Executive Summary for Application for Special Permit for Dartmouth Wind Turbine Project

The application seeks approval for a Special Permit for a wind turbine project consisting of two 1,650 kW wind turbines to be mounted on 100-meter (328 foot) towers on DPW land off 687 Chase Road in South Dartmouth.
Atlantic Design Engineers LLC (ADE) carried out a feasibility study that included, among other aspects, shadow-flicker, noise and simulated visualization. Earlier ADE performed an economic analysis in their prefeasibility report that showed positive returns to the town. Since then the economics have improved owing to the passage and interpretation of the Net Metering portion of the Green Communities act, and the awarding of $2 million in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) to the town by the IRS. It is 99% certain that the project will return a net benefit of $376,000 in the first year of operation and a total of $19 million over the 20-year life of the project. The average expected returns (50% certainty) are $888,000 in the first year and $32 million over the project life.
Shadow-flicker has the potential to affect about 94 residences in total, but 75 of these would be for nine hours or less per year. Eighteen residences might receive between 10-19 hours per year, and only one residence might see slightly over 20 hours per year. These values are biased on the high side because the analysis does not account for screening of houses by trees, shrubs or other structures.
The noise generated and propagated by the two turbines is well below the allowable limit established by the Town Bylaw No. 34 in accordance with the Commonwealth standard of 10 dBA above ambient noise levels. The highest calculated increase in sound at one corner of the northwestern boundary of the DPW property is 2.5 dBA. Since all residences are located farther away, the increase in noise levels at all residences will be less than this. The limit of the human ear to detect changes in tonal sound levels ranges from 1-3 dBA depending on the frequency of the tone, but the turbines do not emit any pure tones. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the increase in noise caused by the turbines will be detectable by the human ear.
Since the turbines are tall, they will be visible from various vantage points in the vicinity. Moreover, most of the neighborhoods near the turbines are heavily wooded, the houses there are typically of one story and they are on relatively small lots. Therefore, not all residences will be able to see the turbines. Nevertheless, they will certainly be visible from many homes and from vehicles using the roads in the area. They will be visible from the waters off the SouthCoast and may become landmarks for sailors.
Particular attention has been given to the matter of wetlands near the turbines. During the precise siting process, ...

... a detailed assessment of wetlands was conducted by our Environmental Affairs Coordinator with the assistance of DPW personnel and a New England wetlands expert. All proposed work will conform to the Dartmouth Wetland Bylaw and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection standards. Prior to the start of work, the project will require an Order of Conditions from the Dartmouth Conservation Commission.
Owing to their height, the turbines need clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and from the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission (MAC). The FAA approved the south turbine and the MAC approved both turbines in their original locations. However, the locations were altered to accommodate wetlands that were discovered after the filings. Thus it is necessary to re-file with both agencies.
Just prior to completion of the application for the Special Permit, the FAA notified us that they have found cause for hazard from the north turbine as originally sited. However, ADE had requested clearance for a 492-foot structure, whereas the proposed turbines would be only 462 feet tall. The FAA indicated that a 473-foot structure would have passed, so we anticipate that the new filing with the actual height will receive approval. Our economic sensitivity studies show that, even if the towers have to be lowered to 85 meters (413 feet total height), the project is still very highly worthwhile for the town. The first year and life-cycle returns would be $732,000 and $28,260,000, respectively, compared to the $888,000 and $32 million for 100-meter towers.
On behalf of the Alternative Energy Committee, I am happy to present this application for a Special Permit for a wind turbine project that promises extraordinary, predictable economic benefits, while delivering clean, renewable, sustainable electricity for the town for many years to come … all this while protecting the environment and the character of the town.
Submitted by:
Ronald DiPippo, Ph.D.
Chairman, Alternative Energy Committee
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Police Department leadership

Curt Brown has a blog post here with a letter from the Police Brotherhood union on promotions. Curt has an additional blog post here about the promotions
There have been a couple of comments asking about the interim promotions which were discussed in executive session. The Select Board did not vote in open session to make the appointments because the Police Department leadership has the authority to make those interim promotions without action by the Select Board. Captain Soares did present the interim appointments as a plan to the Select Board in executive session before inquiring of affected individuals if they were willing to step up. I think that is an entirely appropriate use ...

