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Yep. >> And then do we have students in the building at the high school? I don't know. Do we do summer school here? Like, do we have to worry about the boilers carrying through summer school? So, I want to I want to be clear that the two boilers are are currently working. As the sections go down, they are working um they're having to work more to out to produce the same amount of energy, right? And so, so I I'm not I'm I'm not entirely concerned. not as concerned about getting through the summer with the minimal use that we are using them to heat up the hot water. Um I am much more concerned about when they are on for an extended period to push the heat. So yeah, we are we are looking at this really carefully um almost every day. >> And we're looking at other alternatives outside of just the rental.
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I I don't see discussing our direction to our bargaining team, which is our administrator that goes to the table on our behalf involving any public dialogue. You know, that's not how the process works. And I'm wondering how in the world That just that instruction got into our governance handbook. It doesn't fit with interest based bargaining. >> Well, I didn't put it there. I just read it. >> Well, >> and and we approved it last July. >> Well, so we missed something. >> I mean, which part are you talking about? The hardware says that we set direction. >> Provide direction. >> Yeah. Okay. Is that what we're talking about? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> We do set direction. That's how I we provide direction because the negotiate our the district negotiating team comes to us says here's where we're at and we always have the option in those meetings to say no it's not where we're at.
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Thank you. And opposed. That passes overwhelmingly. Article 8, appropriate CPA funds for the purchase acquisition or taking by eminent domain approximately 11.4 acres located at 41 Lincoln Road, sponsored by the CPC. See if the town will vote to take by eminent domain, purchase or otherwise acquire a parcel of land including 11 acres of land located at 41 Lincoln Road and shown on assessor's map 004 block 017 lot zero and to pay for same appropriate a sum of money by transfer from the community preservation general fund for the acquisition and addition $40,000 for demolition of existing structures in the property and conservation restriction said some to be transferred from the general fund account from the community preservation fund balance. balance and with unexpended funds as of December 31st, 2029 being returned to their funding source and further to place the land in the care, custody, and control of the select board for town forest purposes and to authorize select board to enter into a conservation restriction on said property or pass any vote or take any action thereon.
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That was just the first thing that came in. We're literally giving you minute-to-minute updates tonight. Um we will give a more comprehensive opport you know different options that we have >> and we've heard I mean we had one that you were making go outside because it was leaking. I mean >> right >> which one? >> One of the boilers was leaking and but it was only it was still working but it was leaking outside of the building. >> Well it wasn't outside the building. It was outside the boiler. It wasn't leaking in and putting the flame out. It was leaking onto the floor in the boiler room. >> Um yes. So that and yes that was boiler number two. >> Okay. >> Um >> and which ones are functioning? >> One and two. Yeah. >> Three is not >> three has not worked for some time.
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>> So um on the self-evaluation on section two number eight it says establish a framework for the district's collective bargaining process and adopt responsible agreements. >> That's interest bargaining. >> Yeah. So maybe it's just the wording there on the provide direction for maybe it's you're providing the framework for the process to happen right that's what I'm hearing is happen is the current process right in close session is >> so changing the word direction to framework >> yeah to to match establish a framework for the district's collective bargaining process >> meaning they're going to bring the contract what's being discussed in close session and And then from there you guys would that's the process for that's also the opportunity for you to say no that >> it's not the direction we want to go >> right that's the process that's a framework >> the wording again is establish >> establish a framework for the district's collective bargaining process and adopt responsible agreements section two number eight.
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The community preservation committee recommends the town so vote. The finance committee recommends the town offer a price consistent with the requirement of general laws chapter 44B section 5F as follows. No such real property or interest thereon shall be acquired by any city or town for a price exceeding the value of the property as determined by such city or town through procedures customarily accepted by the appraising profession as valid. Mr. Lad, Mr. um maybe wait >> that's me. >> I thought it was Wait, is it Rob? It's Rob. It's right. And I have >> Who's speaking to it? Rob, you or >> you just go first, Rob? And then you should Sorry for the confusion. >> It's my fault. >> I Rob St. Jane, 64 Wind Street. I stand before you tonight on a motion to add some land to the Ashen Town Forest. In the early 1900s, um, whole forests in this country were being cleared and land was rapidly being uh, divided and developed and there arrays a realization that if we didn't take action as a country that we would be um, losing a lot of valuable open space.
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>> Quite a while. >> And I and I want to be really clear because I think there is um some differing opinions of the age of these boilers. Um because I think the original plan was that they would be replaced in that last renovation. Um but the documentation and I shared it with the committee that we found um at the end I think I believe that project had come in over budget and there was a list of you know items that were had to be value engineered out of it and the first one was the replacement of those boilers. That's the last documentation I have it um of that project in the process and looking at the boilers um and just doing some research on the you know the manufacturer plate on it um it does indicate that they are significantly older um but you know if there's evidence to the contrary I'm you know I I don't want to um I could I could stand corrected but just looking at the boilers I think everybody would agree that they are >> they look rather old >> rather old just just for >> vintage Just for context though, I mean we're talking about rental for, you know, say $2 to $300,000 potentially.
