PLAINFIELD – Voters Saturday will consider a $1.9 million budget, solar bylaw amendments and accepting the town of Rowe back into the Mohawk Regional School District.
The annual Town Meeting will begin at 1 p.m. at the Town Hall. The town will also hold its annual election on Saturday, with polls open from noon to 6 p.m. at the Town Hall.
The proposed budget for fiscal year beginning July 1 is $1,983,895, up by $94,085 from this year. It includes $711,024 for the Mohawk Regional School District and $178,473 for vocational education.
Voters will consider adopting a revised regional agreement adding Rowe to the Mohawk district.
A former member of the district, Rowe was asked to voluntarily withdraw in the early 1980s, because of its lucrative industrial tax base resulting from the Yankee Rowe nuclear power plant, which closed in 1992. That prevented Mohawk from getting more state funding and grants, based on the district’s average property valuation. As compensation, Rowe was given a 10 percent tuition discount for its students.
However, with changes in state funding over the last 30 years, some contend there is no longer any financial benefit to the Mohawk district for Rowe to remain a nonmember town.
If Rowe rejoins the district, it would pay an annual assessment for its students in Grades 7 to 12. The town would also share in future capital costs for the high school and have a vote on the Mohawk School Committee.
The Mohawk district currently includes the towns of Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Hawley, Heath, Plainfield, and Shelburne. Each town will vote on amending the regional agreement to include Rowe.
As part of a Solarize Plainfield initiative, voters will be asked to consider two solar bylaw amendments. One would allow for the designation of a single location for the installation of large-scale solar photovoltaic arrays, while another would sanction specific multiple locations for the same systems.
Residents will also consider amending a zoning bylaw so that the installation of a solar development may proceed without the need for a special permit.
The development would be subject to site plan review to determine that it conforms with local zoning ordinances, bylaws, federal and state building codes, and to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
Approval of the bylaws would require a two-thirds majority.
“We tried to pass something like this before but it got tabled, because people wanted to look into it more and I think some wanted more options,” Select Board member Judy Feeley said. “Hopefully one will pass this time, then we would move to the second stage of passing a stretch code at another meeting.”
A “stretch code” would require that all new residential, commercial and municipal construction be 20 percent more energy efficient than the current state building code.
The town must have these criteria in place in order to qualify as a “green community.”
Voters will also consider spending $216,000 for the purchase of a dump truck for the Highway Department.
Feeley plans to resign from the Select Board, saying the demands have “just become too much.” Howard Bronstein, of 44 South Union St., is running unopposed for the remaining year of her three-year term.
Peg Keller, of 48 Summit St, is seeking an open three-year term on the Hampshire Council of Governments.
The following candidates are running unopposed for reelection: Phillip S. Lococo, 44 Bow St., Select Board, three years; Dudley D. Williams III, 525 West St., Board of Assessors, three years; Ellen M. Dupont, 91 North St., Board of Health, three years; Merton D Taylor Sr. 120 South Central St., 1st constable, three years; Edward E. Morann, 55 Bow St., 2nd constable, three years; Ann M. Kohn, 242 South Central St., library trustee, three years.
Also, Laurie Israel, 27 South Union St., moderator, one year; Heather Davis, 3 South Central St., School Committee, three years; Ruth E. Osgood, 64 North Central St., town clerk, three years; Winton Pitcoff, 24 South Union St., tree warden, one year; Robert L Persing, 12 North Central St., Whitings Street Fund Disbursement Committee, three years.