Select Board (February 18th, 2026)

001No, it has. >> All right, we are live. >> Good evening everyone and welcome to the February 18th, 2026 select board meeting. We are just coming out of executive session and into open session at 7:03 p.m. Um, tonight I am pinch hitting for for Joe who is not here with us. Um, so the uh meeting is being recorded and broadcast live by WACA TV and livereamed 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. >> You're gonna delete the responses. So, don't freak out. >> I won't freak out. >> Um, in the event of a disruption, broadcasting will continue on WACA TV and livereamed on YouTube. Um, so I already called the meeting to order. We're going

002to open it up for citizens participation if anyone is here to speak. um here in person, feel free to come to the podium. If anyone is online and would like to speak, please use the raise hand function. I see Mark Don has his hand raised. We'll we'll start with Mark and then we'll come to you. Um Mark, go ahead and unmute yourself. Can you unmute Mark? >> Okay. >> Hi Mark. um is Mark Sony 119 Main Street. I'm just last couple of meetings there's been um when I was on the last one the camera part was not working. Is that still the case for tonight? So, I think Mark, we've limited the the camera for um for folks on Zoom because we had some some really bad Zoom bombs not too long ago, >> but

003we had some people show on camera last meeting. >> I think we have to make them a co-host in order to do that. >> Like us to review that because it hasn't been an issue recently. And >> for presenters, we we'll Thanks, Katherine. So, so sorry Mark, we can't we we're not able to to see you tonight, but do you have do you have something that you w want to share with us? >> Um, uh, yes. I I read the um latest town manager uh online, what you want to call it, Mr. Mike management. Mr. Mike, >> is it his newsletter? >> It was it was your um lead in Okay. >> How about how you been with with the town for so long and the mindsets everybody how they how they work together? >>

004Yeah. >> And uh how how it was supposed to as a vision. >> Yeah. >> This was in your newsletter. >> Yep. I'm Yes. Now it's coming to me. >> Yeah. I'm I'm trying to remember because I did I read to do the weekend and then I deleted over the weekend too. >> Must have left an impression. >> Wanted to say that >> I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> Left an impression. That's what if left an impression. That's why that's why I'm that's what I'm going to ask to say about it. >> Okay. >> Is that the town is is somewhat grown. But then again, it can grow in in better ways than what it's doing. But I'm not complaining. I'm just saying that what was said once you look back on it wasn't all true

005about what the town and how you vision 10 11 years ago when you first got here how it kind of worked its way through the town hall bodies to the streets and how it is today. >> Yeah. >> So I'm positive and happy how it was. But I'm but I'm still looking at it as if we can get more business economic and stuff like that. And I I've been told that um it's the reason of um municipal things background in parking building rents and stuff like that. That's why this town is having hot time growing. I just wanted to say that this town can grow if the state can let lay lead off bend off on the housing sort of things to get more business. But what the sound is still the state still being

006by housing committees and stuff like that in the state house can grow tremendously if they look that way. if it's understandable about what I'm saying. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, Mark. That's it. >> Great. >> Thank you, Mark. >> Thank you, Susan. Do you want to come on up? >> Susan Thorne, what anyone cross street? Thank you for the time. Um, so this is just a brief followup in regards to zero cross street, which we discussed the last time. Um, remember I had asked that Ashland pause all municipal permits for the prospective buyer until the open space status is resolved with Hopkin and Agilitas. Um, I would appreciate confirmation that this pause is in place and will remain in place while this issue is being addressed. Um, it's important that the seller and the prospective

007buyer understand that Ashland intends to uphold the protections outlined for the community in the solar project special permit. Um, I understand that our town doesn't have mandated response times for test pits or soil evaluations. So, maintaining that pause is especially important. So, no activity gets ahead of the legal process. Um, I'd also appreciate an update on any communication between our town council and Hopkin's town council. Um, and a sense of the expected timeline for enforcing that special permit. Uh, again going back to when I talked with Becca Solomon back in December, she did say that our town council said that Hopkin can and should enforce the special permit. Um, so I know this board has lots of priorities, but as time is of the essence um, in preserving this parcel, I and my neighbors, including

008David, who's here, um, appreciate you're keeping them among your priorities. So, thank you. And I know time may not allow this evening, but I'd greatly appreciate an update maybe by email or offline, whatever is appropriate. Thanks. Do we I know that um following our last meeting, we had put together a letter. Yes. >> Um with the assistance of town council that got sent out. >> Um >> Yes. And I know um like our building commissioner I I I've been advised I can't say that he can't issue anything. I can't say that um he will follow like all applicable guidelines and and laws and everything. Just me looking at it, I think it'd be very, very difficult to issue a building permit on something that has so many restrictions already. >> Yeah, I think that's why

009there's the urgency for the attorneys to talk with one another and for Hopkin and Ashland to work in a coordinated way to just get that special permit enforced. I don't think it'll be that big of a deal for Hopkin to do. It's just the the push from Ashland that this is important to us. Yeah, I did I did receive a call from their town manager today, but we were playing phone tagged, so we didn't get a chance to connect. And I don't know if that's what it was about, but >> Okay. >> Um, you know, she did reach out. >> Okay. And it's on their uh Open Space and Preservation Commission meeting tomorrow. So, Tony and I will attend that. I'm not sure if, you know, Robera is going to be able to attend, but

010we'll be there and listen to what they have to say. I mean, we're we're monitoring actually the Hopkin planning board meetings and select board meetings because the absolute worst case scenario would be if they change the terms of the special permit. So, we're keeping a a close eye on on that. >> Yeah. >> So, anyway, >> yeah, I I I I would think if the developer went to try to apply for that, that would definitely catch some red flags. >> I would hope so. I would hope so. So anyway, that's that's my request. If we can stay in touch. >> Thank you. >> All right. Is there anybody else? David, do you want to come on up? >> We don't want seconds. I've known Susan forever living down the street. >> I think this is

011very important. It is 1.8 acres of woods of and which is significant. And the trail there is wonderful. I've been on it dozens of times. And uh well, it's in the snow. That's kind of hard, but it's a snow mount. So, you got to uh do that trailer goes through the woods all the way to Hopkins State Park and uh is marvelous. It'll be good to keep the whole thing intact. >> Absolutely. Thank you both. >> Is there anybody else here that wants to speak for citizens participation? Anybody online? Are we good? >> All right. Madam Chair, I would just like to ask too that we be kind of kept a breast of what's going on with that property. >> So just rather than wait until the next meeting of that, it's nice to know.

012Thank you. >> I agree. Thank you. >> Okay. Um let's see. Moving on in our agenda. Um 7:15 we have um Doug Small who's here uh with Kevin Langmire. So Doug Small is our uh director of DPW and Kevin as well. So they're going to give an update on the Boston Marathon preparation. Oh, we've got >> Kevin. Did you >> got handouts? >> Thank you. >> There's enough for you guys. >> Thank you. >> Hi. Thank you for inviting us uh to the meeting tonight. Um, I haven't started working out yet, so I don't know if I will be ready by the 20th, but um, anyways, uh, let's see. So, um, just an update on the Boston Marathon, where we're at. Um last month, um town police, fire, DPW, board of health, a couple other

013departments met with BAA officials, uh to pretty much discuss what what worked last year and what didn't work. Um so we're in pretty good shape as far as that goes. Um what I did is I invited Kevin to the meeting because Kevin is the mastermind behind the plan. um on the setup and everything. And so if Kevin Kevin can walk you through uh the setup if you want or um if you have any questions, he's the guy. >> Thank you guys. Um any questions to start off with before I get into anything? >> All right. >> Sorry, Kevin. >> No, go right ahead. If you can give a quick overview, that would be great. Hey. Um, marathon preparation involves extensive months in advanced safety, traffic, and security coordination among eight communities, including numerous meetings with

014police, fire, board of health, and the BAA. Uh, over 48 public agencies, local, state, and federal, coordinate on race day using resources like the MIMA bunker, and some latest state-of-the-art equipment to keep everybody safe, etc., etc., drones, state-of-the-art equipment. Um, speaking on behalf of the public works, uh, our kickoff usually starts in March. We start sweeping, start paving, get everything all cleaned up. Um Doug over the years has coordinated with Dell. We get uh 50 volunteers to come up the day before, help clean up the route. Uh volunteer their time and hours. Um they do an excellent job making everything look great. Um among everything, you know, we're just constantly meeting, making sure we're making improvements, anything we do to keep everybody safe. Um there's tons of traffic management. There's tons of detours. There's tons

015of barricades and preparation for everything, keeping everybody safe that day. >> Well, yeah. And maybe you could speak a little bit to just the coordination that goes in with our with just our police and fire departments as well that because that's a big part of your your take there. Uh so on the day of the event we have about 30 of our internal highway employees including all departments cemetery park and tree water and sewer all management all hands- on deck um about 99% of the Ashland police forces in and the fire department among with we farm out at least 150 additional police officers from regional towns to come in for additional support help blocking all roads helping detours etc etc I believe there's about 50 national guard agents that also come in and multiple other

016agencies. >> Yeah. >> And so maybe you can also explain just how you decide where to set up. I mean to the extent that you can. >> Yeah. >> Um you know where you set up like the barricades and and use the the vehicles and >> Yeah. So we use we used a lot of the bigger trucks and a lot of the major routes. Some of the main arteries like Main Street, top of Main Street Hill, um Cherry Street, all the major arteries that keep flowing traffic. So, we use bigger vehicles at that point just so nobody can enter to and fro from the route. Um, there's barricades on every single side street at the roadway and additional 50 feet back for any vehicles. So, that we create a little barrier for pedestrian safety and

017vehicle safety. Um, there's just a magnitude of detours set up around town to keep everybody flowing in and out of town, message boards that we borrow from all over the state and stuff like that. So, >> yeah. >> And are you planning on any road work? I know last, you know, we we've we've done some repaving. Um >> uh we recently, if everybody noticed, we did some water work out there on 135 after 50s in the Fountain Street area. Um I understand it's pretty rough shape right now, and that's why we're holding off trying to make sure they're coming back right before the marathon do their part in paving that up. Um outside of general maintenance on the route, nothing specific at the moment, but >> yeah. >> And that's the one where we got

018the money for do the paving just this week, right, Doug? That's for the long term. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Does anyone have any questions? >> Yeah. >> So, go ahead. >> Oh, yeah. So, you're saying for the We got a lot of funds to do the paving. So, what section of that? And will it be done the whole thing? >> Are we planning on doing the whole thing before the marathon? >> Yes. So, there's there's two or three phases to this. the the the first phase is to put in the permanent trench over the water man that was just replaced and that needs to occur before the marathon. Um so we're going to make sure that is done. Um and then after that um then there's a separate job that involves the safety improvements of

019the intersection itself. Okay? >> And that's all new traffic signals. It's a crosswalk. We've been talking about this for a long long time. So that $500,000 that Becca Navaro managed to get today was was part of that, you know. So, and on top of that, you know, Michael's also identified some other funding sources for this. So, um, >> so this is the intersection by Fountain Street. >> Yeah, it's at Route 135 and Fountain Street. Just the what is that? The southern side. >> Okay. >> Maybe later in life we'll deal with the northern side, but yeah. So, >> nice. >> Yeah, that's going to be great. So, so the there's a lot of cord with the pave and we're kind of dealing with two contractors. So, right now we have the water contractor first. We

020need to figure out, you know, kind of coordinate with them what they're going to do and then the next phase is going to be probably a different contractor for the surface work for the sidewalk improvements, the traffic lights and all that. So, unless we're able to figure it out with the first contractor. So there's a little coordinate coordination that needs to occur here. And if certain people need to let go of things so we can move on to the second thing, you know, so we just got to make sure it's not going to cost us more. That's >> okay. Yeah. >> Great. Great. >> Good question. >> Always it's you guys always do a great job and >> thank you. >> The the safety is is so so good to see all the vehicles and

021places and it's always always a good day here in Ashland. >> Yeah, the these guys do a great job. The police department's wonderful that you know in the morning that that particular morning we meet all meet down at the middle school for a briefing. You have National Guard police other cities and towns the police officers that come in to to help out. Um and it's it's pretty amazing and you know and it's something you don't want to miss. If you ever get a chance you know come down and and experience it. It's it's pretty awesome. you know, it takes about a half an hour and and uh the Ashlin Police Department puts on a really good um show or what it's not a show, but they they do a wonderful job showing their leadership in

022Ashlin and it's a really remarkable thing. >> That's great >> to see to witness. And there's a bunch of donuts and coffee and all that. So, we bring them all back to the guys, you know. So, >> so when when's that now? >> It's the 20th. The Monday the 20th at 6:00 a.m. >> 6 a.m. We have to be there sharp at 6 a.m. >> Exactly. The only problem is it's it's an early start, you know, >> as a result as as being so close to Hopington as we are. You know, other cities in town, they get to sleep later, you know, further east of us. >> But we're also done earlier, right? We get our students back in the afternoon. >> As long as Framingham opens up on time, we can get out of

