Town purchases 1996 Gradall excavator

NORTH EAST — There’s a new Gradall hydraulic excavator in the town yard right now, delivered there by the Dutchess County Highway Department. Well, new to the town, anyway, according to town Supervisor Dave Sherman. It’s a 1996 Model G3WD, quite an upgrade from the town’s previous 1974 Model G660.

Sherman announced at the Town Board workshop meeting on Thursday, Aug. 6, at Town Hall, that the Gradall had been purchased from the county, as had been previously approved by the board.

Highway Department Superintendent Robert Stevens told the board the purchase price was $9,995.

“The Dutchess County trainer for the Gradall delivered it to us, and then trained our operator,� Stevens said. “This piece of equipment is a great improvement for the town, since it takes just one person to operate it. The old 1974 model needed two people.�

Board member Carl Stahovec said he had the opportunity to take a look at the new piece of equipment, and he was very pleased with the purchase.

“We got a really good deal, it’s nice and clean,� he said.

Sherman noted, “It compares very favorably to current models.�

Stevens told the board that the Gradall would be paid for out of budgeted money, as well as the sale of surplus town equipment.

“The 1974 Gradall could be sold,� he said. “It’s been very well maintained.� The 1974 excavator, which was bought used, had been used by the town for a couple of years, Stevens said. Sherman said the town would advertise it for sale.

The excavators are mounted to a truck, and are used for digging drainage ditches along the side of the road, Stevens said.

In other business, the board went through a general discussion and analysis of the draft employee handbook, rewording certain parts of it in order to clarify the sections on part-time and full-time employees, as well as holiday pay, vacation pay, medical benefits and personal leave time. The board accepted the changes in language in all sections except one referring to Medicare Part D benefits, which Sherman said he would make an inquiry about in time for the next meeting of the board.

A discussion of potential project ideas for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2010 Program was tabled until the full board is present, though Stahovec shared his idea of proposing an upgrade of handicapped access. Applications are due Friday, Oct. 2.

“We need to have a public hearing, then approval of the project ideas, with the application complete within a few weeks after that to meet the Oct. 2 deadline,� Sherman said. In order to get the process rolling, the board scheduled the public hearing on the CDBG for Sept. 3 at the Town Hall at 8 p.m.

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