§ 143. Town superintendents may hire machinery. The town superintendent may rent or hire machinery or equipment at a rate to be approved by the town board. The expense thereof shall be paid out of moneys provided for the repair and improvement of highways. Rentals paid by the town pursuant to this section shall not be applicable to the purchase of machinery or equipment so rented, except if pursuant to an installment purchase contract entered into pursuant to section one hundred nine-b of the general municipal law.