Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 11/3/2022
BELCHERTOWN – Superintendent Brian Cameron came in to discuss the news of the schools missing a deadline that could affect the town’s free cash and a member of Good Energy came in to discuss a draft for a Municipal Aggregation Plan at the Oct. 24 Select Board meeting.
At the Select Board meeting on Oct. 17, members of the board were made aware by Town Accountant Jill Rossi that the school department missed a deadline to apply for reimbursement for a grant that could cost the town an estimated $700,000 that would be paid by free cash.
Select Board Chair Jim Barry voiced his concerns the most at the last meeting and Cameron and School Committee Chair Heidi Gutekenst appeared before the board on Oct. 24 to assure them that the situation has been resolved.
Select Board Vice Chair Ron Aponte mentioned the idea of having a big meeting that included the School Committee, the Select Board, the town accountant and town administrator or having a smaller meeting with just a couple members of the board and committee who can report back to the larger group.
Select Board member Ed Boscher said, “I think Superintendent Cameron did a good job through his email summarizing what happened. He outlined the key issues and solutions.”
Clerk Peg Louraine said she does not have to participate at the meeting but said, “I would like to know how the problem was fixed and I think it is fair that the town knows that also.”
Barry said the two questions he would like to have solved are “Why did it happen and what can be done to prevent it from happening again?”
Select Board member Jen Turner said, “I feel that there has been a lot of divisiveness created between the Select Board and School Committee. I think that is the bigger issue we should be discussing.”
The board agreed that there needs to be a meeting to talk about the solution and work toward working as “one town,” said Turner.
Cameron said, “This was the schools’ fault. I had a conversation with the town accountant, and we were given two solutions. We are moving forward with the second one and I will come and present to the entire board or whomever.”
He added, “In those emails a lot of other information was let out that I was not aware of. Apparently, individuals had problems and things I have never heard about before. There were a lot of accusations going back and forth and that is my biggest problem.”
Barry said that it was just him who made accusations and not the board.
Cameron, Gutenkenst, Boscher and Barry all plan to meet to discuss the problem, solution and working on building a better relationship.
After that discussion, the board had an appointment with the Energy and Sustainability Committee joined by Municipal Aggregation Task Force.
Patrick Roche from Good Energy was there to discuss a plan for the town to have cleaner and greener energy.
Residents voted at the last Town Meeting to authorize municipal aggregation and Barry said Good Energy was approved to partner with the town to help with that.
Municipal aggregation is the process by which a municipality purchases electricity in bulk from a competitive supplier on behalf of the residents and businesses within the community.
Roche said that it allows for local control over supply instead of National Grid choosing the supplier for everyone.
He added that there are currently over 150 communities in the state that have an aggregation plan.
The draft is ready and needed the board’s approval to open a 30-day public review period that includes a public hearing and a meeting with the Department of Energy Resources to conduct a consultation on the plan.
Rosche explained that the goal of the plan is to provide competitive prices, using cleaner energy to support the growth of renewable energy and protection against market volatility by signing longer contracts at a fixed price.
There would be three different options in which interested communities could enroll.
The board approved to open the public hearing period so that Good Energy can receive feedback on their plan and plan a public hearing in a month.
The plan will be posted on the company’s and town website for residents to review and pass along hard copies people can view at certain town buildings.
Good Energy will work with the town to pass along flyers, do presentations, and promote the plan using the local TV station and towns website as well.