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Sudbury energy committee questions $330,000 withdrawal from solar revolving fund
Summary
Committee chair Rami told Sustainable Sudbury he learned the town manager, finance director and facilities director have used $330,000 from the solar revolving fund to pay town electrical expenses. He said he will seek legal guidance and has drafted a warrant article to clarify allowable uses.
Chair Rami told members that town officials had "taken out $330,000 out of the fund" to pay town electrical costs and said he was uncertain whether that use is permitted under the fund—s warrant article. He said the original FY2017 article set up the solar revolving fund to collect proceeds from solar arrays and to use savings for deliberate energy projects overseen by the energy and sustainability committee.
Rami said the committee has long treated the fund as a source to finance energy-efficiency projects and that an unplanned annual withdrawal of roughly $300,000 to $330,000 would exhaust the fund in about five years. "If the plan is to take the 300,000 $330,000 from the fund annually, the fund will be gone in, probably about 5 years," he said, adding that he would consult KP Law and share a proposed amended warrant article with the committee.
Members discussed competing interpretations of the fund—s language. Rami proposed adding explicit wording that "all expenditures are by vote of the energy and sustainability committee" to ensure committee oversight of disbursements. Sandra and other members pointed to recent finance discussions about a "solar-ready" roof request; Sandra said the $330,000 withdrawal was tied to specific town electrical costs and a previously discussed roof project, not pool repairs, prompting a pointed exchange over facts and intent.
Committee members asked the chair to circulate the draft warrant language and to coordinate with the select board and the finance director. Rami said he will seek formal legal guidance before any spending occurs and will present the amended warrant article for the town—s upcoming warrant process if the committee approves it.
The committee did not take a formal vote on use of the fund during the meeting. Instead, members agreed to review Rami—s draft amendment and to engage with the select board and town legal counsel ahead of the January meetings.
Ending: Rami said he will send the amended warrant article and the opt-in stretch code language to committee members for review and bring updates to the committee—s January meeting.
