Meeting open at 7:00 PM

Commissioners Present:

Charles Vajda, Raymond Leonard, Andrew McKane, William Matteson, Jerry Stearns and Howard Burgess

The Commissioners reviewed the minutes of June 7, 2012. Mr. Mc Kane moved to accept the minutes as written. Mr. Vajda made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Matteson read the notice for the Gennette Final 2 lot subdivision final hearing notice.

Mr. Burgess said he is troubled by the fact the Commission has not received any information regarding the septic systems on the property. Mr. Burgess cited the fact that Mr. Matteson said he had seen the septic information on-line but that nothing has been submitted to the Commission.

Town Administrator, Mr. Joseph Zingale, used the laptop computer and got the information on-line and display it on the screen for the Commissioners to see.

Mr. Burgess cited a letter from Fire District # 4 regarding the installation of a second water meter so that both of the apartment buildings on the property have separate water meters. Mr. Burgess said according to the letter form Mr. David Lewis there is only one water meter for both building.

Mr. Francis Gennette told the commissioners that he plans to extend the water line to the back and come up in the other house. Mr. Gennette said he made the connections 38 years ago. Mr. Matteson said Mr. Gennette plans to take care of the matter.

Mr. Gennette said he pays a flat fee for each house quarterly. He said his apartments are not metered.

The Commissioners reviewed the site plan displayed on the screen. Mr. Burgess moved to approve the final 2 lot subdivision on the condition a separate water line installed with a shut off and a new meter for the second house before either property can be sold. Mr. Stearns made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Andrew Foukal, representing Helio Sage, met with the Commissioners regarding a solar power project proposed for the Clark property on Seward Road. Mr. Foukal said Helio Sage is based in Charlottesville Virginia.

Mr. Foukal told the Commissioners that Helio Sage is negotiating with the owners of the property to build a 800 kilowatt solar project on the Clark property.

Mr. Foukal said the application was submitted to the State Public Service Board in 2009 and that the project was awarded to Helio Sage in January 2012. Mr. Foukal said 200 kilowatts would be collected on the roof and the remaining 600 kilowatts would be collected from ground collectors.

Mr. Foukal explained that the ground and roof collectors would be mounted differently due to uplift on a roof. Mr. Foukal said the ground panels would be 300 feet long and would be set up in rows.

Commissioners discussed the esthetics of the solar farm along US RT 7 in the Town of Vergennes. Mr. Foukal explained that his company would sell the power produced to Green Mountain Power and it would not be used by the business on the Clark property. He said by definition it is not a net meter project.

Mr. Foukal said his company has a 20 year agreement to sell the power to Green Mountain Power at a set rate. Mr. Foukal said his company would be paid 27.5 cents per kilowatt hour.

Mr. Burgess said the rate at which Helio Sage will get paid is not cheap power. Mr. Foukal said that is true if you are comparing the rate to base power rates. However, he said his power would off-set the peak load. He said this means Green Mountain Power would have to purchase less power at peak times, which cost as much as 50 cents per kilowatt hour.

Mr. Vajda asked where Helio Sage gets their panels. Mr. Foukal said some are made in the USA and the rest is purchased from overseas. Mr. Vajda asked if solar is going over big in Europe. Mr. Foukal said the country of Germany has the most solar energy per capital in the world. He cited the fact Germany get about the same amount of sunlight a year as the state of Alaska.

Mr. Matteson said that in order for solar projects to become successful they have to start somewhere. Mr. Stearns said Vermont has to be careful because we only have one industry, which is tourism. He said he is not in favor of destroying ridge lines for wind power. Mr. Burgess agreed with Mr. Stearns.

Mr. Foukal informed the Commissioners that he is also working on a contract with the Town Select Board to place collectors on the capped landfill. He said the project would generate one Megawatt of power.

Mr. Foukal requested a letter of support from the Planning Commission for his Act 248 application. Mr. Matteson told Mr. Foukal to prepare a letter which he would sign.

Mr. Leonard moved for Mr. Foukal to draft a letter of approval stating the proposal is acceptable. Mr. McKane made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

The Commissioners discussed a request for a letter of support from REDC regarding the proposed water & sewer feasibility study planned for the Center Rutland corridor. Mr. Matteson signed a letter of support prepared by Mr. Zingale.

Mr. McKane moved to approve the letter. Mr. Stearns made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

The Commission instructed Mr. Zingale to notify Ms. Trudy Billings that she needs to apply for a local subdivision permit for her proposed land division.

Informed the Commissioners the Select Board would begin review of the proposed zoning regulations on August 6, 2012.

Mr. Matteson informed the Commission that he had delivered Mr. Tom Turner's plaque to Ms. Avis Turner. Mr. Matteson said family would return the plaque to the Town for keeping at the Town Hall.

Mr. Zingale reported to the Commission regarding the status of the Aldi project.

Mr. Leonard moved to close the meeting. Mr. McKane made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.