Montgomery County Commissioners Split on Electric Vehicle Contract

Rachel Ravina | The Reporter•

A more than $375,000 contract procuring electric vehicles divided the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners on Thursday.

The six-figure agreement with Chapman Auto Group, of Horsham, covered the purchase of five Chevrolet Equinox and two Chevrolet Blazers to be used by the county’s Department of Assets and Infrastructure and District Attorney’s Office.

It passed in a 2-1 roll call vote. Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Jamila Winder and Vice Chairman Neil Makhija, both Democrats, were in favor of the contract, while Commissioner Tom DiBello, a Republican, opposed it.

DiBello initially separated the contract from a 14-item package up for a vote during Thursday morning’s meeting. While he said he wasn’t "necessarily against” them, he cited concerns related to the industry’s "longevity” and "infrastructure that needs to be put in place” for electric vehicles.

"I have a lot of unanswered questions,” DiBello said. "I know that staff is working on having some processes and procedures in place for purchasing of electric vehicles, but I think from an industry standpoint it’s still too new, and I’m not willing to support spending taxpayer money on this industry as of yet.”

Winder and Makhija stressed that "a transition to clean energy” is top of mind for the administration.

"We are prioritizing, or we have to prioritize in government a transition to clean energy, and this is one of the ways we can do that in county government is to ensure that we are not continuing to use what is becoming antiquated technology, which is emitting carbon at rates that are simply unnecessary, that are harming our environment, that are really threatening people’s livelihoods,” Makhija said.

He also pointed out weather events where significant flooding occurred in places like Bridgeport and Lower Providence Township.

"We have to step up and show leadership on climate, and one of the ways we can do that is by ensuring through our purchasing power, we help move the direction of the industry to a place that is relying on cleaner energy, that is reducing emissions and so this is one way we can do that,” Makhija said.

DiBello said he’s "all about doing what’s necessary for the environment,” but asserted that "the flooding that’s happened in Lower Providence has nothing to do with gas-powered vehicles.”

However, DiBello and Makhija expressed differing opinions on the electric vehicle industry.

Makhija asserted "The technology has come a long way, and there is continued increased incidences of purchasing EVs, and when you compare them to other vehicles, we can still accomplish all the same objectives.”

DiBello countered that "the industry has not come a long way.”

"In fact, the industry is still morphing because a lot of local dealerships and all that aren’t selling the EV vehicles like they were, the inventory’s not moving, the manufacturers are cutting back on production, and even President Biden has started to change his initiative that he wanted all vehicles to be EV by 2035,” DiBello said. "That initiative has changed. So I think that it’s a new industry. I think there’s a lot that we’re going to learn.”

While Winder underscored that "it’s a key policy area for us as we move forward,” she did acknowledge "cost-conscious” protocols are being taken to compare gas and electric prices.

"This is just one step in this direction, and we are going to do the due diligence, and I know Tom you will do that right alongside us, but we’ll do the due diligence to be cognizant of how we’re spending taxpayer dollars, but also prioritizing the county’s role around climate change,” Winder said.

In other business, officials unanimously authorized installing Benjamin H. Field as Montgomery County’s solicitor. Field, formerly employed with the City of Philadelphia, worked as chief deputy city solicitor for the city’s Affirmative and Special Litigation Unit, according to a county spokesperson.

Field will replace Raymond McGarry, who’d been serving as the county’s interim solicitor after Josh Stein resigned from his post in July. Field is slated to begin his new role on April 15.

"I’m really excited about Ben joining the county team. He brings a wealth of experience to the county’s legal team and our senior staff,” Winder said. "As we’ve looked at his work he’s an innovator at using the law and litigation to advance everything from consumer protection programs to anti-discrimination policies.”

The next Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on March 21 on the eighth floor of One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede St., Norristown. Those interested in attending can also do so virtually. Visit montgomerycountypa.gov for more information.

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