[HISTORY: Adopted by the Select Board of the Town of Dalton 7-21-2014. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 402
The Dalton Select Board has approved the following policy to
govern the replacement of all nonexempt municipal vehicles with fuel-efficient
vehicles, as defined below.
In an effort to reduce the Town of Dalton's fuel consumption
and energy costs, the Select Board hereby adopts a policy to purchase
only fuel-efficient vehicles to meet this goal.
To establish a requirement that the Town of Dalton purchase
only fuel-efficient vehicles for municipal use whenever such vehicles
are commercially available and practicable.
This policy applies to all divisions and departments of the
Town of Dalton. The Dalton Fire District and Central Berkshire Regional
School District are not subject to this policy.
Combined fuel economy means the fuel economy from driving
a combination of 43% city and 57% highway miles and is calculated
as follows:
|
= 1/[(0.43/City MPG) + (0.57/Highway MPG)]
|
The manner in which mechanical power is directly transmitted
from the drive shaft wheels. The following codes are used in the drive
field:
A vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight
rating (GVWR) of more than 8,500 pounds.
As that which may be done, practiced, or accomplished through
feasible and reasonable means either economically or otherwise. The
adverb form shall mean in a practical manner.
A.
All departments and divisions shall purchase only fuel-efficient
vehicles for municipal use whenever such vehicles are commercially
available and practicable.
B.
The Town of Dalton will maintain an annual vehicle inventory for
all vehicles and a plan for replacing any nonexempt vehicles with
vehicles that meet, at a minimum, the fuel efficiency ratings contained
in the most recent guidance for Criteria 4 published by the Massachusetts
Department of Energy Resources' Green Communities Division. The
fuel efficiency ratings contained therein are based on the most recently
published US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) combined city and
highway MPG ratings for vehicles. Based on the 2010 EPA data, vehicles
are to have a combined city and highway MPG no less than the following:
(1)
Two-wheel drive car: 29 MPG.
(2)
Four-wheel drive car: 24 MPG.
(3)
Two-wheel drive small pickup truck: 21 MPG.
(4)
Four-wheel drive small pickup truck: 19 MPG.
(5)
Two-wheel drive standard pickup truck: 17 MPG.
(6)
Four-wheel drive standard pickup truck: 16 MPG.
(7)
Two-wheel drive sport utility vehicle: 21 MPG.
(8)
Four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle: 18 MPG.
C.
The EPA maintains a database on vehicle fuel efficiency that is updated
occasionally throughout the year as new models are released. As increasing
numbers of fuel-efficient vehicle models are released, the minimum
combined MPG requirements of the Green Communities Program may be
revised. This policy may be updated from time to time to reflect any
changes to the MPG requirements. The latest fuel efficiency MPG ratings
are available through the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
Green Communities Program.
D.
The Green Communities' Guidance for Criteria 4 must be checked
for updates prior to ordering new vehicles.
A.
Heavy-duty vehicles. Examples include fire trucks, ambulances, and
some public works trucks that meet the definition of heavy-duty vehicle.
B.
Police cruisers, passenger vans and cargo vans are exempt from this
criterion as fuel-efficient models are not currently available. However,
the Town of Dalton is committed to purchasing fuel-efficient police
cruisers, passenger vans and cargo vans when they become commercially
available. Administrative vehicles for all departments are not exempt
and must meet fuel-efficient requirements.
The following information shall be included in the vehicle inventory
list, which shall be updated on an annual basis and provided to the
Green Communities Program:
|
Model
|
Make
|
Model Year
|
Year Purchased
|
Drive System (2 WD, 4WD, or AWD)
|
Weight Class (greater than 8,500 pounds)
|
MPG
|
Exempt or Nonexempt
|
Vehicle Function
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
NOTE: The EPA combined MPG estimates or actual combined MPG
can be used to complete the inventory.
|
The Town of Dalton shall develop a plan to replace all nonexempt
vehicles with fuel-efficient vehicles as defined above. Said plan
shall outline the process by which the vehicles will be replaced,
set goals for when the existing fleet will be replaced and review
said plan on an annual basis. Vehicles shall be replaced when they
are no longer operable and will not be recycled from one municipal
department to another unless the recycled replacement vehicle meets
the fuel efficiency ratings outlined in this policy. As stated in
this policy, police cruisers are currently exempt from this provision,
but new police cruisers shall meet fuel efficiency ratings when fuel-efficient
cruisers become commercially available.
