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Select board approves ARPA funds for speed‑feedback trailer and fire department communications upgrades
Summary
After a public hearing, the board approved using ARPA funds to buy a data‑collecting speed‑feedback trailer (up to $11,000) and to support a radio/communications building at the fire station (up to $8,800); residents asked about recurring software and maintenance costs.
The select board held a public hearing and then approved two ARPA‑funded purchases aimed at improving public safety and traffic decision‑making.
Speed‑feedback trailer: the road advisory committee presented a trailer that can collect vehicle speed and time‑of‑day data to inform decisions about speed tables and other traffic measures. Board members and residents sought clarity on recurring costs; the proposal referenced a recurring data/software fee of about $1,500 per year in discussion. The vendor quote discussed in the meeting was reported as $10,710.69 and the board authorized up to $11,000 from ARPA funds for the purchase.
Radio/communications building: the fire department requested ARPA funds to finish a new communications building; materials were listed at about $2,300 after school labor discounts, plus up to $4,000 for a small heat pump and funds for an electrician to install a dedicated CMP feed and meter. The board approved up to $8,800 from ARPA funds to support these work items.
Public questions and board response: residents pressed for a full lifecycle cost estimate for the trailer and for assurances that data collection would be used to meet established criteria before installing permanent traffic calming measures. The board said the data would be integrated with the town’s road‑priority software so that counts and speeds inform decisions rather than perception alone.
Votes and next steps: the motion to authorize up to $11,000 for the trailer and the motion to authorize up to $8,800 for the radio/communications building both passed with all board members present voting in favor. The road committee will incorporate trailer data into pavement and speed‑table prioritization, and staff will finalize procurement and installation plans.
Ending: board members said the trailer is intended to strengthen evidence for traffic interventions and that ARPA funds were chosen because the expenditures fit the town’s stated priorities for public safety and outdoor activity.
