MORAVIA -- The Moravia Town Board decided to move forward to fund the purchase of a new 10-wheeler truck. Highway Superintendent David E. Purdy presented the board with options for accessing monies budgeted in the Capital Machine account for this year and 2010, which will be depleted, in order to beat the 2010 new emissions deadline, when costs are expected to rise.

Purdy reasoned the truck, a multi-purpose 10-wheeler equipped with hydraulics, a box and everything but a plow and wing would cost in the vicinity of $156,000. With $85,000 accessible now and another $30,000 budgeted for next year, the money to be borrowed would, in reality, amount to about $11,000 after selling the old truck for about $30,000.

How much would actually have to be financed was questionable because of time lags between money available in this year's budget, the old truck's sale and machine money budgeted for next year. An estimated $75,000 would have to be financed until the rest of the money could be used to pay down the debt.

After much discussion, the board resolved to purchase the truck, subject to permissive referendum, for an amount not to exceed $160,000. The town already received a bid for $156,300. The International truck would come from Stadium International and Viking Trucks in Syracuse, to be paid on delivery. Permissive referendum means that anyone in the town opposed to the resolution has 30 days to file a petition objecting.

Purdy said once the International truck was purchased, it could be delivered by late this year. Typically the chassis arrives in 60 days and then is outfitted prior to delivery. He said the town would be ahead of the game because of expected increases in costs for parts resulting from emissions standards changes.

"This engine won't be available much longer," Purdy said. "The decision has to be made tonight."

Town board member David Dinger raised the issue of an earlier town board's resolution limiting all vehicle purchases to Macks to standardize part replacement. Then machine purchases wouldn't have to go out to bid.

Purdy said it was time to change that policy because Mack hadn't kept up with engine developments.

In other news:

* The board considered obtaining three bids for a project to replace the Town Hall's roof. How much money is still left in the budget was not known, so the town will check. If there's not enough, the project will be put on hold.

* The plan for moving two trailers on the Pleasant Valley Trailer Park was sent back to the drawing board.

* The Town of Sempronius withdrew from the Summer Recreation Program, so its residents will have to pay to participate.