Edgartown selectmen have come to an agreement with a regional energy collective after an earlier impasse about how the town would contribute to the organization.
In January, representatives from the Cape & Vineyard Electric Cooperative asked Edgartown for a half-cent “adder,” or additional amount of money per kilowatt hour that would go back to the cooperative for expenses. CVEC, a 19-member organization designed to help with renewable energy projects, needed the additional money to make up a budget shortfall, representatives said, and asked towns who joined the cooperative during the first round of projects to contribute.
But Edgartown selectmen Arthur Smadbeck pushed back strongly against the suggestion, pointing out the town had to spend about $200,000 in unforeseen mitigation efforts at the town’s two solar energy sites at the Nunnepog well area and Katama farm. With Edgartown carrying additional expenses, he said, the town should not be asked for further additional funding. CVEC representatives said the adder was necessary to make up the budget gap, and contingent on all first round towns signing on.
On Monday selectmen agreed to pay the adder, provided that CVEC reimburses the town for an equivalent amount to help offset the cost of mitigation efforts. Mr. Smadbeck told the Gazette later that the estimated amount will be $11,000.
The proposal has to be approved by the CVEC board, which meets later this month. “It has to be a donation that the board has to approve,” CVEC president Liz Argo said, adding that she didn’t foresee a problem.
“For any of those towns that might wonder why we’re doing this for Edgartown, we do believe it’s a hardship,” she said, adding that the town is submitting paperwork to detail expenses. She said other towns who feel they have had hardships should also make their case.
The board unanimously approved the proposal. Ms. Argo said CVEC continues to look for solutions to its budget issues.
Selectmen also approved a slight traffic revision for the Chappy ferry waiting line, an ongoing issue with residents of Simpson’s Lane, where traffic lines up. Chappaquiddick resident Woody Filley was hired last spring to work on solutions to the problem, and broad support has been found for a plan that would move truck staging to the right side of North Water street between Simpson’s Lane and Daggett street. The new waiting area would be accommodated by moving a loading zone and a few parking spots across the street.
“This is something we can try,” Mr. Filley said. The town police and fire chiefs attended the meeting and said they were in favor of trying out the new configuration, and starting early so drivers could adjust before the busy summer season.
“It’s going to take a while for everyone to get acclimated,” police chief David Rossi said.
Selectmen also agreed to implement new safety measures after hearing results of a traffic survey of Meshacket Road that was commissioned after neighborhood complaints about speed and safety. Presenting information gathered on the road beginning last July, transportation engineer Bill Scully suggested measures including a speed feedback sign and cautionary signs along the road. The estimated cost would be $30,000.
“I think it’s a common sense approach,” highway superintendent Stuart Fuller said. “It works with the safety of the community,”
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