023here at a reasonable time. So, that was one of the issues last year, but um yeah, so >> great. Thank you. >> Yeah. I I just want to say thank you. you know, there's such a tremendous amount of work that happens behind the scenes here that people really don't appreciate and uh and you all do a great job all the time. Um it's been a really tough winter and I just want to say that on more than one occasion I've crossed from Ashland to um South and Sherban a couple of weeks ago and it was like a shocker. I said, "What was I thinking?" >> Um and what a tremendous job you folks do in terms of the condition of our roads and >> Yeah. Thank you very much. It's definitely takes the whole team

024for that. Thank you. >> And and just one question regarding all this. Now, does the BAA offer any financial support to us and how does that does that cover our expenses? Because it's expensive to have all our I mean, I know there's a lot of volunteers throughout the course, but we certainly have a a big piece that we have to have pull our workers in, right? Yeah, we um we actually, you know, for a while there it got to a point where it wasn't covering all of our costs and so we went back to the BAA and talked to them and they actually um Jack's been pretty reasonable in terms of upping that contribution amount. Do you remember what it's up to now, Susan? >> Sorry. Sorry, Michael. I had to unmute. Um I don't

025know what we haven't gotten our check for this year >> and last year all the additional expenses they paid them directly to all the vendors. >> Right. >> Oh well that's good to hear. >> Yeah that's good to hear. >> I was just thinking with what Foxboro is going through right now. >> I know. I was thinking that too. >> Well thank you again really for uh all your work. >> Yeah. No our pleasure. >> Great. >> Thank you. >> I don't have a question. And I just want to say thanks as well. And as someone I actually ran the marathon last year. Uh and you know I think that I think on behalf of the runners like I think you really do appreciate you know you go through all these towns and first off

026it was just wonderful to come through Ashlin but you know you see the level of coordination and support there and it you know just as someone who's watched the event, participated in the event and seen it from a couple different angles. I just wanted to offer my my gratitude and thanks for all the work that you all do on that as well. Means a lot. >> Yeah. Thank Thank you very much. I mean Kevin, like I said, I just get out of his way and you know certain people it's their destiny and he's it's more as a good manager. You get out of great, you know, he takes charge and he takes the leadership on it and it's it's pretty awesome to watch and he's got control of it and it's it's pretty awesome stuff.

027the line painting. He'll bring in the line painting company and we'll get reimbursed, you know, from the BAA and all that. So, and then the paving, you know, it's we get reimbursed for that. All the overtime. Um, one year they got us shirts >> and the shirts they were like running shirts and they were I mean they're like like towel or like >> sleeveless sleeveless. Anyway, that didn't work. We don't have a lot of runners at the DPW unfortunately. Yeah. No, thank you guys. It takes it takes an enormous amount of coordination. I think people that come to the marathon, first of all, you know, it is, you know, it's a it's a symbol of pride for Ashlin to be able to to be a a host marathon community. And >> yes, it is. Um

028and so the people that come to Ashland, you know, we want to make sure it's you know, first and foremost safe and um that you know we have sort of the we've thought through all the details and just hearing how much work goes into the behind the scenes stuff. It's it's pretty it's pretty fantastic. So um thank you guys for all your work. >> Thanks for the support. You know I said I was lucky enough to grow up I was lucky enough to grow up on the grew up on Indian Springs. So, you know, like Doug said, it's kind of my destiny to kind of take leadership and take role of it. You know what I mean? Been here 25 years, so you know, um, definitely passed on the torch time. >> It's pretty special

029to have, you know, what is it, 30,000 people run through your hometown. It's pretty special. It's a great day. So, >> you know, so thank you. >> Thank you. Nice work. Yes. >> But just follow up on marathon stuff. It's always interesting when you talk to people about that you are from Ashland >> and you tell them, >> you know, either they're from most of the time it's like for people out of state. I'm like, "Oh yeah, do you know the Boston Marathon?" I'm like, "Yeah, so we're the second route. We're the second town on the Boston Marathon and we're the original starting line of the Boston Marathon." And it's interesting giving them that history and most people don't know it. They don't realize it >> anyway. Yeah, >> exactly. >> Yeah. Good trivia. >>

030Okay. Um, so moving on to old new business. Um, a reminder that town meeting warrant articles are due by February 27th, 2026. Um, Katherine, is there any updates and like sort of how it's coming along if we have, you know, what what how many articles we have and what it's potentially looking like. So I I can't say we obviously have the normal articles, the budget, consent, all those things. I I think we only have maybe two or three additional so far. So they're due um by February 27th, which is coming up and you can either email them to myself. That's it. >> Okay. Thank you. Does anybody have any questions or anything? >> No, we're good. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh the next item on our agenda is the FY27 budget update, including

031um the operational override. So, Michael, I'm turning it over to you. I >> I assume we're looking at the stuff that's >> Yeah, hot off the press is Yeah, we um are uh gave to you tonight just two documents. One is um a general fund summary for FY27 and kind of where we are right now after um reccalibrating some of the state aid and some of the the newer information we had and then we also had uh the departmental summary um if the override passes and so I figured I would go over both with you tonight. Um, so bottom line, if we start off with the general fund summary, um, you'll see that at the top left. If you go to the back page, you'll see that right now our deficit has grown a little

032bit. Um, and it was at 196 350. Uh it has after we've factored in some state aid and uh a couple of debt service uh payments scheduled in there, it actually goes up to 704. Um, we're going to continually look at things like local receipts and see if that is um if that's a way that we can help make up some of that deficit, but we'll probably have to hit the stabilization fund for a little bit more um just to just to have a balanced budget going in. Um, everybody going to understand kind of how we got to that point just with with state aid. So um in terms of this I guess in the well so the state aid number is what is driving this increase in the >> yeah that's a large driver

033of it the difference between the what we got for state aid and then the difference in charges as well over or different than what we had anticipated and what we had forecast. Um, >> is there a certain section of state aid that we should be looking at that's really off that was that came in higher than or I guess lower than we expected? >> No, I I think mostly it was the charges came in higher than what we were expecting which offset it a bit >> which which charges are we looking at? So if you go like on the back sheet, uh so things like you know school choice or um you know and some of that comes in as an offset where it goes directly out if it comes in as income, you know,

034the state assessment and charges. Um yeah, those those are there's a few other items that that aren't on here and I don't remember exactly which ones they are. Um there's like a whole page of them, but that's >> So for instance, like the school choice, >> it's now looking at like 419,000 and from the recap it was 264. So we were expecting it to be about the same and it came in higher. >> Exactly. >> Okay. So this is our school choice out money, not our school choice in, >> right? Okay. Is there a school choice in >> Well, that's the that's the offset from the revenue that we get in. So, >> Oh, no. Because it's sending tuition is down below. >> School choice sending tuition is 154. >> Yeah. But you're offsetting the

035school choice revenue because that's a direct offset. >> So, the reason we've got a large increase, a large driver is that is the difference between the state aid and the state charges that we get. So even if state aid comes in higher, if some of the charges come in higher, it's not as good over over and above what we had predicted. >> So I'm just trying to see where those have changed, right? So >> because I'm seeing it on the front, too. So I'm seeing the 419 >> as school choice receiving tuition as 419. >> That's the offset. >> Okay. But it's now showing as a as an expense on the opposite side. >> It it always does. >> I don't know why I'm so confused with this. >> No, I'm very confused by this.

036So a couple of >> So in on the recap, >> the total state aid we're looking at is 14,004,9438. >> That's what we're expecting to receive. >> No, that's what we that's what that is what we put on the recap sheet. >> That's what we get in, >> right? And then you're saying the offsets are on the back >> most of the offsets. Okay. Or most of the charges. >> But you're saying the offsets equal 13,779,000. >> Oh, no. No. Where's the >> or is that the balance after the offsets is the 13? >> It's a recap number. It's under under the 14. >> Right. So total state aid I see 14 million and then minus. So minus offsets, we wind up with 13 million >> of state aid. >> Let me think about a

037better way to explain this because it's not >> it's not how I'm explaining it is not working. >> Okay. >> Um so >> so I have two questions o other than that. So, if the if we do the override, we're saying we're going to do new growth of 900,000. >> Correct. >> But the 2026 recap, we're only calling for $754,000. >> Correct. >> Why? >> Because we're anticipating some of these buildings maybe to start construction. >> Okay. So, why wouldn't we put the 900,000 in the 2026 recap? Oh, I'm sorry. Never mind. Never mind. I just heard myself say that. >> It's easy to >> So the 2026 we're in currently the 20 Okay, never mind. >> So I I like whenever I refer to this year when I'm talking about, >> you know, budgets

038at this time of year, I'm I'm always thinking of the next year, too. So >> um so in any case, that's that's the general fund summary. And so that's if the override passes. Um what the next sheet is is also just on the municipal side. It also has some of the um the other line items as well, but it has the increase associated with them. Um and I put notes next to some of the larger ones um on the municipal side and I can go through each of those that the the big ones that I've got notes next to. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Let's let's Let's um let's go through that. >> Okay. So, under the town manager account, it's going up 75K. Um Stephanie had some incumbrances in there which I didn't have a

039chance to ask her about um before she uh went on a short vacation. But then what I've also done is not able to accommodate everybody's um request. So, and I'm not necessarily sure exactly how things are going to look at the end of the year regarding some of these things. So, for example, like if you're in fire and police, you're going to budget for a certain percentage of the overtime that is eligible for. So, like if you got 30 officers, you know, and you would take the maximum exposure, if you will, the vacation time that you would have to fill with OT. And so, you're not going to you're not going to budget for all of that because you got to assume all of it's going to be used. So, you try to come up

040with some kind of percentage. Um, so to give us a little bit of flexibility, I created the strategic reserve line item. Um, that has $60,000 in it. Um, we have 7,500 going into the town accountant uh budget to have an additional staff accountant. So some of the decrease that was in that um that line item before we added in the current position um that had actually shown a decrease before um with the assessor's office. We're moving towards uh more efficient software. So the current software we're using there's only five other communities left in the Commonwealth that that are using it and it's not getting support um which is becoming increasingly more problematic. Is that also I know that the schools were looking for software. Is that including that too? Wasn't there like a software? >>

041Yeah. Their student maintenance system. Yeah. So they're they're moving forward with that. >> Okay. >> Um so 01192. So that's the public buildings department. Um and you'll see that there's a pretty significant increase there of almost $200,000. So, um, what I envision there is a buildings and grounds department. Um, that will actually, um, and it's also to help pay for some utility increase costs and expanded preventive maintenance. But what we need to look at doing obviously from the feedback that we got in the comprehensive plan process is we need to look at fields. We need to look at an expansion of fields in addition to the maintenance of the fields that we have right now. Um, and then we also need to look at, you know, making sure that we maintain the facilities that we've

042built, um, and even the ones that are somewhat older. Um, one of the things we commonly heard when we were going forward with the with a debt exclusion for the two new buildings was that we don't take care of the current ones that we have. That was one of the arguments that was presented. So, we're trying to address that. Um, under the police department, you'll see $100,000 there for full-time uh traffic enforcement. Um, an additional $300,000 for an additional firefighter per shift. Um, there's the 2.75 million for the school increase. Um, under cemetery parks and trees, um, we would restore the landscape maintenance account with Yellowstone. Um, and then under senior center, um, we would look at increasing it by $20,000 to increase the hours for some of our senior staff, our senior center staff

043so they can do more activities. And then you see a fairly uh, you know, decent size from a percentage increase um, in veterans benefits and that's just veterans benefits are going up. You mean there already existing benefits and they just been an increase in them or there's additional benefits? >> additional veterans. >> Yeah. Taking advantage of it. >> Okay. So, but same benefits but just additional people involved. >> Yeah. Or or maybe their their formula changes and and they are based on the formula change getting more potentially. Um but that's that's more of a state decision than a local discretionary one. So, any questions? Any >> Yeah. So, so up at the top, the town manager line. >> Okay. I I thought that was the staff accountant number. >> No. >> So, so how >>

044So, only 7500 is in the additional staff accountant. >> Yep. So, it went down because of when we did the restructuring. So, it went down and then when we added back in the position, so that brought it up over the 70 $7,500 more than the previous year. >> Okay. Because when we talked the other day, I thought the you the number was 75,000. >> Yeah. And so >> 50 I guess it was 50,000. Do you remember what it was? >> Um I want to say it was in in the middle there like at 60 or 65. >> Yeah. No, it was I I have it but Okay. All right. But that's that's why it's only 7500 now, >> right? 75,000. >> Oh, you know the town account is 7500. Could you at some point and

