By: thevoice
Ah, town meeting, that time of the year when a few hundred of Concord’s residents pack the CC auditorium, passing decisions that affect thousands. Some results are good, others are bad, it’s all based on one’s point of view. Judging on the fact that I think I was one of about three people under 30 at town meeting on any given night, here’s what you should know. First off, the $1.3 million asked for to continue the feasibility study on CCHS passed. While this does not mean you should expect any building any time soon, it does mean that more work will be done towards looking at the high school, and Concord voters will be more open to appropriating more money in the future.
Also, the meal tax in Concord was raised from 6.25% to 7%, and while a small change, any annoyance is at least slightly alleviated in that the 0.75% increase will be given directly back to Concord from the state. One of the bigger issues, the zoning bylaw proposed for West Concord, failed. The article proposed setting a limit on how many chain stores, such as the 99 or White Hen Pantry, could exist in West Concord. The sentiment among the dissenters was that the makeup of a town changes over time, and a set number is too strict. The article needed 318 votes to pass, but received only 305, less than 3% away from passing.
Another bylaw that was controversial regarded construction in the Southfield (South Meadow) area. Recently many developers have bought land in the area, only to tear down the quaint little houses that stood there, and erect enormous, multi-level monstrosities. One resident of the area even said a former neighbor of his apologized and regretted selling the land when he saw the colossus that had been built on his former property. This article failed to pass, with many of the “nay” voters saying that the restrictions would apply to all Concord residents that live on properties with similar characteristics to those in the Southfield proposal.
Both of the “green” articles passed as well. The first, much less controversial than the second, gave Concord citizens the “right to dry,” or the right to hang their laundry outside. (Who knew that was illegal?) The other, which caused much more debate, was a proposal for an outright ban on the sale of all drinking water in plastic bottles in all of Concord. After much debate, the bill passed, but many, including the Board of Selectmen, believe the state will overturn the vote, stating that this bill goes beyond the scope of a town meeting, and puts some stores, such as Crosby’s, at a competitive disadvantage if they can’t sell some of their products to Concord residents.
One thing we can all look forward to due to town meeting money is Concord’s 375th Anniversary celebration, which will feature Concord Firemen and Police Officers playing the CCHS Varsity Baseball team. The festivities, which will be in mid-September, will also include fireworks and live music.
