Eric Wagner, Alexander Town Board member, came to Monday's meeting after doing his homework, ready to ask Highway Superintendent Thomas Lowe why a proposed plow truck purchase was seemingly so expensive.
In the end, the board agreed to table the resolution to purchase the truck, and Wagner and Lowe along with the equipment committee members will meet to discuss other options.
The truck Lowe proposed would have cost $311,000 with a manual transmission.
First, Wagner questioned why Lowe wanted a manual transmission when Lowe, Wagner said, had previously told him a manual transmission would limit the hiring pool, eliminating people with disabilities, most notable people with knee or hip issues.
Then Wagner cited recent plow truck purchases the Town of Pembroke and Middlebury. He said the Pembroke truck was almost identical and cost $275,000 and the Middlebury truck was $290,000.
He said another municipality got a quote from Western Star for an automatic transmission truck for $290,000.
Lowe said the biggest issue driving up the cost of trucks is the continuing rise in steel prices, especially over the past six months.
Wagner countered that the trucks he cited have been fairly recent purchases.
After a bit more discussion, the board agreed to table the purchase resolution for the time being until more research can be done.
