Limington approves up to $180,000 from capital reserve to buy new loader after debate

Limington voters at a special town meeting on April 23 approved using up to $180,000 from the town's capital improvement reserve to buy a new front‑end loader, passing the article by show of hands, 24 in favor and 9 opposed.

The vote followed a lengthy presentation from public works staff and a technician who described a recent breakdown of the town's 2010 loader. According to the town's account of the diagnostics at the meeting, the dealer estimate for a worst‑case transmission repair was about $52,597 and additional pins and sleeves were quoted at about $4,333 (a combined worst‑case repair estimate attendees gave as roughly $56,930). The public works speaker said the machine has about 8,400 hours and that an engine overhaul is expected near the 10,000‑hour mark.

"It locked up on them," the public works presenter said of the recent failure, explaining the need for a prompt decision. Dick, the town's part‑time mechanic, told the meeting the transmission pump is failing and that opening the transmission is a "crapshoot" — repairs may or may not be cost‑effective once the unit is inspected: "The pump is in the transmission. The pump failed or failing real quick," he said.

Select board members and residents pressed several alternatives during public comment: repairing the existing machine, leasing a loader for the winter, buying used equipment, or purchasing a smaller loader/backhoe. Town staff and the mechanic said smaller machines or the town's excavator would be slower or unable to load the larger trucks efficiently in winter storms, and several speakers argued that the town needed a machine of the size proposed to keep roads and large trucks serviced during heavy weather.

Financial detail presented at the meeting included a capital reserve balance reported at the meeting as $1,149,487 at the end of 2025 and testimony that voters had recently increased the reserve. Select board members said the reserve account is intended for capital purchases and noted the article was written to authorize "up to $180,000," so any unused funds would return to the reserve. Attendees also discussed dealer quotes: meeting materials shown to the assembly included lease and purchase figures, and a dealer price presented later in the discussion was reported near $170,000 with an estimated trade‑in value in the neighborhood of $27,000 (figures were presented by staff and dealers during the meeting).

Proponents of purchase stressed long‑term cost and availability: speakers cautioned that leasing could cost substantially more over multiple years and that replacement cost inflation could push future prices higher. Opponents urged caution, arguing repair or buying used equipment might be more cost‑effective.

The assembly moved to end debate and then voted on Article Two. By show of hands the article passed, 24 to 9, authorizing the select board to spend up to $180,000 from the capital improvement reserve to purchase a new loader. The motion to place Article Two on the floor was moved by Joyce (nomination/mover on the floor) and seconded by Jake, and the substantive vote on the article was taken by the assembly as recorded by the moderator.

Next steps: the select board and staff will finalize procurement and trade‑in negotiations consistent with the authorization. The meeting record included multiple dealer quotes and staff testimony; the town indicated that any unspent money would remain in the reserve account.