By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — The Houlton Parks and Recreation Department will be getting a new pick-up truck to remove snow after all.
After shooting down a proposal to purchase a 2014 Ford F-250 pick-up truck on Oct. 15, the matter was back on the agenda Monday evening as a proposal to lease the vehicle for three years at a cost of $288 per month.
The plan to lease the vehicle was brought forward as a possible alternative when the council voted two weeks ago not to purchase the truck outright.
According to Marie Carmichael, recreation director, the vehicle is used in the winter to plow snow from the recreation department lot and Millar Civic Center area and is also used to transport heavy materials and equipment to Community Park.
The Houlton Parks and Recreation Department was forced to park its 2001 work truck due to failure issues and used a pickup from the Houlton Public Works Department until that vehicle no longer ran. Currently, a personal vehicle is being used by staff members.
Funding for the truck will come from a five-year, $194,000 loan the town took out last spring for various projects and purchases. A police cruiser was also included in that original loan package. By purchasing the truck outright, at a cost of $25,739 from Yorks of Houlton, the town will have just $300 left in that loan account.
During the public comments portion of the meeting, residents Stan Ginnish and Phil Bernaiche both encouraged the council not to pursue a lease option for the vehicle, citing potentially high repair costs the town could be on the hook for at the end of the lease period when it is turned back in.
Town Manager Eugene Conlogue said he did not feel comfortable having the town pursue a lease option.
“In talking with a number of people last meeting, the recommendation from people is to stay away from a lease for a working pickup,” Conlogue said. “We would have to pay for any damages (done to the vehicle) when we turn it back in. There might be none, but if there were some (damage), that would be in addition to what we already paid out. It would be an unknown going forward.”
Although he was originally in favor of leasing the vehicle, council chairman Paul Cleary said he had changed his opinion on the matter after researching the topic.
“I think the lease is probably not the best idea,” he said. “Purchasing seems to be the way to go.”
Conlogue also suggested another option would be to give the new vehicle to the Houlton Fire Chief and have his vehicle used by the Rec. The council shot down that idea stating they felt the new vehicle should go to the Parks and Recreation Department.
Councilor Dan Peabody stated he completely disagreed with the idea that leasing a commercial vehicle was impractical.
“I think the hearsay part of the lease is false,” Peabody said. “I work in the heavy equipment industry and 80 percent of the vehicles we sell to municipalities are leased machines. They (the recreation department) need a good vehicle to do what they need to do.”
Peabody was the lone councilor to oppose the purchase plan, as it passed by a vote of 5-1.
The truck was slated to appear in the 2014 municipal budget as a capital expense, Conlogue said. By using the money from the loan and buying now, the town could remove that line item from next year’s budget proposal.
In other agenda business, board members said farewell to councilors John White Jr. and John Fitzpatrick. White is seeking re-election to the group, while Fitzpatrick ended a nine-year run on the board. Councilors now may only serve two consecutive, three-year terms, but Fitzpatrick was a councilor before the term limits were initiated.
The council also approved an agreement between the town and Fred Grant of Northern Maine Media, Inc. to continue live streaming of council meetings on the Internet at no cost to the town.
The next regular council meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. due to the Veteran’s Day holiday.
