Templeton public works presents fleet and building capital requests including senior center generator

The Town of Templeton Department of Public Services asked the Capital Improvements Committee on Nov. 5 to fund a batch of buildings and highway capital items aimed at reducing labor time, improving winter response and replacing aging equipment.

The most expensive single buildings request was a generator for the senior center, estimated at about $88,000. Public Services Superintendent Bob Souzak said the current estimate includes both the generator and electrician work; an additional roughly $5,000 is budgeted to plumb propane from the building to an external tank. Souzak noted last year’s request totaled about $71,000 for the generator plus roughly $18,750 for electrical work, and said the generator would allow the senior center to serve as a shelter and continue meal services during storms.

On grounds maintenance, the department repeated a request for a stand‑on blower (price unchanged from last year) and again proposed replacement windows at town hall, now estimated at about $20,200. A paving item—repair from dumpsters toward Patriots Road with berm and a sidewalk in front of town hall—was listed at $48,600. A new exterior shed (referred to in the packet as the “dog house”) for basement access was estimated at $10,000.

Highway equipment requests included a utility pickup (repeat request) priced at about $94,003.21, and a replacement F‑750 plow/sander dump truck priced at approximately $238,000. Souzak said the highway fleet is still being modernized after prior auctions and sales of older vehicles, and that the F‑750 would replace an aged truck that had been sold because it failed inspection. He said the department uses a mix of in‑house trucks and repeat subcontractors for plowing and that smaller pickups preserve larger trucks used for sanding and plowing heavy routes.

Souzak also requested a tracked skid‑steer/mini loader (about $100,000) that could be used year‑round for backfill, trench work, sidewalk plowing and small milling, and a second front‑end loader to replace a rotted, unreliable 1990s machine. The department suggested buying attachments later if necessary; the base price typically includes a front bucket but not specialty implements.

Committee members discussed procurement approaches — leasing vs. financing vs. outright purchase — noting tradeoffs between lower upfront cash use and long‑term interest payments. No final procurement decision was made; members asked staff to continue analyzing lease‑to‑buy and multi‑year replacement options.

Souzak ended by noting many vehicle replacement dates are clustered in the coming years and urged the committee to consider equipment rotation to avoid large simultaneous capital outlays.

Ending: The committee heard the presentation and asked follow‑up questions; further prioritization and budgeting will occur in upcoming meetings as the committee prepares its FY27 recommendations.