Select Board (April 29th, 2026)

001Good evening. I'd call this meeting to order the April 29th select board meeting at 7:03. This meeting is being recorded and broadcast live by our friends at WACA TV cable TV and live stream 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 for the evening. In the event of a disruption, broadcasting will continue on WHCA TV and live stream on YouTube. Anyone that's in attendance physically in this audience, I ask uh to acknowledge if they are recording tonight's meeting personally on their own. No. Okay. Very good. Thank you. And let's proceed with tonight's agenda. Um, first on the agenda is citizens participation. Uh, anybody that's here in in person or on Zoom, please uh raise your hand

002on Zoom and those that are here, please step forward to the uh podium, identify yourself, address, name, and what you would like to discuss. Good evening. >> Mark Sony, 119 Main Street. Good evening. >> How are you? >> All right. so far as so this is what it looks like live huh [laughter] okay I'm here because I want the next town meeting next town meeting is next week and it's about the override is the main theme and I was so is it's about the override for the schools my question my question to that is um why wasn't Anything else considered on the override? >> When you say considered, what what are you referring to? [clears throat] >> Any other municipal departments? Most likely the uh citizens the community center and senior citizens. So Mark, I

003think um you know if you look at the budget document that's online and everything, you'll see increased appropriations across um several different municipal departments, including the the senior center. Um and those are not being paid for this year through override funds. those are being paid through extra funds through this uh stabilization fund. Um so that was a conscious choice this year. Um we had looked at including municipal departments as part of a tax increase. Um and uh ultimately the decision was made not to do that this year mainly because the mechanism was very confusing. Would that have anything to do with the connections or the non-connections between federal government and state government? >> Um I I wouldn't necessarily see a direct nexus the way you're talking about it. I would say in general the reason

004why municipalities like Ashland one of the things one of the reasons we're experiencing the pressures that we are today fiscally is because of federal funding or lack of federal funding. So basically the administration in Washington does not see citizens over 60 as a important part of life. So from there that from part of the school and I always got asked the questions would the override help the school administration teachers and all that and their their pay raises and stuff like that involved in any sort of percentage work? Well, I know there's some non-discretionary contractual things that they have to they have to address and so that's that's part of any associated expenditure increase. Um, what I will say, and I repeated this at the forum, is I don't feel like the superintendent and his team

005or the school committee or anybody in a position of making decisions feel like the school department is just asking for money. They are taking this as an opportunity to restructure their finances to make it more sustainable and this is part of that strategy. Um, so I feel confident in saying that. >> So I I'll come back. Excuse [clears throat] me. I'll come back one more thing with the the fire the police department side of things that they are out there essentially where I am in the ashen house next door. I've been here I've been hearing the um fire department sirens, paramedics and all that every other day, two or three times a day and they they are doing more of a serious town issues with the people and emergencies and stuff like that than the

006schools would try to teach the students who are not ready out there yet. Mark, I I think they're different jobs that they're doing. Uh, and very critical to the fabric of our community, all of them. Um, and I hope people look at them that way as as maybe they're different jobs, but they're equally as important to our community. >> Yeah, I'd just like to answer that a little bit too, Mark. I think that that fact that you hear multiple sirens a day um is indeed part of the reason why we are adding four firefighters um you know to the um force um because we have multiple calls at at simultaneously often meaning the two ambulances are out and that we have to then go to um a neighboring community for mutual aid. So that so

007you know we are trying to address that. Um in terms of you know students is are there emergency situations with students? Well certainly sometimes there are um but that's not the main objective of the school department. The main objective of the school department is to educate our the future citizens of the of the country really. And um you know I think that any any democracy then one of their most important uh missions we might say tonight um is to prepare good citizens smart educated citizens to um you know be part of make the country what it is you know a wonderful country to live in. So, um, certainly public education is very important and and I would argue that it's one of the most important things we do as a community is educate our children

008and prepare them for the world. And um, and if we don't do that as through public means, if we don't support our education through public means, then education becomes something that only the wealthy can afford to give their children. So, so that's um, something that's very critical in my mind. In the smallest sense, I can agree with that. But in the larger sense, the next generations may not have we have to go through what's going on now with emergencies in the school. In the schools, there could be a emergency through students doing their own harm to their own health. But at all the streets here where the paramedics are doing the jobs, the five the five the safety bill is a great thing to have here because they're working together. But to have an override

009for the schools only in the future about maybe 5 to 10 years down the road what's going to happen when the override of students and enroment gets higher again. That's all. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mark. Appreciate your concerns and and a lot of people feel the same way about that, but you know, I know that we there's there's been a committee that's been set up and they've been working diligently to get the information out as one of the things that we've known from the past efforts. There was not enough information to provide to make people make a a sound decision when they come time to to vote. So you can't say that this time around. That information is up there and out there. >> Good evening, sir. >> My name is Bill Gaff. My

010residence is 10 Beverly Road in NICT. Obviously, I'm not a resident. I am an honorary citizen. >> You mean honory. >> I was going to say that sometimes referred to it as honory. [laughter] I am a member of many groups as you know in Ashlin, but I am here tonight representing myself. None of those groups. I do not speak for them. Uh I'm speaking on my own behalf. Tonight I'm here to ask about the uh donated bench policy. I have some questions that I have about the policy and I don't know whether you want me to ask those questions now or whether you want me to wait and listen to the debate you have. I assume it's on the agenda this evening. >> It is. >> Uh I can do whatever you wish. I think

011our public hearing is supposed to begin at 7:15. So maybe wait for >> I have one minute to go before I have to stop what we're doing to address the the hearing that's at 7:15. >> Okay. Don't mind waiting. >> Okay. Thank you, William. >> All right. We have to do this by the book or else I get myself in trouble. by the board. Two minutes to go. So with that in those two minutes, I would just quickly like to go to the consent agenda and see if um we want to approve the consent agenda. I'll make I'll entertain a motion. >> So moved. >> I'll second that. >> All those in favor accepting the consent agenda as presented. >> I That's three. I just want to mention that it did include some gifts and

012donations and um you know really a lot of those gifts and donations were to the emergency fund. Uh many of them were from the uh program in the program in the fall um leading up to the holidays that our human resources department runs. And so I just want to thank all the people in the community who were able to um in some way support um our families. >> Yep. Thank you, Claudia, for doing that. So, that uh vote was three zero and two absent. >> You did good. >> You done good. Okay, it is now 7:15. Um I announced um a public hearing and I have to read the legal notice. Notice is hereby given that the select board will conduct a hearing regarding the transfer of an all alcohol liquor license. Pledge of inventory

013and pledge of collateral. The applicant is Na Newman Dada Corp DBA Main Street Wine and Spirits located at 197 Main Street in Ashland. And I hope I'm pronouncing it right. Han Hanman >> Anuma. Thank you. Data Corp, 197 Main Street, Ashland, Mass 01721. A public hearing will be held on this matter on Wednesday, April 29th, 2026 at 7:15. Persons wishing to be heard on this matter are invited to attend the public hearing in person or by logging into the Zoom meeting platform. Interested parties who are unable to attend the hearing may submit written comments to the select board's office town hall Ashland Mass 01721 101 Main Street or by emailing Susan Robby at srobyashlandmass.com signed by me Josephi as chair I could take a vote to open the hearing or we just open up the

014hearing as is. I'll make a motion to open the hearing. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I I That's 30 and two absent. >> Those that are here for the meeting, if you would like to come up and represent yourself, please come to the uh platform. I'm to the uh podium platform. >> Good evening. And if you would identify yourself, please. >> Sure. Good evening. My name is Jackson Christian. I'm an attorney at Megaludus and Gauis. And I'm here on behalf of the applicant which is Honand Dada Corp. And also here on behalf of the applicant are Neil Patel who is the president, treasurer, secretary and director of the applicant and then also Puja Patel is here and she is the proposed manager of record for the store. >> Okay, great. Thank you.

015Good evening. Thank you for being here. >> Thank you. >> And you also have a gentleman out back who has a vested interest in this uh hearing as well, I would assume. Right. On behalf of the seller, Mr. Goldberg, >> I didn't recognize you with that. Looks good. I wish. [laughter] >> Go ahead, sir. >> Sure. So, I have a brief outline of what's going on here if you want me to go over that. >> If you would, please. >> Sure. So, as I said, my name is Jackson Christian. I'm here on behalf of the applicant, which is Hanamunda Corp. So, Neil Patel, he formed Hanamunda Corp to purchase the liquor license and the business assets from Ashlin Public Market, Inc., which does businesses Main Street Wine and Spirits here in Ashland at 197 Main

016Street. So when they purchase the store, you know, most things are basically going to stay the same. It's going to have the same name, same floor plan and everything like that. It's just going to be under new management and ownership. So when they purchase the store, Puja Patel is going to be the manager of record and she's gone through the training to be tip certified and she's familiar with the rules and regulations for serving alcohol in Massachusetts. So she's prepared to do that safely and responsibly. Uh, one other detail of the transfer is that Rockland Trust Company is providing financing for the purchase. And as part of that, they're requiring that they get a pledge of the liquor license and the inventory at the store. So that's another thing we'll need approval for. So all

017in all, there's just three things that we're asking the select board for tonight. It's approval of the transfer of the license to Hanaman Data Corp. It's approval of Puja Patel as the manager of record for the store. And the third is approval of the pledge of the liquor license and the inventory to Rockland Trust Company. Uh other than that, we're happy to answer any questions that the board has or just discuss any parts of the transfer. Hey, >> thank you. Appreciate that. I'll open up the question. Um any board members have any questions about the the transfer or what we need to do? >> Ready? So, I guess I just I just um wanted to welcome you guys to Ashland and see if you've managed um similar stores in the past or what your experience

018has been. Um >> yes, thank you. Yeah, I have experience. I've managed a store in NIT and also in Rhode Island. Um so, I've been in the industry for a while and I I have I have some uh background and I actually am uh was from Ashland for a long time. I went to high school, middle school, everything over here. So, yeah. >> Ah, so it's coming it's kind of coming back coming back home, huh? >> Yeah. >> Almost full circle. >> Uh, a quick question. I'm sorry, Claudia. Do you have anything? >> I was just going to say and you bought, you know, you went in and bought candy in that store. >> Yeah. [laughter] I mean, back in the day, I was not old enough. >> Yeah. So, you were buying candy, [laughter]

019>> trying to catch them. >> Yeah. Um, do you you know then that um and I don't know Mr. Goldberg could probably share a little bit of the history of the store. I think it it would be nice for the community to hear that if you don't mind. Um talk about how many years you I think your father started that store in this community and your uncle. >> You have to step to the microphone so that way they [laughter] can hear you. This is this is historical. We need to I know you don't like to speak publicly. I know that. >> William Goldberg. Mostly my address is 197 Main Street here in Ashland. I reside in Hoffington. The history of Ashland public market is uh I'll be as brief and concise as I can [snorts]

020uh succinct rather is in 1917 my grandfather's brother-in-law asked him for a $2,000 loan to buy a business and a house in Ashland. two years later instead of he that brother-in-law instead of paying him back suggested that John Goldberg be a partner with him. That happened in 1919. So since 1919 uh the Goldberg family has had a business in Ashland and uh it's gone through many different changes over the years and just now it's time to let someone else have a uh chance to to make it into their vision. >> Yeah, >> that's it. >> That's there's a lot of history we can't say on >> No, no, no. We we need to Yeah, we Yeah, we'll let that for another day, >> right? >> You know, >> but that's pretty much it. We've been

021in in town uh really since 1917. And we bought the uh my grandfather's brother-in-law bought the business from a man named Johnny Jones. >> And uh Johnny >> one day while I was in the town hall, they had the display out in the first floor and there was actually a sales receipt, >> Johnny Jones. And I I took a picture of it. Of course, I don't know where that picture is now, but uh [laughter] but that's it. That's that's the long and short of it. So, a 100redyear plus business in town. Sure. Sure. Nine. >> Yeah. Very nice. And uh I'm sure that the owners have a lot to uh be thankful for. You have you have a you have big shoes to fill >> and uh I'm sure you'll do just fine. And uh

