Select Board (December 3rd, 2025)

001Good evening and welcome to the December 3rd, 2025 select board meeting. Call this meeting to order at 7:01. This meeting is being recorded and broadcast live by WACA TV livereamed on Facebook. Remote participation is available using the Zoom video conference platform. Any disruption with the video conference platform will result in the platform being shut down and the broadcast will continue on WACAV livereamed on Facebook. This meeting is called to order and at this time I welcome citizens participation. If anybody is here for citizens participation, come up to the podium and identify yourself and tell us what you have to say. No, you can. We're going to let you discuss when we when we bring it up at that at that time frame. But what if you want to bring it up now, you can do

002that as well. I'll give you two options. Whatever you want to do. You want to wait. Okay, we can do that. We can do that. Good morning. It's almost it's morning somewhere. Nice to see you all. Thank you for being here. I don't know if there's anybody on remote that has any questions or anything. I don't see any hand raised. If you do, please raise your hands and we can um call you if you have any comments on citizens participation. If not, it's almost 7:05. Perfect timing. That clock is >> It is >> It's almost 7:7. Mine says 7:08. Mine says 7:08. So, we're behind schedule. Sorry. Okay. Uh seeing that there is nobody here for citizens participation, I'd be more than happy to turn it over to our town attorney, Lisa Me, for legal

003updates. Lisa, it's all yours. >> Um thank you, Mr. Chair, and members of the board. It's great to be here. Um a lot of the things I'm going to talk about you saw at town meeting. Um obviously the last couple of months we've been doing a lot of work in preparation of town meeting. Um it was particularly heavy town meeting related to real estate um which takes a lot of our time um related to the title work and the agreements that have to be done. But um we spent a lot of time on the Donley property um that the town meeting agreed to convey to the town forest committee. um their title issues and plans and there was a drafted gri gift agreement and tonight later on you're going to um approve that so it's

004followed through on uh Rob St. Germaine of course as you know was very instrumental in um all of those um items. Um, additionally, there's another uh piece of the Donley property um that's adjacent to that um that we've been working to kind of unwind a tax taking issue on that happened a whole host of years ago, probably 25 years ago that was done incorrectly. Um so with Cindy and the um tax um your tax taking attorney um that has now been unwound and you'll be hearing about that um in the future as well and I think that's going to be beneficial to the town. Um similarly there was a an approval at town meeting regarding some zany property up off of uh Bracket Street in Ashland and Guile Street in or Gild Street in um

005Gold Street in Framingham. Um and that has from a from a title attorney's point of view has been very interesting. Um, it's been probably frustrating for Becca and for other people because we're working on a grant with Framingham, but uh there's a significant parcel of land there, but the assessor's maps don't match the deed descriptions and don't match the plans. And so, they've all had to be disassociated, so to speak, and reput together um with your surveyors who've been doing a great job and our senior title attorney. So hopefully that'll be resolved shortly so that can all be um completed um before the expiration of the grant in the spring. Um as you know, we've been working diligently on the 340B projects in town as well, uh Main Street, Waverly Street, and West Union Street,

006and those continue. Um I worked a lot with um the with Katherine um reviewing the issues related to the various CPA grants and in particular YMCA. So, we had to work through some issues with that. Um, let me just update you also on uh the gainer litigation to the extent that I can in open session. Um, we still do not have a decision uh from the court that was the UGC gainer litigation over the validity of the purchase and sale agreement, the trial that took place a year ago, January, where everybody thought the decision was going to be weeks away after the trial. Um and then the other litigation in that same development is the challenge of the comprehensive permit by Gainner against UC and the town um saying that he didn't have sight UGC

007didn't have site control and so that's the threshold issue in that matter. So if the judge in the first case found that the purchase and sale agreement was valid, then the current case would go away because that's their main challenge to the purchase and sale I mean to the uh comprehensive permit. Um the current judge said that she would try to reach out and get the judge to move along. Um I don't know if that happened or not, but we still don't have a decision. So that case is going to be decided on what they call a case stated argument. So it's not a summary judgment, but the parties have to agree on basically the um the world of the facts, so to speak, and it will be decided on the papers and an argument

008on the papers. Um and because the facts will be laid before the court that was supposed to be happening on January 30th uh but UC UGC council is not available on that date. So, they're working out dates um with uh the council on the other side. Um but right now it's still on for January 30th, but it's not going to happen on that date because council's not available. Um we've been working with the affordable housing trust on a grant uh for Habitat for Humanity on the project that they're working on in town. So, that's been going on. Um and we've done some pretty significant contract review on the waiter water main replacement for Union and Fountain Street and then on the ozone um equipment replacement at the water treatment plant as well. So that's been

009going on. Um and as of today um we will be starting our work on the um amendment to the or renewal of the Framingham IMA um for the sewer and w the MWR connection. Uh we got a notice today literally um from Framingham and so um we have a meeting scheduled next week to um to start working with staff on on that. So, it it actually expires at the end of next year, but there's a requirement that notice be given before the end of this year about the renewal process. Um, and we got that notice today from Framingham. >> Is that is that a two or three year? >> Oh, the the entire agreement 20 year >> 20 years. Okay. >> Right. Right. >> Is is there loud. Um, is there any way that items

010in there can be renegotiated as far as >> you can work on an amendment to the extension? >> Obviously, it's a mutual agreement. >> Gotcha. All right. Because I know way back when when we struck that agreement. Um, it was mediated, right? It was a it was a mediated agreement. >> The original agreement, right? The original agreement was a result of litigation. Um, and in fact the lost significant >> right I was going to say because that's that's how the the price the cost for our sewer like >> that's right the town and there was a significant payment that had to be made up front in the first five years uh $2 million or something like that. >> Um and that that DTE decision is actually attached to the agreement. >> So is there any

011way to negotiate? >> So that major part of those payments were done. >> Okay. Um, and obviously the construction is done, >> but the rate basically >> the rate that's a it's going to be a negotiation and it's also based upon >> their rates. >> Okay, gotcha. Okay, thanks. >> Um, and then uh the other thing that Katherine and I are working on at the request of the chair is an open meeting law training. Um, and so we're looking at some dates um Wednesdays either in January or in February. We're going to um try to get those nailed down next week. Um the idea is to have it on on a Wednesday because town halls open late that day. And I have found in my experience if you um most of the communities I have

012have a late night. And so if you try to bridge between staff who whose staff boards and the boards who meet at night who people go to work during the day and you do it like at six o'clock for example, you get your best turnout and everybody that needs to have the benefit of the training will train. So we're looking at doing it at six o'clock and as both virtual and in person. Um the most recent one I did which was about a month and a half ago. It was October I guess. Yeah. So about a month and a half ago. Um I had about it wasn't here. It was in another community but I had about we did it at six o'clock and we had about 25 or 30 people in person and we

