• By Matt Petry | mpetry@northofboston.com
SALISBURY — During Monday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting, Town Manager Neil Harrington provided an overview on how the town’s electricity program is saving millions of dollars while also providing updates on Whittier Tech plans and the upcoming spring town meetings.
In his town manager’s report, Harrington went over the town’s quarterly report for its electricity aggregation program, highlighting how the town has benefited from the three-year deal and outlining how they will begin seeking a new one.
In May 2022, Harrington signed a three-year renewal through January 2025 with First Point Power to obtain electricity for Salisbury at a fixed rate of 11.134 cents per kilowatt hour for all residential and business customers of National Grid.
“This program continues to reap significant economic benefits for the town. The fourth quarter of 2023 resulted in a $400,000 savings in electricity cost for folks who are enrolled in the program versus the national grid basic rate for electricity supply,” Harrington said.
Looking back at the previous four quarters, Harrington explained that the program has saved the town $2.8 million.
“When these quarterly reports come in, I like to remind the board and remind the community that it’s a beneficial program. We’re going to be going out shortly for quotes for a continuation of the program.
The contract expires at the end of this calendar year,” Harrington said.
When asked if he could speak to a potential rate increase, Harrington said there are too many factors to predict.
“We don’t anticipate the price to spike up dramatically, but it all depends on the international electricity market, which is affected by all kinds of world events, things like the war in Ukraine and things like that,” Harrington said.
He said that he will inform the board and community if and when they reach a contract with a supplier.
Selectman Chairperson Ronalee Ray-Parrott praised Harrington for entering the program when he did.
“Your foresight really saved us these millions of dollars,” Ray-Parrott said.
Another item Harrington touched on was Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and its continued search for a new building.
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School had proposed building a new $444.6 million campus in Haverhill to deal with multiple concerns with its current infrastructure, including electrical, wastewater and HVAC system issues.
But on Jan. 23, voters in the district’s 11 municipalities, (Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Ipswich, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury) turned down the proposal 73% to 27%. The failed vote has left Whittier Tech officials looking for new options.
Harrington brought up the latest development announced by the Healey administration on April 5, regarding plans to explore a shared campus model for Whittier and Northern Essex Community College.
“Between the two schools, they have a lot of room on the campus there at Northern Essex Community College. And there’s also a pool of funding for state community colleges and state colleges for capital improvements,” Harrington said.
Selectman Chuck Takesian shared his excitement on the possibility of the shared campus model for Whittier.
“I think that is a great idea. I think whoever came up with it or however it evolved, I think that is a fantastic idea, and I hope it’s pursued,” Takesian said.
Harrington also provided an updated on the spring special and annual town meetings, explaining that the Warrant Advisory Committee had its first meeting to prepare for Town Meeting on April 1.
“As they normally do, they discussed the status of the current budget and the outline of the challenges facing the town to balance the fiscal 25 budget,” Harrington said.
The next meeting of the committee will be on April 23 with the draft of the warrant articles.
“And then a revised, hopefully, but balanced fiscal 25 budget will be presented. The date for posting the warrant is Friday, May 3, and then Warrant Advisory will have the public hearing after that,” Harrington said.
Dates for the spring Town Meeting have not yet been posted by the town.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at:mpetry@northofboston.com.
Original Article on newburyportnews.com