Warwick Building and Energy Committee Meeting Minutes March 13, 2017 Call to order: 6:10 pm Present: Janice Kurkoski, Chair, Steve Kurkoski, Dan Dibble, Mary Humphries, and guest Pat Smith from FRCOG Public Comment: None Minutes of last meeting were unanimously accepted. Green Community Projects We discussed in great detail with Pat Smith the possible use of future DOER Green Communities grant monies and the ways in which we might successfully apply for such funding. In order to be eligible we must be up-to-date on our annual reporting, and we need to have expended all existing funds (which for us is approximately $50,000.) We have plans for our existing funds including heat pumps and ceiling fans for the Town Hall and hope to have these projects completed by the end of June. Janice will share with Pat the original Energy Reduction Plan and the Guardian report from Oct 2014. The competitive grant round closed on March 3, 2017. These grants are available once a year, max. amt. $250,000. Meta-Grant funding is more limited and unpredictable in terms of money available and time required to complete. As soon as FRCOG has these details, they will let us know. We have $5000 available from FRCOG between now and next spring for the purposes of assistance with annual reporting, report review, and zoning bylaw amendments. Our main focus on remaining town energy issues is WCS. How to get these school projects done? Fixing the attic is a priority. Discussion with Pat regarding these needed energy repairs and how the current District Agreement is motivated (or not) to make changes. The district is now being opened up for possible renegotiation. Steve will be in contact Pat and the rest of the new HEART group to arrange a meeting date to discuss a plan. Janice will reach out to the Clean Energy Extension at UMass and get in touch with Tim Brandle at PVRSD to set up Mass Energy Insight tracking tool for the whole district. Janice will send Pat copies of the extensive energy audit and subsequent framing statement for the school. If the school plan doesn't work out, what would be our next plans? Vehicle issue: Janice will ask David Young to contact Jim Barry regarding the wing plow; to see if the DOER would consider such an expenditure. Another possibility would be to improve energy efficiency in the old fire station building (if it is to remain in use), as it uses almost as much oil as the library. Or will there be an addition to the new Safety Building for administration purposes and if so, and after the Town becomes the owner, will we have input into a plan for good construction and would GC funds be available for that project? North Quabbin Energy "Local Climate Action" event March 26th in Athol. It was unanimously agreed that WBEC would like to endorse this event. Highway Building Larry is to call National Grid directly to disconnect the security light. Ceiling Fans We need to find an electrician and obtain energy-efficient fans that can be thermostatically controlled. New Fridge - is on its way! It is possible that we may not need to use the little fridge anymore. Green Corner We discussed the idea of presenting town energy-saving stats in a poster-type format -- to show the real savings of our efforts. Meeting adjourned: 7:53 pm next mtg. TBD Respectfully submitted, Mary H.