Capital requests highlighted: new engines, patrol boat, IT upgrades and DPW design among Article 10 items

Town presenters used the mock session to preview Article 10 capital requests that fund equipment and infrastructure across departments.

Fire department presenters described a proposal to buy two compact, all‑terrain engines to replace aging vehicles. The presenters said these units are specifically designed to access beaches, dunes and narrow roads, and highlighted that "these engines are equipped with pump and roll capability," allowing crews to attack wildland fires while on the move.

The harbor master — represented by the police chief in the presentation — requested $603,000 to replace an aging patrol boat and said a pending federal grant of roughly $350,000, if secured, would reduce the town’s out‑of‑pocket cost.

IT staff explained an urgent need for a cloud‑based phone system because current desk phones cannot be upgraded; the presenter noted the town currently purchases replacements on secondary markets. The IT upgrade was framed as critical for public‑safety communications and remote work continuity.

Separately, DPW Director Drew Patnaud described a third consecutive $1.2 million supplemental request to complete final design work for a new DPW facility, emphasizing refined plans, value engineering and a citizen work group tasked with ensuring the design is cost‑effective before construction bids are sought.

Presenters were advised to keep department overviews concise, provide local examples (for instance, a recent beach vehicle fire that illustrated the need for compact engines) and to prepare clear tax‑impact slides for the voters' guide.