Public works urges keeping paid‑off truck as backup while board considers new truck financing

Public works staff urged the Select Board to keep the town's paid‑off 2019 Freightliner as a backup vehicle while the board moves forward with a new truck purchase and financing.

Staff noted that during winters the department relies on having at least one spare vehicle available; the paid‑off truck has had repairs but is regularly used in summer and provides redundancy when new equipment is being commissioned. "I wanna keep this spare because in the wintertime, you're guaranteed that you're gonna have something," the public works staff member said, describing past seasons when multiple vehicles were out of service.

Board members discussed dealer financing versus a bank loan and asked the clerk to bring preliminary loan numbers and insurance cost estimates to the next meeting. The new truck is expected in the fall, and staff requested details on timing before deciding whether to sell or retain the older truck.