So I can't in good faith begin hiring for these positions when I don't know what positions are available. So we have the physics STEM teacher posted anticipated. We've got the curriculum support teachers anticipated. We've got the math interventionists posted anticipated because I don't know what is is what I can fill. So it's May and we're going to lose people and because they don't know and the thing is if if all of these go away that forces a domino effect and a tenure teacher bumps a non-tenured teacher that person has to be told. Now there's a timing of that reduction in force technically you know we obviously you want to do you want to let someone know as soon as possible so that person can go find another position. Um but that you know the reduction in force piece will have to come into play if we have to go through that bumping scenario because other positions have been eliminated.
Preserving our history is important, as seen in our downtown fire station, a great example of honoring the past. However, I do not support the proposed bylaw to create a local historic district. I have concerns about the impact it would have, particularly on our small businesses in the downtown area. This bylaw would create yet another layer of town oversight, another approval process for businesses that are simply trying to operate and make improvements where they can. While the proposed historic commission has suggested that changes to non-historic buildings would likely be approved without issue, there is nothing in the bylaw that guarantees that outcome. Once properties are included in the district, they are fully subject to these new regulations regardless of current intentions of the commission. I would like to go back to my reference of the old fire station. Clover Road Brewing poured a large amount of money into that bu building after leasing it from the town last summer.
And just to our two of our neighbors who we often compare ourselves to Bethl and New Town have already and new in New Fairfield have passed their budgets. So they're posting not anticipated real openings and they're getting the best candidates because they're starting their interview process that we're missing out on. We need to vote tonight on both. No. Oh, so I just want some of these positions like the physics. No, I think and of course while the referendum has not we haven't had it. It's not till May 20th. Hasn't formally passed it. There's always possibility that the budget goes down and it has to be posted in that's the other that's out there is that people need to know what they're voting on, right? So they need to know what they're voting on. Exactly what I'm saying. So like in the three main points, we can get things out there to people and you know documentations, you know, and in the parent square um blast that we've been doing to let them know what they're voting on.
The process consisted of several meetings, the planning board, design review, and the historical commission. It took months to get through that process and I fear that if we add another step, it may deter someone from putting the time and money into such an endeavor and just go somewhere else. We already have tools in place to ensure design consistency and thoughtful development. Adding another level of review risks sending the wrong message that Ashland is a diffic difficult place to do business. That perception matters. I've spoken to several business owners who are worried about this bylaw about potential costs, delays, and the loss of autonomy over their own properties. I believe we can protect Ashlin's historical character without creating additional burdens that discourage investment and progress. I hope we can find a better balance, one that honors our past without putting our future at risk. Thank you, Beth.
Exactly. So really it's important to get these decisions made tonight. So um what do you guys think? Should we do um what do you think? Should we do a um start times vote or just go right budget? Right. I think we should vote on the I think we should vote on the budget scenario first and that will if it's B or C then we're going to have to formalize it. We're going to have to formalize it with a with a vote on the on the healthy start times. But yeah, but then it's going to force a budget scenario. So I think anyone can put a motion. Yeah, exactly. And anybody can put a motion on the table. So I think the motion was Oh, yeah. There's a motion tabled from last time I guess from April 9th. There's a motion tabled. Um So, oh, we have the uh we have the um language of the motion from scenarios.
Ma'am Audrey Coulson, three Shadow Creek Lane. I've lived in Ashland for 10 years now. Before that, I lived in another town. I was actually living in a house in a historic district. Lived there for 50 years. The historic district was created about 30 years in for while we were there. and I have dealt with them in replacing windows, getting a sign for a business, um adding addition on the back of the house and changing the back doorway and extending the porch there. Had to go through the historic district and I had no problems at all there. So they deemed every project that I had, you know, brought forward to them to be appropriate because as I was planning and talking with my contractor or architect, I said, "This is a historic house. We want to any changes I make have to be appropriate." So, we kept that in mind and the historic district always passed us with flying colors.
What do you guys think? I think it makes cleaner if we we go on um start times because um then we know we either pass um to change start times or not and then that that greatly simplify simplifies our options. Then we only option scenario. We only we tabled a discussion, not a motion. There was no motion being about healthy. Oh, okay. So, someone could needs to put a motion on the table. We need to have a motion on the table. It just doesn't make sense because then if we're voting on a if we do the healthy start time discussion or vote, then the only scenario left would be A. So, why would we vote? It would just be A. I think we should do budget first. I'm going to make a motion that we go with scenario C. or that we vote on that we that we vote on the budget.