022Bill, publicly, I just want to thank you and your family for the number of years that you've been very supportive over the years to all the different groups in town that have come and asked for assistance. Uh you never said no. you always said yes and it was it's always greatly appreciated. Um welld deserved rest. I hope you enjoy your time off. I hope you play golf. I hope you enjoy the beach. Um because I know your dad was a workaholic though he loved to sing. >> He did. >> He loved to sing. So he had he always had enjoyment doing that. I hope you find time to spend with your family and enjoy your your your years of uh retirement. >> Well, I'm not retiring. Okay, good. I hope not. You're too young to

023retire. >> Crazy. [laughter] >> All right. >> But thank you, Joe. I appreciate >> Thank you. Well, we appreciate what you've done for Ashon and keeping the store up as as nice as you have over the years. Thank you. >> My pleasure. Thank you. >> Appreciate it. >> Yeah. I just want to add that. Thank you. We often we talk about historic buildings sometimes, but um you know, this is uh more than a historic building really. It's a historic um family that familyrun business for 109 years. Um, [clears throat] and that's that's pretty powerful. And I know uh Mr. Manyani, I believe, worked in the store for quite a while. I know that my husband as a young man worked there. Um, and and my my brother-in-law. So, there's a lot of history for and

024and feelings for people who have live in this community even still today. Um, about your store and your family. Um, and so I I too just want to say thank you for being such a great part of the community for so many years. And um, and uh, and you know, we uh, we entrusted to that you've you've chosen a family that will uh, you know, do do well by the town and well for them as also. So, thank you very much. >> You're very welcome. >> Thank you. Well, thank you, Billy. Appreciate it. >> And I'll just add thanks to I I don't have as quite of a history as these two. Um, but I know like my husband's in your store all the time. So, [laughter] >> he has a little history with >>

025Medfield. >> Yes. >> So, yeah. So, it's it's it it's all it's all related. So, good stuff. Bullard's Market. >> Yeah. My my husband lived across the street from Bullard's Market. >> Really? >> I'll be >> Which was your uncle's? >> Yeah. Was your uncle's Allen? >> Right. Yeah. So, so >> and I and I can say too that stories still come to the Thanksgiving table when when uh my extend my in-laws are [laughter] there. >> So, but but thank you and I'm glad that that um it seems like the new owners are going to be um picking up, you know, picking up where you left off and bringing their own vision to to uh to the store and >> look forward to it. >> We do look forward to it. That's great. >> Thank

026you. Thanks, Bill. Okay, folks. There are a couple of quick questions that um I I do have I I know Claudia, if you you were all set. Did you have any that Okay. Um you're going to keep the same store hours. >> Uh yes, indeed. As of right now, we're planning to keep everything the same. Um maybe perhaps we go from 8:30 to 9:00, but right now, I believe on the application, we've submitted for 8 to 8 to 9. >> I actually didn't see any uh >> Yeah. So, I don't think that was addressed in the application. It wasn't. That's that's why I asked. >> Um, but so I guess that would be something if you could put on there nine. Now, I don't know if that's something that the town is um has any

027specific policies on or anything like that. I know that you know, the hours go to 11 on like a statewide level. Yeah. >> But, um, >> you know, I think that as long as you guys were willing to have the hours, like that would be great for Neil. And then it's not necessarily that they're intending to have it open that way. >> They're not intending to stay open past 9. >> Okay. It used to be 10 o'clock. That's that's a It used to be uh 8 8 to 8 to 10. >> Those are hours, but 11:00. >> Yeah. Right. That's right. Right. Within that time in that time frame. Yeah. >> Yep. Yep. [laughter] That's what happens when you get older. You got to get the You have to get to sleep a little faster.

028>> You know, you can stay open. You're younger. >> Yeah. I think uh I think 9:00 is still the time. the 9 9:30 perhaps is the time we're still looking at. We're not trying to stay open past 10 in no way. >> And uh the employees that you currently have, you still have the same employees and your wife is going to be the uh the new store manager and she's tip certified. Are the other uh employees tip certified as well? I didn't see and and I don't see Susan up there to me. >> She's up there. >> Susan's up there. Sue, I don't know if you can hear me or not, but um do all the uh other employees need to be tip certified as as well. And do we have that on record just

029to make sure we have, you know, copies of that? >> Yes. Whomever is going to be working there is going to be tip certified. I want to ensure that we we take care of that. If someone's not, we take care of it before anything moves forward. >> Okay. Because I saw your your your wife's certification, TIP certification as part of the application. Mhm. >> So, Susan, are those other tip certifications on file with uh with that license? >> So, Joe, as this progresses through, they will have to complete our hours of operation. They'll have to sign off on the liquor. Okay. >> Um policy and all that. That is still to come. >> Okay. Thank you. So, I'm I'm jumping the hurdles a little bit. Okay. Uh I appreciate that. Thank you. I just want

030to make sure we do everything by the book so that way you folks can have a smooth transition and and do what you need to do. >> I appreciate that. >> Okay. Thank you. Were there any letters uh of of support and non-sup support with respect to this transfer suit that uh may have come through with the email? >> We have not heard anything. >> Okay, great. Thank you. Appreciate that. Okay. Um those were the questions that I had. I look >> I do have one question for Susan while she's up here. Um, so did everything that we that was um included in our packet there it it's it's complete as far as the information that we need from them tonight. >> Susan, >> that's that's correct. Okay. >> Ultimately, the first step of the

031process is them completing the ABCC paperwork that goes into them. Their investigators come out. They go through the whole process. As that progresses through, because we've transitioned to open gov, I will then reach out to them. Excuse me. I'll reach out to them and have them start our paperwork, which will include the certifications, the liquor policy, and all the other things that we require on our end. >> Okay, that's great. >> So, that probably answered your questions earlier. >> And then, but they don't need to come back in front of us at the end of that, or do they? >> No. No. No. Okay, >> great. Thank you. All right. [clears throat] Thank you, Susan. I appreciate that additional information. That's very, very helpful. Um, okay. So, at this at this juncture, uh, I will

032entertain closing the discussion and hearing at this point. >> I'll make a motion to close. >> There a second. All those in favor? >> I That's 302. And um seeing that there are no other questions or discussions that we have to follow. >> No, the only thing I have a question on >> y >> and it's more of a procedural thing. So if you could repeat the three things that you need from us this evening. >> Sure. >> So so that way we we have record of um of all the things the request. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yeah. So the three things are the first one is approving the transfer of the liquor license to the applicant Hanamoon Dada. Corp. The second is going to be approving Puja Patel as the manager of record for

033the store. And the third is going to be approving pledges of the inventory and the liquor license to Rockland Trust Company which is providing the financing for the purchase. >> Okay. If you can pledges of inventory. >> Yeah. So inventory and the liquor license >> and liquor license >> to Rockland Trust. >> Rockland Trust Company. Yes. >> Yeah. So, say I I'm unable to pay my financing, the bank's going to want to come in. That's basically >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. So, >> so on this motion, we'd have to >> We have three. >> Yeah. Can we do them together? >> Yeah. I was going to say bundle them. >> Yeah. Hold on. Let me just Okay. Okay. All right. So I will make a motion to approve the transfer of liquor license to

034Hanaman Data Corp. Um I would u include a motion to approve the um Hua Patel as the manager of record and approve the pledges of inventory and the liquor license to Rockland Trust Company. Second. >> Okay, >> that's that's perfect. >> Okay, >> thank you. >> That works for you, sir. >> That was great. I love it. [laughter] >> All those in favor? >> I that's 302 absent. Congratulations. We wish you the very best. >> Thank you. >> And um >> and welcome back to Ashland, too. >> Yeah, welcome to Ashland. >> And what's the timing what's the timing of everything moving forward? >> Usually, um once it gets sent to the ABCC, we'll hear back in like two to three months, just depending on how busy they are. could be like 30 to 90

035days. Sometimes it's kind of random, it feels like, but um once this gets passed along, the investigator will reach out to me and I'll get them any other information they need and we'll be in contact as far as that goes. >> Okay, great. >> Well, good luck. >> Great. >> Yes. >> Thank you so much. I appreciate it. The best of luck. >> All right. Thank you. >> Look forward to seeing you again. Thank you, >> Bill. Thank you again, my friend. God bless. >> Okay. Um, I did stop uh Mr. Gath from We do have a presentation at 7:45. So, we still have about 10 minutes, Bill. So, >> yeah. So, why don't we why don't we talk about the whole bench policy now? Yeah, >> we'll just move it up in the agenda

036and we'll talk about the bench policy. I don't know if there's anybody >> I don't know if anybody else needed citizens participation. I don't know if >> see. Okay. Okay. So, what we're doing folks uh that are listening uh on on the Zoom platform, we are moving the uh bench policy uh up to this uh time frame uh where we have a few minutes to go before we have other uh presentations that are being done. And um you have what you had to Okay. Um, one of uh, we have questions that were provided uh, to us by Mr. Gath regarding uh, the donated uh, bench policy. Um, you don't mind, I'll just read this real quick. U, understands that the uh, the select board has not yet approved this. We're working on that tonight. We're

037discussing that tonight. Um we're asked by a former select board member uh for another bench which was audited and paid for and uh wanted to know why do we have this policy? Um I think Mr. Again, the reason why this policy is being brought up is that there were some other groups that presented and provided uh benches uh donated benches in people's names in in memory of or in honor of and um one they have to be ADA compliant. The the area that these benches need to be uh placed have to they have to be installed correctly. They have to be ADA compliant. uh if not then the town becomes liable for the the installation that or installation that wasn't done properly and that there's a liability matter that that comes with that. So that

038that would be one of the answers to that. Um actually when we discussed this a little bit last week one of the one of the questions that I had asked was you know uh we don't we I would have loved to seen local vendors be you know get involved in this because we try to keep businesses local and and support local businesses and yet we have uh approved uh b uh approved bench sales from a company in California and another one in Indiana. Um, I questioned that myself, but I don't know if there other bench companies that that are available or meet the the criteria uh on that. So, I can I >> I can kind of pop in a little bit because the reason that um as when we talked about at the last

039meeting, so >> it's to be consistent. So, it's to be consistent with the benches that we have in our downtown. So, it's we literally um I think I think the vendors are the same vendors that were used for for the downtown project. Am I correct? And we have and the two benches are I think one of them is a um is like like onroad and one is off-road or something similar to that. Katherine probably I know Katherine probably has better better intel than I do or maybe not. or maybe not. Who knows? >> But we but we're trying to be consistent with with what we have and have a process in place so that um if people want benches in the name of whomver that there's a process in place and so that's that's why

040we're doing this and I think it's I think it's good to be consistent. >> Yeah. I I think um I certainly understand all that. I think that Mr. U Gath here has a couple of questions regarding ventures that were already either placed and or ordered and paid for. Is that true, Mr. Gath? That the concern is >> installed and weren't ordered by a line. >> Yeah. Why don't you come back up to the microphone just so we can >> folks the folks that are listening and can hear a little better. So, previously there's been a bench that was bought and paid for and it was already installed at the arboritum. Is that what I understand? >> Yes. >> Okay. And and who um I guess >> DBW notified the Lion I am just >> Yeah,

041I know you are. I know. >> But u notified the Lions that they pulled it out because it didn't adhere to their bench policy. Did Did the Lions get permission before they put the bench in? >> Lions get permission before they do everything. >> Okay. >> And I would point out there's a bench by the post office. Been there for years. Doesn't deteriorate. All the m composite materials. Um the explanation that uh there was a problem with the bench and wasn't handicapped accessible. I believe was the bench in memory of Izzy that was supposed to be placed on the patio at the community center. The patio got delayed. So, we were told to place it where it is at the moment. 6 months after it was placed there, we were told it had to be

042moved. We were told it wasn't compliant for the ADA. We haven't moved it, but apparently there's not going to be a patio at the community center. So, you got to decide where it's going to go. And I understand the town is uh that was a a very expensive bench made by a monument company, not in this town, but in an adjacent town, and then a plow hit it this winter and broke the legs, and the town is now paying 1,500 bucks to have the legs replaced. So, it's u it's I don't think you need a whole bench policy to cover one problem bench. I do question what I say here is uh there's going to be a $1,500 fee to engineer a spot where a bench is going to go and the benches we're paying

043are less than onethird of $1,500. So, I don't think you're going to get many people that are going to be willing to donate benches. I know you have some fancy benches around the public library that were donated by groups and those are fancy expensive ones, but uh I I was just shocked to see this policy that hadn't even been voted on and approved already in effect and taking place. >> Yeah, I mean I I understandably so. I think I agree with you that um if if that would happened prior to this policy that that we need to investigate and figure this out right and uh make it all right. And I think there must be some benches in town that were purchased and installed prior to this. I mean this policy doesn't exist yet, right?

