Somersworth council fast-tracks $249,000 sidewalk tractor purchase, authorizes five-year lease

The Somersworth City Council voted Jan. 6 to buy a new Holder sidewalk tractor for up to $249,000 and to enter a five-year lease-purchase agreement to finance the cost.

Councilors said the city lost one of two sidewalk tractors after a major engine failure during a December storm, leaving staff with one aging unit and a skid steer that covers only a portion of the system. The purchase and lease were presented as a way to accelerate a replacement already planned for the 2025–26 capital program.

Finance and public works chairs told the council staff had considered repairing the 2010 unit (estimated repair $20,000–$30,000), buying a used tractor (around $40,000), or leasing a unit for winter at roughly $3,000–$4,000 per month. The committees recommended buying a new, commercial-grade Holder model because the city’s existing implements fit the Holder platform and the replacement was already scheduled for the coming fiscal year.

“After all the deliberations finance committee supports moving forward with the purchase of a new Holder sidewalk tractor,” Councilor David A. Witham, who chairs finance and public works discussions, said during committee reports.

Councilors debated whether fast-tracking the purchase saved money versus renting for a short period. Witham said the vote moves the timetable up roughly six months and noted the purchase will be structured as a lease purchase, spreading payments over five years. The city manager told councilors the city would use available cash to buy the machine immediately and then be reimbursed from the lease-purchase proceeds.

Resolution 30-25 authorized contracting with Chadwick Baross of Concord, N.H., to buy a 2024 Holder C775 sidewalk tractor for an amount not to exceed $249,000. Resolution 31-25 authorized the manager to sign the tax-exempt lease-purchase agreement and the related reimbursement declarations required by federal tax rules.

Councilors moved and seconded the motions in public session and then approved both resolutions by roll-call vote. The council also agreed to suspend council rules to allow second readings the same night so the purchase could proceed without waiting for another meeting.

The new unit will carry the city’s existing snowblower, plow and sanding attachments; staff also plan to buy a roadside mower with an articulating arm as part of the purchase package. Staff said the vendor inventory is limited and that lead times and availability informed the decision to act now.

The purchase and lease documents direct the manager to take any actions necessary to complete the transactions; councilors said they expect the city to monitor vendor performance and ensure proper warranty and delivery terms.

Council vote: Resolutions 30-25 (purchase) and 31-25 (lease-purchase) were adopted unanimously.

The council’s action concludes the immediate procurement step; councilors said further budget and operational details will be reflected in the finance office’s reporting and the FY26 budget, where the replacement had been planned.