MEC notes from 2/11

Medfield Energy Committee Meeting Notes for Tuesday February 11, 2014

Attendees:  Fred Davis, Fred Bunger, Emre Schveighoffer, Mike Sullivan, Pete Peterson, Cynthia Greene

1.  Meeting minutes from the January meeting were not ready and so were not discussed.
2. OATA study – Fred D. gave the application for the State to Mike S. for signatures.  The letters that will go out to five potential consultants for the town were reviewed.  Fred D. will email the final letter to Mike S. so that it can go out February 14.  At the Massachusetts Municipal Association meeting  on January 24 and 25^th Fred D. met Beth Greenblatt from Beacon Integrated Solutions http://www.beacon-llc.com/

and she will become the 6^th consultant the RFP will be sent to the week of February 17.

1. Sagewell letter that will be sent to homes using oil-heat was reviewed and the changes Pasi suggested were accepted.  There will be no signature on the letter but it will say it is from the Medfield Energy Committee and all questions will go to Mike S.  The letter will be on one page and it is expected that it will go out to 1,000 homes in Medfield.   Fred D. will confirm that the letter will be copied and sent by Sagewell and will ask if a brochure with house photos will go out with the letter.
2. GCA designation – Fred B.

• PV bylaw written by Sarah Rapossa town planner, sent to Kelly Brown for comment.  The State says that it complies, but asked why it is an overlay district and a designated area (basically West Street).  Fred B. stated that we will know after the solar study is completed what the overlay district will be.  Marie and Fred B discussed the PV bylaw with the Planning Board and they are reviewing it.  The planning board will conduct a hearing on 3/17/14, but the planning board does not want to sponsor the bylaw.  Pete Peterson asked if we would like it to be sponsored also by the Board of Selectman and all agreed we would like that support.   The PV bylaw will be on the warrant and in order to pass it will need a 2/3rds majority.
• The Stretch code was discussed and Fred B. stated that it only applies to homes over 3,000 square feet.  It will be on the warrant and only needs 51% to pass.  Pete also offered to see if the Board of Selectman will support this as well.  70% of energy use in Medfield is residential and the stretch code will be in effect till July 2014 when a new stretch code will take effect.  Fred B. is working on how to describe this to the community.
• Expedited permitting – Mark Cerel will write.
• 20% reduction of energy plan will be due in August.  Cynthia G suggested looking at water reductions and Mike S stated that the rerouting of some water piping will require less pumping and that we could take credit for that energy reduction. The plan has to be specific for 15% of the reductions.  The Board of selectman and the School Board need to sign off on the plan.
• The auto purchase policy is still being written.

1. Marie helped Mike S. write the energy manager grant that will go in on February 14, 2014.  Mike S. said that if the town receives the grant that it would bring in an energy manager and then make him or her an energy and buildings business manager as well at the end of the two years when the grant funding runs out.  The state grant would pay 50% the first year and 75% the second year for a part time position.
2. Public safety building.  Adam Graber has not been able to make their meetings and Marie is the back up.  They are going into the final design.  Mike S. will get the schedule for the meetings so that others might be able to go.  Their next meeting is 3/19 at 7 am.
3. Next meeting Monday March 3, 2014.  It was suggested that we ask Kelly Brown to join us.

Adjourned 9:15 pm

Respectfully submitted by Cynthia Greene