Meeting Notes for BEC Meeting 7/22/26 starting at 5:00 PM
Steve and Janice, Jared, Jack, and Dan are in attendance
- Meeting minutes called to be approved from may 6 by Janice at 5:13
- No discussion, approved by all at 5:13 pm
- Primary discussion to be had for documents that were sent to be viewed by Janice.
- Dan has question about the batteries in the EGO?
- Janice is looking into how many 6 amp hours the battery would be
- Steve does not think that it is 6, he thinks it comes standard with 10.
- Steve thinks they make a 12 (fancy model) plus extra doo-dads
- Dan asks because has an EGO riding mower and does not have a great experience with the system that has 6 amp hour batteries. Concerns that the cemetery would not be able to be done quickly.
- Steve mentioned maybe using the school’s mower to see if it would work.
- Jared brings up that there is a functioning mower that is being used.
- Steve asks if we should approve recommending a new mower. Concerns that the decision needs to be made by tomorrow afternoon.
- Dan will talk with Clyde Jr. Janice requests a quick return on answers before sending things out for being viewed by select board.
- Janice asks about questions surrounding the summary list that was sent to the members to be viewed.
- Wants to go over the “Project List” V3.
- Most projects being handled by Nexus. Todd is still needing to get back to Rich (Nexus)
- Projects are coming in around 800k for total costs but w/rebates that are coming from the utilities- we’re coming in at around 740k
- This does not include the cost of the heaters but that is expected to be around 7k and no rebates.
- Steve asks question regarding roof and if that will be coming out of our pocket or green communities.
- Jared says that he is reaching out to Mike M. about the experience with the fire station roof being done by the local crew. He is also reaching out to Andrea Woods on prevailing wage/procurement
- The state is willing to incentive the weatherization to all buildings except for the school which was “not even close” for the price they were looking.
- Dan asks what is happening at the school with regards the costs.
- Janice explains what the contractor saw when he was up in the attic
- In short, poor air sealing was done and there are numerous bypasses.
- Fix would require blocking and a LOT of climbing around
- Pump room, steal I beams, etc need to be addressed as well
- Jared explains that we are doing better quality assurance for the projects this time around.
- Steve asks about if the solar systems are battery ready- Janice said that they should be and that they are Solar Edge.
- National Grid has approved the new projects. Which leads to why the fire station is not getting the appropriate credits and was not applied for correctly and is causing issues.
- Thus far we have lost about $3300 in lost revenue (from $.29 to $.04)
- Janice has reached out to Energy Tax savers who we have paid to go through our projects and are looking into how we can get the most rebates out them. We will be getting the $4000 back for the costs of having them done.
- Janice confirms that the IRS rebate are 30%
- We need letters for the IRS that certifies that materials are not made in China, Iran, or Russia.
- Janice hopes to have letters as supplementary documentation for grants.
- Janice asks for questions from attendees and there were none.
- Janice hopes that the additional solar will help cover the infrared heating in the garages.
- EGO mower has a tab that breaks everything down.
- Janice brings up the community project from the school where the 5th Graders and 6th Graders would come up with questions surrounding Climate Change.
- Janice had great meeting with Steve and Netti (from School)
- When pressed for budget, Steve said that the budget would be around $100k to cover stipends and salaries.
- Some items would be removed due to Janice not feeling ok asking for money for equipment that is not used often.
- Janice explains how the money would need to move for all of this to work.
- Community contribution needs to be 10%
- Asking state for $82k and the town will be kicking in about $8k.
- The state can always say no. No harm in asking.
- Green Communities Coordinator will be coming by on the 30th to come see the school.
- Seems like a big deal and great opportunity.
- Asking state for $82k and the town will be kicking in about $8k.
- Steve asks for formal vote and Jack seconds the vote to approve the documents being sent to the select board for the signature on the climate leader accelerator grant application.
- Hearing no discussion the vote is passed unanimously.
- Janice had great meeting with Steve and Netti (from School)
- Janice brings up First Parish Church and asks Jack.
- Jack says he’s not sure where it’s headed by the committee. Gets sense that the hope is the building will be open to the public.
- Similar push to just “stabilize” the building so it doesn’t fall apart while just sitting there.
- Would need/want to have fire alarms installed in Church as well as the other town buildings.
- Suggests that its something that should be involving the BEC but not sure.
- Church wants to be open for Old Home’s Day but it doesn’t seem that it will be public event ready.
- There is talk about how the venue could become a wedding venue and would need to be brought up to current codes including door changes, ramps, thresholds.
- Discussion on how the fixes would be done. Seems like it must stay under $100k
- Project is focused on preservation and renovation for public use, not a weatherization project.
- Janice asks about alarm system- would this
- Jared needs to add the church to the MEI (building stock)
- Energy use will need to be tracked which will allow us to apply for grants.
- Jack suggests that it likely won’t be a need since it will be used very minimally.
- Jack mentions that there is not a lot of plastic being thrown at it- that there will be lots of legitimate projects. Money being the issue.
- Jared to talk to Andrea on the Church and what types of meetings that he will need to be a part of.
- Jack says he’s not sure where it’s headed by the committee. Gets sense that the hope is the building will be open to the public.
- Dan has question about the batteries in the EGO?
- Janice asks about wrapping things up and asks about the EV project
- Steve says that we have a design document from B2Q which is the company that is duing the design and procurement. Steve said they had said it was all set so he pressed for questions and he ended up meeting with a lead tech on the project. He was under the assumption that things were starting sooner rather than later but it seems like the project is still a ways out.
- Steve’s concerns
- Equipment being in the offices but it turns out the names of the rooms being incorrect
- Some circuits that were backed up- their engineer did not want the fire alarm being backed up by the Kia
- Vision was that the Kia would back everything up automatically. Which would allow the back up of the building management system. However, they put the sub panel in a place where they don’t plan on having a generator back up as an option. If the heat is made then it can’t be distributed.
- Steve asked that the panels be moved so that way if there is an outage the BEM can actually work. Hoping that these changes are made. Awaiting info from the redesign process.
- BEC members share appreciation that Steve and Janice caught these issues.
- Kia will need to be plugged in all the time. Kia should be charged to appropriate amount.
- We will be participating in the Grid’s EV2X Everything program through the Mass CEC where they will be able to “sip” on the energy from the Kia during high demand.
- Companies are looking for data so there is opportunity.
- Last thing, the mini-split in the board room. Gates checked things out
- Issue was a crack in the condensate pan
- Gates will be coming to service the mini-splits on the 31st
- Green corner is covered, looking to find something for the following month.
- We will have a follow up meeting.
- Janice to adjourn the meeting? Steve seconds
- 6:25 all say aye and meeting is adjourned.