[NOTE: These minutes are made available to the public prior to Citizens Energy Committee acceptance.]


WETHERSFIELD CITIZENS ENERGY COMMITTEE
MINUTES - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008

Rick Baldoni called meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. at the Physical Service Department.

Members present were:
Rick Baldoni, Chairman
Mary Dobruck
Carol Jones
Keith Saunders
Member absent:
Nancy Kiely
Tom Kennedy
Also present were:
Matt Forrest, Town Council Liaison
Mike Turner, Public Works Director
Fred Bushey. Supervisor of Maintenance BOE
  1. Minutes of October 2, 2008 meeting

    Motion by Keith Saunders, seconded by Mary Dobruck to approve the minutes as submitted. All voted in favor.

  2. New Business:

    Chairman Baldoni explained to Mr. Bushey the goals and mission of the committee, including energy conservation and creation, energy efficiency, short and long term projects, exploration of new technology and becoming a Green Model community and perhaps self sustaining. He also explained our hiring of CCAT as energy consultant, and desire to be in lockstep with the BOE and share info.

    Fred Bushey was introduced as the Supervisor of maintenance for the BOE. Fred described in general terms projects which the BOE has undertaken including their energy management system, conversion of some buildings to DDS control, new T5 lighting in gyms and areas of assembly, use of CLP energy grants for occupancy sensors.

    Fred explained they use retired teachers to do data entry into computer to track energy consumption. Fred also explained in some detail the proposed renovations at High School and Hanmer School and items being considered including PV roof, fuel cell or turbines, geothermal and ice storage systems. He explained all schools have been benchmarked for free by Bill Leahy and students from ECSU. Matt Forrest recommended we distribute info from Fireside Chat talk of Jennifer Janelle to this committee.

    There was discussion about current CIP projects and in particular the Emerson Williams boiler replacement. Mary Dobruck recommended a cost benefit analysis be done for this and other projects (above some threshold as yet undetermined) for all HVAC type projects in town and school. The committee will address this once CCAT is aboard as a policy recommendation to Council.

  3. Public Comment - no one present
  4. Next Meeting date:

    The Committee is next scheduled to meet on November 6, 2008 at 5 pm. Main topic of discussion will be drafting a roadmap to achieve goals and mission.

  5. Adjournment:

    6:25 pm, motion made by Keith Saunders seconded by Mary Dobruck.