045probably not tonight tell us >> how many staff positions is covered by each of these department? Like I look at town manager and obviously that's you, your two assistant town managers and who else? Um, you know, >> probably Susan Diane. >> Okay. If we could get a with this, you know, a staffed listing, >> I think it would be helpful for for me. It would be helpful. >> Okay. >> How many how many do we have at Council on Aging? How many do we have? And >> you know, >> Yeah. And a breakdown by the employees would help. >> Yeah, I can resend that. That's >> Yeah. >> And then one other question. >> Uhhuh. >> So, if I cor if I understand correctly, we're doing an override for the 2.7 2.750. Mhm. >> And

046then we're shifting over 750,000. So the other difference between the 3783 and the 35, is that just coming from the 2 and a half% in our override in our um budget increase. >> Say that again, Yolanda. I wasn't. >> So if you look at the bottom of the pink, right? >> Yeah. >> There's a total of three 3,783,298.32. Mhm. >> So, is the 283 plus the difference between what we would have budgeted and what we're doing in the override, right? Because we're doing a total of 3.5 million between the override and moving over the $750,000. >> Correct. Correct. So the increase that we're seeing for 2027 is just the increase from >> Yeah. And so this is on the expense side, >> right? >> Yeah. Where where you'll see the 750 really more prominent is

047when you um when you look on the revenue side and you look at the excluded debt line. So that would be on the other page and you'll see about a $750,000 difference there. So then this numbers the 3.783 is is the 3.5 the 750 excuse me and the 2.75 right and how did you get there again >> should be the difference between 87528 and 83744 Okay. >> And when we look at the 2 and a half% that the levy's going up like just within >> plus the override plus the 750 that's that would be how you would get to that number. >> Okay. >> Yeah. It's part of the equation for sure. So the other part like I know that benefits and insurance have gone up and that's taking up a good part part of

048that two and a half percent. Um are there other >> big ones? >> Yeah. That that are utilizing that that levy amount >> um >> without the overright. >> No no the benefit and the benefits and insurance come out to like 1.2. >> Okay. And that's not like the contractual increases. >> Gotcha. >> And I think um so I think >> Do we know what the contractual increases are? >> We're calculating that. >> Okay. >> So between between both departments >> that's going to be a big that's going to be chunk. >> That's going to be a big chunk. Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Um so yeah, you know, and our 2 and a half% increase is only 1.4 million. >> Yeah. >> So 1.2 >> just in the increase in benefits and insurance just

049>> Got it. >> Pretty much eat all of that up. >> Yeah. So that's that's a huge Yeah. So the benefits and insuranceances increases >> Yeah. >> 1.2 >> 1 point uh 1,273,000 >> and the 2.5% is >> is 1,422,000. >> Yeah. It doesn't leave you much room. >> Yeah. Yeah, that was the number that I was looking for the other day there. And >> you know, you sent me some additional, but I haven't had time to really go through it, but that that's a huge portion of our problem, right? >> Yeah. And and that's even after, you know, all that we've saved with the um with moving over to the GIC. >> Um and I think, you know, Katherine and I were talking earlier today. I mean GIC is looking at some plan design

050changes that might you want to speak a little bit to that just what they're looking at? >> Yes. So the plan design changes that they're talking about are increases um on the employee side. So we're talking co-pays, co- insurance deductibles, things like that. and um they're looking to vote on that at their next meeting on the 26th and then after that um a vote on the the rate increase >> and who so that's the group insurance commission that votes on that and who oversees them who gives them the ability to set those rates and says okay >> is the department of public health or actually the commission I think is a separate agency um and I don't know under what secretary it is it's probably af $700,000 deficit even if the override passes. Mhm. >>

051So, we would need to move money from our stabilization fund >> to cover that >> unless there's some additional revenue that comes in like if we think >> um motor vehicle excise tax is going to go in >> come in higher or investment income is going to come in higher um or if you want to change fees, you know, building permit fees. I think that might be a discussion that we want to have in the future. >> Yeah. If if there if the override doesn't pass, um we would still need to move that 700,000 over from the stabilization fund and potentially some additional funds to cover a deficit, a further deficit from the schools as well, right? >> Yeah. I mean, I think potentially, you know, if they were truly level funded, I I know

052even over passes. Jim and his team and the school committee have are looking at making some reductions. Yeah. >> Anyway, >> yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Does anybody else have any questions? I actually one other thing just quick quick thing. >> When we say encumbrances, >> what does that mean? So that would be like if if we incur a bill like if we sign a contract and incur a bill in the previous year have to carry forward. >> Yeah. We have to we have to account for it make sure that it's you know don't spend that money twice. >> Gotcha. Okay. >> So I actually do have another question. >> Yeah. >> For 2025 actuals you have the ARPA funds of 3.89 89 million. >> We didn't Did we use all that in 2025?

053I thought we're using some of it now in 2026. >> No, it was it was all used in 2025 because we needed to um >> It needed to be used by the end of the year. At the end of Yeah, the end of the year. >> Okay. But and then we moved but but there was a that was >> we were able to do we so even though we had to do it all by 2025 we then because then in under the gen general stabilization fund transfer in for 2026 that was actually some funds that were ARPA >> correct >> that we okay >> correct >> okay yeah okay >> so is that the >> so general stabilization fund transfer in number is that what that is partially that's partially what it what it comprised

054of. >> Do we know how partial? >> I don't right now. >> So I think also one of the things that you might want to consider as we have like this discussion is a forum. I I would say a forum in March or a forum in April. And I don't know I mean I would assume the board want to host one. You know, I don't know if there's a grassroots committee that would also be doing something as well, but um I think we should probably do or the board should sponsor at least one or the tribe board, you know, together collectively. Yeah, I was cons as I've been thinking about this as a not as an advocacy, but as a way to show the public what we're what we're up against. And some of one

055of the ideas I had was have a forum at like the high school one night and invite the department heads to talk about the issues that they're facing, moderate it, and allow the public to ask questions. Right? I mean, how did how did we get here? What are we doing as a community that has increased our costs that we're needing to do this? Again, not in a way of, you know, we have to do the override, but as a way to say, this is how we got here. This is the these are the steps that we've taken as a town, the decisions that the town has supported along the way >> to get us to where we're where we're needing to do this override. >> Yeah. So, no. >> So, you know, I just have

056I have a couple of questions. Um, so in terms of the school department's making cuts even with this override number passing. Um, do you know do you know how what that dollar figure is? >> I don't know what the dollar figure is. Um, but it's it's not it's not inconsequential. Um, >> and have have Have you made cuts on on the general government's side? >> If we if we don't pass an override, we're I mean, we've got a general idea of what that looks like. We're still refining a lot of that. And I would say it's still probably going to be kind of a a work in progress until, you know, it comes time to actually execute that plan. Um >> because wasn't >> Well, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Wasn't there discussion that we were

057going to see what the budget looked like if we didn't do the override? >> Right. >> Yeah. >> On both sides. Right. So, >> we'll have to because we'll have to have it for town meeting. >> Exactly. >> So, like this this budget is has a 2025 2026 recap and a 2027 override, right? And the percent changes and the dollar changes. Wouldn't it make sense to on this sheet put a 2027 budget without an override? Um yeah, I mean you would essentially just take the 2026 numbers on the expenditure side for general government, >> right? But like I'm, you know, I'm specifically looking at the top, right? prior year levy and then because the 56 the prior year levy on the 2027 override I guess I'm not understand what if the prior year levy for

058202 or 2027 shouldn't that be the 2026 number right so I'm looking at the 2026 recap prior year levy wouldn't that be the 2025 number and then you'd put the two and a half increase. >> No. Okay. Tell me why. >> Because you'd use the 2026 number. >> Okay. In the recap. But if I would if I were to ask you to do a 2027 budget >> without the override, >> right, >> the 2027 number would match the recap of 26, right? And then you'd add the levy to it. >> So the levy is going to be 56915. That's that number is that two and a half%. >> Right. >> The the 2.7 is is a line item >> is the so we would take that out. >> Yeah. >> We would take that out

059and then there would be adjustments probably >> the excluded debt would be on this side $750,000 less than what you see. So I think you'll probably see a $3.5 million decrease. So when I see So I'm looking at this sheet under the 2027 override prior year levy is the top number. So is the 56915 what our 2026 levy is? Right. Am I am am I not making sense or >> No. No. No. Oh, it is the levy. >> Okay. So, the 56915 is what we have this year for 2027 for 2026 levy. >> Yeah. >> And then there's the 2 and a half right underneath that. >> And for 2027, yeah, you want to budget the two and a half and and what you think the new growth number is going to be. >> It's

060conf It's definitely confusing just because trying to track where all the moving pieces are. >> It's a It's municipal finances. >> Yeah. It adds up. >> Yeah. that up for this one. >> Yeah. >> But am I am I wrong to ask if the top number says priory year levy, right? Prior. So that's the 2026 levy, >> correct? >> Okay. So, under the 2026 recap, shouldn't the prior year levy be 2025? >> It is. >> Okay. >> It's 54791. >> Okay. >> And then so that carries over to the prior year. >> Okay. So, fiscal year 25 actuals really doesn't shouldn't have the prior year levies. If I'm looking at my 2025 actuals, that should really be my actual for 2025. >> So, you start off with the base from the prior year. So, to

061build your current year levy, >> you take your base from the previous year, you add on the 2 and a half%. >> Okay? So, so just to clarify, >> under the 2027 override, and I'm sorry if I'm beating this up, but I'm just trying to be clear. >> Want to make sure we get it. Under the 2027 override column, it has the prior year levy. So our prior year levy is the 56915. >> Correct? >> Okay. So if I were to add on the 2026 recap the 54791 and the 2.5% increase, that's going to match what's there in the prior year levy. >> Uh no, you'd want to add the new growth figure to it. >> Okay. Okay. I think if you if you look in that 2027 >> now I see it. Okay. >>

062Okay. >> It's just they're adding in both directions, right? >> Yeah. Okay. Um the other thing Michael >> that that I would like to just in in to help build this case and show what's h what's happened and I think you know benefits and insurance we know is a big piece um of what's happened but I'd like to even do a little bit more historical data um so that instead of just looking back to 2025 I' I'd like to go back probably five years anyways um because I think at least since I've been on the board, so that I've been through two budget cycles and I know we've used one-time funds in both budget, both of those budget cycles. >> So, I'd like to go back and be able to look. Um, so I'm happy

063to, you know, come and and sit with you or sit with Cindy or whomever and and to to get those numbers instead of asking someone to >> um send them to me and and I could sit I know I shared a sheet with you. I could sit and maybe fill it out >> um and then go back just because I think I'd like to get back into the period of time too when inflation in general was really very high. Mhm. >> Um and just so to be able to try to help wrap my head around it and maybe help other people wrap their heads around it. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Also, just um I was looking at our website and I know that there really isn't anything for FY26 on our website. >> Okay. >>

064So, if we can get that information up there so people can have >> a comparison, that would be awesome. So, I know, you know, there was a lot of >> a lot of a lot of moving parts with with our finance team at at budget time last year. So, I get it that it may not have made it up to the website. >> So, school choice re receiving tuition, are we expected to are we expecting to increase the number of school choice seats or is the tuition that we're getting per seat more? >> I don't know. I um I know those seats are getting slimmer and slimmer. just as we take on. >> Oh, sorry. Sorry, Mackey. I had it off. Um, >> yeah. I mean, I know the seats are getting just >> Well,

065that's why I'm surprised that the school the the receiving tuition is not quite double, but >> more. Okay. It's a 58% increase. >> Okay. >> All right. Does anybody else have any questions or are we good to I mean we're going to be coming back to this? >> Yeah, quite a bit. >> Quite a bit. So, are we >> I'm good. >> You guys Everybody else is good. >> Yeah. So, we're going to then maybe for next time or before next time even have uh a column that'll show us what if the override doesn't pass the the budget and then what the implications are too. I want to understand the implications on the general government side as well as on the school side. Right. >> Yeah. >> And I can explain in general terms like

066we would so we would lose basically any community presence with our public safety personnel. Um that's one thing. Um maintenance of a lot of our parks and grounds and everything since we would lose the landscaper contract. And then we really haven't figured out a solution for um you know the one person that we have on fields essentially the one FTE that's in cemetery parks and trees that does some of the fields work and so with that fund moving over to the schools the transfer of the field responsibility um that's something that we have to account for too. So >> and would we be losing any positions on the general government's side? Um we are trying every way to avoid it, but you know it might require in some cases um reopening a contract or something