... of executive session under Chapter 39 section 23B of Massachusetts General Law under subsection (3) or (8). The Select Board agreed with the plan and the police officers were asked.
The Select Board has a public discussion and vote on the interim plan on our agenda for our next meeting. There was no opposition to the proposed interim appointments.
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Democratic Senate candidates to debate at UMass Dartmouth

The SouthCoast Alliance will host a U.S. Senate Democratic primary forum on Saturday, December 5 at 10 a.m. at the Main Auditorium on the UMass Dartmouth campus.
This link will take you to the press release.
The primary will be held on December 8th. More after the jump

Contact Raymond M Medeiros, Jr., Chairman of the Dartmouth Democratic Town Committee
at 1-774-328-2400 if you are interested.
I like Representative Capuano although I have no problem with either Ms. Coakley or Mr Khazei.
Mr Pagliuca has not been supportive of Democratic candidates or initiatives in the past and I can not support him.
Who do you like and why?
Click here to read on!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.
--WT Purkiser

Let us especially remember those who serve today, who can't be home with family to feast and give thanks. Thank you to the cop, the fireman, the soldier, sailor and airman, the nurse, and many others. You deserve our thanks and gratitude.

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.
--Erma Bombeck

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Wind Turbine Public Forum agenda

Public Forum on the Dartmouth Wind Turbine Project
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 7:00-9:00 P.M.
Dartmouth High School Auditorium
555 Bakerville Road

Moderated by Steven Sharek

AGENDA
7:00-7:10 Welcome, Ground Rules & Introductions
7:10-7:35 Presenters
7:10-7:20 Project Overview - Dr. DiPippo, Chair Alternative Energy Committee
7:20-7:22 Department of Public Works Comments- Letter from Board of Public Works
7:22-7:27 Conservation Perspective- Michael O’Reilly, Environmental Affairs
7:27-7:35 Consulting Engineer’s Comments-
Simon Thomas, President, Atlantic Design Engineers, LLC
7:35-8:55 Comments, Question & Answer Period
8:55-9:00 Closing Remarks & Next Steps

Select Board Special Permit Hearing
6:30 P.M. December 14, 2009

I stand corrected on the date of the Select Board Hearing on the wind turbines. It is Dec 14th, ...

...and not the 7th.
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I love cranberries!

The Thanksgiving feast gives me a chance to try out new ways to eat cranberries. I love the bitter little fruit. Our feast will include cranberry sauce, cranberry orange relish, cranberry apple relish, and cranberry apple pie. I'll have cranberry juice and cranberry pancakes for breakfast. The cranberry orange relish has some cinammon in it. Nice. How about horseradish?
That is what this recipe from Susan Stamberg on National Public Radio has in it. I've tried it and it is pretty good. It is a terrible color though. Even Ms. Stamberg described the color as "Pepto Bismol pink".


Do you have a recipe for cranberries that I can try?
Leave it in comments
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Can you spot an error here?

Over at Eschaton, Atrios posts this clip from Hannity. Listen to former Press Secretary Perino.
The factual error is detailed after the jump

Perino: "We did not have a terrorist attack on our country during President Bush's term"
World Trade Center attack September 11, 2001
George W. Bush inaugurated as President January 20, 2001
Neither of the other two challenged her statement.
Wow, just wow.
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Technical Review Group approves wind turbine permit

Yesterday the Technical Review Group (TRG) approved the permit for two wind turbines on town land in the Paskamansett Valley. The permit application will now go to the Special Permit Granting Authority which is the Select Bosrd. A Select Board hearing has been scheduled on the wind turbine permit for Monday, December 7th.

Frank1 is now cued up for some negative comments on wind turbines. Perhaps a historical reference to the date?
I don't want to make light of the fact that some may have concerns about this project. There can and should be a serious discussion of the positives and negatives of the project. My feeling is that some want to try to raise issues that are not valid or supported by facts. This project has been working its way through the process for 6 years. There have been hearings, bylaws passed, Town Meeting votes, etc. To say that there has not been a long discussion up to this point is not correct. There have been numerous analyses of the economics of the project. It is clearly a winner. There is no doubt it will reduce costs by millions of dollars over thte life of the turbines. The impact on residents is minimal. There is not another site in town where there would be less impact. The site is adjacent to two of the largest energy comsumers of the town, the waste treatment and water treament plants. There are thousands of wind turbines just like these around the world. It is a proven technology.
What do you think about wind turbines in genersl and this project specifically?
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Democratic Senate hopefuls debate today

David at Blue Mass Group will attend and live blog from the Democratic Senate candidate debate at 4:30 this afternoon. The debate will be broadcast on WGBH TV's Greater Boston program at 7PM tonight. I'm sure that most of you will be tuned into the Dartmouth Select Board meeting in DCTV channel 18 but if you get tired of the obstruct and disturb streets approvals and permits for common victualers licenses, you can jump over to the debate.

Do you really want to miss any of the riveting TV at the Town Hall?
Click here to read on!

Modified wind turbine Special Permit available at town website

The wind turbine project Special Permit application is available on the town website at this link. It is also available for inspection at the Town Hall or Southworth library.
Additional information is posted ...

