Yarmouth Select Board endorses Mass Save energy manager grant application

The Yarmouth Select Board voted unanimously Tuesday to endorse a state grant application that would fund a municipal energy manager, a position the town says is intended to coordinate energy-efficiency projects, secure grant funding and help reduce municipal energy costs.

The board’s endorsement followed a staff memorandum outlining the position’s job description and expected deliverables. The memo noted the grant requires an employee, not a consultant, and may cover wages, benefits and related costs if the town is awarded funds.

Town Administrator Bob (Town Administrator) told the board that the memorandum, dated Feb. 6, summarizes the anticipated responsibilities for the role and stresses the importance of placing the new hire where they can work effectively with municipal departments and the school district. “The state is anticipating a lot of deliverables from this position,” he said in presenting the memo.

Board members discussed reporting lines and oversight. Several members said they want the energy manager placed under the town administrator’s office so the position can coordinate across departments and with the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District on school facilities, which represent large municipal energy loads. Select Board member Bill (Select Board member) said the position should be managed by staff rather than volunteers and noted the grant requires an employee rather than a consultant.

Select Board member Mark (Select Board member) said past experience in other towns showed energy manager positions can fund themselves within a few years through savings and grants. The board discussed potential work the position could accomplish early on — such as HVAC and lighting efficiency projects — and longer-term deliverables including a three-year energy management plan.

Select Board member Tracy (Select Board member) moved that the board endorse the submission of the grant proposal as outlined in the town administrator’s memo and authorize the chair to send a letter of full support; a second was made and the motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The board asked staff to prepare a letter of support and noted the need to define supervision, deliverables and any required memoranda of understanding with the school district before onboarding.

If funded, the energy manager would be a town employee paid in whole or in part with grant funds; board members were told the grant can include benefits and other employer costs. The board did not adopt a hiring plan at Tuesday’s meeting; it limited action to endorsing the application and authorizing the chair to send the support letter.