067and looking at renegotiating you know certain things. >> Do you know what if the if it doesn't pass how many positions the schools will lose? >> I think it is close to 32 >> 32 positions. And when you say like, you know, we would lose public safety at community, you know, sort of, you know, we're talking things like, you know, the overtime would would only go towards like literally >> public safety stuff. And so any that would probably affect community events like we wouldn't have community events where we would need public safety >> details and stuff. And then also um you know you know they do that public safety night that wouldn't happen. Um and >> yeah I I think it would be helpful if we could get that other column just sort of illustrating

068what's happening on the municipal side because that will help people understand this and more. Um, but it's kind of hard to speak to this until we kind of see that. >> Yeah, >> that that's going to be helpful. >> Very helpful for understanding and comprehension because I'm still not entirely clear myself and that would help. >> Okay. >> And maybe more detailed to above something piece. >> Yeah. So I think some something similar like this that would have like um you know the column with you know what would happen if the override didn't pass and then like here on this side like instead of note like the notes would be like how would that impact us? >> Yeah. >> While we're just on this I I have a question about stabilization account. So I think

069we have a policy that calls for where we try to keep 10% of our operating budget in the stabilization account and do is there also guidance in terms of when you we use our stabilization account? >> Yeah. Um we've been flexible with it but um yes there is guidance >> and you know what kind of what sort of thing it says. >> Yes. So typically it's tied to state aid if I remember correctly. Um, and it's dependent upon like, you know, total state aid amounts if they go down a certain level, but it's it's pretty significant. I mean, it's like a 10% decrease. >> And we found that that's it's hard to adhere to just kind of given some of the challenges we've had. >> And if with a if we reduced our stabilization account,

070you know, we're looking at right now, I think by around 750,000, right? and and what what what what's the impact of reducing it by that amount or even more? >> Um it would be whatever that number is. So, you know, if if we have to withdraw 1 million out, it's it's 1 million off the balance. Now, whether or not that's going to have an impact on like the bond rating agencies or anything, if the override doesn't pass, I think I think it'd be safe to say that we would at least be looking at like a a revised outlook from you know neutral to negative although I can't say for sure um but >> in terms of bond rating >> yeah exactly um you know it's just hard to say a lot of this stuff is

071so subjective you know I I know we want like the hard crisp you know you know black or white answers but it is just a whole lot of gray and a whole lot of subjective >> so what sorts when Does bond rating impact us >> whenever we go out for a borrowing and um and we have to do like a rate like a ratings call a ratings uh evaluation. So usually they have that right before we go out to bond time that >> and currently I know we have a couple of bonds for the public safety building, one for the Mind School. >> Those are temporary. We're going to we will be rebonding. Is that true or are those long term now? Yeah, we've already done public safety with long-term. We haven't done that with

072Mendes yet. >> Okay. >> But we got a lot of others. We got um like several with CPC, some you know associated with water, water and sewer work. Um I think we still have some related to downtown. There's there's quite a few things >> that we would that we have already bonded or that we so those are already >> protected no matter what happens to our rating. So, in terms of in terms of what we still have to go out for a longer term bond, the Mendes school, is there are there others? >> Um, I'll have to check the water the ozone filter. I think we're just doing that as a ban right now. >> Okay. Yeah. Okay. All right. And then um finally so in terms of the stabilization account and so if the

073policy says you can only take 10% or you have this has to be in place do would we if and we wanted to do something different would we have to is that within our power as the select board is it um >> well usually it's we've come to an agreement at the tribe board meeting and um so the policies technically say you know they can They can be adjusted by um by a twothirds vote of the fincom select board and school committee and the town manager and superintendent. >> Okay. All right. That's good to know. Do we need to plan for another tri board meeting before town meeting? >> We absolutely do. >> Okay. >> I think we do. and and whether that's like part of that forum, you know, kind of, >> you know,

074dynamic. But, um, >> I think that would be a I would think that would be separate because I would rather if we're going to be voting on specific things, I'd rather that be a meeting versus a public forum, which we're really taking in questions and answering them from public. Maybe we could do something backtoback so that the meeting would take place and then we'd we'd still have >> people in the room that could answer questions. >> That makes sense. >> Yeah. >> Less less dates that we have to try to coordinate. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. Um let's move on in our agenda. Discuss the timeline for town managers evaluation. So, um, every year we, um, try to get our town manager evaluation completed before the May election. Um and so just to talk

075about a little bit about the process. Um we will you know we typically Michael typically does um a self evaluation and does that before we do our writeups um our evaluation of Michael. Um, and then I did have a question because one of the things here was discuss the process about the evaluation tool and I know we've had conversations about the evaluation tool in the past. Are we utilizing the same the same tool as we did last year or um are we making any additional changes? Do we want to take a look at it? >> Can can we take a look at it? Can we take a look at it? I think Absolutely. Absolutely. We'll have to push this out, but I mean >> I was going to say I mean we've talked about I

076think last year Claudia and I were going to try to do something the year before and everyone was busy and and we didn't do anything. So last year we just used the same um you know we use the same form. >> I think if we want to look at changing the form for this year >> we're changing this pro we're changing this timeline. if we want to if we want to change, you know, if we want to go with this timeline and use the form that we currently have and again try to do something, but I think if we want to change the form for this year, we have to push this timeline out by at least two months and we'll never make it before the election. >> Yeah. I I mean, I think that

077um you know, one way or the other, we've talked about changing changing it. So, we should definitely change it. I think that you know maybe maybe that conversation happened simultaneously with this because I think that there might be some aspects that we can't change you know after the year's ended that we might have to put in place for the following year because they might be dependent upon different expectations right >> so but at the same time it might be a good conversation to take that could kind of simultaneous ously take place while we're trying to work on the evaluation for this year. So if does that make sense what I'm saying? >> Yeah, I mean there's there's a lot of moving pieces with with regards to that and I think you know there's a lot

078of moving pieces going on right now just with other things too. But I'm I'm happy to take a look I mean you know I was kind of the one that was kind of like initiating this. So I'm happy to take a look at it and >> well why don't we distribute the form the current the current evaluation I don't know is that come from you should sus >> so um if Susan can send or one of you can send that out before our next meeting >> and then at our next meeting let's talk about um what that process is going to look like if if we want to have >> I mean I think >> a couple people look take take some time to make some recommendations and come back to us and have a

079timeline for it. >> I I I would like to have a timeline in place because >> that's the way we get things done. >> Exactly. >> I think the current form is good. I think it's a good tool. I think some of the questions that we're asked to um rate him on are not clear. >> Yeah. Okay. >> And I think that is something we can look at. >> I think the tool in itself, >> how we use it in the ratings, I think work. >> Yeah. >> The instrument needs re revision, but the delivery method is fine. I think that's what you're saying. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, does that sound good? So, we'll we'll get the we'll get the um >> the the the questionnaire, the form out to us all >> and

080then at our next meeting >> review it and make any comments about what we want to change >> or who's going or who's going to take that on and make the recommendations back to the board by a certain date. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> And then we can kind of >> like I I I don't want to I don't think we need to to workshop the whole form here. >> Like I think I think if if if >> if if maybe two people want to take on going through it and doing a redlinined. Well, what I would recommend is if we all get it >> and then look at it and give our feet and put comments on it >> and then give it to I I mean rather than two people go through it

081and then someone go, "Oh, well, I don't think that you know." Yes. >> Whereas if each of us goes through it and makes comments and then if there's two people that want to >> gather that and get it back >> before the middle of March, >> I'll have to look at that because I know we had like a process that we agreed to. Um, you know, because that came out of like the last contract, >> right? We were supposed to have spent some time this past year trying to find a new tool and that was not made a priority. >> Y lot going on. >> Yeah. But >> I take some responsibility and not making that happen. >> Okay. So, we'll put it on our next agenda. >> That sounds good. >> Okay. Um, was

082there anything else about the evaluation process? Nope. >> Okay. So, we'll revise the timeline once we know sort of where we're going with it. >> Okay, sounds good. Um, the next item on our agenda is discuss citizens participation guidelines. I know Claudia had um requested that we add this to the agenda. I don't know Claudia if you want to kick things off. Yeah. So, um it just struck me so that during our open meeting law training that we had last time before our meeting um that there was some conversation about what what's allowed during public comment, right? and it was much broader than I I expected. Although I did remember the Southboro um ruling and that some things have to if if you're going to not allow public participation or that it has it has

083to be very n it's a very narrow >> right and you you kind of have have to have it outlined. I was more interested in the fact that um at our last meeting we we did have some public participation and I think it was when we were talking we were doing the update on the budget on the um 40bs and there was a conversation um and I spoke a little bit about um being at a conservation commission meeting several probably months ago at this point or at least in January. In any case, um so you know, I felt in and some of that conversation was just that I was bringing up was just from that meeting and it was a public meeting and everybody was aware of it and I kind of got shut down

084and then I asked to actually had Mr. Hackinson was here for another reason anyways and spoke to it a little bit and then we kind of got shut down and I was just thinking based on then afterwards I was thinking well based on what we just learned in our open meeting law training that you know wasn't um that that should conversation should have been allowed to go on. So that was kind of what the impetus for me for bringing this up is that you know if we need to have more guidelines then then we can certainly look at it but um I just think based on what I learned from that that training um that we we just need to be careful about shutting people down. >> So there was a policy that was put

085in our packets. I don't know if you guys saw that. Yep. and is this isn't our policy. Correct. >> This is just a proposed potential policy. >> Um >> yeah, and I didn't even think it aligned with >> Yeah. >> the what the training that we had actually. So, >> I I do think like a couple of things in in here kind of were, you know, when we did when we did the citiz the um the open meeting law training, you know, couple things we we definitely if we're going to have public participation, we have to it's kind of like equal access to everyone. So, if we're going to put a time limit or something like that on on you know um citizens participation, it has to be for everyone. Um and then again, if

086we allow public comment during any other part of the meetings, >> it has to be um this the same thing like you know we we can't shut down any particular person. Um, one of the things that was in here though that, you know, really did strike me too is the fact that it's not intended to be a discussion. Public participation isn't because it's not an agenda item. So, I think we have to be careful about turning something into a bigger discussion and that so we need to be able to put it on as an agenda item to discuss. So, I think Agreed. And we don't need to spend too much time on this. I don't I don't think that night it was a discussion. I think it was just a comment about what had been

087brought forward at the um at the conservation commission meeting. So, so that's all I just wanted to clarify that and just because I like like I said, I I think we all learned something and that night it just happened and uh and so that it was a it was good. I appreciated um that we do have to make sure we give equal access to everyone and and I I was a little surprised that like I said, I did remember the Selborough ruling and uh you know, it was pretty >> Yeah. So basically basically unless there's profanity or some sort of >> right I mean it was it was really yeah so anyways and then if you have time limits you have to have that policy. >> That's the other thing too. I mean like you

088know there there I think there was a mention of time limits as well for public comment which is I think something we sort of loosely enforce but we don't really >> and they have to be enforced. We just don't we just don't enforce it >> and they need to be in writing. >> It needs to be in writing. Yeah. What I mean we have time speak out and all that stuff. That's what I remember. >> I could add that to our citizens. >> If we're going to do citizen participation, it needs to be so if we have 10 people and we say you're only you're each can only have three minutes, we have to put that in writing. >> No, I mean >> I think it has to be uh presented at the beginning of

089the meeting and it has to be consistent whether someone's speaking positively or negatively. It has to be three minutes for both. >> Yeah. But if we have 20 people, we can say, you know what, we're only going to do two minutes today. I don't think that has to be in writing. >> Yeah, that's that's the best I I've seen probably the best methodology is, you know, the chair asks at the beginning of public comment, who intends to make public comment, >> right? >> And if you've allotted 10 minutes for public comment and five people raise their hand, will they get two minutes each? Right? So everybody has an opportunity to speak, >> right? >> And so it's flexible. Like if you allow 15 minutes and you got five people, then obviously three, you know. >>

090So it at least moves with you. It's not so rigid, but it's a framework. >> Yeah, that's fine. I think that you just need to have somewhere in writing that it says that there's going to be process, right? >> Yeah. Right. Process. >> We use time on that. So that's the discretion of the chair at the beginning of the meeting to, you know, say what those are and then they'll be they'll be enforced. So, do we want to to put forward some sort of actual policy on this? >> So, the policy that was in our in our packet, where did that come from? >> Was just a draft. Susan, you consolidated this, right? >> No, that was a draft that Lisa has used for other communities. She just gave it to us just as a

091guidance. >> Okay. So I guess the question is do we want to try to adopt some sort of policy that or or do we want to just have our process be that we set the set the parameters at the front of every meeting. >> I think that's the process I think we should set that process. >> Okay. >> Yeah. As long as it's there's somewhat some kind of consistency, right, between meetings, right? Um, tonight we're gonna talk about this, so we don't want to hear very much about it. So, we're gonna allow 10 seconds. That's all. Yeah. >> But like to the point if you've got like 20 people deep. >> Yeah. >> You know, you got you can't have everybody can't have five minutes because then that's the >> And some of it definitely

092seems to be at the chair's discretion. But >> Okay. Okay. All right. The other the other thing though like if you're reading this I'm sorry to belabor this is the public comment period is not intended to be discussion debate or dialogue. >> Right. >> Correct. >> Right. >> But then sometimes what we do is we when we're dis when we are discussing an an item we allow people to speak. And again, I think we have to be careful about making it a discussion with who's coming, right? If we're if we're if we're something's if we're discussing something and I we should might want to get clarification. I don't know that we can debate the person who's at the podium, right? Unless Unless we could have a discussion with the person if it's on the agenda.

