What is the Capital Improvement Program Committee?

The Committee prepares the annual Capital Improvement Program Committee (CIP) Report which presents Canaan's Capital Improvement Program for the next six years. The primary goal is to keep the tax rate stable by planning ahead for large purchases (non-budget items) in excess of $5,000 with a useful life of five or more years.

How is the Plan written?

The annual plan contains capital projects submitted by town departments and, on occasion, other organizations that support town activities. A short description is included for most of the projections.

After receiving the department proposals for capital projects, the Committee prepares a report that compiles the projects and includes commentary based on the information received. This report is submitted for approval by Canaan's Planning Board and presented to the Select Board and the Budget Committee in early fall in time for town budget preparations for the upcoming fiscal year. It is intended to provide a long term, six year context for the following year's budget.

What are typical capital projects?

Capital projects include purchase or replacement of major pieces of equipment such as fire, highway and police vehicles.

The schedule of equipment also includes miscellaneous smaller equipment like the gravel screen, equipment trailers, tree chipper and asphalt hot box in the highway department, the ladders, generators, pumps, radios and turn out gear in the fire department and compactors and trailers at the transfer station.

Finally, the capital budget includes buildings and facilities owned and operated by the town including the town and police office buildings, fire house, library, senior center, garages, gravel pit storage, transfer station buildings, beach property, historic buildings, water and sewer plants, pump station, water storage tank, bridges, cemeteries and recreation areas.

All of these are evaluated and their repair and replacement costs are scheduled over the next five years.

Capital Improvement Program Committee Composition and Meetings

The Capital Improvement Program Committee (CIPC) includes one member of the Planning Board, one member of the Budget Committee, one citizen member and the Select Board's liaison.

The Committee meets during the year to update review and update the Town's Six Year CIP Plan

2019 CIP Purchases: Replacements in 2019 included a 10 wheel dump truck and a new asphalt reclaimer (hot-box) in the Highway Department and a new Command Vehicle and Utility Truck (multi-use for wild fire, equipment transportation, water transport and other uses) for the Fire Department.

 
 

2018 CIP Purchases: Six wheel dump truck with plow to replace the 2005 Sterling Dumptruck. Livefloor (48 foot/115 cubic yard) for Transfer Station. Three ambulances as part of transition of Canaan Ambulance Services to Canaan Emergency Medical Service.

  

2017 CIP Purchases: Cemetery Truck, Water & Sewer Truck, Five-inch Hoses and Turnout Gear for the Fire Department, and paint for Government Buildings.

 
 

2016 CIP Purchases: 2 Police vehicles, a six wheel dump truck, roadside mower, & one ton plow truck for the Highway Department.

 
 
 

2015 CIP Purchases

Canaan's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for 2015 called for the purchase of a new 6 wheel dump truck and a new police cruiser.

A new Ford Explorer with police package replaced the 2010 Crown Victoria Cruiser. Ironically, a few weeks after replacing the 2010 cruiser, the motor on the 2011 cruiser failed. Fortunately, the Town was able to get a used motor from Irwin Motors who had sold us the new cruiser. Bayne Stone, the Town's mechanic was able to complete the installation of the replacement motor. While the replacement is burning some oil, it appears that it will serve us until next year when it is scheduled for replacement. Long periods of idling as well as high-speed activity is the primary cause of engine failure.

The Town bought a new Dodge 5500 dump truck to replace one of the smaller 1 ton style dump trucks. The new truck is a replacement for the 2005 GMC truck. The Dodge was selected because of the improved strength of the frame as compared with the GMC.

2014 Capital Reserve Purchases: Four-wheel drive/sport-utility cruiser for the police department and a loader for the highway department.

 

2013 Capital Reserve Purchases: Excavator, Water & Sewer Pick-Up Truck, 10 Wheel Freightliner Dump Truck, Waste Hauling Freightliner Semi Truck, and a Hauling Trailer for the Transfer Station.

 


  

2012 Capital Reserve Purchases: Bulldozer, Backhoe, Police Cruiser, Command Vehicle for Fire Department, and a Heavy Equipment Trailer

 
 

2011 CIP Capital Reserve Purchases: Highway Department Plow Truck, Police Department Cruiser, and Fire Engine Replacement.

Highway Department Plow Truck

Dodge 1 ton truck with several new features:

• The front snow plow has a quick disconnect the lifts and attaches the plow for winter use.
• The wing plow that attaches on the passenger side of the truck has a quick disconnect that lifts the wing plow and attaches it to the side of the truck.
• The dump box sides fold down if needed to use the dump body as a platform for tanks or to carry oversize loads.
• All hydraulic controls including the attaching of plows are located in the cab.

  

Police Cruiser

 

The Town voted to buy a new police cruiser in 2011. This vehicle is the last of the traditional Crown Victoria models. Ford discontinued these cruisers for 2012. Typically a new cruiser sells for $30,000. We were able to obtain $4,000 from the sale of the 2004 Impala that the new cruiser replaced. The new cruiser will used as a patrol vehicle. Rust and maintenance issues were the primary reasons for replacement of the Impala. Starting in 2012, we will adopt a new replacement schedule that stretches all cruisers to at least 130,000 total miles. Two cruisers will be replaced in eight years, one in seven years and two in five years. Cruisers with fewer miles will serve the longest. The cruisers in the future will be Ford Taurus AWD models with improved gas mileage.

Fire Engine

The newest member of the Fire Department is a replacement for the Department's retired Engine 3. This vehicle maintains a size that will be able to maneuver all of Canaan's roads while still provided a larger cab to transport more firefighters to a fire. Engine 3 was purchased in 1989 and retires after 23 years. The major problem with Engine 3 was the corrosion of the tank and body.