Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 14, in the Hanover High School gym. Australian ballot voting will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The business portion of the meeting begins at 7 p.m.

HANOVER — Voters at Town Meeting next month will decide on $29.2 million in municipal spending, two amendments to zoning ordinances and whether to authorize the Selectboard to enter into power purchasing agreements with solar installers.

The proposed spending, which includes some capital projects from reserve funds, marks a 3.1 percent increase from the current fiscal year. The proposed general fund budget is $16.6 million, which represents a 7.4 percent increase over fiscal year 2019.

Some of that increase comes from paying unionized employees a 1 percent cost of living increase, which will be extended to all non-union employees as well, said Town Manager Julia Griffin. The town will also hire an additional full-time dispatcher.

Griffin says Hanover has had to deal with increased construction costs because of tariffs. The town is planning on several capital improvement projects, including repairing the roof of the fire station and putting in a heat pump system in the community center.

“We’ve also seen the impact of tariff costs on the chemicals we use to filter and treat our water and wastewater effluents,” Griffin said.

Staffers are requesting an additional $15,000 this year for wastewater treatment plant chemicals. The tax rate is estimated to go up by 9 cents per $1,000, or $36 for a house valued at $400,000.

The first zoning ordinance amendment would change definitions in senior housing. A definition for “persons with disabilities” would be added, and the definition of senior housing development would include inhabitants who are “at least” 62 instead of 62 years of age or older.

“This will enable the town to achieve what it’s indicated it wants to do,” said Planning Board Chair Judith Esmay.

Last summer, Hanover approved Twin Pines Housing Trust’s proposal to build a 24-unit apartment complex for seniors and people with disabilities.

“The project already serves both seniors and disabled people,” said Andrew Winter, executive director of Twin Pines Housing Trust. “This language clarifies that that’s the intent, and it’s being done as a part of refinancing the project.”

Another zoning ordinance amendment, which was petitioned, deals with changing the zoning district of 59-61 Lyme Road, a duplex owned by Richard and Marjorie Norris. The house is right next to Richmond Middle School and across the street from Cuttings Cafe.

The home is currently zoned as single-residence. The proposed amendment would change it to residence and office zoning. The Planning Board is opposed to the amendment.

At its March 5 meeting, Lyme Road resident Kristine McDevitt “advised that spot zoning one property on Lyme Road goes against the vision the study clearly speaks toward and that it sets a precedent that other properties can choose to be spot zoned,” according to Planning Board minutes.

The town has a goal of using 100 percent renewable energy for electricity by 2030.

As a part of that, the Selectboard is asking for approval to enter into electric purchasing power agreements with solar installers. Those businesses would install, own and maintain one or more solar systems on town-owned buildings or land. The article also gives the Selectboard the ability to grant leases and easement for access to the locations of these systems.

“We want to be able to move expeditiously when we can,” Griffin said.

The purchasing agreements allow large consumers — like a town or big business — to lock in a power rate for a long period of time, from 12 to 20 years.

“This helps finance construction of renewable energy generating facilities. We’re excited about that prospect,” Griffin said.

Griffin added that Hanover may look to put out a request for proposal for the power purchasing agreement within the next year.

There is only one contested race this year. George “Skip” Stanger and Kathleen Chaimberg are vying for the three-year term Etna Library trustee board seat.

Athos Rassias is running unchallenged for another three-year term on the Selectboard.

Daniela Vidal Allee can be reached at dallee@vnews.com or 603-727-3211.