Link back to Harbor Development Committee page
Energy Action Committee meeting notes
Town Hall, 8-24-09, 1910
Otto Harling, Pam Harty, Paul Heanue, Vern Larkin
- Audience consisted, partly of, people there for performance management discussion: David Killory (Director of Business and Support Services for School Dept), Laura Burns (Board of Selectman) and Kevin Paicos (Town Administrator) as well as others.
- Meeting called to order at 1910
- The members of the Energy Action Committee were introduced (necessary as there was a new member present and another whose name was introduced as being a new member) to the audience.
- Karen Peck, MA rep (KP) and Jim Cotton Mgr. Performance Mgmnt. for NE (JC) from Johnson Controls were there to discuss performance contracting
KP: energy performance contracting, did a benchmark analysis- oil, electric and gas usage, Hingham vs. 130 other towns, gathered utility data
JC: analyze whether a performance contract works- economically, compares similar buildings (schools vs. schools, fire vs. fire, etc…)
KP: (references made to handout), p.2- expected savings in yellow, p.3 environmental impact, p.4 electric costs are good (accurate), gas and oil might be different, p.5 cost reduction /sq. ft.
JC: we ask for actual bills- past 3 years, if it is a viable project you should expect to see significant interest in a performance contracting scenario
KP: (explains process, JC takes over)
JC: laws around this changed in 2006, became stricter and better for Towns, starts w/ RFQ. 6 companies in MA have been pre-certified to do this, interview interested companies, award contract. for 3-4 months there will be an audit of facilities, recommendations for work will be made, scope of work w/ guaranteed savings, shift $$$ associated w/ savings to pay for improvements, if savings not realized- contractor pays delta. if construction is “a go”- pay for w/ savings. if construction is a no go- pay contractor for audit. one contractor for audit and construction. post construction- contractor checks equipment for proper installation and is it running properly? if savings not seen- contractor MAY be allowed back in to fix to realize savings. town takes out bond to pay for construction. the downside is if contractor goes out of business, guarantee is gone too. speaks to Quincy’s horrific experience- how to protect, get an “open and closed” book.
Laura Burns: must we go to Town Meeting for approval?
Kevin Paicos: yes but not for RFQ
David Killory: downside of just having audit and Town manages project?
JC: no guarantee on savings, for us area of expertise- construction, etc… .
expect audit to last 3-4 months, $.10-.15/sq ft for audit, Ch25A, 11:????, 40+ cities/towns have done this since 2006. Johnson has proposals to Wakefield, Hamilton/Wenham, and Ayer. haven’t been awarded contract yet.
Pam Harty: get OPM to oversee, got quote for $20k, Town pays $5k, HMLP pays $5k and grant pays $10k. secure $20k for OPM, issue RFP
Otto Harling: motion made to work to secure $20k- RFP to select OPM
Pam Harty: 2nd
Unanimous
Pam Harty and Kevin Paicos to follow grant application for $10k
Kevin Paicos and Pam Harty to chase 2nd $10k.
Laura Burns: need a wind turbine by-law? Kathy ???? could help write (Salsbury??)
Meeting adjourned at 2110