NEW BERLIN – With the beautiful weather came fresh ideas in New Berlin during the village board meeting Tuesday, including plans to beautify downtown as well as convert government buildings to solar power.

The village was one of five municipalities in the county to contract with a lease program from Buffalo-based Solar Liberty, which gave out 10,000 solar units in 2011.

Mayor Terry Potter suggested the fire department, department of public works, water pump station and the village offices as prime locations to be converted to solar power.

Potter explained there would be no up-front or starter costs; instead the village would lease the solar units for $125 a month, which he said would save approximately $700.