...on the Alternative Energy Committee page of the town website
There has been some confusion in the comments sections about the time and place of the public forum meeting on the wind turbine project.
Here is the current information
Public Forum on December 9 at 7:00 PM in the High School auditorium
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Reorganization of town departments

There has been some discussion in the comments to this post about the processes and procedures needed to navigate Dartmouth's permitting process.
Watching the meetings of the various permitting boards, it seems to me that the town boards frequently suffer from a breakdown in communication. One way to solve that problem may be to consolidate the functions of those boards into a single department. An example of what I mean can be found in Tewksbury, where our new Executive Administrator was employed. That town has integrated various boards into an Office of Economic Development. That entity is described ...

.. this way on the Tewksbury website,

The Department of Community Development was created through the actions of the May 2001 Town Meeting and is comprised of the following:
1) The Building Department
2) The Board of Health Office
3) Planning and Conservation Office
4) Engineering Office
The Department of Community Development provides direct staff and/ technical support to the following boards:
1) Board of Health
2) Planning Board
3) Conservation Commission
4) Board of Appeals
5) Master Plan Committee
6) Local Housing Partnership
7) Community Preservation Committee

When Mr. Cressman was hired, one of the things he was tasked to do was to review the town departments and recommend changes to increase efficiency or reduce costs. I would not be surprised if he recommended a similar solution as that which his former employer used.
I think a Department of Economic Development would increase communication, ease red tape, and cut costs. I am sure that the current boards would have a million reasons why it is not workable, but this is a model that we know has worked in a similar community since 2001.
This may be premature since I don't know what Mr. Cressman will eventually propose. But he will have a proposal within the first year of his employment.
What are your thoughts about this?
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Why not a public option?

Jay Ackroyd posts over on Eschaton,

The only argument in opposition to a public option is that it will lower executive compensation and shareholder value in the health care industry. Or, as atrios says, that it will get rid of the skimmers. It is not surprising that proponents of retention of the worst health care system in the OECD do not make this argument.

Jay references ...

Matt Ygelias from his post where he asks,

Moderates are very rarely asked to explain what it is about an opt-outable level playing field public option that’s so horrible that it becomes suddenly worthwhile to filibuster an otherwise good bill that will put the country on a more sustainable fiscal course will improving millions of Americans’ access to health care.

So I ask you, why not a public option. The arguments against health care reform seem to me to be mutually exclusive, such as, government can't do anything well but if we let them offer health insurance, they will put private insurers out of business.
So I'm asking you readers, why not a public option?
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Final permit available for wind turbine project

Atlantic Design Engineers have comleted the permit application for the wind turbine project and the final release is available at the Town Hall and Southworth Library. Don't know if it has been posted to the town website yet.

And here is the rest.
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Mississippi -Dylan on Friday

Say anything you wanna, I have heard it all.
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Bay State bucks national trend. Unemployment declines

David at Blue Mass Group posts here about this Boston Globe article. The light at the end of the tunnel? We'll see.

What do you think about employment. The President is talking about a jobs bill. Needed or not?
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H1N1 shots available Friday Nov 20- Pre-registration required

The Dartmouth Health Department has a supply of H1N1 vaccine which will be available on Friday. Due to the limited supply priority will be given to specific high risk groups; children under the age of 3, children age 3 to 24 with high risk conditions, household contacts of young children, pregnant women, and health care providers.
Contact the Board of Health at 508-910-1844 between 9AM and 4:30PM to register to receive a vaccination. Only those who have been pre-registered will get vaccinated. '
Please read the notice at the link which follows for full details.
The entire notice from the Board of Health can be found at this link.

More clinics will be held as supplies of vaccine are available.
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DPU Order Allows Start of Wind and Solar Power “Net Metering” on December 1

From the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

Under Green Community Act provision to spur renewable energy development, customers who generate more power than they use can sell back energy at higher rates

BOSTON – Net metering for wind and solar energy installations, a provision of the Green Communities Act designed to encourage development of renewable power, takes effect on December 1 under an order adopted by Department of Public Utilities (DPU) last Friday (11/13).
Net metering encourages homeowners, businesses, and municipalities to install solar panels and wind turbines by allowing them to earn credit on their electric bills if they generate more power than they need. Under the Green Communities Act signed by Governor Patrick last year, utility companies must compensate their customers for this excess electricity at the retail rate rather than the lower wholesale rate. Additionally, customers may allocate their credits to other customers, allowing those without facilities to take advantage of net metering benefits as well.
The DPU order approved Friday is the last regulatory step needed for electric customers to take advantage of the Act’s net metering provisions. As a result, customers who own renewable energy installations can submit net metering applications to their electric distribution companies beginning December 1. The DPU issued its final net metering regulations in June of this year, followed by a model net metering tariff in August. Friday’s DPU order approves electric utility interconnection tariffs and requires that the electric companies immediately file net metering tariffs that comply with the terms of the model tariff approved in August.
“Businesses, consumers, and cities and towns across Massachusetts are eager for net metering to get underway, increasing the value of renewable power for those who install it,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles, whose office includes the DPU. “This action propels the Commonwealth further along Governor Patrick’s path toward a clean energy future.”
“Net metering will accelerate the development of renewable energy projects across the Commonwealth by putting the economic value ...

