HUDSON — In mid-February, a two-alarm fire left the Department of Public Works garage unusable and damaged three snow plows and other vehicles.
Department of Public Works Director Eric Ryder said there was “significant building damage” and a significant loss of equipment as well as seven trucks. The department lost both of its vacuum trucks.
The Select Board voted Feb. 26 to enter into a lease to purchase agreement with C.N. Wood for a Vactor vacuum truck, which is a tank truck that has a pump designed to pneumatically suck liquids and sludges from underground locations, for $16,000 a month.
“To get a vac truck, it’s roughly three years, and we’ve been working with the local vendor, Vactor, as well as the manufacturer rep from Texas,” said Ryder. “And they have a truck currently sitting in Texas that they can get us.”
It would be a lease to purchase, he noted. The lease would be for nine months, and if Hudson purchased it within four months, the company would take the cost of those months off of the purchase price. It will be prorated after the fourth month, Ryder said.
“Currently, we are working with the insurance company to find out what our policy will cover in terms of rental costs and ultimately replacement costs for the equipment,” he said.
RELATED CONTENT: Fire in Hudson scorches DPW garage, snowplows
He said building and equipment is under one policy, while vehicles are under a separate one. As for the staff, they are “out of the building” and a trailer will be brought in to serve as a break room.
At Town Meeting, there will be a request for approval of the purchase of a new vacuum truck. Ryder is working with Executive Assistant Tom Gregory and Finance Director Neil Vaidya on that process. For the time being, they will need to lease this truck until Town Meeting.
What will happen with the garage is “yet to be determined,” he said, and there will be more updates on that in the upcoming weeks.
To compensate for the loss of seven trucks, Hudson has an agreement with the city of Marlborough to assist in an emergency, but there would be a delay due to traveling time.
He thanked the cities and towns that have reached out to provide their assistance, such as Boylston, Sudbury and Wellesley. Select Board Chair Scott Duplisea reiterated Ryder’s gratitude for their support.
Ryder said, “The list is very long, and I want to thank everyone for their support. The surrounding towns have been phenomenal in stepping up to help Hudson.”
He said, “At the end of the day, nobody was injured. That’s the most important thing.”
Other news
In other DPW news, the Select Board approved and authorized to sign a contract with Putnam Pipe for water main supplies at 1 Municipal Drive for $40,869.
Select Board Clerk Judy Congdon asked about the choice of Putnam Pipe as the contractor and whether the price for services would be extended past the original deadline in the bid. Ryder said they will hold the price as the deadline was due to the timing of the meetings.
He said, “We’ve already been in contact with them. Yes, that price is still going to be the lowest.”
Overall, he noted Putnam Pipe was the best price on all of the material needed.
