Bowden town council has postponed for a month a decision on whether to purchase a three-ton truck.
Council made the decision during its regular council meeting Aug. 11.
Discussion on replacing a town truck was first held during council's July 28 regular council meeting.
At that time, council asked administrative staff to look into options for immediately replacing its Public Works one-ton truck.
However, after staff looked into it, they concluded that, while the one-ton truck should be replaced, the three-ton truck is in even greater need of replacement.
“This vehicle, now 15 years old, requires a biannual inspection and without immediate major repairs, it will be doubtful that it will pass the next inspection,” Bowden chief administrative officer (CAO) Andy Weiss wrote in a memo to council.
He added that the three-ton truck gets a lot of use.
“This truck is utilized year-round. In the summer it is used to haul gravel, dirt, compost and tree branches weekly. In winter, it is utilized to haul snow,” Weiss wrote.
He told council that it would cost about $125,000 to obtain a new “fully outfitted” three-ton truck. During discussion on the matter, Weiss said the town simply doesn't have that kind of money. However, he said a “used unit that will meet our needs can be obtained for between $40,000 and $70,000, depending on age and mileage.”
Weiss said if council wants to obtain a three-ton truck immediately, that purchase could be covered via town reserve funds. He said those reserve funds could be replenished through “a future budgetary allocation.”
But he pointed out the town has already committed funds for a couple of “budgetary promises.”
Weiss noted the town took $18,000 out of reserves to cover costs for its garbage and recycling carts. Those reserves need to be replenished to that tune, he said.
In addition, Weiss said, the town committed to pay a two per cent increase in salaries to its employees under a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). That increase is expected to cost about $12,000.
The total cost of replenishing reserves for the carts plus the employee wage increase is about $30,000, Weiss said.
Coun. Earl Wilson suggested the financial situation might not be as bad as first appears. He said it's his understanding that by buying the carts, the town anticipated saving about $15,000 a year in garbage/recycling costs.
Weiss indicated that Wilson is right. In fact, according to a previous council motion, the town anticipates saving $18,000 in year one, $18,000 in year two, and more than $17,000 year three. So that leaves just $12,000 for the CBA increase to be accounted for.
In the end, after about 20 minutes of discussion, council agreed to give Weiss a month to research the truck purchase matter.
However, Coun. Sheila Church said the town doesn't necessarily have to wait a whole month before dealing with the issue.
“Keep your eyes open. If you run across something that is very, very appealing we can always have a special meeting,” she said.
