Any discussion? >> Roll call. >> Mr. Brunzak. Yes. >> Mr. Kenov. Yes. >> Miss Esk Barnes. Yes. >> Mr. Paris. Yes. >> Mr. Ragdale? Yes. >> Mr. Ciano? >> Yes. >> Miss Suarez? Yes. >> Vice President Santiago? Yes. President Bassford. >> Yes. All in favor to adjourn.
>> Well, you know, that's a good question because some of the some of the benches that have been done as eagle projects, I wonder if that that's something that we could probably maybe add into that bench policy if they follow if they follow the designs and dimensions of the approved ventures that we we want. That's a good point because the scouts do make those benches too, right? Or do they? Or have they in a while? When was the last time they did? >> I think there was one Eagle Scout that did a bench at Stone Park probably two or three years ago, >> Tommy King. >> And there was one last year they did picnic table. >> They did picnic tables. >> Yeah, picnic tables, right? There might have been one bench. >> Is Luke back? Luke, did you have a question? I'm sorry. I should have looked up, but I didn't.
Unmute yourself, sir. >> Or raise your hand. >> Oh, raise your hand again. >> If you're still there, >> feel like sports talk radio. >> Just unmuted. Hey Luke. >> Or maybe not. >> Maybe not. >> I don't technical problems. >> Well, >> yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Well, we'll we'll vote on it on the 29th and maybe by that time look question can be email it to us or >> uh speak to any of us and we'd be happy to uh provide answers for you. if that works for you. Okay. Um getting back to the uh schol uh select for scholarship uh policy, we have um over the past couple of years. Uh it's been my pleasure and working with Claudia to work on getting uh solicitating applicants for the scholarship. We give out two $2,000 scholarships and and I know it affects Claudia and it affects me as well because every one of those kids is very deserving and you know you like to spread the wealth around to others as well.
But um this is the current policy that we have. I don't know if you folks have ever read at all. Um I don't know if you want to make changes >> or entertain changes. >> I'm good with the policy as it stands. So, we we do two two scholarships, $2,000 each. >> Yes. >> Um I'm good with that. That comes out of our select board gift account. >> Yes. >> So, >> yep. And and that was uh that $2,000 went up uh LA went up last year from from >> school is expensive. >> So, and Claudia's voted unanimously. Um, so do we have to do we >> because we changed the we changed the amount. >> Okay. Do we I'm I mean I'm good moving forward with it. I don't know if we necessarily need to take a vote to have this to open up the scholarship >> any major changes, but we can we can open up.
Usually we give them a month notice for applications and applicants over at the high school. So you want me to do that? they'd be happy to uh go talk to them and >> yeah, maybe Susan can help with that. >> Yeah. >> So, because it's it's all online. It's all it's all through through a portal there. So, >> um so I'm good with that. I would say we'll move forward with the scholarship through scholarships. >> And I would say if if um unless there's anybody else that wants to be involved in the the scholarship, if if Joe and Joe and Claudia want to um I'll I'll be there as a, you know, as a as a supporter. Somebody else wants to take over, that's >> that's fine. >> Well, it's good to have two people. >> Oh, no. I think it's best to have two people.
>> Yeah. Fine by me. >> Good. >> I'm always good. So, so Makita and Claudia will be our subcommittee for the the scholarships for this year. >> Just remember the post meeting >> remember the post your meeting notes. >> All right. So, thank you both for offering to do that and uh >> we look forward to seeing what all the class of 2026 is uh is up to this year and >> June 5th graduation. Oh yes, it's Wednesday night or Thursday night. >> The Friday night. >> It's a Friday night. Sorry. Friday night. >> So you day is when they do the scholarships. >> Yeah, they do that in class during the day. Class >> app. >> It's going to be a good week. bring back some fond memories, wasn't it? >> It's been a year. It It's been a whole almost a whole year.
