East Brookfield loader purchase in limbo
By J.P. Ellery, Correspondent
Posted Dec 4, 2017 at 9:51 PM
Updated Dec 4, 2017 at 9:51 PM
EAST BROOKFIELD - Purchasing a $190,000 loader for the town Highway
Department has become a sticky issue, and it has divided the
three-member Board of Selectmen.
Selectmen Theodore A. Boulay Jr. and Joseph R. Fish are in favor of taking funds from the town’s $210,000 accrued Chapter 90 account to buy the loader. That is money supplied to the town by the state, about $94,000 per year.
Mr. Fish said at Monday night’s board meeting that he would prefer taking the first $63,300 installment of a three-year payment plan for the loader from the Chapter 90 funds, with the town having the option of paying off the remaining two years with other town funds. Mr. Boulay said he will check with the state to see if that payment procedure is allowable or whether the entire $190,000 must come from the Chapter 90 money.
The board plans to meet again Thursday night to decide whether to buy the loader or put off the purchase.
Selectman Shaun Richard said he opposes the loader purchase at this time. He said the Chapter 90 funds should be retained for unexpected road work in town and that the loader purchase should be put off until the annual town meeting in May.
He said residents at a recent special town meeting voted to pass over the loader purchase on the advice of the town Finance Committee, and the option of using the Chapter 90 funds instead was not part of the discussion.
Mr. Richard said using Chapter 90 money, though better than hitting local taxpayers for the $190,000, does not follow the recent decision of voters to delay the purchase.
Kitty Gliniecki, a former selectman who attended the meeting, said the action at the recent town meeting on the loader should be honored.
“When the people speak we listen to the people,” she said. “We should respect that and take it up with the (town) budget (in May).”
But Highway Superintendent Dennis Clarke said the Chapter 90 option
was arrived at after the recent special town meeting vote and it was
brought forth now because the loader purchase is critical.
“We have one backhoe to load trucks with,” he said. “If we lose that we’re in trouble.”
Mr. Boulay said Mr. Clarke was hired recently to make recommendations on upgrading the highway department and his plan to buy a loader to replace an out-of-service loader should be followed.
Selectmen Theodore A. Boulay Jr. and Joseph R. Fish are in favor of taking funds from the town’s $210,000 accrued Chapter 90 account to buy the loader. That is money supplied to the town by the state, about $94,000 per year.
Mr. Fish said at Monday night’s board meeting that he would prefer taking the first $63,300 installment of a three-year payment plan for the loader from the Chapter 90 funds, with the town having the option of paying off the remaining two years with other town funds. Mr. Boulay said he will check with the state to see if that payment procedure is allowable or whether the entire $190,000 must come from the Chapter 90 money.
The board plans to meet again Thursday night to decide whether to buy the loader or put off the purchase.
Selectman Shaun Richard said he opposes the loader purchase at this time. He said the Chapter 90 funds should be retained for unexpected road work in town and that the loader purchase should be put off until the annual town meeting in May.
He said residents at a recent special town meeting voted to pass over the loader purchase on the advice of the town Finance Committee, and the option of using the Chapter 90 funds instead was not part of the discussion.
Mr. Richard said using Chapter 90 money, though better than hitting local taxpayers for the $190,000, does not follow the recent decision of voters to delay the purchase.
Kitty Gliniecki, a former selectman who attended the meeting, said the action at the recent town meeting on the loader should be honored.
“When the people speak we listen to the people,” she said. “We should respect that and take it up with the (town) budget (in May).”
“We have one backhoe to load trucks with,” he said. “If we lose that we’re in trouble.”
Mr. Boulay said Mr. Clarke was hired recently to make recommendations on upgrading the highway department and his plan to buy a loader to replace an out-of-service loader should be followed.
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