CONWAY — After more than three and a half hours deliberating 29 articles, the residents of Conway approved the entire Annual Town Meeting warrant, including land acquisitions geared toward preventing South River flooding and new solar zoning bylaws.
The meeting began at 1 p.m. at Conway Grammar School, with more than 100 residents attending. Town officials tried a new electronic voting system for this year’s meeting, too.
Articles 20, 21, 22 and 23 involved land acquisitions as part of the South River Flood Resiliency Project. The town is seeking to acquire two parcels of land along Shelburne Falls Road and the lot at 69 Main St.
The plan presented on Saturday is to fund the sales with $50,000 from the Community Preservation Act Fund. An additional $15,000 from unbudgeted reserve funds would pay for an environmental assessment of the Main Street property, which is necessary because of the parcel’s history as a vehicle storage garage.
However, no sale agreements have been reached with the current owners of each lot, and Open Space Committee Chair Janet Chayes said there is a chance the owners will not sell the land at the appraised value.
“It’s really a long shot, as to whether the owner will sell it to us at this price,” Chayes said. “If not, it’s going to be rebuilt and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to try to slow the river down at this key junction will be missed.”
Associate Planning Board member Joe Strzegowski said the town has “no interest in eminent domain” because any fees involved in that would exceed the current price.
Some residents expressed concern at how much money acquiring these parcels and the ensuing construction projects would cost, but former Community Preservation Committee member Mary McClintock said there is plenty of Community Preservation Act money available.
“Unreserved, we can spend it for any allowed community preservation purpose: $560,456,” McClintock said. “So, when anybody makes a comment about being concerned about this depleting our funds, please think of those numbers.”
Town residents also approved sweeping revisions to solar zoning bylaws to close the meeting.
The revisions include a new special permit system for large-scale solar arrays, which are defined as being 2½ acres or larger. Requirements include minimizing visibility and noise, restricting tree-cutting and developing a landscape screening plan.
Planning Board Chair Beth Girshman said the changes will make the bylaws more similar to what neighboring towns have.
“Planning Board members believe these changes are in-line with communities of similar sizes and character,” Girshman said. “We believe we are walking a delicate balance between private property rights of those would like to lease an appropriate site … and the rights of abutters and neighbors and citizens of Conway.”
Residents also approved of the town borrowing money for the $170,000 project to repave a 1-mile stretch of Shelburne Falls Road around Dill Hill.
Resident Shirley Pelletier asked if the money being borrowed would be used solely for repaving, because the road will be washed out again if no other improvements are made.
“Will this include drainage?” Pelletier inquired. “If it’s just repaved, it isn’t going to be worth the effort.”
Selectboard Chair Bob Armstrong said borrowing money for repaving roads “is a first for Conway,” and that citizens should speak to state politicians about the limited amount of Chapter 90 funds for road repairs.
“This is a great issue to talk to state reps or senators about because this is a state funding issue,” Armstrong said.
The town budget, a total of about $6.3 million, was broken into separate voting portions, and all four sections passing with overwhelming approval.
Other measures approved by the town include:
■Annual Town Meeting will now be held on the first Saturday in June at 1 p.m.
■General bylaws were amended to use the gender-neutral term “Selectboard” instead of “Board of Selectmen.”
■The appropriation of $220,000 for a new six-wheel Highway Department truck, which will replace a 1998 truck that will be traded in.
■The appropriation of $150,000 for the Capital Improvements Stabilization Fund.
■Transferring $15,290 for a retroactive pay raise for town employees after a wage freeze for fiscal year 2021.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.