001Good evening and welcome to the select board meeting of January 12th, 2026, 6:00 p.m. It's 6:01 p.m. Uh, in room 3 of town hall. The first item on the agenda is the signing of the warrant. >> Mr. Chair, I u make a motion that we sign the warrant. >> I would second that, Mr. Chairman. And that is unanimous. The next item is the approval of the regular session minutes [snorts] for December 22nd, 2025. Motion to approve the regular session minutes for December 22nd, 2025. >> And I would second that as well, Mr. Chairman. >> That is unanimous. The next is the approval of executive session minutes of January 8th, 2026. >> A motion to approve the executive session minutes of January 8th, 2026. I would second that, Mr. Chairman. >> And that is unanimous. We
002do not have any public hearings. We do not have any scheduled appointments. Time administrator's report. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just three items tonight. Um I've been informed by finance director Zach Taylor that all funds received by the town under the American Rescue Plan Act, better known as OPA, have been expended. This act was signed, as you know, on March 11th, 2021 and provided $350 billion to cities, towns, states, and territories to support the response to the CO 19 pandemic pandemic. Zach has filed all the required uh reports. Um, Zach Taylor also asked me to inform the board that he will begin the fiscal year 27 budget process. He will be sending the budget packets to all department heads uh most likely this week. He will be at next meeting of the selects board
003of the select board to update the board as to where we are and how and on the budget process. And one final item regarding the community electricity program. A mailing has been sent to newly eligible account holders in Milford. This was sent on December 18th with an opt- out date of January 20th, 2026. Uh, our expert, our consultant, Good Energy, sends routine sweeps periodically to offer the program benefits to newly eligible account holders for the aggregation program. These include those who have moved into town recently within the town but with a new account or those coming off pre-existing third-party supply um, contracts. So, if anyone has any questions or any difficulty in opting out or signing up, they can certainly call the select board office and I will speak with them or one of my
004assistants. And that's all I have tonight. Thank you, Rick. >> Just a question. Do you have the total dollar amount that the town received in our >> I don't, but I can get it for you. I don't have it off hand. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Next item is old business. um hospitality tba rail trail flatbread. This was the um live entertainment license to go along with the common victual all alcohol license. I know there was a question about uh days of the week and times of the day the entertainment take place. Um any questions gentlemen? >> No, everything seems to be all u u filled out. Uh department heads have no problem and uh the information that we needed on December 8th is now here. >> Okay. Do I have a
005motion? >> A motion, Mr. Chair. I move that the select board approve the application of Milford Hospitality LLC doing business as Rail Trail Flatbread Company at 221223 Main Street to amend this common vicularist all alcohol beverage license to add live entertainment as outlined in the uh revised application including the the specific days and hours and type of entertainment contingent upon uh continued compliance with all local and state regulations. >> I would second that Mr. chairman and that is unanimous. The next item on the new business on the agenda uh town administrator concerning the annual town meeting. >> Yes. Uh before you is the draft of the proposed annual town meeting uh schedule. The annual town meeting this year we would be on May 18th, 2026. It's a Monday. If we needed a second night, it
006would be Wednesday u May 20th. I've reviewed this with the finance director and he feels he can be ready for that date. Um, and so what I would ask the board to approve scheduling of the annual town meeting for Monday, May 18th, 2026 at 7 p.m. >> Any questions? >> No questions, Mr. Chair. I think this is enough time for us to provide sufficient time to get articles into the warrant uh in preparation for our our review or the finance committee's review. motion. >> Motion, Mr. Chair, I uh move that the select board set the date um of the 2026 annual town meeting uh for Monday, May 18th, 2026. >> I'd second that, Mr. Chairman. >> Unanimous. Uh town administrator concerning the award of the contract for painting of the interior, excuse me, of town
007hall. >> Yes, we used the formal bid process for the painting of the interior of town hall. We did get a lot of interest, but only received three quotes. Um, the low bidder was Fox Painting Company, Inc. They're out of Arlington, Massachusetts. The low bid was 175,000. This includes the interior uh of all the floors, including uh the upper town hall. Uh, as the board probably recalls, we have used box uh on a two or three painting uh job, both two at the senior center and one for the exterior of this building. So, I'd ask that the board vote to approve the awarding of the contract for this project to Fox Painting Company, Inc. in the amount of $175,000. >> There's a big uh gap in these. >> The bids don't surprise me anymore. They're
008just uh >> um >> one of them is 140,000 higher than >> Yeah, that was a pretty big company. They they say Malro, but they are across the >> Yeah. Uh so sometimes I think they look maybe they can make a score and if they don't that's okay they move on. I don't know but >> I know Fox has done work otherwise you'd be looking at this bid and saying uh >> something's on >> it would be it would be of concern. Correct. >> Yes. Right. [laughter] >> Do I have a motion? >> A motion Mr. Chair to award the contract for Fox Painting uh company at the um interior of the town hall for 175,000. Fox is at 23 Park Street at Hollington, Mass. >> I would second that, Mr. Chairman. >> That's unanimous.