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>> so I do feel like there's >> there's a motion on the floor. There is a motion on the floor right now that needs to be managed. >> Okay. >> First, then if we want to do something else, we can, but let's manage this one first. So, it was >> uh Clerk is moved to the May 20th board agenda for the board to have a discussion regarding the direction to the Chico Unified School District bargaining team by board president. >> And just to be clear, we're not going to be providing any specific direction at that meeting. We're just establishing or ensuring that at future times that's the plan or you wanted to talk about each But my my intention is not to get into the the specifics because again that's what their job is to do is to but I think at a um like here's how we feel like we um and again um I'm I'm appreciating the the comment from the audience um that perhaps that I'm a very literal person and I read things carefully and I and when something says that this is what we're to do and I think that you should do it and that's I think that so I think that you know as providing a framework that that does help me um where because I don't feel like in my year and a half on the board that the board has provided direction I think we've been a receptacle of information.
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So in 1916, the federal government passed a national parks act. Um, shortly thereafter, Massachusetts passed a uh town a state forest act and also as a separate piece of legislation uh permitted towns to establish town forests. In 1942, our benefactor Henry Warren purchased five over 500 acres to establish the Ashlin Town Forest. The citizens of Ashlin have voted u uh to continue that legacy with additional purchases uh and the town forest now totals 714 uh contiguous acres. Your most recently approved comprehensive plan speaks loudly and clearly about the importance of open space to you the citizens. Tonight, I'm asking you to consider adding an additional 11 acres um that Henry Warren was unable to purchase back in 1942. This land is deep within the forest. It's accessed by long dirt road at the end of Lincoln Road. It nearly cuts, as you can see, it nearly cuts the forest in half.
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I mean, the overall scope of the HVAC project is what's the scope of that dollar amount and and not to quote an exact number, but just for public information. >> So, so we have um a placeholder in the 10-year capital plan um of 7 to 10 million. Yeah. for a full upgrade of the heating >> and air conditioning. That's where the decision makes them difficult. >> Again, important to remember that those this project does would qualify for reimbursement through the non-priority grants through the state of Connecticut. Brookfield's reimbursement rate is 33.39%. So about a third would be um reimbursed on that on that project. >> And the 7 to9 million is just for this building, correct? again the this is I mean >> there's no >> I have we'll wait and see. >> Yeah, we have to wait and see, right? Um but I would I I would guess it's going to be upwards of that that scale.
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That's what we've done. And we haven't we haven't really said that sounds great. Other than of course we've agreed to collective bargaining agreements that were able to meet the threeear, you know, the threeear test of can we can we do this? And you know, can we pay our bills three years out as required by law? And we hear yes, we can. And that's about the the extent of providing we've we have received information and in my opinion we have not given any information. It's not filtered from this side to there. It's only filtered from there to here in my opinion. I will add in respectfully in my opinion I feel like in close session that's our opportunity to provide that direction if we feel that it needs to go a different way >> and and that's fine >> and that's where we provide direction >> and if I'm being totally honest I feel like I don't have the expert the same level of expertise and knowledge when it comes to bargaining that maybe you do so I don't feel probably comfortable in that role offering guidance in that way.
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It contains the only land. Next slide, please. It contains the only land designated by the state's national heritage program to be a critical uh habitat, a critical um wildlife habitat area. It's the o again the only land in Ashland that qualifies for that. The property is the very wet piece of property, the 11 acres we're talking about. Um, habitats are best when they are left intact, when they are contiguous and undisturbed. Let me restate this in a different way. Wildlife habitats are seriously degraded when divided, chopped up, or subject to human habitation. This land therefore is a critical part of the forest. We could say it is the most critical part of the town forest. And yes, it has a house on it. The house started as a shack. It was a hippie colony back in the 1960s. It has four basement sections that speak to the do-it-yourself evolution that this home has undergone over time.
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Yep. >> Um >> what year is it in the capital? >> So it's it doesn't it's not in a placeholder year. It's a highlighted okay number and and we have talked about this. I know it's an alert, right? because because it is ongoing. Um and the capital committee is aware as you know um Stephanie is a member of the capital committee. So every every chance I have in front of that committee I do reiterate this that that is the one item that is not placeholdered in any particular year because we don't know when that that work will happen because it is such a large large project. >> Yeah. >> Thank you Casey. >> You're welcome. >> Okay. >> Um the CLES fence. So 13 bids were rece were have been received. Four companies came out for walkthrough and it's going to be awarded to WBE Fence Company out of Brewster.
