BENNINGTON SELECT BOARD MEETING BENNINGTON FIRE FACILITY 130 RIVER STREET BENNINGTON, VERMONT 05201 MONDAY, MAY 24, 2010 MINUTES BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Lodie Colvin-Chair; Jason Morrissey-Vice-Chair; John Zink; Chris Oldham; Sharyn Brush; Joseph Krawczyk and Matt Maroney. ALSO PRESENT: Stuart Hurd-Town Manager; Chad Farrell; Sam Restino; Mike Bethel; Keith Whitcomb-Bennington Banner and Nancy Lively-Recording Secretary. At 7:00 P.M., Lodie Colvin called the meeting to order. 1. MINUTES - MAY 10, 2010 Sharyn Brush moved and Chris Oldham seconded to approve the Minutes of May 10, 2010 as submitted. The motion carried unanimously. 2. WARRANTS The warrants were circulated for signatures after Mr. Hurd answered Board questions on fuel price/gallon and Granite City Electric. 3. CITIZENS None. 5.COMMUNITY SHRED FEST Ms. Colvin explained that SecurShred is a company out of Burlington that comes to Bennington with a truck that shreds any confidential documents that you need destroyed. If the Town wishes to hire them for a "Paper Shred Fest" so that Bennington residents may utilize their services, the cost is $1,850. This year the money could come from the contingency fund, however, it could be budgeted for in future years. The cost could also be offset - if enough residents participate - by charging $5/banker box. Mr. Zink suggested trying to get a local business with a large parking lot - such as Home Depot - to sponsor this instead of the Town. Mr. Restino added that we need to "get into the 21st century", and feels that this is an excellent idea. Mr. Krawczyk stated that all technology equipment will be recycled at no charge after January 1, 2011. Sharyn Brush moved and Chris Oldham seconded to go forward with the Shred Fest for one year. Mr. Maroney would like to see how expensive the advertising would be for the event before agreeing to sponsor it. The motion was withdrawn. It was the consensus of the Board to have Town staff research the expenses that would be incurred with the Shred Fest and report back to the Board. 4. ENCORE REDEVELOPMENT COMPANY - SOLAR FARM @ BENNINGTON LANDFILL SITE Mr. Farrell, principal developer with Encore Redevelopment based in Burlington, would like to place solar panels at the Town of Bennington former dumpsite on Houghton Lane. Their project would consist of the Town providing the land and Encore handling the permitting, purchase, and installation of a photovoltaic solar system at the former Superfund site. They would incur all costs associated with the permit process, the purchase, and installation of the solar system, and any maintenance costs in exchange for providing the Town with a 10% discount in energy costs, at the current market rate, for ten years. Below are the highlights of Mr. Farrell's presentation: * The agreement between the Town and Encore Redevelopment is called a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). This agreement is generally for six to ten years, and the Town would pay about 90% of the market rate for electricity for the opportunity to offset 10% of their usage. If the Town's usage were high enough, Encore would net meter to Town buildings. At the end of the agreement, the Town would have the option to purchase the system for a percent - generally 30% - of the install cost ($800,000 for a 150 kilowatt system). The PPA may also be extended for another ten years. To purchase the system outright for $800,000 would be a 30-year payback. * Encore's investors take advantage of tax credits and accelerated depreciation. * The systems depreciate about .5%/year, so after 40 years you still have an 80% efficient system. * The solar panels do not become obsolete because the technology remains the same. They may, however, become smaller. There was disagreement to this statement by some members of the Board. * The Vermont solar tax credit diminishes to 7.2% on 12/31/10 but the federal credits are still available through 2016. * Encore is fully insured and would fence in and maintain the equipment. They are also insured for loss of revenue caused by loss of power. * The 750 panels are American made but not Vermont made. * The cap of the landfill will not be penetrated and all wiring will be within the three to four feet of soil on top of the cap. * If a hole through the cap is absolutely necessary, the area around it is sealed. * A feasibility study for location of the panels, as well as, detailed project expense will need to be done. * There are recycling programs being put into place as the panels deplete their useful life. * Annual overhead expenses are $7,000 - $3,000 insurance; and $4,000 inverter replacement (once every 10 years @ $40,000). * Net metering = generating credits against existing utility bills. * Bennington's annual electric bills are >$100,000, and one 150kw system generates enough power for 23 to 25 "typical houses". This is nowhere near a 10% benefit of the Town's entire electric bill. The estimated savings is ~ $2,500. * It would never be necessary to have someone on site to operate the system. * Both the Agency of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency recommended the Superfund site to Encore for this project. However, it would still have to be approved by the Development Review Board. It would not appear that the permitting process would be an obstacle to overcome. * It isn't financially feasible to put in a larger system. * The concept is excellent but the Board needs to be educated in more detail of how, exactly, it works, and how much it will, exactly, cost. * July 15th is no longer a deadline for permit applications to be in on net metered projects. * Encore needs to see the Town's electric bills because they can't net meter against the demand portion of the bills. * Encore may consider a site other than the Superfund site if it proves to be more cost effective. It was the consensus of the Board to give Mr. Farrell the Town electric bills for review. 6. MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Hurd announced that Gail Tiffany and George LeBlanc were awarded the Green Mountain Water Environment Association's Peer Excellence Award for their work at the wastewater treatment facility. The Board will meet on June 9, 2010 at 5:30pm at the Town Office to discuss the FY11 Water and Sewer Fund budgets. 7. OTHER BUSINESS Ms. Colvin announced that Walter Clark, our Fire Warden, will be resigning as of June 1, 2010. Letters of Interest for that position must be into the Town Office by June 10, 2010. Ms. Brush reminded everyone that there is an ordnance for curbing dogs in the Downtown, and requested that everyone adhere to that ordnance. Ms. Brush also requested that a cigarette receptacle be placed outside of the Red Rascal Underground. Mr. Morrissey and Mr. Oldham encouraged everyone to enjoy Mayfest and support the Downtown this weekend. Mr. Bethel asked what the date was for the Planning Commission's meeting with the Select Board concerning the Town Plan, and Ms. Colvin responded that it hasn't been set yet. After the Town Plan has been finalized, both the Planning Commission and Select Board will each have their own respective public meetings. A request by an individual to segregate part of the Town Plan may be done at any of the public meetings, and both the Planning Commission and Select Board have the right to disregard that request. Also, the Select Board can put a question relating to the Town Plan out for advisory vote, if they so choose. 8. EXECUTIVE SESSION A.CONTRACT At 8:15 P.M., Sharyn Brush moved and Chris Oldham seconded to go into Executive Session to discuss a Contract. The motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Nancy H. Lively Secretary