Ashland Select Board Meeting (May 20th, 2026)

001Thank you. Good evening. And I call the May 20th Select Board meeting to order at 7:02. This meeting is being recorded and broadcast live by our friends at WACA Cable TV and live streamed on YouTube. Remote participation is available using the Zoom video conferencing platform. Any disruption with the video conferencing platform will result in the platform being shut down. In the event of this disruption, broadcasting will continue on WACA TV and live streamed on YouTube. Seeing that there aren't many people in attendance, uh I will continue. Thank you. Let's proceed with tonight's agenda. Um >> [clears throat] >> I would like to uh ask if there's anybody here uh in person or on Zoom that has anything they would like to say as citizens participation. We will give you folks 3 minutes. Uh we will

002not respond to comments or questions. This is your time to participate and provide information to us, but we will not respond as a board. Okay? Having said that, good evening, sir. Good evening. Uh Paul Kendall, 63 Pinacle Road. Um Uh so, I've written a few things down cuz as you can imagine, I'm a little tired. And I have a lots of thoughts bouncing around in my head, which probably wouldn't lead to brevity or coherence. So, uh Uh first, thank you to the Select Board, Finance Committee, School Committee, uh Mr. Adams and his team, and Michael and and his team for the the work that was put in uh for the override. Um and just want to acknowledge the that we passed yesterday, but that wasn't a reflection of the work that's been done over the

003last few weeks or months. It's really the a reflection of the work we've done over the last 10 to 12 years, right? Uh we've had done that through collaboration uh and hard work. We built up credibility in the community. Um, and I think that that's what's been shown in the last uh few things we've asked the community to support. Um and while I believe the need for the uh for the override I I share Chief Rossi's concern on how divisive it is um for our entire community. And I I just want to make sure that people understand that what makes Ashland's great is the people, your neighbors. Um, and to remember that doesn't matter how they voted. If they voted differently than you, they're not ignorant. They're not misinformed. They're your neighbors, and and that's

004what we need to focus on and and make sure we're doing. Uh I also want to acknowledge that in the last few weeks there's been a lot of nega- negativity. Uh some of which was directed at our municipal leaders and municipal departments. Uh I want to apologize for the silence uh on that, but uh understand that we had to be laser-focused on what the job at hand was, and to engage in that would have been a distraction and proba- possibly compromise our ability to uh get what we need done. Uh make no mistake, we value the municipal partnerships we have. Um, you're all the best. Um, you do a in the same way we messaged with the override that we do a lot with a little. Uh that goes for all of our departments. And

005so uh just wanted to express that. Uh and also remember that 1,113 or so of our neighbors voted against the override. And uh just want to start thinking about how we can collectively as boards and committees engage in a productive dialogue with those that voted no. Some of them are going to be for your normal reasons that are understandable. Other ones uh used that as a way to send a message or to express themselves and uh I don't want to think about ways we can engage in that and make sure we're hearing and listening and doing what we can to uh address their needs and and concerns. So, uh again, thank you for your partnership. Uh and uh and I also uh just a reflection on how how special Ashland is. Uh we say it

006all the time, but we had uh several select board members being the face and and putting their heart and souls into communication on this. Uh there's not very many communities that would do that for a an operational override that was for the schools. So, thank you very much and appreciate your support. Thank you for your comments, Paul. Anybody want to comment? No, we're good. I know we're not commenting. I know. I know you can't. I know we can't. I know we do cuz I saw the look. That's why I was Uh is there anybody on the Zoom platform that would like to be heard at this time as part of the citizens participation? I don't see any hands raised. Give you a moment or two. No? Okay. Well, thank you. I appreciate that. Uh we'll

007start with old business. Uh we don't have any scheduled appointments for tonight. Uh so, let's discuss the the May 19th, 2026 town election. Bring that up. Thank you. Appreciate it. Sure. Okay. Sure. Thank you. Um so, I'm just looking at the official election results which were posted to our website today. >> [music] >> Um just as we look at the total number of votes, we had 2,914 um votes voters come out and that's out of a total of 13,163 registered voters in Ashland. The percentage of um that voted was 22.14%. Um and looking down the list of those that um ran and were elected. For select board, Claudia Bennett um was reelected for another 3 years. For the um Board of Assessors, David Rosenblum was elected. For School Committee, Chantal Corcoran is a new member

008for for School Committee. For the Board of Library Trustees, that was the only contested race that we had. And both Martha Coleman and Lisa Ugliaro uh both won that race. There were two seats there. For the Board of Health, there was two seats as well. And both David Kinsman and Barbara Second de Second Segundo Simon uh both won reelection. For the Housing Authority, Carolyn Beaton. For the Planning Board, Deepa Venkat. Um that was the 5-year seat and for the 4-year seat, um Paul Montesino. And on the override question, we had um Let's see. 1,778 voted yes and 1,128 uh voted no. Um A little bit. They changed since last night. So, this is Yeah, this is the official Yeah, last night when we were talking about the official >> are the new numbers? Uh 1,778

009in favor and 1,128 no. So, I just wanted to say >> you. congratulations to everyone that ran. Um thank you all for for wanting to serve our community. Um and congratulations to to the new members of our boards that are coming in for the first time. Um that's fantastic. So, um also just wanted to give a big thanks to Cindy Livingston and uh Christopher Sullivan in our town clerk's office. And uh they ran a an amazing election. Also, uh all the poll workers that came out to sweat in the gym all day yesterday. It was a long day. It was a hot day. Of course, it was 95° on election day in May. >> [laughter] >> Um but just thank you to everyone that helped um helped with the the election and and and uh

010in general. Um it was a it was a great day. So, um and thank you to everybody that came out to vote. Um you know, we had a crazy freak thunderstorm last night. I mean, it was kind of a it was kind of a strange strange end to the to the evening, but um it was Thank you to everybody that came out to vote and um and hopefully uh like Paul said, we can we can all move forward together Um and uh because you know we are all neighbors and we are all in this together. So but thank you all for coming out and voting yesterday. Thank you Brandy. I just want to give a huge shout out and acknowledge a team for putting everything together. So the town clerk's office Cindy Livingston and Chris

011Sullivan all of our poll workers special thanks to our DPW so Dan Mauer and Ian come came with two huge fans to get some air moving in there. We had Chris Matthew in there. We had Mike Kyra in there. We had our school facilities department in there to help keep some air moving in a 95° gym. So thank you to everybody. >> [snorts] >> It was a little stifling for sure. Brandy? Yeah, sure. Yeah, I just want to you know, thank everyone that came out and voted. I wanted to thank um you know, anybody that voted for me and even those that didn't that you came out and voted regardless. Um you know, it is what a democracy is about is coming out to vote. Just to echo a little bit of what Paul said

012we um we're really good community a real strong community and while we worked on behalf of the school override um it's not without understanding the consequences and the challenges it might make for some community members but ultimately you know, I think I still believe that it was the best path forward that it is um better for the community going forward in terms of never having or not having to ask in a couple of years for a larger amount that it would be more it would harder on people than than it than it is right now. Um and so I but I do just want to say thank you. I I am excited to start this second term. Um and I um I we have a lot of work to do. And so I do hope

013that people will stay engaged. Um it is important that, you know, we get a lots of feedback and input from the community. And I know that that is going to be um something that we will work um hard on. You want to add anything? Good? Okay. Ms. Manal. Good evening. You can unmute Okay. Hi Connie. Hi. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Okay, great. I'm sorry I'm late. I I have never done this before and I had a hard time figuring it out, but I finally did. Um just want to give a congratulations to everyone who has won in the election and uh congratulate the town on a smooth um difficult time. And uh it it you managed very well. Um my question is this. In November 2025, roughly 6 months ago, questions were

014submitted to the Ashland town attorneys regarding the validity of the 1060 Main Street developers application. My question is, have the town attorneys responded? What I can say is that um I know that Mr. Herbert has been in discus- has had discussions with the respect to that specific uh matter. Um Michael is not here at this time to is is uh we Oh, there he is. He's So, Michael, I don't know if you heard the question or not, but have our attorneys responded to uh the validity of the uh application? I'm sorry, Joe. Could you uh repeat that? And I ate the Yeah. >> I'm I just jumped right in here and didn't >> Oh, that's okay. I'm I'm sorry. I just saw your face, so I figured you had heard uh Ms. Mel had wanted

015to know whether or not we've heard uh from our attorneys with respect to uh the validity of the the application. Um so, we did hear back initially from attorney Winner just with regards to one particular piece, which I believe was uh related to the AUL, and what his initial thoughts were about that. And so, we did have a discussion, and I asked him to do a deeper dive into all of the questions. So, that is what's going on right now. They're researching um all of those questions, not just the AUL one. Okay. Thank you. Did Mr. Winner by any chance uh in share why it's taken so long to do this? It's been 6 months. I I I I I understand this. >> Yes. Um and so, I did Connie, we we actually, when we

016started the meeting tonight, we said that we weren't going to go into uh full discussions. Um if you had questions, uh we would be more than happy to get back to you on those. Um but this was just uh a citizen's participation to provide uh an opportunity for folks to speak, but it's not a question and answer period at this point in time. What I What I would like to add, Joe, is that maybe we need to add this to as an agenda item. We always have 40 Bs on there, but we've heard this question and this issue a number of times since November. So, maybe for our next board meeting, we can have it on our agenda to discuss exactly what happened and what is going on with this. >> That's idea. Thank you.

017>> Good idea. I agree with that. Is So, is that work for you, Connie, with respect to that? We'll uh That That would be great. I I look forward to hearing the discussion. Thank you so much. >> welcome. Thank you. Appreciate it. Okay. Um discuss the board reorg. It's that time of year where um democracy works its its its its magic. And uh the change of of of uh leadership on the board. I um This will be my last uh time as a chair. For my duration as uh as a select board member. I I shouldn't laugh, Joe, but you've mentioned before that you won't run again, so I don't think you can say never. >> No, I will tell you exactly and I and and if I if I change my mind, I'll be

018looking for a place to live. Okay? >> [laughter] >> And and that's not that's not a lie. That's uh this is it. I believe six terms is long enough. I've enjoyed my my tenure here. Uh we've accomplished a lot of things and in the next the next 2 years, I would like to continue that that movement forward and progression of things that need to get done and completed. So, um yeah. So, thank you, Joe, for for um all that you've done this year as chair. It's a It's a It's a um It's a lot of work, which I think people don't quite understand how much work it actually is. Um >> Well, I will I have comments that I want to make at the end of the meeting. Okay. >> So, if you don't mind,

019we'll I want to hold back on it because of these things that people need to understand and and and and and appreciate. And I'm looking at the person that's took over for some of the things that needed to be taken care of while I was So, we'll uh we'll address that at the end of the meeting. Okay? So, with with the discussion of the reorg, um it's usually been and I don't know if you folks had an opportunity to discuss this here as well. Um I have to look up there because I want to have to remember she's here. I I keep looking at the chair and she's not there, but I remember she's up here. So, I apologize. Um it's usually the way it's been done in the past is that there's a natural

020progression of leadership that that comes through. It's usually the vice chair and then clerk that becomes the vice chair that becomes you become the chair. A vice chair becomes chair. Clerk becomes vice chair and the progression of leadership follows that that route. If that's something that you still want to continue or entertain or if there's another platform that you folks want to discuss, I'm open to any and all suggestions, but I think >> I would like to nominate Brandy Kinsman as chair for the next year. >> Yeah. Okay. I'll second that. Second that. Oops. So, all those in favor? I I I That's 5-0. Um And I I would like to nominate Claudia Bennett as vice chair for next year? I'll second that. I'll second that. >> [laughter] >> All those in favor? Aye. Aye.