013had about 25 or 30 people online. So um I think it it makes it better for people to have the option on how to do it. So we'll get that together. >> Good. Thank you. Appreciate that. Thank you very much. Appreciate all the work that your office does for us. >> You're welcome. >> Not not an easy thing, is it? >> It's a lot of fun though. Never a dull moment. >> We keep you busy. >> Never a dull moment. >> And she says it with a smile. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. Lisa, >> I do have a question. Um maybe not necessarily for you, maybe more for Michael. Um, as far as like, um, the budget goes for our legal services, um, I know when we do town council evaluation,

014there's a line item on there on budget. We never really see what what the costs are. Um, and I feel like we probably it would be good to kind of um have that information also because this year is a high intensity year with all the 40bs, >> right? >> Um, >> so it might be good to just kind of have a sense of like what those costs look like at some point. >> Okay. We yeah we yeah we we break them down so and I think she breaks them down even more but um for Ashlin and a couple of my other communities they like to see what the categories are like you know general government planning litigation zoning and we try to you know sometimes we miss one or two but um we try to

015bill them in those categories so that when you get our bills they're broken down in those categories okay >> so you can kind of that where the stuff is doesn't it's not always a perfect science but >> no but I think it I think it would be great to like you know put it on as an agenda item in January February you know just to review >> that would also tie into just a general update on a quarterly basis of where we are with our budget right I mean we're now in November we've gone through the first quarter of 2026 fiscally so in January it'd be great to get an update as to where we are budget to actual Um, and if we've seen any savings or increases, then obviously I would expect our legal

016cost will be a little bit higher based on what we actually budgeted this part of the year. >> Great. Thank you. Good to see you all. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> All those in favor? >> I I zero. Thank you. Appreciate that. Yeah, I'm sorry. I I I shut mine down because we're getting a lot of reverb up here, so I wasn't sure if it was my mic or somebody else's. >> We good now? >> Okay. I still have that one foot leeway here. Okay. Uh with respect to that, I would like to uh bring up under old new business um update on 40B projects. And I know I have a few people that are in the audience this evening um that I will have no problem having

017you come up and and be part of this discussion with us. Okay. So, Michael, if you would like to uh brief brief us on a on an update on the status of some of these 40Bs, then I will have Miss Gunardi and Miss uh Manuel uh come up to the podium when you're when you're ready. >> Sure. So, um I do have um updates on each of the 340BS that are before the town right now. Um so, I'll start with 10 to 60 Main Street. So, um I think the board's well aware, uh the public hearing remains open. Um the zoning board of appeals intends to close the public hearing on 12925 and uh the ZBA at that point must issue a decision within 40 days. Uh so no public comment or additional information can

018be uh provided legally at that time. Uh one important update I want to make sure everybody is aware of. Um, we did get some updated answers from the uh Department of Environmental Protection and it looks like uh it was written on behalf of D and EPA. Uh, so those came in on Monday uh December 1st. So those are now posted on the website. Um, and so those are some enhanced uh responses to some of the questions that they had received, both the original ones and some of the follow-up ones. Um, related to 61 Waverly Street. Again, the public hearings closed. Um, so a working session was suggested to draft the decision. Um, and that was ultimately not necessary, didn't take place. Um the ZBA is planning on reviewing the draft decision on December 9th and

019uh the decision, you know, if it's uh if it's issued then must be filed with the town clerk um within 14 days. And so uh that's 61 Waverly. Um 55 West Union Street. Also, these are just ZBA uh I should point out ZBA items, not Concom. uh 55 West Union Street. Um so that public hearing still remains open as well as public comment. Uh the next hearing is also on December 9th. Uh so we're waiting for the second peer review for storm water. Um also the second peer review on traffic. Uh they did get the first peer review for the civil engineering on December 2nd. So that did come in. Um, so the applicant, they just need some time to reply to the civil review and uh they'll probably have to go through another round

020of that before um before they get some um finalized decisions on that civil civil peer review process. Um yeah, any questions? Michael, I just wanted to clarify um when these hearings close, then the ZBA has 40 days to issue um their um decision and it includes uh based on waiverss, any conditions or that they want to put on the project. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. Y Connie John, if you uh would like to come up. >> Okay. >> Good evening. Excuse me. Hello. Junken Friday. I'm on the historical commission, but speaking as an as an individual, um I appreciate the chance to um make some comments that um the ZBA we didn't have a lot of chance to and I think that it's important that that um the select board hears some of our

021concerns. Um I have serious concerns with the state taking our oversight away. I think we all do. Whatever happened to home rule? developers are allowed to trample our bylaws and all because projects that were duly permitted by the town were put on hold through no fault of the town. That's why we fell out of safe harbor. 501 Pawn Street has been resurrected and permitted. 61 Waverly will most likely be permitted. These two projects being permitted should give us conditional SHI. I ask you, why doesn't the town deny the 10 to 60 Maine and 55 West Union projects and let them appeal to the state? By then we will be in safe harbor and have grounds to appeal if the state approves their appeal. Please see the article um that I sent you all today um

022about an appeal in Fmouth was kind of a similar issue. I know it's a it's different but it's somewhat similar in the sense that they're being bombarded with additional 40bs while they're in while they're in conditional SA while they were in conditional shi but it fell off without not through no fault of the town. 10 to 60 main will be built on the Nyanza plume. Who will be responsible if A someone gets sick and B the site is found to be too contaminated after the historic buildings are already demolished? Please hire an independent engineer to verit verify testing at the site. The EBA responses which Michael mentioned um continue to refer us to the LSP paid by paid for by the developer. Um it it they we we should also require a liquid vapor barrier

023which is supposedly stronger than the other barriers. Um and I really would like us to not not allow children in those buildings. Um these are argu arguably the most historically significant buildings in Ashland. They're made of solid granite mil in Ashland and will last forever. Henry Warren worked there when he standardized time for the entire world. His Lombard company and later teleon and Fenwall employed thousands of people and he was instrumental in forming the town we live in and love today. Henry received the lame award alongside Dr. Einstein and owned 135 patents. Would we allow the building where where Dr. Einstein worked to be demolished? I don't think so. Ashlin has been in a water band for many years. A ballpark assessment of the combined project's water use says we would have about 18,000 gallons

024per day left. enough for every Ashlin resident to maybe brush their teeth twice a day. Please have a totally independent peer review done for the combined project water use. I tried to look at the peer reviews and I saw that one referenced one of the other projects. I didn't find anything else where something was where everything was combined in one big review. Maybe it's there and I missed it. I don't know. But I would appreciate if it would be checked and if it in a peer review be done. Um see what is really left for Ashland residents to drink after all these projects are built. I would also like you to push these developers to bond studies of water and sewer. The mass housing approval letter says quote they should work with comm municipalities to

