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Greetings ,

There are important environmental articles to vote on at Town Meeting in Concord next week, see a schedule below. We encourage everyone to attend and vote. The meeting starts on Monday, April 26th at the Concord Carlisle High School at 7:00 pm and continues for three evenings unless all of the warrant articles aren't completed by Wednesday night. If this is the case, they will continue on Thursday night of that week. Please note these are approximate dates of when the articles most likely will be voted on. See you there.

All the best,

ConcordConserves.org

IN THIS ISSUE
Town Meeting - Monday, April 26, 2010
TM - Tuesday, April 27, 2010
TM - Wednesday, April 28, 2010
TM - Thursday, April 29, 2010

Town Meeting - Monday, April 26, 2010

23 Nagog Pond Water Supply System Improvements - CCO voting "Yes" as this article will ensure the much needed improvements will happen for Nagog Pond Water Supply.

34 Community Preservation Committee Appropriation Recommendations - CCO voting "Yes" as among other projects, this article will allow the town to move forward for the Watershed Management Plan which calls for the restoration and preservation of Warners Pond and its habitat.

37 Conservation Restriction Conveyance - 335 Walden Street - CCO voting "Yes", which approves Board of Selectment to transfer the open space to the Natural Resources Commission and grant a conservation restriction.

38 Revoke the Community Preservation Act - By Petition - CCO voting "No",  as Concord has used these funds to preserve W. Concord Depot, the Harvey Wheeler Clock Tower, the Town House, the Emerson Umbrella, Orchard House and the Barrett Farmhouse. These funds have also been used to create community housing and supporting the acquisition of open space. This would eliminate funding source that often funds conservation measures.

39 Land Acquisition - Marshall Farm - CCO Voting "Yes" to help the town recognize and work towards setting aside housing for farmers and their employees.

TM - Tuesday, April 27, 2010

42 Zoning Bylaw Amendment - Planned Residential Development - CCO voting "Yes" to preserve open space.

TM - Wednesday, April 28, 2010

59 Wetlands Bylaw Regulations - CCO voting "Yes" as among other provisions, this will allow for the protection of wetlands, certified vernal pools, their habitats, and the functions they provide.

60 Right to Farm Bylaw - CCO voting "Yes" as it will allow for "this community to conserve, protect and encourage the maintenance and improvement of agricultural land for the production of food, and other agricultural products, and also for its natural and ecological value."

62 Adoption of Massachusetts Building Code "Stretch" Energy Code - CCO voting "Yes" as this sustainability measure will yield both economic and environmental benefits.  Is a cost effective route to achieve approximately 20 percent better energy efficiency for new residential and commercial buildings. This article is also recommended by the Board of Selectmen.

63 Right to Dry Bylaw - (By Petition) - CCO voting "Yes" as it will allow the town to adopt a bylaw prohibiting real estate contracts, agreements, or rules that forbid the use of clotheslines on residential property. Ultimately, this will serve as an easy, cost-effective, energy-saving measure.

TM - Thursday, April 29, 2010

64 Authorization of Long Term Lease for Solar Energy - CCO voting "Yes" on Thursday's final session of TM, (but it might come up as early as Wednesday), for these reasons:

- Solar produces a lot of valuable peak power, which can cost 300% as much as non-peak power
- Solar yields avoided costs associated with transmission and other grid charges; only available with an in-town facility
- No cost to the town, no debt obligations, only a power purchase contract between the chosen developer and the Concord Light Plant
- A competitive bidding process will yield near-parity energy costs, making solar competitive, net after federal and state incentives, with traditional sources of energy
- 30% of project cost paid in cash by U.S. government as part of the 2009 Recovery Act (could be worth $3mm; provided construction begins in 2010)
- Environmental benefits associated with removing fossil fuel sourced energy
- Local energy control and a visible relationship between the town and its energy sources
- Productive use of 12+/- acres out of the substantial 2,500 acres of town-owned land
- Optimal energy neighbor that is low to the ground, has no moving parts or glare, makes no smell, and consumes no water.
- It quietly goes about converting sun rays into energy.

65 Ban the Sale of Water in Plastic Bottles in Concord (By Petition) - CCO Voting "Yes" on Wednesday night or possibly Thursday final session of TM, due to the fact that approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil—enough to run 100,000 cars for a whole year—are used to make plastic water bottles, while transporting these bottles burns even more oil. Also, nearly 90 percent of water bottles are not recycled and end up in landfill where it takes thousands of years for the plastics to decompose (think "Wall-E").

DISCOUNTS + RESOURCES

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