[Marker]T[Marker]he Rules & Ordinances Committee of the Branford RTM met on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at Canoe Brook Center, 11Cherry Hill Road, Branford, CT. Present were Representatives Docknevich, Giardiello, Deford, Walker, Lavarato, and Thayer. Rep. Black was absent. Also present were Selectman Dick Sullivan, Town Counsel Shelley Marcus, Town Planner Shirley Rasmussen, and members of the Clean Energy Committee. The meeting came to order at 7:50 PM.
1. Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
2. To consider a transfer from the Town Planner for the following transfer:
From: 4113-413.53-02 Legal Notices $(350)
To: 4113-413.54-01 Membership & Meetings $ 350
Town Planner Shirley Rasmussen appeared. Attendance at meetings is a valuable networking and learning resource, especially meetings of the American Planners Association. The original budget amount was $2600.
The transfer was approved 6-0.
3. To consider a request from the First Selectwoman that the RTM consider a new ordinance that would offer incentives to the residents of Branford to install equipment that enables them to use alternative energy sources in their homes.
Roughly speaking, this would be an updating of Article II of Section 220 of the Branford code. This section of the Town code is concerned with alternative energy sources, but is now obsolete. The gist of the ordinance is that installation of solar or other non fossil fuel measures will not increase a homeowner’s property tax assessment beyond the cost of conventional heating or cooling equipment.
In accordance with town initiatives for Branford to be a Clean Energy Community, one goal is for the town and its residents to get 20% of their energy from renewable or “green” sources, such as wind, solar, or geothermal energy.
While the Committee’s sentiment was that this was a good idea, there was concern as to the scope of the idea, what energy saving ideas it should apply to, and how to administer it. There were a lot of questions:
What should be eligible? Solar panels, insulation, biofuels, thermal windows? How would the exemption be calculated? Are there state incentives? Are there effective ways for this to work for the average family? Not that many people can afford to install solar panels on their homes, but on the other hand, for every 100 residents who sign up for clean source electricity, the Town gets a 2 kilowatt solar panel for the High School. The average household consumes 700 kw-hours per month. Perhaps under a “Green Resolution,” building permit fees could be lower for energy-conserving construction beyond the basic building code.
The Committee wanted to get more information. Atty. Marcus will contact the Conn. Conference of Municipalities, as well as Building Official Anthony Cinicola.
Chris Sullivan of the Clean Energy Committee offered to look at efficiency restoration measures which could be more appropriate to the average family than expensive projects like solar panels.
The committee voted to rerefer the matter by a vote of 6-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott Thayer, Chairman
5-24-2007
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