Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Power - New York Power ...

April 24, 2007
“It is difficult to place a monetary value on this 10-year-old bus. Type D school buses such as this one are
built to have a 10-year life. The Authority’s canvass in 2005 of New York City bus operators failed to find an
operator interested in accepting even a no-cost loan of the bus. Furthermore, any operator accepting the bus would
need to install a charging infrastructure that would cost at least $5,000. This cost, together with the fact that
Westinghouse technical support is no longer available, detracts from the bus’ value. BHCSD, on the other hand,
already has charging infrastructure in place, and has proven to be an excellent steward of the bus. It has provided
the Authority with performance data and will continue to do so. Therefore, staff recommends that the Authority
transfer the bus to BHCSD at no cost.
“Title 5-A of Article 9 of the Public Authorities Accountability Act (the ‘Act’) and the Authority’s
Guidelines for the Disposal of Personal Property (the ‘Guidelines’) allow the Authority, with the approval of the
Trustees, to dispose of Authority property by negotiation and for less than fair market value when the disposal of
property is intended to further public health and safety. Accordingly, based on the foregoing, transferring ownership
of the bus to BHCSD at no cost, for continued demonstration of the advantages of clean, energy-efficient electricdrive
technology for school bus applications as part of the Authority’s mission of lessening dependence on imported
oil and improving air quality, complies with the Act and the Guidelines.
“The Act and the Guidelines require the purpose and the terms of such disposal to be documented in
writing and approved by resolution of the Trustees. Further, the Act and the Guidelines require that an explanatory
statement be prepared of the circumstances of each disposal by negotiation and be transmitted to the New York State
Comptroller, the Director of the Budget, the Commissioner of General Services and the Legislature not less than 90
days in advance of the disposal. Accordingly, this transfer is subject to approval by the Trustees and the timely
filing of the required statement. This Trustee action, if adopted, would constitute the foregoing required explanatory
statement and Trustee action.
“The transfer is to be further conditioned on the execution of an agreement between BHCSD and the
Authority. The terms of such an agreement are to include transferring the bus in its ‘as is’ condition and such
additional provisions that reasonably safeguard the Authority from future responsibility.
FISCAL INFORMATION
“The bus will be transferred to BHCSD at no payment to the Authority.
RECOMMENDATION
“The Senior Vice President – Energy Services and Technology and the Vice President – Procurement and
Real Estate recommend that, pursuant to Title 5-A of Article 9 of the Public Authorities Law and the Authority’s
Guidelines for the Disposal of Personal Property, the Trustees authorize the transfer of ownership of the Authority’s
Blue Bird electric school bus to Byram Hills Central School District. The transfer of this property to the School
District for its use for as long as is technically and economically feasible will provide both an immediate benefit to
the school district and a long-term benefit to the State by demonstrating the feasibility of clean, energy-efficient
electric-drive technology for school bus applications.
“The Executive Vice President and General Counsel, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, the Executive Vice President – Corporate Services and Administration, the Senior Vice President – Public
and Governmental Affairs and I concur in the recommendation.”
The following resolution, as submitted by the President and Chief Executive Officer, was unanimously
adopted.
RESOLVED, That pursuant to Title 5-A of Article 9 of the Public
Authorities Law, the Authority’s Guidelines for the Disposal of Personal
Property, and the Power Authority Act, the Trustees hereby approve the
transfer of ownership of the Authority’s 1997 Blue Bird electric-powered
school bus (VIN 1BAAGBUH5VF072614) to Byram Hills Central School
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