So, yeah. >> Wow. >> Okay. >> Craziness. >> Well, great. Thank you folks. Uh update on 40B projects. >> That would be me. >> That would be you. >> Okay. >> Um so, as you know, 10 to 60 Main Street is before the Conservation Commission and they are um just slowly kind of going through. They're waiting on um some information uh from the applicant. So, they are plugging away at that. Um 61 Waverly did pa pass through conservation. Um so, that um that project is through our our boards and commissions. Um and then 55 West Union still continues um with the ZBA. Um they're working on some sewer questions right now. Um and they've extended their um application into um May now. So um so they have extended another two meetings I believe. Um so we'll see what happens at the next one. Um we're we're working on um we're I think we're waiting on one of their prayer reviews as well.
So So those are plugging away. >> Thank you. wasn't hurt. Didn't hurt too much. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Uh liaison updates community preservation committee. >> That's me. >> That would be you. >> So the community community preservation committee. Um so just to explain a little bit to folks that they are uh members of other committees. Um not not every single member is. There are a couple of atlarge members, but there's a representative from the planning board, um, from the conservation commission. Um, so, so it's really an interesting group of people. Um, the other thing that I really liked about this committee is they actually have money to spend um, as opposed to almost anything else I do in town. And so that was really felt so good that night. Um, and uh, and you know, not only do they have money to spend, but they're on projects that are what I would say are important to the community.
Um, and that have been really raised in um, during the whole um, the the the whole process that we just went through for the goals of the community and the f its future. So, currently um, you know, they have projects working on the town forest. They're working on um the dog park. They expect the ribbon cutting ceremony to be in early June. Um they better get cooking over there. Um they had some ideas about uh field design that maybe um looking at some place like the fields behind the middle school. looking at that instead of kind of doing things peacemeal that maybe um there could be money they money could be used to actually hire someone to do a concept you know conceptual um design for the the entire area. Um um you know we talked about the the church property over here um and then I'm let's see uh the rail trail.
Um they asked you know what was going on with that from from me and you know basically I said well it's moving forward but um I know Yolander always talks about how long it took in Hollist and they actually have a rail bed. So um in any case the the other really important um item on their agenda that evening was that they are in search of a an additional member from the affordable housing committee. There's it's a vacancy. >> Is there Yeah. Is there somebody on the affordable housing that would like to be a member? >> I'll bring it up with uh Steve and and other members. >> Yeah. Because um you know there's we talked a little bit about our our um housing production plan and and the fact that it did suggest some different areas in town that could be used for affordable housing.
although some of them weren't realistic and that that had been a bit of a problem but you know we needed to get that on the books um but they would certainly like to work with um someone >> okay >> on both behalf of affordable housing. So that was um so it was it was a very good meeting I um like I said it was it was interesting because there were people from all these other committees and they have little bring different perspectives to the table. It wasn't like they were they're all there for the same reason. They all have a little different um background. So that made it unusual. And like I said, the the big draw was having money in the bank. So >> nice. >> So I thank them. Um we sometimes it one of the nice things about our having liaison um being liaison to committees are that you do get an understanding.
I know I've learned a lot about storm water um and its importance in the community and and now um you know attending the community preservation uh committee was was also it's great to hear all these committees and you know you look around the room you get in these and they're you know all volunteers and people that make the community what it is. So good stuff. That's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. and you had fun doing it. It's always fun. Uh, conservation commission. >> So, I I think I think Beth pretty much covered it with with her 40B updates. Um, and also I've just in full disclosure been a committee slacker. >> You've had some other pressing issues that you're dealing with. >> Yeah. So, I've been a bad liaison. I've been I've been a really bad liaison. Um, after May 19th, I'll I'll be a better liaison.
I promise. I did want to just I know I'm jumping down a little bit, but to sustainability, I just wanted to let you know. So, um, there was supposed to be a warrant article on the skip the stuff >> stuff. >> Um, they missed the the date to like submit their their warrant article. So, that's going to be moved to fall town meeting. And um also just to put on your radar, I don't know exactly what this is going to look like, but um I've been contacted by excuse me, Rob Mullen and Chuck Litz are working on a project with sustainability um to do a solar canopy. They're looking to do it over at the MBTA station. So, I am um going to talk to them a little bit more, find out a little bit more information, and um you know, I'm I'm I'm thinking that maybe as a board we're going to need to kind of talk about it and see how we can help support that because that's because the MBTA lot, we don't have jurisdiction over that.
