Item Coversheet


Town of Arlington, Massachusetts


Article 7
Warrant Article Title:

BYLAW AMENDMENT / ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ELECTRIFICATION REVOLVING FUND

Warrant Article Text:

To see if the Town will vote to amend Title 1, Article 22 of the Town Bylaws by adding a new section to establish and authorize a revolving fund to utilize monies received through state, federal and utility energy efficiency and electrification rebates, incentives and tax credits to fund future energy efficiency, renewable energy and electrification projects, as provided for under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, section 53E1/2; or take any action related thereto.

Requested by:
Inserted at the request of the Town Manager
Report Excerpt:

Select Board Vote: Favorable Action (5-0)

 

Underlined text comes from the Supplemental Select Board Report.  The Vote Language below has been replaced with the new text. 

 

COMMENT: The Select Board voted unanimously to recommend favorable action on this Article. The Board heard from the Town’s Sustainability Manager, Talia Fox, regarding the purpose of this revolving fund to provide more financial support for energy and electrification projects.  If approved, the revolving fund would allow the Town to implement more energy efficiency and electrification initiatives throughout the year.  Moreover, the fund could receive state and federal reimbursements directly for projects that have previously received Town Meeting approval.

 

Rebates, credits, and incentives received from state, federal or utility providers as a result of the purchase or completion of qualifying energy efficiency or electrification projects will be used to offset the cost associated with similar future investments. Recent examples of these funds include utility rebates via the Mass Save program for heat pumps at the Robbins Cottage and MA Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles (MOR-EV) program rebates for two electric school buses. It is expected the fund will be used in part to defray allowable costs identified in the Capital Budget and to serve as a match for grants, enabling Arlington to take advantage of grant opportunities that arise throughout the year. Further, the Capital Planning Committee will be required to authorize any expenditure from the fund that exceeds $50,000. 

 

Town and School buildings host solar arrays with various ownership and incentive structures. The Town and Schools will continue to see a direct reduction in utility bills from all solar arrays on its buildings, regardless of their ownership/incentive structure and regardless of the establishment of the Energy Efficiency Revolving Fund. For the few arrays that the Town presently owns and will own in the future, incentive credits received through the MA Department of Energy Resources’ Class I Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) program or Solar MA Renewable Target Program (SMART) could be deposited into the Energy Efficiency Revolving Fund. These incentives could be used toward the cost of purchasing future solar arrays.

 

In the Finance Committee Second Supplemental Report:

 

Finance Committee Vote: 8-7 to recommend favorable action.

 

Finance Committee Comment: By a very slim margin, the Finance Committee voted to support the Select Board’s recommended vote on Article 7. Dissenting members are concerned about creating a separate large fund of money that would be untouchable by Town Meeting should other needs more pressing than energy efficiency and electrification arise for the Town in the future. In addition to reducing the Town’s flexibility in managing its money, dissenters also noted that this new revolving fund is unlike other existing revolving funds, which are more limited in scope and use. Members voting in the majority, however, are swayed by the importance of pursuing energy efficiency and electrification, and understand the need to take advantage of opportunities when they arise without being constricted by the normal budgetary process. The Finance Committee is comforted that these funds will be expended under the watchfulness of the Capital Planning Committee and used to support the Town’s Capital Plan.

 
Vote Language:

That the Town does and hereby amends Title 1, Article 22, Section 5 of the Town Bylaws to establish and authorize a revolving fund to utilize monies received through state, federal and utility energy efficiency and electrification rebates, incentives and tax credits to fund future energy efficiency, renewable energy and electrification projects, as provided for under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53E1/2, expenditures not to exceed $250,000 in the fiscal year starting on July 1, 2025; so that Title I, Article 22, Section 5 reads: 

