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Town presses pause on LinkWell fast-charger contract after NYSERDA make‑ready funding review
Summary
Hillsdale discussed repeating a prior vote to enter an updated LinkWell contract for fast chargers after a NYSERDA audit temporarily affected make‑ready funding; board members questioned a near‑$500,000 installer proposal versus earlier $150,000 feasibility estimates and asked for more clarity before fully committing.
The board revisited a previously discussed contract with LinkWell to install fast chargers in Hamlet Park after NYSERDA put the make‑ready portion of related funding under administrative review. Board members said NYSERDA granted an extension to allow the town to assess audit findings before finalizing the contract.
A committee member described the state review as an administrative audit of installers' data and pricing and said some installers may have rushed municipalities into contracts prior to the review. "If they can get municipalities contract before that April 22 deadline, then those contracts wouldn't be held to the same standards following this audit," the committee member said, explaining why the town asked NYSERDA for more time.
Board members also raised concerns about LinkWell's cost estimate. One member said LinkWell's proposal appeared to be nearly $500,000, while an earlier town feasibility estimate two years ago was closer to $150,000. Supervisor said the board voted previously in executive or offline channels and was repeating the vote in public; he voted to proceed with caution and to repeat the approval in public. The motion to enter the updated agreement was carried by the board with members urging clarity on scope and contractor pricing.
Why it matters: The project intersects town grant eligibility, state oversight and procurement choice. A rushed contract could expose the town to higher costs or mismatched specifications if NYSERDA's audit changes standards for reporting and pricing.
Next steps: The board will rely on NYSERDA's audit outcome, request detailed scope and cost reconciliation from LinkWell, and continue to treat the project as deferred until the state audit and contractor clarifications are received.