021>> 5-0. Dick, good luck. And I would like to nominate Makida Keegan as clerk for next year. I'll second that. All those in favor? Aye. Congratulations. >> Makida, do you accept that? Oh. I do. Okay. All right. >> go. Cuz That Great. Okay. Thank you, guys. Thank >> Yeah. I appreciate um I appreciate your faith in me for for for chair for the next year, and I hope to do it justice. So, thank you, guys. Great. I'm sure you will. There won't be any issues at all, I'm sure. That we can't control or work or work through. Okay. Congratulations, everybody. Democracy at its finest. Okay. Next, discuss the FY 27 budget. Don't we have to discuss the June 3rd town meeting? >> Yeah, went right over. Discuss the June 3rd, 2026 town meeting. And this

022should be a a pretty quick meeting because it's to dissolve the current meeting that was uh continued. continued. Am I right, Michael? Is that's what we're looking at to do? That That is correct. And um actually, we could take the next two agenda items together because they were meant to be together um dependent upon the um the outcome of yesterday's election. And June 3rd will be uh our second night of town meeting where we will only be convening to adjourn town meeting. Um we will not need to make any budget adjustments or budget amendments. Um but uh yeah, simply to to meet and to adjourn town meeting. That's what our June 3rd meeting is about. So, then what if you don't mind? So, what are the logistics for that because they typically start at 7:00?

023We have a select board meeting that night. So, does it have to happen at the high school? Um do we start it there and then adjourn back to town hall? Do we do something with our select board meeting there? I mean, have we thought about how we're going to We have to have a quorum operationally. We have to have a quorum of 25. So, wondering what has been thought of for that. And And Catherine, please chime in if I if I misspoke. But, uh we had intended on having this at the high school um at the auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Um I believe our next regular select board meeting is scheduled for June 17th. Yeah. Um we can certainly use June 3rd as an opportunity you know, for any kind of business that needs to

024happen I was not aware of that. >> within that time frame. Okay. I think we will have some business that evening. I think we will need to um Well, I we we'll have the scholarship names ready. Obviously, we won't announce them that that will be held in confidence until Friday, but um I don't know if we you we typically don't We're just going to discuss scholarships and the program in general not Oh, okay. In In the past, I mean, I don't I forget last year, but in the past, we the we trust the subcommittee to select the names and then they typically get announced at our meeting after graduation. >> Right. Right, I wasn't sure if they wanted to >> need to to review them or anything like >> need to review them. Okay. We

025trust the scholarship committee. >> like we've always reviewed them, but maybe not. So, as far as um we will need to make sure we have quorum there, right? 25 people. 25? Does it make sense to like do we think we're going to need a full select board meeting for next for for the June 3rd? Should we like plan to have or or are we just going to assume the 17th? I was not aware that we had decided not to do one on the 3rd. I thought no matter what happened with town meeting and I apologize to everyone. I was away for a month. I I don't apologize for being away, but I certainly missed some things because of it. So I mean I know we talked about this at the last meeting. I don't know

026if you had a chance to to I have not had a chance That would be probably why. Um If if I may sug- I'm sorry. No, go ahead. Now, if I may suggest one thing we could do is is we could go ahead and schedule like a meeting at 6:30 similar to what we do on a regular night of town meeting just in case we do have something that comes up and Catherine and I will work with the moderator to ensure that we have the 25 people necessary for the quorum. Yeah, and I'd actually like to see the the attorney question get on that agenda. So >> I would I would want to make sure we're doing that in front of a televised televised thing. >> Well, I was thinking we could adjourn town meeting

027and come here, but or meet here before town meeting. I don't know, but Well, that's what I was wondering, right? If if we know town meeting is going to be maybe a half hour, we could have town meeting from 7:00 to 7:30, finish that and then start our meeting at 8:00 if we if we felt like there was enough to do rather than just because I definitely don't think that the attorney question that has been brought up should be done on an untelevised No, no, absolutely. Yeah. We do have a legal update I scheduled for the June 17th meeting. So, we you know, if the board would like, we could certainly bundle those two together for that meeting. If you If you wanted to She's still online, so I actually think that I mean like

028the third if if we could do something on the third, that probably makes the most sense. Yeah, I would agree with that. At this point? >> Okay. Okay. The only thing we need to keep in mind is the library is booked, so we we cannot use that space if we are going to have a meeting. Okay, that night. No, we I think On the third we could do around 7:00. You're going to come back for an 8:00 meeting instead of our regular 7:00. >> Right. That's what I'm hearing from both Mickey and Claudia and myself. Right. That works. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Just need to let WACA know because they'll have their staff there, so they'll need to have someone available to come with us back here to do the meeting. So, let me ask you

029a question. Why couldn't we have that meeting? If it's going to be broadcast already with WACA there, why couldn't we have our meeting there? In the high school Yeah. auditorium? Yeah. We're already there. Cuz probably when we're done, they're going to want to start cleaning up because as I was told, WACA has to move their equipment to the gymnasium for graduation and class day, and that takes a while. Well, are they going to be moving it that night? Very possibly. Well, when we we I guess we don't really need to decide tonight the location. We know that we want it televised. If they can do it with us there, we can stay there and do it. If they can, if it's going to be an inconvenience, then they have to actually drag out another staff

030member or or move somebody down, then we can come here, but we can figure that out, right? We can Oh, yeah, we can Yeah, we we still we you know, we have a couple weeks. >> So, let's do that. And I'll need to check and see if attorney Winner is available too. That's what I'm thinking. All right. If he's not available that night Do you want me to see if attorney Meade or somebody else from the firm >> it may that may be beneficial Michael. You know, to get have somebody uh I mean I think One way or the other we're going to have the conversation. Yeah. And maybe a written up like if if there's a written update that that they can provide that might work too. I I do think if you're going

031to have a discussion about it, it would probably behoove everyone public and the board to actually have the attorney who's been working on the issue actually present at the meeting. Yeah. No, that does make sense. It just makes sense. >> Yes. I would agree with that. No, I understand. It's just that it's been going on for 6 months or more, right? So, it's just hard to think about having to delay again, but I understand that. >> [clears throat] >> things that need to be remembered when you do an email. And I'll say no more. Okay, Michael, you said you wanted to combine that discussion with the FY27 budget, so We did. Okay. We're good? Mhm. So, we're not going to make we don't have to make any changes because the the budget that was voted

032upon at the last uh town meeting That is correct. >> is the is the uh budget that we'll be moving forward. That will be moving forward with um as well as the transfer of the stabilization funds. Okay. Any questions on that or concerns? Okay. Sounds good to me. All right, discuss the building and grounds department. So, I don't know if uh Catherine, are you No, I Sounds Michael's going to take this one up. Okay. Yeah, and and I had provided some information to the board. Um we had talked about this um as well. Uh we um this was initially brought up when we talked about uh the municipal budgets uh for FY27. And this uh um enhancing our current uh facilities department to create uh something more of a an actual standalone department. A buildings

033and grounds department was part of that $750,000. And so we've had a couple of discussions about it including um having uh uh Dan Mauer and uh members of DPW present I believe at at a meeting at a board meeting where we had a number of department heads present to talk about the um the departmental budgets. Uh at the select board meeting. And uh I understand that there are still some outstanding questions. So I'm going to put together a meeting or excuse me a a paper about that and present provide this to the board. And so uh give us an opportunity to answer any questions that you might have about it or any concerns that you might have. Um just as a review, we currently have um a public facilities um division if you will that

034currently consists of two people uh that report um as part of the DPW the Department of Public Works. Originally when I first arrived here, we had had a shared facilities director arrangement with the school department. Um after going through three different directors, uh it was determined that that wasn't working for either the municipal uh departments or the school departments. Uh the school uh created a facilities director position to oversee their maintenance and custodial staff. Um we decided instead of at that point to just absorb it underneath our Department of Public Works as opposed to creating some new uh new positions. Um Uh what we've seen is that, you know, two people reporting to a DPW uh leadership structure that is already has a huge span of control uh consisting of water, sewer, cemetery, parks and

035trees, highway, storm water, engineering, administration, etc. Um was a little bit too much and so a lot of things are starting to uh slip through the cracks. And we've made significant investment in the public facilities. And uh I think it behooves us to ensure that we have the structure and personnel in place to maintain them. Another part of that is the grounds associated uh with our public facilities. Um that includes grounds around buildings like the public safety building, um around town hall, but it also includes things like the Valentine property, um Ashland Town Burrito. Uh we've acquired many, many properties over uh over the years uh over the last 10 years and haven't enhanced staffing to start maintaining them. So, this is an effort to start to address both the facilities issues and the grounds

036issues. Uh and so what the proposal calls for is an enhancement in uh some of the line items like utilities, which is which are costs uh that are outside of our control, as well as contracted services, but it also involves the addition of an additional maintenance staff person, as well as a director of uh buildings and grounds, as well. Um that's that's a summary. Um if you have any any further questions, Catherine, I can can try to answer them. Do you Anybody have any questions? I got Go ahead. Okay. So, I just had I just had a few questions here. Um so, in terms of the the staffing, the numbers, right? What what's the actual change in numbers? And is there a new position involved here, or the creation of a new position? Yes, so

037currently we have two people who work in facilities. This would expand it. So, this would create two additional positions, a maintenance position, as well as a director of buildings and grounds. Okay. And so uh so, with that person, that director of buildings and grounds um I know that Mr. Small recently left. Would that be replacing his position, filling his position? Well, um Doug was going to take the buildings and grounds uh director position um and decided to take a director position DPW director position closer to his home. Um and so, he is he has departed from the town. Right, but but that position that that's his position, basically. So, what in terms of hiring somebody for that position, is it the same salary that that Doug was getting, or I kind of would think if

038it's that it might be less, or It it could be uh Claudia, so the salary was set at 145. Um which, you know, looking at different uh advertisements and different uh corollary positions in in other municipalities. Uh that is on the higher end, uh but certainly within the range. Um I would hope that, you know, we could potentially find somebody um that would be willing to do a good job uh and would not necessarily start towards the higher end. Um that being said, I think uh given the scope of responsibilities um you get what you pay for. Michael, what would be the job description for that? And what that what what would that entail? You don't mind me asking. >> Um sure. Uh overseeing overseeing all of uh all of the facilities uh including both

039preventive maintenance and also corrective maintenance. Um and also all the grounds as well as three remaining fields that we would have. Um which include Grinstaff, Stone Park, and the community center field. Um and coordinating all of the maintenance and care of those fields as well. Um is it And so, really it's kind of laid out more I think in the memo, just the transition. Um initially the the first stage of of that director position would be basically to stand up uh the department, develop some tools like work order systems, you know, more enhanced work order systems, uh more um preventive maintenance scheduling, um as well as uh more regular maintenance of the uh of of the grounds and the fields as well. So, oh, go ahead. >> Oh, I was just going to say, so

