STRONG — Selectman Mike Pond said Tuesday that he will present a detailed plan on replacing town equipment at the March 16 annual town meeting.

Costs to replace Highway Department trucks and other heavy equipment have increased significantly since 1985, he said, but voters haven’t added enough money to reserve accounts to keep up with rising costs.

“Every year this gets put off, something else gets pushed down the road for another year,” he told selectmen Tuesday.

With one plow truck close to failing completely, the situation has become urgent, he said.

Pond also presented a proposal to sell advertising space at the American Legion ball field. Individuals and businesses can purchase either a 4- by 4-foot or 4- by 8-foot sign and pay to have them installed and removed each season. The proceeds will go into a town account to pay for maintenance and improvements to the field.

In other matters, a proposal to authorize custodian Tonia Boyd to use a town credit card was defeated in a 2-2 vote.

Boyd uses a personal check to buy town supplies and is reimbursed by town Treasurer Sandra Mitchell.

Boyd’s husband, Duayne, the fire chief and highway department foreman, uses a town credit card. The proposal would have authorized his wife to use it also.

Selectman Rod Spiller said he was concerned about the change.

“I don’t think too many people should have credit cards,” he said. “It’s asking for trouble.”

The town does not require formal purchase orders for employees, he said, and the additional credit card authorization could present problems. He asked if other issues were part of the request.

Pond said the reimbursement procedure has created tension among the personnel involved.

 

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