Operations seeks EV chargers, storage building and vehicle replacements; parks outline out‑year rink and golf‑course upgrades

Operations and Parks staff updated the Planning Board on multiple capital requests spanning electrification, fleet replacement, storage, and special‑revenue projects.

Brandon, an energy and sustainability engineer with the city, described a $300,000 add‑on for an existing fleet electrification capital account: $120,000 in city bond funds plus an anticipated $180,000 state grant through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). The funds would support Level 2 chargers at fleet sites (Brandon estimated roughly six to eight ports per site) so the city can electrify pool and light/medium duty vehicles. "We need the chargers in place before we start doing anything," Brandon said, urging action to capture utility rebates and tax‑credit incentives. Staff warned that Eversource rebates would be drastically reduced in January 2026 and that certain Inflation Reduction Act tax credits could expire by June 30, 2026.

Bill Klaus, fleet manager, asked for a $100,000 add to a previously approved $300,000 building project to complete assembly of a proposed 75x150 storage building at the City Yard; he said an enclosed building would reduce overtime and maintenance costs caused by storing vehicles and parts outdoors.

Bill also reviewed short‑term capital financing requests: roughly $1.1 million for smaller equipment and approximately $3.7 million for heavy and medium‑duty vehicles and machinery, including rear‑load refuse trucks, loaders and plow trucks. He said the refuse fleet's average age is about 13.5 years and that maintenance costs last year for that subset were roughly $410,000, with fleet availability near 65 percent. "If you had to replace the fleet today, it is just over $65,000,000," he said, and noted the requested $3.7M is below the benchmark for a vehicle replacement fund.

Parks staff briefed the board on special‑revenue balances and out‑year projects: Terry Connor ice rink upgrades (cooling tower, dehumidifier, bleacher and low‑E ceiling work across multiple fiscal years) and Brandon Golf Course irrigation and maintenance‑building improvements (sprinkler project CP3158; maintenance shop CP7150). Several items were described as out‑year requests and not part of the current fiscal‑year appropriation package.

Board members asked staff to add operational‑savings estimates and clearer funding breakdowns to future materials and to confirm grant timing that affects rebate/tax‑credit capture.