BELFAST — The Belfast City Council will meet Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m., for their regular meeting, which was pushed back by one day due to election day. Topics on Belfast City Manager Erin Herbig’s pre-meeting report include leasing agreement with Co-op, solar farm metering, a new Wastewater Management truck, and cemetery funds, among other topics.

The project manager of the Belfast Co-op, Declan O’Connor, approached the City this week in search of a temporary storage location to place two 53-foot box trailers that reportedly arrived unexpectedly. The trailers contain equipment for the renovations the building is currently undergoing. 

After the issue was discussed with City staff, a recommendation was made to enter into a lease agreement with the Co-op allowing them use of land at Belfast Yards. The City has previously leased land at Belfast Yards in 2020, to allow the restoration of the vessel the AJ Meerwald, according to Herbig’s report. The same location would be used to store the respective trailers through winter while the Co-op completes their renovations. 

If approved by the Council, City staff recommends that a motion be made to authorize City staff to work with the Belfast Co-op and the City attorney to enter into a lease to house the two trailers. 

Director of Code and Planning, Bub Fournier, will be present at Wednesday’s meeting to answer any questions. 

Elsewhere on Herbig’s agenda is a request from the Economic Development Director to renew the monitoring services for the City of Belfast Solar Array, located on Crocker Road, in order to continue to be able to sell solar renewable energy certificates. 

According to the request, “Since the fall of 2019, The City of Belfast has owned an 883.20 kWh solar array located at Crocker Road, adjacent to the City’s Public Works facility. For the period of April 2022 to April 2023, this array generated 1,131,162 kWh of electricity, which the City utilized to offset its own electrical consumption. Unlike the two other solar arrays that the City of Belfast also utilizes for net metering, the Crocker Road solar array generates Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs), 1 SREC for every 1,000 kWh of solar electricity, which the City of Belfast sells quarterly via its broker Knollwood Energy. In 2022, 1,132 SRECs were generated by the array, which brought in net revenue for the City in the amount of $39,466.75.

“To qualify to sell its SRECs, a solar array requires active monitoring, which consists of device monitoring, data storage, and maintenance, string inverter monitoring, data storage, and maintenance, as well as a cellular data plan. This service, which is separate from the metering that is already done by Central Maine Power, has been provided by AlsoEnergy/Locus since the array was first commissioned. 

“The service expired on September 12, 2023, and needs to be renewed in order for the City and Knollwood Energy to be able to continue to sell the SRECs generated by the array. AlsoEnergy/Locus has provided the City with two quotes for renewing the service, $1,810 for one year; and $7,810 for five years.”

Economic Development Director Thomas Kittredge has recommended that the City renew the monitoring service for the solar array on Crocker Road for a period of five years, from Sept. 12, 2023 through Sept. 12, 2028. The funds will be taken from the Energy Savings Account. 

Wastewater Superintendent Travis Jones is asking the Council to transfer up to $75,000 from the Department’s Capital Reserve Account to their operating budget to purchase a new truck for the Wastewater Department. The Wastewater Department is seeking to replace the 2009 Chevrolet 3500, which failed to pass inspection in Aug. The vehicle’s failure was a result of an issue with the frame. The Department currently only has the use of one truck. 

It is noted in the request that in the past the Department would seek bids for a new truck, however staff are still running into vehicle shortages following the pandemic and finding a vehicle that meets the needs of the Department would require a delivery time extending 10-12 months.

Due to the shortage, City staff contacted local dealerships to find a suitable vehicle that is in stock on a lot. The request states this also presents challenges due to dealership inventories fluctuating quickly. It is for this reason the Department is requesting authorization to move and expend up to $75,000, so that the funds are available and quick action can be taken when an appropriate truck becomes available. 

 The requested amount is reportedly based on quotes for a truck, plow and upfitting installation, which totaled $67,000 to $72,000. 

If approved, the funds would be taken from the Wastewater Department’s Capital Reserve Account, which has a current balance of  $148,262.57. Those funds would be moved into the Department’s Equipment and Parts Account, which has a current balance of $38,805.36. 

Superintendent Jones will be present at the meeting to answer questions. 

Finance Director Amy Bradford is requesting the Council to authorize her to transfer perpetual care funds collected in Fiscal Year 2022-2023 in the amount of $13,000 to the Cemetery Trust Fund. According to Herbig’s report, this is an annual request that requires Council authorization. 

A request to authorize payment of $948.83 to the Belfast Water District is the final item on Herbig’s agenda. The funds are for the installation of a new waterline and meter at the west end of the Belfast Footbridge. 

The Council authorized the installation of three water fountains on March 7, which include a dog bowl and spicket, which were donated by St. Margaret’s Epsicopal Church Creation Care Committee. The fountains were installed in early September, and to complete installation of the fountain at the west end of the Footbridge, the Belfast Water District needed to install a new water line and meter. Fundraising efforts included the purchasing and installation of the water fountains, but the water line and meter were unexpected costs. 

If approved the City will take the funds from the Harbor Walk Construction Account, which has a current balance of $50,008.28.

Herbig’s full pre-meeting report is available for further review.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com