Council approves leasing up to $97,176 for additional vehicles; pilot expands EV fleet

The Northampton City Council unanimously approved on May 1 an order authorizing additional vehicle leases as part of a pilot program, provided the total lease cost over the term does not exceed the originally appropriated amount of $97,176.

Finance Director Melissa Nardi told the council that favorable lease pricing would allow the city to add a fifth electric vehicle to a pilot fleet and trade in a gas vehicle: “we can actually turn in another gas vehicle and get another Leaf vehicle and actually do 5,” she said. Staff said the pilot is intended to expand the city’s electric-vehicle fleet and increase shared use among departments.

Councilor Moulton moved to suspend the rules so the measure could be voted on at the same meeting; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call. Councilor Clemmer moved to approve the order; Councilor Moulton seconded. The measure passed by roll-call vote with all voting councilors recorded as yes.

Council discussion noted the program’s pilot status and intent to share vehicles across departments including health and human services. City staff said the additional leased units would enable an increase in the electric share of the pilot fleet from about 22% to a higher proportion, and that the leasing arrangement is with a fleet manager under a fixed appropriation.

Outcome: Motion to approve leasing as authorized (not to exceed $97,176 over the lease term) passed unanimously. Staff said they will proceed with the additional lease(s) and report back on shared use.

The approval was presented as a low-cost pilot step toward electrifying portions of the municipal fleet and enabling shared departmental access to vehicles.