So, we're going to need to partner up with our legislators >> and um >> have them help us navigate the MBTA system because that's it's a convoluted system. So, anyway, >> what was what's what's the um article that they're going to bring forward in the fall? >> Skip skip skip the stuff. So, this was um about you know local restaurants in Ashland with um takeout. So, you know, the default option tends to be if you're getting takeout from a restaurant, they throw in the utensils and the the napkins and the straws and all this stuff, >> the condiments >> and the condiments. And so, you end up with a lot of people like me end up with a drawer full of stuff at home that you don't ever really use, but you hate to throw away. So this is going to be um something that the default will be that you do not get those stuff >> unless you ask.
Yeah. So I think it's clear to say as I read it, you know, before I think there are some questions that came up people are like, "Oh, they're not going to distribute it." No, I think the the proposal on the table was you'd have to they'd be you'd have to affirmatively ask for that and if you ask for it, you can get it, but you know, it's not going to be like automatic in the in the bag. >> So, and I think I think their their goal is to work with local restaurants and things. >> May actually save some some money for some of these these local vendors as well, you know. >> I know. I was disappointed that it wasn't making it here because >> Yeah. and trash and uh >> trash on the roadside because some people just >> it out. I mean all the way around.
>> Yeah. So maybe if I would have been a better liaison would I don't think so. >> Slacker. I'm a slacker. >> Stop it. >> Oh, Luke has his hand raised. >> Luke, you have your hand raised twice. We'll just take one. unmute yourself if you would please and identify yourself for the for the other audience members that don't know who you are. >> Yep. Can you hear us, Luke? because we cannot hear what you're saying. >> So, I would say like if he's having if N's having technical problems, we can't get him online. I just to remind him that he can always reach out to us via email at any time to ask a question. Um, you know, we're all accessible, you know. Um, absolutely. So, if for some reason we can't get the technology to cooperate tonight. >> Yeah. I just saw it.
It was like connecting the audio and then it it kind of died out. So, you might be having or they may be having some uh technical difficulties. Yeah. All righty. Um sorry, Luke, but we still have to continue. We have a little bit left to do. Um Council on Aging, that would be me. They're a great group of people to work with. I'll be affiliated with and um they were talking about a program that they have um it's called the Council on Aging Community Hero Award program and they were talking about how they were how they go about nominating an individual and there's a there's a whole list of things that need to be need to be done. And there were the biggest question was they want some notoriety about this and where and where should this be presented. So of course sitting there I said well I says you have a great venue coming up in September.
Why not do it on national day where we give out all the other awards for citizens of the year and things of that nature. and Donna thought it was a and then they took a vote on it and they said, "Yeah, okay." So, this presentation will be done uh on Ashland Day u when we do all the other regular awards. So, they can go for it, which is great. Just pray there's no rain and we do have it. We do have a rain date this year. Okay, there's no dog can learn new tricks. I just I'll have to September 19th. Rain dates the 20th because I'm not going to reset up everything once it's done. That's it. Right. Yeah. So, um but they're a great group of people. They they're very active and um they can't wait to see uh all the work that's being done up there uh completed and how it's going to look.
So far it's uh >> the deadline was June. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Um yeah, plans are going really quickly. Well, yeah, I think that's on the agenda for later. I won't >> you'll talk about it later. >> So, which is cool. Uh >> and and that's basically all I have. Uh there's another meeting coming up. Um Don forgot to email me, but I don't know when the date is, but she'll send it off to me. I talked to her yesterday breakfast yesterday. So, um the cultural council no >> so this it's may a culpa time again um cultural council although I will say that I saw members of the cultural council at the volunteer breakfast where I also apologize profusely about not being able to be consistent about making their meetings. Um I do intend to to get the next one. There just have been some conflicts.