HAWLEY — A new 1-ton truck could be in store for the Highway Department, pending the results of a Special Town Meeting planned for Monday, Oct. 2.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the Town Office.

In the form of two separate warrant articles, voters will decide whether to buy the truck and whether to appropriate the money through taxes or by transferring money from the Highway Stabilization Fund. The warrant asks residents to appropriate up to $100,000, though Highway Superintendent Gary Mitchell said the town has already located a truck to buy that would cost about $80,000.

The truck in need of replacement is a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado.

“At this point in time there is a major defect with electronic transmission control,” said Selectboard member Hussain Hamdan.

Mitchell explained he is waiting to receive a new transmission control module, but the part has been out of stock since the summer.

“The way things are now, it could be months before we get the part,” Mitchell said.

Hamdan said even when the Highway Department receives this part, it is still unclear whether the truck would go back to being fully operational. Given the truck has had many malfunctions throughout its lifespan, Hamdan said the Selectboard and Highway Department concluded it is time for the town to purchase a new truck altogether.

“We are getting nervous about having something to plow with this winter,” Mitchell continued. “We will see what happens when we have the meeting.”

Reach Bella Levavi at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.