NORTH MANCHESTER – The town council held a brief virtual meeting on Zoom Wednesday.
Members discussed options for a new mosquito truck and reviewed the 2021 salary ordinance on a second reading.
In new business, the council decided to replace two older mosquito machines with a new, electric machine. Craig Walters, street superintendent, joined the meeting to discuss costs.
Each time the town sprays for mosquitoes, the machines use six or seven gallons of “mosquito juice,” which costs $3,000 per barrel. Since a newer machine is electric, Walters explained, it should be more efficient and last longer.
A new machine could do the work of both older machines and would cost $15,800 if purchased before the end of the year. The council voted to purchase a new machine.
The November meeting minutes were approved by the council, and no changes were reported since that meeting in the 2021 salary ordinance. During the end-of-year business meeting on Dec. 16, the council will revisit the ordinance for a third reading as well as routine utility write-offs.
The street department is finishing its final leaf sweep on the west side of town.
Clerk-Treasurer Carrie Mugford reported a town docket of $481,922.15 and a utilities docket of $152,680.83.
The next public meeting will be held virtually at 7 p.m. Jan. 6.
