Dighton approves single police vehicle lease, defers second to fall

DIGHTON -- May 13, 2026, Dighton Select Board and Finance Committee approved one police administrative vehicle on a five-year lease and received a $27.7 million fire station feasibility study at a lengthy joint session May 13. The two boards, working through a warrant that left roughly $56,000 in free cash, approved a single 2027 Ford Explorer lease at $14,500 per year, down from a $122,000 outright purchase request, after Deputy Chief Ryan Bridges presented fleet data showing vehicles with equivalent mileages approaching 160,000 miles due to idle hours. A second police vehicle and two fire department administrative vehicles were deferred to the fall. Leroi Hill Court architects presented a study recommending a new 24/7 fire station of approximately 18,500 to 20,000 square feet, estimating $20 million in construction and $27.7 million total with soft costs, and noting the town's two existing stations total just 10,600 square feet. Dighton-Rehoboth Superintendent Bill Rooney told the boards a $1.5 million career and technical education grant reduced the FY27 district assessment increase from 3.15 percent to approximately 2.59 percent, saving the town roughly $75,500. The board also approved a new all-alcohol on-premise license for Paul Boris at Alice's Last Stop and signed the annual town meeting warrant.