Tamworth board accepts donations, presses to meet June 30 deadline for EV charger tax credit

The Tamworth Town Select Board accepted a private donation to its Energy Improvements on Town Buildings and Infrastructure Trust Fund and spent most of the meeting discussing how to structure the project to preserve eligibility for a 30% federal tax credit.

Why it matters: A 30% tax credit could return more than $6,000 to the town if the installation meets federal timing and eligibility rules. Board members said fund structure and procurement choices will determine whether Tamworth can claim the credit.

At the meeting, the board recorded accepting an additional $567.13 in private donations for the energy fund; committee notes discussed a running total of roughly $9,300, though members said their bookkeeping columns do not match exactly. The board heard that the committee is considering buying charging equipment from a supplier called EVSSE while subcontracting electrical work and construction to Cobalt, a two‑vendor approach the committee said appears to reduce the project cost by several thousand dollars compared with a turnkey quote.

Board members flagged several technical and scheduling questions that could materially affect cost and eligibility. The paperwork in the packet lists two 50‑amp circuits to allow higher charging rates, but the group said it was not clear whether the original quote assumed different circuit sizing; the size and number of circuits, they said, is a major cost driver. A board member summarized the timing pressure: “It does have to be installed by June 30,” and members said they were racing to raise funds so the town could meet that cutoff for the credit.

The board discussed whether the town could purchase equipment before all donations are in. Some members noted trustees control release of certain funds, while others said the select board can authorize staged purchases once they have clear bids. The board agreed the next step is for the energy committee to return with final, bottom‑line bids and a recommendation explaining the preferred vendor and total cost.

Members also discussed an offer of pro bono legal/consulting assistance to review tax‑credit paperwork and eligibility; the board asked that any agreement be circulated to members for review before signature.

What’s next: The energy committee will bring refined bids and a recommendation back to the board for approval. The board approved accepting the donation to the energy trust fund at this meeting and said it will consider the pro bono review and a final procurement vote once full numbers are available.