Town Looks to Expand Fleet of Hybrid Vehicles

When they meet on Tues., Sept. 4, members of Windsor's town council will be talking cars.

According to town documents, the town seeks to replace a 1994 Ford Crown Victoria with a brand new hybrid Honda Civic. If approved by the council, the Civic would be the ninth hybrid vehicle purchased by the town since 2004.

In particular, council members will be tasked with approving the method of financing.

Financing the vehicle purchase would be accomplished through a collaboration of town and federal funding.

In an effort to encourage the purchase of hybrid vehicles, the federal highway administration (via Connecticut's department of transportation) provides grants to assist in their purchase.

The alternative fuel program provides funding for vehicle costs that go beyond the purchase of a standard-engine vehicle. The hybrid Honda Civic costs roughly $5,900 more than the standard-engine model.

Accordingly, the state department of transportation has announced the approval of a grant for the town's purchase of the car in the amount of $5,900, town documents say.

All nine of the town's hybrid vehicles have been purchased with assistance from the alternative fuel grant program, providing the town with $54,000 in savings.

According to the town, the remainder of funds needed to purchase the vehicle will come from the town's capital budget — the portion of the budget that includes projects financed by bond proceeds or support from state and federal aid.

More than $10 million have been budgeted for in the town's 2012-13 capital projects budget, which, in addition to the replacement of town vehicles, includes road repairs, park improvements and school heating, ventilating and air condition upgrades.

The town council will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Tues., Sept. 4. Monday, the day the council would normally meet, is a holiday.