The Gallatin Town Board voted July 21 to hire a company to remove asbestos-containing siding from the town hall and approved a request for proposals for a potential solar project on the property.
Jupiter Environmental Services Inc., a New Jersey-based company, will remove and dispose of an estimated 950 square feet of asbestos-containing siding from the schoolhouse section of the building for $16,400. Its proposal was the lowest of three received by the town.
The board plans to begin the work in August and hire an independent project monitor to conduct a visual clearance inspection after the abatement. That work would cost an additional $1,000.
The board also voted to issue a request for proposals for a ground-mounted solar array that would allow the town hall to draw more of its electricity from renewable sources.
Based on a preliminary proposal received in 2024, the town estimates that the project could require an array with about 25 kilowatts of direct-current capacity. The RFP, however, encourages applicants to recommend an appropriate size after assessing the property. Applicants may also submit a price for an accompanying battery storage system.
Silberberg said the town has enough money to complete both projects and that removing the asbestos would be an important step toward further improvements to the building.
“Everybody loves this building,” Town Supervisor Silberberg said. “We want to save this building.”
Town Board member Jeff Jorve agreed, saying the solar project would align with the town’s environmental goals.
“One of the things that’s nice about a battery energy storage system is that it’s going to be charged by the solar panels when there’s a lot of sun,” Jorve said. “When there’s no sun, you can run off the battery instead of pulling off the grid. And also, my understanding of them is that you can pull power off the grid when power’s cheap and run off of the battery when it’s expensive so it’s a cost savings in two ways.”
The town plans to issue the RFP by the end of July and select a proposal in October.
Silberberg also said she had spoken with a Hudson-based landscape architect about developing a conceptual master plan for the town hall property.
“It’s sad to me that there’s not actually a site that the town could gather in,” she said.
Town Board member Jack Gomm said it might be too early to begin that planning because the board is still considering what a solar array might look like and how much of the property it would occupy. The board tabled a vote on hiring the landscape architect.
In other business, the board accepted environmental maps prepared by Hudsonia Ltd., an environmental research institute based at Bard College. The maps identify wetlands, steep slopes, streams, and forests and are intended to inform the town’s ongoing zoning update.
Eli Arnow, chair of the Conservation Advisory Council, said the group will host an ancient forest walk Sunday, July 26. Residents interested in participating may register on the town’s website.
The Town Board’s next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18.