HEATH — For the second time in three months, voters rejected purchasing a new truck for the Highway Department at a Special Town Meeting on Tuesday night.
The Finance Committee requested a Special Town Meeting to move $104,000 from the town’s Equipment/Vehicle Stabilization Account to buy a highway cab and chassis for the Highway Department. This vote failed, 41-24. It required a two-thirds majority to pass, or 45 votes.
The Selectboard called the meeting after voters turned down a similar Highway Department request during Annual Town Meeting in May. Voters had been asked to appropriate $195,000 — from free cash, the Equipment/Vehicle Stabilization Account and up to $53,145 in borrowing — for the highway cab and chassis.
That article also failed to receive the two-thirds majority needed to pass, with a contingent of voters expressing frustration with the Selectboard over its decision to reduce the Highway Department’s staff from four to three employees while crafting the fiscal year 2024 budget. Others were concerned about high budget expenses and higher property taxes.
The latest $104,000 vehicle request was to be funded directly from the Equipment/Vehicle Stabilization Account — similar to a savings account. The article would not have raised taxes, though it would have almost completely depleted that account, according to Finance Committee member Ned Wolf.
Of the five trucks in the department’s possession — one of which is too small to plow the gravel roads of Heath — two are close to completely failing. Highway Superintendent Jeffrey Johnston previously said the town has paid $50,000 in repair costs for its 2012 truck to one vendor since 2018, as well as additional repairs costs paid to another vendor. Repairs were covered under the vehicle’s warranty before 2018. The second truck was made in 2003.
Resident Karen Brooks said at Tuesday’s meeting that the town should wait until a truck fully breaks down before buying something new. With two trucks in dire condition, she said the town runs the risk of replacing one and having the other vehicle fail instead.
“My sense is it’s saving it for a rainy day. Are we at a rainy day?” she asked.
Voters in favor of purchasing a new truck also spoke up. Resident Sheila Litchfield, who serves as the Municipal Light Board manager, said it is difficult for the town to agree to spend its savings but it can often be worth it.
“I hope to trust people like Jeff who has the best interest of the town and of getting people home safely,” she said.
The Highway Department hoped to have four trucks usable for plowing in the winter. Johnston plans to hire a temporary worker during snowstorms while also relying on the department’s three employees. With town equipment, Johnston explained, it would cost about $25 an hour for labor during snowstorms. If the town were to hire a contractor that brings in equipment, it will cost approximately $200 an hour. Johnston said he got this number from what the city of Springfield spends for these contracted services.
Now that voters have rejected funding a new truck for the second time, Johnston said he will not attempt to purchase a truck for the department this year.
“We will have to do a thorough evaluation to prevent further vehicle downtime,” he said. “The cost is unknown. The maintenance budget could be depleted very fast.”
Reach Bella Levavi at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.