Public Works seeks $1 million for paving, $250,000 plow truck and transfer station fixes amid rising costs

Public Works Director Stephen Buckley told the Budget Review Committee Feb. 25 that the department is seeking several capital investments and budget adjustments to maintain roadways and in-house maintenance capacity.

Buckley asked the committee to add and spend $1,000,000 for town-wide paving, identifying priority roads including North Village Road, Captain Thomas Road, the second half of Perry Oliver Road, Beachwood Terrace and Seaview Drive. He also requested $250,000 to replace an aging plow truck (truck 405), with the existing truck to be retained as a spare; $70,000 of that request would be raised through taxation.

Other equipment requests included $120,000 for six mobile vehicle column lifts to expand in-house servicing of 3-axle trucks and $45,000 for a slide-in sander to support a new plow route and reduce contractor routes. Buckley said a tracked skid steer request was deferred to prioritize safety improvements at the Transfer Station.

The committee was also told the Transfer Station faces an approximate $131,000 deficit, driven in part by a significant increase in the Hazmat Day contract with Casella required under state rules; Buckley said he will explore regional cost-sharing options. The committee approved transfer station operations and some revenue lines but asked staff to revisit certain CIP requests and consider deferrals where possible.

Committee members asked Buckley to re-evaluate CIP priorities before the next budget meeting so the committee can make funding choices across competing requests.