A new chassis for the fire department’s primary ambulance tops a nine-article warrant when Tisbury voters convene for a special town meeting next week.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, in the Tisbury School gymnasium. Moderator Deborah Medders will preside.
The 2007 Ford E-450 ambulance has been historically a lemon, fire chief John Schilling said, and most recently they have had trouble with the transmission. Voters will be asked to spend $110,000 for a new chassis and installation. Mr. Schilling said replacing the chassis would be a cheaper and longer-lasting solution than continuing to repair the ambulance, which is otherwise in sound shape. The department has been using a 1998 back-up ambulance as a primary vehicle when mechanical problems crop up.
In other warrant requests, town harbor master John (Jay) Wilbur 3rd wants to spend $7,600 from the waterways improvement fund for a variety of projects, including designs and inspections of the Lake Street landing and Owen Park pier in preparation for repairs, and the design of a pump-out facility at the Lake Street landing, much like the one that became operational this year at Owen Park. Though most boats in the harbor use the floating pump out facility, the pier stations would be available to handle additional needs and provide back up in case of emergencies.
Voters will be asked to approve the transfer of $22,000 from an unfilled position in the IT department to help pay for various new expenses, including software, maintenance, repairs, equipment and consulting. New IT director Heidi Rydzewski started work Jan. 4, but the position was budgeted to begin in October.
The public library is asking for $30,000 from the unreserved fund balance to seal and treat the basement floor, which serves as their lower level. Though there have not been any problems, the treatment was recommended by Nauset Environmental Services, which determined after an inspection that the floor was susceptible to water infiltration. The library already has funding to replace the carpeting on the lower level and if voters approve, the treatment and sealing will be done at the same time.
Voters will be asked to spend remainder funds totaling $61,138 from capital equipment articles from the 2015 annual town meeting to buy a pickup truck for the department of public works. The DPW wants to transfer $40,000 internally in order to pay a consultant for a comprehensive performance evaluation of the town sewer system. Interim director Paul Wohler said the funds are available due to vacant positions that they do not plan to fill.
Two articles cover an updated employee classification plan that follows recommendations from a study by the Collins Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston. At their meeting this week, the Tisbury selectmen said they will move for no action on the article on the town meeting floor, because all the details are not finalized.
Voters will also be asked to approve the payment of past due bills totaling $8,622.
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