Westport in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Quick Article Index . . .
Board holds
off on leasing closed landfill for solar farm.
CPC
elicits potential grant applications at annual meeting.
2018 Allens Pond Duck Derby Results.
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Board holds off on leasing closed landfill
for solar farm. Wednesday, August 29, 2018 Photos |
EverythingWestport.com
Special to EverythingWestport.com WESTPORT – Selectmen were planning to vote on the long-awaited lease of
space at the town’s capped landfill on Hix Bridge
Road for a solar energy farm at their Sept. 4 meeting, but decided to hold
off on the signing until the Westport Energy Committee reports on their
review of the terms of the lease agreement. The move was supported by former Finance Committee chairman Gary Mauk, who made a similar recommendation to selectmen at
the start of discussions on the lease agreement. Mauk
suggested the board should try to determine if the lease terms first proposed
almost three years ago are still a good deal for the town. “There’s no need to rush to judgement” on the lease signing, he told
selectmen. “There’s nothing wrong with Ameresco’s
(site) plan, it’s the finances” that are questionable, he added.
Inset:
Taxpayers Association member and former selectman Gary Mauk
(seated left) brought before selectmen contract ambiguities and objectionable
consultant payment provisions, funds he felt should go to the town. The Energy Committee had expressed similar concerns a week earlier, declining
to issue a recommendation to proceed with the lease until it could
investigate more recent agreements with other municipalities renting
town-owned property to private companies for similar ventures. Some Energy Committee members suggested that lease rates have probably
increased a bit in the last few years, and the town was likely to receive
better terms if it sought a new round of proposals from solar farm
developers. After some discussion, the committee decided to check with the
consultant that helped develop the RFP issued by the town back in 2015 before
issuing its recommendation to selectmen. Ameresco Solar of Framingham, proposed developers
and operators of a 736 kilowatt solar farm on top of the closed landfill, has
negotiated a 20-year land lease agreement and annual payments in lieu of
taxes (PILOT) with town counsel, and is finally ready to proceed with the project, Town Administrator Tim King told selectmen. The draft agreement calls for Ameresco to
pay the town $16,000 per year for the land lease, along with a PILOT of
$16,574 per year, King said. A verbal agreement by selectmen to enter into an agreement with Ameresco was outlined in a January 2016 letter confirming
the basic lease terms, he said. However, the company held off on completing
the lease agreement because of uncertainty over the state’s Solar Renewable
Energy Certificate (SREC) program, which helped
subsidize the substantial investments needed to get large-scale solar farms
up and running. With a new state incentive program – the Solar Massachusetts Renewable
Target (SMART) Program – now in place, the company is certain that the
investment in the relatively small Westport solar farm will pay off, and is
now ready to proceed with the project, the town administrator explained.
Above: Aerial photo of the capped Westport landfill,
planned site for a 736 KW solar farm under consideration by Selectmen. Photos |
EverythingWestport.com Click on image to enlarge. The company has been in “occasional contact” with the town over the
past two years, King said. Once the SMART program was approved, Ameresco finally requested that the town complete the
proposed land lease and began negotiating a PILOT agreement with the town’s
attorneys. With a draft agreement in place, the company submitted site plans for
the solar farm to the Planning Board earlier this summer, and received
approval of the plans several weeks ago. Now, all it needs to move forward
with the project is a signed lease. Selectman Richard Brewer, the board’s delegate to the Energy Committee,
said the proposed agreement would produce roughly $650,000 in revenue for the
town over the 20-year term – $320,000 in lease payments, and just over
$330,000 in PILOT payments. “On the surface, it looks like a pretty good deal for the town,” he suggested.