So, I'm in favor of this. Thank you. Okay. Kard, 26 Dear Ridge Road. I'm actually speaking for Adam uh Saxs who couldn't be here tonight. He's at two Esther Lane. Uh Adam wanted to point out that he is representing himself solely. Adam grew up in Worester where his grandfather started the home window. Can Can just to be clear, I do not allow people to speak for other people in in town meeting, but where they are both residents, I'm going to allow it. Okay. Thank you. Uh Adam grew up in Worcester where his grandfather started a home window home improvement business more than 75 years ago. Business moved from Main Street to South Ridge uh right next to Coney Island. It's a significant move for the company. Unfortunately, when they wanted to renovate the building, which had become historic districted, they were told that they could not put in windows that they wanted and the cost of the put in the windows that did comply was six times the cost of the standard window.
She said she made a motion. All right. So, there's a there's COT to adopt. So, adopt She made a motion to adopt scenario C. Erin did. Okay. Did you get that stuff? to adopt budget scenario C made by Sarah and seconded by Aaron. Is it fair to say that we've had adequate discussion and we're ready to vote? Okay. All in favor of um adopting budget scenario C, please say I. I. I. That's four. All oppose say nay. Nay. Okay. So it passes 43. We have adopted budget scenario C. So with that um then de facto there is no need to vote on healthy start. Well there is we need to close it out. Well, there's three scenarios for that. So, we need to decide that's the that's the discussion that we tabled. Okay. We can't pull that up again, can we? No, the presentation with the scenarios that they outlined.
Ultimately, they felt it was more appropriate to move the business again, which was another significant undertaking. Ironically, the building they moved from is still vacant today. While he agrees that guidelines can be helpful, we do not want to discourage businesses from making improvements. We should look at offering incentives versus penalties. Thank you. Sir, good to go. uh Joel Arbiteman. I have listened very carefully to the people who are critical of this article and most of them I don't mean to characterize them as a group but it seemed to me and perhaps to you that most of them were realtors, developers, business owners and landlords. And all of them are in business to make money. That's not an evil to seek profits and to have good commerce here in Ashland. We appreciate that. But let's look and the other key argument that was made was an argument that this is a pile of bureaucracy.
Yeah, I shared it with you. And now it's kind of been tweaked though because now we have the 7:30 to 210. Yeah, that that was just a little fiveminute thing that we can just have to see the slide again. But we can once it's up there, a board member can make a motion verbally to say specifically the start time for each. Oh, you have language. 210 45 minutes after No one knows chicken scratch. That's chicken scratch. Chicken chicken. I don't know. I don't know. Did you Did you send it to us or was it just in the presentation? I said to Casey. Yeah. And Eric, we've got it. There's three of them. Don't worry about it. I wonder if you have it in your drive. one of you guys would have been sent to everybody. I think I was in the main point. I know.
We already have way too much and it's costly and timeconuming and it's burdensome. And let's look at 128 Main Street where the church has disappeared. Let's look at the monstrosity that is right on our doorstep at the mill building. Who has the power? The residents in trying to craft the community the way they seek to build it or the developers and the realtors who make money by destroying our heritage, our historic buildings and gutting the character of our downtown. and they have the laws in most cases on their side. This is a chance for us to say enough. There's no indication that any of the people who spoke on behalf of this article are unreasonable. I may have this wrong, but I thought there was something where the select board whom we elect would appoint at least one or more members or whatever the mechanism is here.
I don't know. Yeah. No. April 19. I think it was my How does the motion need to be? Well, it was just like Yeah, the proposal was 7:30 for high school start time. 7:30 to 2:10 and then 45 minutes between I've got the Google Casey. You're logged in. Case sent you the email that was from Joy. So, Yep. Oh, that's the January one. My apologies. I'm sorry. Did you do it? earning Google Docs. Google Slides. Google Slides. Google Slides. All right. Good. We got it. What's the Yeah, I don't have good service here. I think we wanted It's right there on a slide. Yeah, but the 7:30 works. So, we can make the motion password for because I'm on BPS visitor and there's no it says no internet connection for me. Yeah. private or I'm sorry. One word lower case for 45. It's funny because I can't get in.
