City to weigh list of green initiatives

Despite assurances by the City Council in recent years, there appears to be little Watertown will do in its upcoming budget to make its day-to-day operations "greener."

An energy audit performed by the New York Power Authority earlier this year on city-owned buildings identifies projects the city should undertake to reduce its energy consumption.

The roughly $1.5 million needed to perform the projects identified cannot be swallowed by the city in one bite, forcing it to spread the projects over a few years.

The City Council will have the option of choosing which projects it will undertake when it is presented with the authority's report in a few weeks, said Bryan L. White, confidential assistant to the city manager.

"They looked at a little bit of everything," Mr. White said. "Some of the things we're probably not going to recommend because the payback period is so long."

The city does plan to spend $235,000 in the fiscal year that begins Wednesday to replace two air conditioning units and a cooling tower at City Hall.

While the city is mapping its way toward reducing its electricity consumption, it is showing an unwillingness to wean itself from gas-powered vehicles.

The council agreed earlier this week to make what is likely its final vehicle purchase — a 2009 Chevy Impala — of the 2008-09 fiscal year.

The $18,335 gas-powered sedan will be used as an unmarked cruiser by police detectives.

Councilman Jeffrey M. Smith voted against the resolution, saying the city should look at other options, such as a hybrid or diesel-powered car.

"I just want to know how can we do things better, or more efficient and have a long-term savings, and that's the way I look at it," he said.

If not spent by June 30, the funds earmarked for the police car would transfer to the fund balance. The council then could amend the 2009-10 budget to put the money back into the operating budget to purchase the car at its next meeting, City Manager Mary M. Corriveau said.

The extra time would have allowed Purchasing Agent Robert J. Cleaver to research alternate-fuel vehicles.

Overall, the city plans to purchase eight vehicles in the upcoming budget at a cost of about $460,000. The four police cars, two pickup trucks and two refuse packers being bought all will be gas-powered.

Police Chief Joseph J. Goss has said he's hesitant to purchase hybrids because the city does not have the ability to repair the vehicles.

"The dollar figure made sense to go with the Impala, and I liked the fact that we were using a Jefferson County dealership, so if we needed a repair or warranty work, we could go right down Route 11 for it," the chief said. "At this point, I would like to go forward with the Impala because we're used to them, and we can get it ordered by July 1."

The council purchased the vehicle from Davidson Chevrolet, 18230 Route 11, Watertown.

While larger municipalities, such as New York City, have begun purchasing hybrid vehicles for police departments, Watertown officials have said they'd prefer to wait to see if newer-technology vehicles will stand up to the daily rigor.

Mrs. Corriveau has said hybrid sedans will be considered to replace "light-duty vehicles" as they become worn. Other fuel-efficient vehicles, like trucks and buses, could be used if the sedans prove to be effective.

A few other municipalities are using hybrids. Mr. Cleaver said Albany and Rockland counties, the village of Lake George, the city of Poughkeepsie, the Syracuse City School District and Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority are using hybrid vehicles.

The city does use some alternative energies to its benefit. A sludge digester behind the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds uses methane as natural gas to heat city buildings. The city hydropower plant on the Black River produces electricity for almost every city-owned building.