Town Administrator Kevin Sweet is pleased to announce that Maynard has been awarded a grant in the amount of $102,233 from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Green Communities Division.

This award was accepted by Town Administrator Sweet and Maynard Facilities Manager Greg Lefterwas at a ceremony Monday at Ashland Town Hall, along with other grant recipients. The state awarded $7.9 million in grant funding to 43 municipalities across Massachusetts.

“We are very excited about this award. It will allow us to increase the sustainability and energy efficiency of the town and to devote more resources to our green initiatives in Maynard,” Town Administrator Sweet said. “This grant is a testimonial to Maynard’s standout status as a town with a top-to-bottom commitment to efficiency and green initiatives.”

The list of projects funded through this grant are:

• $26,180 Fowler School – Weatherization
• $3,258 Police Station – Weatherization
• $3,808.90 Fire Station – Exterior lighting
• $4,761.07 Fowler School – Exterior lighting
• $15,217 Town Library – Exterior lighting
• $9,654.30 Police Station and Town Hall – Exterior lighting
• $3,269.38 Public Works Building – Exterior lighting
• $23,508 Water Treatment Plant – Exterior lighting
• $6,382.34 Green Meadow School – Exterior lighting
• $3,061.86 Rockland Ave. Pump House – Exterior lighting
• $3,132.15 Well #4 Building – Exterior lighting

DOER’s Green Communities Competitive Grants are awarded to designated Green Communities that have successfully invested their previously-awarded Green Communities grants. Awards are capped at $250,000 per municipality.

The Town of Maynard was awarded designation as a Green Community on December 20, 2011 and was previously awarded a grant of $160,025 with the official designation.

“Thanks in part to the work done in cities and towns across the Commonwealth, Massachusetts has changed its whole approach to obtaining and using energy,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett. “This funding will allow these communities to continue the good work they have already begun.”

With this designation, the Town of Maynard is considered an energy leader in Massachusetts. With funding through the Green Communities Designation and Grant Program, the Town can implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to further reduce its energy costs and improve our local environment. The Town was previously awarded a grant of $160,025 with the official designation.

The Massachusetts Green Communities Division provides technical assistance and financial support for municipal initiatives to improve energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy in public buildings, facilities and schools.

There are five criteria to be a Green Community. Meeting this criterion qualifies towns for funding to increase their efforts. They are:

• Provide as-of-right siting in designated locations for renewable/alternative energy generation, research & development, or manufacturing facilities.
• Adopt an expedited application and permit process for as-of-right energy facilities.
• Establish an energy use baseline and develop a plan to reduce energy use by twenty percent (20%) within five (5) years.
• Purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles.
• Set requirements to minimize life-cycle energy costs for new construction; one way to meet these requirements is to adopt the new Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) Stretch Code.

To find out more about this program, visit http://www.mass.gov/eea/energy-utilities-clean-tech/green-communities/ .

Maynard’s Green Community Committee assists the Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator in developing programs and projects to foster energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy generation and sustainability planning. The Green Communities Committee normally meets at 8:30 a.m. on the 2nd Wednesday of each month in the training room at the Maynard Police Station.

This committee gathers, studies, and evaluates information that will help determine various approaches for improving the energy efficiency of operating town, school buildings, and vehicles. They also investigate alternatives for energy technologies and identify funding opportunities to help the Town achieve its energy and sustainability goals.

You can find out more about the Committee’s work here.

The second Town Planner in Maynard’s history began his term this week, working to help the community grow and evolve.

The Town of Maynard is pleased to announce the hiring of Bill Nemser, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to town. Mr. Nemser graduated from Florida Atlantic University with his Master’s degree in Urban Planning in 2005. He is also an AICP Certified Planner and LEED AP with more than 10 years of experience. Most of this time was spent working in Wellington, Flor
ida, developing various-sized residential and business areas in a large and diverse area with 57,000 residents.

His work in Wellington helped the town earn a spot on the “Top 100 Best Places To Live” by CNN Money Magazine in 2010.

“Maynard is very pleased to have Bill Nemser join our team as we strive to continue to improve the economic well-being and quality of life residents enjoy” Town Administrator, Kevin Sweet said. “This is a very exciting time for Maynard, and I am sure Bill will help bring us to the next level!”