040Michael, are you looking for somebody that is going to be hands-on and doing a lot of the actual work to the fields or to [music] the buildings, or you looking for somebody that's just going to organize it? I don't mean to sound like that, but I I just want to make sure we understand what the Yeah. position is. Yeah, it it is it is primarily an administrative position uh for sure. The director position would be would be primarily an administrative position. Uh but just like all administrative positions here in the town of Ashland, uh it was uh it would be well, they would do what is ever required. Um and so it wouldn't surprise me if the director at one point or another is on a mower or is doing turning a wrench or something,

041but primarily they would be administrative. Uh that being said, the additional position that we would add would be another maintenance uh position that would be more uh on the ground, hands-on type of position. So my question to that is if that additional maintenance person, but now we have an additional maintenance person, and then this other person um that's going to be the director that but you see, you know, some of them when we talk about fields and we talk about grounds, that's more of a 6-month a year Mhm. deal, right? So is that something and what are these what do they do in the off season? I mean, I'm sure there's you got to plan, you have to maybe do some work, although do they do work on the mowers? Do they What what do

042they do in the off season? >> Yeah, so there's there's a lot of maintenance and and actually what we would probably what we would be looking at doing I especially in the first year is seeing what positions or what parts of our cemetery parts and trees department would actually be a part of this building and grounds division as well. Because right now we have five people in cemetery parts and trees that handle all of the grounds maintenance, um handle the fields, um all and handles the cemetery, uh maintaining the cemetery and and doing the burials and such. Um So and and so there's a number of things that they do in we'll call it the off season, right? Uh snow removal, um maintenance and repair. Um the the facilities people are going to be busy

043year long. Yeah. Um Uh but the the grounds personnel, again, I I would see us utilizing our cemetery parts and trees personnel as part of that as well as contractors. So Um that's Oh, go ahead. So we have we'll have the same number we'll have an additional uh person that's going to be doing work in that area. And yet we're we're going to have fewer Currently they're maintaining school fields and town property fields of general all town all properties in town. That's the way it's been till now. So now that the school department is taking back the the school fields, the school properties. Uh and I imagine are they taking back even around their buildings? Yes. >> Yes. So so >> that I believe that's already Can I take us back one step if you

044don't mind, Claudie, cuz I feel like we're getting into the weeds and and um I know that or at least my understanding is that when this was being discussed, part of it was to help some personnel who had been with our with our town for a long time. And I'm I'm wondering if we don't before we push forward with this, there's some lot of great work in here about things that need to be planned, things that need to be evaluated, things that need to be put in place to be able to really have a separate building and grounds department. You're talking about our cemetery our our parks and cemetery group. So, they're currently under DPW, but it doesn't sound like they're going to go under buildings and grounds. It sounds like they're going to stay

045with DPW, but maybe some of the work might be under buildings and grounds. I'm I'm hearing that a little bit more work needs to be done to define what this department is really going to be doing. And if we could even wait 6 months to bring someone a director on and cuz there's obviously people doing this work now who could give some feedback. I mean, if we feel like we want to hire the the next you know, the technical person because we need someone else doing some of the technical work. You know, maybe that's something to look at. The other thing is I get concerned by having two separate departments. Do we then need to have you know, is the administrator then handling the payroll and working with HR for for their four-member team when

046it's possible that that could be part of DPW rather than having this complete separate department. It could be So, so my ex- my recommendation and if that's people that want to do this, that's fine. Is that we take a step back from starting this department, do some of the work that's outlined in here because we need some extra help with things. And then determine what exactly if we need a director position or is it a position that a goes back and reports to DPW. And if not, okay. But you know, we we were given the staffing report from um from the Collins Center finally. So, I have to admit I've started looking through it, but I haven't been able to get through all of it. And I know that some of the items in there

047are being addressed with this department. So, I would like us to, you know, just take a pause, really look at this and determine what really is the best path forward. And I I mean I didn't get into this detail and question when the department was brought up in February or March, but as I've had a chance to think about this and as some of our personnel have changed, it might be a chance it gives us an opportunity to take another look. That's my feedback. I I I can appreciate that. I just don't know who does that planning work. Um that is is is that basically has to happen. Um we already have it reporting facilities reporting to DPW, and I'm letting you know that things are falling through the cracks. Um this is not I

048I don't think this is extravagant for uh 13, maybe 16 facilities, a number of grounds, a cemetery. I you know, and I I look at the schools and uh they have a facilities director, their own facilities director, and it's worked out very, very well. Um and and and whose salary I think is is in the 120s. Um and who doesn't have grounds. That's uh necessary >> about to, right? >> that. No, well, my understanding is that that's going to fall under the athletic director and potentially hiring a new assistant athletic director to help maintain that. Oh. Okay. Um I I I'm not sure we can wait. The administrative piece was is extremely important. Uh You can have people that climb on the ladders and do some of that hard work working on the HVAC systems.

049The only problem is you want to make sure that they put the ladder on the right building. Now that is you know hyper hyperbole to a certain extent, but I think that helps illustrate the picture. But I'm letting you know right now that what we need to have done to maintain our facilities and grounds. We don't have the current structure that can do it. I've given you a proposal that I do do hope to implement sooner rather than later to help address some of that. Um But I think one thing Michael is that we are you know we are um giving up some area of need in terms of all the athletic fields and school building areas. So and and yet we're keeping we're adding more staff on on that side which may be it

050seems to me like well if they're going to have less to do would would it now be enough? I'm telling you that what we have right now is not enough. Even when we had the fields it was not enough. >> Right, but we currently still have the fields, right Michael? We do until July 1st. Okay, so If you want me to hold off, I will hold off. I just want to be on very clear and on the record that we are not we are not able to maintain our facilities and grounds with the current staff that we have. I want to be very clear about that and I want to be on the record. Yeah, no absolutely. I we we hear you Michael. I think the concern is that you know we moved $750,000 from

051our stabilization fund to help fund this. >> 1.6 million came out of stabilization. Right, but 750 was part of this. So You're setting our people up to fail. Right, but I'm also we we also have to find a permanent way to fund that going forward is is my point. So we have to just make sure that what we're doing makes like it it's that it that it does completely make sense to be able to to be able to fund that going forward. >> the other question is Michael, I hear you saying that right now based on the number of people that we have we can't maintain what we're doing, right? That's what you're telling us. Correct? Okay, we are about to lose the expectation that we are maintaining the fields. Correct? Some of the school

052fields. The school fields. >> School fields, yeah. Okay. So that's not going to free up some time for our current If you talk if you talk to the current folks that are working that position right now, I can tell you they are out straight. They are out straight. I believe you Joe. I'm just I'm asking the question of we know we're losing we're we're losing some of the work that we have to do. Now if we're we you know if we're at 200% and losing the field is going to bring it to 150% okay, but we need to know that. That's all. I I I hear you saying that but at the same token That's all. Right? I mean is that I just don't want people to think oh we have fewer fields. Let's let's

053think about that for a second. Joe, it's it's it's it's not it's it's a simple of we currently manage the fields. Right? All the fields and we're no longer to the best of their ability right. And I know that there's been concerns that some of the fields have not been able to maintain because of the workload. >> And that's why they're moving. >> Right. And that's why That's one of the That's not the only reason. It's a scheduling issue and all kinds of stuff. >> That's the other thing. >> Right. But then again, the scheduling for those fields is also being taken away from our DPW. Right? So, I just want us to recognize >> No, that's not accurate because there are fields in half town right now >> that Any of the Any of

054the school fields I'm not talking about school fields. >> talking about Joe cuz right now right now our public works department manages all the fields in town and they schedule all the fields in town. And I know that's caused issues because they try to schedule stuff and then things come up at the schools, which is again why we're moving the maintenance and the scheduling of the school fields from DPW to the schools as of July 1st. That's a correct statement, right? It's a correct statement, but it's not No, it's a correct statement. >> That's a correct statement. So, again, I I hear we're over, but that means there's a little bit less that our current DPW is going to have to do. It's Maybe Maybe it's insignificant. But It's not that it's less. It's just

055that some of these fields, like you just mentioned, have not been properly maintained. And why is that reason? Because our DPW I get it. I get it, Joe. Okay, so if you understand that, why is there such a pushback? >> Well, so is there a chance that now they will be able to maintain them? I think that's the question. >> But I guess I guess that's the question that you're asking. >> no. Okay, so that's what you're saying, Michael, is that even though we're making this shift of the school fields to the school department, our public works department as it's, you know, and I don't I don't think any of us is saying no to the building and grounds. I just want to make sure that if we do this, we do it in the

056an economical as well as make sure it makes sense from what we're seeing going on in town. That's all. And if it's And if this makes sense, okay, then let's go for it. But there's certain things that I think we just need to double-check to make sure it makes sense. That's all. Fair point. I And I think you know, I I I just want to point out >> Yes, the schools are absorbing um or taking back a couple of fields, but they're they're looking at hiring um an additional position uh an an an administrative position. Uh we just transferred $200,000 so they can make an investment in um a a capital equipment to help them. Why I I guess I don't understand why we're so supportive of that, um but not necessarily supportive of our

057public works and and our municipal facilities and grounds. I mean, one of the things we've heard in the comprehensive plan, which was very loud and clear, one of the things that people were concerned about is that we've made these investments in some of these facilities and grounds. >> And we need to make sure that we maintain I I think we're just trying to understand. >> I'm sorry. Go ahead. Yeah, I think that's the problem. I think we're just trying to understand the lay of the land here, Michael. It's just As you can you you can tell from the exchange here, there's a little lack of clarity on our part uh specifically around like, "Okay, so this is going over to the schools, you know, what does that really mean for the existing facilities here? What

058does that mean? Like, what do we need to do? How much of it do we need to do it? How much How Just we just want to make sure that what we're projecting here for the work is what is actually needed given that there is a shifting landscape, and we want to be able to truly understand like how we're allocating these resources, how and why? And we just want to because we just need to make sure that that's that's clear given that circumstances have changed. That's all. I think. We're trying to How about Yeah, how about um for our next meeting, I have some more um some just more material that answers some of these direct questions. >> That'd be great. >> Uh maybe maybe that'll that'll help I think clear a few things up

059and show some of that that shift. And um actually I I I do see Becca Navarro uh from our public works department um here. I I would love to have uh to get her um input if the board would be would be amenable to that. >> with that. Can you guys hear me? Yep. Um yeah, just to kind of add to the point of like the fields are going away, so that and you know, theoretically will free up some time for our staff. Um I will say back when Doug and Dan were standing before you guys when we were talking about um our departmental budget, you know, one thing that the two of them kind of failed to mention is, you know, from Thanksgiving to that point, they had both been working 7 days a

060week. Um so there's been a tremendous workload on our end and yes, the fields going away will help us, but there's a lot of groundskeeping that we haven't necessarily been able to maintain 100%. So with that going away, we still have the addition of new properties like the dog park and the arboretum, the Valentine property. So there's a lot of properties we haven't yet had to maintain that are coming up at this time as well. Um so while it may look like there's going to be a lot of extra time, you know, kind of the hope is maybe we don't have to have staff working 7 days a week. Maybe we'll be able to do a better job getting Stone Park ready um earlier in the season when teams want to play cuz sports seem

061to be starting earlier and earlier these days at least from my perspective. I That was just Rebecca. I I would love to have some more of that detail um as you you know at our next meeting and I would say so Becca remind us what position you currently have with public works. >> yep, so I'm the administrative and operations manager at the DPW. Okay. So you have you have the ability to really get into the details and and give us a more detailed information. Yep, definitely. We can prepare that for the next meeting. Great. Yeah, we can do that for the next meeting and I think I also some more illustrations I think would also help kind of just show like Makita said, you know, this is what we have. This is this is what

062we have as of you know, this date. This is what we would have as of July 1st and maybe I think for comparison we could show you what we had 5 10 years ago and show you how staffing has not increased as we've added on more things. So that And maybe I think >> I think what would be helpful I think again would to get a little bit more detail on looking forward, right? Because conditions have changed. Looking forward what that staffing would ideally look like and so that we can understand again because I'm just thinking about also just folks watching watching this at home and trying to get their minds around like you know, exactly what Yolanda said, you know, we've we're handing over some of our fields, but we're asking for more resources.