044So there must be some benches in that in town. So >> the Lions have donated those. So wouldn't those, you know, fall under um >> I think there's one at the stone pot, too, by Cherry Street, if I'm not mistaken. >> I think this was for benches moving forward, you know, weren't necessarily going to Right. That >> seems retroactively, you know, kind of apply to it. >> Yeah. So maybe the DPW was acting, didn't realize that this was still in process and and that it needs to play itself out here. >> Well, I I'm unaware Who granted permission for it to be in the arboritum? >> I don't know whoever requested the bench. We don't volunteer to spend money. We usually get asked by somebody and we had been re asked by a former select

045board member to order another bench for somewhere and we ordered the bench and have paid for it and it's but that's neither here. I'm just trying to find out about this policy that's all. >> Yeah. So I mean I think that any any bench that I mean I think we have to get some more details about what the process has has that's happened here. But I think that this policy doesn't exist right now. So anything if anything that was agreed upon before needs to move forward. >> If it was agreed upon I would agree. >> I I don't >> I don't know the details of it. Okay. I can't tell you who requested what. I don't keep I'm not involved. >> Who should who should we talk to to find out what happened, you know,

046>> if you wish, I will ask the lion in response to the benches who who requested it, how it was approved and all that stuff. >> That would be helpful. >> I'll be happy to do that and send it to you. >> That would be great. I think I think our concern with the with the arboritum which is you know it it was brought to my attention and I also you know I have to say I I approved it being removed um as long as it was stored at DPW didn't want to like throw it away. >> Why would [clears throat] you remove it if this policy wasn't in place? >> Because as far as we could tell nobody had granted permission for it to be there. Oh, >> you know, I as much as

047I can appreciate um kind of the the um the notion of it, I think just having, you know, benches kind of show up around different places, especially on town property, can become problematic. Would you not agree? >> I completely agree. But I think we should find out what really happened. >> I I would agree with that. I would apprec I would agree with that. So in in letter of this discussion then I would and seeing that we don't have a complete board yet and there's three of us I mean we have a quorum that we could vote if we wanted to but would you entertain holding off and taking a vote tonight until we get the answers to the questions that were raised tonight? Well, this is for going forward, right? >> So, I think

048we'll figure out what happened with the benches like at the arboritum. >> Um, >> and and we have thought of other places where we could put that >> put those benches as well. >> Yeah, there was a list of locations and the number of benches that were available at those at those sites. I believe there was like six of them. Well, there's different part of the policy, right? >> Yeah. >> I guess the one thing that that I would say too is um and I understand that going forward we might want to make certainly we want them all to be ADA compliant. Um and but I mean I guess my thought too was it is expensive. you're probably not going to have many people wanting to um purchase a bench in in >> memory of

049somebody. >> I'm [clears throat] 81 and I'm very fond of Ashlin even though I don't live here >> and I was anticipating doing some benches >> with the permission of the town but there is no way I can do it at 1500 a pop just for the engineering. >> Yeah. So, I mean, I don't know how realistic it is to, you know, to consider whether or not these numbers could be in some way reduced or is there someplace that we could have benches that were are less expensive that would work or I mean, those are just some questions I had about it. It it did seem like it would be nice to have something that was a little more affordable, too. I mean, you know, maybe there are certain locations where we absolutely need to

050have these benches benches and maybe there's nothing else less expensive that we can really consider, but I that was just what I wondered about. >> I would ask each of you to observe the one at the post office. It's been there a number of years. >> And I'm wondering if there's other things besides benches that that could be appropriate um remembrances for for people as well. Yeah, that's true, too. >> Bike wrecks. >> A clock. No >> clock. >> Yeah, >> that needs to be repaired. >> Then you have to spray it for ticks. [laughter] >> Stop it. >> I thank the board for their consideration. >> Thanks. Thanks, Bill. Appreciate it. >> Appreciate it. >> Do we want to take a vote on this tonight? I just think we have too many questions, though.

051>> Yeah, I I kind of feel like we >> Yeah, we can we can wait. >> Okay. All right. So, we're going to we'll table this for another meeting until we get we get answers to the questions that were asked and see if we can tweak the policy to some some degree when it comes to some of the figures that that are up engineering. >> Yeah, I think this was mainly to um excavate excavate that sounds major. Um but to dig and then to pour the concrete pad and put the forms up and stuff. >> Pouring concrete. >> Okay. Good discussions with them >> where the people have >> true. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Gath. Thank you, everybody. All right. Moving right along. Uh 7:45 and we're 7:46. We're almost there. Uh, Ashelan

052Cultural Council presentation on traffic box projects. And I see Miss Breznik here. Donna, if you would be so kind to come on up. Tara's not going to be uh or is she on? >> No, just you. >> That's That's good enough. >> What can I say? >> Is your Is your presentation uh available? >> You have it. Okay, great. >> Is mine available? You have it, right? Yeah, we have it. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Just wanted to make sure so that way folks back home that are watching can see it as well. >> Right. So, um the Ashlin Cultural Council um has a dream and our dream is to have um decorated traffic boxes in town. Um, I personally have seen them in many towns in Massachusetts and thought this would be a

053wonderful idea for our town as well. Um, we want to include students from the high school. We want to include residents as people who decorate these boxes. And luckily for us, we actually had a young lady who has um applied for a grant which we've given her. and she will be supervising this these traffic boxes and she has done these [snorts] let's see she just finished a project in Amhurst and she just decorated one in Holliston so um and here I am to get I guess I have dealt with the um traffic committee I've spoken to Mike Dooka and um Tara did come to the last traffic committee meeting and questions were answered. So, I feel as though it's time to start painting. And she did send us a presentation. >> Um, do you want

054to just move along with the presentation? >> Yeah. >> Best you can. >> Sure. Um, so she is basing her uh traffic box pictures on the history of the Sudbury River and also on Ashlin's history. The first one is actually um based on the Sudbury River and I think it's part of this um we have gi this is her budget and we have given her a grant to cover this budget. This was um our original timeline which We've moved it ahead but gives you an idea. [laughter] This is I have been well I have been as well as the cultural council I had been working on this for about two years now. Um I had started with the idea of using electrical boxes but um with no good luck in finding the people in charge

055of that I moved on to traffic boxes. So um this is a I'd like to do this before I pass away. [laughter] It's a lifelong dream. Where um where are some of the traffic boxes or where would this first one go? What what traffic box? >> This one is going to go across from the brewery. And after that, I'd like to do one. There are actually 13 boxes in town that are possibilities, but I'd like them. I mean, we're probably only going We're going to start slow. It's not going to be a quick process, right? Um >> I'd like to do one on Route 135. Um, and then, you know, as I said, we have a list, so I'm I'm going to be looking for spots that are most visible to most people. I know

056we can't use 126. Those are um from the state, but um I do have a list here. There's 13 of them, >> but I wanted I thought the one across from the brew would be lovely. So, >> and that's that's at the corner front. >> Yep. And is this um the design? >> This is the design. Yep. It's very nice. >> Yeah. Yeah. We um and the cultural council is going through these beforehand. We've already checked this one out, added a few things. Um we do have some artists on our group. I am not one of them. Um so yeah, these, you know, these will be thought out. Um and we have a second one that one of the high school students has done. So, um she's still in the process, but also it looks

057very nice. And check it out in advance. And then I think we're probably going to also open up to residents in town. Um so but but she's done a very good job of sending information going to the high school speaking to them and it's wonderful to have somebody who's done this and can actually be in charge of every one of these boxes. I feel very confident >> and and the theme for all these uh traffic box uh control boxes that will be painted will be of the historic nature of >> historic slash nature >> in this area. >> And so right now there are two that are planned >> two. >> Okay. And how long will it take? So if we were to approve this tonight then when will this one across the street be

058be Yeah. Approximately? >> I'm going to say I we can go back and look. I think it it's like a maybe a two week situation. You know, she prime she's already primed the one across the street. Startle in advance and then there'll be a background and then she'll you know, so she also is a working a working person. So, um but she's very enthusiastic >> and it's also and clement too. I mean, she has to make sure it's good enough for it to >> it's really hard to pin it down. But, you know, as I've worked, as I've been in contact with her, she's been pretty busy. She was out in Amherst for a couple of weeks. Next thing I knew, she was in Hollist doing one. So, um, she takes it pretty seriously. >>

059And so, you know, how long? So, currently are those boxes are they spray painted or do they just rust and get ugly? Do do we know? So, >> there there is a coat on them. There's a coat of paint on there. >> Yeah, she does a primer. She does a makeup. I'm just >> even now what I'm thinking is >> how long will they last? >> Yeah. [laughter] >> I think she said about 10 years. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And my feeling is um, you know, if we don't decide to redo them once that occurs, you spray paint over paint over them. That's the joy of >> coating. >> Painting. >> Yeah. I'm sure she does some kind of protective coating. >> She does. She's she yeah she um she has the the full information

060and idea on it. So, yeah, >> I know that during some during several of the uh roadway traffic study committee meetings, um the folks that are there, uh Chief Chief Roby, uh Doug Small, uh Dan Mara, uh and uh Mike Mike Duga, who actually is, uh he maintains the uh the traffic boxes because of all the uh panels of stuff that are inside. that's his that's his domain and uh they fall under the uh fire department's purview. So Chief Roby had no problem where they thought everybody thought it was a great idea committee as well. >> Great. >> They have they have that they have our blessing on that as well. >> I did notify the DPW and the uh the safety >> Yeah. >> building. So >> yeah, this is this is awesome. Like

061I think that this project is great >> about it. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I said to I'm going to put a balloon on there. She said, "No, you're not." [laughter] >> Yeah, you're right. That's a bad idea. >> But so, thank you for working on this. Do you have do you have um was she able to get like a group of students [clears throat] that's going to be helping? >> You know, surprisingly, and and I was a high school teacher for 25 years. Um I personally would have expected to see a ton of enthusiasm. Yeah. >> And it's been a slob to be honest with you. Talked about it and I suggested to her you know, we put it in the the manager newsletter and we looked for residents as well. And also, some of

062these towns are using like I thought, oh, I don't have that information, but I know we can get it. >> Well, it's one of those things, too. Once one is done, I think, you know, it might inspire others, right? >> Right. >> Yeah. We can have that. We're going to have decorated storm drains. We're gonna >> I've also >> Oh, you need to >> I'm sorry. >> That's okay. [laughter] >> I spoke to Larry D. Young. Here I am. Larry D. Young this summer and you know, he's sort of our town artist. um and he he's very excited about it and felt that there were a number of people in town who would be interested in doing this as well. So, but if we open it up to everybody, we open it up to everybody,