Selectman Steve Ouellette also seemed comfortable moving forward with
the lease, but like Brewer, was willing to wait for the Energy Committee’s
research into other municipal leases with solar power producers before
signing the agreement. Board member Brian Valcourt was not so sure that the town should sign
the agreement, noting other larger solar farms in town are making
substantially higher PILOT payments. “I think there are people out there who
would give us a better deal,” he suggested. According to King, PILOT agreements with other solar farm developers
typically call for payments of $10,000 per megawatt of power produced at
their leased sites. Since the proposed facility at the landfill will generate less than a
megawatt, the negotiated PILOT payment is a definite plus to the proposed
agreement, he indicated. During the debate, King also detailed some of the history of the
proposed solar farm atop the landfill. The idea was first suggested in 2009
as a potential source of new revenues for the town; and selectmen were
authorized by a town meeting vote to seek bids from developers. A request for proposals was issued a year later, but the board’s first
choice for a lease partner backed out in 2010. A second round of RFPs were
sought in 2015, with four proposals considered and rejected; a third round of
bid requests resulted in Ameresco being the only
bidder. CPC elicits potential grant
applications at annual meeting. Westport is anticipating an
$84,861 award of state matching funds in November. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, September 16, 2018 Photos |
EverythingWestport.com
Special to
EverythingWestport.com With the deadline for applications for Community Preservation Act
grants rapidly approaching in December, the Community Preservation Committee
held its annual public meeting on Sept. 13 to gather input on possible funding
requests for historic preservation, community housing, and open
space/recreation projects for the coming fiscal year. The grants are funded by a two percent surcharge on real estate taxes
approved by a 2002 town meeting vote, supplemented by state matches of
varying proportions. The town is anticipating an $84,861 award of state
matching funds in November; to date, Westport has received slightly more than
$2.9 million from the state since it joined the CPA program.
O’Neill said the society has recently received bids on two planned
projects – needed sill and foundation repairs, and the replacement of the bell
tower of the former schoolhouse – and found the estimates far exceeded the
amount of the CPA grants already approved. Inset:
The bell school bell tower was the one structure missed when the iconic
one-room schoolhouse was renovated years ago. The director indicated that the historical society will be filing a
request for additional historic preservation funds in 2019 to complete those
projects. Town meeting most recently approved $11,150 in grant funds for the
sill and foundation work, and $44,345 for the bell tower repairs and work on
a small lean-to addition at the rear of the building. Previously, a CPA grant
award of $26,500 had been voted for exterior repairs and painting at the
schoolhouse, according to the CPC page on the town website. As for future needs at the schoolhouse, O’Neill said that the cedar
shingle roof is nearing the end of its useful life, and the building’s
gutters will also need replacement soon. She suggested “it makes sense to do
that at the same time” the bell tower restoration work is done, and CPC
members agreed. In the long term, the society is also looking to create “a safe,
stable, environmentally controlled space” to store the museum’s growing
collection of old photographs, documents and other artifacts, she said. The
small addition at the rear of the building where the unused stage is located
would be a good site for that archival storage center, the director noted. CPC member Tim Gillespie felt it would be practical to combine the
already-planned work and those future needs into “one big proposal” covering
everything that should be done to the building in the next few years. He suggested that the society consider hiring a project coordinator
who could supervise the various subcontractors needed to undertake all of the
different phases of the building rehabilitation. O’Neill and society Vice President Yvonne Barr indicated they would
return to a future CPC meeting with a new proposal before the December
deadline for grant applications. The next proposal to come before the committee is not likely to result
in a grant application. Resident Cathy Santos noted that the roadways in
Beech Grove Cemetery are in terrible condition, and present a safety hazard
to visitors. CPC Chair Betty Slade said that unfortunately, road repairs are not
considered historic preservation funding, and the matter should be taken up
with selectmen. “I know a lot of people are not happy with the situation
there,” she noted. Resident Joseph Ingoldsby, an appointee to the town’s new advisory
committee assigned to look into the possibility of purchasing He noted that hundreds of residents have signed a petition advocating
for the town’s purchase of the extensive acreage next to the elementary and
middle school campus. “It would be a long-term investment that I think has a
lot of community support,” Ingoldsby said. Inset:
Costa’s Camping Grounds would be a welcome addition to the cramped Jr/Sr High School grounds layout, and could provide needed
playing field space. Photo | EverythingWestport.com Slade indicated that the CPC would need an appraisal of the property,
a detailed plan for re-use of the site, and a partner willing to hold the
conservation restriction on the land before it could make a recommendation
for the use of CPA funds for the acquisition. Ingoldsby also advocated for the development of proposals for
enhancing the historic aspects of the Head of Westport neighborhood, centered
around the town landing on the East Branch. Antique streetlights, brick
sidewalks, and historical information kiosks were some of the ideas mentioned
for a potential project. It was noted that CPA funds are already helping to restore the stone
walls along the riverfront, and make other improvements to the town landing
in conjunction with a state Seaport Economic Council grant award. 2018 Allens Pond Duck
Derby Results. 6,889 Ducks Raced on the Incoming Tide &
"Trish" Took First Place; event raised $58,170 for Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, September 16,
2018 This year was a fantastic 15th year for the Allens Pond Duck Derby with 6,889 rubber ducks
racing on the incoming tide at Barney’s Joy. Patricia Vasconcellos (Westport, MA) received "Trish" as a
participant in the Elaine Seguer Memorial Golf
Tournament at the Allendale Country Club in July. And boy, did her little
racer do well! Now Patricia has quite the decision to
make—actually, a couple of decisions to make. First, what will her dream
vacation destination be? And second, who will she travel with? Patricia Vasconcellos,
a companion, and her winning duck "Trish" will be traveling in
March to the Azores and staying two nights in the capital of Ponta Delgada on
Săo Miguel Island. From all accounts, Patricia's duck, “Trish,” was
determined and raced with ferocity among the pack to claim her victory. But
her win is a little bittersweet, too. Elaine Seguer
was a long-time Allens Pond volunteer and supporter
who used to be the Duck Derby's official "duck stamper," stamping
the race number on the bottom of each duck. There is no doubt, though,
that Elaine would have been thrilled about Patricia's win!
