[HISTORY: Adopted by the Select Board of the Town of Dalton 7-21-2014. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 402
The Dalton Select Board has approved the following policy to govern the replacement of all nonexempt municipal vehicles with fuel-efficient vehicles, as defined below.
In an effort to reduce the Town of Dalton's fuel consumption and energy costs, the Select Board hereby adopts a policy to purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles to meet this goal.
To establish a requirement that the Town of Dalton purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles for municipal use whenever such vehicles are commercially available and practicable.
This policy applies to all divisions and departments of the Town of Dalton. The Dalton Fire District and Central Berkshire Regional School District are not subject to this policy.
COMBINED TOWN AND HIGHWAY MPG (EPA COMBINED FUEL ECONOMY)
Combined fuel economy means the fuel economy from driving a combination of 43% city and 57% highway miles and is calculated as follows:
= 1/[(0.43/City MPG) + (0.57/Highway MPG)]
DRIVE SYSTEM
The manner in which mechanical power is directly transmitted from the drive shaft wheels. The following codes are used in the drive field:
A. 
AWDAll wheel drive: four-wheel drive automatically controlled by the vehicle powertrain system.
B. 
WD Four-wheel drive: driver selectable four-wheel drive with two-wheel drive option.
C. 
WD Two-wheel drive.
HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE
A vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 8,500 pounds.
PRACTICABLE
As that which may be done, practiced, or accomplished through feasible and reasonable means either economically or otherwise. The adverb form shall mean in a practical manner.
A. 
All departments and divisions shall purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles for municipal use whenever such vehicles are commercially available and practicable.
B. 
The Town of Dalton will maintain an annual vehicle inventory for all vehicles and a plan for replacing any nonexempt vehicles with vehicles that meet, at a minimum, the fuel efficiency ratings contained in the most recent guidance for Criteria 4 published by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources' Green Communities Division. The fuel efficiency ratings contained therein are based on the most recently published US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) combined city and highway MPG ratings for vehicles. Based on the 2010 EPA data, vehicles are to have a combined city and highway MPG no less than the following:
(1) 
Two-wheel drive car: 29 MPG.
(2) 
Four-wheel drive car: 24 MPG.
(3) 
Two-wheel drive small pickup truck: 21 MPG.
(4) 
Four-wheel drive small pickup truck: 19 MPG.
(5) 
Two-wheel drive standard pickup truck: 17 MPG.
(6) 
Four-wheel drive standard pickup truck: 16 MPG.
(7) 
Two-wheel drive sport utility vehicle: 21 MPG.
(8) 
Four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle: 18 MPG.
C. 
The EPA maintains a database on vehicle fuel efficiency that is updated occasionally throughout the year as new models are released. As increasing numbers of fuel-efficient vehicle models are released, the minimum combined MPG requirements of the Green Communities Program may be revised. This policy may be updated from time to time to reflect any changes to the MPG requirements. The latest fuel efficiency MPG ratings are available through the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Green Communities Program.
D. 
The Green Communities' Guidance for Criteria 4 must be checked for updates prior to ordering new vehicles.
A. 
Heavy-duty vehicles. Examples include fire trucks, ambulances, and some public works trucks that meet the definition of heavy-duty vehicle.
B. 
Police cruisers, passenger vans and cargo vans are exempt from this criterion as fuel-efficient models are not currently available. However, the Town of Dalton is committed to purchasing fuel-efficient police cruisers, passenger vans and cargo vans when they become commercially available. Administrative vehicles for all departments are not exempt and must meet fuel-efficient requirements.
The following information shall be included in the vehicle inventory list, which shall be updated on an annual basis and provided to the Green Communities Program:
Model
Make
Model Year
Year Purchased
Drive System (2 WD, 4WD, or AWD)
Weight Class (greater than 8,500 pounds)
MPG
Exempt or Nonexempt
Vehicle Function
NOTE: The EPA combined MPG estimates or actual combined MPG can be used to complete the inventory.
The Town of Dalton shall develop a plan to replace all nonexempt vehicles with fuel-efficient vehicles as defined above. Said plan shall outline the process by which the vehicles will be replaced, set goals for when the existing fleet will be replaced and review said plan on an annual basis. Vehicles shall be replaced when they are no longer operable and will not be recycled from one municipal department to another unless the recycled replacement vehicle meets the fuel efficiency ratings outlined in this policy. As stated in this policy, police cruisers are currently exempt from this provision, but new police cruisers shall meet fuel efficiency ratings when fuel-efficient cruisers become commercially available.