063you know, whether they're >> in school or but we do have a student. She got a student and >> and that is almost finished that particular drawing. So, and we will go through it in advance. >> Great. I think this is great. Does the Michael Katherine is there any concerns from the town side that they should be aware of? >> Um I I think Eversource is is is okay with things according to >> I'm going be honest with you >> from what I was told has no responsibility to those >> Yeah. This is situation >> from what we were told and that from good sources. So I mean you know >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, do we need a >> boxes are underground any >> the vault? Sorry. Yeah. >> Do we

064need a motion to >> Yeah, I will entertain a motion at this point. >> All right. Let's see here. go back to the >> Well, I will make a motion to allow the Ashlin Cultural Council to um oversee >> oversee >> the painting of some traffic boxes under the title traffic box project in the community. >> I will second that. >> Second that. All those in favor? >> I oppose zero. So, it's 302 absent. So, have a blessing. Good luck. >> Awesome. Thanks. >> Can't wait to see it done. Can't wait to see them get done. >> I'm very excited, too. >> Yeah, I bet you are. >> Two years of work. >> Yeah, a lot of work. A lot of work and a lot. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, moving right along. 8:00, but

065I know that the person is here already. So, would you mind if I advanced uh our discussion on the storm storm drain uh presentation, a storm storm water drain presentation and painting coordination saying that uh we're going back to back on on painting. Michelangelo, is that coming up to the podium? >> Hi, Rob St. Germaine, 64 Winter Straight. I'm chair of the um stormwater advisory committee. Um one of u the functions that the stormwater advisory committee performs is is we help the DPW to do all of the some of the things that the DPW just doesn't have the the manpower uh the people power to do the time. So um there is as part of the permit a requirement that we stencil and I don't know the exact number but we have 2400 plus storm

066drains in town uh we have done a fraction of them in the eight years um that since we started the storm water enterprise fund so um so we have started to get you know people involved and uh Larry Dong is one of them. Uh and we had some volunteers from the high school science club that wanted to to do one. They wanted to participate and uh they want to do one in back with the high school. The superintendent has already said okay. Um I don't know if that's sufficient or or that's part of this discussion as well in terms of um permission. Um we have as as part of our role again and some of you witnessed it this weekend um on the Earth Day where we had some Girl Scouts uh that participated last

067year and painting storm drains. uh they got really enthusiastic about learning how storm water works in the community and they put together a flyer which I now have permission to display on the document table for people walking into town meeting. Uh they produce a video which I I sent to all of you and Adam has also authorized uh that to be shown as a a committee report at the beginning of town meeting. Um, and so this is over and above the stenciling thing. The purpose of the stenciling is just not to make the star drains look pretty, but it's public awareness. Um, and I think I mentioned to you the last time I was at the mic, uh, that some towns have experienced huge expenses with people putting doggy bags or or areas where excessive

068litter and the stuff goes into the storm drain, particularly if it's an open curb uh, type of a drain and next thing you know, you got a an impacted pipe. Um, there's equipment we have to bring in. We don't own it uh to vac these pipes out. Sometimes the vacuuming is successful, sometimes you end up replacing the pipe. So, um the more that we can do to create um awareness u to educate the public that all of these storm drains, the water goes somewhere. [laughter] And um we clean the streets more rapidly now so there's less stuff to go down into the storm drains. Um we have green up Ashlin. It's all part of the web, if you will, this picture of of helping to make um Ashlin cleaner and more environmentally responsible. So, as

069part of this awareness project um a few years ago, we became aware actually through the town of NITC uh where they um have a very active sustainability agent and and she I think hired someone. I I don't know all the story there, but they painted at their main intersection of 27 and 135 uh forced storm drains there. Um it was written up in the paper, you know, all of the the normal, you know, media announcements and things like that. So, um I don't want to do a lot of these. I mean, it's this logistically it's um you know, takes time putting this all together, but we do, as I said, have the high school club, the Girl Scouts that did the stenciling this weekend would like to do one, and I have shown them the

070one in the town hall parking lot right in the center there. Uh that particular storm drain had to be repaired a couple years back because the folks who then owned Nicks were pouring things down into the drain. U there have been similar problems at at one of the Chinese restaurants in town and people just don't know that it's not that they're doing something to be malicious. So, um, we'd like to, you know, pick a few and, um, and in a way let the participants decide with with the committee's approval what the design will be. These that I put on the poster for you are just some that I gathered from around the country. Um, there are literally probably hundreds of municipalities throughout the country that are doing this. So, so we'd like your general permission.

071um um to to do a handful. We'd like to do one like at the community center, uh Front Street near Farmers Market, maybe in the parking lot, maybe a couple along the edge of the road, places where people traffic. >> Any questions, comments? >> No, I was just going to say I think it's great. You know, I think that um you know, storm water, storm drains, even just by attending your meetings a couple of times now, Rob, I've learned so much that I I'm afraid I had little to no knowledge about. And um certainly it all makes perfect sense when you start to think about bigger than or you just start to think. Sometimes we just have to start to think about things, right? And um and this is a great idea. I really uh

072really think it would be uh helpful to for people to be able to see these things. It because it starts to makes you think, right? Um so I'd be excited to to uh support this. >> Thank you for your work. >> So I had the opportunity to see the Girl Scouts do their thing last weekend. Um >> I need your pictures. >> Oh yeah, I do have pictures. I really should. Yeah, I'll I'll I'll send you those pictures. >> Thank you. Um, they did a really great job and and it didn't take that long, which I was impressed on how how quickly they, you know, basically they primed it and they did the back the the background and then they had the stencil and they I mean it it came out great. So, and that

073is >> picture of that. >> I do. So, that is it's it's in the um over by the the town hall sign um off >> Cherry Street. Yeah. >> So, um they did out back here. >> Yeah. So, I I'll I'll show you guys the pictures, too. But, um, but they they did a really great job. So, I am um I think that this project is is is awesome because I think it really will bring awareness. I think you're right. I think people just don't kind of think about it, you know. >> Um, so I'm [clears throat] I'm happy to support I'm happy to support all of this. Um, and you know, wish you good luck. As far as funding goes for all the paints and stuff, where does that all come from? >> Um,

074it comes on the storm water enterprise fund. >> Okay. >> And it's we're not spending a lot of money. >> No. Okay. And um you know they they buy the white paint five gallon buckets and um we we got some colors and we've been experimenting what the best techniques are, but you know we've probably spent $190 or something like this. Uh right now we have the material to do quite a number of of drains. Um, one of the concerns Makita did, uh, raise the last time, um, was what happens after they fade or something like that. Yeah. >> Um, you know, $6 or $8, whatever, the aerosol cans are black right now or, you know, >> it could be eliminated in in, you know, like 10 minutes. So, okay. um if we ever get sick

075of them uh or whoever succeeds uh me uh on the stomat committee, you know, they may come up with a different concept at some point in time and that's just fine. >> Okay. >> Maybe maybe use it as a contest, come up with the design and use it as a contest. >> Speaking of a contest, it's >> you know, and >> it's organization. It's it's the amount of time. >> Oh, I know. I I I I I don't know the woman who spoke before me, but I would like to interface uh with her and and I'll give you her, you know, uh Larry is working with me relative uh Larry Deong, the former art teacher at the school system and uh for years and >> um you know, the the paint is interesting to work

076with. It's it's highway paint and it's characteristics are different. So Larry was in my basement last week and we were blending colors and seeing what we could get out of it and he's into it. So he definitely without a doubt. >> He's working with her too. He's working with them. >> That's her. That's why I want to talk to her. >> The only thing I did want to say is if you were looking for permission on school property, you have to go to the school committee for that. >> And that we have. Okay. >> Yeah. We can't give permission for it. >> We're just doing the one, but at some point in time, we may want to do one at the other school where parents drop their kids off. >> Yeah. >> Prime opportunity for

077eye contact. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> Absolutely. >> Yep. >> Well, I'll entertain a motion. I will I will approve the um storm water drain painting project um being conducted by the storm water committee >> and DPW. So thank you to DPW. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I I thank you very much to thank you Rob for all your work. We appreciate all your help. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Okay, moving right along. Uh, old old and new business. FY27 budget, including operational override, update, vote, and accept the FY27 budget at this time. So, shall I turn that over to Michael? And and thank you, Rob. Appreciate it, buddy. >> You just pull that uh the warrant just pull that sheet up. So, uh, just to give you an update on kind of

078where we are in terms of the process, uh, we did meet with the finance committee, um, and, uh, they recommended the the budget, [clears throat] um, the override budget, um, which you do have here. This is part of everybody's warrant. Um, we've gone through the numbers quite a bit. Um, I can either do that, I can go a little bit into the process. I know there were some questions about, you know, why is there a town meeting vote or, you know, how does the town meeting vote work visa v the ballot vote, etc. I can go in that direction either. Uh, how about I go ahead >> to talk a little bit about the process and uh the article and how all this was chosen to >> Sure. So um anytime uh you do an

079override you need two there's two mechanisms that come into play. First of all there is the vote to raise the taxes above the two and a half limit and that is the ballot vote. So you have to do that through a ballot vote. You can't through that do that through a town meeting vote. And then the second part of it is you actually have to appropriate that money. So you have to actually authorize what department you know that goes to. Um and so that is what the town meeting vote is is to authorize the expenditure that includes the additional money from the override. And so you have to have you know town meeting has to vote on that. So typically when we have town meeting when there's no override the the money that's has been

080raised the money that then we're going to vote on is money that's been raised through pro you know our property taxes and that so that already that includes basically 2 and a half% >> uh new growth and and so that money already exists. >> Well it's what we plan on collecting. Yes. >> Yeah. And so then we're just voting to to appropriate it to how we're going to how we're going to spend it. Right? This year we because of the override, we're going to do the same thing, but we have the additional funds that we would raise from the override that we are then appropriating saying how this is how those are going to be spent. >> That's correct. Let's just say you have a department of one in in a town, right? and let's

081just say it's $2 million and to fund it at $2 million and you meet your two and a half that you have to go to the two and a half cap. Um, and if you wanted to do more than that, you would have to vote at the ballot to go over that, let's just say by $100,000. So, and then you would need to do a town meeting appropriation vote, like a budget vote of $2.1 million. So you have the the vote at the ballot to raise the taxes above the cap and then you have the town meeting vote that authorizes where it's expended. >> So quick question because I know that we've gotten some questions about um because when we had the building projects on um on the ballot and and at town meeting they

082were separate warrant articles and that's because it was it was borrowing. Correct. We were borrowing that money. So there was a separate warrant article for each of the projects because of that and it needed twothirds I think. Right. >> That's correct. >> So um which is why which is why it's a little bit different for an override and we haven't had an override on the ballot in 10 years. >> Correct. So, um, so I think I think just walking, you know, being able to to kind of point to that is like important for people to understand why, >> yeah, >> you know, why we're only presenting one budget, why we're only um putting in the override within the budget warrant article. So because it can it can be confusing >> can be confusing and and

083what I just explained to you I've developed a one pager and we can put that online and and it can be shared from wherever we post it to to anybody who would >> okay >> want to use it. >> So when um I know we'll probably talk about town meeting I think we have >> or maybe not we have we don't have town meeting >> I think this is to talk about it. >> But so when when we do the town reports as part of the um as part of town meeting, I just want to make sure like I don't know if if Fincom is going to talk about that because FINCOM is going to present the budget or if you or Cindy or however we're going to do it talks about that or if

084it's or if it's the moderator. But I just want to make sure we're very clear at town meeting like why why things are structured the way they are and why we're doing and for instance like why we're going to have two two nights of planned town meeting. I just want to make sure that everyone kind of is on the same page and that it gets covered so people don't feel like surprised at town meeting. >> Yeah. I think between the people that you named at least one of us would cover that. >> Okay. Um I would assume Adam, we would need to check with Adam, but um that sounds like something Adam would love to do. >> Okay. As long as it's covered and we kind of know that that one, you know, kind of

085going. >> Okay. >> And so the the budget that will be presented at town meeting includes the override. >> Yes. So it includes the override which u the override which is 2.75 million which you'll see that as part of the schools >> right for the in the schools. >> Yeah. And then if it fails then in either it has to pass in both places. Um and if it fails then that's why we already have a second night of town meeting scheduled because then we'll have to vote a new budget. Now, I've been asked why did we do it this way as opposed to another way? I And I know that I remember and I this may have been different because I'm not sure if it was an override at the time or if it was

086a school building, the high school at the time, but we had a special town meeting. There was also the the town meeting and um the ballot, you know, were flipped in those days. So that the ballot actually happened first and then you'd have So we had a special town meeting in the Mendes gym to hold everybody where um there was a a vote and like I said I'm not sure if it was the building or the override and and then and then we had a ballot after the fact and that actually I think it was the um the the high school building so it is a little bit different but because it's a debt exclusion But nonetheless, you still have to meet those two um you know criteria that it has to pass in both

087places. And so we had the meeting in the gym, town meeting in the gym and then a vote at the ballot. It won in the gym at town meeting lost at the ballot by like 27 votes. Um because people didn't realize that they had to vote. I mean, I say this because I'm confident that the votes were there because eventually we went did do it again and it passed overwhelmingly. So, um the the people didn't realize they had to vote in both places. Whether you're voting for or against, you need to vote in both places, the the um town meeting and again in at the ballot. Um, so could we could you explain a little bit about how that evolved with the attorney and everything? >> Oh, there's Yeah, there's a number of different structures.