063So I think that is at the That's That's and we don't have the detail available to really understand why. That's what I think this is. So we just want to get an understanding of that and make sure that that we we understand what's happening here so that we can probably ask some more questions The other part that I would like to add is you know, Michael, you keep telling us that you have a lot on your plate. You have two assistant town managers who you're trying to manage, you manage the public works department. Uh so, I'm wondering if having someone else that has to report directly to you, if that makes sense, right? Can we work with the public works director and how, you know, I just want it to be evaluated, right? Because, again,

064there's a lot going on in town. We're aware of that, and as town manager, we expect you to be on top of it all, but that doesn't mean the person who's doing the work needs to be reporting to you. Right? So, is the is the possibility that this building and grounds department could be under public works. There There are towns that have that, right? DPW director manages DPW and they remain their building and grounds. You know, sometimes it's also under the recreation department, right? The recreation director handles buildings, or they handle grounds, right? So, I just want us to go back and do a second look, especially because one of the reasons we were looking at this was because we had specific personnel that we knew we wanted to move into a position. That has

065changed. So, when things like that change, you have to reevaluate what you're looking to do. That's all. Yeah, and and I just I and that's a good point, Yolanda. And I think I think after this discussion, I think I can you know, I can work with back and Dan and we can come up and answer a lot of these questions. But, I do want to be clear about something. The the need for buildings and grounds um and that department was not established for one particular person to move over to that. >> aware of that. I And I And I And I understand that. >> We would hope not, right? Right. And right. We would hope not. >> I was just making sure. I just wanted to make sure that that was the >> I mean,

066it is something you've chatted about before, and you you know, we've looked at it you know, it was This wasn't a brand new thing. But, part of the reasons it was coming around this time was because of some personnel. So, I just think >> Yeah, it was a it was it was going to be a perfect match. >> Right. So. And then Michael, when you I also just had, you know, a couple of general questions about the utilities expenses line and the contracted services line cuz they both saw substantial increase, right? >> I would I would echo those questions as well. And the and the final one actually in terms of the fields if if the Stone Park is going to be managed and so we're going to rent that similarly to what we do

067with some of our other fields. Is that true or Correct. And we currently rent rent it. Yeah, no, I know, but now it's it's going to become it so that that part of money, anything that gets rented from Stone Park goes to the town side and the schools rent they they receive those funds. That's correct. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Well, this this is good and this is helpful and this gives me some good feedback in order and I can put something together and and work with our team and answer some of those specific questions that you have some specific concerns. Thank you for the >> And I can have that for us at the next meeting. Thanks for the discussions. Any other questions or comments? On this on this topic? Okay. Thank you, Michael. Appreciate that.

068Thank you, Rebecca. Appreciate it as well. Uh next on next on the agenda is um town council evaluation and the timeline to get this evaluation completed. Um it's my understanding we're going to use the same eval form. Yeah, but I believe Susan and already sent it out I think today or yesterday. It's yep, it's in the Google Doc. Um and then so is the timeline cuz we have to Do we have We have to make a decision before July 1st? That's correct. So, when do you want them I'm sorry, Brandy, when would you like them returned? >> [laughter] >> Oh man, I was not prepared for a Um okay, let me look at a calendar. Brandy, do you want me to give you the timeline that was suggested? Oh yeah, you already have something, that's

069great. So, Susan sent out the evaluation to everyone this morning. Um so, the form would be due on the 3rd if possible. And then um Michael and the chair, Brandy, would meet on 6/10. And then we have Lisa scheduled to come in for both the legal update as well as the evaluation on June 17th. Okay. Okay. Now, I have a question for you. Um so, Town Council's um the their contract ends on the end of the month at at the end of June, correct? So, if we go through the evaluation process and um we have feedback for Council and we and I'm throwing this out there that we are not if if if we ever wanted to look at other options for Town Council, just at all. Um could What would the process look like

070because the timeline is so short, I guess is the question. Um so, we typically what happens is we would issue an RFP for legal services. Okay. And um you know, go through that process, which would probably be a four five-month process. Okay. Just in terms of developing it. Um and then we would move forward with um it's developing RFP, move forward with advertising, uh getting through proposals. Um depending on how many we we receive, uh you know, we might want to do interviews um with, you know, certain uh we'll call them finalists, if you will. And um yeah, move forward uh and essentially make a selection there. Okay. I Thank you. I just think it's important to know what that what that process would look like if we decided to go that route. So, thank

071you. If we did go that route, and it sounds like there would end up being some kind of gap. Right. That's That's my question, too. How would that be handled? filling Mhm. I mean, but that's not I would have to think about that. Um I I would have to think about How would that work? Yeah. I have a question. Yeah, you basically said you said four or five months, and that's for the entire process from RFP to decision, right? That's just to be clear. Yeah, developing RFP. Yeah, developing to the decision. to to decision. Yeah, I echo Claudia's uh question or concern about the gap, because clearly if council's contract terminates on June 30th, and if it takes that long, then like what what happens there? What are the options there, I guess. Just out

072of curiosity. Yeah, and I um Mhm. You know, we could see if um a attorney if if attorney Meade or her firm would be willing to you extend their service for a period of time. Um you know, maybe look at uh 6 months maybe like a 6-month appointment if you wanted to bridge basically the rest of calendar year FY20 or calendar year 26. Um and then, you know, looking at at doing a more robust process through that period. Uh so, somebody would be on the board a firm would be on board uh January 1st. We could potentially maybe extend um you know, hire somebody for 6 months who might be part of the pool that would almost be getting a test drive with us. I mean, might that be a possibility? And then also I

073would be leery with that because that that officer that firm will have to play catch-up with all the issues that are going on right now. And how, you know, we have some meetings that are being being dealt with right now. Well, I think also procurement would would not allow us to spend any you know, like there would there would be issues. We'd need an RFP. More or less. Yeah, I think. All right. And and part of the issue is that if there are fewer and fewer firms that are that are doing this work. Um uh that the landscape is changing quite a bit. Um attorney Meece's firm is getting uh hired in a lot of communities. Uh It simply because uh well, I shouldn't say simply. Uh but, you know, there are fewer firms out

074there doing this work. So, with that's another thing we'd be bumping up against. Things to Yes. For our next meeting. So, June 3rd is when we need to get that email in. Yeah. Make everybody aware of that. >> do it this weekend. >> Yeah. And I think, you know, I I think if there are some concerns uh with uh how you're being represented right now, um I I think you should probably communicate that uh to attorney me during the evaluation process. Um And there are other things that we could do. >> Um well, that's good. Uh cuz that's the proper way to do it. And um I think uh you know, there's a there's a couple of other you know, potential things that you could uh also look at doing. Um if you were looking

075for certain help or or in in other in other areas or specific areas, I should say, uh you could look at getting specialized counsel. Um there's there's a number of ways to skin this cat uh based on what the board would like to do. And what what your goals are and what you're trying to accomplish. Um I will say it's important though that any direction that you give town council or any uh people that report to you, it's important that it comes to through the board. Um not as individuals, but as a board. Right. As one board, not Right. So, uh is this something, and if you don't know that right away, right, if enough concerns come up, is this something that it would make sense to do an executive session with town council if

076there are issues related to current cases that we're working on. Yes, that would be that would be the >> yet. Anything with current litigation or discuss so it might make sense >> sense to do that. to also then maybe have an exact session on the 17th um to discuss this. Right? Because we'll have done our evaluations and if we're planning on giving an an evaluation to you know, Lisa and her team, we as a board should discuss that of that full evaluation. I would think. Yep. Collectively. Yes. Yeah, I I I would agree. Um just I mean, let's just put it out there, folks. We don't have to dance around it. Um you know, I I know there's some board members that are not exactly pleased with the way some of the things with 1060

077have been handled. Um and uh I I probably would reserve some of my comments about that to exact session. Um but I will say um that everything that I have seen out of our attorneys they have acted on the board's direction, not necessarily individuals. So, Michael, I know that you're that's directed at me and my making requests and asking town council >> Not not just not just you, Glynis. Okay, well, I know that I'm at least one of the people that that's being directed towards. Um and I think that in many cases when I happen to to be around the building when town council was was here for meetings um and might ask a question or whatever or sometimes um if I reached out it would be copied to you and then often when town

078council didn't respond to those questions for me, I would then talk to you or um other board members. So, um you know, I may have stepped out of line a little bit on that. Um but ultimately then then town council I believe should have um you know, offered me some kind advice. But regardless, um it isn't just about 1060. I think that I mean, I know for one I have concerns about um some of the other advice that that we've been given, especially um in relationship to town meeting last week. Yeah. And Claudia, I I I I want to um questions and everything uh of of council um on an individual basis are certainly fine. I I Please don't don't take it to mean that. Um just in terms of of their stance on certain

079things and um maybe how they've approached certain things um would be based on uh board action. But but please don't uh don't take what I said as um as meaning board members shouldn't feel like they can ask questions on an individual basis. I didn't mean it that way. We're good? Okay. Thank you. Next on the agenda is discuss, review, and vote on the donated beach uh bench policy. I wish it was a beach. Yeah, I was about to say. I'm in favor of the beach policy, so. >> [laughter] >> So, it's slip of tongue, but it's okay. Did this Was this discussed at a previous meeting and then this is the follow-up to it? Okay, I have not had a chance to watch that. Um Um, I have one question on this. I'm noticing that

080it's going through that the town manager is deciding on the bench policy. And I just want to find out how that came to be. Well, I I think it's it should be the enforcement of of um of the policy. Of of the policy. So, I I had a couple questions about it. I know that um that that I think some benches have been put in place and then removed and I don't know that I've heard well, nobody asked or they they did ask. I honestly I don't know. Um you know, I just think that anything that was existing prior to any policy we put into place um you know, should continue to exist, right? Unless they were done incorrectly. Yeah, unless there's >> Right, like some egregious >> ADA compliant, then that's >> That's a

081matter that needs to be addressed. Or or put without permission, which I think might have also been the case. >> Yeah, it it's hard to know. >> Well, possibly. I don't know. I've heard from a >> Yeah. pretty good source that they had permission. A- and um yeah, I I um I I think it's a permission from who? Um Right. >> Well, there's that. That that's the question. But but yes, there there have been several um I think benches put in place around town uh that have been discussed with the board before um and those were [snorts] in place before the bench policy Right. uh before you. And so, yes, those would uh certainly stand. Mhm. And then the other question um that I had was that and we did touch upon this at the

082last meeting is that the the cost of a bench was is fairly significant. And I wondered we kind of talked a little bit about this, too, is could we have you know, benches that are in certain locations like in downtown that are part of really the the town the downtown area and um you want them to um exist within the what we're what we've created in our small downtown and then how much they're going to be using that versus what we might put you know, along a uh one of our the river walk or some other Or the Arboretum. Yeah, or in the Arboretum. Um is that something that's that's worth, you know, considering is that because I think it was $1,500 from for the um the DPW to install it and I think they

083the benches run $17.50, roughly. I thought it was more than that. $34. $2,000 to $4,000. >> Yeah, that's what I thought. So, that's you know, that's a lot of money if it do do we uh you know, I don't know. I just think it's something to think about a little bit before we just put it's going to cost if somebody wanted to I know that the Lions have done benches around town at different times and um you know, um obviously it's complicated, right? Because we do have to think about ADA compliance and other things. Um but do we need the same structure in the town forest or along the river walkway or some other I would say yes. that we need in downtown, so you I would. I mean, I think about the Arboretum, right?

