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Whately committee discusses fast chargers at Exit 35, municipal site options and enforcement
Summary
Committee members discussed Exit 35 fast-charger plans, resident feedback favoring Level 3 chargers and at least two stations per site, questions about grant-easement arrangements, and enforcement options such as time-based pricing and towing.
The Town of Whately Electric Vehicle Committee on July 23 discussed potential locations and operational issues for public electric-vehicle chargers, with attention to a planned Exit 35 project and several municipal sites.
Members noted the Exit 35 Committee is evaluating fast chargers intended for travelers, and considered user types (short-stay travelers versus longer-stay visitors) when deciding charger types. "They recommended at least two charging stations at each location to reduce the likelihood of a line," Sylvie Jensen reported, relaying feedback from residents Steven and Suzanne McKessle urging Level 3 (fast) chargers.
Pete Kane raised questions about how grant-funded installations would be structured: whether the agreement would be between a private property owner and the grantor, or whether the Town would need to secure easements on private property and assume responsibility for insuring and maintaining the charger. The committee did not resolve who would hold easements or long-term maintenance obligations at the meeting.
Site suggestions in the report included six municipal properties; members singled out the Police-Fire complex, the library and the transfer station as potential sites. Paul Newlin warned that charging at the transfer station could create lines, while Joyce Palmer-Fortune and Keith Bardwell said attendants typically keep traffic moving. On enforcement, Joyce Palmer-Fortune noted some chargers can be programmed to apply higher rates for extended use and that vehicles occupying charging stalls improperly could be towed. Committee members also discussed hardware behavior: many chargers lock while charging and cannot be unplugged until the session finishes, though adapters can sometimes be used to circumvent that function.
The committee agreed to assign specific sections of the charging-station evaluation to members for further review and scheduled a follow-up meeting for Aug. 6, 2024.