... of power generated by these projects on par with electricity purchased from the grid,” said DPU Chairman Paul Hibbard.
Prior to the Green Communities Act, net metering was restricted to on-site renewable energy projects capable of generating 60 kilowatts or less, and customers were able to sell their power back to the grid only at the wholesale rate. Now, customers who own larger wind turbines or solar power installations – up to 2 megawatts, and even larger for municipal and state installations – can sell excess power back to the grid at the higher retail rate. Even customers who do not generate excess power will save money on their electric bills by generating some portion of the electricity they use.
To view the DPU’s final net metering order, click here.

Click here to read on!

Community Preservation Committee looking for volunteers

From Mr. Baker Smith of the Community Preservation Committee writes,

Hello,
Barry Walker wrote to me yesterday to let me know that he has been appointed to FinCom and will need to step down from the Community Preservation Committee. In the few months that Barry has been on the committee he has been very active and made important contributions to the committee's work.
On behalf of the CPC, I would hope that there would be a short period of time to solicit interest in serving on the committee and then timely action by the Select Board in appointing Barry's replacement. The Select Board has been very supportive in the past year and has been very thoughtful in making appointments to the CPC.
I am putting out feelers to encourage people who may be interested to submit a letter to the Select Board. If you receive inquiries into serving on the CPC and people would like more information on our work, please have them email me. Perhaps we could check in around early December to see if there is a pool of candidates who have submitted letters. I know the Select Board would like to have a choice and I think that a vetting of candidates would be very helpful. Does this sound like a reasonable way to proceed?

Buddy

The Community Preservation Committee has an important role in deciding what projects to fund with receipts ...

... from a surcharge on our property taxes and the matching state portion. If you are interested, please forward a letter of interest to Mr. Cressman at the Select Board office or Mr. Baker Smith.
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Democratic Town Committee meeting tonight

The Democratic Town Committee will hear from representatives of US Senate hopeful Alan Khazei this evening at their meeting in the Southworth Library at 6:30 PM.
Mr. Khaozei is founder of the City Year service program.
A synopsis of his views on issues of the day can be found at this link.
This is an interesting race and I have some agreement with most of the Denmocratic candidates. I would like to see more women in the Senate so I could support Ms. Coakley. Mr. Khazei and Representative Capuano hold progressive views that I support. Mr Pagliuca is a Republican in all but registration and running for ego reasons in my opinion.
The late Senator Kennedy was renowned ...

... for his excellent constituent service staff. I would like to see that continue. KAJ314 makes the case in this post over at Blue Mass Group blog that Mr. Capuano is most likely to continue that tradition of constituent service.
What do you think, are constituent services a good reason to select a candidate? How about gender? Who do you like and why?
Click here to read on!

General Court considers changing wind turbine siting law

Anonymous left comment which I thought should be brought out to the post level.

PLEASE ACT NOW! WEDNESDAY COULD BE TOO LATE!
Your help is needed immediately to stop a last-minute rush to pass the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act.

This special interest legislation is being jammed through by Energy & Environment Secretary Ian Bowles in the waning hours of this year's legislative session. He wants a vote by the close of Wednesday, and he's putting tremendous pressure on the legislators to approve the Act. It could reach the floor for a vote tomorrow, Tuesday.

A revised version of the Act was released last week. While there have been some very modest improvements, the fundamental problems remain.

The Act still allows wind developers to go to the state Energy Facilities Siting Board for expedited comprehensive permits regardless of decisions by local boards.

It still replaces state environmental laws with standards established by the EFSB - which that agency can apply or waive at its sole discretion.

It still eliminates almost all traditional rights of participation and appeal for communities and citizens.

This month's National Geographic Traveler magazine ranks the Berkshires in a tie for 7th place among 133 destinations worldwide. It extols this place for its "well-protected natural beauty," describing it as an "important area for cultural tourism in a beautiful environmental setting." Cape Cod is also on the list of top destinations.

All that could be lost if our ability to shape the character of our communities is stripped away by the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act.

