BRADFORD—The developers behind an embattled solar array on the Lower Plain have turned the lights off.
Earlier this month, Bradford Solar, LLC asked the Vermont Public Utilities Commission to withdraw its application “with prejudice.” The move comes a little over a month after a hearing officer issued a 68-page decision recommending that the application get denied by the full PUC.
Last year, the former owner of the Bradford Mini-Mart filed a petition with the Vermont Public Utilities Commission seeking approval to construct a a 500-kilowatt, ground-mounted array on a 2-acre hayfield next to the gas station and convenience store. Cairns Brothers Realty Partnership owns the property, which is located between NAPA Auto Parts and the Mini-Mart on Route 25 not far from the I-91 interchange.

NORTH HAVERHILL—The Haverhill Selectboard largely ruled out a proposal to discontinue town maintenance of several roads during its meeting on Monday night.
Last month, Haverhill Town Manager Brigitte Codling asked board members to consider warning several warrant articles for town meeting asking voters to discontinue maintenance of several local roads with three or less residences on them.

FAIRLEE—The Fairlee Town Beach is closed until ice-in after late-season cyanobacteria blooms continue to plague Lake Morey.
At the selectboard meeting on Nov. 30, Fairlee Town Administrator Tad Nunez said that he had been in touch with state officials who said there is no elevated public health risk. Still he wants to let people know to keep their dogs from swimming in the water and from entering the water themselves.

BRADFORD—Voters narrowly rejected a 2020-2021 operating budget for the Oxbow Unified Union School District last week.
With 1,178 people in Bradford and Newbury participating, 50.3 percent (593) voted against the $16,780,183 proposal while 49.1 percent (578) voted in favor. There were seven blank ballots.
This was the third attempt to get an operating budget for the current school year passed. The margin this time was much tighter than the previous two votes.
Last week’s turnout was by the far the highest in the two towns during the three rounds of voting held in 2020. Like the first round in June, ballots were mailed to all registered voters this time. For the Sept. 1 vote, ballots were only mailed upon request.

BRADFORD—Low-St. John Forest has long been used as an outdoor learning lab for students at Bradford Elementary School. But they may soon have an actual classroom to use when they are learning in the forest.
The Bradford Planning Commission has given its OK to the construction of an outdoor classroom shelter.
The forest was acquired by the former Bradford Academy and Graded School District in 1946 when Jessie Blakely Low donated 65 acres of forestland on Mount Tug off of Goshen Road. In 1961, Nina St. John donated an additional 60 acres. Now, the Oxbow Unified Union School District owns the property.