088Um, like [clears throat] you mentioned, you could do the ballot vote before and have a special town meeting. Um, and I think, you know, another thing we >> that's an additional cost, right? It's less expensive if you have to have a special town meeting than it is if you have to have a spe a ballot. >> Correct. Correct. Anytime you're running a special um whether it's an election or a special town meeting, it's over and above the cost we had, you know, we had anticipated and you will incur costs. Um we looked at we looked at a couple of different ways. Um, we looked at both uh doing the ballot before. Um, we looked at um doing what's called like a contingency budget um in the sequence that we're doing now. And ultimately the decision

089was made to keep it as simple as possible for people to make it one town meeting with a ballot vote in between. and the first night of town meeting which is May 6. Um we will uh be voting on the budget which contains the override number and subsequently the vote will happen on the 19th at the ballot and if it passes at the ballot we convene on June 3rd at town meeting again just to dissolve town meeting. If it fails at the ballot, then we will need to go back on June 3rd to go ahead and redo the budget in a way that's within the Proposition 2 and a half limits and the stabilization fund and that might be a good time. Katherine, I just sent you the nonoverride stabiliz budget because I know that's

090something that we haven't really covered and I know there's been some questions about that as well. >> I just emailed it to you because do it earlier and it's a spreadsheet. And as Katherine pulls that up and I'll explain it. Um the agreement that everybody came to was that if the ballot vote uh failed um we would look at transferring an additional 1.1 million from the stabilization fund and put that towards the Ashland public schools. >> I was thinking I thought it was like 1.4. >> Did I what did I say? >> 1.1. >> Oh, I'm sorry. It is 1.4. I apologize. >> Okay. because I know like we had I don't I can go back in my notes but so we have the 750 that we're planning to to move over from stabilization on

091the municipal side >> there was like 650 if I remember correctly >> to balance I've been I've been in these numbers that's the [clears throat] one thing I can say I've been >> been up to my eyeballs and budget stuff 650 um to balance to basically to balance the budget and Then there was like 200 that we were going to basically >> front end and then it would that would fall to free cash and that will come back into the stabilization fund. >> Correct. [snorts] >> Right. >> And I'll explain a little bit more about that when we talk about the fields. Okay. Which is under the agenda. >> And then um so that would be so that I think >> we were talking like 3 million. >> It's 3.1. >> 3.1. Okay. That would

092>> if if the override does not pass. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Um and our stabilization fund is like around 8.1 right now. >> That's correct. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, it's a good chunk of our stabilization fund is what it really kind of >> Yeah. So, um, it's it still keeps us over the 5% which is the critical like baseline, but not where we've been, which is 10% which is what is really um the goal. >> Yeah, I do, you know, if it does fail, I do worry about our bond rating. >> Um, you know, it's hard to predict um what S&P would do. There's a number of factors that they go that go into that but um yeah >> I mean >> concerned >> you know I worry about the bond rating

093certainly but I think if it fails the bigger concern really is is the deficit we face down the road right >> that now we're we're using monies that aren't replenished um and that then eventually you know we have to come back to the down and ask again and it will it'll be more than 2.75 and I and that's sometimes that's kind of hard to wrap your head around. Um but if you dig into it a little bit you know I think some of the um you you know some of the meetings the public forum um the interview that that Makita did with Mr. Adams last week. Um these these they're very helpful in in helping folks to understand um what this means and how it helps us by doing it now how it helps us

094down the road um to minimize the hurt. And you know, one of the things that a friend of mine said to me a long time ago when we were talking about overrides and and debt exclusions and you know, he said, you know, Claudia, the thing is is that um when you vote no on these things, you it it always comes back. It always comes back. And when it comes back, it costs you more. And you know, that's not to scare people or anything else. It's just reality and I've lived that reality. I I lived it with the high school >> um when the high school lost the first time and we ended up taking the fields out to the tune of about $2.4 million. Um when we came back to the town, our reimbursement rate

095had dropped slightly and we didn't have the um the fields any longer and it cost us almost the same exact amount as it would have cost if we' fast if we had passed it the first time by 27 by with those 27 votes. it. You know, I know that my husband sometimes talks about a a story about the police station many years ago and about not initially having a grant from the government for the police station and the town not supporting that their piece of that and you know within a few years they built we built the town 100% out of their own pockets a new police station. So I mean there there is some reality to to what happens when you have these needs. I mean in this when we talk too about I

096think people do understand we we all are faced with increasing costs and our utilities and our food costs and now particularly our gasoline costs. Um so we all know that these costs are not they're not um costs that we have much control over. Um and we we face them in our individual lives and collectively you know the town and the schools face them as well. Um so it's um you know it's it's it's tough because nobody everybody does face these increased costs and now we're asking for them to increase their costs. um with their property tax. And I mean the the simple number of um Proposition two and a half allows us to raise $1.3 million and yet we have $1.2 million in health and in health and benefits. Just that health and benefits line

097has increased $1.2 million. Um and then in terms of the schools and you know Mr. Adams has worked really hard to um there are 13.2 positions that are being eliminated no matter what. I actually, you know, read something that was written by someone who was angry about that. You know, we're not we're still losing a computer teacher at Mendes and a classroom teacher. Um so but he's tried to pick and choose the the least impactful uh losses for the the school system. You know the costs that we face in the schools the um our ke tech assessment th those are significant increases that we have no control over. And I know that um you know especially I think nowadays we are I know that I feel that there I have so little control over what

098go is going on in my life and my bigger life than just within my family. I don't want any control there either. But um in the world, right, there's so little control and and here in this community um you know I we do have the opportunity to have a bit of control for our public schools and what we've done for our police and fire in particular. So um you know and again not everybody no matter whether they believe strongly or not that we should be funding these things they might not they still might not have the money and I understand that too and we everybody has to make those decisions um for themselves but I just want to make sure that everybody understands you know all the pieces of this because it's it's not simple

099it's it is somewhat complicated and um and so I just want to make sure that as we go forward people realize what the choices are and and why some things are are have been you know it is our responsibility to bring forward to the community what we think best serves the community and and uh and it's not that we're trying to take money from people or from ourselves or anybody else. It's that we're trying to offer people what we believe to be the best road forward. >> And and just very well said, Claudia. I think that's that's it in a nutshell. But you know, the Prop 2 and a half was never meant to be the end all beall. Prop two and a half was meant to be the point where communities have the discussion.

100And I think we're having a really good discussion about where we want to go and what we want to do and how we want to get there and how we have control over those things. Um, and it's been a very thoughtful process. I mean, and very thorough process and very public process. Um, I know that there's been talk about, you know, things have changed and and yeah, things have changed because because because we've crunched the numbers and we've done done the work and we're trying to minimize the impact to to taxpayers. So, [clears throat] um, I think I think it's a I think it's a thoughtful plan. I think it um I think it really is the best the best scenario for the entire community. So, um we can't control what happens a year from

101now. You know, who knows what's going to happen a year from now. And but we can control this and we can we can work to um protect our community as much as and that's >> minimize [clears throat] the impact >> and I think our community too along with many other communities are becoming um you know inspired to to fight back to our state government and say we need to have more money coming back to us and um and you know there's s certainly many ways to do it. Um funding public education through property tax is does not work. >> It doesn't work. And I think Massachusetts is one of the few states that that does it that way. I shouldn't say that because I'm not 100% sure. But I there are certainly other ways of

102doing it. And um I know that that's those aren't popular discussions these days either, but um you know I think the state government really owes us uh some as a time to change and we can do both. So we can we have to we have to deal with the situation that we have currently in front of us because we need a budget by July 1. Um, and we can continue to advocate for change at the state level because I think I think we are reaching a tipping point when you start looking at the other communities that are in exactly the same situation because the same fixed costs that we're seeing going up. I mean, some communities I mean the the overrides that are on the ballot for so many of these communities are >> huge.

103>> Insane. Like insane. And I know I know we're not Brooklyn, but like Brooklyn's got I think it's a $23 million override on their ballot. Um there are communities that um there was one now I can't remember the town that just had an override fail, but they were going to increase taxes by 50%. >> Hadley. That's Yeah. I mean, you know, I mean, >> that's that's a big boost. >> That's crazy. >> It is. Yeah. I mean, so >> thankfully we haven't had to do that. Hopefully we don't never have to do that. But >> yeah. No, I mean we >> we're not the only ones in the same boat. We're all we're all in this together and it's not a it's not an easy. >> Yeah. We've managed finances well over the years and

104it's and you know, we've been able to put put this off for a really long time. Well, >> and I'll give kudos to the to the folks to my far right because under the conservative management program that you've done since you've been on board, I can say that um not only have you increased, you know, uh cash flow uh reserve funds that we have. Uh it was 600,000 at one point. Now we're up to 8 million. That's uh over a 10 year period, 11 year period. That's uh there's nothing to sneeze at. >> Well, it shows dedication and and and >> commitment. >> Well, it shows discipline on everybody's part. Um you know, the policies are only as good as how we follow them essentially and and that uh comes from the select board and

105the finance committee and the school committee and ultimately town meeting. Um so and that is one of the things that uh like an S&P um is is concerned about is like well okay you've got policies do you follow them and so they've been very very impressed about the way we have followed them. Um, so we're deviating a little bit from them, but they also know we have a track record. Um, not only with this, but with our OPED plan. You know, they they get they're happy with that as well. I and I will say I told this to Fincom last night um this has probably been the most challenging budget I've dealt with and we've dealt with but I think also the boards have and you've invested a lot of time um as a board

106and as a tri board group you know getting to this point it it has not been easy and to your point yes things have changed because you've gotten more information you've gotten feedback you know the state budget becomes a little clearer as we go through time. So yes, it is meant to be an iterative process. If everything could be locked in a year in advance, we wouldn't have if we could foresee things that clearly, we wouldn't be in the issues, you know, communities wouldn't be in the issues that they have, you know. >> So, >> okay. So, we have the we have the budget, the non-override budget. >> That is correct. Um, and so if you, Katherine, if you wouldn't mind scrolling down to schools, everything stays the same except um, for that one. Um,

107and I see where I made my mistake there. It meant to be that's where I got 1.1. It was in my head. That should be 1.4. And so that total should be 45.86 864. The one to the left >> 45 >> right right in the middle. I'm sorry. I had made a mistake. had put 1.1 that's saying that's where I got the 1.1. >> Okay. So it's 1.4 and that's coming from stabilization. >> That is correct. And so the 45586 actually would be 45886 because we would need to add the 300,000 that I >> Got it. Okay. >> Yeah. If you wouldn't mind doing that. >> All right. And then this this mirrors the the other budget with the exception of of stabilization. Just that line item for stabilization. Do we have anything for >>

108So this line for So this is the budget. So this would be the school department appropriation. >> Okay. >> And the stabilization fund would change as well. So that would be article two. >> Okay. >> So Michael, I have I have a question. The cemetery cemetery parks and trees uh line. So I know that we had talked about the creation of um an additional department that would fall under DPW >> would be separate from DPW separate. So currently it is part of DPW and so it would be separate from that. >> Yeah. So something um you know I was thinking that I know there's going to be some changes in that department anyways. >> Um and that that number might need to be um reconsidered adjusted. Um >> it it could be I think um

109I think we probably wouldn't put that into effect until later this year kind of you know giving some of the the things that are happening you know just to make sure that we got the right people in place. So that might take a little time. So yeah that would that appropriation is based on a full year. >> Yeah. So, and would we have some conversation about that before it even was implemented later on in the year? >> Um, I I'd certainly brief you on it, of course. >> Okay. Cuz because honestly, I felt like we weren't really didn't have much of a briefing on that um till we besought it the night of one of our meetings. So, um I I just feel as though that still hasn't been vetted out for me. >> Okay.

