ASHFIELD — Following a recommendation from the Energy Committee, the Selectboard has hired its first energy manager: Jonisha Aubain.
Energy Committee Chair Alexandra Osterman told the Selectboard last week that the committee interviewed eight candidates, and all six members unanimously recommended Aubain for the new role. Aubain, who is in the process of earning her doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, had “excellent” references, according to Osterman.
Aubain, who previously earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of the Virgin Islands, said on Wednesday that she feels excited about the opportunity to work in Ashfield, and that through her interviews, the town “really seems like a supportive, clean energy community.”
She applied for the job in June and shared that one of the first tasks she’s hoping to accomplish in her new role is to apply for grants, which she has previous experience in. With many grant deadlines approaching in the fall, Aubain said that filing those applications will be one of her priorities.
“[I’m] looking forward to being part of the supportive community, and really leaning on that community,” Aubain said.
The job description for the energy manager was approved by the Selectboard at the June 15 meeting. Aubain was offered a salary of $45 per hour, with a work schedule of 10 to 19 hours per week.
The new position comes more than a year after Ashfield was named the first Climate Leader Community in Franklin County. The designation celebrates Ashfield’s commitment to setting a standard for reducing its energy use and switching to clean energy.
Ashfield’s goal is to cut use of fossil fuels in municipal facilities by 95.6% by 2050. The town has been working to become greener and more sustainable since 2010, when it applied to be named a Green Community by the state Department of Energy Resources and was given $165,000 in grants to upgrade town buildings. Approving three warrant articles at the 2024 Annual Town Meeting — involving a decarbonization resolution, a plan to replace old town-owned vehicles with more energy-efficient electric or hybrid vehicles, and added efficiency requirements for residential and commercial buildings — helped put Ashfield on track to become a Climate Leader Community.
Full-time police officer
The Selectboard also approved a job description for a full-time police officer last week, which was quickly approved by member Tom Carter and Vice Chair Steven Gougeon. Selectboard Chair Todd Olanyk was not present at the meeting.
Town Administrator Paul McLatchy III said the hiring process will consist of posting the position on the town website, and not a hiring service, such as Indeed. He and Police Chief Beth Bezio will conduct the interviews. The new officer’s salary would come out of the $110,000 that was appropriated for police wages at Annual Town Meeting.
Bezio is currently the only full-time officer in the Police Department while serving as chief.
The selected applicant will have a high school diploma, at least one year of professional experience, a valid driver’s license, Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission certification and a license to carry firearms. Applicants must also have completed the police academy, and have first responder, stun gun and pepper spray, and CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) certifications.
Three Eversource proposals approved
In other business, the Selectboard heard three proposals from Eversource, two of which are to install new utility poles, and the other involves running two conduits and electric power conductors underground from Baptist Corner Road to Main Street. All projects were approved unanimously by the Selectboard after some discussion.
Senior Engineering Designer for Electrical Projects at Eversource Kevin Bournival said Eversource wants to install one new utility pole to support equipment for the ongoing work on Baptist Corner Road.
Ashfield resident Wayne Farrell said he happened to be in the area and looking at the utility poles, and that it seemed that the proposed pole had already been installed. Bournival said he had no knowledge that it had been installed.
“It wouldn’t be the first thing that ever got slipped up,” Farrell said.
There were some questions on the two conduits and electric power conductors.
Carter asked if the placement of water and sewer lines had been taken into consideration, with Eversource representative Adam Bjelf saying the company worked with the water department to confirm that the water lines are “set much deeper than the trench would be.”
Energy Committee member Mary Quigley asked when the project would start, not wanting the street to be torn up during the Fall Festival in October. Bournival said that while he isn’t kept apprised about scheduling, Eversource normally starts projects in the spring.
