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Uh but it it is valid. You don't want to shock these kids. You want to challenge them as they move ahead and that is what high school is. It's a it's the next level of challenge for them. I guess rel I guess related to that you did confirm earlier at least as it looks like right now that we would go to two sections for the current rising fourth and fifth graders when they go to sixth, seventh and eth which is an opens if their numbers stay the same if the numbers stay the same. Right. It would just answer the question they are serving three sections now. Right. So does that mean that you would anticipate that you could you could utilize them for more than sixth, seventh and eighth grade in some cases for certain subjects? Yeah, it would impact staffing for sure. Yes. And so there's ups and downs to that.
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So, uh we will see how that evolves between now and meeting. It's probably the best uh best we can do in terms of an explanation right now. So, a lot more will be determined tomorrow.
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One down being that you potentially could have the same teacher for three years in a subject or four years in a subject, right? Depending upon how you schedule them. I don't I don't see it being three years in a row at all. Um I mean in small small districts, yes, that's the case year and what I think is most important is that we have leadership that takes a look at the numbers and is willing to make decisions accordingly. I think that's a it's really reassuring to to take everything into account and make informed decisions. Um, so that's something that I know people get really uncomfortable with class sizes changing, but I think that Miss Pulster really takes into account like all the information that she's and also, you know, you're not necessarily locked into the same schedule every year either, right? So even this year um you know the administrative team went to our grade level teachers and said what's working in the schedule it's not working in the schedule.
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Any questions related to article 16? Okay. Uh, moving on to article 17, which is a zoning bylaw that regulates accessory dwelling units um, in Ashland. So, accessory dwelling units, uh, things like in-law apartments, it's it's a fancy name, fancy way of saying in-law apartments. They were allowed in Ashland before by a special permit, but the state recently passed laws that required every community to allow ADUs as of right. So, in order to do that and to have some level of regulation on what those ADUs look like and what uh when they would be allowed and some of the parameters around the ADUs, um our town planner at the time, Peter Matchack, worked with the planning board to develop this zoning bylaw for accessory dwelling units. Um I don't anything you want to add to this? trying have the planning board had their hearing on it?
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So you know shifting some of the times that we're looking at. So you know 40 minutes for foundations doesn't seem to be enough. So let's make that a 60 minute block. 80 minutes for wisdom is a little too much. Let's make that a 60 minute. So we're we're playing with the schedule too just like we did last year. We're looking at how to use teachers to get them in for early intervention. And so when we're dealing with a shift in numbers too, we can also look at how can we create a schedule that, you know, maximizes our staff doesn't have kids, you know, in the same with the same teacher for multiple years in a row. Um and and how can we get creative with our use of time? So that is something that you know you'll see some changes into going into next year schedules in terms of minute allocations and an order of periods.
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Okay. You remember when that meeting? Last meeting, I believe. Um so they had their meeting. Um the building commissioner has also reviewed it and um had conversations with planning in terms of implementation. Okay. And legal counsel has reviewed it it meets the four corners of the law.
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Um really working to do a rotating schedule with the middle school kids so you don't have math last every single day. The next next day it'll be first. And so you know there's a Yeah. So we're really working on that too. It's not all finished yet, but I'm really confident we're going to be able to do that because when I sit with teachers, they're like, you know, have a math last, that group last every single day. Well, then we can do something about that. So, let's look at how we're using our time, how we're using our staff. And, you know, every year it should get a fresh set of eyes. Um, yes, a lot of times you want to keep the basic structure, right? You don't want to throw everything up in the air, but if we can make those tweaks based on feedback and you know I I think we'll find ways to adjust even as those sections come through and it might provide some new opportunities too.
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Um, so yeah, if you want to look at the last planning board with the hearing, I'm sure you know, but any questions related to the ADU bylaw, article 17? Yes, Mark. And the first part is no there's no plan about being twilight the state with their understanding of not every community in the commonwealth has the same ideas that they do. This town is [Music] being processally screwed. can't say different way the state wants to get involved with housings mass the house mass housing committee themselves is saying that this state is in a housing crisis can't be in a housing crisis if they don't stop housing for every diversity of people. So, I'm kind of looking at it that I'm I'm being careful on my words, too, because I I been fighting this for 20s something years. Zoning by laws are being chewed up and spit out by the state for not respecting them at all.
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Julie's point that's I mean to be that dynamic is a lot of work. So I I'm kind of a schedule geek though. I have a lot of fun doing this so that would make sense if we're preparing our kids for a different type of schedule where you're not going to have the same. You have to pay attention and follow along. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Miss. Yeah, that's why I I appreciate your feedback on the on the too small of the class size which we I don't know if anyone was anticipating that. Thank you. Any other questions? All right. Uh that brings us to Mr. Vitali. Yes. Payment of the bills. Payment of the bills. Uh like to make a motion that the board of education authorizes payment of the following April 2025 bills list and that the secretary is authorized to draw warrants of the treasurer in the in the total amount of 2,500,676.39.
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When your last select board meeting was here, the representatives were here. I was not mixing words. I still feel the same way that they just not looking at this town is the same as part of the Commonwealth and we have three, five, 50 towns that we can one rough shot on and action is a small little dot and not being respected. There's two more articles. I'll continue from there. Well, Mark, did you have a question? I I have I'm been not saying the question, but I'm I'm in in the idea of an opinion that if we do question this, the mass housing is just going to beat it down and it's going to pass. Thank you. All right. Any other uh questions on article 17? So, article 18 is an update to our flood plane bylaw. Um, and recently there were changes, I think, made to the FEMA flood plane maps.