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You know, >> I mean, I can >> refer back to our vision statement and our goals and things like that, but I I'm not I'm not as knowledgeable when it comes to bargaining units and things like that. So, I I somewhat feel not qualified, but I understand that there's members on the board who are qualified to do that. Well, then again the goal from the board point of view shouldn't be to get them agree to say as a philosophy our direct our belief is that we want to bargain you know an agreement that does >> XY pushes this >> yeah and it's up to them to get the language right >> to make sure that I mean if we don't feel like they're faithfully executing what we want them to do at the bargain table that's a bigger discussion is it but I personally I don't feel that way I don't see that there have certainly been times when we I think it has been the last year and a half when we've given bargaining has come to us and said hey want to show people XYZ do you want us to do this you want to do that here's an option and we definitely that feedback >> so the question is do we want to have this discussion on May 20th I mean that's we've got a vote on this >> okay so shall we just go ahead and vote Roll call.
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But it is not in great shape. It has leaky windows, extensive mold in the basement, vermin, an old roof, an old Earl burner, um, which was supplemented when it was occupied uh, by wood stoves. It has not been occupied about two years now. The fate of the house has not been determined. It would be nice if Ashlin had deep enough pockets and could afford to open a nature center. It allows cross-country skiing and a place to warm up afterward. We don't have that kind of money. Our option is possibly to tear it down, but we will look carefully at any options available to us. There is funding in this article, which Mr. Lad will speak to shortly, um, for a conservation restriction which will guarantee the preservation of this land in perpetuity. The article also contains the words eminent domain which many of us me included look at the term with some disdain.
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The project cost is 23,238. Um >> 28 >> Oh yeah, sorry. 28,238. Um Casey does have to submit an application to the Wetlands Commission. There will be a balance of $4,998 in the security capital projects, but we may use that to do some perimeter work in or work for gate using, you know, building a gate. And then we just had some miscellaneous discussion. Caroline and um asked about the work that's being done outside CLES and they are regrading the area. It's going to be like an open green area >> possibly for playing field or for activities. It will not be fenced in. >> And that's about it. >> All right.
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>> Roll call. >> Robinson. >> No. >> Yes. Yes. >> Now I'm clear, right? We are still on section three. Correct. We sort of segueed into governance. So, I mean, we're, you know, I mean, we've >> That's fair. >> Yeah. >> Give me a quick second here >> as we And if you don't mind, I'll just chime in where I think we are. Um, I know that, you know, I've got some really good ideas on uh what some goals can be. Gail and I will get together. We'll write them out. We'll bring them in August. will, you know, that will give us over the summer to be able to do this with some in the morning with some coffee or something. Doesn't have to be, you know, 8:00 at night, you know, we'll work this out. And um and uh you know, I mean, I there are some things that we talked about in terms of governance um or that we can talk about, but they're pretty pretty small things.
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Let me suggest also that eminent no eminent domain is also your friend. It'll it is a tool for you the people of Ashland for the to obtain land that is good for the community. It also is a tool to deal with sellers who have dollar signs in their eyes and want to enrich themselves at your expense. We have done two appraisals in this property and we have to offer at least fair market value. We're not stealing this property. The the seller would be paid again fair market value. The town forest is a precious resource. It becomes even more precious as the town grows and the population density increases. The town forest is home to a wide variety of wildlife. We have bobcats, rare bobcats in our forest. We have fisher, we have gray and red fox. We have bluebirds in several places now in the town forest.
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Any questions for Joy? >> All right. Youth commission? >> I don't know what there is. There's not much to update. I think um I will speak to Liam Mania and um Marne McNiff. So, I know that the kids wanted to come here and speak about um career day at the high school. Okay. >> Um which they typically do. Their meeting was cancelled um last week because it was senior prom. So, it's this Friday. So, we'll update at the next meeting. >> Perfect. Great. >> Thank you. >> All right. Can >> Thank you. Go ahead. >> Apologies. Can I give just one quick update on the Brookfield Cares Club? I know that's not on the agenda formally. Can I do that? >> Is that a violation? Is that okay? >> Just make a motion. >> Can I make a motion to add a quick update from the Brookfield Cares Committee, please?
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I don't know. Tisha, do you want to bring up that um anything else? some of these other things we talked about like the engage re-engaging the public. You want to bring that up now or >> you're looking at me like the uh uh page 10 number seven, >> you know, we engage the public and then how just want to make sure that you know because those are things that we we didn't you talked to me about. Um, so I mean I'm kind of feeling like the things that were brought up in terms of governance are managed at this point. >> If people don't have anything more. >> Okay. So I thought we were on number I I thought that we were on number six and then >> and then now we're at number seven. >> That's what I thought. >> Okay. So we didn't have any additional requests to agendaize items.
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