GILL — Voters approved the purchase of a new dump truck for the Highway Department and a slew of elementary school repairs at Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, marking the end of Town Meeting season in Franklin County.
The entire warrant was approved as 51 voters showed up to Gill Elementary School.
Much of the three-hour meeting was dedicated to discussions about the appropriation of $205,000 for a new heavy duty truck.
John Miner, Gill’s highway superintendent, said the town’s current truck, a 2009 Sterling dump truck, has had more than $100,000 invested into it for repairs and has cost the town a lot of time as well.
“Enough is enough,” Miner said. “This truck has cost the town too much money and downtime.”
Miner said the only option left to repair the truck would be to take the engine apart and rebuild it, as every other possible issue has been fixed.
Resident John Ward said the town should use the money to repair the old truck, especially now because they know the issue has to do with rebuilding the engine.
“We now know what is causing the problem,” Ward said. “It doesn’t feel fiscally responsible to spend $210,000 when we’re spending $300,000 on the elementary school.”
Selectboard Chair Greg Snedeker, who was the only board member to vote against the dump truck, said having a new truck would be great, but the cost concerned him.
“We need a truck; whether it’s a new one remains to be seen,” Snedeker said. “My concern is financial. … We have a lot of capital proposals on the table.”
Ultimately, residents overwhelmingly approved the dump truck’s purchase, 41 to 7. A special town election for a debt exclusion override vote will be held July 12.
The main cause for financial concern among some residents was the approval of a $300,000 flooring replacement project for Gill Elementary School. The school’s floors need to be replaced as the tiles are deteriorating and asbestos is present.
The town plans to apply for federal funding as a way to avoid borrowing more money, but those funds are not guaranteed. Snedeker explained that the tiles’ deterioration was accelerated by the new air circulation protocols put in place because of the pandemic, which would make it eligible for Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding.
“If anyone can make something complicated, the feds can,” Snedeker said. “The project is moving forward and the intention is to use as much federal money as possible.”
Joanne Blier, the Gill-Montague Regional School District’s director of business and operations, said bids for the project are opening July 7 and the hope is to finish it before the students return to school.
Among other elementary school issues, voters approved $28,439 for a feasibility study and schematic design to replace the school’s roof. They also approved $7,500 to conduct a building assessment to create a 15-year capital and action plan for the school.
The proposed town budget of $1.9 million also passed, along with the Gill-Montague Regional School District assessment of $1.7 million.
Residents also approved Gill joining the Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District and set aside $2,200 to purchase a new electronic vote tabulator in a few years.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder or 413-930-4081.