DPW details staffing transfers, transfer-station upgrades and Route 79 timeline; proposes sidewalk equipment and compactor replacement

Frank Moniz, director of the Department of Public Works, told the finance committee on April 10 that the department moved staff between the transfer station and highway to maintain operations after recent retirements and that the transfer station will consolidate several planned capital repairs using certified retained earnings.

Moniz said the transfer station will replace a cardboard compactor (projected cost $32,000) and complete LED lighting upgrades and building repairs using certified enterprise retained earnings certified at $83,451. Transfer-station staff reorganized roles so a lead operator remains on site while roll-off and run operations are handled by an HMO moved from the highway department.

Moniz described plans to upgrade sidewalk‑clearing equipment to handle narrow downtown sidewalks and Main Street areas. He said specialized narrow-runner equipment with five‑way plows and rear-mounted salters are expensive but necessary to reach constrained sidewalks, and explained the town inherited sidewalk maintenance responsibilities for certain Main Street stretches.

Capital items discussed for FY26 included roadway projects funded in part by Chapter 90 funds, a proposed non‑CDL cab chassis truck to reduce dependence on scarce CDL-certified drivers, and stormwater/MS4 compliance work using consultant services for annual reporting and mapping. Moniz said the Route 79 project is expected to go out to bid in 2026; the town’s earlier estimated land‑acquisition and easement obligations remain in place.

Why it matters: The transfer-station and DPW capital work affects daily services for residents, stormwater compliance and longer-term road projects. Equipment choices reflect recruitment and staffing realities for CDL drivers and address service continuity.