Selectmen Discuss Solar Panels, Ag Day and Cutting Back Water Usage

Solar panels

Town Manager Chris Whelan said the municipal light plant issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on Aug. 11 for the installation of solar panels on town land. The due date is Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.

Whelan said the light plant would hold a public hearing in late September on the two potential sites: the Ammendolia land on Bedford Street, or the wastewater plant land on the same street.

Whelan said he is "optimistic" about the cost of electricity that may be generated from the panels.

Ag Day

The traditional day set aside for turning Main Street into a farmers' row will be scheduled for Labor Day weekend, Whelan said.

"It's the day we celebrate farming," he said. Main Street in the Milldam will be closed for a portion of the day as farmers in flatbed trucks sell fresh produce and flowers.

Whelan said notices would be posted about the details of the 2010 Ag Day.

Don't water that lawn

With the drought continuing, Whelan said the water department issued a voluntary usage restriction last week, urging residents to cut down or eliminate outdoor water use for lawns and gardens.

"There was a modest decrease in usage," Whelan said, so the restriction continues.

"We may be able to avoid a mandatory prohibition on watering, if we can discourage use until the weather gets a little cooler," he said.

Sidewalks

Whelan said the sidewalk planned for Lowell Road has been permitted by the Natural Resources Commission and construction will start soon. The budget came in "below" what the town planned, he said.

Gifts

The selectmen accepted the following monies to its gift accounts:

$3,000 to the Agricultural Committee gift account for the Stone Soup Dinner;

$375 from Kevin and Tracy McIntyre to the 375th Birthday Celebration account'

$4,000 from J.A.J. Company, Inc. for the Concord Open Golf Tournament account

$2,000 from Thomas G. Gallagher, Inc. for the Concord Open Golf Tournament account

$6,500 from NASDI, LLC for the Concord Open Golf account

$50,000 from the Friends of Concord-Carlisle for the Fields Maingtenance gift account

$1,250 to the Fire Department gift account from the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest

$2,400 to the Council on Aging and $1,250 to the Volunteer Coordinator account and $1,800 to the COA Outreach Worker account all from the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest.

Committee appointments

Hope Beckman to the Concord Housing Development Corporation; Lydia Rogers to the Conservation Restriction Stewardship Committee.