Electric Car Idea Will Idle for Now

The Marion Board of Selectmen is now considering the Marion Energy Management’s recommendation that the town lease a few fully electric cars with the help of a hefty grant. The board also executed the contracts for the two new emergency response vehicles approved by Town Meeting, and also authorized the Shea Doonan aquaculture farm to move forward, despite neighbors’ objections.

First, though, Selectmen Chairman Stephen Cushing and Selectman Jody Dickerson stepped out into the chilly November 17 night to have a look at a BMW electric vehicle acquired by the Town of Dartmouth with this same grant selectmen are now considering.

Administrative Analyst for the Town of Dartmouth, Evan Melillo, brought the vehicle to the Town House that night, and also helped the Energy Management Committee explain the grant program and the cost savings to selectmen.

The annual cost to lease one vehicle would be $800 under the grant, committee Chairman Jennifer Francis told selectmen. But considering there would be no gasoline consumption, no maintenance costs, and fully funded electric charging stations for the vehicles, there was a savings to be had.

“We’re hoping for your enthusiastic approval, and also we’d like to request funding for Evan’s time to work through all this application process,” said Francis – a process she labeled “relatively complicated.” She asked for $2,000. But neither the selectmen nor Dawson knew from where they could appropriate the money. Dawson said he needed time to look into it.

Neither selectman present that night made any sudden leaps over the electric car idea, preferring to see some real numbers on paper that would demonstrate an actual cost savings and to also talk to department heads before making any moves to possibly make the change.

Town Administrator Paul Dawson assured selectmen that a positive vote that evening to allow the grant application process to move forward was in no way a definitive vote to adopt the electric vehicles. It would simply let the committee get started. Once the grants were awarded, then and only then would selectmen have to decide.

“I’m not saying I’m against it,” said Cushing, “I would wait to … at least let [Selectman Jonathan] Henry [speak]. This is the first time I’m seeing it … Just out of courtesy [to Henry] before we allow anything.”

The selectmen both then recessed the meeting to check out the car outside. The building commissioner accompanied the selectmen, and some remarked on the compact size of the car.

Also during the meeting, the selectmen voted to allow Shea Doonan’s proposed aquaculture farm project to move forward to the state approval process before it is kicked back to the selectmen for the final approval on the project.

Ram Island resident Michael Moore had been vocal on his resentment toward Doonan for not engaging Moore in formal discussion about the project, and he also expressed concern over the project area encroaching a channel that he and others use to access the island.

This night, Moore’s wife Hannah Moore attended to speak against the project, but only after Shellfish Warden Isaac Perry told selectmen that the main issues with location have been resolved. However, he commented that he sensed the Moores would continue to oppose the project.

“Between the two site visits, I don’t think we’ve come to any agreements,” said Perry. “I don’t think we’re going to address the Moores’ concerns.”

Cushing said he went to the site, noted that there did not seem to be any further way the project could be altered space-wise, and added that he found there to be enough room for navigation with the markers placed where they are today.

“I see the abutters’ concern,” said Cushing. However, as a boater himself, “I think at least, with no ice … my guess is there’s still some room there to maneuver.”

Ms. Moore said access for larger boats making larger deliveries to the island was her biggest concern now.

“It’s not a trivial concern. It’s a major access line to the island,” Moore said.

The board gave the nod for Doonan to move forward, but he still needs approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mass DEP, the Division of Marine Fisheries, and a number of other government entities.

In other matters, selectmen executed two contracts for the two new big-ticket emergency vehicle purchases approved by Town Meeting. The new fire pumper will cost $526,135, slightly less than the appropriated sum of $540,000. The new ambulance final total cost was announced at $237,062, just under the $241,000 appropriated. Selectmen said they were happy with the price of the pumper, and they had already anticipated this particular price tag for the new ambulance.

Also that night, Dawson announced that the town’s new electricity aggregation program Town Meeting voted to opt-in to will soon pay off, now that a bid has been accepted which will save Marion electricity consumers $0.013 cents per kilowatt hour. The Town accepted the bid from ConEdison Solutions for $0.0949 per kWh.

“That’s good news for the ratepayers of Marion,” said Dawson. “It’s a savings everyone can enjoy.”

That night selectmen also voted to allow the Council on Aging to now begin holding its mini Senior Center hours on Wednesdays at the Marion Music Hall in addition to the Monday program. With continued success, the COA may increase its hours further.

The town will be posting a list of the private ways accepted for snow removal this winter. Thirteen made the list, while at least three others were rejected due to a lack of a turnaround or existing ownership issues. The town will post this list on its website by Friday, November 20.

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for December 1 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

By Jean Perry

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