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Date: 10/19/2022
WARREN – The Warren Board of Selectmen discussed and voted on several uses for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds awarded to the town during their Oct. 13 meeting.
Town Administrator James Ferrera explained that the Senior Center is looking to purchase a new dishwasher. Based on estimates, he said the dishwasher and installation will cost $20,000.
The board approved $20,000 from ARPA funds to purchase the dishwasher.
At the Shepherd Municipal Building, Ferrera shared that he received quotes for $14,000 which would include employee identification cards and three doors with the fire integration system. If they wanted to do more than three doors, Ferrera said the price would be a little higher. For now, the board decided to vote on what was proposed and approved the $14,000 for the Shepherd Municipal Building.
Ferrera went on to explain that the Highway Department is looking to purchase a Western Star truck in the amount of $144,000. He noted that Jeremy Olson, highway surveyor, has money that was approved at the Annual Town Meeting for $125,000 and has already been reserved for the Western Star.
“This would complete the project so we wouldn’t in the future have to worry about going to the townspeople to either raise and appropriate or take free cash,” said Ferrera. “This would clear out the project, complete the project [and] get the Western Star online as soon as possible.” Olson shared, there are significant supply chain issues with vehicles and by approving this, the process to obtain the truck would be expedited.
The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved the remaining funding for the Western Star truck.
Lastly, Ferrera said the Highway Department also wants to purchase an F550 truck. Based on the supply chain issues, he explained that the truck is “almost impossible to get,” but they are going to try their best.
The overall cost of the F550 would be around $100,000, to which the board unanimously approved.
Temporary Police Station Lease Review Committee
Board of Selectmen Chair David Dufresne shared that the original applicants for the Police Station Lease Review Committee included Police Chief Gerald Millette, Fire Chief Adam Lavoie, Jim Dusty, Ferrera and Bill Conrad.
He noted that they received three new applications from Steven Murphy, Kathleen Banas and Marci Dineen. After the board reviewed the applications, Dufresne said they are all equal, eager residents willing to help. To make it fair, he suggested appointing the candidates in the order that the applications were received.
A motion was made, seconded and approved to appoint Millette, Lavoie, Dusty, Ferrera, Conrad, Murphy and Banas to the Police Station Lease Review Committee, with Dineen as an alternate.
Special Town Meeting
The town of Warren will host a Special Town Meeting on Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. in the Quaboag Regional Middle/High School.