Dalton Gets Funding for Senior Center Generator
DALTON, Mass. — The town was awarded funding to install a generator at the Senior Center, but officials are concerned it won't be enough.
In March, Town Manager Eric Anderson submitted a request to the state for funding to install a generator at the Senior Center, which is slated to be the town's emergency shelter.
In correspondence to Anderson, state Rep. Leigh Davis cautioned that it had been a very tight budget year, but was hopeful to secure at least partial support, pitching $120,000 in funding to state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, chair of the House and Joint Ways and Means Committee.
After a budget debate on April 29, an earmark of $20,000 was allocated to Dalton for an emergency generator.
"It was a tough budget year, with considerably less funding added by the House than in previous years, but I'm glad that we were able to secure at least a partial earmark for the generator," Davis told Anderson in an email correspondence.
At Monday's Select Board meeting, Anderson recommended using the funds solely to install the transfer switch and exterior discount
"What any backup generation system needs is a way to safely and legally tie into our existing electrical system in the building," he said.
"And what I'm saying is we try to buy the automatic transfer switch and get the wiring run to the outside of the building so there's an emergency generator hookup that could be connected fairly simply."
Then the town can sign a contract with a mobile generator provider who would bring a generator in during an emergency until the town can obtain the funding needed to purchase a generator, he said.
"I just wanted to let you know because I don't think we're going to go back and ask for another $100,000 in free cash to make this work. But if that's what you as a board want to do, I'm okay with it," Anderson said.
The other option is to request using $100,000 from free cash to purchase the generator at town meeting, but board members agreed with Anderson's recommendation, with several describing it as a great idea.
Select Board member Marc Strout said it also sets the town up for the future if funding to purchase a generator is found.
The goal is to keep the system as generic as possible, since many manufacturers use proprietary automatic transfer switches designed specifically for their generator systems, Anderson said.
However, some companies, such as Kohler, also offer generators compatible with universal ATS units.
As of about a year ago, it was about around $8,000 for the unit and it may cost somewhere around 12,000 for installation, Anderson said.
"So, we might get a pretty good chunk of that and not have to allocate a lot more money," he said.
At the Massachusetts Municipal Association there was a hydrogen mobile generator that came as needed, Board Member Antonio "Tony" Pagliarulo said.
"I sorta like that idea," Pagliarulo said, adding that the town would not own it but the company would provide it when needed.
Anderson said when he called the company Pagliarulo is referencing, he was informed that the company only has two of those units in the state.
"So, their bench isn't very deep on backup and there are several towns that have signed contracts with them. So, I question whether it's really available if we need it," Anderson said.
