Energy Commission Minutes

Minutes of 2/18/2025

February 18th, 2025

Carroll Energy Commission Minutes
Public Hearing of February 18, 2025 @ 4:30 p.m.
Carroll Town Hall Conference Room
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 Brian Mycko, Vice Chair and Secretary Imre Szauter, and Chair Bill Vecchio. Member John Greer was absent.

Members of the public in attendance in person or via Zoom: Karen Moran (in person).

The public hearing was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Chair Vecchio.

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

Chair Vecchio recognized guest Karen Moran and thanked her for attending the public hearing.

Under New Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the reason for the public hearing, that being “Consideration of proposed expenditure for NH DOE (Dept. of Energy) required certified structural engineer’s letter regarding the Public Safety building roof’s capacity to support the extra weight of racking and solar PV panels to be installed if voters approve 2025 Warrant Article 3 - To purchase and install a Solar PV array on the Town Public Safety Building.”

Vice Chair Szauter indicated that the two handouts include an invoice from Horizons Engineering and page 4 from the 2025 Town of Carroll budget.

The Horizons Engineering invoice is in the amount of $875.00, which is one-half of the amount for services to secure a letter from a structural engineer stating that the Public Safety building roof is able to support the added weight imposed by the proposed solar PV racking and panels. The letter is required by the NHDOE (New Hampshire Dept. of Energy) as part of the Municipal Solar Grant Program application award, which was approved by the Governor & Executive Council at their November 13, 2024 meeting. A public hearing is required per RSA 38-D:5 Appropriations Authorized for any disbursements over $500 by the Energy Commission.

The page from the 2025 town budget details the line-item amounts allocated to the Energy Commission, of which $500 is designated for Consultant Fees and $1,500 is designated for Training/Travel Expenses.

Vice Chair Szauter stated that in support of the Horizons Engineering invoice, Jack Young PE performed an onsite inspection on Dec. 13, 2024 and met with him to discuss the Barrington Power solar PV array proposal, obtain and review construction documents, and ascertain what additional information would be needed to complete the analysis and provide the final structural analysis letter. Mr. Young asked for photos or videos that would detail the roof truss installation.

Vice Chair Szauter reiterated that the invoice is for $875.00, not the total amount of the analysis cost of $1,750.00

Member Mycko made a motion to recommend approval of the entire amount of $1,750.00, to be paid in two installments, the first being the current invoice for $875.00, and the second being a final invoice payment of $875.00 upon completion of the analysis and receipt of the letter. Chair Vecchio seconded the motion. Chair Vecchio asked if there was any discussion on the motion.

Karen Moran asked for background on the need for the structural analysis letter. Vice Chair Szauter explained that prior to the town kick-off meeting with the NHDOE, including the Davis-Bacon Compliance Consultant and the NHDOE Technical Monitor, the town is required to provide a certified structural engineer’s letter, stating that the roof structure for the proposed solar PV array is strong enough to support the additional load. The NHDOE kick-off meetings were originally scheduled to begin mid-March, but have been delayed. However, the letter is still required before the meeting can be scheduled and held.

With no additional discussion, Chair Vecchio called for a vote on the motion. All responded by voting “AYE”, so the motion passed 4 to 0.

The invoice for $875.00 will be provided to the Select Board at their 5:00 p.m. meeting, along with the Energy Commission’s recommendation to authorize payment of the entire amount of $1,750.00 for Horizons Engineering services to obtain the required structural analysis letter.

Chair Vecchio stated that Karen Moran was invited to the Feb. 12, 2025 meeting and attended, in an effort to learn more about the work of the Energy Commission. Following that meeting, Chair Vecchio extended an invitation to her to join the Energy Commission as a regular or alternate member. Karen Moran accepted the invitation to join the Energy Commission in whatever capacity they felt appropriate. Chair Vecchio suggested she join as a regular member, because Energy Commission members felt she could contribute greatly to the Commission’s work. Chair Vecchio indicated he had prepared a recommendation letter to the Select Board, as the Board is required to make appointments to the Energy Commission per NH RSA 38-D:3 Membership. Members thanked Karen Moran for agreeing to join the Commission.

With no additional items for discussion, Chair Vecchio entertained a motion for adjournment. Chair Vecchio motioned to adjourn. Member Mycko seconded the motion. With no additional discussion, the motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 4:41 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Imre Szauter, Vice Chair and Secretary