Pepperell Sets Solar Farm Permit Fees, Appoints Housing Authority Member

PEPPERELL — November 17, 2014 — Pepperell Board of Selectmen establishes first-ever solar farm permit fee at its November 17 meeting. The board voted unanimously to charge $10 per $1,000 in construction costs for commercial solar farm building permits, plus $100 per electrical inspection visit, after Building Inspector Harry consulted with Lunenburg officials and found the same rate in use there. The action was prompted by a large solar project on Nashua Road that has already cleared environmental review, leaving the town with no applicable fee on the books. The board also unanimously appointed Pepperell Police Officer Bruce Haskins to a vacant seat on the Pepperell Housing Authority board on the recommendation of Executive Director Marilyn Trembley, who said she had been pursuing Haskins for a year; the appointment runs only until the next town election. In a pipeline update, board member Donna Franczak reported that a regional "Stop the Pipeline" summit drew roughly 500 people and that Kinder Morgan is now exploring an alternate route through New Hampshire; the coalition of 39 towns voted to send a letter to Governor-elect Charlie Baker. The board also dissolved the Covered Bridge Committee, whose members said their founding mission — organizing the bridge's grand opening — was complete.