SANDOWN — Selectmen approved the purchase of a used Air Force truck this week that will be converted to a sanding and plow truck by the Public Works Department.
Public works Director Art Genualdo told the selectmen on Monday that he had come across a deal he couldn't pass up.
He found a 1987 C70 truck, formerly owned by the Air Force with only 6,000 miles on it, for sale for just $6,000. He said that price is only about twice what it would have cost the town to repair its public works truck just so it could pass inspection this year.
Genualdo said the truck he wants to purchase is "like brand-new" and all it needs is new tires. He suggested paying for the truck using Highway Block Grant money so the purchase won't impact taxpayers.
If he didn't buy this truck, he estimated that he would be back before the selectmen next year asking for a new one, which would be far more expensive.
"This truck should last four or five years," Genualdo said. "We need to do something, and when I came across this truck, I thought we should consider it."
At the March Town Meeting, voters were asked to approve the purchase of two new Public Works Department vehicles. The request for $48,582 for a new, 2008 Ford F-450 dump truck was approved, while a second, $97,748 request for a new 2008 Ford F-650 dump truck was rejected.
The less expensive vehicle replaced a 2001 Ford truck with more than 62,000 miles on it, but the department still needed a second vehicle to replace its 1987 Ford truck, which has more than 200,000 miles on it.
Since the question of whether to purchase a replacement vehicle was already turned down by voters, Selectman Brian Chevalier contacted the Local Government Center to make sure it would be legal to purchase the used truck. He said he was told that since this request deals with a different truck, it is legal as long as the selectmen approve the purchase.
Selectmen adjourned for an inspection of the truck, which Genualdo had driven to the meeting. Afterward, the board voted 5-0 to approve the purchase.
Genualdo said he will get rid of the old truck, probably by selling it for scrap, and will put the sander on the new truck and get it ready to be used as a plow next winter.
