Solar Panels Planned For Bradley Beach Police Building
By TOM CARDINALE
Bradley Beach plans to install solar power panels on the new police building and the recreation center.At the Borough Council meeting this week a bond ordinance was introduced to begin the process.
A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for Oct. 9.
David Sims and George St. Onge, representatives from Ecological Systems, who would install the panels, gave a presentation on the economical and energy based benefits of the panels.
They said that the panels would pay for themselves, through tax credits, electrical bill savings, and sellable renewable energy credits, in seven years. Because of the accumulation of the renewable energy credits, they said, the town would have a positive cash flow from the panels starting in year eight.
The also said that the panels provided a rare opportunity for the town to avoid the issue of constantly rising oil prices.
Tom Ryan, a resident, said that he liked the idea of promoting the panels to other businesses around Bradley Beach and promoting the town as a “green community.”
The borough received a grant from the state for the project but would still need to borrow nearly $200,000 to complete the project. Applications have also been filed with the state for grants to place panels on the firehouse and library, although those have not been decided on as of yet.
The council also unanimously voted to table an ordinance that would raise the zoning application fees and escrow fees to cover state mandated educational training for planning board members.
The ordinance proposed that the fees be raised $250 on major applications and $125 on minor ones.
Councilwoman Lori Marchak-Ortiz requested the tabling, pending a review of the original fees and questions regarding excessive billing reported by builders.
Borough Engineer Philip Kavanaugh said the raises in fees are necessary not only because of the need for the state mandated training but also because Bradley Beach is well behind other towns in their adjustment of fees. The town hasn’t raised the application or escrow fees since 2003, according to Kavanaugh.
Councilman Gary Engelstad agreed with Marchak-Ortiz that the ordinance should be tabled.
“The last thing I want is a builder accosting me and saying, ‘I don’t want to build in your town anymore, it’s a mess, Engelstad said.
During the public comment portion of the meeting Lou Coccaro, a member of the Planning Board, asked why the large trash items could not be picked up for free, as they are in other towns.
Councilman Thomas Volante said that the cost made it impossible for Bradley Beach to have free disposal of larger trash items.
Contact Tom Cardinale at tom@thecoaster.net.
Read more about your town by picking up The Coaster at your local newsstand or subscribe today.
Published every Thursday.