5. Authorized Revolving Funds.
A B C D E F G
Revolving Fund Department, Boad, Committee, Agency or Officer Authorized to Spend from Fund Fees, Charges or Other Receipts Credited to Fund Program or Activity Expenses Payable from Fund Restrictions or Conditions on Expenses Payable from Fund Other Requirements and/or Reports Fiscal Years
Maintenance of Public Ways DPW/Town Manager Receipts derived from street excavations as authorized by Section 18 of Article 9 of the Bylaws. To defray the cost of repairs, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of public ways and sidewalks. Town Manager shall authorize all expenditures and shall report to the Annual Town Meeting all receipts and expenditures for each Fiscal Year. FY2019 and subsequent years
Private Ways DPW/Town Manager Fees charged to the private way abutters as in Section 5 thereof. To defray the costs of repairs to private ways undertaken pursuant to Section 20 of the Bylaws Town Manager shall authorize all expenditures and shall report to the Annual Town Meeting all receipts and expenditures for each Fiscal Year. FY2019 and subsequent years
Fox Library Community Center Rentals Library/Town Manager Rental of the Fox Library and the Community Center located there. To defray the cost of various expenses related to non-town government organizations who utilize the Fox Library and the Community Center located there. Included, but not limited to maintenance and custodial services. Town Manager shall authorize all expenditures and shall report to the Annual Town Meeting all receipts and expenditures for each Fiscal Year. FY2019 and subsequent years
Robbins House Rentals Health and Human Services/Town Manager Rental of the Robbins House To defer the cost of the upkeep of the Robbins House, its appurtenant grounds, and other charges related to the rental of the property. All revenues received above annual spending authorization to be deposited into the Town's General Fund. FY2019 and subsequent years
Conservation Commission Fees Conservation Commission Fees charged to applicants who file "Notices of Intent or Request for Determination of Applicability". This fee is called the "consultant fee". Reasonable costs and expenses borne by the Commission for specific expert engineering and other consulting services deemed necessary by the Commission to come to a final decision on the application. Specific consultant may include, but are not limited to, performing or verifying the accuracy of a resource areas survey and delineation, analysis of resource area functions -- including wildlife habitat evaluations, hydrogeologic and drainage analysis, and environmental or land use law. The Commission shall return any unused portion of the consultant fee to the applicant unless the Commission decides at a public meeting that other action is necessary. Any applicant aggrieved by the imposition of, or size of, the consultant fee or any act related thereto may appeal according to the provisions of Mass. General Laws. FY2019 and subsequent years
Uncle Sam Fees Town Manager Grants and Fees received by the Uncle Sam Committee Enhancement of the visibility of our Town as the birthplace of Sam Wilson, our national symbol. FY2019 and subsequent years
Life Support Services Fire Receipts associated with providing emergency medical
services.		 Expenses associated with providing emergency medical services. FY2019 and subsequent years
Board of Health Fees Health and Human Services Fees from permits, reinspections, seminars, and fines of the Board of Health. Expenses associated with funding programs of the Board of Health. FY2019 and subsequent years
Field User Fees Town Manager Fees from users of Town owned playing fields, including grants
and gifts.		 Maintenance and reconstruction of the playing fields. Such funds to be expended by the Town Manager. FY2019 and subsequent years
Robbins Library Rentals Library Rentals of certain meeting rooms in the Robbins Memorial Library. Upkeep of said meeting rooms in the Robbins Memorial Library. FY2019 and subsequent years
Town Hall Rentals Health and Human Services Rentals of the Robbins Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. Upkeep of said Robbins Memorial Town Hall Auditorium FY2019 and subsequent years
Recycling Fees DPW Fees for a pick up of so- called white goods, computers, and televisions. To defray the cost of pick up and to establish a program to educate and facilitate the public's understanding of the Town's recycling Bylaw, including its enforcement
provisions.		 FY2019 and subsequent years
Library Vending Fees Library Fees for per-page use of printers and copy machines in the Robbins Library and the Fox Library by members of the public. To obtain supplies for copy machines, such as paper, toner, and cartridges and, if sufficient revenues are received, to offset the costs of leasing thosemachines. FY2019 and subsequent years
Cemetery Chapel Rentals DPW Rental fees associated with the rental of the Cemetery Chapel. To pay for costs associated with the rental and care and maintenance of the Chapel. FY2019 and subsequent years
Council on Aging Program Fees Health and Human Services Fees for programs of the Council on Aging. To pay for costs of administering COA programs. FY2019 and subsequent years
Energy Efficiency and Electrification DPCD/Town Manager State, Federal and utility energy efficiency and electrification rebates, incentives and tax credits To defray the cost of energy efficiency, renewable energy and electrification projects Capital Planning Committee shall authorize all expenditures greater than $50,000. Town Manager shall authorize all expenditures and shall report to the Annual Town Meeting all receipts and expenditures for each Fiscal Year. FY2026 and subsequent years