for DPW projects. The board asked staff to re‑post and allow additional time for bids.
Swansea Lake dam: DPW recommended issuing an RFQ to select a design engineer to study deficiencies at the Swansea Lake dam and develop solutions; the board asked staff to start that procurement so the process is underway.
Why it matters: the items affect daily public works capability, winter safety on town roads, neighborhood services and the town’s equipment inventory; the dam study begins a process that could require later capital investment and regulatory interaction.
