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Selectboard debates fleet rotation and equipment spending amid two‑year truck lead times
Summary
Board discussed shifting to a shorter vehicle replacement cycle and using reserves to fund radios, tire-balancer and truck outfitting after staff warned of two‑year backlogs at manufacturers and the cost of keeping vehicles beyond warranty.
Highway staff told the Selectboard that chassis and body work delays have extended delivery timelines to roughly two years; two trucks the town already purchased are still in dealer showrooms awaiting body installation.
Board members discussed moving from a 10‑year to a seven‑year replacement cycle to preserve warranties, reduce maintenance costs and capture better trade‑in values. Members noted the budgetary effect of replacing several vehicles in a short period and discussed staggering purchases or increasing annual CIP contributions to smooth debt service and capital outlays.
Separately, staff requested capital funding for radios (safety concern), a tire balancer (estimate ~$9,000 for the balancer component) and associated shop equipment; board members suggested using surplus where possible and asked highway staff to provide a revised CIP schedule showing the financial impact of a seven‑year rotation and various procurement timing scenarios. No binding decision was made; staff will return with adjusted estimates and a staggered purchase plan for board consideration.
