Knoras honored, board OKs energy committee

The Springfield Selectboard approved the establishment of a new townwide energy committee and honored one of their own longtime members during a productive meeting Monday evening.
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Knoras honored, board OKs energy committee Served 15 years on board By Chris Garofolo | Mar 26, 2014 Eagle-Times Photo by: Chris Garofolo Former Springfield Selectboard member Michael Knoras was honored Monday with a proclamation for his years of service to the community. SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Selectboard approved the establishment of a new townwide energy committee and honored one of their own longtime members during a productive meeting Monday evening. By a 5-0 margin, the board authorized the creation of a Springfield Energy Committee and asked the group designers, Mary Ann Remolador and John Pugh, to return to a future Selectmen’s meeting with a mission statement and a solid list of volunteers. Two Selectmen, George McNaughton and David Yesman, said they would volunteer to serve on the committee. Its role would be to report directly to the Selectboard with updates (likely on a quarterly basis) and provide review on the energy chapter of the town plan. Remolador and Pugh, who have served as the town energy co-coordinators for the last five years, said their efforts are extremely limited as a two-person team and they asked to expand opportunities by creating a committee to invite more Springfield residents to work on energy efficiency issues within the town. Pugh said because most energy-related issues are subject to action by just Remolador and him, they are limited in what they can apply for in terms of statewide programs and grants. Creating such a committee would align Springfield with other Vermont towns’ work on energy. A majority of towns in the Green Mountain State, including neighboring Weathersfield, Dummerston and Brattleboro, have committees designed to oversee energy issues within their borders. According to Remolador, having a committee in Springfield “can be more effective with more people working on the issues with us.” Having a larger group would allow them to undertake more programs and implement them more effectively. There is no agenda other than to helping the town achieve its energy goals, Remolador said. All the interested members seemed agreeable to having no fewer than five members, allowing for as many volunteers as there are in the community to participate. Shortly after creating the energy committee, the board honored former Selectman Michael Knoras in a brief ceremony. Knoras, who was defeated in a three candidate race for two open seats earlier this month, had served on the board for more than 15 years. Town Manager Robert Forguites read a laundry list of activities carried out in Springfield during Knoras’ terms. From the water and wastewater improvements and the institution of townwide ambulance services in 1971 to the renovation of the police barracks on Clinton Street in the past few years, Knoras has been a part of dozens of major projects within the town, Forguites said. First appointed to the board in 1970, he served until March of 1981 with five town managers and two interims. But 10 years was not the end of his time with the board. “Again in 2008 Michael Knoras was elected to the Board of Selectmen and faithfully served through Town Meeting of March 2014,” said Selectboard Chairman Kristi Morris, who led a standing ovation for Knoras as he came up to receive his honor. Morris said he has valued Knoras’ input to the board over the last six years and considers him a good friend. Knoras very quietly accepted the proclamation and shook hands with all current board members. He spoke briefly after the meeting with both Morris and McNaughton, the two Selectmen who defeated him in the March 4 Town Meeting Day election.