Select Board hears update on front-end loader warrant; purchase may be refined before town meeting

The Select Board discussed options for replacing the town’s front-end loader and instructed staff to continue gathering information so the warrant can be amended before town meeting if a preferred machine is identified.

Wayne reported he has exhausted options to repair the town’s older loader and presented multiple quotes and a recent local offering. The warrant currently carries an “up to” number of roughly $190,000 to cover potential quotes; the board used a high placeholder amount to keep options open.

Wayne said a local machine owner offered a used Komatsu and invited town personnel to inspect and test-run it. The board also has a quote for a newer John Deere with about 271 hours; Wayne said he would check whether that used John Deere includes a warranty. Wayne suggested that waiting about two months could yield lease-return inventory and possible better deals when dealers unload machines after the winter season.

The board asked Wayne to return with a recommendation, pros and cons for any preferred machine, and said members could amend the warrant amount before town meeting if they agree on a specific purchase.

Why it matters: The loader purchase is listed on the warrant for town approval and could require amending the warrant’s maximum if the board selects a specific machine and price before the vote.

What’s next: Public-works staff will inspect the local used machine, compare quotes (including warranty information), and present a recommendation to the Select Board in time to adjust the warrant if desired.