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Trustees rescind preferred developer for Hunter Tier project, direct RFQ for broader redevelopment
Summary
After staff and consultant investigations revealed private communications and process concerns, the board rescinded Westab Incorporated's designation as preferred developer for the Hunter Tier site, terminated negotiations and directed staff to issue a request for qualifications for a broader redevelopment including the Hunter Tier lot, the former firehouse site and the Regatta property.
The board voted to rescind Westab Incorporated's designation as preferred developer for the Hunter Tier project and to terminate negotiations after findings from consultant reviews and an ethics investigation identified undisclosed communications that tainted the RFP process.
Trustee moving the resolution summarized the review timeline: the RFP issued in August 2023 produced competing proposals; consultants NHB and Guidepost Solutions reviewed submissions and communications, and Guidepost identified private communications between a board member and a proposer that raised ethics concerns. The ethics board determined that one trustee violated the village code of ethics by voting to designate Westab as preferred developer. Based on those findings the board concluded that the procurement process had been "so tainted" that continuing consideration under the same process was not in the village's interest and voted to rescind the designation.
Following the rescission, trustees instructed the village manager to issue a request for qualifications to precede any new request for proposals for a public-private partnership that could include the Hunter Tier lot, the old firehouse on Mamaroneck Avenue and the Regatta property, and directed staff to develop interim parking plans. The board said RFQ and subsequent RFP materials and public hearings would follow a transparent multi-month process.
Trustees framed the action as preserving public trust and ensuring the village obtains better value and broader public benefits in any redevelopment effort.
