WW DPW adds $230,000 in new vehicles

Part of a replacement program

By Greg Forester Staff Writer
   WEST WINDSOR — The township’s Department of Public Works will be the recipient of over $230,000 in new vehicles after Township Council approved resolutions providing for the new equipment Monday.
   The unanimous passage of the resolutions mean West Windsor’s public works employees should soon be seen tooling around in several new trucks, including a new $47,000 Ford Mason dump truck and a $74,000 lawn-mowing roadside cutter truck, equipped with two separate mowers for road cutting duties throughout the township.
   The department will also receive two new Ford pickup trucks, costing around $59,000, and an additional truck equipped with a rack system, for $53,000.
   All of the new Ford trucks are to be ordered from Nassau Conover Ford of Montgomery, and the roadside cutter truck is to be purchased from Cherry Valley Tractor Sales of Marlton.
   The acquisition of the new vehicles comes under the township’s six-year capital budget plan, which has involved doing an inventory on all township equipment, and creating a schedule of retirements and replacements.
   ”We have taken great steps to establish a true six-year capital budget,” said Business Administrator Christopher Marion Wednesday. “We have worked hard the last three years to get a good handle on our equipment and vehicles needs.”
   Administration officials keep track of all public works, police and emergency service vehicles under the program, in order to ensure a timely and cost-effective program of keeping up with township needs, Mr. Marion said Wednesday.
   The schedule is based upon vehicle age, mileage and useful life. The township is currently undergoing a process of looking for new fire department vehicles, which involves sending out specifications and receiving bids from manufacturers.
   Fire vehicle prices can be several hundred thousands dollars, township officials said.