The Board of Selectmen has approved charges for two new committees and begun appointing members. One committee, the Town Energy & Efficiency Committee, is an adaptation of the earlier, very successful Ad Hoc Energy Committee. The second is the Committee on Land Acquisition Strategy, which was established after a lengthy study.

The original Ad Hoc Energy Committee was formed a number of years ago as a temporary committee to review energy use at town facilities and to recommend possible energy savings. In fact, this committee spearheaded the effort to have Madison households sign up for clean energy options on their utility bills, which led to securing the free solar panels now operating on the roof of the E.C. Scranton Library; energy audits of several town buildings; and, most notably, served as the lead agency in the writing and administration of a grant that is providing regional energy management for six area towns. With several members resigning recently and a charter requirement that limits the life of ad hoc committees, the selectmen decided to establish a permanent committee, define its charge, and appoint members.

In part, the committee is charged with reviewing current energy use and recommending ways to reduce net energy costs and improve efficiency, representing the town on joint energy management projects, seeking grant funding where available, and monitoring the impact and efficiency of energy projects.

The selectmen filled four of the five seats on the committee.

Woodie Weiss holds bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering and served as president and CEO of Worldwide Data Systems, a provider of computer software, and president and CEO of Worldwide Wines. He is building a new home with state-of-the-art systems that will be energy efficient.

"Researching these techniques has led me to understand that there are currently many technologies that can significantly reduce energy consumption in our town. I'd like to help in that effort," he said on his application.

Frank Altieri is presently a financial and energy consultant and has served on the previous Ad Hoc Energy Committee. He previously served as budget director for the City of New Haven, a position which included, among other duties, development of a citywide energy conservation program.

Also appointed to the Energy & Efficiency Committee was Tracy Juengst. She has been a systems engineer in fuel cell applications and development with UTC, an electrical power engineer working on hybrid vehicles and emergency power systems with Adaptive Propulsion Systems in Westhampton Beach, New York, an aerodynamicist working with wind turbines at Juengst Engineering, and served as research faculty at Oregon State University studying wind turbine aerodynamic and mechanical dynamics, among other positions.

Francis Pullaro is executive director of Renewable Energy New England (RENEW), a trade association that serves the renewable energy industry and environmental public interest groups in New England. Previously he served as a manager and later a vice president of regulatory affairs for two energy providers. He holds a law degree from the University of Connecticut and is a member of the Energy Bar Association.

Selectman Bill Gladstone said one seat on the five-member committee remains open. The selectmen are also searching for alternates.

Land Acquisition Strategy

The newly created Committee for Land Acquisition Strategy will consist of six members. At last week's meeting the selectmen appointed only two and again Gladstone said interested residents should apply through the first selectman's office or their own political town committees. This committee is charged with developing a land acquisition plan for the town by "assessing the town's land needs and matching them to available properties or divestitures." While the committee will develop an inventory of potential acquisitions and serve as a point of contact for persons interested in selling land to or buying land from the town, it does not have the authority to negotiate a purchase or sale.

The selectmen appointed Joan O'Neill as a member and as chair. Long active in land use and conservation issues, O'Neill led the study that recommended establishment of this committee. She has served on the Conservation Commission, of which she currently serves as secretary, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Town Plan Advisory Committee. She has also served as an officer and director of the Madison Land Conservation Trust.

Scott Gyllensten grew up in Madison, left while attending law school, and returned in 2008. He attended the University of Connecticut as an undergraduate and then its law school. His professional background has focused in the financial service industry at Royal Bank of Scotland, OpHedge Investment Services, Royal Bank of Canada, and People's Bank. Today he is the owner of The Jelly Beanery, a local business.