Board weighs hiring consultant for town solar projects amid budget concerns

Councilmember Hartman reported the solar RFP has been distributed and said she had contacted multiple providers; she recommended the town consider hiring New Energy Project Management as a consultant to manage design, bidding and grant compliance. The consultant, she said, could help secure federal tax credits and oversee design-to-build phases.

Supervisor Quigley asked for a limited-scope engagement in which the consultant would review current bid documents and budgets to determine whether cost estimates remain realistic given today’s material prices. He said he would support a modest payment for that analysis before the board committed $20,000 to develop full bid packages. "If they came back today and told us that this project was $300,000, not the $200,000 originally contemplated, that we would have to have a serious conversation about where the additional $100,000 is coming from," Quigley said. The board asked staff to pursue the limited review and report back at the next meeting.