Red Hook delays highway truck purchase pending procurement confirmation

The Red Hook Town Board discussed a planned purchase to replace an aging highway truck on May 13 and directed staff to confirm procurement compliance before finalizing the purchase.

Highway Superintendent Theresa (first name only in the record) told the board she had followed up with the vendor and provided pricing and manufacturer documentation. She warned that lead times are long: "it takes 6 to 9 months to get the truck," she said. Town staff also noted a procurement question about whether the town could piggyback on an existing county or state contract; if the awarded contract did not cover the specific truck model, the town could not piggyback and would need a separate procurement.

Board members said they were generally supportive of the replacement but asked staff to verify that the dealer and quoted price conform to the town's procurement rules before the next meeting. The board listed May 28 as a possible date to finalize action if procurement compliance can be confirmed.

No formal vote to purchase the vehicle was taken at the May 13 meeting; the board's direction was procedural: confirm procurement compliance and return with documentation at the next meeting.