Commission approves CT 55 50 compact tractor shredder after staff cite equipment shortfalls

Commissioner (unnamed) moved and the commission seconded approval of a CT 55 50 compact tractor shredder, quoted at $51,004.92, to address equipment shortfalls that staff said are preventing routine maintenance of city fields and properties.

Public works staff (Speaker 2) told commissioners that buying smaller zero-turn mowers would not solve the problem and risked damaging fields. "Each one's 13 to $15,000. I don't think that's the way you guys wanna go ... it'd be more costly than, just getting proper equipment for it," the staff member said, describing a scenario in which three $15,000 mowers would total about $45,000 and still not meet the department’s needs.

Commissioner (unnamed) said approving the compact tractor would allow crews to do the work asked of them. "So that being said, we're gonna go ahead. We're going to approve the CT 55 50 compact tractor shredder," the commissioner said during the meeting.

Staff also asked the commission to authorize seeking an extension on the vendor quote to allow more time for review and budgeting; the commission agreed to have staff attempt to secure the extension. The transcript records a second and indicates the motion was carried, but it does not record a roll-call tally or named votes.

The discussion took place amid broader budget review concerns: staff and commissioners repeatedly raised questions about the draft budget lines, encumbrances and vacant positions during the same meeting. Commissioners asked staff to return with clarified budget numbers and noted that additional approvals or adjustments may be required if the equipment purchase must be charged to this fiscal year’s budget.

For record: the motion language in the meeting was to approve purchase of the CT 55 50 compact tractor shredder; staff were also directed to request a quote extension from the vendor.