About 100 residents attended Northfield’s Annual Town Meeting on Monday at Pioneer Valley Regional School.
STAFF PHOTO/ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
NORTHFIELD — Residents voted in favor of 28 articles, together with two residents’ petitions to put a short lived moratorium on main photo voltaic initiatives and battery storage amenities, throughout Monday’s Annual Town Meeting.
The dialogue of the 2 residents’ petition, Article 26 and 27, took up virtually half of the greater than three-hour assembly attended by virtually 100 residents. Proponents argue that the photo voltaic and battery storage moratoriums will enable town sufficient time to draft legal guidelines regulating massive photo voltaic arrays and battery storage amenities, and opponents argue that the moratoriums will cease of the city’s efforts in direction of innovation and inexperienced vitality.
“I have a master’s in environmental research and I’ve devoted my life to educating youngsters about defending our Earth,†resident Lynn Hansell mentioned. “There is nothing extra necessary to me now than local weather change. … I really feel strongly {that a} one-year moratorium on future large-scale industrial photo voltaic and associated buildings will enable our metropolis to return collectively and envision how and the place we will accommodate these land makes use of whereas additionally planning for of the potential financial progress we will obtain. very mandatory.â€
Among those that spoke in opposition to the photo voltaic panel moratorium was the professor of mechanical and industrial engineering on the University of Massachusetts Jon McGowan, who argued that the passage of the article would end in a “drastic loss†of utility scale in Northfield and damaging aesthetic impact. He spoke of the optimistic impact of photo voltaic panels by stopping carbon dioxide from being launched into the ambiance and famous that just about a 3rd of the corn grown within the United States is used to make gas, arguing that the sphere could possibly be used more cost effective dwelling photo voltaic panels.
“One acre of photovoltaic panels can produce greater than 40 occasions extra vitality per acre than corn, so it is no marvel we prefer it,†McGowan mentioned.
Some famous that the moratorium would battle with state regulation, as Chapter 40A, Section 3 of the Massachusetts General Law states that “No zoning ordinance or regulation shall prohibit or unreasonably regulate the set up of photo voltaic vitality techniques or building of buildings that facilitate the gathering of photo voltaic vitality, until mandatory to guard the well being, security or welfare of the general public.â€
Farmer Jesse Robertson-DuBois, who mentioned his household grazes sheep on 10 photo voltaic array properties throughout the area, talked about the potential authorized battle whereas talking out in opposition to the photo voltaic panel moratorium. Robertson-DuBois additionally argued that the moratorium would change current legal guidelines that shield the rights of agricultural companies, and companies that help agriculture.
“Northfield has a zoning bylaw that helps farming companies — not simply fields, not simply surroundings. That’s what it’s. This moratorium will not be a cease, it’s attempting to show again time. … This is attempting to reverse the course of historical past, reverse what has been settled within the city,†mentioned Robertson-DuBois. “Honestly, I believe the legal professional normal will throw it away.â€
After almost two hours of joint dialogue on two citizen petitions, Article 26, concerning battery storage amenities, was handed by majority vote, and Article 27, the moratorium on massive photo voltaic, was handed by by an 81-17 vote.
Residents additionally voted in favor of transferring $113,572 from free money to buy a brand new police cruiser and radio system, in addition to a $225,000 free money switch to exchange the Fire Department’s 1986 GMC rescue truck.
The city voted, in opposition to the Selectboard’s advice, to approve Article 25, prompting the city to petition the Legislature to permit Fire Chief Floyd “Skip†Dunnell III to serve till August 13, 2025, although of state regulation requiring retirement at 65 for public security officers. Article 25 marks Dunnell’s third retirement extension request, because the state authorised a request in 2018 permitting Dunnell to serve till age 70 and one other final yr permitting the chief to serve till on the age of 71.
Firefighter Christopher Kalinowski spoke in help of the third extension, arguing that Dunnell’s dedication to service and wealth of data make him an irreplaceable asset to town.
“I discovered issues that I couldn’t have discovered anyplace else however working with this man. He was presupposed to be the fireplace chief in only one yr. He deserves that fifty years, that recognition. He served his group for 48 and a half years, we have to get him one other yr and a half,†mentioned Kalinowski. “If he’s gone, we will be unable to exchange the information and information that that individual has. He is irreplaceable.â€
In addition, the city voted to approve an roughly $4.45 million working price range for fiscal yr 2025, to lift and acceptable $400,000 to buy a Highway Department truck and associated gear, and to lift and acceptable $200,000 for the Emergency Services Facility Account to assist fund police, hearth and ambulance amenities.
Anthony Cammalleri may be reached at 413-930-4429 or [email protected].