025address water and sewer capacity concerns in the area. That's from the mass housing. The answer is always MWR. My concern is that the MW MWR corridor is being inundated with apartments. Also, please do a peerreview of MWRA usage, including all of the proposed projects along that corridor. The ZBA should reject the comp comprehensive permit application for 10 to 60 Main Street for many reasons, but Mr. Wrangler was um is was Mr. Wrangler, this is a question, and I was hoping Lisa would be here to answer it. Was Mr. Angler still on probation when he applied to Ashland? Did he comply? Is a review being done of Mr. Angler's responses on the mass housing application? Some are very questionable, if not outright um devious. Lastly, the town is being forced to deal with too many projects

026at once. I listened to the developer responses on the draft conditions. Neither developer sounded overly concerned with the draft conditions. Is there push back on height, number of units, water, sewer, parking, or traffic? The only concerns I heard were in storm water. I previously sent some conditions I hope will be put on the projects. I hope that they will consider them. The ZBA took away local oversight of the concom, the only other town board allowed to be involved with 10 to 60 Maine. Why was this allowed to happen? Ashlin should hire a peer 40B lawyer to help the town navigate this overwhelming situation and fight these ridiculous 40b laws. The money saved on infrastructure and personnel increases will offset any low lower lawyer fees. I'm quite sure. I sincerely hope the town will do everything

027it can to fight these projects. They will change this town forever and not in a good way. Thank you. >> Thank you, Joy. I'll open up the board. Any questions or concerns or comments this time? >> Oh, yeah. I'll make some comments. Thank you, Joan. Um so you know this is an extremely complicated uh issue right and >> so that I I just want to be clear that um there will be some conditions and put on the project as the ZBA works through this um and perhaps some other negotiations um with the developer in particular right now 10 to 60 main that that one seems to be um really um has some of the most the greatest challenges to the community. Um and that ultimately uh housing in Massachusetts right now is such a u

028hot item that the governor has turned uh her back on basically, you know, by supporting mass housing and um taken all the power away from communities. Um and that while we might work towards trying to mitigate some of the items that you've outlined there, um you know, that too comes at a cost in terms of trying to uh balance what we potentially could get back from the developer while at the same time um not risking losing anything that we might get from him. So the challenge is trying to determine when that scale tips >> um and it's extremely complicated and um it uh would be significant challenge of financial burden to the community I think to let this end up in the courts. um you know whether or not the town would want town's people

029would want to spend who knows half a million dollars to try to to fight this and ultimately maybe lose. Um you know I'm not not sure that but that could be a path, right? That could be a path that um that we could or could not take but might not ultimately be productive. Um, so I don't know if anybody has anything to add to that >> without without uh getting into specifics um because of an executive session that we had earlier this evening. I can I can tell you that um you know your concerns have been well discussed. Um they have been heard. I don't think there's one member of this board that does not agree that this project is a project that's probably not beneficial for the town in in in any in any

030way uh either from from the traffic standpoint uh safety issues. Um and again that the developer is into making money. The town is trying to keep us, keep our image as a growing community, but not a community that does not agree with some of the the development that's happening right now. Um, we like to try to keep our town somewhat small, though that'll never happen. that that went out with the uh with the uh the bath water a long time ago, unfortunately. Um, so we're trying to keep the town from minimizing the the issues that are being created and trying to gain some value from the and I I'm I'm trying to keep my words very carefully so that way I don't step over them later on. um that we keep a small town look,

031but at the same token try to get as much as we are able to get from any and all developers that come into town. And we have three developers right now that are looking to put in many numbers of apartments in this town. So, um, and if they're 40BS, we're relatively stuck in the fact that, like Claudia said, the state's not going to help in in any way. This is what they want to see happen. It's another it's another dictate from the state, but yet they don't provide us any additional funding to help deal with the the issues that are created by the by by this building >> by this development. I would love to see, you know, a slow growth, but that's not going to happen. That happened over 40 years ago when another

032developer came in town and built all these condos around town. It was back then that the town fathers and there were three at the time said Ashland's a bedroom community and there will be no additional commercial space. We are a bedroom community. Well, the sins of the father are now the sins of the sons and daughters and we're paying for it. A lot of municipalities are paying for it, >> not just Ashline. But I we hear what you're saying. I don't disagree with what you're saying or anybody for that matter, but for certain individuals to say that this board is probuilding or prodeveloper, they don't they didn't hear that coming out of my mouth. And I know they didn't hear it from the other four. So, um I don't know where they're getting this information

033from. Maybe AI, but it's definitely not us. >> Well, I can tell you that I spend a lot of time um negating that idea. um myself because I don't believe that either. Um I think you want the best for the town. I truly do. I think that I think the one thing that I find very struggling is the fact that we're not willing to just deny at least 1060. Um for so many reasons, it's the wrong development for this town. And to be to want to stay the town that we are, it's six stories in the middle of downtown is never going to be the same. Never. We have Chestnut Street that was just built. It was just opened what, six, eight months ago. It's not even full. So, where are all the people that

034need housing? This is not affordable. We all know that. People are people are coming into these these apartments and they're throwing 30 $40,000 a year down the drain in rent. And it's absolutely ridiculous. And none of this makes any sense. >> Doesn't make any sense to us, but it makes sense to the developers or else they wouldn't be spending the money. >> Of course it does. Yeah. Can I >> Sure. >> So, you know, we we know, you know, we've had these conversations quite a bit and, you know, we've talked and it is it's it's extremely complicated and that's part of the problem is that everything is very complicated. The SHI is a formula that the state has put out there and they have um you know we're not really creating affordable housing which is

035frustrating to all of us. um in all this development, you know, we're trying to figure out how how we mitigate it for the community because at the end of the day, we're going to have to figure out how to, you know, have the the kids that are living in these developments go to our schools and our roads and our bridges and the traffic. And, you know, we want to make sure we we plan as best we can. And it's really difficult when all this is coming at once. >> Um, you know, and I wish the system was easy enough to say we could just deny a project, but we literally the system isn't built for that. Literally, this whole process, the 40B process, is not built for for it to be denied. So our job,

036not really our job, it's really the ZBA's job is to figure out how we can, like Claudia said, how we can condition it to a place where it's going to be the best possible outcome that we can potentially have for the project. Um, and I know it's not going to be the project that everyone would potentially rather have there. Um, and it's tough and it's hard and it's hard for the whole community and we know we know that and and I but I I but there's no silver bullet that's going to say ah yep now we can deny that because there that doesn't that doesn't exist. >> I don't agree and I'll tell you why. And I don't agree because I think if you look at his application and Jasmine put it back up on

