Members of the Bremerton City Council, save for one wisecrack, asked no questions of Public Works Director Chal Martin after his briefing last week on a portion of the $3 million Pacific Avenue Project having to do with electric vehicle charging stations.

Martin’s briefing followed concerns from Bremerton residents and others that the council’s directive to execute a change order with the contractor “to remove from the contract the installation of charging stations and related infrastructure on Pacific Avenue.”

“In fact, there is some infrastructure in there that was related to the charging stations, but it’s no longer essentially related,” Martin told the council.

Martin said that all that was installed is four junction boxes. He said conduit, pedestals and an electric box on the corner of Sixth Street and Pacific Avenue with a circuit breaker to support the charging stations were all removed from the project.

“Although you could still put in charging stations, it be a major undertaking — a new start, a brand new project,” Martin said.

In reviewing the tape of the council’s June 19 meeting, Martin said the board’s direction was straightforward.

“It’s clear to me that the council said if we ever wanna think about putting charging stations in here, it would have to be approved by the council,” Martin said. “I can tell you as long as I survive here in the city of Bremerton, I am not going to be bringing that forward to the council.”

Martin’s statement was met with a joke from council member Jim McDonald, that drew a hearty guffaw.

“So, when is your last day?” McDonald asked.

After the laughter died down, Martin emphasized that the council’s directions were followed.

“We have complied with the letter of the motion and we have complied with the intent of the motion,” Martin said, before fielding no questions from the council.