By K.B. Sherman, Contributing Writer
Grafton – At the Dec. 15 meeting, Grafton selectmen tentatively set Monday, Feb. 8, as the date for a Special Town Meeting. Scheduled for a vote at the meeting will be an article asking voters to authorize the town to create an aggregate electrical supply authority.
Recently, two competing plans were presented to the town Planning Board. This meeting Dec. 1 was a result of a sifting of possible suppliers after a study done by the Grafton Energy Study Committee. One of the two proposals was through the Solarize Mass Program from the Direct Energy Solar Company. The second was from a team from Good Energy Company (GE). Both spoke of being able to considerably lower the cost of electricity for Grafton residents and businesses. At the time, Town Administrator Timothy McInerney noted that no matter what the board might recommend, the decision would have to be made at Town Meeting, presumably in the spring. At the Dec. 1 meeting, Doreen Defazio, chair of the Grafton Energy Study Committee, spoke, assuring the Board that Good Energy offers great service and support.
At the Dec. 15 meeting, selectmen decided to go forward with the Special Town Meeting to authorize the compact. Selectman Bruce Spinney asked McInerney how much the Special Town Meeting would cost the town and was assured that the cost would be minimal as both voting and transcription were now done electronically. To this, Spinney replied, “Then I’m all for it.” The board voted unanimously for the Feb. 8 meeting.
In other business, the board voted unanimously to approve a five-year lease to U.S. Wireless, Inc., for a 10,000-square-foot lot on Creeper Hill Road. This will be the site of a new cellular phone tower. The lease will run $2,050 a month for a period of five years. Spinney noted that this is a good financial deal for the town.