037the site today. If you look at his application, there are areas on that application that are that are wrong. They are wrong. And he was denied in Welssley. He went before the 40B put him they they banned him from 40b for a year and then put him on probation for three. I think you all know that at this point. And that is one thing. If he if number one, if he was on probation when he put in ours, did he do all everything he was supposed to do for probation? I don't know. So that is actually up to the state to litigate. They're the ones that manage that and Mass Housing is the entity that that gave him his um his eligibility level letter and they are the ones that manage that. We do not

038litigate that. We can't we can't we literally our process does not >> does not allow us to make that judgment on on >> argue I would argue that the state h the town has the right to go to the state and say we believe he lied on this application and we believe that this we believe that the application that we should deny this application for that reason and I and I would argue that that that is our responsibility. Is there specific things that you could point to that says that >> I've sent them to you? >> No, no, I'm just saying it's it's it's Joan. I'm I'm I'm just like I know there's a lot of feelings around this and I and I get that. I get that more than than and you know if

039if we had a perfect solution we we would have trust me we would have come to it. Yeah. >> Um, so it it it I I know it's tough. Um, and I I but but the whole thing with with whether or not he is still in probation or is um if if there is something that is that we can point to that is that changes the nature and scope of his application and that it was dishonest, >> then it still doesn't change. We can we can talk to the state, but it still does not change the ZBA process. It that's that's literally a separate a separate process. So, here's one. I'll I'll give you this sheet after. I'll just read this one just for as an example. Are there any easements, rights of way, or

040other restrictions of record affecting the development of this site? He said, "No, there's an AUL deed restriction on it denying residential right there. That's outright wrong. Has the site or any of the buildings on the site been designated as a local, state or national landmark? He said, "No, these buildings are designated historic on the state MACRIS." And I gave you all the information of the state misus. They were also determined to be historically significant by the Ashlin Historical Commission. Those are two examples of why he was why his answer was wrong. Those are I had three and I'm I'm trying to find the third one. To the best of your knowledge, has this site ever been rejected for project eligibility site approval by another subsidizing agency or authority? He said, "No, you could argue that

041the AUL said that it can't be residential." I I'm you know I I think those are pretty clear to me. So I don't know I appreciate your time. I truly do. >> Yeah. >> Um I'm on the historical commission so you can imagine that seeing the historical buildings come down is just breaks my heart. >> I don't >> um I think we're the clockers. I think it's it's our town. It's our >> it's our >> it's us. >> I know. >> So >> it is. Does anyone else have anything for me? >> You know, one thing that I would say to everyone is that everybody should be writing to the governor. Everybody should be reaching out to you know uh people who are have more power than we have. Um I would just suggest that

042>> you know we might not be able to do anything for ourselves at this point but you know maybe we can do something for future and and uh >> you know maybe they could develop some plans for how to build housing that would actually support uh people who can't afford to live in Massachusetts as opposed to legitimate >> enriching developers. >> True. Absolutely. And we have worked Michael and Connie and I have tried to work with Senator Spiler and Jack Lewis and um basically were told that there was nothing they would do. So >> we were told the same. I >> think they were they also told us that the town would have to come to them to work with them. So if you were told the same then that tells you something too. >>

043Yep. >> I'll remember it in the voting booth. I don't know about anybody else. >> Thank you Joanie. Thank you. >> Thank you very much for taking the time, folks. >> No, we appreciate we appreciate your passion. >> Have that chance. So, we do appreciate it. >> No, we appreciate it as well. >> So, my point is to your point this is a very complicated process. Why don't we have a 40B expert helping us? It's We're a small town. We have a small town government and there have been missed opportunities. We built 400 units on um Memorial Drive. We only allowed 10% affordable Why didn't we ask for 20 or 25%. >> Con I'm going to interrupt you real quick. I sat down with the developer before he started building and the first thing that

044came out of my mouth was that this board would not accept anything less than 25%. And he laughed at me. He said we'll never do that. We'll never do that. And that was before he put shovel to the ground. And that meeting took place up the old fab property. and we were outside having this discussion. He said he didn't want 25%. We said the town will take 25% and wants 25%. And he said that'll never happen. When you do when you do those types of projects, they have control. >> And he was given permission to build 400 units. >> All right. He was given permission because mass housing gave them >> was not a 40. >> There was a 40B, >> but he wanted to come in at the 40B originally when we had that

045first discussion and then he changed his mind about doing everything differently. >> So we So Connie, we don't have any townwide um we don't have like an inclusionary zoning policy where a bylaw where there has to be a certain percentage affordable. So without an inclusionary zoning bylaw, it's incredibly tough to negotiate um higher than okay, >> you know, like and and that's the same thing with the Chestnut Street apartments. It's it's literally um it conforms to the zoning. So if it conforms to the zoning, they they don't have to give more than than what's there. And that's that's >> They don't have to give anything. Yeah. >> They they can I mean if you look at some of the Fafford housing when that was built, there's not much affordable there. And unless the people that

046are working in town understand and push through at all the different levels, then you're not going to have it happen. And since I've been sitting here, this board has become much more educated. I know when I first came on the select board, I did not understand the difference between 10% and 25% and what you can count. So, it's it's an educational process that all of us have gone through. Um, you know, it's it's it's an ongoing process and it's an ongoing education. >> And the Cirrus apartments, I think people felt like we needed that housing there, right? We we specifically zoned that area of town for transit housing with the idea that people would live there and take the train. Right? That was we we all thought that was a great thing for the town.

047The the unfortunate part is that we didn't we only got 10% affordable versus 25% affordable. >> It's interesting how developers can turn that around though when we ask for too much and say, "All right, I'll build what I want. I'll make it 40B. I I get confused. It's >> so It is confusing, right? I think I think that that >> a developer typically makes more money, stands to have more greater profit with >> following regular zoning, right? Because they don't have to have um you know lowinccome housing or or affordable housing. So, but if they want to just kind of zoom through and not have to deal with anything, they go the 40B route and it cuts into, you know, on some level profit. I don't know if it really does, but on some level

048it does. And then, but they zoom through. So it's much it's >> but we were also it was also why 10 years ago we did our very first h uh afford our housing production plan because we started to get educated and when we put that first one in place and we had Cirrus go in we were in safe harbor for a while and then we did a second housing production plan again to try and safe harbor and stay in that safe harbor but then things happen beyond our control. We can't make someone build something if they're not ready. So, you know, it's part of the information that you shared back with us that, you know, now Pawn Street is coming online and a couple of these other things. Well, until they have their um their

049uh certificate of of occupancy, we can't count them yet. So, yeah, it'll be great when 501, but it's they haven't even put shovel to the ground yet for 501 Pond Street. And that's a developer who worked with us without it being a 40B who was willing to do the 25% which then allowed us to count all those units. Right? There are also people in town who push back when we say let's push for the 25% like we did for the 20 units we built on Pond Street. And there were people who said, "Well, we're getting you're only getting four units of those 16 even though 25% are affordable." We didn't create that law. We're just trying to work it to the best of our ability. So, yes, when these apartments go in that are 40b,

