West Bath Select Board establishes resilience committee after $60,000 energy-audit grant

The West Bath Select Board announced the town received a $60,000 grant to retain a firm to perform an energy audit of municipal buildings, including the town hall and the school. The board then moved to form a climate resilience committee to oversee the grant and related planning.

Board members said the grant will fund the audit and questioned whether any funds remaining after the audit could be used to implement recommended efficiency or repair projects. One member said the board should clarify with town staff (identified in the discussion as Max) whether the grant scope allows follow-up work beyond the audit. The board agreed the committee should produce recommendations to the Select Board rather than unilaterally implement projects.

Members listed local infrastructure that could be considered in resilience planning, including Birch Point Road, Hill Road, Long Cove, Bull Rock parking/launch areas, and other landings vulnerable to washout. The board initially moved to form a three-member committee but corrected the motion on the record to specify five members before the measure was seconded; the transcript records the motion and a call for a vote but does not include a recorded tally.

The committee will oversee grant administration and planning recommendations; the transcript does not specify appointment deadlines, selection criteria for members, or an implementation timeline. Board members directed staff to clarify what the grant covers and to report back with options for next steps.