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Public criticizes delegation’s solar rejection; officials defend staffing progress
Summary
Public commenters criticized the delegation’s recent decision to decline a solar array at the county complex and pressed county leaders about rising agency staffing costs; commissioners and the administrator responded with competing explanations and recent reduction figures.
During public comment at the March 23 Carroll County meeting, Morton Sincler (introduced from Sandwich) criticized the county delegation’s vote to reject a proposed solar array at the county complex, saying the delegation relied on improper price-benchmarking and that some solar vendors overstate output estimates.
"I am disappointed with the vote of the delegation to turn down the opportunity of a solar array at the county complex ... using the average of the prices of the three quotes as a price baseline, which is ludicrous," Sincler said. A commissioner identified in the transcript as Dallas replied that he supported not proceeding with the solar project, describing it as an extended cost and emphasizing uncertainty about future options.
Later in the meeting, public commenter Greg Kane (Wolfboro) asked whether the county had looked into selling or donating old nursing-home beds; staff said many beds had already been donated and that some are kept as parts donors when motors fail. Several speakers also criticized what they described as rapid growth in agency staffing costs over the previous years, at one point citing figures that rose from about $15,000 to nearly $3 million.
The county administrator responded with updated figures and context: agency spending decreased about 8% from 2024 to 2025 and was tracking roughly 20% below that level in the current year, with projections under $2 million. The administrator and other staff said the increase commenters described stemmed in part from post‑COVID labor-market changes and statewide shortages in nursing staff; staff also described steps taken to reduce agency reliance, including new scheduling and recruitment efforts.
No formal motion or policy decision on the solar question was recorded in the meeting transcript; the matter was discussed during public comment and earlier delegation action, and commissioners described the solar item as already considered by the delegation.
