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Board debates using town trucks more vs. hiring contractors to save costs
Summary
Selectboard members weighed trade-offs between using town trucks (to accrue warranty mileage) and hiring outside trucks at about $150 per hour, with some members saying using town vehicles on slow or rainy days could be more cost-effective.
Selectboard members debated whether the town should use its own trucks more often to accrue mileage and preserve trade-in value, or continue hiring outside contractors at roughly $150 per hour.
One committee member noted the fleet warranties are structured by years or mileage and questioned whether underusing town trucks reduced the intended value of the purchase: "If you got years that coming up first, then you're not using the trucks enough." Another member ran the numbers: a contractor doing 10-hour days at $150 per hour could cost $1,500 a day, which over several days equaled the cost of using town equipment. Members discussed balancing warranty considerations and labor availability, suggesting that on slow or rainy days it may make sense to have town crews haul material rather than hire outside firms.
The board did not adopt a formal policy change at this meeting but asked staff to continue monitoring truck usage, warranty mileage, and cost comparisons when planning hauling or resurfacing work.
