http://rutlandherald.com/article/20140924/NEWS02/709249935
Published September 24, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Solar plan spurs meeting of minds in Springfield By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — Solar is on the horizon for next week’s long-awaited joint meeting between the Select Board and the School Board. The on-again, off-again effort to hold the discussion about mutual issues has taken more than a year, and it is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Springfield High School library. But the negotiations over holding a joint meeting have been so drawn out that two Select Board members voted Monday against adding solar to the agenda. They also voiced concern that the solar project discussion needed more advance notice. Chairman Kristi Morris and Selectwoman Stephanie Thompson both voted against adding the proposed Winstanley/Green Lantern solar project in North Springfield to the joint discussion, which already has its share of hot topics, including the future of Park Street School. But on a 3-2 vote, the Select Board voted to add solar to the discussion. Morris said Tuesday that School Board Chairwoman Jeannice Garfield had agreed to the addition. At a presentation last month, Winstanley Enterprises and Green Lantern Capital Group of Waterbury proposed that the town and school district buy their electricity from the solar project. On the town side, it has been pitched as saving about $18,000 on electric bills. But such a long-term commitment to buy power — Winstanley and Green Lantern want a 20-year contract — requires a townwide vote. Town Attorney Stephen Ankuda said that if the town and school are interested in purchasing electricity from the solar project, a contract must to be agreed upon and set for a vote at March town meeting. He said many of the federal incentives for solar projects expire at the end of this year, but that the town could enter into a contract with Winstanley and Green Lantern pending the March vote. Ankuda said it was too late to get the matter on the ballot for the general election in November. Selectman George McNaughton said he had contacted the secretary of state’s office earlier Monday to find out how soon a townwide vote could be held. The 60-day timing requirement would put it in the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, he said, a time hardly conducive to an important vote. Morris and Thompson said adding the solar project to next Monday’s agenda without much notice would work against the project. The solar project is proposed for land adjacent to Winstanley Enterprises’ building on Precision Drive in the North Springfield Industrial Park — which until this spring was slated for a controversial biomass project. That wood-fired power plant was ultimately rejected by the state Public Service Board, setting the stage for the solar project. Morris said the two boards will also discuss the future of two vacant school buildings — Park Street and East schools; traffic patterns at Union Street and Elm Hill schools, and a police presence at the schools, as well as a response to drug and gang activity in town. He said the two boards will also discuss joint purchasing to save money.
Why the rush? Just because something has "solar" or "green" in its description does not mean that the town needs to be railroaded by the politicians into its adoption. True to form, though, as with every other folly preceding it that has led to more bills being borne by the taxpayers (tech center, prison, wreck center, police station, North School, Muckross), the illustrious town leaders (or are they really "community organizers?) will surely act in haste and hang another albatross around the town's neck in the interests of being politically correct.
ReplyDeleteI have to praise a few school board members, when a few meetings back put this subject on hold until more information was available. They were not jumping into any decisions. After a discussion, the Superintendent was directed to come back at a later meeting with more information before any serious dialogue was to take place. Did I miss something? I watch all the board meetings and I haven’t seen any update. I hope the school board members who wanted more information stands their ground and not jump into something because the select board wants to talk about it without all the information.
ReplyDeleteI thought they just wanted it on the agenda to discuss the project. Is discussing a project that could affect both boards a bad idea? Bigger question is why does it take so long to get both boards to meet together?
ReplyDeleteIf that was a meeting of the minds, we are in big trouble.
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