BURRILLVILLE – An electric car leased by the town for the past three years will now officially belong to Burrillville, following a decision by the Town Council to buy the vehicle for $14,744.
Councilors unanimously approved purchase of the car when it reaches the end of its lease on Friday, Oct. 1.
Used by Waste & Recycling Coordinator and Recreation Director Andrea Hall in her travels, as well as for other town business, the black, the Nissan Leaf S from Speedcraft Nissan of West Warwick has been under lease for $270 a month since 2018.
“We were using funds from the recycle fund which is now kind of depleted,” said Public Works Director Jeffrey McCormick.
A portion of the vehicle was financed with a rebate from the state Office of Energy Resources. Charging stations, situated by the playground at the Stillwater Mill Pavilion in Harrisville, and near the bike path behind the Pascoag Utility District office on Pascoag Main Street, were also installed as part of the 2018 initiative.
“It was a special program the state put out to allow us to buy these cars or lease these cars at a discounted rate,” explained Town Manager Michael Wood. “We took advantage of it at the time.”
Hall has utilized the vehicle since the lease first was approved, but according to a note on the purchase from Finance Director Leslie McGovern, the car came in particularly handy during the pandemic for efforts to help seniors and other town residents in need.
“The Recreation Department has been using this vehicle during COVID to deliver groceries, prescriptions, and occasionally to transport residents,” noted McGovern.
The car now has 6,000 miles, and McGovern noted that the $14,744 cost is $21,800 less than buying a new vehicle, and between $3,708 and $5,351 less than the Kelly Blue Book Private Party Range value, due in part to the increase in leasing costs and current lack of inventory.
“The economics speak for themselves,” said Councilor Dennis Anderson. “I think it’s a pretty good deal for a 6,000 mile car.”
“I’m not a huge fan of buying after a lease, but in this case I agree that the economics of it do look pretty good,” agreed Council President Don Fox.
