Town Meeting Keeps Concord Cool for Cats, Bad for Bottles

Here’s a quick rundown of the action from the third and final night of Concord’s annual Town Meeting for 2013, held Wednesday, April 24, at Concord-Carlisle High School. Read about night one here and night two here.

Article 40, Zoning Bylaw Amendment – Public Service Corporation Overlay District

By more than the required two-thirds majority, Town Meeting approved a public service corporation overlay district for 79 acres of the WR Grace property abutting Acton and the Assabet River off Main Street in West Concord. According to the article’s presenter, Mark Bobrowski, the overlay district would allow uses such as a large-scale solar installation, peaking power plant or wastewater treatment. Now approved, the overlay district will be superimposed over the existing district, which is residential. The use is “obviously going to be something that benefits the public,” said Bobrowski, explaining “spot zoning” would be an unfounded claim.

Article 57, PILOT Agreement for Landfill Solar

Town Meeting authorized officials to enter a payment in lieu of taxes agreement with Kearsarge Renewable, LLC, in connection with the planned solar installation at the old landfill site on Walden Street. Under the terms of the agreement Kearsarge will pay the town $40,000 for the first five years and about $26,000 the next 15, for a total of $600,000 over 20 years, or about $150,000 less than if the installation was taxed at a commercial rate. Officials said anticipated eventual cost savings on energy produced at the installation were a factor in determining the amount of the agreement.

Article 30, Petition to Repeal Bottled Water Ban

After less than an hour of debate, the 1,333 Concordians at annual Town Meeting Wednesday rejected—by just 66 votes—petitioner Robin Garrison’s bid to repeal the town’s landmark bylaw banning the sale of unflavored, non-sparkling water in PET plastic bottles of one liter or less. Dozens of people rose to speak for and against Article 30, and the question was called as Jean Hill, the woman who introduced the idea of a local bottle ban four Town Meetings ago, was among the next in line to speak. First came a standing vote, and then a counted vote, and then a recount for one section. Eventually, Town Moderator Eric Van Loon announced that the article failed with 47.5 percent in favor and 52.5 percent against the repeal – a margin similar to the 52 to 48 percent vote that approved the bylaw last year.

Read more on the vote here. Read the Concord Residents for Consumer Choice (CRCC) response here.

Article 52, Land Acquisition – McGrath Farm

Town Meeting authorized the town to purchase for $851,000 the McGrath Farm property at 449 Barretts Mill Road and expend another $74,000 for site improvements. To meet the total cost of $925,000, $400,000 will be appropriated from projected fiscal 2013 Community Preservation funds and $525,000 will be borrowed. The for the farmhouse to serve as affordable housing for famers to continue to work the land, and for the town to work with partners, including the National Park Service, to preserve and protect the historical agricultural lands.

Article 58, Wetlands Bylaw Amendment

Rather easily, Town Meeting approved amendments to the three-year-old wetlands bylaw, which Natural Resources Commission member George Lewis described as changes to two definitions, minor modifications and deletions. According to the warrant, “the changes fall broadly into three categories: expanded definitions for improved clarity, aligning bylaw language with state regulations and providing better guidance for property owners, town staff and the [Natural Resources] Commission.”

Article 59, Town of Concord Massachusetts Cat Registration (by Petition)

After a bit of debate, a “Cat Gestapo” reference and questions about whether cat registration would be “voluntary,” as the petitioner said or required as the proposed bylaw suggested, Town Meeting voted against Article 59.

Article 60, Town of Concord Massachusetts Cat Bylaw (by Petition)

Like its companion article, this petitioner’s bid to institute a cat bylaw that proposed to fine cat owners when their pets trespass or disturb the peace, failed to pass at Town Meeting. 

Article 62, Home Rule Legislation – For One Additional License for the Retail Sale of All Alcoholic Beverages

Capping off the night, and this year’s annual Town Meeting, voters authorized the Board of Selectmen to file Home Rule legislation seeking one additional license for the retail sale of all alcoholic beverages. Currently, the Nine Acre Corner business district does not have any establishments that sell spirits, as well as beer and wine, and approval of Article 62 is a step toward making that a possibility, according to Selectman Carmin Reiss, who presented the article.