110Um, and so I' I'd really, you know, now with changes and everything, I'd like to um make sure that we're ready to to do what was planned because I'm not sure we are anymore. >> Well, >> I mean, I kind of wasn't sure anyways that it seemed like a lot of big things that that we hadn't that I didn't have a good understanding about. >> I can I can understand that. And um yeah, so in between um giving giving you that that more full briefing, I think the budget document has um you know, pretty laid out uh you know, perspective and and kind of the rationale behind it under that department. So that'd be a good place to you know start and then if you have any questions and everything we can um we can

111talk about them and then then you know bring it and have that discussion. >> Yeah. I just don't want it to move forward automatically at this point. So, um >> I that's how does that how do you make that decision? >> Uh well, you know, that does start getting more into like the operational pieces, but I don't think it precludes getting feedback from the board by by any means. >> Yeah, I mean I absolutely understand that it's walking a fine line. Um, but at the same time, I feel as though, you know, we should always be on board, even if we're not even 100% agreement. I think we should always, you know, be kind of brought along when when decision big decisions are being made, right? And that's just what what I'm requesting. I'm not

112asking to uh run anything or to um, you know, tell you how to run things. I'm just saying that that I I'd like to have complete understanding of what the plan is. >> Clay, I think it's perfectly understandable. >> Um, you know, to to, you know, help you understand it more and kind of explain, you know, ration and everything behind that. >> Okay. >> Especially since we're going to have to figure out like how to permanently fund it because it's not currently in the operating budget. >> That's correct. So, I think I think that's where [clears throat] I think that's where we're, you know, we want to make sure that it's vetted, >> right? Yeah. >> Yeah. You want to I mean, you want to understand what it is. [clears throat] That makes total sense.

113>> Um, if somebody asks you, >> geez, I don't know why we're, you know, putting together a a buildings and facilities and ground separate department. Yeah, I don't think that's a good answer. >> I don't think your constituents would think that either. So, >> um >> yeah, >> can do that. >> Are we good? >> Think we're good. >> Okay. >> Review debt schedule. >> Well, let's let's vote on the We have to vote. >> Oh, yeah. That's right. We have to vote on that. That's great. >> We have to vote on the budget. >> All right. So, I'll entertain a motion to accept the operational override budget as presented. So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> That's three 02 absent. >> And thank you to >> um to Michael

114and Cindy and everyone and staff >> in involved. Yeah. Involved in this procedure. It's been a long haul and uh still have a ways to go unfortunately. >> Yeah. I mean, I I I really have to say for the finance team, for it to be your first year as finance director and town accountant and Don's second year and to go through this budget process, that's a trial by fire. >> Yeah. It's not it. >> We hopefully we don't have to >> have it happen again. >> Repeat anytime super soon. So, >> keeping my toes crossed. >> Kidding, right? >> Yeah. >> Um, there was another item that was added to before we go through the debt schedule. There was another item that was added to the um >> Okay, I didn't get the new uh

115print out. So, >> the um the item is to vote to support the 2.75 million operational override for the FY27 budget. >> Um I know that, you know, we've talked about the operational override. Um, so I I actually asked to put this on the agenda because I felt like it was important for us as a board, and I know we're only three tonight, but um to vote to support it um so that when we are at town meeting, we can basically um >> speak on behalf of the board. >> Yeah. I mean, I think that we owe it to the community to to, you know, stand up and say what we believe and what we think. And like I said, that is our responsibility to try to put forth, you know, the best path forward

116for the community even in difficult times, as hard as it is. And um that's what we've tried to do. So, >> so I'll motion. I'll make a motion to um vote to to support the the $2.75 million operational override for the Ashlin Public Schools for the FY27. >> Second on that. All those in favor? >> I that's 30 and two absent. So the select board supports the the override figure and the efforts that are going forward. And at this time I want to thank the citizens group that got together to really work provide the information. Spend many many hours of sitting down talking with people being available to answer questions and those are the two young ladies to my far left. Thank you both for all your efforts in doing this amongst everything else that

117you're doing. That's greatly appreciated and I'm sure you know we haven't got a lot of push back because there's information out there that's being provided that is answering questions before the questions need to be asked. Thank you for doing that. Okay, moving onward. I can't say upward, but moving onward. >> Um, review the debt schedule, >> Michael. >> Yeah. So, this is uh something that was asked to be put on the agenda and that we'll also include this as part of our um budget document, you know, going forward. Uh but just a a relatively simple debt schedule um that shows you um the date of the issue uh what the original balance was, what the outstanding balance um is would will be as of the end of this fiscal year um and what it will

118be at the end of the next fiscal year. and essentially kind of what the category is and um a more specific description of it, whether it's inside the limit or outside the limit. Um and then um also the date that it falls off on the far right, that's the date it falls off the debt schedule. Um so just, you know, there's a couple of big issues. I just want to issues meaning bond issues not issues as in problems um but one in particular like you'll see one for um you know the 6 um 6.8 eight. That was the um Menddees roof. But if you go down a couple, you'll see one that's like for 7.9 originally, one that was done in in 2019. Um so that was a combination of um of different projects. I

119don't remember exactly which ones, but we could we could get those. But but a number of like smaller projects that we rolled up into one issue. >> So Michael looking at these looking at these figures some of these be coming off >> Yeah. If you look at the right Joe >> That's when they fall off. Okay. That's all right. >> Thank you. So one thing that would be um helpful on this too would be what the co the cost to the taxpayer. So, I don't know whether you would do it uh whether it would be by again by per thousand of your assessed value or if it would be better to show it just as an average home value or >> Yeah, we could probably do it based on what the average home value is.

120Um I think it would be hard, especially the ones that say where it's both inside and outside the levy. I think it'd be tough to split those up. Yeah. >> Um, but we could provide like for each of those issues, you know, what it would cost for a taxpayer with an average single family home value. >> Yeah. I think that would be helpful for people to see in terms of debt exclusion numbers, how much they're paying every year, right? >> Yeah. Even if it's not a debt exclusion, even if it's just something that's paid inside the levy, to see how much your tax is going towards that would be helpful. >> Yeah. And then um so yeah because there's a lot of inside the debt limit here. Um and then in terms of um the

121public safety and the mind school building >> so mind still has I think worst case scenario $6 million left to bond which won't be bonded this year. It's not going to be bonded until next year. >> That's correct. I think that's the worst case scenario. Like you said, Claudia. >> Yep. And so everything else for those two buildings has been bonded. >> Correct. >> Right. Because because even though you know, for example, Mindas was 84 million and what was the final number on the 27 on the public safety? >> Um yeah. So total construction Yeah. 233 is what we bonded. >> Yeah. So, so there there's significant savings there as expensive as the buildings were, right? We had a lot of we received a lot of from especially the school building association funding. >> Yeah.

122MSBA I think they provided like 35 to 40. Oh, was it 50? >> But you know what? No, I'm not going to say that and take it back. I'm not sure. I think it might have been >> Yeah. And we were >> 37 38. And uh you know I remember when we did the public safety building bid we were very fortunate to and that was very rare >> thanks to co >> all the construction of materials. >> I know but then pre then pre-co >> cuz then right right as co hit school building got >> killed construction folks were smart enough to realize that they saw something coming down the road and they >> well some of it's just lucky timing. Oh, it was lucky timing and we'll take it. >> So, Michael, the the

1232021 project that was like 11.1, it says multi-purpose. Do you know what that one is either? >> That would have been a number one a number of issues that that had rolled up. I don't have the exact ones, but I can get those at the projects. So, when we say it's outside of the debt limit, um did we were those were those things like um the Valentine estate like or like I'm trying to kind of because those would have been on the ballot, right? Because it's excluded debt. >> Um so that's what I was thinking is like things like you know the Valentine is on here somewhere. >> Yeah. Um, yes, >> that might have been the multi. That might have been the multi. >> That's why I'm thinking it's got to be in it's

124got to be pulled into something. >> Yeah, it's it's one of those two. Um, that was done in 2019 or 2021. >> Okay. >> The energy conservation bonds, uh, that's the one that's actually saving us about a million. That was for the performance contract. That's the one that's subsidized that we were awarded. And then what what I was uh having a hard time with is um and I finally figured out what it was. Uh the 6.8 um that was all refunding. Um and what what is refunding? Well, that's a that's the municipal term for refinancing. Why they call it refunding? I don't know. Because it It's probably the same reason they call free cash free cash. >> Yeah. You're talking about the one that was 2011. >> Mhm. But anyway, hopefully this will um this

125will be helpful for people. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Especially seeing when it falls off. >> Yeah. No, that's very helpful. >> So, thanks to to Cindy putting this together. >> Yep. Absolutely. Thanks, Cindy. And then I think uh budgetarywise the last one we have is the high school >> high the athletic fields. >> Yeah. >> And so I'm going to try to explain this as uh as simply as I can. So [snorts] the enterprise fund for the fields was created through a home rule petition. So it was created through special legislation. We cannot take the money in an enterprise fund and transfer it to a general fund department. So what we're looking at doing is right now is actually transferring the maintenance and the scheduling of the school fields back to the schools. Now

126the enterprise fund contains a lot of that revenue and expenditures related to the schools. But like I just said, we can't take money from an enterprise fund and give it right to a general fund department. and the superintendent's plan uh calls for um making some capital purchases to help with their maintenance. So, they need money right away. So, what we what we're doing is we're transferring 200,000 out of stabilization to go towards the schools to make those capital purchases. Next year a warrant article will be filed that that dissolves that enterprise fund and the balance of it will then flow because it will be dissolved will flow to free cash and it'll go back to stabilization. >> Okay. >> Was that um I tried to make it as unchanical as as it could. So >>

127yeah, I think that makes sense. >> Okay. Great. >> Um and then Oops, I lost my agenda. We're good on that. >> Bench policy. We did that. So, reminder, in person voting. >> Yep. Reminder of early voting uh for May 19th, 20 2026, [clears throat] annual town elections to be held Saturday, May 9th, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 100 p.m. And during regular business hours from 11 from May 11th, 2026 to May 14th, 2026. That is for early voting and that's at town hall. >> It um is it from May 11th to May 14th or is it May 11th and May 14th? >> Yeah, it says two May 11th to May 14th >> for early voting. So any of those days? >> Yep. I want to double check on that. Okay. >> I kind of

128think it's I think it's in I >> apologize if I missed that. >> I think it's to an end to two different things. >> Yeah. Well, it's um like in legal terms, you know, or versus and. >> Yeah. >> Or shall versus may. Um, would you like me to move forward with an update on 40B projects or would you like me to wait for Brandy to? >> Oh, we can wait. >> Um, did we figure out whether it's two or and I think it's and >> but I I'd like to figure that out. Okay. I can't find it right now because it was on the front and now it's not. >> Yeah, I'm looking at I'm looking at the new one. >> Oh, hold on one second. is Monday through Thursday. >> Oh, okay. >>

