The city of Bath is asking voters to approve a city charter amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot. 

If approved, the change would allow the City Council, upon affirmative vote of six of its members, to waive the five-year limitation on contracts involving payment of money out of appropriations of more than one year.  

Currently, the city is limited to contracts of five years or less. The proposed charter amendment allows for the City Council to review any contract of greater than five years on a case by case basis. 

 “The five-year limitation was suitable at the time the charter was written, but it does not meet the needs of the City in this era,” said City Manager Peter Owen, in a news release from the city. “This change allows the City greater flexibility in making long-term commitments that benefit residents now and in the future. The proposal also includes the necessary checks-and-balances of governmental due diligence by requiring the City Council to approve longer-term contracts based on their impact on the community.”  

This proposal was initiated during this election because the city has been working with ReVision Energy on a potential solar energy power purchase agreement to help offset electricity costs at City facilities and reduce carbon pollution, according to the release. 

The agreement allows the city to enter into a contract with ReVision or an investor to purchase solar-produced power at a lower rate, while relieving the city from the upfront capital cost of constructing a solar array. The proposed contract is 25 years, due the initial commitment from Revision Energy or an investor to install the solar array.  

Adjusting to a shorter contract where the city pays higher rates for a shorter period of time would be unattainable for the City due to the increased costs for development of the project, according to the release. 

“The potential solar project will produce nearly 2,000,000 kilowatts of energy annually, offsetting the city’s consumption of electricity at all of its facilities and reducing costs substantially,” the release states.  

”Support for this charter amendment is support for clean energy for Bath,” Council Chair Mari Eosco said. “The city is refocusing efforts to become more energy efficient and climate aware. The possibility of an investment in solar power is a great example of how Bath can help mitigate our emissions for the foreseeable future.”