Board hears update on aging town buses; DPW to add replacement to capital budget

The town’s public works official told the Greenburgh Town Board that staff inspected and cleaned every town bus following a prior complaint and identified two older large buses (model years 2003 and 2004) as candidates for replacement.

The official said the repair shop and Joe Rodriguez in the equipment repair bureau are obtaining cost estimates and that the vehicle work-order data will be used to match repair history to vehicle numbers. The official recommended adding a bus replacement to the capital budget and said lead times vary — buses can be procured relatively quickly, but specialty vehicles (for example, a jet-vac truck) have experienced multi-year waits.

Board members suggested several procurement and funding routes: using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, checking county DPW surplus stock (county fleets have been electrifying), and leveraging New York State Office of General Services contracts to piggyback purchases. The public works official said staff will follow up with county contacts and OGS contract options.

Members also relayed constituent complaints — particularly from seniors — about cushioning and comfort; staff said recent mechanical issues (a radiator problem) have been resolved and that commissioners will ensure vehicles selected are suitable for senior riders. No formal vote or appropriation to buy a bus was taken that night; staff said they will include a replacement in the town’s capital planning and return with cost estimates.