084We've spent we're spending some money on to make that look nice, to make it ADA compliant, to have a cohesive look if someone goes there, then yes, we need a policy that says if you want to put a bench there, you have to follow our policy. Same thing at the community center, same I mean, anywhere in town we spent >> park. The dog park, anywhere that we're we're allowing people to put a bench in memory of someone, we want to have some cohesiveness and consistency as to what they look like throughout town. So, in the In our last meeting, Bill Gaff came and had some questions for us. Beth Reynolds had put together some responses. I don't know if Yeah. everyone had a chance to review that. Um so, there was a couple things in

085there. It was that And I could actually kind of read it this cuz it's not really a lot. Um so, it says So, her email is in response to questions regarding the bench policy at the select board meeting April 29th, 2026. History {slash} why we chose to create this policy. The bench policy we rolled out to the board at the April 15th meeting was to formalize a policy that was fair and equitable to all residents in town. We receive several requests a year for bench donations. Now that the town has invested millions of dollars into downtown area, parks, and recreation areas, with new spaces coming, a policy to be clear on the process seemed necessary. We are trying to make sure there's a clear path moving forward so that we can accommodate these special requests.

086Having consistency in materials will be more aesthetically pleasing to the grounds we have which we have invested in. Continuity in materials lends itself to a more attractive public space. The bench donated in honor of Izzy Ascenco at the community center is an example of why this policy is necessary. The Lions requested the bench either be placed on the patio or in front of the building. The bench was brought to the board to accept the gift at the 6 5 24 meeting. The bench was then purchased. The assistant town manager approved the bench to be placed in front of the building and notified the Lions. The bench was then installed by the Lions, but the town was not notified it was happening. The bench location was not recorded by the town and was improperly installed and

087did not meet ADA accessibility requirements. When the snow came and the bench was covered, the DPW was unaware of the bench and it was damaged by a plow. If DPW can track where the benches are located, we would have avoided this problem and not incurred a cost to repair it. Also, DPW would have ensured it was accessible to all with proper installation. Um and why it says why we chose the benches in the policy. The two benches listed in the policy of the benches we have bought for {quote} on road such as downtown and in parks example of the uh Ashland Arboretum. The intent was to keep consistency with the investments we've made. We realize these are more costly than benches the Ashland Lions have donated through the years, but these are the benches that

088have been used in the projects recently and consistency will create a more cohesive look. Um and then there's a thing about installation and how we came to the pricing in the policy. We reached out to three vendors for installation cost estimates. One vendor quoted $3,000, but was still not interested in scheduling. The most affordable {quote} quote was from Grover at $2,500 for a 9 by 4 by 4 concrete slab. Please note that this price covers only the slab and does not include any bench work. We then calculated the cost for DPW to perform the work that included labor and materials. This is how we determined that a charge of $1,500 would cover these costs and avoid a significant loss financial loss to the department. Um Okay, so It says Yeah. a question from Bill Gath

089regarding the draft policy being acted on even though we have not approved it. We have been following guidelines for benches for years. Examples of benches that have been donated that match this existing bench policy in town are Mill Pond, Rotary Club, well, Mill Pond the Rotary Club, Stone Park, the Fleet family, Dr. Jangy family, DeJarry family in process, and Mallett family. Yeah. I I mean, I think that's done do good job of laying out uh the rationale here. Um you know, this is the third meeting I think we've talked third or fourth meeting we've talked about it. Um if I can understand um what some of the concerns are um No, I'm I'm fine. I just >> beyond this. For me I mean, I you know, the rest of the policy I'm fine with. I

090mean, the costs are the costs. I mean, that's what it's going to be. Um I was just concerned that because again, going through the town manager's office, um I agree it needs to be consistent and whoever's going to be managing it and enforcing it. I did That was my only question that it was going through the town manager's office. That's all. I'm fine with the rest of the policy. I think I I mean, I'm ready to vote. I'm ready to vote. >> I I just want to say whether this is the second meeting we've talked about it, but um in any case, that's fine. I was trying to make it so that we could potentially have the ability to have people purchase benches and we can't. Okay, so they need to be consistent. I understand

091the ADA compliance certainly. Um I'm not clear then on what Is it $2,500, but that doesn't include the bench work and the $1,500 that includes the I mean, so is it What's the total cost? Let's say the most inexpensive bench is 25 and and 1,500? So, what I'm seeing here on the cost is the cost of the bench and plaque varies depending on the model selected. Price range for benches is $2,000 to $4,000 and it has in information later in the policy and then the other price is a $1,500 installation fee payable to the town of Ashland for DPW installation. And who knows if the price changes, maybe it'll go down. I don't know. >> most theoretically the most inexpensive bench is 3,500. Is that right then? That's what I'm seeing. >> cuz I was

092looking at this installation and how we came up with the the Because it And this is this is the third meeting because it was uh it was a introduced and then we had Mr. Gaff come to the next meeting and we talked about it again and here we are. >> and and I'm sure as with anything, right? The Lions to the they have been, right? They've been getting approvals. I don't I I don't even know how they've gone through some of the approvals, but they've been putting benches in different locations cuz they which has been fine. So now we're just formalizing the process so that if other people want to do benches and if the Lions want to do more. consistent with what else is going on in town. And the current benches are They

093have to be grandfathered. I mean, you got benches over at the the library. Yeah. Well, we're not going to Wait a second. We're not pulling out benches that are already in place, are we? >> No, we're not. Oh, okay. Just checking. Going forward. Okay. No, I think that it happened and that was one of the things that Bill Gaff brought up. I see. So I would like to make a motion to um accept the adopt the the donated bench No? Yeah? Why? Next time. She can make the motion. >> make a motion? So. Okay. I often make motion and I'm not even chair. I'm just trying to pull the conversation together. Unless anyone else has anything that they want to No, we're good. talk about with the benches. Okay. I'll make a motion to adopt

094the donated bench policy as has been presented. >> I'll second that. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. It becomes 5-0. All right, moving on with I don't know if we need to discuss this. I think we've had it. This was part of a discussion earlier, but I'll bring it up again. Discuss athletic fields transfer to the school department. I think we've already done that, right Michael? Yeah, we did and just uh to clarify to add just a little bit more to that. So, we did uh we've we've started transferring some of um identifying equipment that you know could possibly be transferred along uh with the responsibility to the school department. Uh it looks like we're still there's not much that's going to be able to be transferred, but um we're we're looking at that list

095which is going to be pretty substantial. And then yes, we're continuing to do the scheduling and everything um up until July 1st. Mhm. And would that transfer? Is there any other discussion or questions concerning this? No, we yeah, we covered a lot of it. I think we're we're talking about building >> have to ask. I want to get the hell out. Okay. We'll move on to the next item. Discuss scholarships. I'm going to hand that over to Claudia. Yes, so the scholarship for the Ashland High School or I should say students um that live in Ashland and the application process was uh finished as of last Friday night uh May 15th. We have 13 applicants at this time. Um so, Makayla and I will be meeting and those are for two $2,000 scholarships, which will

096then be awarded and on the June uh 5th class day. Morning. Joe, you're not part of the scholarship committee this year? No. Oh, okay. >> they they threw me out. >> [laughter] >> I'm only kidding. Joe. >> new blood. New blood, right, Makayla? New blood. >> you New blood. I wanted to try it. I used to be on the okay. >> Absolutely. I have no problem with that. >> to play with it. I have no problem [laughter] with that. New blood. It's good. It works for everybody. All right. And then just not necessary the scholarship, we've also already also received our invite to both class day and graduation, both happening on the same day. Class day is happening Friday during the day, and then graduation is that night. Yep. Yep. Yeah, on a Friday. Yeah.

097Yeah. Second year they're doing that. >> Something new. It's the second year they're doing that. >> Yeah. Something new. It's It's actually It's It's good to get it all like in one day. It's It It makes it easy for the parents, too. Mhm. >> want to get on schedule. >> I can imagine. Yep. >> Celebrations and things of the like that. Okay. All right, Michael. Updates on 40B projects. I can turn it over to you or I can turn it over to Catherine. Yeah, I just let me pull this up really quick. Um Okay. Um so right now there's there's still 140B that's undergoing active review before the ZBA. Um and that would be 55 West Union Street. Uh so the deadline to close the hearing was actually in February, but we have received extensions,

098the latest being April 14th. Um so the hearing and public comment period does does remain open. Um And right now the big issue that is before the ZBA right now is the placement of the sewer line. Um that is still being discussed and still being worked on. Right now the ZBA, the DPW, uh town council, our peer reviewers, and the staff, and the and the applicant. They've all been working towards the the resolution of this sewer line uh placement, but as of now, they haven't reached an agreement. Um so, that again, that's the only one that is currently before the um before the ZBA. So, moving on to the Conservation Commission. >> Before you jump, Michael, are there uh conditions that are being worked on for that project? Not that I'm aware of. They I

099believe they're waiting until they can get some kind of resolution, if they do come to a res- resolution, on the sewer line before they start working on the decision and the conditions associated. >> Were there any conditions uh with the 61 Waverly Street? Uh outlined in the special permit? >> Yeah. Um Yes, but I don't I don't have that list in front of me, and there were also some with the Conservation Commission, as well. Yeah. >> Like the one I I I can remember like right off the top of my head, related to the ConCom, and that was the replacement of the um Yeah. No, I I remember that. I wasn't sure what came out of the ZBA on that one, that's all. Yeah, and so yeah, just with the moving on to the ConCom,