009>> Next item is the um Milky Youth Center. It's a donation from Alavi and Braza PC um local attorneys who also do a lot of real estate work in the city of Boston as well as I think in the Worester area. >> Sure. Um, so Gina Brazer and Ali Abi for $6,500. It's for the youth center. Um, which is pretty significant. >> Sure is. Yeah. >> Um, do I have a motion? Well, >> Mr. Chair, this is a generous gift >> comments. A generous gift and support like this does strengthen our programs and benefits our young people and we are grateful for their commitment. Uh, I therefore make a motion to u accept the uh with appreciation the gift of $6,500 from Alvie and Braza uh to support the Milford Youth Center. >> And Rick,
010as always, you'll make sure that we send a nice letter. Again, a very [clears throat] generous gift uh to something that's very important to this community. And I would gladly second that. >> That is unanimous. Next item, the town administrator, appointment of a crossing guard. >> Yeah, this was, if you remember, you did appoint crossing guards a couple of meetings ago. Um, we do have a new rule unfortunately now that you have to kind of get it sworn in and the gentleman just inadvertently missed it. So, we want to just correct it so he can be appointed. I think he works at Highland and North Pine Street. His name is Robert Ericson. >> Motion, gentlemen. >> A motion, Mr. Chair. And I know that Lauren Smith is uh recently appointed at this P position and
011uh has uh asked to us to appoint uh Robert Ericson uh and Lauren has also been good in ensuring their crossings staff. Therefore, I make a motion that the select board appointing guard at the Highland and North Vine Street areas as recommended by transportation director Lawrence Smith. >> I'd second that, Mr. Chairman. And that is unanimous. Next item uh is a Milford Police Department gift from Benjamin Moore. It's an annual gift uh they provide both to the police and fire departments each year. This is for $3,000 to be utilized uh for the law enforcement gift account at the uh police department. Um motion and any comments, gentlemen? >> Yeah, a little comment that we we always hear from um uh Scott Kaplan. We appreciate the um what he's done and also the his company is
012Benjamin Moore uh has um since I've been on the committee has been uh giving us donations for various organizations. So we want to thank Benjamin Moore for uh their $3,000 donation to Ma Police Department and this donation reflects strong uh community partnership. Uh therefore I move that the select board accept with appreciation a gift of $3,000 from Benjamin Moore to the benefit of the North Police Department. And Mr. Chairman, this is just as we see this evening, two local companies that among the many every year that continually make, you know, very generous gift donations to to the community and uh it's greatly appreciated and uh and I would gladly second that motion. >> That is unanimous. Uh Scott Kaplan done a great job there at Benjamin Memorial. He's been there for a number of years.
013But the annual gift from Benjamin Moore as well as uh Lavi and Braza really makes a difference in these departments. The next item is uh town administrator concerning the appointment of an alternate building commissioner. >> Yes, I spoke with John Ericson, current obviously building commissioner. He is recommending we appoint Tim Arcardi as a part-time alternate building commissioner and he be placed at grade 11 step six under article 2 uh with a starting hourly wage of $6528. It would be contingent upon personal but personnel board approval. Uh I believe they are meeting um Wednesday of this week. Again, it's part-time 25 hours per week. It is benefit eligible. Um I do know Tim personally. He was did work for us for a period of time uh some time ago. I know he is highly qualified. Um
014he is currently working in Bellingham, but he will be from that position. So we will be a priority. Um so I don't want to think the board that he's going to have a part-time position here and a full-time position elsewhere. Um I think this will strengthen uh the building department. Uh he would be able to do a lot of the commercial work uh that John pretty much does himself as far as inspections, approvals, uh etc. And again, we need time to also work on our zoning and enforcement and the like. So, um I would recommend that the board approve uh this appointment again contingent upon personnel board approval which I hope to get on Wednesday. >> I have a motion and any comments comment um Mr. chairman to all this too because I did speak
015with John in regards to this and just to let the public know that this request for this position is a targeted response to a growing problem that we're experiencing town uh with both building department and the um u uh board of health uh to expand uh this uh particular u uh department. Again, it's it's it's it's not a luxury. It's it's it's a necessity where Milford, like I mentioned before, has experienced some noticeable increases in illegal conversions and illegal rooming houses where you have these when I say illegal rooming houses. I mean they're single family houses today and single family residential neighborhoods that are being bought by various property owners. They're not living there, but they're renting out various rooms. And Michael, you know that one on South Central Street as as well that you
