June 19, 2025 Meeting Minutes
Present: Janice Kurkoski (Chair), Jack Cadwell, Mary Humphries, Steve Kurkoski, and Emily Rosen.
Meeting opened: 6:35 p.m. Congratulations to Emily!
The minutes from our last meeting on April 2, 2024, were accepted as written.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & REPORTS:
Topics for Discussion
Hot Water System at WCS – This is a Green Communities project. There were some issues with placement which have been resolved. One tank will go into the kitchen alcove and one into the boiler room. John Gates will do the installation.
Status of Climate Leader Application –
- Floor plans are needed for each town building. Could JC do these? CAD drawings? JK will send JC floor plans that he’s already done. Deadline for the application is 12/31/25.
- Age of existing equipment
- 5-10-25-year plan to decarbonize each building
- Examples of community engagement
Discussion: The state hired a consulting firm. Geoge Voigt from ICF wants to help us make the road map. How old is our existing equipment? JK will answer this, as she has equipment IDs for all the minisplits, etc. How do we lessen/eliminate fossil fuel use in all our buildings? Goal = zero by 2050.
We have to make a plan for each building which must be revised every three years. How do we engage the public? “House doctor?” (JK) Interview the person/people using the building. Brief narrative of each building from JK to ER to Google Docs. Issues? SK had the idea of working backwards; starting with what info is needed and then giving them just that. Community engagement is critical. MEI = Mass Energy Insight. George has access to this. JK will re-engage with George to get clearer guidelines. JC and ER both expressed a desire to see the WBEC workload more evenly distributed. We probably have a couple of weeks to reassess and divvy up the tasks.
David Graham from WCS has been helpful to Janice.
Discussion about WBEC’s role regarding the community. JK doesn’t want it to be top-down from WBEC.
Town Hall Basement Flooding – heavy rain? water table? Anything to be done? Mention of David working towards retirement.
Unitarian Church Update – JC reports that there are hopes and dreams about for “the church on the hill” but nothing firm. Not energy intensive. They’re waiting to receive the report from the (paid professional) consultants, then we go from there. The Capital Planning Committee is an important part of this process. JC would recommend securing it in mothballs until there’s money to go ahead. In his experience he’s seen outcomes such as performance spaces, a viable congregation, federal funding to restore, and torn down.
Green Corner –
- Recycling solar panels. Solar panels/waste vs. waste of oil products.
- New community electricity aggregation plan just voted on this week. There’s a new contract for a decent price starting in November 2026. You must opt out in order not to participate.
- Beginning in November, residents who got heat pump rebates through Mass Save will be getting a discount on their electricity (winter only?).
Other ideas? Discussion of various ideas/topics. ER offered to put those on Google Docs to share with us.
Next meeting date and time: TBD within a month.
Meeting adjourned 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Humphries