GILL — In a swift Special Town Meeting, residents approved a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement for a solar array, rescinded previously granted borrowing authority and voted to expand the Sewer Commission.

Gathered at Town Hall, 13 residents joined the Selectboard to quickly approve the articles in an approximately 17-minute meeting that featured little discussion about the three topics at hand.

While residents approved both the PILOT agreement for Kearsarge LLC, which operates solar arrays at 588 Main Road, and the expansion of the Sewer Commission, both processes require further steps.

In the case of Kearsarge, Town Administrator Ray Purington said residents’ end of the process is likely complete, but the company’s attorney has signaled “they would still like to talk about the numbers” in the agreement.

“While I hope that this is the agreement that is ultimately signed, I can’t make any promises we won’t be bringing something slightly different back to Town Meeting,” Purington said. “It’s still my recommendation the town approve the agreement as presented.”

The agreement approved Monday night would begin in 2024 and expire in 2043, with a total of $421,226 to be paid to the town over those 20 years. If there were any “substantive” changes, Purington said the agreement would come back before voters at a future Town Meeting, but any “non-consequential tweaks” to the document would not need further approval.

In the case of the Sewer Commission, Massachusetts General Law Chapter 41, Section 21 requires two votes to expand the board, with Monday’s Town Meeting approval representing the first. The second vote will come before residents on the May 20, 2024 town election ballot.

If approved, the Sewer Commission will expand to five members, with three Selectboard members automatically assuming the role alongside two appointed members.

The move to expand the Sewer Commission follows more than a year of working with residents who use the Riverside Sewer System and have been concerned about rising sewer rates, equipment issues and upcoming capital needs of a 40-year-old system, according to the Town Meeting warrant.

Currently none of the three Selectboard members live in the Riverside neighborhood and the two appointed positions would give preference to residents, property owners, renters or business owners who live or work in the neighborhood. Non-residents will be eligible if they meet the preferential criteria.

“We’d like to have some input and understanding with how the sewer system works. … I hope the large number of people approve this,” said resident Peter Conway, drawing laughs from the 12 other residents in the audience. “And we can get this over with and keep on going.”

Residents also rescinded borrowing authority that was approved at previous Town Meetings but was ultimately unnecessary. Highlights include rescinding $302,500 for several energy projects with Siemens Building Technologies that only ended up being implemented at the elementary school and $300,000 for Gill Elementary School’s floors, which were paid for using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.