Some legislators, Senator Ben Downing among them, hope to find a compromise on the Act. Respectfully, I have to say that is unrealistic. The Act's purpose is to block local opposition and fast-track wind facilities, ...

... and it's targeted at onshore areas with more wind, namely the Berkshires and the coast and islands. Several revisions of the Act have confirmed that Secretary Bowles is undeterred from using it to achieve the governor's goal of 2,000 MW of wind by 2020.

Please act now by contacting your legislators. Link to legislators is here They need to hear from you right away, preferably by phone, but also by email.

Please tell them that 1.) you oppose this Act, 2.) you want them to oppose it, and 3.) you want them to ask their colleagues to oppose it.

If you are in Senator Downing's district, it is particularly important that he hears from you right away. Representatives Guyer and Pignatelli have expressed their opposition to the Act, but they need to be supported with calls from you, and reminded to contact their colleagues.

Please also call the Senate and House leaders. Their names and numbers are below.

Please call Governor Patrick, too. Link to Governor's contact information here. He needs to hear your outrage at this power grab by his administration!

The Energy Facilities Siting Board was created because local opposition to energy facilities made it nearly impossible to create the energy infrastructure necessary to sustain our modern way of life. Their website says,

"The Siting Board's primary function is to license the construction of major energy infrastructure in Massachusetts, including large power plants, electric transmission lines, natural gas pipelines and natural gas storage facilities."

Dartmouth has been ahead of the curve in passing a bylaw which clearly delineates the conditions that a developer must meet to site a wind project. I think our bylaw is overly restrictive, but at least it provides a clear and reasonable path for the installation of wind energy. Our bylaw could be a model for other communities.
Unfortunately, the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) mentality is a major stumbling block to development of energy infrastructure. Wind projects languish for years because of appeals to permits and challenges to zoning. The Commonwealth and its people have shown an interest in promoting alternative energy solutions such as wind power. The bill in the legislature is not to advance special interest, it is a possible solution to the siting woes. An alternative approach to the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act might be to require every municipality to adopt a bylaw that defines their conditions for allowing wind power facilities.
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DARTMOUTH WIND TURBINE PROJECT: FACTS OVER FEARS

Dr. DiPippo sends this about our wind turbine project

The 3.3 megawatt Dartmouth Wind Turbine Project for the DPW facilities in South Dartmouth is moving ahead. We hope to see clean renewable electricity flowing into the grid and revenues flowing into the town treasury within the next year.

As more and more commercial-sized wind turbines are being installed and operated in SouthCoast communities, people are becoming more aware of their potential for green energy production and less worried about potential environmental and social impacts. Nevertheless here in Dartmouth some people have expressed concerns about noise, shadow-flicker, possible drop in valuation of their homes, and even their sleep being disturbed. Since the project will be seeking a Special Permit from the Dartmouth Select Board and then approval from Town Meeting, it is important to separate fears from facts.

HISTORY – The Alternative Energy Committee (AEC) has been working on this project for over five years. Over that time, two bylaws for wind turbines were drawn up, debated in public, discussed at two Town Meetings and passed unanimously. The AEC produced a DVD on wind power that was placed in town libraries. The AEC wrote three articles on wind power; they were published in the Standard-Times. The wind assessment results and the preliminary feasibility studies have been presented at Select Board meetings and Town Meetings, all televised. An alternative energy web site was created, linked to the Dartmouth home page, where all important documents related to the project can be found. Numerous meetings, going back to 2005, of the AEC have been announced and held. Over the last few months the meetings have been attended by residents and others. I, as AEC chairman, and other AEC members have spoken to several residents who live in the vicinity of the project. In short, the AEC has done everything it can to bring this project to the attention of all town residents and anyone else with an interest in alternative energy.

Regarding the concerns raised by some, here are the facts as determined by the Atlantic Design Engineers (ADE), the engineering firm hired by the town after a unanimous authorization at the June 2009 Town Meeting. More details can be found at the AEC website: http://www.town.dartmouth.ma.us/altenergy.htm

NOISE – The amount of noise above normal ambient sounds at the boundary of the DPW property that would be contributed by the two 1.65 megawatt turbines is less than the human ear is capable of detecting. The absolute increase in sound level is about 1 decibel on the A-scale. Residences are all located farther away than the property boundary. Thus the increase in sound at the residences will be even less. Thus no one in their homes or on their property will be able to hear any noise coming from the turbines.