093If it's on the agenda and we open it up for for comment. >> Yeah. But it's like if it's not on the if it's on the agenda that's the problem. So I think it what happened Claudia where you're saying you were shut down is the our agenda item was on update on 40B projects and then we we got into detail about what happened at the conservation commission >> which was about 40B project which was about a 40B project. I mean it was totally in line with the 40B project thing. >> Okay. >> You know I'm just you know >> trying to clarify that. So >> I'm all I'm good. >> Can I comment on that Randy? Sure. >> Um Carl Hackinson, 346 Chestnut Street and the vice chair of the conservation commission. I think Claudia

094maybe what you're referring to because you said that I was shut down and although the other commissioners would probably like to shut me down. I wouldn't be shut down at a con meeting. We were at a ZBA meeting and we were speaking to an issue I think where we were we were shut down at the podium. But I think you raised a good point Yolanda that I think there's a difference between public participation at the beginning of u a meeting and public comment during each agenda item. And I think that that there's a clear delineation there because that stuff is on the agenda and that's the whole purpose of open meeting is to have an open meeting about things that are on the agenda. Um, so I think that there's a um that you need

095to delineate between see we don't have public participation at the concom on our agenda. We have public comment on the issues that come up at our agenda. If somebody wanted to just show up and speak, it would be awkward because it wasn't an agenda item. Um whereas here you have a different format than we have at the Conservation Commission. Um, but anyway, that's all I had to say. But I I think it's got good. I think you raised a good point. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. Are we are we good? Does anybody else have anything before we move on? >> No, we're good. >> Okay. Um, so the next item on our agenda, discuss process and access to town council. We're actually going to move that to our next meeting. Um, we

096want to have a larger conversation about um >> Oh, I have >> It's off It's already off the agenda. >> Oh, it's already off the agenda. Okay. This is what happens when I when I print out what >> I was going to say. The next thing I have is the request for the concom. >> So, um, discuss the next item on the agenda is to discuss the request from the conservation commission to hire an attorney to represent them for the 10 to 60 Main Street project. Um I know we have a couple members of our conservation commission here, but um we had received a request from them um and then they had a subsequent meeting and a vote that um they had wanted to um to have a separate town council >> for um for

097the the 10 to 60 Main Street hearing. Um the attorney the um firm that that um we utilize for town council is um separate attorney but representing >> same firm is representing the applicant in another town in another matter and so as um there is sort of a it's not really a conflict but it's definitely Right. It's it's it's a little on the gray area side >> um that they had requested that that they um be able to bring in their own attorney for that. So, um >> so what's the process? What do we have to vote to approve that? Do we get to hear who they're bringing in? >> How does that work? >> I think so. You know, you have a couple members here. Um, and I think you know whatever questions that

098you have would be um >> appropriate appropriate. >> Come on. Come on up. >> We have questions. >> We do have questions. >> Okay. Um, Carl Hackinson again, vice chair of the Conservation Commission. With me is Jean Crouch, 35-y year veteran of the Conservation Commission. um questions. >> I'll start. So, it makes sense. I understand what you're saying that the legal our legal council is then representing the same on the other side. Um so, do you have another firm in mind, someone you use for other things? Um that that's where I would start. Uh the answer is not specifically but generally we've uh spoken to uh several firms and um but we didn't want to speak in too much detail because we wanted to get your approval before we before we went too far along.

099>> Okay. So, we have people in mind. We would if if it were approved tonight, we would have to have that flow through Michael's office as as soon as we could and and go from there. >> When's your next meeting and that you would need legal counsel in place for? >> Well, this is for only 10 to 60 Main Street. Yeah. >> Because that's the only appearance of conflict. >> Yeah. >> Uh their first hearing before us is March 2nd. >> Okay. And so we would like to have whoever is representing us be on board before then. >> Before then. Okay. So pretty tight timeline. >> Okay. >> And we we still as a commission haven't spoken how we would use council. Um it would probably be uh in a different manner than the CBA

100did. We wouldn't necessarily have to have them present at every hearing. Um, but that would depend on who it was, how available they were and things like that. But we uh um we haven't really it's kind of a safety net. You know, we're really not using council for 61 Waverly Street because it's moving along fine and we're kind of experienced at what we do and and we have a path forward on that stuff and we haven't hit any real bumps in the road yet there. Um and and that may happen with 10 to 60. We don't know yet. Um >> 10 to 60 has more issues related to it. certainly has more issues and more potential issues >> and um uh we don't want to have council brought in >> after the fact. >> Right.

101Right. You want them hearing the information and part of the discussion. >> Exactly. >> Okay. Okay. >> That answers my question. >> So now what would the process be like? Would it be like would we put out a like an RFP for uh for council or is it because I this wouldn't be this would be just a one-off >> it it would >> and so is it >> in the past but and if I can go here when I was a member of the board we did this once before when we were doing serious apartments >> um uh we took a vote to hire an outside firm and and we picked that firm and contracted it through Michael's office. >> Okay. >> But um that's something that you would have to decide on me. >>

102Okay. And that would be more that would be an hourly rate. There wouldn't be a retainer involved. It would be comparable cost to what we're what we would be paying for for our current council. >> I I think it would depend on kind of like what our choices are. >> Okay. And um you know what I would recommend is um you know authorizing it if you feel comfortable with it with like a a cap on the fees. And so when the con if they get to that point coming back to the select board and asking you know maybe to extend that cap that makes sense. >> Does that make sense from a from their perspect's perspective? Do you remember how we we did the building last time? I I don't remember, but there was it

103was quite some time ago. >> Yeah. You know, I I want to say it was like 5,000 at the time. >> See, at that time, they were kind of co-consel. They weren't replacing our council. They just had an area of expertise that we thought was more specific than our council was used to dealing with. >> Yeah. And I think like our town council would still be apprised of it, but they just, you know, from like a a council perspective, >> but um yeah, I mean I I I think you would have >> I think we would be fine with that, Michael, with a cap and and if for some reason we ran into trouble and we need to amend that. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Do we have a sense of what the cap might be?

104I mean, how many hours would you anticipate, Carl? Like >> I I don't know. You know, it's it's we figured that we would get um um approval of the board before we got too far out over our skis as far as that goes. I mean, I have had discussions about rates and things like that, but they're just generally speaking. And as I say, the commission really hasn't spoken about uh in what manner we would use council. I'm and I'm I'm speaking for myself now. I imagine that we would probably not have them attend the early meetings while we um while we figured out how things were going. >> Yeah. >> And if and and maybe have them watch the hearings uh that were recorded uh to comment on um on things that were good and

105things that they thought could improve. >> Yeah. >> Or or or avenues that we might be able to take. And that would certainly save on the budget end of things. Um, >> so I mean, were we looking at $5,000, $10,000? I mean, this is this too is money that would have been spent if we were even using our own counsel. That's true. Right. So, it's not >> So, what where would we be on this 5 10? What do you think? >> You know, I I think initially like eight I mean because there is going to have to be some frontend like catchup work, >> you know. I would assume you would want to meet um with council just to kind of get them up to speed in addition to having them review the stuff. >>

106Yeah, we our plan was if you approve this this evening that we were going to try to at least have a preliminary meeting with Zoom with uh with them with uh Becca and Jean and myself and Greg Wans the chair. >> Okay. and uh see how that goes and see whether it uh it's something that we were comfortable with. >> Okay. >> All right. Can I make a motion? >> Is there anybody Does anybody have any questions? >> The only thing I would say is I mean, you know, knowing what lawyers go for these days, you know, 20 hours at $250 is only $5,000. That's only 20 hours. And um you know, do we want to have to do we want to have to do something where they potentially have to come back? So I

107mean, if we're going to do something, I would I would consider like $10,000, not to exceed 10. And if it does go if it does look like it's going to go bad, that come back to us >> and and that would depend on how the hearing goes, >> right? And and what happens and some unknown >> aspects, right? That just gives us a, you know, I mean, we we we trust our conservation commission to do the right thing, so let's give them the tools they need to do that. >> I'm I'm fine with that. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. Um, yeah. >> If we have no more questions, could I get a motion? >> Yeah. I'd like to make a motion that we authorize the conservation commission um the use of outside counsel for the

108upcoming hearing for the 40B project at 10 to 60 main in an amount not to cons exceed uh $10,000 that do it. >> Second it. I'll second it. >> All those do you want to add the if it does we would come back >> if it does if it does have to come back. >> So in an amount not to exceed $10,000. Um if additional monies are required then they can return to us with a request. >> Second that. >> All those in favor? >> I I >> Okay. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> We'll contact Michael's office and keep you all uh a breast of what's going on. >> Yeah. if you could if you could just kind of keep us posted either you or

109Michael um once we have information of who the attorney is and the rate and just sort of >> will you be attending our meeting? >> Yes, I'll be there. Yes. So, not all of them. I know you guys are concom >> I am the concom >> Yes, I will be there. All right. >> Okay. Anything else? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thanks very much. >> Thank you. >> Good luck. >> Okay. Um the next item on the agenda is to discuss the process for board and committee liaison updates to the board. >> Claudia. >> All right. So this was this was my request too. um sort of similar to the other one based on um and I had a great conversation with Susan Roby about this in terms of how we could if we're going

110to attend these meetings then I think our updates need to be more than just I attended the meeting. I think they need to be informational. Um and so you know I think we ran into a problem. you know, Michael had a couple of questions for me about um the storm water meeting that I had attended and we started to get into a conversation and so we were out of, you know, um not following the agenda at that point um that that it needed to be an agenda item if we were going to go into, you know, additional detail. So, um, one of the things Susan suggested was that we put it on the, um, agenda for when a member is going to be meeting with, um, or sitting in on their particular committee that they're

111leaison to. Um, and then that would allow us to have a larger discussion than just I went to their meeting. I I I would recommend actually if we just have a standing item that says like committee lays on reports, not board reports, but just like committee leaison reports and allow that because sometimes even though those those updates might beformational, they may not be very substantive depending on what happens at those meetings but there may be like you know but instead of like trying to make sure that we put specific >> you know put that put specific committee discussion on every time you know on the agenda every single time just why can't we just leave some space on for it as an agenda. >> Can we do it without >> I I was going to

112say >> Can we do that? We can't do that. >> Yeah. Because what happens, you know, like I'm going to give an update where I sat in on an upper Charles Trail meeting with a potential >> consultant and I'm going to go to the meeting tomorrow night. And then if people have questions and we tried to go into detail about that, that's not on the agenda. So, I think to to Claudia's point, if I say, "Okay, at our next board meeting, I'd like to give an update on the upper Charles Trail meeting that I went to or conservation or storm water." Right. And I think we need to list the committee that we're updating on on the agenda so that if someone's interested in what's going on with that, they know that we're discussing it.