And these are not bad people. We're trying to preserve the character of the town. If we don't vote for this tonight, we could lose any building. There's nothing stopping a developer. Let's say the guy, I don't know who he is, and I don't know what his interest is, but let's say the guy who owns the Jstone Inn wants to put up whatever he wants to put up as long as it complies with our current zoning code, but there's no historic district. We need to we need to step up and we need to do it now because we may not get another chance at this before other buildings are taken down and put in jeopardy. Thank you. Jim, you have the last comment. Thank you everybody. It's been a lively discussion and I'd just like to wrap things up here by just commenting on a few things.
How are you? How are you? I just It says I don't have an internet connection. I never do when I'm here. Okay. All right. It's Google. Casey, check your email. See if it does what I just all the slots. Should be just I just shared with you. Just want to make sure that's the right one. It was only three. Yeah, that's the one before. a possible. Yeah, I think this one's enough that we can fine No, it's from January anyway. So, it's a point. Can we just I have a slide. Yeah, that's the last slide that compares the two. Sure. Text or email. Okay. Can we just like write that information down? Yeah. I mean, this is this is like, you know, the nail that loses the shoe that loses the horse. So okay what are so proposal one was 725 to 210. Yeah, that was proposal one and proposal two was 7:30 to 2:15 for the high school.
Um, first of all, I understand the intent of the district is is to help Ashlin's downtown business district, not make it a and make it a destination to help retain its character as a whole. Now, not everybody's going to like this and things are expensive. Another part of this is there are certificates of hardship that will be issued. So, if you come to the commission and saying you can't afford to do it this way, the commission will work with you. Okay, when I say hopefully, we can't predict what a future commission will say, but we can't do any of that until we establish the commission. Um, another issue that hasn't been brought up and to it's it's more ecologically sound to reuse old buildings to start from scratch and put them up u brand new construction. I know construction people don't want to hear that, but uh it's more ecologically uh sustainable.
The high school was 810 to 255 or 8:15 to 3. Okay. CL is 8:55 to 3:40 3:40 or 9:00 to 3:45 but now we can change the 730 we can adjust the high school correct thank you for saying that so then at 7:30 you'd have to have an 8:15 and a 9:00 that 45 minutes. What are the implications? I know the end time is important. So, you'd have to go seven. We're doing 210. You'd have to go 740. Yeah. To to 220. It just it it just makes le less opportunity to get kids, you know, the right and and that's more chance for kids have to be dismissed early and that from from class. That's that's saving on athletic transportation because they can get out and get back to Yes. No, that's true. We don't want to Yep. So just keep it on the high school.
um the conse comprehensive plan committee, all the polls that I've seen and all the numerous numerous um questionnaires that have gone out says that the town of Ashland favors historical preservation. Now, if it was my business, I mean, I understand the commission wants to work with the businesses. Um but on the other hand, it's for the whole town, not just necessarily the business district itself. We purposely looked at the downtown of which there's only eight buildings out of 25 and there's four monuments and there's park areas that aren't historical. So there's only eight out of 25 that we're talking about that would not be histo be considered historical anyway. Now, the last thing I will say is that, you know, we live in Ashlin right now and it's our time on Earth, but we're not here forever. And everybody that owns a piece of property in this town only owns it while they're alive or while they own it.
So now 910, but the conversation really because we couldn't get the presents jumps like I think 215 was the threshold. Yeah, that was that was really 215 and part of the conversation I remember and because of the finding time during the school they were able to move it to 210 based on that 7:30 start time that was that whole meeting right it wasn't just sports it was activities and any activities that take the bus after school again picture we have to consider that's a factor missing instructional time. A portion of students, not entire populations of students, big population. So, is there is there a motion on the table? I'm just going to I'm just going to suggest a number to get to frame people's thinking here. Is there a motion? Will a board member be ready to make a motion to have BHS start time start at 7:30, whiskey at 8:15 and CLS at 9:00 because that's really what needs to happen.
You know, I'm talking about something here, not just for today, but something for the future. You know, and if you don't preserve your past, there will be nothing left for them to see. And like I said, there's currently plans underway for downtown Ashlin for a major building to come down. Um, I don't know the details and I'm not going to say until because I'm I've heard rumors, which is all I can go on. But we're guardians of the properties that we own right now. I own a house in Ashlin. I'm not going to live there forever. You know, someone else is going to live in that house someday. And like I say, this is a chance now while we can. It's taken three and a half years to get to this point. If you want to go and do each build building individual, Somerville can do that because it's a city.