Fuel Depot, Boiler At JPD Approved

In separate votes at its Dec. 12 meeting, the Johnston Town Council gave its approval for Mayor Joseph Polisena to negotiate and sign agreements for installation of a fuel depot and replacement of the boiler and hot water systems at the .

During the council's first full meeting at the newly-relocated , Polisena explained that the fule tank installation will save the town money.

"We stopped buying diesel from a gas station, and we saved about $11,000 a year," said Polisena, who estimated that the town could save up to $45,000 a year by purchasing gasoline from the state instead of a private business. "I can guarantee you that we're going to save a lot of money."

Polisena said the town will also use the fuel — to be stored in an above ground, 8,000-gallon, concrete-encased tank — for two new emergency generators.

By a 4-0 vote, with Councilwoman Eileen Fuoco absent, the council authorized Polisena to sign a contract with Gill Services, which submitted a bid of $148,000 for the fuel tank installation.

The council also voted 4-0 to approve an agreement with Gaskill Associates for engineering work to design new natural gas-powered boiler and hot water systems at the police department.

Town Planner Pam Sherrill said the town will be using American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA) funds to pay for the work, adding a final design is expected in January, with the contract for replacement of the old system to be awarded after that.

Gaskill is also the engineer for the , Sherrill noted.