Board balks at raising car registrations

MERRIMACK – Selectmen killed a proposed warrant article Thursday asking voters to raise some vehicle registrations by $2 to $5.

Board members voted 4-0 to eliminate the motor vehicle trust fund warrant article at a selectmen’s meeting. Selectman Dick Hinch asked members to remove the article and “put a stake in it.”

“There is no passion for this article to go forward,” Hinch said.

The article asked voters to consider raising registrations by $3 to $5 for vehicles weighing more than 18,000 pounds and $2 for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and other special use vehicles. The majority of the fees were to be placed in a trust fund for the collection and disposal of motor vehicle waste.

“The vast majority of the people do not use the services (of waste removal),” said board member Carolyn Whitlock, who supported the motion.

The board also voted 4-0 on three purchases to expend a total of $37,000 from the highway equipment capital reserve fund for new equipment.

A total of $21,000 was expended for three new wing-plows for highway plow trucks at $7,000 a piece. Ed Chase, the director of public works, said the wings would allow the plows to clear an additional 4 feet to 5 feet of pavement in each sweep.

The town has four trucks with wings now. Chase said adding the wings to three more trucks would allow for faster snow removal and reduce overtime costs.

The purchase of a $5,000 line-striping machine, to be used on streets and recreational fields was also approved.

The board also approved spending $11,000 for a 72-inch lawnmower.