113>> Can't we just list all the committees and then if there's an item, then we can do it. Just so I'm just afraid that like if we don't >> if we don't put something easy that if like let's say and we could get into a scenario where I may have like I may have attended a historical commission meeting last night and then we have a select board meeting tonight but I didn't get a chance to put that specifically on the agenda. So I can't talk about it like in a timely manner. >> Say you went to the meeting and then asked to have if you want to get into a discussion yeah where we have to discuss it would have to get on the next meeting's agenda. So what I was thinking to because I

114agree with with Makita that it it becomes really hard to you know get to the agenda in time and and everything. So what I was thinking is maybe we could look at when these different committees meet and put the standing item for that particular committee on the agenda and then if you do do have something that you want to discuss you can. If you don't then you can just go. >> That makes sense to me Claudia. I mean just like because we know when the meetings happen and the cadence you can just take a look at the calendar and yeah because I am fearful that we'd kind of skip a cycle and if we do need to talk about something that might catch >> Yeah because I mean honestly there's no point in our going

115to these meetings if we're not talking about them. Right. >> True. Why wouldn't you just like do a written report like maybe every quarter and that way you've got like a written record of >> because there's usually as we've found in our last exchanges people are asking questions for clarification. People want to know more information. I'd rather allow a discussion than just have a a written paragraph. That's almost just that's just like a report out. That's we're trying to kind of foster information exchange and understand. >> In most cases we could just use the minutes from the meetings. Right. I mean >> Right. So I think it's kind of like a different different approach we're talking about if I'm understanding correctly. >> Yeah. Because when I because when we were having a little discourse about

116that I you know I think it was it was informative piece I think and it would have been more informative to the community to understand you know we were talking about some budget as aspects of the two. So, um, you know, I ultimately I think that would that's an important thing for people to understand or to hear or >> Yeah. I just don't know how many people watch the meetings. So, I was just thinking >> it doesn't matter. It's still we put it out there. They they either decide to watch it or not. But, I mean, at least there's if they're watching it, I I know, you know, who knows? But >> it also provides the board a select board to discuss and understand and ask questions in a public forum you know um so

117I think that that's helpful or like if there's an issue like let's say one of us is a new leaison to one of the committees and maybe someone else has more experience working with that particular board like that that's helpful to the board itself that helps us you know and that helps us help the the board that we're assigned to too I think that I think that conversation is is valuable for for understanding, you know, >> an engagement engagement, >> just general board engagement. So, >> am I understanding? So what we'll do is have a a standing item on the agenda you know um committee updates committee leaison updates and then it would be our responsibility to to make sure that we list the committees that we are just put them on there. I mean,

118I guess one way to simplify it a little bit, maybe we only do it, we have two meetings a month. Wait, maybe we do all of our committee updates at one meeting. >> No, >> you know, I I I liked your original suggestion better just because like again, timing could be, you know, timing is tricky, right? And I I would prefer to be able to discuss like like I said immediately or as soon as possible if something like if I need to talk to the board about something or if I need to ask questions or get clarification on something like I'd rather be able to take it to to to the board soon. >> So so our agenda setting meetings are the Wednesday before our like are off Wednesdays basically. So if you think you're

119going to have a meeting that you're going to attend before that Wednesday before before our next meeting. You need to let people know by you need to let the chair >> I think we just put it on there. >> Yeah, we just check the calendar. You know, if the po if the meeting's posted, you just pull it into the agenda. >> Well, but I think it has to be I like I think we're going to have to drive what goes on that agenda. So, if you're if you know you're going to be going to a historical commission meeting in a week, >> put it on the next agenda. just say, "Hey, you know, I want to talk." Just have it on there because if we're like searching the calendar, it depends on when things get

120posted and everything else. Like >> I was thinking most of the most things are standard meetings, right? Most of the committees have a standard meeting time. So I was just thinking we could follow that not that way nobody has to look and see. >> It would just be standardized. >> I would say let's double check with Susan, right? How easy would be would it be for her >> that's a great idea >> to say okay on the first meeting of the month and the third meeting of the month >> based on that is it easy for her to look at the calendar and say >> what >> yeah and once you do it once you don't have >> and they can sit on the meeting agendas unless there's a special meeting. >> Yeah. Sus Susan

121>> she probably knows them off the top of >> I was going to say Susan's there. Susan do you have any any words of wisdom? Not not all boards have a set schedule. >> A lot of times it depends upon what they have going on. >> The other thing is I don't know who sits on what group. So if I was going to put that Claudia was going to update, I don't know what committee she is. The >> I don't think you need to put the person. I think it's I think what we're saying is just >> Yeah. No person needed and and you there's a spreadsheet with all our names on it. So if everybody sends me the group or the groups that have liaison, I can then plug it into the tracker and

122we can go from there. >> Perfect. I think it's on this there's >> it's in the share drive. >> I'm going to just share it with you. >> Okay. You are already shared with >> All right. and we'll see. We'll see for our next meeting like what that looks like and make adjustments. How's that sound? >> Great. >> Okay, >> sounds good. >> All right. Um the next item on our agenda is to discuss the creation of the comprehensive plan implementation committee. Um Yolanda had written up a proposal. >> Did that get out to everybody? >> It's in the folder. Y >> it's supposed to be in the folder. It was in it was in the um what I had what I had printed out. >> Okay. I didn't see it in the back up

123on the meeting the one that I printed up. Anyway, >> um so basically I created a document based on the information from the comprehensive plan, the full comprehensive plan and then based on discussion that we had had at the last comprehensive plan meetings as to what the um the implementation committee and advisory committee, whatever you want to call it, is uh going to be made of. It's basically one select board member, one planning board member. It was recommended to have two to four members of the com the comprehensive plan committee and then um three to four at large public. So it's at the the group would be 7 to nine and then ideally a staff liaison. Maybe the staff leazison does not have to attend every meeting but if there's things where we we need

124to coordinate with staff it would be you know they would be part of that. So whether it's you know someone assigned and then they would have the conversation. Uh I think it's important that we get this going. We have the plan it got approved in November. Uh we're already doing a lot of things in the plan but I still think it's important to get this committee moving forward. figure out who's going to be on it, set their first meeting, and then just like we did with the comprehensive plan, we said it's this the meeting is going to be this night every month. And I think, you know, I I read would recommend that it's a monthly meeting, the first six months, see where things go from there. Um but again it's the committee that would

125decide how often they need to meet to start and then the reporting tool and working with again a staff liaison to to move that forward and to manage that. >> Okay. Does anyone Michael do you have >> Yeah. I think just I was kind of looking through my notes. So like um what I presented at the last comp plan meeting >> so we could have somebody like attend quarterly >> y >> and and check in. I think what would be really really helpful is if the um implementation committee like prioritized >> um like the projects there that would be really helpful in terms of >> I think so too. uh just kind of like you know what's what what should we focus on and and what should the staff I think like be looking at

126at trying to get done >> and and coordinate with stuff that's already happening right some of the stuff at the senior center is are things that we heard about in the comprehensive plan they wanted improvements for certain things right the focus that we're putting on the upper Charles Trail are things that we heard about from the comprehensive plan so >> yeah I think I think um so the the the question for us as a committee is who from our group would like to sit on that and I'm very honestly if no one else wants to do it I'm willing to do it because I think um I think it's important we spent all this time and energy and money creating this plan and I don't want to see it sit on a shelf. I want

127to make sure we coordinate it so that it works with the work that we're already doing to see if we get some stuff completed. Does anybody else have any thoughts? >> I mean, Yolanda, do are you are you and do you want to be the select board lesson on to this? >> Honestly, I go back and forth. >> I just wanted to get some clarity on Um, I I mean, like I said, I go back and forth, but I I am committed enough to this that I think it's something that I want to see move forward. And I think for myself and for my personal schedule, it's a it's a meeting schedule that I could handle. So, I think it's unless someone else really wants to do it. Um, if someone else says, you know

128what, I I didn't get to work on the plan, but I want to help move this forward. I would I would step aside, but >> sounds so eager. >> Another question. >> I'm just saying. >> Thank you for for clarifying that. I think uh but >> if someone else is like, you know what, I I I really want to do this. >> No, that's fair. I get it. I get it. Um but I I I do have a question about the the um selection process for participation. I think it is a great idea to ask people who were previously involved to to see if they want. But I I'm also kind of thinking like how you did mention like calling out the general public. I'm I'm wondering how we could expand the universe of people

129who would would want to work on this thing, right? Um you know what I'm saying? Like how would we reach folks who may not have been part of the original process but are now informed of this and want to be a part of it because I feel like those folks would have a lot to say and would be able to contribute a lot too. But I'm not sure like how >> we did a really good job when we went to create this committee. We did the process of a person from each precinct. >> I don't know that we need to go quite that far because I think there are some precinct people who were on the full committee who may want to continue, >> right? Um, but I think it's it's get the word out

130and publicize it and get, you know, you know, volunteer form, say if you want to be on the committee, >> see what we get and >> I would some kind of process. >> I would make sure that it's a manageable size because I think I think what we had dealt with with the comprehensive plan was >> um, initially the committee was 29 of us and >> that's a lot. >> It's a lot. It's like a little like hurting cats and thank god that our consultant was as good as she >> agreed >> she was because it didn't phase her but um >> it was a lot of people. So >> the the one thing we did do when we started it we said what night are we going to meet when we started it and

131when we interviewed people we said >> we're meeting the third Thursday of the month. Is that a night that you can make it? And if you can't, thank you for willing to serve. But this is because with 29 people, you can't go, okay, let's all get together and pick a night. >> I don't know that we need to do that here to start, but I think once we get everyone on, we have to pick a night and that is our consistent meeting night. Just like if you decide to be on the select board or conservation or anything else, right, they have a certain meeting night and that would be when it meets. So I I would say, you know, to to Mikita's point, you know, we should try to cast a kind of a broad

132net. >> I agree. >> To um to get people to want to be a part of this. Um >> you know, it I >> I think there will be some new people that want to be a part of it. Um and I think it is good to have some consistency from the comp plan committee just to help kind of give some context to it. And um so I you know I I think we'll know exactly how many people that are going to be a part of it once we know sort of what the how many even how many people from the original comp plan committee want to continue. I mean it's been it was a long process. It was a two-year commitment from these people. So >> um so so thank you for >> but

133when we but when we sat there at the end and we started talking about what implementation would look like there were a number of people I think who said that they would be interested in being on the implementation committee. So the first step I mean the first step is we have to say do we do we support this process and decide who our appointee is going to be. Yeah. Next week we're doing a joint meeting with the planning board to do the housing production plan. They I believe are discussing this or they discussed it at their meeting >> um and they're going to appoint their person. So then after we have our joint meeting and we say yes, we agree to this process, then the you know who the the select the planning board member

134and myself or who unless again unless someone else wants to do it um would put a process together and get the form out there and start reviewing. >> So has this been shared at all with with the plan? >> It has been shared with Anna and Trisha and with Jasmine. >> Okay. So that they are going to be looking at it and then the the idea was that we would all discuss it when we do our joint meeting with the planning board next week. >> So that'll be the second part of that meeting. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I I would also just recommend as this as this comes together, you know, you've got like you've identified some of the key responsibilities of the committee. I think when you're recruiting, you might want to

135make it clearer or you may want to look at a structure where you know people will have to understand that they're going to have to either pick one or two specific initiatives that they're going to be responsible for working on or something like that to give let people know that like you know this isn't like this isn't one of these committees where you're just going to sit around and do whatever. Not not like there there are any committees like that but like that we have but like this is a committee that is that you know you've got deliberals you've got the timeline you've got stuff to do and if that you have a specific interest in one of these key responsibility uh areas that might actually also make it more attractive for certain people to

136volunteer or lend their time and talent because if they know like what you're looking for specifically to do on the committee that might attract >> Yeah. I if if if we support this and then when we meet with planning board they support this document. >> Um I expect we might get some tweaks from planning board. I don't know. I have I haven't heard anything. >> Um would be then that we would get this out to pe we would get this out. We would ask Michael to share it, maybe link it on through the his newsletter and onto the website as we're looking for for people and then, you know, put it out there for a little bit to decide to allow people to apply and then start the process. >> So, is is this a

137joint? We're it's going to be a joint appointment for this committee. >> I think so. I think we should follow the same format that we did for the full comprehensive plan. >> I would put that in here because that's not >> Oh, is that not on there? Okay. We say like if if more than three members uh are interested the planning board and select board review and determine which members but it's not saying how like where it falls like then it would be a joint appointment of >> Sure add that we can add that to the document. >> All right. Um so does anybody else have any questions or comments? I support Yolanda to do this unless somebody else >> I I clearly think that Yolanda is uh going to be >> I don't know.