050they're going to be 25% affordable, but we're going to be able to account all those apartments toward our affordable housing number, right? >> So that once some of these are done, >> we can hopefully then get back in safe harbor and keep ourselves that way. >> But it's a learning process and it's a lot of information. And you know, it's it's it's not an easy process. And I think you since you used the pawn street example um didn't you say um that Felmouth was appealing using that exact situation because they had >> we we let Mass Housing know all this information when we gave them our response for this first 40b back a year ago or whenever it was for 10 to 60 Main Street. We said to them, we have been working with a

051housing production plan. We have been working to get to our 10% affordability. We have these projects that didn't happen. We have UGC on Memorial Drive that we're waiting on. And Mass Housing still said, "We are approving this project." I know, but maybe an an expert that knows more than we do. Our lawyers, >> Lisa me who was sitting here and her firm, they train other law firms on how to do 40B processes. So, >> right. And one of them happened to be the attorney that represents Manchester or the Sea. >> Pooie. >> Yes. >> No, no, no. was he was an employee. >> No. >> Or Poocci was at one point he does not work with them and Pooie made mistakes which is why certain things are able to happen. Our our law team trains

052other lawyer lawyers on the 40B process. They understand it. >> So we've been hearing this for six or eight months. We need to hire someone else. We need to hire someone else. We need to get someone else. She they've had I think three or four lawyers from their team look at what's going on here. >> And yet nobody knew that the developer for 1060 had been banned by the state for a year and probation for three years. >> He was suspended and then he had probation for three years. Right? >> That happens. I'm sure there's many developers. >> But why didn't our lawyers know that? Why weren't we aware of that? >> Can't give you an answer for that. I don't know. >> Maybe not relevant. >> Yeah, I think it was because he was

053eligible, >> right? He was eligible to refile >> to to be developing again. >> His suspension was lifted >> there. I as far as I know there are no public records saying that he has performed what he needed to do to become eligible again. >> He was only suspended for a year. >> So it was only for a year I understand >> that he couldn't do anything and then he's been on probation for three years. I don't know the exact timing of the probation or when it ends. >> I think it was lifted actually after nine months. Okay. >> So >> it was it was it was changed from a year to nine months. >> Yep. And so I I think to your point is why didn't our attorneys say, "Hey, you know, this guy,

054you know, he's a snake in the grass and he uh he's already been suspended once." And no, no, they they didn't say that to us. And whether or not they should have or found that information and provided it to us, I don't I don't know. But the fact is is that it does look like when he, you know, when he submitted his application, he was at that time now eligible. There is the question about whether or not he needed to meet some additional requirements. And you know, we are actually still investigating that piece, but even that, you know, to uh Bry's point, we we don't litigate that. So even if we find that that's the case that he you know it it makes for in an interesting idea and a point and I don't know

055could we make some of something of it. I'm not sure we could but um but we are you know still I've been reaching out to different people at Mass Housing trying to find that out but it isn't it is up to them to enforce it not us. And whether or not we could ever make anything from that, it is highly questionable. But first, let's find out what the answer to that is. Was he um was he still within the time frame of of needing to do these additional requirements? And if so, did he do that? First, let's figure that out and then we can see if there's any value for us in that. Okay? >> There may not be. There may be, but there may not. very well may not be because we it isn't

056up to us >> up to mass housing. >> They're the ones that have the say in everything. Connie, they really do. >> Say, I'm sorry. Would you repeat? >> Mass housing is the is the the overseer of all this, >> right? >> Of all this action, >> right? >> So, they're the ones that are responsible. I mean, they and they're the ones that we're asking the questions for, you know, too. I mean, I think that we all know that you every day you hear from some official in the state government. Very often it is the governor talk about the need for housing and that is like she has been laser focused on that since she was elected. And so, um, and you know, the Senate President had a meeting with town officials and mass housing

057in her office very early in this process. Um, that's not very common that that sort of meeting takes place and and it didn't it didn't help us. That's how that's how laser focused the um governor is on on this particular issue. And there are studies there are reports that show us that the amount of housing constructed in the last 20 years did not match it was the 20 years before. So there there are studies that show here in Massachusetts we haven't built as much housing as we did years before and people want to live here. So I'm going to ask um I'm going to wrap this up by 8:00. Um, and I believe me, there's not there's not one of us that don't agree with what you folks are are doing and what you're saying,

058>> but um, >> I appreciate your time. >> No, Connie, thank you. I appreciate your your persistence. >> We appreciate all the work that you put into this, both you and Joanie and and others. The unfortunate thing is no matter what we do, no matter what we do or what we say as housing is going to put this project through. What we can do is put conditions the zoning board, planning board can put conditions on this project and those these are the things that need to get done. >> So let us >> that's true. That's that fine line. That's the fine line you walk, right? >> And and don't get too excited about >> what we might get out of this. >> Yeah. >> So, but but thank you I don't think that the developer

059has seen any um the conditions at this point. That maybe touched upon a couple of things, but >> they're still in draft. So, I don't know. >> There hasn't really been any conversation. >> Yeah. I think I think it's important to note that's that's a process. >> Um >> Yeah. Yeah. So that's, you know, currently in draft form and and things can change, things can find their way in there. Uh things can find their way out. Um but it is a process and you know at this point we have until let's see I think December 9th is when that hearing is and then 40 days beyond that to >> y to work. >> All right. Well, thank you and I appreciate >> Wright to the governor. >> Yeah. >> He needs to know how >>

060Yeah. No, I I feel the same way. developer back to >> Well, that's that's that's in the >> but thank you. Okay. Oh, you're welcome. Thank you. Okay, moving on. under old new business. No, tech sorry, tax classification hearing, vote to close the tax classification hearing. And we decided at a prior meeting that we were going to do one tax rate >> and I believe you're the one that made the motion on that too. Yes. To agree that. So, do we entertain a motion to >> Was there any other discussion that people wanted on that or? >> Yeah. Was there was there information that came out of town meeting that >> No, no, we just have to wait till town meeting to close the public hearing. >> Gotcha. Just so we can capture all the

061appropriations when we submit the recap sheet. So, this is the time to close it. >> I move that we vote to close the tax classification hearing. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> Okay. All those in favor? I >> I 50. So, the tax classification hearing is over and that'll let give Michael the opportunity to do what needs to get done. Okay. Next on our agenda, we want to do this one next. Under old new business, certification of the vote that took place at November 19th, 2025, Ashland special town meeting accepting the donation of land located at zero Aragon road consisting of 14.26 acres. Who wants to discuss that? We talking about the Donley property. >> Yeah, I mean I can I can certainly do that. Um yeah. So this is a

