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Council approves $173,000 allocation to buy a Mack cab and chassis for public works
Summary
The council approved a not‑to‑exceed $173,000 allocation from the vehicle reserve fund to purchase a Mack cab and chassis now to lock current pricing and reduce future emissions‑related cost increases; the decision followed debate about fleet standardization and used‑truck risks.
North Branford — The town council approved an allocation not to exceed $173,000 to buy a cab and chassis for a replacement public‑works truck, citing urgent mechanical issues with a 2001 Mack truck in the fleet.
Assistant Public Works Director Dan Santano told the council that the 2001 truck is undergoing an expensive transmission repair and that significant rust and prior frame repairs suggest the vehicle will fail in the coming years. Santano recommended buying the cab and chassis now so the town can secure a production slot and avoid an anticipated $20,000 emissions‑related price increase for similar trucks next year; the remaining work to build the full truck body would be funded in next year’s capital appropriation.
Councilors debated alternatives including purchasing a used truck and soliciting broader bids from other manufacturers. Staff described prior experience buying used trucks that then required costly repairs and emphasized fleet interchangeability: several of North Branford’s newer trucks are Mack models, allowing parts and controls to be shared across vehicles. Finance staff confirmed $250,000 in the vehicle reserve fund and that the cab‑and‑chassis purchase fits the reserve’s purpose.
A motion to allocate up to $173,000 from the town’s vehicle reserve fund for a Mack cab and chassis from Gabrieli Truck Sales via Sourcewell passed on a voice vote; one member opposed and one abstained.
