Informal Public Meeting to be Sponsored by the MCA

The town needs to create an energy commission made up of concerned citizens such as in Northfield. Plans and decisions need to be made now to reduce energy use. This commission should meet immediately with all departments and put a plan in place.

Less use of public vehicles as in some other towns. Turn off lights and keep the AC temp at 75 or so.

I suggest that all departments or committees that report to the Selectboard or the School board be given a challenge of coming up with ideas for meeting or beating their current budget. Same challenge should apply to the Selectboard, the School Board and the Superintendent of Schools. Some departments could find it very difficult to meet their budget, because of energy cost, etc, and that means the other departments should work that much harder to come up with favorable variances so the combined total budget would not have a negative variance. I’m not saying this is easy but it is a challenge that we, yes all of us, must face.

I would like to see the town do a complete survey of all town owned buildings, including the school buildings and see what functions/programs can be run in the available space when they are not otherwise being used. For a small town, Moultonborough already has a pretty good inventory; we have some great space, let’s use it, before considering any more building projects.

A couple of ideas…. -Decreasing fuel costs at school and public bldgs, -Visiblity at Holland and rt 25, it’s very difficult to see to turn left onto 25. -Welcoming committee to new town members to inform them of committees/groups/interests/area attractions/area accommodation etc. -Can we do a house to house survey to determine how many seniors we actually do have in town? -Where do meals on wheels come from? Locally? -Improved town webpage w/all info available like so many other neighboring towns. -Sidewalks in town.

Two efforts that seem to have made a difference in many small to medium size towns; close town hall and library and wmf one day per week (thursday)with thermostats set very low… 55 (winter) or ac off (summer) from close of Wednesday to open on Friday AM. Expand hours of other days by an hour (8-5 vs 8 or 9-4). Also, offer department heads 20% of whatever they can save from previous year’s department budget. Or if any town employee comes up with a money saving idea that is implimented and works offer that employee 40% of the first year’s savings. School: could do 4 days per week 7am - 4:30pm rather than 7 - 2. Fridays would be an “empty building day” with temps adjusted for savings… thursday pm to monday am. But that would call for some real effort on the school’s part (NEA, NHDE et al)

Moultonboro should perform an energy audit on all it’s public buildings and owned properties. This should include the Lion’s club if the town pays any of the expenses as well as any building where heating, AC, electricity is paid for by the town.

In the interest of saving on heating bills, close Town offices one day per week and extend the work day the other four days by 90 minutes.

Public hearings and forums to generate ideas on not only cost savings, but ways to improve efficieny in town operations and reduce taxes

In the manner that the Town Adminstrator performed his “committee tour” perhaps a brainstorming tour could be conducted along with some volunteer citizens to find ways to improve our town. Meredith had a very successful brainstorming session that generated 48 ideas, each of which was addressed by the Town Manager Carol Granfield.

Why doesn’t the town consider setting an example for neighboring communities by investing in wind power as an alternative fuel sorce for generating its own electricity, and even helping town citizens with their bills?

Here is a way to save energy. We do not need the lights on all night at the Town hall or Library. Those lights on the outside in the parking lot are using allot of energy. Also the A.C. should not be on all night when no one is there. A four day work week is a good idea to save energy. Change all bulbs to energy saving ones. Also stop with building so many houses and big ones at that. We will run out of energy and water if we keep up this pace. We do not need electric signs running all night. I think Rick Heath has said it all which I would have said myself. Heat can be down to 55 degrees in winter time when you’re in bed. Put more sweaters on in the house in winter when it is cold. Most A.C. is on so low that we freeze. We can leave it higher in the summer which would be 80 degrees. Car pool. We need bus transportation that would eliminate allot of cars. All this would help. Be mindful when using energy and running water etc. Turn off any lights your not using. Everything will help if we all do our part.

I would like the town to address the milfoil issue that is becoming more of a problem with each passing year.

Moultonborough has the largest shoreline of all the towns on the lake. I believe they should take a leadership role in helping to eradicate the milfoil.