062request um obviously that is related to the town meeting vote that that happened. Um and so the board needs to do a certificate of vote >> you know just to accept the donation of land. >> We have something here. Yep. I move that pursuant to article one of the November 19th, 2025 Ashlin Special Town meeting, that the select board accept a donation of land located at 0 Oregon Road, Ashlin, Massachusetts. Further described in deeds recorded in the Middle Sex Registry of Deeds in books 20737, page 75, and as shown on a plan recorded as plan 1158 of 1961, and as shown on the town of Ashland, assessor's map05, lot 0005, including 14.26 26 acres more or less for the purpose of expanding the town forest meaning and intending to dedicate this land as article 97

063land so-called under the constitution of the commonwealth of Massachusetts and further to authorize the chair Joseph Jmanyani Jr. on behalf of the select board to execute any and all documents necessary to effectuate the acquisition of the property. >> I'll second that. >> All those in favor the discussion any other discussion? The only thing I think is that because we're adding this to article 97 land, it gives us a little >> flexibility >> just flexibility on other properties that we need to look at. >> Right. >> So, we ready to take a vote? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> That's 5. >> Thank you. uh make sure that we don't have that. Do we have the documentation so we can sign it now? Well, at the end

064of Don't leave right away because we have to sign that document. >> Yep. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. Okay. Discuss hunting on public land. This was a letter that should be in your packet. We expect from a gentleman from Tukesbury who sent a letter requesting uh bow hunting on town property. He had specific uh specific pieces of property. Well, Ashland doesn't allow hunting on town property, town forest. Anyway, any other properties, they have to get the board's approval. In the number of years that I've been on this board, I don't ever remember the board providing an individual an individual. >> I thought we did do one time had to do with bow and arrow hunting. It was born hunting to uh thin the the herds. >> Thin the deer herd. That's basically >> But that

065was that was something that was asked by >> But And didn't we didn't we approve it? >> We approved that because it was it was asked by the uh Sure. the Department of uh Environmental Protection. >> Yeah. E >> it was it was requested by the state >> state >> the D >> D is that what it was an individual >> or was it >> oh well we we allowed that individual to do that under that under that jurisdiction but not just to just to go hunting matter it was it was to >> thin out the herd >> right but I mean that's what they're doing right if they're going deer hunting they're helping to thin out the herd of deer >> this is not that wasn't this is not his. >> No, he's just

066looking to go hunting. He sees that we have a 500 acre town forest and he's asking to go hunting. Bow hunting. >> The to the town forest there is no hunting bo at all. No. No. No. No. >> Not even if approved by the by the select board >> in the bylaws. >> Absolutely. >> I thought I other town properties other town properties that are not affiliated with the town. You shared something back that said, >> "Yeah, I thought it was a permission thing." >> Yeah. Other town properties have to get the permission from the select board, right, >> to hunt on town property. But the town forest, there is no hunting on town property. >> On on town forest property discussion. >> Yeah. >> Hunting and trapping are prohibited. Okay. So my response was

067that we we haven't done that in the past and I don't see other than that one that one time but that was for a specific reason within the herd. So but I'll do whatever you folks want to do. I was just following the guidelines of the the bylaws. >> Yeah. And he probably did it when he did it because typically deer hunting starts December 1st >> or November 1st. I forget which one. I only know that because when I lived in Pennsylvania, the first day of deer hunting was a holiday. >> I do know I do know that. I think they're under they're in mating season right now, which is why they're everywhere. >> They are everywhere. >> Yeah. Tennessee just stay home. >> Anyway, I mean I don't I'm not one way or the

068other, but my feeling I mean >> if if we if there's not a real good reason. >> Yeah, I would say it's just you know thank you for your inquiry, but >> yeah, >> but no thank you. >> Not happening. >> Well, I already basically said that to him, but I can confirm that. >> Yep. with with another email sent to him that I can do. Not a problem. Okay, we are on updates on the 40B. We already did that. Uh I'm going to turn this over to Michael. This is discussed the Joseph P. Keith Technical High School building committee and the potential of a new addition or a potential new building coming up. >> Yes. >> Discussion. >> Yes. So, um I think I'd mentioned to you before that, uh Keith Tech was in

069the process of uh looking to enter into the MSBA process for a new facility, um eventually. And so they have started that process and as you all well know just from the process that we went through with Mendes. Um one of the first things you need to do is form a school building committee. Uh so that is what has been uh completed so far. Uh I did want to just let everybody know that Ed Burman who is chair of the Keith Tech school committee uh is on the MS or is on the building committee as well. >> So just uh wanted to let you know that we'll certainly have a voice in that process. Um I think it's uh getting a little bit interesting especially visa v Framingham and um you know Keith Tech I

070think came up with a very responsible uh and very taxpayer friendly if you will uh funding plan for the feasibility study uh which Framingham is pushing back on the the methodology. So, um I think we're waiting to see just how that process plays out and I think they need a city council vote. So, >> what are what are uh what are Framingham's concerns around the methodology specifically? >> Yeah, it's uh it's really interesting. So Keith has figured out a way to do this through cost savings um in a couple of areas to do this feasibility study without going to bond. And um a couple of the Framingham city councilors feel like they should go to bond for the for the feasibility study. So >> So they have the money to do it and they'd rather

071go to bond. >> Well, Keith Tech Ke Tech would rather Yeah. I I don't know, Makita. I've not heard the reason reasoning yet. >> Keith Tech would rather >> No, frame the city of Framingham would rather Keith Tech bond as opposed to Keith Tech's plan. >> So, um big city for you. >> Yeah, it's uh interesting. >> Do they know where they would build? I think they're, you know, part of the feasibility process is to look at figures. >> Yeah. Just informal conversations I've had with Superintendent Evans, you know, they're looking at, you know, the same campus or, you know, same site. >> I mean, we know they have the pool that isn't usable any at this point. So, that's a big part of it. >> Yeah. >> And and how does >> reusing that

072space potentially? Do we get to choose what vocational school we want to be connected with or >> how does that work? >> It it's really I think more based on the students. So I mean most of our students that do go to a technical school go to KEE but we do have a couple that go to one of the agricultural schools. >> Yeah. That's because the agricultural school is different than um you know that draws from a larger group because it is very different course offerings right but there are many technical schools very similar to ke >> so how do we associate with ke as opposed to aset or >> you know I we have an agreement with them uh I don't know I don't think we have agreements with any other >> proximity I

073would think right I Yeah, I think it's mostly >> when Keef I'm sure it's one of those things that all those years ago when KEF was created it was >> what communities could support it and build it >> but I'm just curious as to you know what if we felt that another one would served our students better you know what could we join with that consortium as opposed to >> I think we potentially could after we look at the agreement that we have Keith with Keith and see if there's any type of exit provision in there Once we comply with that, I I would think that we would have the ability to go where we want, you know, just like Keith has accepted, you know, a couple of new communities, I think, recently. You know,

074Hollist, I think, or maybe Hopinson. Um, yeah, pretty pretty recently. But but I don't know the exact answer, Claudia. I haven't >> Yeah, I'm just curious. >> Well, and the the how students are chosen is different now, too, right? It's a lot. >> Well, they're looking at that. Yeah. >> I thought that was already decided. Well, yes, they're looking at they were looking at changing it to something called a portion. >> Um, and I know uh that the you know leaders at Keith Tech were concerned about that because of how much influence Framingham would have >> in decisions under that type of model. So, they were looking at something >> I forgot the exact term of it. I don't have it right in front of me, but um you know something to basically mitigate that.