100and so, we just talked about 61 Waverly. Um And and I should point out the conditions uh in Waverly uh for the Conservation Commission also require them to create additional documents uh to bring back before the DPW and the ConCom before they can do any other before they get the final approval before any other site activities uh would commence. Um So, moving on to the 10 so they had their fifth hearing with the Conservation Commission on May 18th. That was really devoted more to the contamination on site and dealing with the contamination. Currently, one of the big issues is whether or not the building floods. During the May 18th meeting, the applicant continues to deny that the building and the property have historically flooded. But you know, we have documented evidence from 1955 that shows

101that. And then there have been multiple times since 1955 that the building has flooded according to our Department of Public Works. I know this building always smells like it flooded. Yeah, I mean and if you've been in that basement, it it does have that You don't have to be in the basement for that. That's true. That is true. I've just spent more time in the basement there than than in some of the the upper offices there. But um the the applicant made a comment that the site wasn't within the Superfund site and was down gradient of it. Um I'm not necessarily sure that's accurate. I don't think Becca feels like that's accurate either because um the EPA website shows that the boundary was shared and shows that most of the property is within that. Yeah,

102it's in the plume. It's part of the plume. >> Yeah, they showed that the other night, actually. And isn't that one of the issues that's being brought up time and time again? Yes. >> That their information that they submitted to us and to Mass Housing is not accurate because it how it does not reflect some of those things. Yeah, the UAL. Yeah, and that goes to some of, you know, what Connie and what some of the board Connie and some of the other board members have have pointed out as well. >> Okay. Okay. Good. Um I believe and actually just one final thing I do believe that they finally agreed to do a site walk. Um with the commission I should say inside the building. I think they're still working on a date and then

103also to hire an LSP peer reviewer. Um and >> I think there were conditions, right? There was a condition in the from the comprehensive permit of a $10,000 towards an LSP. It's either 10 Yeah, it's 10,000 or or a maximum of 10 hours. Yeah, I'm not sure. I think uh I >> 10 there. It's in there. I think Mr. Engler uh read the $10,000 number the other night, so I'm not sure if he was a reading from that document or winging it. >> Yeah. He looked like he was reading. He was reading it. Yeah. Okay. >> Great. We're good. Just one thing with with respect to 40B's. We have a friendly 40B that we're waiting on a decision on from land court judge. Have we heard anything from them? >> No, we have not. >>

104UGC. That's the UGC. >> right. Like a friendly 40B. What Yes, UGC It is. It is. >> Yeah, and actually >> on that. I know. It's extremely frustrating. Um Yes, it's extremely frustrating and I think um just if I may add, one of the things I think I would like to um focus on over the next fiscal year is a way to maybe loosen up some of these that's the only term I can think of to find some way that maybe doesn't require legal a legal action to move some of these approved projects forward. Um if that's something that you want uh if you want me to work on that. Well, are we are we scheduling a board retreat cuz that would be something to talk about? >> that would Okay. I'm sure of that.

105Well, I I was thinking, you know, during the evaluation process for my evaluation process, one of the things I know we've all talked about and wanting to work on is more towards like some some goals and some definitive goals. Uh and I've been thinking about that and just thinking about some of these things. that are are lingering, I guess. And you know, trying to find a way to I guess I don't want to use the term wrap up, but just um kind of tie up some of the loose ends. loose strings. Yeah. With the issuance of the comprehensive permits on those two um 40B's, does that put us in safe harbor? It it should and I know Jasmine has um yeah, yeah, it does and uh so Jasmine has uh submitted for certification. Um that

106we would be in safe harbor uh with the um with the two comprehensive permits that were issued. Now, how does that work in terms of um there's a certain amount of time now where they have to actually uh build or something some kind of timeline or will fall out of safe harbor, is that true? Yeah, that's a good question. Um and so if it's a comprehensive permit, so if it's done as a 40B, um after the comprehensive permit is issued, uh you are able to submit and if you have a housing production plan that's valid and in place, if you are making progress, which is defined by either increasing your affordable housing percentage by half a percent or a percent, you can get safe harbor from the time that comprehensive permit was issued. So, if

107it if it's the number of units approved equals a 1% gain on your affordable housing, you get 2 years of safe harbor. The only thing is is that if a building permit has not been issued for that comprehensive permit within a year, you lose that safe harbor status. So, you have to get if they have to start construction within a year for you to maintain that additional year for safe harbor status. Was that clear? Yeah, I I understand it, but I just I wonder if the developer if it's if it's on them that they haven't moved it along and yet we could fall out of safe harbor? Yeah. Which has happened to us already. I it's very frustrating. I I And when you look at 501 Pond or not 301. Which was uh Excuse me,

108501 Pond. I'm sorry. I'm getting my pond streets mixed up. >> Yeah, 501, you're right. If Well, we uh So, that wasn't done as a comprehensive permit. That's called under the local initiative program. And so, to get qualified for that, you have to issue a building permit. You don't get the safe harbor until Excuse me, an occupancy permit. And so, those occupancy permits are issued. So, it's a little different than the 40B comprehensive permit. But, it's still part of the housing production plan. Correct. Yeah, and that that developer ended up just delaying. Correct. During >> 501. 501. So, which would have also moved us into That would put us in the safe harbor. And quality, you're starting to ar- articulate it some of the frustrations that we've experienced just with these 40Bs, knowing that we

109have plans um and we have put in place we did put in place things that we could do. We we took the action that we could to uh plan and prevent 40Bs from happening. It's just the private sector didn't go along with us. We can do the approvals, we can do all of that stuff, but if a developer decides not to build or decides not to move forward, we're hamstrung. Um which doesn't seem fair. No, and I think you know, as we look to advocate now in the coming months and and years potentially to with our legislature and uh um you know, I think that that's an area that we definitely need to be advocating about and and um the whole 40B process and um you know, that along with funding for communities versus how

110much the state currently funds us. I think those are a couple of areas that need um some aggressive effort on our part and um you know, I think uh I think most of the the community feels that way, that right? That um everybody's a little fed up with some of this um you know, with some of the 40B stuff and then the other piece is really funding coming down from the state just isn't making it. You know, we are we living that right now. We're living it as are so many other communities. And um it's time for our tax dollars to come back to us and and in particular I think education is you know a huge piece of that puzzle because it's a huge piece of our budget as it should be and two

111and a half percent over and over and over again year after year it does not is it not enough to fund education and and our municipal needs it's just isn't no matter how well you manage your budget and so I do think that that's an area that we need to put some energy into in this coming year at least for me anyways Yeah to to your point Claudia um you know I think a while ago uh many years ago a number of uh select boards in the area would meet together um ready that might have happened even before you you started on the board Joe and you all I think you both I think I think a lot of it was being so I don't know 10 years ago the casinos there was a casino

112That was one thing yeah that sort of started the conversation they wanted to put a casino in Milford and the surrounding communities started meeting all together and Ashland even though we were not an a direct neighbor or we would be impacted because Hopkinton would be impacted Holliston would be impacted and even though it was in Milford and yeah we would meet once a quarter with select board members from Milford Holliston Hopkinton Medway Ashland maybe it was those five and and we kept going pretty well until COVID uh and then as we know once we couldn't meet in person and and things like that so if that's something people are interested in I'd actually be willing to take that initiative back on. And um I mean certainly through the work that we do that I do

113as part of the MetroWest Regional Collaborative I could I could just reach out to those nine communities, right? If I select boards we want to get together, something to think about. And then if there's other boards or other organizations, strength in numbers. Yeah, I'd certainly like to see that. I think that it it's something that we could probably get some traction on with the number of overrides that are out there. And and then perhaps we could even get the school committee and and you know, their association and or their local members local local communities um to work on that with us as well. That it could be bigger than just the select board. Oh, yeah. I think that makes a lot of sense, Claudia. And and I'll I think that makes a lot of sense.

114We should pursue that. It's also something we could probably get support from from the MMA. I mean they are they did their report in the fall. They gave their recommendations and they're always looking for ways for communities to band together to support the work that they're doing and I think this is something that would be very helpful. Yeah, that's what I said. >> yeah, I I agree and and that's one of the things I think the state depends on. Um part of their strategy whether it's spoken or not is um they depend on us staying 351 individual entities, cities and towns. Um because that does diffuse and I'll just use the term political um force if you will. Um but if you start banding together, if we start you know, banding together as as communities

115and as one voice um I think that's where we'll see some movement. Yeah, I think that's definitely something we should do and maybe we should reach out with a letter to or an email to the FinCom and to the school committee and ask if they would like to participate in that. Yeah, and just to bring that up we used to meet on a quarterly on a monthly quarterly it was the chair and the vice chair of school committee select board and finance committee met with the town manager and the superintendent. And now granted some of that was when things were a little more contentious between the different boards. But we lost that conversation that was on an ongoing basis as we headed into this whole you know this whole process. So that would be something

116that might also be good to reach out because yes the override has passed but as we know there's still issues within our community in regards to how we do things and and how we fund things and and what our community thinks. So the the conversation needs to continue on an ongoing basis and not just when we're having problems. I couldn't agree more. Thank you. Thank you for bringing that up Claudia. I do have that notebook. With all the meetings information and stuff and a lot of good information came out of it. We used to meet in Medway. At the uh >> Yeah, at the mayor's. Yes. Yep. And one of the select board members was the owner of the muffin house. That's very true. So does that mean there's muffins Sounds like it. Muffins at

117the meeting. >> Yes there were. Very good muffins. Liaison updates and we have a list of them. Um >> [clears throat] >> Affordable housing trust that was that was uh I represent the BAA's on there. Uh we are meeting May 27th uh to go over some things. We have two individuals who uh interested in becoming members. We have one open position, associate member. Uh so they've been invited to the meeting, and hopefully we we get one or both of them stay interested and and continue working with us. That's what I have right now, and there's still progress at the the Main Street location for the Habitat for Humanity construction area over there. They were They were going guns of fire the other day. They were doing a lot of in inside work, and now they're

118going to be doing the the out the outside sheeting. Siding that. Good for them. They That's moving along. Hopefully that uh maybe by the end of the summer that they'll have somebody in there, which would be very very nice. Uh Ashland Cultural Council. I do not have an update for that. Okay. >> [laughter] >> Well, that's easy enough. That's fine. Yeah. Uh I have been in touch with the chair, and we will be uh hopefully communicating soon. Good. So I can jump into their meeting cadence. Enjoying the artwork on the electrical boxes. Yes, look very nice. Immensely. They're gorgeous. Yeah. Uh Community Preservation Committee. CPC. Yeah, they uh haven't met since our last meeting, so I have no update there. Uh Conservation Commission. I pass on everything. >> [laughter] >> I just I actually I

119did come to the meeting the other night, >> [clears throat] >> so I can just at you know, add that excuse me. I think Michael covered some of it what that where they are in the process. It was very well attended. There were probably this room was probably 3/4 full and there were many people on Zoom as well. So, you know, there's definitely a lot of interest and people are trying to take some control and um you know, I think we all know that that's really challenging in that process, but it's again you know, with everything that's going on in the community of late, there's a lot of people engaged and now we need to catch capture that engagement and Continue on. And and yeah, and and use it to make the community this community

