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County discusses Leatherstocking Trolley contract and disposal options for aging trolley
Summary
Staff reported the Leatherstocking Trolley operator is running services but the contract remains unsigned; the committee discussed invoicing methods to ease vendor cash flow and agreed transferring an aging trolley to another 5311 recipient (estimated $14,000) is likely more practical than funding major repairs given DOT proceeds rules.
County staff updated the committee on two transit items: the Leatherstocking Trolley contract and the disposition of an aging trolley.
Staff said Leatherstocking has been operating while the county finalizes contract details, and the operator raised questions about invoice frequency and whether the county would provide a contract ceiling and divide payments monthly. Committee members expressed sympathy for small‑business cash‑flow issues and discussed allowing more frequent billing (weekly or biweekly) once the contract is finalized to help the operator manage expenses.
On the aging trolley, staff explained that repair costs approached or exceeded the expected auction proceeds and that Department of Transportation policy requires the county to return program proceeds over $5,000 (the county retains $5,000 plus 20% of the excess). As a result, transferring the vehicle as‑is to another 5311 recipient—estimated to net about $14,000—made more fiscal sense than repairing it to run another season.
"If we were to transfer it to a 5311 recipient and get 14 grand for it as‑is, that makes the most sense," staff said, noting DOT rules limit the county’s ability to retain proceeds for reinvestment. The committee asked staff to finalize the contract with Leatherstocking and explore more frequent billing options to assist the operator.