SHADOW-FLICKER – The shadow-flicker effect for the project has been studied by ADE; see the AEC web page for details. There is one residence at which the flicker effect might result in roughly 20 hours per year of flicker; all other residences within the limited range of possible flicker would be less affected. There are about 18 other residences that might get between 10 and 19 hours of flicker per year and another 348 residences that might get between 1 and 9 hours of flicker per year. Flicker will be partially or completely eliminated if a residence has trees or shrubs or other buildings near it that screen the residence from the turbine. Most houses in the last group reside in the heavily wooded Meadowood neighborhood where trees will drastically reduce the impact and in most cases eliminate it completely. The flicker can only occur either very early in the morning just after sunrise (if the residence is west of the turbines), or late in the afternoon just before sunset (if the residence lies to the east). At a given location, it lasts for only a few minutes a day for a limited period of the year ...

... since the earth and the sun are in constant relative motion. Although there is no definitive determination on record regarding an allowable level of flicker exposure, one court case in Germany found that more than 30 hours per year was unacceptable; the Dartmouth project is well below that value. Finally, if there is a place where flicker is shown to be particularly bothersome, the turbine can be programmed to shut down for the short duration of flicker.

SLEEP DISTURBANCE – Given the imperceptible noise generation from the turbines, it is hard to imagine how anyone’s sleep could be disturbed by the turbines.

PROPERTY VALUES – The value of one’s property is determined by recent sales of similar homes in the area. It is impossible to say whether or not someone’s property value will be adversely affected by the presence of the wind turbines until home sales demonstrate an impact. If an adverse impact can be proven, a home owner may seek a reassessment and might end up paying lower taxes. By law, the town is required to periodically reassess property values.

WETLANDS – The town has taken extraordinary care in siting the turbines to avoid infringing on wetlands. Preliminary site plans were modified following a more detailed site survey. The town engaged one of New England’s foremost wetlands experts to assist in this work. All project work will conform to the Town of Dartmouth Wetland Bylaw and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection standards.

In summary, the AEC was asked by the town to study alternative, renewable means of generating electricity that could save money for the town. We have been thorough, professional and open throughout the research and development process. This clean, green energy project will begin saving the town money immediately once it goes into operation -- some $880,000 in the first year -- under full net metering. It could save the town up to $32 million over its 20-year life, it will have minimal impact on the environment and neighbors, and it will be a source of pride for all residents of Dartmouth.

Ronald DiPippo, Ph.D.

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Mr. Walker added to Finance Committee

The Town Meeting Moderator, Mr. Sharek, sends this via email,

To Chairperson Shannon Jenkins and members of the FinCom
I am pleased to report that I am appointing Barry Walker of Potomska Road as the newest member of the Dartmouth Finance Committee. His letter of appointment was mailed on Friday and I expect he will be sworn into his new role by the Town Clerk early next week. He will succeed Tenney Lantz, who recently resigned. Barry owns his own successful small business and serves as both a Town Meeting member and Community Preservation Committee member. He served as a leader and spokesman for Citizens for Responsible Government, a citizens group that opposed most (but not all) of the Prop 2 1/2 override questions placed before the town almost two years ago. While I have not always agreed with Barry's views on town issues, I believe he will be a hard-working member of the FinCom and will add a thoughtful, independent-minded, private sector perspective to the committee. With this appointment (as with all the others I have made), I have attempted to ensure that all parts of the political spectrum are represented. Please join me in welcoming Barry Walker to the FinCom.
Steve Sharek

I thought I had posted earlier that Ms. Jenkins had assumed the chair of the Finance Committee, but I find I had not.
The Finance Committee is appointed by the Town Meeting Moderator and elect their own leadership from among the members.
Congratulations to Mr. Walker and Ms. Jenkins and thank you both for taking on these challenging tasks. Thank you to Ms. Lantz for her service as well

Update

More from Mr. Sharek

I was also going to say that, underpinning all of our debates over money and fiscal policy is a common goal: to do what's best for the Town of Dartmouth. We have different views of what's "best", of course, and how to reach that goal. As I remind Town Meeting members ad nauseum, we need to respect the differences. If Shannon and Barry can work together -- and I am absolutely convinced they can and will -- the result will be a stronger Dartmouth.

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Couldn't pass this one up!

Late night talk host Conan O'Brien on Lou Dobbs.

"It's been reported that outspoken anti-immigration anchor Lou Dobbs is leaving CNN. Yeah. True story, yeah. He'll be replaced by a guy named Juan, who will do the same job for $5 an hour."

There are more in the Weekly Joke Revue over at Blue Mass Group (BMG).
Lots of posts and information on the Democratic candidates for Senate ...

... over at BMG if you are interested in getting to know about the candidates. A couple of links here and here to start.
Click here to read on!

