Selectmen approve purchases for public-works equipment, citing winter urgency

At the New Durham Selectmen's meeting on Aug. 27, the board approved several public-works purchase orders, including a sweeper and cutting edges, and recorded a motion to purchase a compactor to replace an existing unit.

Chair (Speaker 1) moved to approve the purchase of a compactor (motion text read into the record). Public-works staff (Speaker 5) identified equipment prices during the discussion: a sweeper from Jordan Equipment for $29,475 and a hopper quote of $80,400; the cutting edges purchase was shown in the record at $68,908.80. The board agreed the purchases would be funded from the Public Works equipment CRF (account 01-5000-10-062) and the vehicle and equipment maintenance CRF (account 01-5000-10-070).

Committee member (Speaker 2) and staff emphasized urgency: with winter approaching and vendor prices expected to rise, the “best time to purchase” is now. The motion to approve the sweeper passed in a roll-call vote (3–0); the board also approved the cutting edges purchase and recorded the compactor motion as passed after the chair's voice/roll-call vote.

Board members requested that staff provide the CRF and operating balances to ensure accounting alignment before finalizing any remaining purchase orders, and they reiterated the PO-system process that a PO number must be included when invoices are paid so the town ledger reflects the commitment.