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Middletown authorizes up to $15,000 transfer for garbage truck repairs, board urges citywide maintenance tracking
Summary
The board approved a transfer of funds to repair a 2017 garbage truck and members urged starting a citywide vehicle maintenance tracking system after members raised concerns that recent repairs appeared to be reactive rather than preventive.
The Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorized a transfer within a department budget of $15,000 to cover unforeseen repairs to a 2017 Ford garbage truck, including oil-pan and injector-seal repairs and an alignment after new tires.
The presiding officer introduced the item, saying the transfer covered “an unforeseen repair to the 2017 Ford garbage truck” and citing prior repair work described in the transcript. A board member asked what maintenance records are kept per vehicle and whether the city has a system assigning responsibility for periodic maintenance rather than waiting for breakdowns. Another member said a formal system should be started citywide.
The motion to transfer funds was put forward and seconded; the presiding officer called for a voice vote and members responded in the affirmative. The transcript records an estimate for additional repairs at about $12,000 for alignment and related work and a requested transfer of $15,000 to cover the expense.
Board members stressed administrative follow-up: one said, “That is something that should definitely be started for each vehicle,” and another called for an internal note to begin citywide maintenance tracking, because some issues “seem like they might have been just negligent maintenance.” No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting; the board approved the transfer and directed staff to note the need for a maintenance program.
The record does not include a detailed maintenance schedule, vendor names beyond references to prior repairs, or an inventory listing; board members asked staff to start tracking maintenance by vehicle going forward.
