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Council removes $18,907 plow charge from warrant and urges stronger procurement oversight
Summary
After questioning why a $18,907 plow purchase appeared on the town warrant without prior board approval, Council member Barbara Bukowski successfully moved to remove the line item; the board directed staff to produce procurement documentation and to discuss policy enforcement at an upcoming department-head meeting.
Council member Barbara Bukowski moved on March 25 to amend the consent warrant and remove a Viking Clive invoice for $18,907.40 for highway plow equipment, saying she could not find a prior board resolution approving the purchase and citing Town Highway Law and the town's procurement policy as grounds for concern.
Bukowski said the purchase exceeded the $1,000 threshold that requires board approval and asked highway staff to explain. Highway Superintendent Rick told the board the plows were associated with truck purchases placed before his tenure and said they were purchased via a Sourcewell quote; he and accounting staff said documentation would be provided.
After discussion about whether the plows were purchased as part of truck rig builds or separately, Bukowski moved to remove the Viking Clive line item from the warrant; Council member Michael Jasinski seconded the motion and the amendment passed. The board approved the amended warrant. Members requested documentation showing the procurement path (Sourcewell quote or prior board approval) and noted the procurement policy's enforcement language that failure to adhere could lead to disciplinary action.
Why it matters: The removal of a nearly $19,000 invoice from the warrant highlights town-level concerns about adherence to procurement rules and the need for transparent documentation when purchases exceed statutory or policy thresholds.
Follow-up: Highway and finance staff were asked to provide the Sourcewell quote and associated purchase orders or resolutions; the supervisor agreed to include procurement adherence on the next department-head meeting agenda.
Ending: The town will pay its bills as required, but board members said they need clearer oversight to prevent future instances where multi-thousand-dollar purchases appear on the warrant without an apparent prior board approval.
