by Frank Schroth
At their session on 6/20 the Selectmen met with Rich Kleinman to discuss the option of installing a solar farm instead of the wind turbine. Kleinman, past chair of the Wind Turbine Committee, suggested it is an option worth exploring given the investment that has been made in the interconnection with NStar. The interconnection allows the power generated to be fed to the grid and is a critical and expensive element (~$300K) to successful implementation of any alternative energy source. The connection capability was done with the goal of hooking the wind turbine up to it. However, a draft opinion from the arbitrator in the case between the town and Quarry Hills rules that the town cannot operate the turbine when the golf course is open for business. A final decision has not been released.
LIke the turbine, a solar farm would be a passive use of the land that would not incur traffic or require parking. Kleinmen identified 2 Megawatts as a target output. He said outreach to the neighbors and Quarry Hills would be logical and necessary steps but noted that in previous conversations Quarry Hills indicated that they would be receptive any energy proposal other than a wind turbine. Member Hurley asked about risk of vandalism. Kleinman said it would likely be fenced off but that while the risk was there it rarely occurred. The selectmen voted to move forward with next steps to determine whether this would be a feasible use of the site.
The selectmen also met with Rick Neely, Chair of the Government Study Committee. He was joined by members Mary McNamara and Leroy Walker. They reviewed recommendations that came out of the committee’s initial report (You can find the report here). Some of the recommendations will likely be moving to Town Meeting. A concern of the committee has been the low number of residents running for town meeting and attendance at town meeting. One recommendation is to have the Town Clerk step up efforts to recruit candidates. Sue Galvin, Town Clerk, was present for the discussion. She said she is amenable to adding language to the bylaws tasking the Clerk with raising awareness of importance of town meeting if that is what residents want. She noted that efforts were already made in that regard. The problem is a real one. Mr. Hurley noted that at times there is only 65% town meeting members present at session. The committee has looked at the option of reducing the size of town meeting but decided to keep as it for the time being. It was noted that only Belmont has a higher number of town meeting members among town’s with representative town meeting. Other towns such as Braintree and Randolph have been making significant changes. Braintee went to mayor and town council. Randolph now has a town manager, a position that has more authority than a town administrator. Increasing the responsibilities of Milton’s Town Administrator is another of the committee’s recommendations.
Other steps that the committee recommended the clerk make to improve engagement in town meeting were working with the schools and perhaps hosting some for of mini-meeting in advance of town meeting that is informational and addresses questions in advance of town meeting.
Another elected official on hand to address a recommendation was Alex Whiteside, Chair of the Planning Board. The Government Study recommends an alternate member to the Planning Board appointed by the Selectmen. The reason being that the planning board has been seeing an increase in special permit applications and that due to bylaws a member cannot vote if they miss more than one evidentiary session on a hearing before the board. It was said that both Wellesley and Scituate have alternate members. They participate in all matters but do not vote. It is viewed as good training for candidates who may want to become voting members. Mr. Whiteside said that the planning board was opposed to the appointment of a alternate member. They feel that the member should be elected (Scituate elects their alternate member, Wellesley appoints theirs). He said they “were adamant about that.” He also added that “[I] can’t imagine anyone worth their salt would want to be an alternate member.” Selectman Conlon, who was a member of the Government Study Committee prior to her election, said that the recommendation was modeled after bylaws in Wellesley.
Both these will likely go before town meeting as will a recommendation to increase the Town Administrator’s responsibilities. The committee has also recommended a financial review from the Department of Revenue. This is a standard practice and the service is provided free of charge to municipalities that request it. This process has commenced.