Topsham Planning Commission

Draft Minutes for Zoom Meeting on

Monday, June 15, 2026 @ 6:00 PM

Present: James Clark, Committee Chair, Donna Otterman, Brad McAvoy and Nick Milburn, Judy

Welch, Members

Meeting was called to order at 6:03 PM.

Motion was made by Nick Milburn and seconded by Brad MacAvoy to approve the minutes for

the meeting on March 2, 2026. All approved.

Brad McAvoy was assigned as Secretary for the August and October meetings.

The next meeting will be on August 3, 2026

The following goals were discussed:

The proposed Town Energy Plan that Nick Wilburn reviewed and condensed.

The energy plan is written to focus on affordability in the context of increases in taxes and

fluctuating fuel costs. Among other topics, it addresses regional/state solar and wind objectives.

The plan is designed to encourage and discourage action and align municipal policies with state

energy goals but does not impose anything mandatory for residents or local businesses. The

energy plan includes new taxes, fluctuating fuel costs and affordability. Solar and wind turbines

should be encouraged, but not mandatory. We feel the residents should have a say and our

town is acknowledged.

Capital Budget: Can we fund energy enhancements? Should we do data collections? Can we

provide adequate charging stations? Our goal is to have input for decisions where appropriate

for Topsham.

We also went over the questionnaire that was sent to residents for feedback.

We discussed requiring a building permit for residential development to assist the listers, also

the possibility of a small charge if approved by the Select board.

Donna Otterman will look at other towns’ versions of building permits such as Fairlee’s and will

prepare an example for our next meeting in August.

Meeting adjourned 7:37 PM.

Submitted by,

Judy Welch