Select Board to set tax rate on Monday

The Select Board will have a public hearing and set the tax rate on Monday at 6:30Pm in Room 304 of Town Hall. I have a post about how the tax levy, tax rate and tax classification work at this link Residential and commercial valuations are down 5 or 6% this year. Does that mean the residents and businesses will pay lower taxes? No, it doesn't. The short answer as to why is that the town takes the the required tax levy and uses that to come up with the tax rate. It's all in the previous link.
Mr. Frank Gracie, who chaired a Tax Classification Committee, was kind enough to send me an explanation of why that is needed and you can find his explanation at this link.
There has been some discussion ...

... in comments of other posts about the tax rate and also about required school spending.
If you want to find out how the schools are funded in Dartmouth, try the links here and here wherein Mr. Lynam of the Finance Committee gives a good explanation.
School funding is pretty complicated and it is easy to find statistics which seem to support one position or the other. I find that a thorough understanding of the process and the derivation of the statistics is needed. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has a lot of information at their website here.
While Dartmouth funds the school budget at required net school spending in the annual budget that is not the only money that the schools receive from the town tax levy. For instance, the recent decision by the town to remove school bus fees provided an added $91,000 from the town above the school required budget. Transportation is a town charge, not a school charge, in the state reckoning and is not included in required school spending. The activity fee reduction added some more town money to the school budget too. I don't have that number handy.
Additionally, Town Meeting has funded many hundreds of thousands of dollars for textbooks and technology and other capital needs over the last few years. All that spending is over and above required net school spending but not counted by the state in their calculation of what the town has spent for education.
Given these examples, I think that the contention that Dartmouth only provides required net spending is demonstrably false.
What do you think about the tax rate, tax classification and school spending? Tell us in comments.
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Bob Dylan -Billy

From the movie Pat Garret and Billy the Kid 1973
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Representative Quinn to run for Sheriff

Here is his press release

Quinn Announces Candidacy for Bristol County Sheriff

State Representative John F. Quinn (D-Dartmouth) today announced that he will seek the Democratic nomination for Sheriff of Bristol County to challenge the longtime incumbent Republican Thomas Hodgson in the November 2010 election. “The Bristol County House of Correction is spiraling out of control and it is time that Sheriff Hodgson is relieved of his duties,” said Quinn. “Now more than ever it is time for new management and new leadership. It is time to pull back the curtains and let the light shine on the irresponsible practices that are currently occurring in the Sheriff’s office.”
Quinn is currently serving in the Massachusetts State Legislature representing the 9th Bristol District which includes the towns of Dartmouth, Freetown and Lakeville, and the City of New Bedford. During his tenure in the House of Representatives, he has been a leader in public safety initiatives, budgeting issues and in bringing transparency and accountability to state government. He has chaired the House Banking Committee, was Vice-Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and a member of the Committee on Post Audit and Oversight. Quinn is currently a ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee and has vast experience and knowledge of the budgeting process. He will bring this experience to the office of Bristol County Sheriff, stating that “for too long there has been gross financial mismanagement in which public safety has taken a back seat to public relations and I vow to reverse that trend.”
As examples of this financial mismanagement, Quinn cites the millions of dollars in ill-spent legal fees and costs of court judgments, sweetheart pension deals for the well connected and Hodgson’s opposition to participating in the consolidation of services with the State despite the fact that it will save millions of dollars a year for the taxpayers of the County and the Commonwealth. “Sheriff Hodgson talks a good game about saving taxpayers’ money but in fact he has squandered millions of taxpayer dollars on frivolous expenses which now puts the County in a perilous financial condition,” said Quinn. “As Sheriff of Bristol County, I will demand that the Office be run in a fiscally responsible manner, making sure that taxpayer dollars are expended solely on appropriate programs and services.”

(more after the jump)

In the area of public safety, Rep. Quinn has been involved in numerous initiatives including his work with Representative Stephen Canessa and Senator Mark Montigny on the creation and continuation of the Shannon anti-crime gang violence grants, which has brought several million dollars to Bristol County communities. He is leading the fight for legislation regarding deceptive weapons, and along with Senator Joan Menard, filed a bill creating a separate offense for an assault with a firearm. However, no public safety issue is more important than the legislation he is fighting for in partnership with District Attorney Samuel Sutter and Representative Antonio Cabral, as well as the entire Bristol County delegation. This legislation would expand the existing dangerousness statute to include more gun and gang crimes under which defendants can be detained pre-trial if the judge considers them a danger to the community.
Quinn has continually stood up against political insiders and the abuse of power during his entire career. He has fought to change the rules of the Legislature in order to dilute the concentration of power in the hands of a select few and was recently acknowledged in the Boston Globe as one of “seven brave souls” who voted not to re-elect indicted former Speaker Salvatore DiMasi despite the political ramifications. Quinn has challenged Boston power brokers by fighting to protect Buzzards Bay from the oil industry and well connected developers. He has also aligned himself with the Fall River delegation against the LNG facility. Currently, Quinn, with the rest of the Bristol County delegation, is engaged in an on-going battle with private law schools in an effort to bring a public law school to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. “The decisions I will make as Sheriff will be based on serving and protecting the citizens of Bristol County as a whole and not on benefiting the few,” said Quinn.
With the election a year away, Quinn is well aware that there is much work to be done in his current position in the Legislature. “I am currently focused on doing the job I was elected to do by the people of the 9th Bristol District. We have many difficult economic challenges that we are currently facing and I am fully engaged in helping to address these issues,” said Quinn.
Quinn has an impressive educational background which is well suited for the position of Sheriff of Bristol County, especially with the severe financial mismanagement issues that currently exist. Quinn is a graduate of Dartmouth High School and holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. He also holds a J.D. from Suffolk University School of Law and a master’s degree of Public Administration from the prestigious Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Quinn is married to Jane Kvilhaug Quinn, formerly of Fairhaven, and they are the proud parents of two children, Brendan, age 14 and Emily, age 12.

