The finance committee recommended advancing an authorization to purchase fuel on the open spot market and to advertise for bids and contracts for water meters and associated parts, committee leaders said Nov. 10.

Christie, a staff member presenting the requests, told the committee the authority sought covers a three-year open-market authorization for fuel purchases and separate procurement work for meters and parts. "Authorization to purchase fuel on the open spot market," she said. She asked for a not-to-exceed amount of $1,000,000 for water meters for 2026 and $226,100 for water parts, and said those figures will be included in the recommended 2026 budget.

Why it matters: combining these authorizations affects how the town manages volatile commodity and equipment pricing and how those costs are included in next year’s budget. Staff said multiyear fixed-price contracts have been difficult to obtain from vendors because of price volatility, prompting the request for an open-market fuel authorization and separate procurement for meters.

Council member Mr. Schilling raised a procedural question, asking whether the gasoline purchase should be a separate request from the water meters and parts. Staff replied that materials and supplies (including fuel) have traditionally been combined for timing reasons but that the implementing legislation will appear as separate resolutions. Mrs. Westfall asked about last year’s cost levels; Christie said the authorization request mirrors last year’s ceiling and that they were approaching that threshold.

The committee agreed to recommend moving forward on the procurement authorizations. Mr. Schilling moved that the committee proceed; Mrs. Westfall concurred, and the chair characterized the action as a unanimous recommendation to advance the items to formal legislation and the budget process. The staff emphasized these are authorizations to bid/contract and not emergency legislation.