John Scarffe, Nederland. The Nederland Board of Trustees approved hiring a new executive director for the Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) during the Board’s regular meeting on May 4, 2021, at 7 p.m. The Board also discussed the Solarize Nederland Town Rebate and Building Code Updates.

NDDA Executive Director

NDDA Board Member Barbara Hardt introduced approval of the NDDA Board recommendation to hire Kate Masingale as the new Executive Director. Former NDDA Executive Director Hope Jordan announced her plans to resign at the January Board meeting. 

A hiring committee was appointed, the opening was posted and 10 submissions were received by the due date. Following interviews of three finalists, the hiring committee selected one finalist, Kate Masingale. 

The NDDA Board met on April 28 and announced that Kate Masingale is the candidate they will recommend to the Board of Trustees as the new Executive Director. As evidenced by Kate’s letter of interest and resume, she brings 18 years of professional and volunteer experience in housing, community and economic development in both the private and public sectors and has extensive experience and skills in funding administration, project management, contract and regulations compliance, and meeting preparation, presentation and facilitation. 

The NDDA budget includes adequate funding for this position. Kate Masingale told the Board she has lived here for six years, and she is thrilled to have the opportunity after 18 years of experience to advance the place her family has called home.

The Trustees agreed she looks like an incredible fit and her resume is very impressive. The Board approved the recommendation to hire Kate Masingale as the new NDDA Executive Director.

Solarize Nederland program 

Under discussion items on the agenda, Nederland Sustainability Coordinator Garrett McDaniel introduced a resolution allocating $30,000 to the Solarize Nederland program, which will be used for participants’ rebates. The Town has partnered with Solar Energy International (SEI), a non-profit solar and renewable energy training organization, and Custom Solar, a local installer, to provide an opportunity for residences and businesses to purchase discounted solar systems, according to the memo. 

Custom Solar was selected as the solar installer through a competitive bid process facilitated by the Nederland Sustainability Advisory Board. Custom Solar is offering a tiered rebate that increases depending on the amount of solar that gets installed. A tier 3 rebate offers the maximum savings for participants and requires 150 kW of solar to be installed. To encourage participation in the Solarize Nederland program, the Sustainability Advisory Board would like the Town to provide an additional rebate. 

The Town’s rebate would match Custom Solar’s rebate, using the tiered rebate structure, as well as an additional rebate for participants purchasing a solar system with battery backup. The last day for participants to sign up for Solarize Nederland is June 30, 2021. The Solarize Nederland website is at https://nederlandco.org/solarize-nederland/ 

Mayor Kristopher Larsen said this is a discussion item so they will bring it back in the future. The Board expressed concern about where they will get the money but liked the idea of incentivizing people to put on panels and more of a town-wide solution, Over the long run, they could see this as an opportunity for the town to establish a better power system. 

McDaniel said this will assist low-income people with solar. The program has a few spots left, but he can get them on the wait list so people know about it. 

Larsen suggested having this come back and clearly address the low-income side and what we can do to help with town utility bills. We will bring this back as an informational item to review the plan. 

Building Code Updates

Town Clerk Miranda Fisher updated the Board on building codes. The main issue is whether to pursue 2018 codes with some changes.

For the timeline, they will prepare amendments for the June Trustees meeting and will set up meetings with local contractors. From now to June, they will work on the amendments and present to the Trustees at their June 1, 2021, meeting to get feedback. They will develop a presentation that specifically outlines all the changes in the 2018 building code and make it available for public review on the website by June 1, 2021. 

They will present 2018 building code changes and recommended amendments to the Advisory Boards and Commissions and set up meetings with local contractors to get their feedback. In August 2021 they will schedule public charrettes on varying dates and times.

In September 2021, they will make changes to amendments and introduce the ordinance to Board of Trustees at the October 5, 2021, meeting with the anticipated ordinance adoption at the November 16, 2021, meeting, and a January 2022 implementation date.

 The Building Code Administrative Committee is recommending that the Town of Nederland adopt the 2018 building codes, with amendments to the International Energy Code and the International Fire Code to meet Nederland’s interests. The Board agreed they like the 2018 codes and agreed with the schedule.

The next meeting of the Nederland Board of Trustees will be on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at 7 p.m. For more information, go to https://nederlandco.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation. 

For additional information about Nederland DDA and Board of Trustees, including past articles, check out www.themtnear.com and click on government.

(Originally published in the May 13, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)