Energy Commission Minutes

Minutes of 3/28/2024

April 3rd, 2024

Carroll Energy Commission Minutes
Meeting of March 28, 2024
The Carroll Energy Commission mission is to advise, encourage, and facilitate energy conservation, energy efficiency, and clean energy solutions for public buildings and properties, businesses, and resident homes. The Committee shall provide leadership and direction for community education relating to energy and shall propose and explore funding for local energy projects.
These minutes of the Town of Carroll Energy Commission have been recorded by its Secretary. Though believed to be accurate and correct they are subject to additions, deletions, and corrections by the Energy Commission at its next meeting when the Commission votes its final approval of the minutes. They are being made available at this time to conform to the requirements of New Hampshire RSA 91-A:2.

Minutes recorded by Imre Szauter, Secretary

Commission members in attendance: Member Vern Amirault, Member and Select Board Representative John Greer, Member Brian Mycko, Vice Chair Imre Szauter, and Chair Bill Vecchio

Members of the public in attendance: Bobbi Amirault

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Chair Vecchio.

Chair Vecchio invited all attendees to rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Chair Vecchio stated he would entertain a motion on the March 13, 2024 meeting minutes. Member Amirault motioned to accept the minutes as written. Member Mycko seconded the motion. With no discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

Chair Vecchio stated he would entertain a motion on the March 19, 2024 meeting minutes. Member Mycko motioned to accept the minutes as written. Chair Vecchio seconded the motion. With no discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

Chair Vecchio welcomed Carroll resident Bobbi Amirault to the meeting and thanked her for attending.

Under New Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the proposed Affinity LED Lighting contract to implement the November 27, 2023 proposal to convert the town’s street lights to LED units. He suggested each member present his thoughts on the contract, to be followed by concluding remarks and development of a recommendation for the Select Board.

Member Greer stated that he thought the contract was well written. He highlighted several provisions he thought protected the town during the conversion, including the liability insurance provisions. Member Greer felt the Energy Commission should develop a recommendation to present at the April 2 Select Board meeting, as delaying a vote on contract approval is not in anyone’s best interest.

Member Amirault stated he also felt the contract was well written, but did not include the November 27, 2023 Affinity LED Lighting proposal as an addendum or attachment to the contract. He also stated that he did not find any mention of the old high pressure sodium (HPS) street lights going back to Eversource.

Member Amirault recommended that Vice Chair Szauter be appointed as the single point of contact for all Affinity LED Lighting communications, as the Select Board would likely take longer to receive and respond to any inquires.

Vice Chair Szauter reminded members that he was unanimously voted as the single point of contact for Affinity LED Lighting during the March 19 Energy Commission Zoom meeting with Affinity LED Lighting. Member Greer suggested that the Select Board should make that appointment official at their April 2, 2024 Select Board meeting.

Member Amirault questioned whether removal of a street light would be considered extra work under the terms of the contract. Member Mycko offered that removal without replacement should be considered less work, not more, as all existing street lights are schedule to be removed and replaced.

Member Amirault questioned as to when the actual parts (10 years) and labor (1 year) warranties begin – upon acceptance of a signed contract or upon completion of the project. Vice Chair Szauter indicated he would add this question to the list he is creating for Project Manager, Angel Segarra.

Chair Vecchio provided comments, including his concern about the dumpster for storage of removed materials during the project. Member Mycko added to the concern about recently-installed Eversource LED street lights that replaced HPS street lights reported as defective. Vice Chair Szauter stated that he would add this to the list.

Vice Chair Szauter offered to contact Public Works Director Scott Sonia about placement of the dumpster for the project. Members expressed concern about securing the dumpster to protect the town from theft and/or liability claims.

Chair Vecchio stated that he would like to see the contract formatted in a “page x of 13” format instead of just “page x” format. He would also like to see the last two lines of the first page (“OWNER:” and “FOR THE TOWN OF CARROLL”) moved to the second page just above the “Signature” line. Vice Chair Szauter added those items to the list.

Chair Vecchio questioned if the proposed hours of work (7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.) during the project complied with our zoning ordinance. Member Mycko explained that the town’s zoning ordinance doesn’t restrict work to certain hours, as there is an expectation of no excessive noise from any source outside of normal business hours.

Member Mycko stated his only concern was the start of the warranty period, whether it was upon signing of the contract by both parties or when the project was completed and accepted as such by the Select Board.

Vice Chair Szauter indicated he would like a determination from Carroll Police Chief Bailey whether any form of town-provided traffic control is required for the project. He will contact Chief Bailey to check on traffic control. He also asked if the provisions in Article 8 – Insurance should be reviewed by town counsel. Members felt this wasn’t necessary.

Vice Chair Szauter pointed out that in Article 11 – Time of Beginning Work, the contract calls for work to commence on or before July 1, 2024. In Article 13 – Time of Completion, the contract calls for completion by September 30, 2024.

Vice Chair Szauter reviewed his list of questions for Affinity LED Lighting, which will be routed to the proper personnel.
1) Start date of warranty?
2) What is the fate of newly-installed Eversource Energy LED street lights?
3) Any concerns regarding placement of the dumpster?
4) Can the format of the contract be slightly changed as previously discussed?
5) Should the November 27, 2023 proposal become an addendum or appendix to the contract?

Vice Chair Szauter made a motion for the Energy Commission to make a recommendation to the Select Board to accept the contract presented by Affinity LED Lighting as written. Member Mycko seconded the motion. With no additional discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on follow-up items for the April 11 NHSaves Button Up Workshop. Member Amirault and Bobbi Amirault suggested several write-ups for the message board in front of the former fire station. Bobbi offered to place the letters on the message board one week before the workshop.

Chair Vecchio discussed promotion of the workshop using the full-sized and quarter-sized posters, including placement at locations around town. Member Mycko offered additional promotional opportunities via social media.

Member Mycko reiterated his plan to replace the flag pole light in St. Margaret’s Cemetery with a solar rechargeable unit, thereby eliminating the need for Eversource electricity service to the property.

Member Greer asked about the process for suggesting additions and removals of street lights. Members understood that following the audit of existing street lights, based on the current Eversource Energy inventory, there would be a review by the Energy Commission of the report from Affinity LED Lighting. That would be the appropriate time to consider, along with any recommendations from Affinity LED Lighting, for adding or deleting street lights and/or changes to the intensity of any lights.

Members discussed privately-owned street lights. Vice Chair Szauter indicated that during evaluation of street lights in 2017, he and Michael Hogan discovered one on Lennon Road. Members concluded that privately-owned street lights would likely be discovered during the audit and a discussion of how to address them should be held during the audit review meetings. Ultimately, the Select Board would be asked to make decisions based on Energy Commission recommendations.

Chair Vecchio mentioned he requested a Zoom meeting with representatives from CPCNH (Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire). CPCNH could not arrange to meet during the regular Energy Commission meeting of May 8, so June 12 at 4:00 p.m. was suggested. This would be one hour before the regular monthly meeting of the Energy Commission. Members agreed to this change; Vice Chair Szauter agreed to request a change to the start time on the town website calendar and the addition of the CPCNH Zoom meeting to the agenda.

Under Other, Chair Vecchio invited items for discussion; nothing was offered.

With no other agenda items to discuss, Chair Vecchio entertained a motion for adjournment. Member Amirault motioned to adjourn. Member Mycko seconded the motion. With no additional discussion, the motion was passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 6:26 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Imre Szauter, Vice Chair and Secretary