Pepperell Selectmen Advance Solar Lease, Reject Bottle Bill Resolution

PEPPERELL — June 13, 2011 — Pepperell selectmen rejected a bottle bill expansion resolution and continued a solar panel lease decision at their June 13 meeting. The board voted 2-1 against endorsing a MassBird resolution to expand the Massachusetts bottle deposit law to include water bottles and sports drinks, with the majority citing the town's proximity to New Hampshire and existing recycling infrastructure. A no-cost five-year solar lease proposed by DCS Energy — covering installations at town hall, the senior center, the library, and the Jersey Street fire station and projected to save the town approximately $12,000 annually — was tabled pending additional contract language on installation liability. The board unanimously adopted a 2011 reprecincting plan shifting roughly 300 voters between precincts ahead of a December 31 effective date, and approved a Class 1 motor vehicle license for SunRay Carts at 1 Kayla Lane with conditions including a five-vehicle inventory cap and test drives limited to weekdays. An economic development committee framework presented by Ayer Community Development Director David Mahar was tabled to a joint Planning Board session in August, with at least one selectman questioning whether the town needed another advisory body before resolving what he called a fundamental lack of accountability across its existing boards.