ATHOL – In the wake of recent resignations, town officials are seeking residents willing to serve on the Town Energy Committee or the Municipal Decarbonization Task Force.

According to Athol Planning and Development Director Eric Smith, Lee Gersch and Katalin Krieger each cited personal reasons for not seeking reappointment to either group. Gersch and Krieger were both members of the Energy Committee, while Gersch also served on the Decarbonization Task Force.

“The Energy Committee has had one vacant seat for a long time,” said Smith. “Actually, I can’t remember when we had all five seats filled on that committee – maybe once or twice in the nine years I’ve been here. Now, we’re down to just two members (Aimee Hanson and Tom Russo), so we don’t even have a quorum to hold an official meeting at this point in time, until we can get someone else to at least fill a third seat.”

The Energy Committee oversees various Green Communities grants and assists in the development of new energy efficiency projects. Among the work it has done includes landing grants to undertake weatherization projects at the police station and wastewater treatment plant, and assess strategies for reducing energy consumption and updating HVAC at Town Hall. In November, the committee celebrated the installation of two new electrical vehicle charging stations at LaunchSpace at the former Pleasant Street School.

The charge of the Decarbonization Task Force is to advance the town’s 2022 Municipal Decarbonization Plan, which aims to align Athol with the state’s goal of reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and 85% by 2050. The plan is focused on municipal energy use, primarily for town-owned buildings and vehicles. It also addresses renewable energy generation on town property.

Some members of the task force have expressed frustration over the slow pace of the town adopting an official policy for electrification of its municipal vehicle fleet.

The Selectboard established the Decarbonization Task force in December. It is to include two “at-large” members from the public, as well as representation from the Selectboard, capital planning, energy, and finance committees. The task force is charged with assessing the feasibility of potential projects.

A copy of the Decarbonization Plan is available under “Quick Links” on the task force’s page at https://www.athol-ma.gov/municipal-decarbonization-task-force.

To express interest in membership on either committee or for more information, contact Smith at 978-721-8500, ext. 517. Letters of interest should be submitted by 5 p.m., Thursday, May 22, and can be sent to: Eric R. Smith, AICP, Director of Planning & Community Development, Town of Athol, 584 Main Street, Room 29, Athol, MA 01331. They may also be sent via email to esmith@townofathol.org.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.