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Second Mr. Becker. Yes. Dr. Mr. Deberia, yes. Mrs. Tuck, yes. Mrs. McDev, yes. Mrs. Reed, yes. Mr. Vitali, yes. Mrs. W. Yes. Mr. Wall, yes. Motion. Yes. Thank you. Uh, we have the uh board secretary certification, which is standard from our Austin board secretary. Uh, there is no executive session this evening, which brings us to a motion for adjournment. Motion to adjurnn, please. Second. second all in favor. Thank you everybody. I don't think
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And so, this is to make sure that we're in compliance with that. Keep that pretty short and sweet. Any uh questions or a comment, Mark? It's going to be a question mix comment. And this is this is because you know where I'm going to go next, right? Go ahead. I'm breathing the knee in. I'm bringing it in deep. Okay. The state in the way. This is the comment again of the bylaw. this way in say get in the way of the conservation by purposes and the flood plane is conservation rules themselves and we had nothing that has gone wrong and it's been working together. My question is why would the state dare to dip their toes in the flood plane when they consist of drowning everywhere else? Thanks Mark. Any other uh questions, creatively asked questions like Mark uh is getting so good at. Um so article 19 is um another update uh from our planning board just to update some of the site plan reviews um site plan review uh procedures and Jen do you think I mean this is really it's a really small change right just to clean it up it's really just to align the um number of days um with the MGL 4A it's really just aligning I think previously we had 30 days and it's just changed 65.
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It's a real it's a clean up. Okay. So, um any uh any questions? No comments. Any questions? Thank you. Thank you for framing it that way. I'll try my best. People are going to know me by now that I always been a bylaw worker since I got the the um u what's it called the based code. Thank you. Yeah. Ever since that feels good. We talked about in subsability a little bit couple for a couple of seconds last night. The question is the planning board is having having the discussion about it. Why is the state trying to get [Music] involved in it in this by notification shall be provided in compliance with Mass General 40A? That's housing, isn't it? Well, it's planning. That's planning for houses. If the state wants to get involved in in zone bylaw, let them get economically brain twisted and maybe they can understand that Asha needs to get off the property tax.
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Thanks, Mark. Um, all right, last but not least, uh, the dog kennel bylaw. Um actually again this is one uh sponsored by our town clerk. So Jen would you like to um so this is really just to come in compliance again with a a new state law um called Ali's law that is really um in response to um a dog that uh passed away in the care of kennel. So, just sort of tightening up our um inspections and also how we permit dogs um k licenses versus um individual dog licenses. And so, we already had a bylaw just the changes made are just really to come into compiance with the state law.
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Okay, any questions? Take us home, Mark. I'll take you home. My first question is on the Zoom screen right in the middle. I'm looking at that little purple icon. If you turn around, you can see it. I can see it right there. Yeah. You got to see one thing. Got an idea that might be doing advertising. You wouldn't tell me itself next week. I I said my questions. He had my comments tonight. I'm gonna be sitting quietly and let the other people speak for me, speak for the rest of the town because I have done it for the years. It's time for me to take a little vacation. Thanks, Mark. Well, we appreciate your advocacy, Mark. Um, all right. Well, folks, that wraps it up for the warrant for the uh May 7th, 2025 annual town meeting again at Ashland High School at 700 p.m.
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Um 20 articles. I expect some robust discussion. Um, as people might have mentioned, um, or you might have heard, uh, this is actually Jen's, it's it's her last town manager forum here, and it's going to be, uh, her last town meeting after, uh, serving the town for nine years. Um, Jen will be departing the day the day after town meeting. And, um, but Jen, it's been a pleasure over the last nine years doing these with you. And, um, you know, I think uh, we couldn't have done done these without you. and couldn't do town meeting without you. Those that don't know, Jen, I mean, prepares the warrant. She basically handles all the logistics. She does a lot of stuff on the on the backends that people don't see, but are just extremely critical to democracy and the running of a local government. So, I hope it's been as much fun for you as it has been for me.
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Awesome. So, so again everybody, please exercise your right uh to participate in your local government. This these are decisions that are yours uh not just staffs, not just boards. Uh they're yours as registered voters in the community. Um you have the ability to shape what this town is um and will be. And that is something that I think a lot of people still don't understand and don't know. I'd say about six or seven years ago, we really tried to kind of educate people on their power uh and the power that they have as individuals in an open town meeting form of government and we saw a good response. Unfortunately, COVID put a damper on that just like a lot of things. But um it didn't erase uh the the rights of people uh here in Ashland to come and participate in democracy and again make decisions that are important for the future of the town.
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So uh that's my spiel uh for people to come to town meeting again. Uh hope to see you next Wednesday 7 o'clock at um at Ashlin High School in the auditorium for so without further ado uh hope everybody has a good night. Enjoy this beautiful evening.
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did. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the regular meeting of the board of education this May 1st, 2025. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence.
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The elder to Taylor saw that the ballpark was a great way to increase the value of his family's holdings. He was quite right because as soon as the ballpark began to go up, the city began to plan to extend trolley lines into the area to support all of the fans. So, in late 1911, with only a few months to go before opening day, construction began on what he would call Fenway
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