075>> I think some of the vocational schools have been now forced to go to a lottery system >> because they were more selective and sometimes excluding students >> um you know for reasons that one would not embrace for. >> Right. Right. and like and so yes the lottery system the aortionment piece is like so Framingham would get more right under the lottery system under the aortionment process >> does that mean that Framingham generally spends the largest chunk of money on the project okay I'm just >> so yeah that's uh that's the update on that I wanted to let you know about the billing committee and the um But there's also I think um with vocational schools they I believe they kind of get to tell the community though that you I'm not sure you vote.

076I think if how that how Yeah. that you're just the commitment is kind of an automatic >> part of the agreement, right? >> Yeah. I think we I think that's something that we definitely need to check on. >> Yeah. >> Um because that could be a potentially big expense. I do think communities have to vote on it because I think they've ended up having those rides in some communities specifically to pay for regional vocational assessments. >> Well, and it's it's I think you each I mean you you hear stories of regional schools, not just VTEC. And I think it might be a little >> that's different. That's what I'm saying. Regional schools that you have to have a vote in each community. I think >> vocational schools I think it's different. >> Interesting. >> Okay.

077>> I don't know because we we have we vote the budget. We vote the >> the amount of funds we send to KEE are part of our budget process. >> Yeah. But they basically tell us what we owe. We don't >> Well, it's based on the students, right? They give us a rate per student. >> Yeah. So on the um on the assessment Yeah. the operational assessment, but you know, back in 2014 ancient back in 2014, uh when remember when we did the school roofs, we did Keith as well. So they had to go to each town meeting and get a vote, right? And yeah, it was still a town. >> We had to vote it as well. >> Yeah. So that's what I'm basing. >> Yeah. Maybe there's something that we get just get

078assessed and I'm not sure. >> Yeah. It's the it's the operational over and say pay up. >> Yeah. Right. >> I was going to say maybe it's a town meeting vote but not a ballot. >> Not at the polls. Yeah. Maybe. I don't know. I'm not sure. >> It would be good. It would be good to check like look at the agreement as you know to Claudia's point. Yes. >> Do we you know are do we feel like it's still benefiting us as a community and review the agreement that we have with them. >> Okay. Good. Anything else? Good. All right. Okay. request funding from the select board gift account for the employees recognition event. >> Yeah. Uh and I believe this is Oh, there's Susan. She popped up on the screen. It's the 19th.

079Is that correct, Susan? >> Yes, it is the 19th and we're requesting up to $1,500. And so this is to pay for the longevity gifts and things of that nature. >> And this is at the uh community center. >> Community center. Uh just, you know, you're all invited. I'd encourage you to attend >> noon time >> On the 19th, we're starting at 11 10 or 11. Susan, >> I think probably 11 would be >> okay. >> The start time. >> Okay. No kickball. Maybe you could. >> No. And I think they have a program in there before that. I don't think we can get in before 11. >> Issue a calendar invite. Maybe. >> Good idea. >> I can do that. >> Yeah. Thanks. >> Okay. >> I move that we approve the funding of

080not to exceed $1,500 for the employee recognition event happening on December 19th coming out of the select board gift account. >> Second. >> No. Is there a second? >> Oh, I thought you were second. >> I could do that, but no. Let you folks. >> Claudia. Claudia second. >> You got it. Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> That passes 5-0. >> Any help you need to let us know, >> please? >> Any help? She needs >> Yeah. Any >> What do you What are you going to do? >> Set up tables. >> Okay. Okay, that's good. >> If they have a function beforehand, we're going to be we'll be cutting it short. I see. That's why we're doing it at 11, right? >> Just to get everything set up. That's what I thought.

081Okay. All right. Cool. All right. Now, we have a bunch of wonderful things of health. >> Discuss a setting as I'm sorry. Discuss setting up a joint meeting with the port of health to discuss nicotine-free generation. >> Can they come to our next select board meeting? >> I don't see why not. >> January 7th. Sounds good to me. >> Yeah. >> All right. Let's ask them. We we'll send them an invite. >> Is this followup to the presentation that we had regarding potentially stopping at the sale of cigarettes and stuff at a certain point? >> Yeah. >> So, so we'll uh we'll schedule that for a a January 7th meeting. >> I'm sorry. Keeping up. >> No, it's all all good. >> It's all gone. It's all good. Okay. All right. Now, vote on annual

082license renewals. >> Oh, you didn't want you didn't want Claudia to read that >> to do that anymore. >> I know. >> I will that be >> before we do. Susan, are there any uh changes uh that that came up before this uh this list was uh drafted? >> No, you're all set. >> We're all set. Okay. All right. Great. Okay. I accept that motion and I accept the second. So, all those in favor? >> I That's 5. Thank you. >> And that is all the licenses. >> That's all the licenses. Yes, it is. Which is incredible. Okay, moving right along. There we are. Moving right along. Okay, I don't have my other SE section of my >> update on town meeting by the town manager. >> By town manager. Thank you. >> Um well,

083Lisa actually Lisa actually gave a pretty decent update, but um on on some of the articles, but we actually had a fairly well attended town meeting. U Katherine, do you remember exactly how many we had? 142. >> Yeah, it was um >> 141. >> Yeah, not not bad for a special town meeting. Um but it did go by relatively quickly. Um take from that what you will. Um but a lot of I think um unanimous votes or not unanimous close to unanimous you know indicating some you know some agreement on a lot of the articles and like Lisa said a lot of it was very much um real estate driven and I think we picked up a few pieces of property um you know some donations and uh you know some potentially moving forward with

084some others that you know the town's very concerned I think and understandably so about development and these are opportunities that we're taking at the best um you know best opportunity we can for uh I should say for to get some of this property and preserve it as open space so there was a lot of that um ultimately the citizens petition I think was was withdrawn and and we'll have a further discussion about that. >> Yeah. I just want to thank everybody uh that participated including the board and you know Katherine there was her first warrant. Um so >> she survived. >> Yeah. It won't be her last. But this, you know, had some interesting twists and turns and um yeah, it takes a lot to put on a town meeting. So, thanks Deborah. And >>

