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10/08/2019 04:15 PMThe Board of Selectmen (BOS) indefinitely suspended a project to build two solar carports in the parking lots of Polson Middle School and Daniel Hand High School after several delays and numerous questions about procedure and transparency.
Facilities Director Bill McMinn said at a special meeting that not having enough public input and potential disruption of learning at the schools were two of the biggest reasons why he thought it best to delay the project.
Though there is currently no immediate action to be taken on the carports, First Selectman Tom Banisch (R) said that it was likely the town would pick up the project again in the near future. He said solar would continue to play a part in the town’s long term plans, particularly at the schools.
The project ran a tumultuous path in front of the BOS. Delayed at an early September meeting, when Selectman Scott Murphy (D) objected to what he felt was the rushed nature of the project, the BOS tried again at a special meeting scheduled for the following week.
When that did not end with a contract being awarded, the BOS took up the project at its next regular meeting on Sept. 23, eventually deciding to ask the two companies that put in bids to re-submit proposals. A motion at the same meeting to ask the Board of Finance to assist with the proposals was defeated along party lines, with the three Republicans voting against involving the other board.
On Oct. 7, the BOS asked McMinn to inform the two bidders that the town would not be moving forward at this time.