120what everybody wants it to be. So >> [snorts] >> Not a problem. Not a problem at all. Um Council on Aging, that would be me. Um we met uh I met with them uh the beginning of the month. Uh they went over their budget. Uh Candy went over their budget and uh some of the things that they would like to see. They're probably looking for another uh full-time employee to keep up with the scheduling and all the other activities that are going on over there. I know that I'm sorry, Joe. Can you Can you speak into your microphone a little bit better cuz it's really hard to hear. I apologize. >> It's okay. I'm getting tired. Uh like some of you folks are already, but um we met at the beginning of the month and

121Candy went over her budget. Probably looking for another full-time employee for scheduling and other activity uh work that that that they're doing over there. And um you know, it it's a it's a budget it's a budget uh >> [snorts] >> that could use additional funding like just like everybody else, but I think it's um I think this group is uh There's no extra person in the budget for July 1, is there? I don't >> Have we added? >> I don't believe so. That's >> Staff there for July 1? No. >> No, what we did do what we did do though is we did increase the hours of both the outreach and the volunteer activity. Okay. So. All right. So that So that was for >> she's bringing up unless odd that she's bringing a budget

122to Council on Aging that she knows won't be changing until until >> She was giving a report as to what she would like to see. Okay. All right. Yeah. >> Yep. Which is >> And and it's her right to do so. Yeah. It was um >> It sort of passed the budget cycle though, right? That's odd. That It just surprises me that she's doing that to Council on Aging now. Well, that's been an ongoing discussion. With with them and and so she was answering questions. Oh, okay. Okay. Um That's about it on that aspect. Um open space and recreation. We are this close to having an open space and rec plan finalized. I saw some Yeah, I the the process back and forth has been a little crazy. Um thank you to Becca and Samantha

123for continuing to try and get this done. I can't believe it's a year later and we're still not done. There was some last redline stuff that I saw go back and forth. I have not read the full plan in detail, but I've seen some redline stuff go through. Michael has been, you know, sort of trying to push it along. And so I'm hoping it's within a month that it's going to be approved. Um Yeah. So, unfortunately. It's okay. >> Just I haven't attended any meetings, but I've been seeing the stuff go back and forth. I've been copied on it. So I'm hoping we very soon have a finalized open space and rec plan that can be submitted to the state. What's nice it does tie a lot to the comp plan. Mhm. Right. So, but

124yeah. Yeah. Just just from a a process perspective, so that open space and recreation plan I believe goes to it would first go to the select board and I believe the planning board for your review. And then you would need to sign letters of review before it would be submitted formally to the state. So, just that from a process perspective I just wanted to >> Yeah, so I would say maybe our first meeting in July. I that I that's a good good target. Thank you. Roadway traffic safety committee. We had a meeting on the 12th and it was a very good meeting. A lot of great uh conversation and dialogue between the police and uh and the DPW and some of the the issues and concerns that residents have sending us requests and emails with

125stop signs sidewalks. Basically, you know, it's it's the same issues that we've been dealing with for the last three or four years. And you know, it's people are wanting to see the plan in motion and and and working to get those sidewalks and stuff done. I did find out and and I don't know Michael, I don't know if you made aware of it, but the state was planning on putting a new bridge in at at Court of the Road replacing that bridge. I guess there's some structural issues with that. You've talked about that for a while, right? Yeah, we we talked about that one for a while. It's been on the state's list for a while. We've had, you know, funding in place in case we needed to do like some temporary you know, transitional

126type of work. Uh But but yes, it's it's So, the one where Pleasant turns into Cordaville, right right by the Fish and Game and by Nick O'Hare's place, that bridge, right? Yeah, that's been talked about for years. >> So, I think probably the state plan is when it no longer [clears throat] is safe, then action happens. If we go by the creation of the High Street bridge and the House Street bridge that [clears throat] is what happened when when they became impassable for safety reasons, then [snorts] the state they were closed and the state stepped in. They've also been discussing this one as to what the best way is, right? Cuz there's really no place to put a temporary bridge next to it. Yeah. That's what they were talking So, it's getting traffic around and

127what We're referring to straightening out the road a bit instead of having that that sharp turn. Just making the road a little bit more straight. And if they if that's what they plan on doing, then that second bridge or the the bridge that will not be able to they won't be able to put that other bridge in, which means so that that whole intersection will be shut down completely. Which means unfortunately, the neighborhoods in and around that area they'll be looking for, you know, additional traffic flow for that vehicle. My concern is the tractor trailer units because that is the truck route to Route 9 in Mass Pike. And they're going up Myrtle Street. So, you'll be seeing all these tractor trailers coming through neighborhoods. High Street, Whittemore, that that neck that neck of the

128woods. So, what So, have they come to road traffic traffic safety with a plan or are they just come to say we're looking at this and okay. >> The the plan the plan is being developed, but at the same token, the the deterioration of the bridge is right, progressing. progressing quickly. Yeah. Uh and we just found out well, Dan just found out and I don't know Michael if Dan explained that to you, but uh found out that Ashlawn owns the bridge and it's not a state bridge. Ashlawn owns the bridge? >> about Porterville? Yeah. I I think there's there is still some people that disagree about that. Um that being said, the state has uh committed to Oh, no. I'm I'm >> just saying, but as time goes on and that road uh that bridge

129deteriorates, we're going to have to you said we have some contingency monies available. We may have to put uh some large metal uh plates over the bridge. Yeah, I mean we we had even planned, I think, to um to make it like a one-way and put temporary lights >> Well, what I what I would recommend is once you have some kind of plans that maybe we do a discussion at a select board meeting that's recorded and live so we can get the information out to folks. And then also, you know, film I don't know, but yeah, once once we have a plan, you know, cuz like I said, this is something that's been talked about for many, many years. One that the bridge needs to be replaced, that the state was going to be doing

130it. There was also discussion about creating an extra some I mean, this is many years ago and I know it was sort of just a discussion to at the same time do something that actually get you over the train tracks to the other side more easily. I don't I'm sure that's not part of it anymore, but No, no. >> [laughter] >> That's a pipe dream. Yeah, the pipe dream that they had, [snorts] the pedestrian crosswalk over Route 9, if you remember that. A flyover? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Great. So, I think then that might be something that we reach involve our um state senator and our >> Oh, yes. Absolutely. as well as um Well, that's good for now. Yes, ma'am. So, that's it for the real estate team. >> commission. I did. Okay. >> Next.

131Okay. Is it next? Is that Is that what's happening? Yeah. Yep. >> [laughter] >> Uh yeah, I'll just pull out a a couple highlights of the previous historical commission meeting topic of 9 Olive Street came up. It's in pretty bad condition. Owners have been trying to get someone to restore it and now there's a good possibility that they may just want to get it demolished. Last at the last meeting there was talk of a walk-through with the commission. I think on the 21st which is tomorrow and I think they were trying to get a public hearing together uh to discuss the property. I think it was they were planning on May 27th, but I haven't looked back with the chair confirm those dates yet. Um there's discussion around the village burial ground. Uh it sounds

132like the GPR survey is going to be happening in July. So, that's really exciting. It sounds like they're going to try to get the whole site done at that point. Um and discussion has is probably going to pick up around the historical district. I think they were planning to bring that back to town meeting this fall, but they're just talking about you know, just communicating with the community about that and getting that effort up. Um But yeah, I think that's Oh, and next June 9th is the next meeting and if you want to meet your friendly historical commission members, they will be at the farmers market this summer. I don't have those dates, but they are planning to be there and maybe at the next meeting I'll be able to show those dates with folks.

133That's what I've got. Thank you, Makita. Appreciate update. Uh stormwater committee. Who's stormwater? Oh, I am, but we they You know, they did meet, but I missed it. Okay. Not a problem. That's all right. Uh sustainability committee. Um I will plan to go to their next meeting. Okay. >> [laughter] >> Now that you have some free time. Now that I'm Now that I'm Town forest committee. I haven't been to a meeting recently and or touch base. I think there was um They were not happy with what how things went at town meeting, so I'm not quite I haven't had a chance to regroup with them and see what we'll be doing moving forward regarding that property, if anything. Upper Charles trail committee. So, there's been a little bit of progress there. Back in February, we

134had a meeting with some people who are going to be doing helping us with some planning, and I believe we've received some kind of quote from them. I haven't had a chance to follow up with the either the town forest committee I mean with the Upper Charles trail committee or Diane, cuz Diane Mortensen in town manager's office has been managing that, but I believe there has been some progress on that. I just don't know what it is. Okay. I would like to add to this list uh comp plan implementation moving forward. So, while I was away, nothing was done. Anna reached out to me to say um we need to get this going. I let her know that I think we should wait until June. I didn't think May was a good time to do

135that. My plan is to touch base with Susan and just double check if people have actually applied to be part of the comp plan implementation, Okay. and depending on what I see there, I was going to then reach out to members of the comp plan committee to see if any of them want to continue, and then I was going to connect with Anna to see what we have and how we might need to recruit again, and then hopefully bring something forward middle of June uh to see how we can move this forward. Thank you. Good. Thank you. Zoning Board of Appeals. I think Michael gave a really good >> [laughter] >> So. I think we're good. >> We're good. We're very good. And And I just want to add something with respect to that. Um

136I want to give kudos to the ZBA for uh holding their ground and supporting uh the DPW saying that they wanted a gravity feed system which was the best system that was available and not a um mechanical power pump sewer system uh sewage uh station there. Because they'd have to dig 35 ft underground. And they'd have to >> Which project? This is 55. Okay. And uh they you know Damal gave a great explanation and great great information was provided. Um and they supported they supported the DPW. Good. And and and and it was nice to see that and uh hopefully that will continue. I I know it's probably not what uh the applicant wanted to hear but at this stage of the game you know, it it's it's what's best for Ashland and not anybody

137else for that matter. So. That's good. All right. Consent agenda. >> I move that we approve the consent agenda as presented. Second. They second. All right. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Okay, that's 5-0. Thank you. Uh town manager reports, community center improvement project update. And I will turn this over to Katherine. Thank you. Um so right now we are awaiting doors for the office spaces and mini splits. So as soon as those come in, those will be installed. The food pantry is on track to move on June 4th and June 5th, um if all goes well and according to schedule. Yep. That's great. I I went down there after the COA meeting and it looks fantastic. It's just mind-blowing. The work that was done and that can be done. Really, really nice. Great

138job. Great job, everybody. Um Warren Barn project update. Michael, I'll turn it over to everybody. Yeah, so some of the work that's going to be done this week doing some rough plumbing, you know, as you can see, frames up. Yeah, so do some roof work and some installation. Um actually doing some concrete work in front of Henry's place as well. Um and then if all goes well in the next couple of weeks, they'll start the interior work and including some of the windows and the doors. Nice. >> And then the siding will go up and the roofing will be completed. Um and just as um a reminder for anybody who might be watching, um so the Warren Barn is owned by the town of Ashland. Um and this is a joint project with uh Framingham

139State University. Um so we are contributing towards the towards the reconstruction of the barn. Framingham State is as well. And then just as a reminder, we also have a lease arrangement with Framingham State where we'll be getting a portion of the revenue that is being that is being generated from that barn as well. And could you just remind us in terms of our contribution, um remind us where that money came from? Sure. So the total is 1.5 million. So 750 was through an earmark that sent President Spilka was able to secure for us. And then the other 750,000 comes from the town. From what? From the town. Okay. Okay. Thank you. All right. Couple of reminders. Culture Fest May 30th, 2026 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Look forward to that. And another reminder with Ashland