129So, it's every day. >> It's every day. >> Okay. >> So, we would we were right. >> Nice work. >> Okay. Um 40 40B >> 40B. >> Yep. >> Um so, if you'll just give me one second. Okay. So, um just with 10 to 60 Main Street and specifically in regards to the conservation commission. Uh so, they ended up having their uh site visit on March 16th. Um again, they are in a place where they're continuing to ask for information um but have not um have not received what they've requested. The next hearing is scheduled for May 4th. Yep. And uh they're intending to have a discussion on the contamination issues. Um and so only on the contamination contamination issues. So that um is soil management, dewatering, erosion control, storm water system envelopes. Um and

130then discussion on storm water is not going to convent commence until the discussion on contamination is complete. Um and then they're going to go into flood plane regulations um and then other uh wetlands protection act regulations. So that's with 10 to 60 on 61 Waverly street. So, um, that project did receive their permit from conservation. They have a number of conditions, uh, including the one that they have to replace that 12-in pipe in the road. Um, and that connects a stone box culbert, um, under Waverly Street. So, um, so that is that is conservation. Um, and then the 4DB, the comprehensive permit process, excuse me, is specifically related to 55 West Union Street. So, they've gone ahead, they've done the peer review for civil with Haley and Ward. Um, the main issue right now is

131the placement of this sewer line. They they still haven't figuring that out. >> Um, and so a lot of people have weighed in on that. Um and so that is that is the outstanding issue that they're still working on. But that is a major issue. >> Yeah. And >> major issue. >> All right. We just finished update on 40B projects. I can move on to cross street if you would like. >> Zero cross street. >> Yeah. So just to give you an update on um kind of where things are overall. So, I've reached out to Agilityus after getting the name of the project manager. Uh, his name is Sam. And, uh, I hope to get a response from him soon because I'd like to talk to him about um some of the original commitments that

132Agilityus or the original permitting company had made. Um but from a department perspective um so you know we had uh we had an applicant um who has engaged with a purchase and sale with u with that owner Agilitus um who was looking at doing a new septic system. Um in order to do that there has to be certain wetland uh wetland requirements that are met including an RDA. Um and so our departments have reached out to the applicant, let them know exactly what's supposed to happen um that they have to answer the questions uh from our departments and we still haven't received anything. So um and so they have also been advised if the applicant ever does respond back um that we should respond back and this is on the advice of our council that

133we should uh say that the land is designated as open space and how can it be developed when it's designated as open space. >> Yeah. So, in the meantime, instead of just waiting to see if they take any further action, uh can can we kind of push this to resolutions so that it just comes off the table? It it seems like, you know, we should be able to do that. It's it's in the deed. It's um it, you know, I know it's rather complicated in terms of how um it's even evolved to this point in time, but I know that Mr. Hackinson has u been, you know, from the conservation commission has been very involved in terms of um working with the uh neighboring owner and also trying to work with Hopkin and others. And

134is this something that we could encourage him to continue to do on behalf of the town so that we could just kind of put this to bed? It's >> I think so. The original, if I remember correctly, the original intent was to donate that piece of property to Hall, which is the Hopinson Area Land Trust. Y >> and you know, and Carl has a relationship with them that that I don't have. So, we would we would need to have them be on board >> and hopefully that is what Agilityus decides to do, which is donate the property like the original intention was. And so we need to have Carl's relationship expertise with Halt to be a part of that as well. >> Okay. So then how should we move move forward? >> What does it

135look like? >> Well, I think we should give some time uh to try to get in now that we have the right person um to give get in contact with that person and see if they would be amendable to that donation. Just because it's the right thing to do. And after kind of hearing some of our stances about it being open space, etc. And um if that doesn't work, then I think we would need to meet to discuss the next steps. >> Okay. Would [clears throat] that be um public hearing or would that be in executive session because potential litigation? >> I would say the initial meeting would definitely be an exec. So, so have we reached out to the correct person? Now, >> we have reached out to the correct person. Yes. >> All

136right. And so, how much time do we give them to respond? >> I would say till today's Wednesday. Um, reached out again on Monday. I would say till the end of the week. >> Okay. And then the next step, remind me again what the next step would be. >> I think if if we don't hear anything from them or they are not amenable to that, I think like I said, the board would need to meet probably in exec to talk about what the next step would be. >> Okay. In the meantime, should Mr. Hackinson be talking to Halt or >> I think that's happening. Yes. >> Okay. I just want to keep things moving. It just feels like this has been >> this is lingering. Yeah, I I understand. >> Well, >> at the same

137time, it is very it it's a it's a one parcel that has a lot kind of wrapped into it. >> Yeah. And I understand, you know, but sometimes it seems so simple, too. It says in the deed, right? So, I mean, I thought a deed superseded anything else. >> Well, Claudia, I also thought a gift agreement, a signed gift agreement meant that land would be donated. >> Don't even go with you. Did I take the words out of your mouth? >> You did. Just don't go there. And also 1060 Main Street, there's something under the D. They said there been no, you know, residential housing on the deed. And And has that been >> Well, that's by from >> Well, it's still on the deed. How do you >> Well, it's um >> It is

138what it is. >> It It should be simple. Let's put it that way. [clears throat] >> Um Usually simple, is it? We'll go with that. >> All right, moving on. Thank you. Leaison updates. >> Do we have any? >> Sure. I attended um community preservation committee meeting last night. Um it was very informative. There was discussion about a parcel of land that um bisects uh town forest and it's also a critical um habitat. And so there was a lot of discussion about using CPA funds which can only be used for certain things um to to purchase this piece of property. Um and then that information so that committee did um you know spend quite a little bit of time hearing information from Mr. St. Germaine who has been working diligently and to try to get

139that property for the community to be able to add to our town forest. Um and and so they were able to come to an agreement in terms of um being able to move forward in in negotiations with the owner um and then bring that number and that information to the FINCOM who were then able to also um agree to um support that. So So that will be ongoing over the next couple of weeks. Um it would be really nice if it was resolved in that period of time. Again, it's a very nice piece of property. It really doesn't lend itself to being um developable at this point. Um and so uh it would be nice again because it does include um the critical habitat and also um you know would be connect our town forest.

140So, it's about 11.4 acres. So, it's a significant piece. Um, I have actually had the pleasure of walking it um I don't know, maybe last fall or last spring even uh with Mr. St. Germaine. It really is a beautiful piece of property um and and it would certainly be u you know, a crowning jewel for our our um >> Town forest. And so, I want to thank that committee. They're um you know the the conservation the community preservation committee is um made up of they have some at large members but they are also made up with representatives from other committees in the community and um so they it it was really um you know when I was sitting there last night listening to everyone and then we went across the hall to the fincom and

141I thought about all the work that's done by volunteers cares in our community and the not you know there in that group because there's um many fingers in different committees um it it's really amazing the amount of work that takes place from by volunteers and people who are really invested in in Ashland and doing the right thing for our community and for the world. Um it it's it's I've been to a couple of their meetings now and it's really a very feel-good um meeting. >> Lot of dedicated people. >> A lot of dedicated people >> without a doubt. >> Yep. Okay. I guess that is the only um the uh the other one I'm is the storm water committee and they haven't met since our last meeting. So thank you >> Brandy. >> I have

142nothing to report on my committees. I'm really sorry. >> Good for you. >> Um, no, not good for me. Not not good for me. Um, I will resume um liaison work after May 19th. [laughter] So, um, and my apologies to my committees for my absenteeism. So, >> I think they'll they don't thin lashes with a wet n. Um the only one I have uh right now is uh the roadway traffic safety committee met and discussed several issues. One has to do with the planning and and designing of certain sidewalks in town, especially the one up on high streets. Some engineering issues big time, especially fall off on both sides of the road >> uh at different at different locations. So you'd have to put the sidewalk on one side and then maybe create a crosswalk

143>> so they could So that that's in the planning stage. I know people would like to see that done, but it's going to take a lot of work and it's going to take some land away from a lot of people. Pretty nice land uh you know right up to the side of the road that may be taken and I'm sure they're not going to be too happy about that. You know, the safety of the residents that use that street quite often. >> Yeah. Yeah. Wow. All the time and the kids riding their bikes and stuff too, coming back from school now. They come off the emergency run up. So, >> yeah. Yeah, it's it's hopefully they'll understand that. >> Uh the other the other aspect that they were talking about and I'm not sure if

144we have any new updates on that and maybe I'll ask you. Um the state was talking about replacing the portable road bridge and it was supposed to be sometime in the spring. Well, the spring is coming and gone. So, I don't know if that has changed. Time wise, time table has talking about shutting down certain junctures on the traffic through >> that's because my throat is starting to tighten up on me. Um, so we just need to be aware of that and want to watch uh side traffic at that point in time as well. So I I don't know if there's anything new on that from the state. I know [snorts] they've been >> I haven't heard anything new. >> Anything new? Okay. All right. And and that's and that's basically it. I don't have

145anything else. >> Oh, I do have a couple reports. >> Joe, I was just going to ask, is there an update on um what about the seed Cedar Street sidewalk? Oh, that's that's good. That'll be the first one that gets done. >> Yeah, I thought so. >> Yeah, that that's the first one. The second one will definitely be the main street I mean the high street road work, but uh hopefully that'll be coordinated with the bridge work same time. So, we don't we don't interfere with that as well. >> Yeah. >> So, yeah, hopefully that that that'll happen. And the other uh the other quick thing the other quick note was u potential gates on Captain Ames and Al Gongquin. There's there's u ongoing issues going with that right now the different associations part of

146that just being made aware of certain matters being dealt. So we'll see where that goes. It's always for the next meeting to come up with any new updates from the new people that have put in position >> recently. >> Yeah. So, that's where we're at with that. At that, I'll uh I think we manager we did the consent already. So, we're looking at how manager reports. >> Yeah. And I'll um just being cognizant of time, I'll I'll I'll run through those. So, update on downtown. So our cut over is um so for Eversource to cut over uh the electricity to underground is scheduled for um early May. So what you'll see is once they are done they will actually cut the pole to the next wire. Um and so Verizon and Comcast then have to

147come in and and they're aware and they're on schedule and so the poles come down a foot at a time pretty much. at least to start. So that's how you know Verizon and Comcast. >> But every poll comes how many polls are there that are coming down? Do we know? >> I want to say 60 something. I have no like that is >> and everyone now when they cut it down a foot at a time they do all 60 if it's theirs. >> That's a good question. Um I believe they would just go insert as they're doing the cut offs or cut cut overs. Um, so it would probably wouldn't happen within a day, but you would probably see it happen, you know, within the course of a week or two. >> And how many

148it's it's Comcast, it's >> Comcast, Verizon, our fiber. Um, I believe RCN uses one of Comcast or Verizon's and and Eversource. >> So there's five ever five >> uh four because one uses the Eversource. So, the four feet have to be done individually and then they'll take the whole thing. Who takes the whole thing? >> Yeah, Chloe, I don't know if it was an exact foot. I was just >> Well, I know. I'm just [laughter] >> I know. I'm just saying. >> You could be up there with a tape measure. >> There's Yeah, >> I'm going to measure its progress by how how how close it is to my >> to the ground. Yeah, [laughter] there we go. And who's responsible for that? >> Um, >> the final piece. >> The cutting piece. >> the

149final piece. Ever source is responsible for taking the poles out. 102 property maintenance will be coming back and they will be the ones who will like do the concrete pads where the um where the holes are. >> So do do we have a time frame about this whole project? >> The cut over is for Eversources in early May. That's that's the best I can give you. I'm sorry. >> That's weeks. >> Yeah. Um, we went ahead and reviewed the town meeting and the process earlier and then uh the Boston Globe did an article and Brandy I think you >> you should speak to that one. It's coming up. >> Um, so yeah, so we were um so the um a journalist from the the Boston Globe magazine was doing an article um and reached out