Mr. Quinn's email address for his campaign is quinnforsheriff@gmail.com
Good luck. John.
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Turbine forum postponed

At the request of Mr. Watson of the Select Board, the public forum to discuss the town's wind turbine project will be postponed to Dec 9th. The venue has not been set for the 9th. Mr. Watson wanted to allow more time to review the final siting propsal from Atlantic Design. The proposal is due to be released on Nov 20th.

I'll keep you informed of further developments hese as I get them.
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Congratulations to the high school band

The Dartmouth High marching band placed first in a national competition in Annapolis for the second straaight year.
Congratulations, band members, staff, and the hard working parents who support the program.

The Standard Times article on the band's win is here.
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Fire damages waste plant.

A sifter in the composting facility overheated and caught fire at the DPW facility on Russells Mills Road. There was a spill of oily residue and Frank Corporation was called in to clean up. The Standard Times article about the fire is here.
Our insurance company has been notified of the loss. The amount of damage ...

... and the extent of the insurance coverage is no know at this time.
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Thanks for your service, Veterans

Just want to express my gratitude for those who have served our country in the armed forces and send my prayers to those who have died doing so.

Thanks to the families of those who serve and have served as well.
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Health Care Reform passes US House

In a historic vote, the House of Representatives has passed a health care reform bill. This vote has been a century in the making. The bill now goes to the Senate. Its prospects there are not clear.

A single House Republican voted for the bill.
The action of the Republicans on the floor last Friday were shameful in my opinion
Watch

The Senate is also being completely gummed up by delaying tactics. It took five weeks and three filibuster cloture votes to get a unemployment benefit extension to the floor of the Senate where it was passed unanimously. Meanwhile, tens of thousands saw their benefits expire. Like I said, shanmeful.
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US House GOP health care reform bill

Finally the Republicans have their own health care proposal. I'm underwhelmed by the content. So is Matt Ygelias Saves less than the Democratic plan and ...

... adds zero to those covered. What do you think?
The Congressional Budget Office scoring of the GOP plan can be found here
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UMass hosts noted language teacher

UMass Dartmouth will host a lecture on why learning a second language is important. The talk will be on November 16th.
The Staqndard Times article about the lecture can be found here

Contact Professor Mel Yoken, director of the Boivin Center at myoken@umassd.edu or favela@comcast.net, for more information, at (508)-991-5096.
Voyez-vous là! N'est pas?
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Classic Dylan with bad video

From 1966 Blonde on Blonde album
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Forum on wind turbine project, Dec 2nd

From Dr. DiPippo,

Hi all,
There will be an open forum to discuss the Dartmouth Wind Turbine Project on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 in the Dartmouth Middle School auditorium (next door to Town Hall) on Slocum Road from 7-9 PM.
There will be briefings by the AEC, ADE, DPW, FinCom, ConCom and others who have been working with us. There will be questions from the audience and answers from us. Statements from folks who support the project are also welcome.
Besides giving the residents of the town a full and factual presentation of the details of the project, this forum is also intended to inform the decision to be taken by the Select Board on the application for a Special Permit. We hope that the Select Board will vote on the matter at their next meeting following the Forum.
We plan to post important information from the Final Feasibility Report from ADE on the AEC web page, and place hard copies of the report on reserve at the Southworth Public Library no later than one week prior to the meeting.
Lara Stone and I will be drafting the detailed agenda for the forum ASAP. We will distribute it widely.
I hope that each of you will be able to attend and participate.
Best regards,
Ronald DiPippo, Ph.D.
Chairman, Alternative Energy Committee
Town of Dartmouth

The link to the Alternative Energy Committee web page is here
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