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Highway staff outline possible warrant articles as Chapter 90 funds and a bridge surplus offer options
Summary
Highway and town staff proposed three candidate warrant articles — a wheel loader, a replacement dump truck (or smaller all-season unit), and a pickup with plow — and discussed Chapter 90 eligibility, a $233,000 surplus from a postponed bridge project, procurement timing, and trade-offs in spending one-time funds now versus saving state funds for larger road projects.
Highway staff and the Select Board discussed potential warrant-article purchases on Feb. 25, including a wheel loader, a replacement dump truck and a plow-equipped pickup truck. Staff said heavier equipment (loader, dump truck) may qualify for Chapter 90 reimbursement, while a pickup would not. The board heard that a $233,000 surplus from a postponed South Road Bridge project could be reallocated if appropriate, but members cautioned about setting a precedent for using one-time or state funds for rolling equipment needs.
The board asked staff to provide firm quotes and timing information before finalizing warrant articles. Staff noted availability constraints and lead times could affect price; they recommended prioritizing purchases and exploring a smaller GVW option (an F-600 with an all-season body) as a versatile alternative that might not require CDL drivers for some tasks.
Select Board members stressed balancing immediate operational needs against the long-term capital plan and Chapter 90 spending rules. “If we use [one-time] money now, where does that put us for larger projects?” a select board member asked. Staff will return with final cost estimates and a recommended purchase sequence for advisory and town-meeting consideration.
