Select Board OK’s new zero-emission vehicle policy

By Mike Berger

After considerable discussion at its meeting on Tuesday, the Canton Select Board, in a 3-2 vote, approved a new Zero Emission Vehicle First Policy as proposed by the Canton Sustainability & Climate Action Plan Committee. Pending a vote of approval from the School Committee at its June 11 meeting, the town will complete its Climate Leader Community Certification which may be in line now for over $1 million in state grants.

The purpose of the new vehicle policy is to reduce fossil fuels in Canton’s transportation fleet and it requires town departments to prioritize zero-emission vehicles over fossil-fuel vehicles when one is scheduled for replacement.

Under the policy, the town could choose a plug-in hybrid, hybrid electric, or a fuel-efficient internal combustion engine vehicle when purchasing a replacement. Reassignment of a vehicle from one department to another would only be permitted if the reassigned vehicle is more fuel efficient than the vehicle it is replacing. The new policy applies to light-duty vehicles under 8,500 pounds and only applies to those being replaced on their normal schedule. It does not apply to heavy-duty vehicles or specialized equipment.

According to Greg Murphy and Jen Wexler of the SCAP Committee, the policy affects a total of 20 vehicles in the municipal fleet, including six in the DPW, two in the School Department, four in the CPS Driver Education program, and two in the Parks and Recreation Department.

Murphy said the SCAP Committee would be returning to the board to make presentations on a Decarbonization Work Plan, plans for committee restructuring, analysis of a building audit developed by GreenerU (the town’s current consultant), and further plans for funding and consulting work.

Voting against acceptance of the plan were board members Mike Loughran and JR McCourt. Loughran questioned why the information was given to the board only hours before the meeting and why it had not yet been presented to the School Committee. Murphy explained that the state deadline to apply for Climate Leader status was nearing and the School Committee wanted some indication of Select Board action before considering it. McCourt questioned the infrastructure needed to implement the policy, such as the number of charging stations that would be needed as well as training for mechanics. Murphy said only a few charging stations would be needed and free training would be provided for the mechanics.

Both Loughran and McCourt said they were not totally against the plan but wanted more time to address their questions. Select Board Chair Susan Harrington, who voted in support of the policy along with members Trish Boyden and Julie Beckham, said it is her understanding that if the town cannot afford an electric vehicle at the time of vehicle replacement, it does not need to purchase one.

Prior to the vote, Harrington allowed resident Steve Connolly to make a short comment about the proposal. Connolly, who had vocally opposed the Specialized Code article at the May town meeting, called for more transparency around the vehicle policy and asked for more representation on the Sustainability Committee, including from truckers. “We need a point and counterpoint,” he said.

In other news from the June 2 meeting:

* Harrington announced that Sgt. Sean Goode has submitted his resignation from the Canton Police Department effective June 2. At the time of his resignation, an administrative investigation …

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