Support Canaan solar panel exemption

Please vote yes on Article 30: to see if residents may install solar collectors without increasing the assessed value of their property for tax purposes.

Surrounding towns — Dorchester, Enfield, Grantham, Grafton, Hanover, Lebanon, Lyme, Plainfield, and Springfield — do not tax solar installations.

A yes vote encourages solar installations, lessening Canaan's dependence on utilities.

New Hampshire’s average monthly electric bill is $269, according to solar installation and alternative energy referral website energysage.com. Federal and state rebates and incentives make installations affordable for most. They can quickly pay for themselves while reducing both electric bills and carbon emissions.

Thank you for voting at Town Meeting on Tuesday, March 14.

John and Joanna Carr

Canaan

Vote down Lebanon housing amendments

Lebanon voters, please be aware of the four zoning amendments we will be asked to approve on March 14, 2023. I encourage you to vote no on all of them.

1. “Cottage Developments” allowing clusters composed of three to 16 houses on a lot of at least one-half acre.

2. Allowing an accessory dwelling unit on an owner-occupied two-family dwelling, The existing ordinance restricts this development to single-family dwellings.

3. Update regulations for manufactured housing parks, instead of a minimum of 10,000 square feet per unit to 5,000 square feet per unit.

4. Amend the RL-3 table of uses to change from a use by special exemption to a permitted use.

According to a recent Valley News article (“Voters to consider housing solutions,” March 5), Assistant City Manager David Brooks reports that the city designed these regulations for these housing types “in ways that will fit with our existing neighborhoods and that don’t alter their character.” Be real, Mr. Brooks! I encourage all Lebanon voters to take a ride on Mount Support Road, once a rural road teeming with wildlife.

New London Town Planner Adam Ricker in the same article states, “No one town can or should have to shoulder the entire responsibility.”

Lebanon has added 1,350 units since 2010 and has approved an additional 1,260 units. Lebanon and Hartford have carried this responsibility for far too long. Vote no on these amendments.

Terry Grigsby

Lebanon

Upcoming requests for Enfield Town Meeting

It is that time of year again in Enfield to make your voice heard and

get out and vote ! (March 14 — ballot; Saturday, March 18, in-person Town Meeting at Enfield Elementary School).

I am a former budget committee member and tried hard to have the taxpayer in mind when casting my vote for spending.

Even with the passage of the two large capital projects last year we are being asked for even more.

The total increase if all warrant articles pass is 16.7%. With 4.28% for the new safety complex being planned. The budget being voted on includes an 8% cost of living adjustment for town employees. Last year it was 5%. I realize employees are being asked to do more to meet additional rules and regulations. But I am concerned about the taxpayers being able to withstand this type of increase. This amount does not even include loans for the library renovation so next year I am sure it will be a lot more than 16%.

The conservation committee also has a warrant article asking you to approve in having 100 acres of land on Methodist Hill turned into a public forest. I realize Enfield already owns this land but I feel the town of Enfield owns way too much land now. (I am not clear about the total but it has been mentioned it is in the thousands of acres; yes, I have asked). I am not in favor of this proposal or diverting funds from the land use fees to this idea. If any funds are going to be diverted they should be diverted to the taxpayer.

I urge you to vote no on articles 15 and 16 and to think how deep you can reach into your pockets for your tax bill!

Jean Patten

Enfield

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