Mr. Nemser’s vast range of experience in the Town Planning field includes experience in site plan design, neighborhood reinvestment, community engagement/consensus building, zoning code/comprehensive plan development as well day-to-day land use/zoning issues. He hopes to bring his skills to Maynard, including bringing his ability to work successfully with diverse interests.

The Town Planning and ZBA division is responsible for enforcing and submitting revisions of town zoning by-laws to town meeting for approval. The office can assist Maynard residents in viewing records, submitting applications, obtaining information, or scheduling an appointment.

The Next Planning Board Meeting will be July 29, at 7 p.m., at Town Hall.

The Town of Maynard has received $14,402 back on its workers compensation and property casualty insurance costs. The town earned the credits – which will be applied toward premiums for the next fiscal year – through proactive and voluntary participation in loss prevention and risk management activities that are part of incentive programs offered by the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA), its insurance provider.

MIIA offers these no-cost training and educational courses as a benefit to help its members reduce their risks and insurance premiums. In fiscal year 2014, MIIA awarded over $2.3 million of premium credits collectively to the membership through its Rewards program resulting in a 12-year total of $22.1 million.

“This is a double win for the Town of Maynard. Not only do we save money, but the loss control and administrative training we received, for free, through MIIA will save the town more money and headaches down the line,” said Town Administrator Kevin Sweet.

Committed to keeping the community safer and fiscally stronger, Maynard implemented loss control measures and administrative procedures that reduce the risk of accidents and property damage. In addition, employees participated in training programs that promote effective management and operations.

“MIIA is pleased to partner with our members to help establish effective and cost-saving best practices, and to reward them each year for implementing such innovative loss control programs,” Stanley Corcoran, Executive Vice President of MIIA said. “Congratulations to Maynard for working proactively to mitigate risk, lower potential municipal liability, and reduce municipal taxpayer burden.”

The Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA) is the non-profit insurance arm of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. As a member-based organization, MIIA’s only focus is to provide excellent service and quality risk management solutions to Massachusetts municipalities and related public entities. Municipal insurance its only business, MIIA insures nearly 400 cities, towns, and other public entities in Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.emiia.org and www.mma.org.

The Assessing Department wishes to notify Maynard residents that beginning in July and running through September, inspections will be conducted throughout the town. These inspections will be conducted Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. by Angela Marrama and staff from Patriot Properties Inc.

Any property owner who has pulled a building permit in the last year and anyone who did not finish work on previous permits can expect a visit from the Assessing Department. Cyclical Inspections will also be conducted as mandated by the Department of Revenue to ensure accuracy of assessing records.

If any property owner receives an assessor’s card on their door indicating a visit, please call and set up an appointment as soon as possible. The Assessing Department would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation with this very important matter.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Assessors’ Office at 978-897-1304 or by email at amarrama@townofmaynard.net or mdee@townofmaynard.net.

The Board of Selectman have recently voted to lower the age for the Water and Sewer Rate Relief Program to 65 years or older. You must be able to show proof of ownership by showing a copy of your most real estate bill and if the property is in a trust a copy must be submitted with your application. The owner will need to submit a copy of their driver’s license or a copy of their birth certificate to show proof of age. Applications are available on line from the DPW’s Water & Sewer page and by calling the Department during normal business hours at 978-897-1317. You may also obtain a copy by e-mail by e-mailing mmornado@townofmaynard.net.

Fire Chief Anthony Stowers is pleased to announce that, on Tuesday, June 17, at a regular meeting of the Maynard Board of Selectmen, Michael Parr was sworn in as a Maynard Firefighter.

Michael was born and raised in Wakefield and is a second generation firefighter following in the footsteps of his uncle Richard Parr, a former call firefighter for Wakefield and his father David Parr who retired as Chief of the Wakefield Fire Department after more than 30 years of service.

“The Maynard Fire Department is excited about having Michael join our team, and we are looking forward to a long and successful career,” Chief Stowers said.

Like his father, Michael began his public service as an Auxiliary Fire Department member in Wakefield in 2002. Most recently he has worked as a call firefighter in Lincoln and Lynnfield.

Michael is a 2007 graduate from Saint Anselm College where he studied theology and a 2011 graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Call/Volunteer Firefighter Training Program.