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Board debates timing of capital purchases — chapter 90 loader, dump truck, cruiser and firearms funding on the table
Summary
Select Board reviewed possible use of chapter 90 funds for a loader, discussed deferring some warrant articles to the fall (dump truck, pickup), and weighed whether to purchase a police cruiser and firearms now or wait until free cash numbers are clearer.
The Select Board and advisory members used the March 23 meeting to review a cluster of capital requests and to weigh financing options.
Officials said a favorable chapter 90 allocation this year could fund a loader without using general funds; that shift might leave about $50,000–$60,000 of chapter 90 money to roll into next year. The board discussed deferring nonessential purchases, including a dump truck and a pickup, to the fall town meeting and targeting free cash for those items.
Police equipment was a point of debate. Board and advisory members noted the police department carries surplus in the off‑duty account this year, and the suggestion was raised to sweep that account into free cash to support a cruiser or firearms purchase in the fall rather than immediately. Some members argued a cruiser should be ordered now to avoid excessive mileage on existing vehicles; others recommended collecting data on actual hours and mileage before committing.
"We could do an experiment: run one cruiser to 125,000 miles and track maintenance costs," one member suggested, while another urged ordering a cruiser now because usage patterns cause wear that mileage figures don't reflect.
The board agreed to leave several capital items on the warrant for explanation-only and to revisit purchases in the fall when free cash projections are clearer.
What comes next: Staff will provide financial projections showing the impact of deferring purchases, options for sweeping off‑duty funds into free cash, and details about chapter 90 allocations and anticipated remaining balances.