140Arboretum ribbon cutting ceremony is June 9th, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Looking forward to that as well. Finally to see that all done and walk around. I drove by there the other day and it was I didn't stop in, but it it looks it looks really nice. It looks really, really nice. Great job to for those that were involved. And the Ashland Black Park ribbon cutting ceremony expected at some time at the end of June. Do we have a We don't have it yet. We don't have it yet. They're still trying to finish up some of the work now. Beth is managing that project. It's looking really good. >> It is. And very exciting after I don't know. So, what day do we have yet? >> [laughter] >> We just don't have a date. >> We

141don't have a date yet. >> Okay. But it's still looking like the end of June. >> It's It's looking like it's still looking like the end of June. I think that the contractor who's doing it is has has to come you know, is doing some specific things, but it's still looking like the end of June. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you for that update. And >> [clears throat] >> an employee recognition and I will turn this over to Catherine. Um Laura Clifford. Michael, did you want to say anything? Before? Well, I'll start it off and Catherine, if you could talk a little bit about the the process afterwards, but um So, we we are starting this process of having um employees uh be recognized by their peers uh for the outstanding work that they do. And

142so, the first I'm I'm pleased to say that our first recipient um is Laura Clifford who works for us in the health department. Anybody who's had a chance to work with Laura or interact with her uh knows just how helpful she is and how um intentionally helpful she is. Uh she goes out of her way to be helpful for our residents, uh for other stakeholders, and also for the staff. Um Catherine, would you mind just speaking a little bit about the origin of this and just a little bit about the process? Sure. So, uh about a year and a half ago, our team met and we came up with an internal organizational development plan. Um and through that, uh it was found that as a team uh we were looking for more employee engagement opportunities

143as well as employee recognition. And so, one of the ideas that the actual implementation team came up with was an employee recognition program. And so, they created um criteria on on how to um nominate someone and how that person is chosen. And so, employees can nominate their peers for great work that they do around town uh based on this criteria, a another group of their peers will look at all of the nominations for that quarter and select who um fits for for that quarter and and chooses um the employee that's recognized for that quarter. So, um it's a great program. Laura is our first um sort of winner of that and uh recipient of the employee recognition and um very well deserved. Very [clears throat] nice. Congratulations. Congratulations, Laura. She's awesome. She She really is

144amazing. So, that's a great first choice. I agree. Uh so, congratulations, Laura, and and we'll let you know each time we do have have another employee recognized. I I do have one thing additional thing that I was notified about today. Um that's good news. That So, the National Academy for Public Administration um is part of the celebration in Washington of America's 250th anniversary. Uh and part of that is what they're calling the celebration of the American public servant, uh which is uh there were 250 uh um Americans uh or you know, people working in local government uh throughout the United States that were recognized as part of that, but uh that's going to culminate in a celebration at the end of June in Washington. One of a part of that celebration is they're going to

145feature um 10 essentially local stories, uh stories from local government. I just that really illustrate what it means to work in local government and uh work with residents in the community and and be a part of the community. Uh so, we had submitted um just our our nomination for that was our trick-or-treating event in on Halloween or around Halloween, where we open up town hall and all the kids come in and it's become a it's grown from just a candy bowl at one of the counters on a late Wednesday night to this event that fills downtown. Anybody who's ever seen it just knows it's quite quite an all-American sight. Uh staff get into it just as much as the kids and and they get into costumes. But in any case, I was notified today that

146uh Ashland was a finalist for that. Um and so if we do end up winning, um we will have a you know, pictures and and our story um as part of that exhibit uh and waiting June uh throughout the summer. So That's great. Congratulations. >> fingers and and wish uh wish us luck. The town uh the town getting some uh much much deserved recognition and and love for one of the favorite activities of mine and I and I think I can say the staff and the community through the year. Very nice. >> That's awesome. Yeah, that's great. And I have to say you're right. I think um you know, I happened to come into town hall that day and the staff even the days leading up to it, they're all buzzing about it and and

147uh every day that I came in there would be a new decoration here, a new decoration there. Emergency candy runs. Yeah. Yeah. >> [laughter] >> And then the night that night, I mean it was it was packed in here. Packed. It was uh really really nice. And getting through downtown when you see like It took me half [laughter] an hour to get here that night actually. Businesses have Right. It used to just be town meet town hall and now it's all of downtown that gets involved. It's great. The those blinking lights that you just push and it automatically the lights blink and it turns after all stop. It all people did was push that all night long. Like, "Yeah, this isn't really >> [laughter] >> effective way to move traffic." So Claudia, we're all wondering

148what your costume is going to be this year. Yeah, well you'll you'll know soon enough. Oh, I've got a I've got a Heat Miser one. So Yeah. No comment. Nope. >> [laughter] >> Board reports. Ms. Yolanda. Well, as I said, I I sorry to have missed, but not sorry at the same time. >> [laughter] >> Uh being truthful here. Uh I do have a bunch of stuff coming up. When I came back, I immediately jumped in and helped out with GreenUp Ashland on May 4th. It's I mean, I know it's couple weeks away, but it was always it's always a great event. Couple things coming up. Uh MetroWest Regional Collaborative, we're having an in-person meeting and walk through downtown Wellesley. I forget why, but we're meeting there. Um It's so it's It was decided [snorts]

149why? I don't remember the specifics as to why we're doing a walk through in Wellesley. >> Yeah, you sound like me. >> what I'd like to what I hope what I'm hoping to plan is when it's all our wires are gone and downtown is done is to invite people to come here and do a walk through here. Uh the reality fair is coming up on Friday, May 29th and I believe four of us now are participating in that this year, so that's always a fun thing. Um let's see. Mass Select Board, I have a I'm I'm I represent District 5 on the Mass Select Board Association. We have a meeting coming up on June 1st. Uh we talked already about timing of graduation. The other thing I'm going to be helping out with this year

150is the Select Board new member training. It's going to be happening in Devens on Friday, June 12th. And you know, even if you've been a member for a long time, I think it's always a great place to reconnect. So, if you want to start having conversations with other people, you just register. Uh the other thing that I just noticed and I don't remember the date, but I saw MM MMA is doing a Zoom virtual meeting about what to do when your override passes and the town has said yes and how you move forward with that. So >> I've already registered. >> registered. I just saw it real quick as I was wrapping up some other stuff. >> too. So I highly recommend that we all go listen to that one. Yep. >> [laughter] >> And

151that's all I got. >> know a presenter or two on that one. Okay. And that's all I got. Thank you, Alana. Yep. All right. I'm good. I think I touched upon anything that I've been Very good. Thank you. >> Thank you, Claudia. Brendan. Um Yeah, that's um I have nothing [laughter] else really to report. Um it's been busy and um I'm thankful that uh election day has come and gone and that we came with the outcome that we that we did. So just thank you to everybody that um has been involved with that. It's been really good. Um the one thing I wanted um non-election thing that I wanted to just bring up is that um Friday, June 5th, we are supposed to be having um a meeting with our legislative delegation, Michael. And that's

152from 11:00 to 12:00 and typically the chair and vice chair attends that, but that's class day. So I just wanted to just throw that out there to see if that if we want to try to move that date or if that's I don't know what time class day is or if it's over at 11:00. Actually, it starts at 9:00. Typically Yeah, I I actually have a another engagement that day, so I would like to see if if we could move it. Okay. All right. Michael, what do you think? Is that all right? I'll just send an email. Yeah. Okay. I'll send an email. So real quick, I know it's Makayla's turn. I just I didn't get to say this, Joe, but I just want to say thank you for your work this year as chair.

153Greatly appreciated. Well, thank you. Appreciate it. Makita. Hello. Um let's see. Uh I will I will Oh, I I met with um last week I met with the citizens group that uh had some questions about procurement. Uh I'm sure a few folks came before us. I We met a couple of representatives of that group uh met with myself and Beth Reynolds. Uh we have follow-up meeting in the next few weeks. Uh answered a few of their questions. They're going back to to clarify a few things uh and bring back a few more questions. Um I'll be attending the reality fair on May 29th. Uh and I guess graduation class day um as well. Um I want to do a couple of thank yous. First off, Joe, thank you so much uh for your chairmanship this

154year as well. And uh one thing I just want to just on a personal note uh as many of you know, uh member of my family was struggling with a very uh with a life-threatening health issue over the past few weeks and I want to extend my thanks and gratitude uh to my colleagues here on the board uh and also a lot of the citizens of this town who reached out and um were very kind uh to me and my family during that time. Uh fortunately, that family member is is on their way to make a uh complete recovery, but I just wanted to extend my gratitude for the for the the support that uh my family received uh during a very difficult and scary period over the past few weeks. So. That's all I

155have. Thank you, Makita. And it's good news. Always good news. Thank you. Randy. Um I'm done. You're done. I'm done. >> You don't want to do any more. Nope, I have nothing else. Okay. All right, last last week. I would like to thank the members of our current board. I would like to say that this is the last time I'm going to chair. Cuz the next 2 years I'll be just an associate member. And that's fine. Do what I need to Don't say just. It makes the rest of us feel like you know I'll [laughter] be just a associate It's never just, Joe. You're a You're a fifth of a five-member board. >> that thank you. >> But some of you may not have realized, but I kept uh something very close vested over the

156past year or so. And uh even my wife didn't know. Because I didn't want her to worry. And as a result of that, >> [clears throat] >> my mind was preoccupied throughout this year. And it's pretty evident that Brandy picked up the slack that I left on the table, and I just wanted to thank you so much. No. It wasn't right for me to do that, but my mind was totally preoccupied. You were preoccupied with the budget stuff and the override. Well, I had a I had a health scare. And it was a cancer scare. And that's all it was was a scare. I got great reports uh the other day about a week and a half ago. And I don't have what everybody thought I was going to have. So, I am I'm stuck

157with it. You're stuck with me for a lot longer than the anticipated. But uh I just want to thank Claudia and Makita, Yolanda, Brandy for your continued and understanding and support. We've traveled through on a lot of tough roads over this past year. And even years prior as as as as a group together. And uh I can't be any prouder um of the work that's been done. And we've taken a stand. Uh there's been some shortfalls and unfortunately, you know, out of our control. And people have to understand that. We've done everything that we needed to do to make this town a much better place to live in, raise our families, raise watch our grandchildren have fun going to school here and and raising um a lot of concerns about having fun. And sometimes we

158forget that. This is to me is this is fun. I'm a lifelong resident here and I wouldn't want to be any place else. Wouldn't want to be any place else though I've had the opportunity. So I would love to thank Catherine, Michael, Beth, Susan and Diane for providing the leadership during these trying times and keeping Ashland on a straight path towards the future. It has been my honor and it's been my privilege to serve as your chair and I look forward to serving my last two remaining years on the board for our residents and for our future. So thank you. And I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. I'll All those in favor? I. I. Thank you. >> say so. And thank you, Joe. >> Thanks, Joe. We're a big we're a big team

159here. Thank you. Appreciate you guys. We're done. See you on the Show meeting June 3rd. Yeah. June 3rd. Be there. We need we need 25 votes. >> That's [laughter] right. We need 25 registered voters. Yep. Thank you.