Woodbury public works seeks spare trucks, garage repairs and paving funds; waste contract budget cut in half

Public Works officials told the Town of Woodbury boards on Jan. 31 that the department is short on spare vehicles, needs immediate garage repairs and is planning paving and drainage work to be prioritized after winter conditions are assessed.

Mechanic Paul Knisley said the department has no spare vehicles and urged keeping Truck #9 as a reserve rather than discarding it. DPW head Dave Bousquet said corrosion on older trucks cannot be repaired and that indoor wash bays would help fleet maintenance; he noted replacement of garage doors is essential because "you can see daylight under the doors."

Bousquet described road priorities that will be finalized after spring assessment, naming lower Sage Road and the half of South Pomperaug leading up to Route 6 as likely candidates for drainage work and milling/paving. He said Scuppo Road is under investigation for paving and that the department did not include an option for pavement-condition software that would cost about $15,000 annually. An estimate of $30,000 was cited as a reasonable amount for striping and guardrail replacement work.

On waste management, Chief Fiscal Officer Nyree Pieck and DPW staff reported a budgeted decrease in contracted waste services from $800,000 to $400,000 and discussed how to improve cost recovery at the transfer station, including a receipt book categorizing charges and a possible cashless account system for users. Staff also raised concerns about how quickly the brush pile grows and the need to manage bulky-waste payments more effectively.

No formal votes were taken at the workshop; DPW priorities and funding levels will be refined during ongoing budget review.