By then, loads of enthusiastic race volunteers,
viewers, and staff were excited and ready for the big event. Winners
came from far and wide—including various locations in Massachusetts, New
York, Georgia, Maryland, Rhode Island, Florida, Washington DC, New Jersey,
and Costa Rica. Proof that you don’t have to be a local to win! The Duck Derby Festival that followed on Sunday,
August 19, was phenomenal. There were over 250 people in attendance, loads of
activities and educational exhibits from Allens
Pond and partner organizations, a delicious $5 BBQ with amazing homemade
desserts, and live music with Don Legge. A
successful silent auction and live plant auction topped it all off. All in all, a total of
$58,170 was raised! The event
was a major success and showed great support for the sanctuary and its
conservation efforts, educational programming and environmental advocacy. Endless thanks go out to all of the volunteers
who supported all the events. Their hard work and dedication made the entire
weekend an amazing affair. Our thanks also go out to all of the prize
donors—45 in total—with special thanks to the grand prize sponsors: Sylvan
Nursery, The Bayside Restaurant, BayCoast Bank, Nye
Synthetic Lubricants, Compton Catering & Clambakes, and Oppenheimer, as
well as Buckley and Moniz, Village Travel, and Austin Limousine Service. Festival sponsors were Watchman Waterproofing,
Fiber Optic Center, Inc. and Whaling City Sound of New Bedford. Tents
generously donated by Sperry Tents and food for the event by Coastal
Roasters, Eva’s Garden, and the Bayside Restaurant. This tremendous combined support is what makes it
possible for all duck adoption fees to go directly to support Allens Pond.
Wildlife intern Grace Knoll lends a helping hand in the 2018 Duck
Derby. Prize Winners Below is the official list of winners for the
2018 Allens Pond Duck Derby, in descending order,
from "Slacker Quacker" (last duck in) to
the Grand Prize winner ("Trish"). If You're a Prize Winner! Please call the Field Station at 508-636-2437
or email us at duckderby@massaudubon.org so
we can coordinate pickup and/or mail delivery of your item. Listed
by Prize ($ Value) | Duck Name | Winner Name | Winner's Town/State Stealth Duck "Box of Quackers" for
2019 Duck Derby Lylabelle, William McDonough,
Beverly MA Slacker Quacker One free duck entry for 2019
Duck Derby Robert Duck, Ken Leger, Dartmouth MA Prize 43 Wind Drift Studio Sharon's Murals and Faux Finishes ($50) Chris,
Janice Saal, Westport MA Prize 42 Wild Honey Café Gift Certificate ($50) Alphonse Canard, Neil Osterweil, Holliston MA Prize 41 Wicked Kickin’ Cheesecakes Gift
Certificate ($50) Duck #5, Jessica Cook, Westport MA Prize 40 Westport Apothecary Gift Certificate ($50) Quacker,
Mike Kujan, Finksburg MD Prize 39 Sail Loft Gift Certificate ($50) Duck #17, Cindy Sachs, Newton
MA Prize 38 Peckham’s Greenhouse Gift Certificate
($50) Maria, Michael Albanese, Costa Rica Prize 37 Partners Village Store Merchandise & Gift Certificate ($50) Quackers, Joan D. Robinson, Lexington MA Prize 36 Norton Gallery Gift Certificate ($50) Goos
Golden Goose, Virginia Pasquantonio, Westport MA Prize 35 Head Town Landing Store Gift Certificate ($50) Lulu, Caren Harple, South Dartmouth MA Prize 34 Fresh Foraged Florist Gift Certificate ($50) Gummo,
