GRANT-2023-8 : Acceptance of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection GAP III Grant for Municipal Water and/or Wastewater Facilities in the amount of $19,833

Transcript (~5 min @ 14:40)

Speakers identified by voice; unnamed voices are numbered within this recording. Auto-caption text — verify against the video.

▶ 14:25 Speaker 5: Vice chair Jamal Dean Yes. Counselor sonella. Yes. Councilor Garipay. Yes councilor Cassidy. Yes. Counselor Williams. Yes president Grigoraitis. Yes. And chair Migliorelli. Yes, that's seven.

▶ 14:41 Leila Migliorelli: Yes. Thank you. This will be brought to the next full council meeting with recommendation for Passage. Next up. We have Grant 2023-8 acceptance of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Gap three Grant from Municipal Water. And/or Wastewater facilities in the amount of 19,833.

▶ 15:01 Speaker 1: So this is another easy one because it's a grant acceptance. This one does have a city component for funding but we're able to fund it through our operating funds in the sewer Enterprise fund. This grant is is intended for Energy Efficiency projects, but it's specific to Water and Wastewater facilities and we have very few water and we saw our facilities. We just have our Super Pump stations five of them and two water pump stations since we don't do treatment or anything else here. It's really only those facilities that would qualify. So there aren't a whole lot of Energy Efficiency projects in these buildings because they're tiny. So we've picked this variable frequency drive project, which basically just means that instead of the pumps that pump the Wastewater kicking on and off they can now they'll be able to pump over different range of flows so they can ramp up slowly if there's less flow they can operate in a more efficient space. we the grant amount is as we've noted in the order, but we do have A possibility that we might be getting more money. And so I guess we'll have to come back if DP the project cost came in a tiny bit higher on the order of $7,000 higher than we originally had scoped out now that we're getting into the real detailed design. We can easily fund that through the operating fund but we did ask dep if they might just give us the extra 7,000 we figured it was worth a shot. So that may require a return to the council to request the additional funds if that happens, but either way we can fund the full project one way or another.

▶ 16:48 Speaker 4: mom with questions Council Williams

▶ 16:51 Ryan Williams: I just have to say that it's it's kind of impressive the amount of thought that you and that Martha Grover put into how to create Energy Efficiency opportunities in the city of Melrose. I mean, these are sewer pumps right? I don't think anybody myself included a person who's worked in the you know, in climate for a long time has has ever really thought that sewer pumps would be a part of the energy infrastructure, but you really it's really cool to see and and it really appreciate the efforts that you all are taking on these little small pieces of the big puzzle.

▶ 17:27 Speaker 1: Yeah, thank you. Thank you.

▶ 17:31 Jen Grigoraitis: President Grigoraitis. Thank you. My question is not as exciting as counselor Williams. I just wanted to clarify partly because it matters on how we vote is are the additional funds that the city's putting toward the project just money. The city is dedicating toward the project or it's actional. It's a required match of the grant.

▶ 17:47 Speaker 1: So the way the DP is structured it. The city has a minimum cost share of 10% Okay, but then the way that the the way the issued the grant is they have the original numbers. We're 32,850. Is the total cost and then they said 8,5007 was our share and then there's a National Grid incentive contribution to and then there's the 19,833. That's the grant contribution. So these numbers don't seem to tie back to the 10% or any okay any particular percentage they've just this is what they notified us that they're giving us which is part of why we thought well now that the Project's coming a little higher. Why not ask them for a little more because they already have us contributing more than that 10% share. Um, does that answer your question?

▶ 18:43 Jen Grigoraitis: Kind of but that I mean, I think that's not your fault. I think it's just how they worded. It is kind of unclear that yeah, so it's not a it's not a

▶ 18:52 Speaker 1: A specific percentage share a match requirement but it is, you know, in order to accomplish the project they've told us we'll give you this much you need to put in the rest in the National Grid puts in a piece as an incentive. Thank you.

▶ 19:07 Speaker 4: anyone else What is the will the committee? And make a motion to recommend second motion recommend made by Vice Chair Jamaleddine seconded by President Grigoraitis.

▶ 19:20 Speaker 5: Mysteraldi yes. Counselor sonella. Yes counselor garpy. Yes. Council card s*****. Yes. Counselor Williams. Yes president Grigoraitis. Yes. And cheerly. Yes, that's seven.

▶ 19:37 Leila Migliorelli: Yes, and that well, that's will be recommended to the council meeting at our next meeting. Thank you.