HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - AEC - 11/18/2019 ._, Town of
Gohasset
Massachusetts
Meeting Minutes
Alternative Energy Committee
TIME: Monday, November 18, 2019
PLACE: Cohasset Town Hall at 7:30 pm, Basement Meeting Room
ATTENDEES:
Committee Members Excused Absences Guests
Tanya Bodell Mary Jo Larson Debbie Cook
Bill Fusco
Steve Girardi Unexcused Absences
Patricia Gooding None
Michael Schmitt
Steve Wenner
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:31 pm.
AEC Committee members introduced themselves and gave a brief biography on their
experience with energy and their time on the AEC committee. Member's biographies
were updated and noted in the 1" Selectman quarterly meeting report (scheduled for
11/19/2019).
1) GOVERNANCE
Tanya noted that the attendees of the 11/4/2019 meeting had voted to elect Patricia
Vice Chair, but that perhaps governance benefits from a full committee in attendance
when such decisions are made.
Patricia Gooding noted that she would prefer the full support of the Committee.
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Tanya made a motion to elect Patricia Gooding to Vice Chair of the AEC Committee. The
motion was second by Stephen Girardi, and approved unanimously.
2) MEETING MINUTES
The Committee reviewed the minutes:
• November 4, 2019 Minutes - Pat Gooding made a motion to approve
11/4/2019 minutes, Steve Wenner seconded the motion and they were
approved unanimously with three (3) abstentions.
• October 21, 2019 Minutes — Steve Wenner noted that the minutes referenced
submission of the Plan to the DOER for approval. In fact, the DOERjust
reviews the Plan. Subject to this correction, Pat Gooding made a motion to
approve 10/21/2019 minutes, Steve Wenner seconded the motion, and they
were approved unanimously.
• September 9, 2019 Minutes - Pat Gooding made a motion to approve
09/09/2019 minutes, Steve Wenner seconded the motion, and they were
approved unanimously.
Going forward, actions items will be identified in the minutes, and the secretary will
maintain an ongoing action plan with action items, assignments, and roles to
accomplish the AEC tasks. Tasks will correspond to the priorities for 2020 identified in
the Strategic Planning Session on December 9, 2019.
3) COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION
Steve Wenner talked to John O'Rourke, of Good Energy — the Town's consultant for
community choice aggregation. Steve noted that there is a scheduled meeting on
11/20/2019 with Cohasset, Marshfield and Scituate for comments for the DOER. John
Good thinks that the three towns (Cohasset, Scituate and Marshfield) should submit
their application to the DPU on a similar timeframe. Marshfield and Scituate already
have had a public comment period and submitted their Plans to the DPU.
Before Cohasset can submit its plan to the DPU, the Town has to publicize the
community aggregation plan and accept public comment for a period of at least two (2)
weeks. During the quarterly update, the AEC will ask the board of selectman to open
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the public comment period on 12/3/2019, culminating with in-person comments on
12/17/2019 at the Board of Selectmen meeting.
In addition, community aggregation will be publicized via articles in the mariner,
Cohasset143 and town public posting areas. This time period will allow the community
to comment on the program either for support or concerns. All comments will be
provided to the DPU as part of the submission.
Tanya wants this program and process to be very transparent to the community. She
suggested a detailed timeline be created with goals and objectives to be met. Advance
meetings may be required in January and February with the Board of Selectmen and
others to obtain their vote in support of the Plan for Town Meeting. Then, education
and outreach will begin up to town meeting with all objectives and goals met.
ACTION ITEM: Steve Wenner to work with subcommittee to draft article on Community
Aggregation. Given timing of public comment period, this should be completed by
Thanksgiving week.
ACTION ITEM: Tanya will follow-up to get the website updated with the Plan and other
information.
4) QUARTERLY REPORT TO BOARD OF SELECTMAN
The Committee reviewed a draft of the quarterly report for the presentation to the
Board of Selectman meeting scheduled for 11/19/2019. Members were assigned
specific pages of the presentation.
According to the BOS agenda, the AEC is scheduled to go on at 9:05 pm. Everyone
should be at the meeting by 9:00 pm at the latest.
Tanya noted that her hope is to show the incredibly efforts of every member of the
Committee with each person being short and succinct.
ACTION ITEM: Tanya to complete presentation based on feedback from the
Committee.
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ACTION ITEM: Committee members to attend the Board of Selectmen meeting on
11/19/2019, appearing by no later than 9:00 pm.
5) STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR DECEMBER 9T" AEC MEETING
Patricia Gooding created an AEC work sheet for 2020 goals and objectives. Each
committee member is requested to review and complete a line item for any project that
they wish to pursue and/or champion. This worksheet will allow members of the AEC to
explore and evaluate items/ projects for 2020 that will benefit the Town of Cohasset. The
Committee suggested additional topics
• Solar canopies in Town lots
• School roofs revisited
• Battery storage at the landfill via a PPA or at locations behind the meters with
demand charges
• Solarize Plus and Heat Smart Programs
ACTION ITEM: Each Committee member fill out the form and return to Patricia via
email.
ACTION ITEM: Patricia to compile the list, plan the meeting and moderate the strategic
planning session to achieve a list of priorities for 2020.
6) Next Meeting:
December 9, 2019 at 7:30 pm at Town Hall.
January 13, 2020 at 7:30 pm at Town Hall — Topics to be determined.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made to adjourn, seconded and unanimously approved at 9:08 pm.
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Respectfully submitted,
Stephen M. Girardi
Secretary of the Alternative Energy Committee
Alternative
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