MANCHESTER — The town of Manchester is spearheading an effort to partner with other surrounding towns in an attempt to reduce the cost of a variety of commodities.
According to a letter from Manchester Town Manager John O'Keefe, the town is interested in discussing the possibility of collectively biding on commodities such as diesel fuel and gasoline, road salt and sand, heating fuels and employee benefits and insurance. In addition, the town is also looking at the possibility of regionalizing services and sharing resources like heavy equipment.
The letter also addressed the possibility of working closely together on issues like planning, public safety, emergency response and economic development.
"I think the first step would be to meet with the towns ... and discuss what we're interested in achieving," said O'Keefe. "I don't want to have any preconceived notions on what this might involve."
The letter was sent Manchester Village, Pawlet, Danby, Mt. Tabor, Weston, Londonderry, Peru, Dorset, Rupert, Stratton, Shaftsbury, Arlington, Sunderland, Sandgate, Winhall and Jamaica, O'Keefe said.
Winhall Town Manager, Dennis McCarthy, said the idea of partnering with other towns to collectively purchase resources originated because of the rising cost of fuel. However, in discussions between himself, Jamaica Select Board Chairman Oliver Olsen, and O'Keefe, O'Keefe suggested exploring the possibility
McCarthy said the concept would still have to be brought before the Winhall Select Board, but he believed they would be supportive of it in the initial stages.
"I think anything we can do to ... keep the communication among all of our towns no matter how we're governed or managed is a good thing for all the taxpayers and if you can provide better services at a lower cost that's what it's all about," he said.
While McCarthy said that some towns may have already locked in a price for heating oil for the winter, he said the initiative may cause towns to think about partnering with one another in the future.
Like McCarthy, Olsen said that the main motivator for considering the partnership was fuel costs.
"That's were a lot of this really came from. We're starting there and then naturally other opportunities with other commodities is something that we'd all like to explore," Olsen said. "I think at this stage its a concept that has a lot of merit It's certainly a winning proposition from the town's end and the taxpayers."
Dorset Town Manager Rob Giaotti also expressed interest in partnering with the other towns.
"Our goal is to be efficient as we can be with tax payer dollars, so we'd be open to something like that," he said.
At the Jamaica Select Board meeting on Monday night, the board decided to pursue the concept of lowering fuel costs and potentially other expenditures by partnering with other towns.
Whether the initiative comes to fruition remains to be seen, but in his letter to the other municipalities, O'Keefe stated that "any collaboration must be voluntary and done only in a way that maintains or enhances each participating town's unique identity and sovereignty."
While Olsen seemed interested in the prospect of collaborating with other towns, he said more discussions would have to occur to determine if such a partnership would be in the best interest of the town.
The aforementioned towns have until July 10 to respond to O'Keefe's letter indicating whether or not they are interested in the proposition.
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