Finance committee recommends replacement pickup for Clean Water Center to full assembly

The standing committee on finance voted unanimously to recommend ordinance 2026-20 — a FY27 supplemental capital appropriation to replace a county pickup used by the Mass TC, known in the meeting as the Clean Water Center — to the full assembly for consideration.

Administrator Dutton told the committee the center's current vehicle is aged and unusable. "Their prior truck is a 2012, I believe, and is no longer operable," he said, explaining the appropriation would pay for a replacement truck so the testing facility can continue hauling materials and operating revenue-neutrally. Department head Brian Bombgard told the committee the center operates on a special-revenue account funded by testing fees; that account has modest excess reserves available for the purchase.

Committee members asked why the truck was not in the regular capital plan and whether electric or hybrid alternatives had been considered. Bombgard said staff reviewed electric pickup options but found current models limited in production and cost-prohibitive for the county's heavy-haul needs. After brief discussion the committee moved and seconded a motion to recommend the ordinance; a roll-call vote recorded yes votes from Deputy Speaker Carl Fisel, Delegate Gallagher, Vice Chair Killian, Delegate Amali and Chair Omen.

The committee’s recommendation sends the item to the full assembly, which will review the ordinance on the assembly agenda scheduled for Wednesday.