Board rejects single bid for solar panels at highway garage; project to be revisited in January

Council opened a sealed bid from Clemens Electric to install solar panels on the highway garage; the bid amount was stated in the meeting as $25,000. Board members raised questions about the single-bid procurement, the long payback period, and whether the roof structure had been checked for additional panels. One member summarized the concern: "It makes no sense to me to spend 25 plus thousand dollars that's gonna take us 30 years to save."

Engineers confirmed the roof had been assessed previously and that more panels could be accommodated structurally. Several members suggested exploring more bids and alternative uses for the available NYSERDA or other grant funds. On a recorded voice vote the motion to accept Clemens' bid did not pass, and the chair said the item will be revisited at the January meeting.