016were also uh in in involved with. And like I said, it it seems to be spreading pretty much throughout the town. But you know, the fire department or police department uh when they when they first respond, they find these types of properties that are being misused. The board of health finds it, but we don't have the enforcement capacity. Only building and zoning does. So, uh, speaking to John, he feels as though that it's highly needed to help, um, address these issues by enforcement as well. Um, we've been getting again a lot of concerns and complaints from people in decent neighborhoods that are saying they have a rooming house next to them and and upon inspection, they they do. You know, I'm talking 5, 6, 7, 8 to 10 people living in one single family home
017renting rooms. And as you know, you know, through the um statute, I believe it's chapter uh uh 140 section 22, a rooming house, any four or more unrelated occupants is considered a rooming house, you know, and that was also challenged in at the in in the Supreme Court from the city of Worester and and they went with the city of Worester. And like I said, it's something that is definitely needed now. And I would like to in speaking to John, he wants to have um Mr. Ricari who has the experience uh not only with building and zoning but also with the town of Milford where he once worked. So I think it's a it's a great equation uh to address this problem to have to have him on board. So uh I I would do
018make a recommendation to u um approve this request. And Paul, you make a valid point and and when somebody from the building department is handling, you know, what you you're talking about earlier is and then you go around town, you look at the new construction, I use as an example, if you go down to the quill, which is down off of 85, the the apartment complex and the the building that they're building right now is massive. And I just can't imagine the hours and hours of inspections that it takes for that. And as we know, we've got a couple of more coming. and you know and you go up into Industrial Drive and you look at the buildings up there and and the equipment that needs to be inspected. So, >> yep, >> you know,
019we have to get some help into that department so that we can properly, >> you know, on a daily basis do the inspections that are needed to be done. And I would gladly second that motion. Yeah, I think all the points you made are valid and there's no question they've tried to automate as much as they can, >> particularly the permitting process for contractors, >> right, or craftsman, you know. So, >> um I know that John has been, you know, seeking additional help to deal with the issues particularly that you may mention. >> Sure. um as much as the so-called task force has worked on those issues for >> right >> number of years they continue to crop up so >> senses they're not going to go away hence hence a fire just yesterday uh
020Mr. chairman on uh South Main Street. Um it was an illegal didn't cause the fire. Someone else another apartment below caused the fire, but the fireman found an illegal apartment in the attic. You know, the the the ceiling was 5 ft height. You know, you bang your head in and in in in construction rules is 7 ft or higher, you know, but yet that was someone living there to a landlord collect and rent and whatnot. So again, that's something that we found through a first response. Well, even that you make a valid point, Paul, and and for example, the fire at the Turtle Tavern, >> right? >> You know, the building the current building inspector, you know, Mr. Ericson probably had his week all planned out and then we have that. How many hours, how
021many days did he have to spend >> just on that one, >> you know, that one project which took him away from everything else. Everything else goes, you know, farther down the pipeline. So, this will help to, you know, ease that burden and keep things flowing forward. >> And and I'd like to have this Tim uh carry the new position focus on, at least for the time being, for now where it's >> right >> raised it ugly head um uh focus on illegal conversions and illegal rooming houses and especially in residential neighborhoods. >> So, you motion, Mr. Chair, >> please. >> Could you include the um step in? >> Yep. I I got everything here. Uh thank you. Uh, I I move that the select board appoint Timothy Aari uh as a part-time alternate building
022commissioner and to be placed on grade 11, step six, uh, under article 2, which is $65.28 per hour contingent upon personal board approval. And this position will be 25 hours per week uh, in benefit uh, eligible. >> I would second that, Mr. Chairman. And >> that is unanimous. Next item is invitation to speak. Not seeing anyone present that would like to speak to the board. Is there anyone online? No one online. Next item is correspondence. Gentlemen, any correspondence? I don't have any, Mr. Chairman. >> I don't have any, Mr. Chairman. >> The last item is executive session. We do not have an executive session this evening. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? A motion to adjurnn, Mr. Chairman. >> I would second that, Mr. Chairman. >> That is unanimous. Thank you very much for
023tuning in and those of you who watch it, uh, if you have any comments or would like to, um, pose a question to the board, feel free to do so through the town administrator's office. Have a great weekend. Thank you. Thank you. Good night. >> Good night. [snorts]