Capital Panel Advances 17-Item, $1.36 Million Spending List

Capital Planning · Meeting of March 2, 2026

Sturbridge Capital Planning Committee moves to back a 17-item, roughly $1.36 million capital wish list. Facilities Director Jeremy pitched $28,000 in carpet and flooring work tied to air-quality complaints and $20,400 for automatic doors at two town buildings. The police chief defended a $107,063 cruiser purchase, split between the operating budget and free cash, saying "we take traffic safety serious" about the department's marked traffic unit.

The fire chief pressed for a roughly $350,000 refurbishment of the 16-year-old Engine 1 pumper, calling it cheaper than buying used: "I just feel terrible asking firefighters to depend on something we bought second-hand." The DPW director outlined a $60,000 brine production and storage system meant to cut salt use and overtime costs, alongside a temporary 40-by-60 storage structure and several vehicle replacements.

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Source: the Capital Planning meeting of March 2, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.