Energy Commission Minutes

Minutes of 8/25/2025

August 25th, 2025

Carroll Energy Commission Minutes
Meeting of August 25, 2025 @ 5:00 p.m.
Carroll Town Hall Community 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 John Greer, Member Karen Moran, Member and Select Board Representative Brian Mycko, Vice Chair and Secretary Imre Szauter, and Chair Bill Vecchio.

Members of the public in attendance: None.

The meeting was called to order at 5:01 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 Aug. 13, 2025 meeting minutes. Member Mycko motioned to accept the minutes as written. Chair Vecchio seconded the motion. With no discussion, the motion passed with 4 AYES, 0 NAYS, and 2 abstentions. Members Greer and Moran were not present at the Aug. 13 meeting, so they abstained from the vote.

Under New Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the landfill/transfer station property use for solar PV array. Members discussed the information provided by Dr. Dale Knapp of Walden Renewables at the Aug. 13 Energy Commission meeting. They concluded that Walden Renewables should have the opportunity to visit the proposed site to determine if there are any significant barriers to installation of a large project and if they are interested in continued discussions. Member Greer agreed to contact Dr. Knapp for follow up.

Members discussed and agreed they were not ready to make a recommendation to the Select Board at their Aug. 26 meeting, and agreed to moving the Wednesday, Sep. 10 regular Energy Commission meeting to Monday, Sep. 8 to give another two weeks for research on this topic.

Under New Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the Public Safety building solar PV array project. Vice Chair Szauter provided a project timeline, beginning with the Jul. 23 materials delivery through the Aug. 15 installation completion. He stated that Derek Chase of Mains Electric would be onsite Tuesday, Aug. 26 to finish labeling and execute startup of the system. In addition, Derek Chase will demonstrate the rapid shutdown procedure, complete the internet connection, and establish the Solar-Log account for monitoring system performance and tracking energy generation for SRECs (solar renewable energy certificates).

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the Davis-Bacon & Related Acts (DBRA) compliance LCPTracker. Member Moran provided an update on her efforts to approve the payroll information in the system, only to be blocked because permissions were not properly set up. She finally got that corrected, and is now waiting for the last week of payroll information to be uploaded and available for review and approval.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the Affinity LED Lighting streetlight repairs. Vice Chair Szauter provided an update on the three defective LED streetlights that have been returned for repair under warranty.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on Eversource Energy ledger and invoice issues. Vice Chair Szauter stated that an Aug. 13 letter sent via email to Robyn Sarette at the New Hampshire Dept. of Energy (NHDOE) Consumer Services Division got an immediate response on Aug. 14 from the NHDOE and Eversource Energy. There was an Eversource Energy follow-up call on Aug. 25. He will continue discussions with Eversource Energy and keep the NHDOE posted.

Under Other, Chair Vecchio stated that he communicated with the town resident who requested relief from the LED streetlight glare in front of their house. The town arranged for a streetlight shield to be installed and the resident was satisfied that the issue had been resolved.

Under Other, Chair Vecchio announced that he would present a recommendation to the Select Board on Aug. 26 to remove the Eversource Energy meter and close the billing account for the St. Margaret Cemetery. He stated that the defective mechanical timer had been replaced with a photocell, in case the equipment needs to be energized again by reinstallation of an Eversource Energy meter. The replacement equipment was paid for by an anonymous donor, so there was no cost to the town.

Chair Vecchio reminded members the next Energy Commission meeting will be Monday, Sep. 8 at 5:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Community Room, instead of the regularly-scheduled Wednesday, Sep. 10 meeting date.

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 6:13 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Imre Szauter, Vice Chair and Secretary

Carroll Energy Commission
Vern Amirault, Member, 2023-2025
John Greer, Member, 2023-2025
Karen Moran, Member, 2025-2027
Brian Mycko, Member and Select Board representative, 2023-2026
Imre Szauter, Vice Chair and Secretary, 2025-2027
Bill Vecchio, Chair, 2023-2026
Note: terms end in October of the listed year