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Stoddard committee divided over recommending Cheshire Community Power or direct CPCNH membership
Summary
The Stoddard Community Power Committee debated whether to urge the Board of Selectmen to join Cheshire Community Power now or to pursue direct membership in CPCNH, agreeing to present a recommendation to the BOS on Feb. 10, 2025 and tasking members with follow-up inquiries to clarify staff credentials, governance and launch timing.
At a Jan. 20, 2025 meeting at the Gould House, the Stoddard Community Power Committee debated whether to recommend that the town join Cheshire Community Power (CCP) now or pursue direct membership in CPCNH. Chair Herb Healy and members discussed timing and governance as they prepared a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen.
The committee spent the meeting reviewing background materials and next steps after Bob Maden summarized statistics, reports and a sample letter from the Town of Dover provided by Jackson Kaspari of CPCNH. Maden also read an email from Terri LaRoche, chair of the Board of Selectmen, requesting that any recommendation that delays launch include a timeframe, a final goal and a description of who would fill support roles at CCP or CPCNH.
Why it matters: The choice affects how Stoddard would procure electricity supply and how much local control the town would retain over rate-setting and launch timing. Some committee members worried that direct CPCNH membership could be perceived as political; others wanted to keep momentum and give the Board or voters a near-term decision.
Committee positions and follow-ups Herb Healy, Chair, said he was inclined toward recommending CPCNH or recommending a delayed launch consistent with CCP and CPCNH guidance to wait until the next rate cycle. He emphasized the importance of clarifying CPCNH’s professional staff credentials and governance structure to address a BOS member’s concern that CPCNH is a "political organization." Healy agreed to contact CPCNH for staff and governance details and to speak with CCP about whether CCP is obligated to launch a town within a defined period once an Article 9 or similar commitment is signed.
Bob Maden, Secretary/Member, and Jason Kovarik, Selectmen’s Representative, favored recommending Cheshire Community Power now to maintain momentum and prompt a BOS decision or town vote; they said direct CPCNH membership would demand more effort at this time. Kovarik moved to approve the Jan. 6 minutes as amended at the start of the meeting; the motion passed unanimously.
Next steps and schedule The committee agreed to present its recommendation to the Board of Selectmen at the Feb. 10, 2025 BOS meeting; Jason Kovarik will request time on the BOS agenda. The committee set a follow-up meeting for Jan. 29, 2025 at 7 p.m. at the Gould House to finalize the recommendation. Herb Healy will consult both CPCNH and CCP to clarify staff qualifications, governance, recommended wording for a conditional or delayed launch, and the BOS decision options (immediate vote, special meeting, or warrant article).
Administrative notes The committee approved the Jan. 6, 2024 minutes (motion passed unanimously) and adjourned at 9:15 p.m. (motion passed unanimously). Meeting minutes were submitted by Bob Maden, Secretary/Member.
The committee’s next formal actions will be to present its recommendation to the Board of Selectmen on Feb. 10 and to review CPCNH/CCP clarifications at its Jan. 29 meeting.
