Waterford adds to its hybrid fleet

Waterford — Two new Ford Fusion Hybrids have been added to the town’s fleet of vehicles, expanding the fleet to four hybrid cars.

The Board of Selectmen will reassign three of the vehicles at its meeting on Tuesday.

As part of the town’s fleet management plan, the town sought approval for the purchase of the cars and received $8,100 per vehicle this summer in grants from the state. The difference for the cost of the vehicles was drawn from the town’s management plan, which Planning Director Thomas Wagner said is part of the town’s capital budget.

“We felt it (the expense) to be reasonable because of the message it sends and because of the overall lesser consumption of gasoline,” Wagner said on Monday.

Stickers on the back of the vehicles share the message “Think globally, act locally, Waterford supports green energy,” Wagner said, adding that the town has seen a reduction in the consumption of gasoline with just the two hybrids.

Three cars will be assigned to the first selectman, a building department official and a planning department official. Selectmen plan to also declare as surplus two 2003 Ford Crown Victorias, which either will be put up for sale or designated as scrap.

The meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the Town Hall auditorium.