Adams to Purchase Two New DPW Trucks
ADAMS, Mass. — The Department of Public Works is requesting the purchase of two new trucks for fiscal 2019.
The Selectmen on Monday heard the request as part of their review of the draft $15,643,072 fiscal 2019 budget.
Tim Cota, representing the DPW, explained the department's garage and equipment $84,000 capital budget and said a new plow truck is needed to replace one of the two plow trucks currently down.
"Those trucks are unserviceable, and we cannot drive them," he said. "They are off the road and are the oldest trucks in the fleet."
Cota said both trucks were purchased in the 1990s and when Truck 38's frame cracked the department began to cannibalize it to stretch out Truck 33's life.
But this month, a crack was found in Truck 33's frame, taking both the trucks off the road.
Interim Town Administrator Donna Cesan said the town can only use state Chapter 90 road funds to purchase the truck so equipment must be in the budget. She said the truck is likely to cost upwards of $180,000 and an additional $32,000 will be built into the actual budget to purchase the plow and sander for it.
She added that with other expenditures, the town will be left with nearly $300,000 in Chapter 90 funds.
Cota said the department is also planning to purchase a smaller truck, an F-150, for $52,000 to replace one that has outlived its usefulness.
"We can no longer attach anything to it the hitch is completely rotten, and the bumper is rotten," he said. "You can take the whole bed and lift it off the truck ... it is not in good shape."
Cota said the department makes a point to coat its vehicles in a protective fluid and use parts from decommissioned trucks. This same philosophy will be applied to new vehicles.
"We are very diligent with keeping them clean ... but they are still in the nastiness," he said. "And we recycle everything, we don't just get rid of it. When we are done with something it is really no good."
Moving on to the Highway Department's $1,346,345 personnel budget, Cesan said there will be a slight increase to accommodate a new full-time laborer position.
"It would be the entry position into the department," she said. "We would have one staff person per plow route with this addition, which has been a big problem in the past."
The Selectmen also looked at the wastewater treatment plant budget and Superintendent Bob Rumbolt went over his $296,501 operating budget, which saw increases in the chemical line item bringing it closer to what he actually spends.
He also outlined the $80,000 capital budget that contained equipment purchases to bring the plant closer to state compliance and fund needed repairs partly driven by residents flushing wipes that are not actually flushable and that damage equipment.
Rumbolt added that in the future, he would like to see his parts budget increased.
"Since 2012, we have had a budget for parts of $20,000 and a single part can go for $11,000 easily," he said. "In the past, it was closer to $41,000 and I think in the coming years we will have to bump it up because we have been walking a fine line."
The Selectmen closed with the Council on Aging personnel budget that will increase 11.34 percent to $219,185. This would be to fund a new employee to oversee and schedule expanded programming.
Cesan said this position would only be implemented if the town is granted Community Development Block Grant funds to replace the Memorial Building's HVAC system. She said if this happens, the Council on Aging could move into the larger facility, where there would be more opportunities for programming.
The Selectmen reviewed other department budgets, however, there were few controversial requests or substantial increases.
Tags: adams_budget, DPW, fiscal 2019,
