FARMINGTON — Selectmen on Tuesday evening, Aug. 13, approved spending $16,500 for a used bucket truck for Public Works.

Department head Phil Hutchins said he had been shopping around for a used bucket truck, had budgeted $19,015 for one.

In his research Hutchins found utility companies that use the trucks are doing lease agreements with a company that offers a resale option at the end of the five to ten year lease. “These trucks are going for $80,000 to $90,000, which is way too much of a price burden,” he noted.

Spencer Osgood, owner of R. S. Osgoods and Sons in East Dixfield has a personal bucket truck he used for around his property he will sell, Hutchins said. “It is in really good shape, the undercarriage has been really taken care of,” he noted. “I think this is a really good deal for the town.”

Public Works once had a bucket truck that wasn’t replaced when it failed inspection, Hutchins stated. “We used it for trimming trees in the winter months,” he said. “Keeps the crew busy pruning trees, installing Christmas wreaths in the downtown, changing lights here that are too high for a ladder, stuff like that. It is really practical. We will use it often.”

When he asked, Selectman Dennis O’Neil was told money for the truck would come from capital reserves.

Selectman Richard Morton asked if special training is required to operate the truck.

In-house training will be needed because of the harness involved, Hutchins responded. He said he would be comfortable overseeing the training.