August 19, 2025, Meeting Minutes
Present: Janice Kurkoski (Chair), Jack Cadwell, Dan Dibble, Mary Humphries, Steve Kurkoski, and Emily Rosen.
Meeting opened: 5:07 p.m.
The minutes from our last meeting on June 19, 2025, were accepted as written.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & REPORTS:
Mini-splits at the Library have been installed by John Gates, and we’re waiting for Todd Weed to do the wiring. He plans to install the new service at the Library and the gym lights at WCS. This should be up and running by winter. The DHW heaters are needed by the weekend at WCS.
The paperwork is going ahead for the PV at the Fire Station. The installation is scheduled for the fall. National Grid requires a new transformer if we keep the PV array size as planned. David Young gave the OK. National Grid’s cost for this is approx. $10,600. NE Solar will absorb $2,000.
Brief discussion of DY retirement and where/how his duties will be distributed.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:
Status of Climate Leader Application – deadline = 12/31/2025
- Floor plans for the Library are still needed in PDF. Mary will ask Ivan for these plans and forward them to JC.
- A System Failure = a “triggering event.” What do we do if this happens? The focus is reducing fossil fuels 25% by 2030, using 2022 as the baseline year. Goal = zero by 2050.
- Discussion of narratives of Town Buildings. There’s talk about a new Highway Building? JK is to go before the Highway Commission at their next meeting in two weeks, or should someone else go? We also need to go to the Fire Station. We would be listening to folks and offering info on grant benefits such as infrared availability and more.
- Capital Planning RE “the church on the hill.” JC says the committee is waiting for the report from the historic consultants. The next Capital Planning meeting is in September. JK asked if we should bring the CL issue to them. What’s the big picture? JC stated that there’s no info on the church at this time but will keep us in the loop. The Selectboard will need to sign off on our roadmap.
- Discussion: JK asked ER’s opinion on what might be done to bring people together around the subject of energy savings/climate change. Could we host an event that would work towards this? Assess the community’s opinions and attitudes on these issues. Surveys? Outreach events?
ER had a great idea to involve the WCS 5th/6th graders, or an open house for each of the Town Buildings RE: savings in energy. DD volunteered to write up this plan of community outreach events (which does not have to be executed before 12/31/2025.) ER asked if there is a specific number of outreach events required for the CL application. JK said a couple, as there’s a revision every three years. ER: be curious and go with the “resistance!”
Green Corner – we can use the info about…… “beginning in Nov., residents who got heat pump rebates through Mass Save will be getting a discount on their electricity (winter only?)”
Next meeting date and time: TBD
Meeting adjourned 6:37 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Humphries