The New London City Council approved the first purchase of new vehicles for the Department of Public Works on Monday, awarding a bid to a Hartford company to buy two new snowplows.
The council voted 5-1 to purchase two Freightliner vehicles equipped with a Tenco snow and ice body package for $353,845.22. The bid was made by Freightliner of Hartford Inc.
The council previously approved a $1 million bond after Public Works Director Tim Hanser said several city vehicles are in need of replacement. The bond will fund purchases to replace three 1987 Ford F-800 plow trucks. These vehicles are part of a fleet of 10 plows, each of which has an individual plow route in the city.
The bond also intends to replace a 1994 Ford Vac-Con truck, which is used for pumping and clearing sewer systems and storm drains, as well as two 1990 Stenco trailers.
Councilor Adam Sprecace, who opposed the measure as well as the prior bond vote, said he was reluctant to support such actions due to continuing disputes over the 2013 fiscal year budget.
pay as you go making them cost even more (just not before the council stands for election). Yes we need the plows but trucks have known lifespans and should be paid for out of pocket it costs less that way, you cannot be certain of more revenue in the future without increasing taxes then so why not pay now and pay less?