Gilford Energy Committee
December 12, 2007 6:30PM
Gilford Town Hall Meeting Room A
Present:
Doug Lambert, Howard Epstein, Patrick McKenna, Dale “Chan” Eddy,
Absent:
Gino Crecco
Media present: Citizen, Steamer
6:40 PM Meeting called to order.
--Howard motion, Dale second, accept Dec 05 minutes.
--Discussion: Change to Meeting Room B Motion passed.
--Patrick presentation using projection screen. Discussion software- Palo-Alto biz plan software. Action plan is cumbersome, demo another software. Exports to PP, XL, Word. Review of proposed Executive Summary. Agreed the inclusion of “it doesn’t matter whether you agree or disagree that global warming is manmade,” was good. Added “long term resilience.”
--Broad discussion about ICLEI, provides baseline software.
--Discussion – School District B & G manager has energy study audit. Town Administrator can request electric use info from the elec company. This will allow to set energy usage baseline.
--Discussion—value of technology & software being used. Helps to stay on track. Looked at sample inventory data input screen.
-- Added “conclusion” to plan to set the table for input from the community. Added community input verbiage. Value of joining groups to share & combine resources.
-- Discussion about proposal to turn the present selectmen-appointed energy committee into a “steering committee” and a support structure membership that anyone can join called “community membership”, with no official voting rights. Chan noted this avoids top-down process. Because the baseline project is so big, we’ll need help, and this will be a good way to get bottom-up involvement.
--Patrick motion, Howard second: to modify the structure and membership of the Gilford Energy Committee by creating a Steering Committee and open membership:~ “Five community members, at large, all of whom are appointed by the Board of Selectmen for a one year term will make up the GEC Steering Committee, with full voting rights. GEC Community Membership will be open to all who wish to join.~ Community involvement is critical to the success of the efforts that are undertaken.~ Community membership will not include voting rights.”~~
--Discussion. The focus will be to promote involvement. This will be presented to Selectmen. Motion passes unanimously, including Gino’s proxy vote.
--Discussion about structure—All subcommittees will be chaired by steering committee members. 91A language should be included.
--Discussion & consensus to create 3 subcommittees—“Education”, “Policy”, and “Energy Technology Research”.
-- More on the action plan—goes to 2025. List items with dates, short term goals, project schedule, written strategic plan & intermediate action plan. Use software to tie the various accepted projects into a schedule once approved. Method to use: What is it? What committee? When is it due? The software will also be a public repository for the meeting minutes.
-- Dale motion, Howard second to see if the selectmen would, pursuant to RSA 72:27-a, create a warrant article to provide exemptions as allowed in RSAs 72:62, 72:66, and 72:70 from the assessed value, for property tax purposes, for persons owning real property which is equipped with any or all of the following: a solar energy system as defined in 72:61; a wind-powered energy system as defined in 72:65; and a woodheating energy system as defined in 72:69.
-- Discussion included that the proper procedure will be to present a letter to the selectmen asking for time at the December 19th Selectmen meeting for the proposal. Time deadlines are tight. The group will pursue a petitioned article if selectmen are unwilling. Motion carries unanimously. Doug & Patrick will draft the letters and language for the presentation. Patrick will speak to the Selectmen of the desire to pursue the proposed warrant.
--Pat motion, Dale second, to apply to New England Grass Roots Environmental Fund grant—up to $2500.
--Discussion noted the due date is Jan 15. Passes unanimously.
--The group decided to defer more discussion of ICLEA until the next meeting.
--Next meeting January 9th.
--Dale motion, Doug second, to adjourn. Motion carries.
8:04 PM Meeting adjourned
Respectfully submitted, Douglas J Lambert, Clerk
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