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Council reviews fleet replacement quotes and plan to reduce aging vehicles
Summary
Council members reviewed State-contract quotes to replace an aging work truck and two dump trucks, discussed buying new snow-plow equipment and a plan to reduce three vehicles to two, and asked staff to provide an inventory and financing options for Capital Improvement Program consideration.
A council member presented three State-contract quotes for replacing an aging 3/4-ton work truck used by public works, noting a roughly $1,000 premium for a double cab and an additional snow-plow quote of about $9,100. The vehicle would replace the town’s grey truck currently driven by Tony and allow a cascade of vehicles (Tony’s truck to Scott; disposal of an old flatbed), while keeping two plows available for winter operations.
The presenter said the town also has two aging dump trucks (one orange, one white and rusty) and proposed removing those two plus the old flatbed from the fleet and replacing them with a single new dump truck (5500 or 6500 series). The 6500-series option was described as substantially more capable and likely to carry a multi‑decade service life, with an estimate in the neighborhood of $100,000; the difference between the 5500 and 6500 was described as roughly $1,000–$1,500 depending on configuration. The council discussed the need for a dump box and hydraulic lift on the replacement truck and whether the town should buy one or reconfigure an existing vehicle.
Council members questioned whether it was necessary to authorize additional vehicles immediately. One member said buying two new trucks in the coming fiscal year was “not fiscally available” and framed the quotes as information for CIP planning. Members noted the existing fleet has high maintenance costs and gave examples of recent major repairs (including a new transmission on one truck) to justify future replacement planning. Staff committed to sharing a vehicle inventory with mileages and conditional replacement timing for the council’s review.
No purchase motion was taken at the meeting; council members instead directed staff to include vehicle options and cost estimates in the multi-year CIP and to return with funding options (sale proceeds from disposed units and expected life-cycle savings).