138I think Claudia is contemplating it. >> You know who's not contemplating it? >> Sorry. I should >> No, it's okay. I get it. It's It was a tough process. >> It was It was But it was a It was a good process. That's I'm sticking to that. >> Yeah. And I I honestly think that um because of your background knowledge of it at this point that you would certainly be >> so thank you for >> Thank you. You're welcome for offering or or we could stick Joe with it. >> But >> and then for you can't give assignments to people who are not at the meeting. You cannot do that. That's not >> Sorry, Joe, if you're listening, >> Joey. Joe, we'd never do that to you. We just want to do that. >> We're

139just joking. We're really joking. Okay. Okay. Um, so unless we have anything else, >> take a vote. >> Yeah, we probably should, right? Should we do we have to take a vote? >> Um, so, uh, could I get a motion to appoint Yolanda as the select board representative to this comprehensive planation committee? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I I >> That passes. Thank you, Yolanda. >> You're welcome. Um, and so just as a reminder, we are meeting with the the planning board next Thursday at 7:15. Are we do we have a time? Is it 7:15 that we're meeting with them? >> Couldn't tell you. All I know is that it's next Friday. Next Thursday, the 26th. >> Okay. >> Thursday. >> Okay. All right. Um, Susan, Michael, if somebody can just let

140us know if we're going to be at the front end of that meeting. Just >> hopefully just let us know the time. That would be great. Um, okay. The next thing on the agenda is update on 40B projects. Michael, I'm turning it over to you. >> Yeah. So, I mean, one piece of good news I wanted to let everybody know is that we did submit um to Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities the U basically the comprehensive permit for 61 Waverly, which hopefully will get us put on safe harbor or put us in safe harbor. So, >> wait, repeat that. Sorry. So, I said we've submitted the um comprehensive permit for Waverly that was issued to Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities so we can get safe harbor status. >> Nice. >> So,

141um hopefully we'll hear back from them soon. >> Has are they the only one that's been submitted to to help us get to safe harbor? >> Correct. For right now, I think the appeal period has to lapse if it if it hasn't already before we can do that with it. Okay. But really all we need is >> just that one that that's does it. >> Yeah, that one will will should give us the twoear safe harbor um you know because of um because of the housing production plan. So that's good. >> Um so yeah, the appeal period still um still going through with um 10 to 60 Main Street. Waverly is before the concom um and as you heard Carl mention things are moving along that way and then they have their first hearing with

142um 10 to 60 on March 2nd as well. Um the other thing is did everybody get the map the screenshot of the map I sent yesterday? >> Okay. I did not >> I don't think >> if I got it I didn't note >> I did not recognize it as having received it. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So it was it's basically um a revised bus route uh from the MWRA. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I saw that. >> Yeah. So, um, so I did talk to Jim Ne, executive director, and they're actually they're going through a route reconfiguration plan. >> And so, one of the things that they're looking at doing is actually having their bus now go along Waverly and actually come into downtown, go past 10 to 60 main, and then go

143towards the train station and then circle back. So, I know we wanted uh more public transportation options uh coming out of 1060 just to facilitate getting to the train and not having to use a car. >> So, hopefully that'll help a bit. >> Sorry, I I was looking for it and then I saw the email about um >> the $500,000 grant that Doug mentioned and I'm like, what? What grant? >> So, it was a complete streets grant. That's great. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Thank you. So, so that's what I have on the 40B process. And obviously, we just talked to Carl and Con today. >> Wait, wait. Does anybody have any questions on 40B before we move on? >> No, I'm just I'm being distracted by the new five the bike lane at that

144intersection. >> Okay. Did we have any luck getting the the developer at 61 Waverly to put sidewalks in on their side of the street? Um, don't believe so. >> No, >> don't believe so. >> Really? >> No. They've agreed to replace the >> the culvert. >> The culbert, >> right? >> Yeah. >> That's too bad. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. The next item on our agenda is discuss um legislative earmark requests. We had a meeting with um Representative Jack Lewis and um um Dennis and Jess from um Senate President Karen Spoka's office last Friday and they are in the middle of the budget process and um while they said that there is literally no guarantees about anything this year which is kind of a sad sad state affairs. They did um ask if we wanted

145to put together a a a sort of a short list of of things that we very specific items that we needed um potentially for earmarks that they could advocate for from both the Senate and the House side. >> Concrete wings. >> Concrete. >> That's what we were told. So >> So concrete list >> a concrete list >> meaning you know something tangible. No programs. So like a sidewalk from public safety building >> all the way to Waverly Street to Firmingham. >> I don't think we can get all of that covered. You know, they said what? Two >> Yeah, they were talking about like 200,000 is kind of like the Yeah, I mean it's not it's not going to be a a big project. I I would suggest u you know some of the current projects

146that we have going on maybe that we are planning with additional fund or with actual taxpayer funds maybe looking at a way to um get an earmark for those um and then that way that money gets freed up that's being used in the general fund that money gets freed up for >> what about on the school side because I know that there's conversations about capital on the school side Is there anything that would we could add to that list that would be a concrete need? >> Um, for sure. I I don't have a list of exact ones, but um and I think they're all, you know, >> the ones I know of are more than like the 200k, but I can see if there's like a funding plan where that would be a piece of

147it, >> where that could be a piece of >> I know that um the fields always come up, right? >> For sure. But I know that one thing that that came up to a couple of times to me the last year was uh the basketball the gym floor at the middle school. >> Oh, the big the big gym at the middle school. >> It's gotten to the point where it's not safe for basketball. I don't know what that would cost, but might be worth be a great project. >> A really great idea. Um so you're talking infrastructure, right? Um, yeah. >> Are there any small are there any short sidewalk areas that >> No. And and like I said, I think adding on like another project would be difficult, but if you wanted to add

148some money for like Upper Charles Trail, um, >> you know, there's >> certainly >> they got plenty of things going on, >> right? If they wanted to add to that, that would be helpful. >> I can also get a list from Jim, too. >> Yeah. Um, so maybe what we'll do is if you can do you want to put together a short list, >> have Jim put together his list and then we can review it at the next meeting and then get it over to >> That makes sense. >> You want me to specifically ask middle school gym for >> Well, just that was one that was raised at me. Okay. You know, several people raised it to me last year. >> And so I don't know what how much it was. I don't remember.

149I think there might have been a number floating around, but I don't have any idea what it was. >> A safety hazard. >> It's definitely it's safety. >> It's not even >> Yeah. >> It needs to be replaced. >> So, I mean, I think that would be >> because it is has safety implications. I would think it would be sort of high on my list of >> Yeah, >> I would agree with you, Clauddio. >> Okay. So, we'll look at it next next meeting. Okay. Um, moving on to our consent agenda. Uh, could I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Um, moving on to town manager reports. So, the first item that we have is the community center improvement

150project update. >> Yeah. Katherine, do you want to give an update on that? >> Yes. So, the food pantry moved um on 25 and 26 and um so that went really well. We had a great group of volunteers and staff uh who moved the food pantry over um in about two and a half, three hours maybe. Everything was all put away. It was >> volunteers and staff a bunch. >> That place was was filled. I want to say 30. >> Yeah. So, that was that was really great. So, thank you to everyone who came out to help. That was definitely a group effort. Um and on last week, so that was the week I believe of 29, the organization of the recreation storage space started and that will continue. Um the construction bids are due

151on the 19th, which is tomorrow, and that that's about it. Okay. So, for the food pantry change over now to the police substation, is there >> um all of the typical patrons that would come to the community center, >> have you seen the same level of people >> and more. Okay. >> Because that was going to be my question was like whether or not it was. >> Yes. So, there were >> if people found it or not. >> Yes. >> There was a lot of publicity about it. >> Yes. And then um people just you know in that general area didn't know we existed which is great. So they found us which is awesome. >> That is really awesome. >> Yeah. Yeah. Lot of lot of stuff going on there. Um finish. >> Okay. Um

152so before I get to the YMCA I did just want to address you know the 500,000 Yolanda that you mentioned and Doug mentioned. So, so we were notified yesterday and I believe I I passed it along that we were awarded $500,000 in a complete streets grant for the work at Fountain and 135. So, which includes sidewalks, crosswalks, new traffic signals. So, that's in conjunction with the water work that we just did as well as, you know, the repaving and everything that we'll do as Doug mentioned today. So, you know, we did have that money approved um you know, that would come out of capital, but I think that's a good example of, you know, even though we have the funding, you know, through the general fund, we still try to take advantage of opportunities to

153get, you know, grant funds or, you know, have somebody else pay for it essentially. >> Yep. Bring those tax dollars back. >> We try. We try. Um and then, um so congratulations. I know Doug highlighted uh Becca Navaro. She was really key on that. >> Yeah, that'll make a huge difference to that intersection. It's just it's >> you know the you know you see kids darting across the street because there's no crosswalks. There's no like it's it's it's tough. >> Yeah, it's a tough Well, Makita you Yeah, it's >> Yeah. >> So, Michael, real quick regarding complete streets. We did a complete streets plan six years ago. >> It was a while ago. >> Seven years ago. And I know, you know, it's great that we were able to apply for this. Have we looked

154at updating that plan? Because I know part of that plan was the Elliot and Fruit Street intersection and that's now been done. Um, so we need to I think look at updating that plan. Is that something staff is doing or we are they looking at bringing in the public like we did before or >> Yeah, I think if we did like a whole new plan, we would we would have like a public process and everything. Okay. It hasn't it hasn't got to >> my desk yet as something that they're working on. They might be just >> I mean, we did a very when we did the the last plan, we did a very thorough plan and like did a lot of stuff, but I would think we're we're getting toward the end and I think

155Fountain Street was one of the projects on that long-term list. But I would think that we may need to just take another look at it and see, you know, with new some new neighborhoods and some different sizes and now that 126 is just about done, is there, you know, what's the next step from there? Yeah, dude. Green green helped us with that, right? >> I think that um one of the things that was on the list to come up for sidewalks, too, was uh Cedar Street to the high school. >> Yes. >> What's What's the status of that now? >> It's um it's being engineered or it's been engineered >> and we have some funds to >> um I think we're still putting it like putting together the whole list. So, could the some of

156the funds that were offset from this grant be used to to help with that? >> Potentially. Potentially. Or and I know we had u like some of the 8 million like for pedestrian safety, you know, that was that was something that we were going to put towards that too. >> And that's still available. >> Okay. >> And the Cedar Street is is it the all of Cedar Street? >> No, it would just be from Captain to East Union. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I've saw recently a lot of kids that get on the bus there. There's a lot of kids coming out of there. >> And then just you you brought up um Elliot and Fruit Street intersection, you know, when they put the three star and it's too bad Joe's not here because it's probably

157the traffic safety committee that brought that forward. And I have to say I feel like that's been very successful. Yeah. >> I think it works really well. I'm not sure, you know, I'm not talking about myself, but I'm not sure everybody comes to a complete stop there, but but everybody, you know, at least >> Yeah, >> it I just feel like it's been very >> it has made it a much better intersection. The only other thing that would make that area safer and easier to navigate is if we could somehow get two lanes of cars into the school instead of one lane and have them backed up between the entrance to the school and Fruit Street, especially at at at drop off >> drop off and pick up. Yeah, I know. I try to avoid

158that area those times. >> Yeah. Well, when you live at that end. >> I know. I know you can't. I went I did sometimes I can't >> I did make the mistake of going down Cedar Street in East Union uh when the high school was >> oh letting out oh man >> well it was actually even in the morning it's >> Oh yeah it's all a nightmare >> anyway >> and and the last item I have is just an update on the YMCA. So I did have a conversation with them. They're anticipating breaking ground for the early um learning center in April. Um and then also the plan is also to do the site work for the next building at the same time. So um that's their plan. Joe and um Beth and I met

159with them on the development agreement again as the board had asked us and so those discussions are going uh going forward. But yeah um so it's finally nice that they're you know to know that that's >> ground if you don't mind me say adding to that. So, the YMCA, their marathon annual campaign kickoff breakfast is on Friday, March 13th. If anyone is interested in attending, let me know. We can put a table together and get some people to It's always a great event. You get to see their marathon team and it's so inspirational to hear from usually from the Hoy family and it's just a great it's a great morning. So, if you're interested, let me know. Okay. >> Okay. And that's uh that's what I have. >> Okay, sounds good. Moving on to board

160reports. Yolanda, >> start us off. >> Sure. Uh so two weeks ago now I sat in on a conversation meeting with um Fussen O'Neal which is the consultant we're looking at hiring to help do the general 25% design of the full length of the trail from uh the Firmingham Sherborn line to Hopkin line and then potentially with them also I'm sorry, let me step back to sort of do a feasibility of the whole thing and then potentially try to get to 25% design on part of it. Um, and then either do that through the tip or some other way to fund the actual construction. And I'm actually meeting with the whole committee tomorrow night. Uh, and Diane Mortonson has been a really ad big advocate and has been helping from the grant perspective. We've talked

161about the property that we have money for from a grant to purchase and what parcel really makes sense. We have found out that if we don't want to purchase the initial parcel that we identified that we can use it for another parcel. So, we're looking at that all on the 126 corridor there. So, that's one thing. Um, I unfortunately have not been able to attend any open space meetings because they're on Tuesdays and I'm currently in rehearsal on Tuesdays. Um, but I did hear that of getting very close to having the open space and wreck plan completed. There has been a draft that has gone about um and I think the open space and recck committee has been tweaking some of that. So hopefully within the next month or two we'll have something finalized on

162open space and w plan and uh that's all I got. >> Thank you Nikita. >> Thanks madam chair. Um so let's see I about a week week and a a week ago week a day ago I attended the historical commission meeting. Um they are hard at work doing a number of things. Uh one of the things that they uh have been discussing is the historical district. Um it's something that they're I think they're working on um revisiting that issue with the community soon. I'll have more details as as they present, but um I think there's a lot of good energy behind that. Um tomorrow I will be meeting with the that ethical standards working group. Um I think uh Susan and um Rob uh you know they came before us. So uh they're having they've

163invited me to one of their meetings uh tomorrow night. So, I will be sitting with them for the first time. Um, and that's all I have for now. Yeah. >> Great. Thank you, Claudia. >> Oh, I had office hours today. >> I was just going to say >> with this lady, thank you very much for all the constituents that came and we had a really I think we had a really great robust discussion um about uh some of the issues that folks are concerned about around town. I think that that um giving some variation in our availability and hours is a good thing. And I think like you know because maybe Saturday mornings don't work for everybody. So like maybe as we're scheduling out we might want to take a look at >> at some

164variation so that we can capture different folks at different times. >> Oh we had office hours too. >> Yeah. Yeah you did. >> So so are fresh in our mind. Yeah, because it like you know just happened and I almost forgot about it even though it just happened. It was a great >> and it was a great great experience. So again, thanks for the folks who came out. >> Yeah, it it was I appreciate the folks that came out. We really did have some really good conversation and really went a little bit past 5:00 and we started right at 3:00. So there were people waiting when we arrived. So uh >> waiting when you arrived. That's cool. >> That's awesome. >> Um in any case, so it was a it was a good good meeting.

