Voters will have a say in the purchase of new town vehicles and new street lights during the Fall Town Meeting. 

The Fiscal Year 2023 capital plan, which is up for discussion at this year’s Fall Town Meeting, calls for the purchase of seven new police vehicles, three new vehicles for the Department of Inspectional Services, and over 600 new LED street lights. 

According to Wareham Town Administrator Derek Sullivan, the town would need to take out a $450,000 loan and use $325,000 of free cash to fund this plan. 

The $450,000 loan would be used to purchase and equip five new police cruisers and two unmarked vehicles, said Sullivan, who added that it would be paid back over three years in $150,000 installments. 

The Wareham Police Department has around $150,000 in its annual capital budget, which could be used to make the yearly payments, said Sullivan. 

Three new energy-efficient vehicles for the Department of Inspectional Services would cost $100,000 of free cash and would replace three 2005 pickup trucks currently in use by the town, he said. 

“It’s getting to the point where they’re not passing inspection,” said Sullivan. “We’ve welded some plates onto them — it’s time [to replace them].”

The final item on the capital plan is the purchase of LED streetlights, which would cost $225,000 of free cash.

“We’ve already converted close to 1000 street lights to LED out of around 1700,” said Sullivan. “This would take care of the remaining lights.”

The newly proposed LED street lights would include a time-sensitive dimmer that reduces light levels by 30% after 10 p.m., said Sullivan, who added that LED street lights could save between $40,000 and $42,000 annually. 

The Fall Town Meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24 at the Wareham Elementary School.