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Health department requests one vehicle replacement as older cars reach end of service
Summary
Health staff requested replacement of one aging department vehicle (two similar units in fleet) after DPW advised retirement; the committee asked staff to confirm vehicle specifications and available procurement options.
Kayla Smith, the town’s public-health agent, asked the Capital Improvement Planning Committee on Jan. 22 for funding to replace one of two aging health‑department vehicles purchased around 2009.
Kayla said the vehicles are roughly 16 years old and that DPW staff advised the cars should be retired. The health department asked to replace one vehicle now and consider replacing the second later; mileage on the current vehicles is moderate (about 70,000 miles) because they are primarily used for in‑town travel. Kayla said the replacement would likely be a Ford Explorer with LED highway lights added to improve visibility during roadside inspections; the lights added approximately $300 to an estimated quote.
Committee members asked DPW to confirm the mechanical condition and whether alternative vehicle models on the municipal contracts list (for example, Chevrolet Tahoe) might be more cost‑effective. Members asked staff to provide DPW’s written justification for retirement and explore pricing on the state contract or municipal cooperative purchasing list before finalizing a recommendation. No formal funding action was taken Jan. 22.