165Um, I did attend just a conservation commission meeting last week. It was last week. Um, and I've been trying to, you know, attend those on a pretty regular basis as they go through some of the 40B process. Um, and then I um we had a school building committee meeting last night. Oh, yeah. >> And uh those are really now they're just mostly there's a few things where they're crossing the tees and dotting their eyes a little bit. and um and kind of you know so just finishing up some details hopefully >> to get us to our um energy efficiency numbers. Yeah. >> So we can get some rebates. So instead of just having the heating system running and to keep everybody warm to actually get it to the point where it is working at a

166certain efficiency level as in doesn't run when there's nobody in the building things like that. So um they're struggling I think a little bit with that but they're working towards it. Um and then um I guess I guess that's it for me. Thank you. Can I can I just add two two things? Um I just wanted to recognize two community groups in town that have been doing a great uh great work uh this February. The first is Ashland is United. They've been doing an incredible series on Black History Month. Uh and uh just a lot of great uh emails just listing off folks that you know, some of us know, some of us don't, but uh you know, subscribing to their emails and and um you know, them celebrating Black History Month has been really

167great. I also want to shout out area who had a very successful event at Danforth uh um uh I think last Monday um or this Monday um uh celebrating Black History Month as well. So I I just wanted to uh to to recognize those folks and uh um recognizing Black History Month and bringing the community together and celebrating celebrating us all uh by uh getting us to learn about each other's cultures and heritage. So just wanted to throw that in. Thank you for that. Okay. Um I got a couple things but not too much. Um we were talking about the library with office hours. So Yolanda and I were at the library um the first Saturday of uh February for during their book sale. So, we had a table right next to the friends and

168we caught all sorts of people like back and forth between the children's room and the book sale and it was a lousy, horrible, bad weather day. It was really awful, but we we got quite a bit >> quite a few good conversations. >> Yeah. So, um a lot of conversation about budgets, you know, obviously that's like on people's minds. Um I would suggest so one of the things that we kind of sort of figured out like we had n our office hours were 9 to 11 and we stayed until noon because the book sale doesn't start till 9:30 and people really didn't get there till 10. Like it wasn't the first the first hour wasn't really as productive. So, I would suggest that we adjust the office hours at the library because we're going to

169continue to do the first Saturday of every month because it's um coincides with the book sale. >> I would suggest 10 to 10 to 12 instead of 9 to 11 because I think it's just more people are out. Y. >> So, um, >> it was also like a program that started at 10:30 and something else that ended that started at 11 and so we got the the parents going in and out of that and Yeah. >> Yeah. They do a lot of programming on Saturday morning, you know, and parents really want a great place to take their kids and and that the library is >> Yeah, exactly. Oh, yeah. So, um, >> that's smart shifting your hours so we can get more citizen involvement. >> Yeah. So, we'll I'll send out like a a reminder

170and a and a message. I don't I don't remember exactly who's doing the office hours for the next I think Joe is I think I saw Joe's name on there. >> Okay. >> How far are we scheduled out for office hours right now? >> Um I think it is so March, April. I think it's through April. >> Okay. >> And I think we had planned on the same cadence if we want to change that. If you think that Wednesday afternoons are still good, if you think that we want to try a different day of the week or >> um >> or other locations maybe >> Dolce Dolce is the the good thing about Dolce is that there's like space and it's easy. I mean, not easy easy. It's >> you still have to park and

171walk, but it's not that it's not really that. >> They also have extended hours, too. So, you know, they're open late afternoon. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Which is good. >> I mean, maybe I might do a if somebody was interested in a in a bagel table like 11 to one or something and try to catch people who are coming in for lunch if anybody has availability for that. >> Yeah, maybe could depending on the day. >> Yeah. >> Might be able to sneak out for that. >> Yeah. I mean, I would almost say like if it's the bagel table because certain days of the week are really like I had had a conversation with Ed and some some days are just really dead there during the week. But maybe >> so we should do it

172on those days. >> Yeah, because maybe it'll bring somebody in. >> Bring people in. Yeah, >> you could do that. Or I was going to say like, you know, plan for like a Friday or something when more people might be um >> Yeah. >> around or something. >> So if if you guys >> not not that we're a huge draw, but if it would help for us to come in >> the celebrities, >> the celebrity select board members, >> whatever would work uh for bagel table. But I like the idea of like kind of looking at a couple different locations, too. But I like Dolce a lot as well. So >> yeah, it is nice. >> So do you guys like do we want to what do we want to plan for March? Because we'll

173we'll ask Clara, our communications person, to put together another flyer for um for March because we had both dates listed on there, which I think was good. >> Yeah. >> So that would be March 4th would be the next Wednesday. >> March 4th is the next Wednesday. So, so it would be March 7th would be the >> Saturday >> the Saturday for the book sale and then we would look for to do something the week of the 15th. >> Oh, got it. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think that makes sense. Um, >> so the week of the 15th is that um No, no, I'm way ahead of myself. >> That's St. Patrick's Day. Uh on Tuesday. >> 17th is St. Patrick's Day. >> Excellent. >> The um No, that's okay. But we might not

174get a Well, I don't know. We might get people in St. Patrick. That's a Tuesday, though. Um that Wednesday the 18th or that that Friday the 20th. Um >> Friday Friday like 11 to 1 would be able to take some time out. It' be easier for me to find that. But that's not going to work for you. >> I can't do Friday. >> Okay. So the 18th >> you want to try to do that? >> Yeah. Uh what time do you want to do? >> Do you want to try to do 11 to one or 12 to two or 10 to 12 or >> any of those work for you? >> If it's a Wednesday like that 3 to 5 slot is probably going to be the best for me. >> We could leave it.

175>> I could definitely take some time then. But >> yeah, let me just also look to see who signed up for that and what the uh hold on. Sorry, I'm just I'm a sign up genius. One second. >> Yeah, I know. I didn't sign up for anything in March. >> I don't think I did either. >> I just I don't think I did either. >> Yeah, sorry. >> So, >> I think I think the library is Joe and Makita. >> Oh, did I sign up? Yeah, I did. That's right. >> Um and no one has signed up for the select board hours at Dolce. So, it's it's free game. I'm happy to make an a repeat appearance on the 18th, but if somebody else wants to do the 18th is, you know, >> I have

176I have issues trying to get like I'm in the city. >> Yeah, I guess. Yeah. >> Um but I could do I could potentially do a Friday if we wanted to change that to Friday >> or Yolanda, you want to do Wednesday afternoon with me? >> I can't that week. Those two weeks I'm performing and >> Okay. still trying to work and >> Yeah. >> So, >> yeah, I get it. I can't >> I get it. >> Um, if you shift, you can't do Friday that of that week, right, Claudia? >> Yeah. I mean, would would folks look at maybe the following week so that maybe schedules would would jive like Claudia and uh >> so Fridays I I have my younger grandson. >> Uh so I mean I could bring him and have lunch

177with him at table, but I'm not sure very productive, you know. >> You maybe you guys could look at the um what what maybe St. Patrick's Day. I don't know the Tuesday uh the 17th or the following Tuesday the 24th or that Thursday those Thursdays the 19th and the 26th. >> Yeah. Plus with when I'm going to be out in April, I can't take more time during the day, >> right? >> In March, unfortunately. How about How about we try we try a Friday and I'm happy to to plan for a Friday like Friday the 20th. I can do I should be able to do >> you want to do that and I'll swap with you and do Thursday I mean Saturday. Yeah, let's do that. I'll swap out with you on the 7th. So

178I don't know how we do that on the sign up. >> I can. >> All right. So Claudia will take the seventh on Saturday with Joe and Makita and I will do Friday the 20th. >> What time do you want to do Friday? Do you want to do the noon time rush or do you want to do uh the 3 to 5 on Friday? >> If we're going to do bagel table, do you want to do bagel? >> Bagel Table. Yeah, let's do bagel table. So it's going to be like 11 to 1, right? >> 11 to 1. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay, I can do that. >> All right. And I'm Saturday, March 7th, right? 10:00 a.m. >> Yes. So let's do 10 to 12. for that. Okay, we're good. >> So, >> all

179right. So, I will give that information to um the Clara. So, we get a flyer for >> Okay. Thank you. >> for March. Okay. >> Um and then other than that, I was at the sustainability meeting um a couple weeks ago now, almost a couple weeks ago. And um I think they're still going to plan to move forward with a warrant article for that skip the stuff stuff which is basically to eliminate um utensils and things for takeout the default option >> instead of instead of putting things in >> automatically you'd have to ask >> automatically you have to ask for it. Yeah. >> So >> yeah that makes sense. >> So because everybody's got drawers full of stuff including me. Yeah. And then plus probably save some money for save some businesses. So >>

180yeah. >> Um and that is all I have. Oh, I did want to say oh just other things. Um we were talking about the the um the meeting with um Rep. Lewis and um Senator Spoker's office. Just a couple of things that we talked about just to let you guys know. So, we talked a lot about the budget and um our override um plan. We talked um about sort of the governor's budget and sort of what to expect um as it works its way through through um the House and Senate. And basically one of the things that they said was like, you know, the governor's budget is really like the sort of like the floor for chapter 70 and like unrestricted government aid and we're not going to they're not expecting much more than what

181the governor's budget is. Like there's there's not going to be any additional. >> Is that the number that you used in the budget? >> Use the governor's. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um and then just the other thing there was something else I wanted to just um so they oh our liquor licenses um were we had filed um for a home rule petition. So um one of the things that they've asked us to do is to connect the increase in numbers to um the regions within the town like kind of like create a map. So that is um something that we've worked on or we're working on to get back to them. Um, I think that there's going to be probably an adjustment to the number of liquor licenses that they're going to be willing to

182give to us from that home rule petition we had, I think, asked for. Is it 16? Yeah. And so, we can expect it to be less than 16. We don't have a number yet, but >> what difference does it make to them how many liquor licenses we have in town? Like, oh, we're only going to give you 12. Like, >> so I think I think they just want it tied to very specific uses is my understanding. Is there anything >> more businesses and more restaurants and more people coming into Ashlin? Yeah. >> Yeah. They did say that they were >> Yeah. So, >> so who's And whose decision is that? >> Whose decision is that that they're going to reduce the number? >> Exactly. >> It sounds like there's a Yeah, there's a committee in

183the House that that works on this stuff. >> Why? Why? Again, >> well, >> because Massachusetts is a nanny state and you can only have so many things and the state legislature has to tell us what we can do. >> So, maybe the official Well, what is the official explanation? >> No, seriously. like what is the reason population based on >> right so so for for every so for every so many thousands of people you can have a liquor license for um >> for restaurants >> so more more to come for yeah we won't get too much into the weeds on this >> sure it's just very concerning I mean like if anything that we learned from the pandemic right like we we learned that a lot of these these these these conditions didn't make

184sense for local business and I I was kind of hoping that we'd see a a little bit more of a um shift in attitude and more of a kind of a allowing more entrepreneurial. >> Makita, they they have extended again the temporary ability for us to do remote licenses because certain members of the legislature still have to determine if remote meetings and allowing hybrid meetings make sense >> because hopefully hopefully that's like that out of pe out of specific rep's mouths. that they have to make sure it makes sense to allow hybrid and remote meetings. >> I I just think that we've learned a lot from that awful experience a few years ago. And if we could retain some of our learnings and innovate off of them, we'll all be better off. And I'll leave

185my comment at that. >> Okay. All right. On that lovely note, >> motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I I >> All right, folks. Our next meeting is um March 4th and um we will see see you all then. Um and so we're we're so uh we're we're officially adjourned at 9:35 this evening. Thank you very much.