LIVERMORE FALLS — Selectmen on Tuesday, Aug. 20, approved the $157,015 bid from O’Connor GMC for an automatic transmission plow truck for Public Works.

Highway Foreman Bill Nichols said he received two quotes, the other was from Freightliner of Maine for $146,635.

“When I put out for the quotes, I asked for a standard transmission and an automatic,” he noted. “There is about $15,000 more for the automatic transmission. I am thinking that is the way we want to go because people nowadays when they take truck driving school they get their license on an automatic. It is the only thing they can drive, they can not drive a standard plow truck.”

Nichols thought it was time the department had an automatic for that reason.

Other issues with the Freightliner bid he noted were no estimated time of arrival was given and he was told there are no automatic transmissions currently available. The town could have the automatic from O’Connor next March or April, Nichols said.

“I would really like to see us spend the extra money and go through O’Connor with the Western Star,” he stated. “Because if you guys will remember, last year with the motor job that we had with Freightliner of Maine we received one quote and then when we got the bill it was double what it was. I just have a bad feeling that we could get stuck with a higher bill where they are saying the automatic is not available right now and no delivery date.”

Nichols recommended the O’Connor truck realizing it was the board’s decision.

At town meeting in April voters approved putting $100,000 into a reserve account for a new dump truck to replace an aging one.

More money will be asked for next year, Nichols noted.

“The other thing too is the new mechanic we hired, he also recommended the Western Star,” Town Manager Carrie Castonguay said. “This gentleman has 22 years experience working on heavy equipment, diesel engines and that was his recommendation that we go with the Western Star automatic as well.”

Jay has at least one automatic transmission truck, Nichols said. “We have that 2016 Western Star and that has been a great truck,” he stated. “I think it has only been back [for service] like twice.”

The truck the town is looking to get rid of will not be traded in, putting it out to bid would probably bring in more money, Nichols said. Funds from the sale could go towards the new truck, he noted. He couldn’t remember the exact amount currently in the equipment reserve account.

Funds for the plow gear will also need to be budgeted for next year, he said. Funds for the truck only were proposed this year because the time frame for delivery was uncertain, Nichols noted.

Nichols said he requests competitive quotes rather than bids to save advertising costs.

One company said it will deliver in March or April, Selectman Jim Long said. The other said an automatic transmission truck could be ordered but there is no anticipated date of arrival, it could be January of 2026 and the company would have town money sitting there, he stated. “It seems to me O’Connor would be preferred,” he added.

Castonguay said it is the board’s discretion which quote to approve.

Nichols said contractors who pave for the town and others have automatic transmission trucks, that they get better traction.