Special district energy meeting Wednesday morning

MONTPELIER — I received an email from the City Manager's office today about a City Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m. regarding the district energy project.

According to the announcement the mayor is calling for a "Special City Council" meeting to "discuss the status of negotiations with the State regarding District Heat contract."

It looks like the City Council will go into executive session, devoid of prying eyes, and then after that discuss publicly something about the project and possibly give direction to the staff.

It's all quite vague. It could mean the district energy project is dead. It could mean it's going forward. Or it could mean anything.

The state and the city have been haggling over the power purchase agreements for several months now. These agreements will determine how much the city will pay the state for thermal energy. If it's too expensive, and the cost to purchase thermal energy exceeds what the city currently pays for heating oil, the district energy project could be a non-starter.

At one point City Manager William Fraser had expected these agreements to be complete by September.

I've attempted to learn more about what's holding up the process only to be met with "access denied" responses.

Here's the agenda for the meeting.

CITY OF MONTPELIER

MONTPELIER, VERMONT

Agenda for Special City Council Meeting

City Council Chambers, City Hall                                             

Wednesday, December 21, 2011                                                                         

8:30 A.M.

1) Call to Order by the Mayor

2) 11-319(A) Discuss the status of negotiations with the State regarding District Heat contract.  

a) City Council may choose to enter into Executive Session in accordance with Title I, §313, Executive Sessions, (a)(1) to consider “Contracts, labor relations agreement with employees, arbitration, mediation, grievances, civil actions, or prosecutions by the state, where premature general public knowledge would clearly place the state, municipality, or other public body, or person involved at a substantial disadvantage.”

b) Recommendation:  Discussion; possible direction to staff.

3) Adjournment