150to us for an interview. Um, so Ashlin was selected as one of the top spots to live um, west of Boston for 2026, which is really cool. We are the top spot in the 750,000 to 1 million. they they have three kind of categories of price ranges um where it's like um you know under 750 and then 750 to a million and then over a million and um and then they have like a runner up and then a other town to kind of consider. Um so I really so it it was a really good conversation. the um the reporter was great and she didn't know anything about Ashlin before we talked. In fact, she didn't even know we were on the marathon route. So, um so there was a lot of >> she but by

151the end of it, she's like, "It sounds like a really great place to live." And I'm like, "Yes, yes, yes it is." So, um but uh congratulations to Ashen. They they base it on basically um the incre they they start with the increase in um home values over the last 5 years and Ashland has as we know um it's a desirable place to live. So, you know, we've seen our housing prices increase substantially over the last five years. And um but it's it's it's a great honor for Ashland and um and just on a personal note, um Hopington was the the 1 million and up. >> Yeah. >> And if you read the Ashlin part and then the Hollis the Hopping part, we're we sound much cooler than Huffington. Just Just saying. >> Yeah. >>

152So anyway, but uh that was good. Yeah, thank you for handling that. That was well done and and it was very exciting to read that. >> Yeah. A little bit of little bit of fame in the >> Yeah. >> for the little town, you know. >> Yep. >> Well, it's nice to see a lot of the work that's been done over the years um collectively kind of um >> some acknowledgement >> be acknowledgement. Yeah. Um, and like you said, it's it's a catch 22 because on one hand, we're all proud of the fact that Ashlin's becoming more and more desirable because it means we're improving quality of life. At the same time, it drives housing prices up and up and we want to make sure it's affordable for people. >> And that's kind of where

153we were in the in the conversation too with the reporter. So, >> thank you. Thank you for doing that. >> Great. >> And then, Miss Catherine. Yeah. >> So, just a quick update on the community center improvement project. So, the prevention and human services space is really taking shape. Um, I visited Friday, I believe. And so, full walls are up, which is really exciting. Um, I saw some paint on the walls, which is even more exciting. Um, yeah. And and so that's really it for the the human services space there. >> Nice. and the food pantry as well. >> That's awesome. >> When you start seeing furniture moved in, that'd get even more exciting. >> Yeah, >> that's awesome. >> Yeah, it it's um you know, kind of to see that space um transform, you

154know, it become it was a really smart solution to a number of problems that we had. So, it was uh appreciate everybody coming up with that and uh working towards it. Um, Warren Barn, Beth's been working on that one. So, that's pretty close to the walls are going up and going vertical. Um, so that'll be exciting, too. >> Yeah, it's it's starting to take shape. >> Shape. Yep. >> And then finally, um, something I I really want to credit uh Jim Knee and our uh representative to the MWRTA, Ed Berman. So, one of the things that they have been working on is redesigning all the bus routes for the MWRTA. Um, and it has been communicated to Ed how much we need um a a a line or or you know a route that goes

155through downtown Ashland, especially if we have some you know something that is built at 10 to 15 Main Street that then goes to the train station on this side on the north side. And um so with the latest um iteration of the new roots uh they were successfully able to do that. So kudos to to them um and Chief Burman u who's our representative still on the um on the transit line for making that happen. And so it'll come down Waverly, uh come down Fountain in Front a bit, take a ride onto Maine, and uh we'll it's a flag down type of system, so they don't have like bus stops, but um but yes, and then that'll go directly to the train station. >> So they won't have uh scheduled stops at certain time frames.

156>> Correct. They do the they do the wave Yeah. the wave down. >> But there's certain time frames, right? >> Yeah. when they'll be at certain certain location. >> Yeah. >> But you could be any place. You just wave them down. >> Yeah. You just wave them down. >> Yeah. >> Those ones with like trolleys. >> They're small buses. Yeah. Yeah. MWR. Yeah. With the green >> the white the little white buses. Little white vans. They're like extended van kind of. >> And And speaking of >> Yeah, they had they have a trolley, too. >> I was going to say I've seen the trolley recently. Yeah, it's cute. It's actually very nice. And my my next the next announcement for the MWRTA will be related to a van that they were able to get us

157for our >> Oh, nice. That's awesome. >> For what? >> A van. >> For what? >> For the community center. The senior senior. >> Who Who's our Who's our van driver? >> That is Is it Bill Been still? >> Okay. Okay. >> Um so when we So do you know when this new schedule's going to take effect? They're still getting public comment on it. Oh, okay. >> Um and then um then I think it's I I don't have the exact date, but I'll check. >> Okay. Could we um when it does kind of go live, can we kind of do a big >> a little bit of a big splash with it just to make sure people >> are aware of it because I would say a good chunk of people are not aware of

158of the MWRTA. And it's it's such a great it's such a great service. And you know, we can talk about the I don't know if they're still free, but it used to be free. Um >> I don't know if they're still >> I think there's a fair back. Okay. I know post like it was during co Yeah, >> they were free but um but yeah, if we could provide some information because it would be great to have >> to have just people more aware of you know utilizing it more in Ashland and then you know especially to deal with traffic and get some >> we have those electronic signs now too that we can utilize >> that we can get people off the roads less traffic especially if they're going say to the train station

159or [clears throat] you know >> Yeah. or people who don't drive or >> Yeah. >> Right. Right. >> They have another service too that they where where they will pick up elderly and disabled people and basically take them doortodoor >> which is a great a great thing that that I'm sure our community center >> helps our seniors connect with >> the rad. [laughter] >> Yeah. Yeah. Cool. >> So, but anyway, thank you. That's awesome. And thank you to Ed for advocating. >> Y um and that's what I had. >> Thank you, sir. >> Board reports, >> Miss Clay. >> Um I don't really have uh too much in the way of board reports. I know um the one thing that's I guess on my mind a little bit is I know we were waiting for

160from for our attorney to respond um with some answers to some questions that have been put out there. Um I don't know, Michael, if you can follow up on that. >> Um I actually sent an email to a resident just because that that was asked to me on Saturday. Um, just to make sure I had the right questions to follow up on. I had a couple. So, >> all right. Good. Thank you. Keep me in the loop bonnet, too, will you? >> Okay, >> that's it for you. >> That's it. I missed all the festivities on on Sunday. Uh, we had a wedding, so >> um I was uh >> sad to miss them, but we had company and for the long weekend, too. So, >> um, so I would say thank you to to

161to to Becca Solomon and Sam Riley for an awesome Earth Day on Sunday. Um, what a what an event they put together. That's like awesome. >> Um, congratulations to them. There was live music, there was food, there was all these activities. Um, I saw Michael there, I saw Beth there. Um, it was it was it was a good time. Like, you know, it the weather was it it held off, you know, like it wasn't the it wasn't the the sunshiny day, but but the weather was was decent enough for um for a for Earth Day. >> It was a great day. It was a great day. >> But actually, the day got better as the day went on to get warm. >> Yeah. I wish I had brought my sunglasses. >> Yeah, because our wedding

162was later in the afternoon and it it just got better and better. Yeah. >> So, congratulations to them. We have a big weekend coming up this weekend. >> Yes, we do. >> Um there is lots to do in in Ashland. So, um on Saturday, Greenup Ashland is um hosting their um annual townwide cleanup day. >> Um I know that they still have um I think it's walk up registration at this point. I think they closed their their online pre-registration, >> but um they're over at the Stone Park Pavilion from 9 to 12 on Saturday for people to sign up, pick up their bags. I'm sure there'll be green t-shirts for all. Um and whatever other swag they generally have. And um so come and whether it's an individual or a group and you pick up

163part of town and you pick up trash and it makes a ton of difference. So >> post post greenup you can really tell that that it just it the town just looks so much better and it's before the the poison ivy really comes up. So >> yeah. >> So [laughter] but beware of the poison ivy people because [clears throat] it it it's >> Yeah. You don't realize how much of a difference it makes. It really does. >> So, thank you to the Greenup folks. Um the Ashlin Public Library is hosting their um mini Ren Fair over at the farmers market lot. I think that is from 10 to 3 and there is a ton of vendors. Um performances. I think there's like harp player and some other I mean there's there's a lot of lot

164of stuff going on. So um I think there's like a king and queen and you know there's people that are coming all dressed up. So um so anyway, come check it out because there it'll be it'll be a really that'll be a that'll be a fun day over at the library and a spectacle. Yes, it'll be fun. Come get a turkey leg, I'm sure. Um, and then there the friends are having their book sale at the same time, too. So, there's lots going on downtown. And I think there was something else. Oh, >> uh, select board hours. >> No, we're not having select board hours >> because there's so much going on. We had talked about that. >> Oh, okay. I think last >> Well, you just saved me from not going down there. >>

165Oh, yeah. No. Yeah. No, because it's just there's there's All right. >> So much going on that day. Okay. I think we're gonna we'll hold off on that. Um >> Thank you. >> And uh so but speaking of select board hours, um I can I know we had talked at our last meeting that I was going to >> I think Makita. >> Makita. I know >> she was volunttoled. >> Volunt [laughter] is that a is that a new >> Oh, it's not a new word, but it's it's [laughter] >> was new to me. Um, but I'll talk to Makita and make sure like everything's in a good place with that. So, um, for the farmers market season. So, >> y >> um, and I think that's really it for me. So, um, folks, just make

166sure you come out to town meeting next week. That's like the big thing. >> May 6th. >> Um, May 6th, 7 o'clock. Get there a little early. Um, we are expecting a lot of people. I know we didn't really talk about the sort of the the plan, but um >> I don't know, maybe Katherine wants to talk about like overflow and yeah, >> all of that stuff too. >> Sure. So check-in starts at 6:15 and we'll have I believe it's four extra tellers there to check people in. Um and so we'll fill up the auditorium first and once that's full, we have an overflow in the cafeteria. Both rooms will be set up so that everyone in each room can participate fully as if they were in the auditorium. Um so we'll have tellers um

167our deputy town clerk will be in there um as well. So >> and I did get one question actually yesterday. Um a resident asked if there was like a max on how many kids that can sign up for child like child care. like if there was only room for like 20 kids or whatever, >> I would have to I would have to ask Kelly. >> Okay. Okay. But folks are um folks should register their child in advance. Yes. Before before >> very very helpful. >> So [music] >> and they can do that. The link is on the town website. >> Okay. >> Quick question. I know it was asked I'm sure you all saw that that email. Will we have a ADA signed person that may be watching on TV or coming in person? >>

168So, there is actually language at the bottom of the um not the first page of the warrant that says if you need any sort of assistance. Okay. >> To contact us and I have the due date. It's just not opening right now. I believe it's May 1st, but um >> Okay. Well, that was a question that was asked. First asked it was >> Yep. >> Hearing this. So, >> Yep. So, anyone in need of special arrangements for town meeting, it's on the first page of the warrant. They will just need to contact our office. Um there's a phone number listed there by May 1st. >> Okay. Have them contact you. We probably >> Yep. Town manager's office. Yep. Yep. >> Okay, great. Thank you. All right, we took everything that I was going to have

169to say, so that's good. Um, I apologize for not being there. I was playing uh nurse this past weekend and um but everything is good. Everything is good. So, she'll be back out. Don't worry, kids. She'll be back out there. >> She can't wait to get back out there. >> And Oh. Believe me, it's a lot better than me getting yelled at, that's for sure. You know, anyway, I uh our next meeting is uh May 20th, but again, remember May May 6th is the uh town meeting and May 19th is election day. So, please remember those two dates. get out early and vote early and often as Mayor Curley used to say. Right. With that, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> All those in favor? >> Second. I I >> Thank

170you. Good night and uh have a great weekend.