Town meeting approved Article 30 to appropriate a total of $393,750 to construct a new municipal fuel depot on town property at 30 Landing Road (assessor map and lot provided in the warrant). The proposal was framed as a public‑safety and resilience investment to ensure municipal vehicles can be fueled during storms or when private stations are closed.

Select Board representatives and department leaders said the depot would allow police, fire and DPW vehicles to refuel on‑site 24/7 and to buy fuel at state bid prices to achieve long‑term operating savings. Proponents emphasized resilience during extended outages and major storms, when nearby private stations may be closed or inaccessible. Supporters noted above‑ground, double‑walled tanks with leak detection would be used, and that above‑ground systems are industry practice to reduce the risk of undetected leaks.

Opponents questioned using roughly $394,000 of free cash now — a sizable one‑time allocation — rather than pursuing lower‑cost alternatives, including arrangements with local private stations to open for public‑safety needs, temporary storage tanks tied to the public‑safety generator, or intergovernmental cooperation with neighboring towns that have fueling depots. Speakers also requested more detailed cost‑benefit analyses and clearer payback timelines; one finance committee estimate quoted during discussion suggested a five‑to‑ten‑year payback horizon under certain traffic assumptions, but town staff said one DPW member withheld mileage data and a full analysis was not available at meeting time.

Supporters argued that the capital outlay is justified by operational savings through state contract pricing and by improved emergency response capability. The article passed by a majority vote; proponents said construction and procurement would follow established procurement rules and permitting.