Stanley Stopka, Dartmouth MA Prize 33 Folia Gift Certificate ($50) Mosie,
Janet Haring, South Dartmouth MA Prize 32 Farm & Coast Market Gift Certificate ($50) Jingle, Kirsten
Towers, Portsmouth RI Prize 31 A.S. Deams Gift Certificate ($50) Team
Lilith 1, Elizabeth Grady, Worcester MA Prize 30 Davolls General Store Gift Certificate
($50) Jean the Bean, Jean Cameron, Tiverton RI Prize 29 Dartmouth Building Supply Gift Certificate ($50) Mandin, Ned Newton, South Dartmouth MA Prize 28 Dartmoor Gifts Gift Certificate ($50)
Donna, Peter Kastner, Savannah GA Prize 27 Cravings Café & Cakery ($50) Madelun, Maura Gallash, Foxboro
MA Prize 26 The Comfort of Touch Gift Certificate ($60) Poochie
52, Donald Lankiewicz, Needham MA Prize 25 New Bedford Whaling Museum Four Admission Passes ($68) Ripp, Grace Noll, Long Valley NJ Prize 24 Sisters of Solace Holistic Healing Gift Certificate ($70) Duck
#9, Chris King, Lakeville MA Prize 23 New Bedford Art Museum/Artworks! Membership ($75) AM, Alexi Maltas, Washington DC Prize 22 Flora Gift Certificate ($75) Caroline, Fred Dabney, South
Dartmouth MA Prize 21 Cape Cod Cupola Gift Certificate ($75) Momma Duck Meg, Megan Zottoli, East Falmouth MA Prize 20 The Back Eddy Gift Certificate ($75) Gadwall, Joseph Ingoldsby,
Westport MA Prize 19 Carabiner’s Personal Belay for Four ($90) Max, Betty Slade,
Westport Point MA Prize 18 Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust Family Membership & Gifts
($95) Duck #4, Kathy Dietlin, Dorchester MA Prize 17 Westport Concerts at the Point ($100) Sydney Poppy, Lisa Correia, Stuart FL Prize 16 Beehive Salon Cut & Color with Caite
($100) Mike, Barb & Bill Johnston, Westport MA Prize 15 Little Moss Gift Certificate ($100) JB
Duck, Cecelia Barratt, Rochester MA Prize 14 Country Woolens Gift Certificate ($100) Clair, Nicholas Ogden,
Boston MA Prize 13 Ace Hardware Dartmouth Gift Certificate ($100) Eddie, Michelle
Miller, Providence RI Prize 12 Westport Rivers Watershed Alliance Membership, Tote & Gift
($125) Angel #14, Greg Angel, Westport MA Prize 11 Salt Marsh Pottery Gift Certificate ($130) Abigail, Gail Brimicombe, Tiverton RI Prize 10 Tripp’s Boatyard & Marina Three Life Jackets ($135) Skip
#13, John Niles, Westport Point MA Prize 9 Mass Audubon Family Membership & Gift Pack ($150) Spodumene, Nancy Smith, South Dartmouth MA Prize 8 Carol Veiga Original Artwork ($150)
Shimmer, Kate Walker, Brooklyn NY Prize 7 Lloyd Center Family Membership & Kayak Tour for 2 ($150)
Maddie, Becky Demelo, East Freetown MA Prize 6 Paquachuck Inn One Night Stay ($200) Grace, Julie Boegehold, South Dartmouth MA Prize 5 Sylvan Nursery Gift Certificate ($250) Cooper #3, Vincent Calarese, Westport MA Prize 4 Residence Inn One Night Studio Stay & Breakfast ($250) Jon,
Amy Burnes, South Dartmouth MA Prize 3 Dartmouth YMCA Two Youth Memberships ($312) Duck #12, Kristen
Morrison, Andover MA Prize 2 Lees Wine and Spirits Crate of 10 Select Wines ($350) Izzy-Phil,
Eleanor Phillips, Westport MA Grand Prize: Dinner for Two with airfare & hotel
(508) 864-3191 (PRICELESS) Trish, Patricia Vasconcellos,
Westport MA - - - - - End -
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2018 Community Events of Westport
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