MONTICELLO – A proposed chassis for the Village’s new plow truck caused contention Wednesday night as Village Manager James Snowden’s request for a $143,000.28 chassis from CHIPS funding failed to gain traction among the Village Board.

As part of his Manager’s Report, Snowden cited the CHIPS funds and the village’s available funding toward a proposed chassis for a new plow truck, which he requested be put forward for a vote.

However, several members of the Village Board expressed hesitation about moving forward with the purchase, citing prior discussions on the matter as well as concerns about how the request was presented.

Trustee Gordon Jenkins cited two previous board meetings in which the topic had been discussed, noting that the meeting was part of an ongoing conversation surrounding the village’s highway equipment. He also referenced an article previously reported by the Democrat in which Highway Superintendent Jay Sherb came before the board to discuss the department’s aging trucks.

Jenkins stated that the board had previously indicated it did not wish to move forward with acquiring the chassis.

“We had said we weren’t going to get it, so why do you keep bringing it up?” Jenkins asked Snowden. “Eventually, you have to kill it.”

Snowden responded that the request was being raised again because the equipment was needed.

“Because I need it,” Snowden said.

Jenkins reiterated his understanding that the board had already addressed the issue.

“We already voted, the board said no and that was what it is,” stated Jenkins. “I hope it wasn’t already ordered and that we have to vote it because it was ordered and we’re going to be stuck with something. I hope that isn’t the case.”

Snowden responded that if the board wished to vote on the matter again, they were welcome to do so.

Trustee Theodore Hutchins motioned for the purchase of the chassis at a price of $143,000.28 from CHIPS funds. Deputy Mayor John Barbarite seconded the motion for the purpose of discussion.

Barbarite questioned why the request had been brought forward during the Manager’s Report without appearing on the meeting agenda.

“You’ve been thinking about this now for almost a month and we get no paperwork ahead of the meeting. And it’s dropped on us like we should vote on it,” Barbarite said. “It’s not part of the agenda and it’s not part of the amended agenda.”

Barbarite added that the board had previously agreed to submit items ahead of time so they could be included on the agenda and reviewed before meetings.

“We agreed that we were going to submit our items to [Village Clerk] Janine [Gandy-McKinney] on Friday so we could have our agenda on Monday before the meeting and have time to think it over and do some research and that’s not happening,” Barbarite stressed.

Following discussion, the board proceeded to a roll-call vote on the motion.

Hutchins voted yes, while Jenkins and Barbarite voted no. Village Mayor Rochelle Massey also voted no, resulting in the motion failing to pass. Trustee Janice Davis was absent.