085to even be able to talk at town meeting. >> I'm sorry. >> It takes a lot to even be able to speak at town meeting. >> Three minutes worth. Yes. >> Used to be 15 minutes of glory. Now it's three minutes of paint. >> Yeah. And just a couple other reminders. Um so we do have the tri board meeting next uh Wednesday. >> Um I will have information for you on Friday. um some you know different options to to look at different uh information to look at pursuant to you know the discussions that I had had with you um individually and um >> hey Michael will you be making yourself available before Wednesday to us after we get a chance to review those materials over the weekend presumably before the tri board meeting you have

086some time set aside you know we be able to entertain any questions or maybe have some brief conversations for clarity if needed, >> but just reach out and we will find a time over the weekend or or >> Monday or Yeah. >> Yeah. Um Yeah. Because I would expect you to have some >> Yeah. >> you know, some clarifying questions because there going to be a few a few different options, >> right? >> Um >> Yeah. And then also the holiday stroll is this weekend as well. Uh so hope to see everybody. And then Katherine, you want to give an update on the holiday program real quick? >> Just one more thing related to town meetings. So we did pass the comprehensive plan. >> So >> we do need to determine what that implementation committee

087is going to look like and >> um so either touch, you know, we need to get together with the planning board and have that discussion and then determine who from the select board is going to be representing on that and then um how we're going to pick other members. That's a comprehensive plan where people said they didn't want development in town. >> Yes, that one, right? >> Yeah. And then um there was the um uh just related to that, I need to follow up and see if that has been sent to the state, you know, because the planning board did take a vote to endorse it at at your joint meeting, right? And I think that's what's needed. So, I just needed to make sure that it was >> it was sent to them. Um,

088yeah, Katherine. Oh, she's still writing. >> Yes. So, we are uh actually in the middle of our holiday program. So, it's a couple different parts. So, the first part is the Thanksgiving meal distribution which took place the Friday before Thanksgiving. Uh, it went really well and really smoothly thanks to all of our partners. We worked uh with Ashlin Emergency Fund, um Restaurant Depot, Market Basket, Doron Eery, held uh dedicated volunteers and staff, and it it really went smoothly and we were able to um get turkeys and all the fixings out to um a bunch of families. So, and then the next part is the holiday gift giving program. So, all of our sponsors this week were dropping off gifts for our applicants, and that went off really well. And so, um, all of our elves

089are sort of behind the scenes and organizing that. So, a big thank you again to volunteers and our dedicated staff, um, for putting this together and also all the sponsors. The town, uh, really showed up and came out and extremely generous. So, thank you to everyone. And, and next week, we'll be uh, handing out all of the the gifts. and how many kids do we um do we adopt or however we want to phrase it. >> So, the one person I actually forgot to thank is Claudia who helped us match up all of the sponsors and families. Do you remember how many? >> I I know that um there were 101 families >> and 178 sponsors >> and uh I could probably >> look up and see how many kids by the time it comes

090around to me if you want, but uh yeah, it it you know the town very special in that way, right? >> Yeah. >> It's really powerful and and all the volunteers and you know, I've seen many of the volunteers over the last few years and they're the same people who show up and it's it's pretty special. >> Yeah. So, thank you. >> No, thank you. No, thank you. >> That's good. >> Yeah, that's good. >> All right, we're good to go. Board reports. There's nothing else you wanted to add. You good? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Board reports. Yolanda. >> So, November was busy. I had an MMA policy committee meeting where we um talked a little bit about the financial cliff report that MMA put out. And then I had a board meeting. I actually

091had the opportunity to go up to the state house for the legislative gubanatorial advisory committee, which is actually pretty interesting. I'd never sat in on one of those in person. And then we had a Metro West Regional Collaborative meeting where we talked a little bit. We had some historic preservations. So, that was interesting and and that's something I can share out if people are interested. Uh, tomorrow morning is the senior breakfast at the um at the senior center. They start serving at 9:30. I think you have to register beforehand, but I expect if you show up, they might have a few extra spaces, but they start serving at 9:30. Uh then tomorrow night is the YMCA Dream Big auction uh at the Sheron. So that's always a fun night. It's one of their major fundraisers.

092Um they're looking at the Y has been in front of the planning board. They're waiting to get their final approvals. They're currently looking at a potential phased approach for construction based on their fundraising goals. They're not quite where they'd like to be. Uh and of course as with anything costs are a little bit higher and so they're the they're determining and probably within the next two or three months they'll really have a better better understanding of how they're going to move forward and when the the potential though is to still do groundbreaking sometime in the spring. If they do a phased approach, they do one section and well all the clearing and then the the goal would be that they would then get their funding and be able to just keep moving the construction along.

093>> So they're they're working on that and working and talking with banks and things like that. And that's all I got except as we said the holiday stroll is on Saturday. Lots of great performances around. Nor uh Nutcracker at for Hopkin Center of the Arts is the weekend of the 12th and 13th. Nutcracker for the Dancing Arts Center at the Norwood Theater is the 19th, 20th, and 21st. And that's all I got. So, yeah, this is our last meeting. Oh, this is our last meeting. >> That means we might be in for a treat. >> Anyway, that's all I got. Thank you. Thank you, Yolanda Makita. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, just a couple of things. Uh, first off, thank you everyone for signing up uh for uh uh on the spreadsheet for the

094uh different committees for liaison. We have one slot that's open for Council of Aging uh that we just need to kind of figure out. Um >> hold on one second. Yeah, >> you can't see this off off TV, but she's staring right at me. >> I am not. I would like to make it clear to the audience at home that I'm not staring at the chairman at this time. Um, however, I I will reiterate uh that we do need to get that slot filled. Um, try to do that by January if um if I don't if if anyone's interested. I'd be happy to do it. >> If you're interested, thank you. Thank you. >> So, you can go do the senior breakfast at 9:30 and then you can go to the council and agent meeting.

095There you go. See? >> Wow. >> So, thank you. Have >> a meeting tomorrow. >> It's the first Thursday. First Thursday. >> First Thursday. Unfortunately, I can't be there the first Thursday tomorrow. >> So, no worries about that. But I think as we uh as we open up the year, I'd ask folks that as we are attending these meetings uh if there are some things that we need to bring up uh it might be helpful maybe during board reports or any other time that we need to put stuff on the agenda um that we need to discuss from the boards that we're lazing to. Mr. Chair, I'd appreciate that and if folks can remember to do that um going forward. I think >> do that. Just shoot me an email or Brandy an email before

096we do our uh agenda setting meetings then. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> I thoroughly enjoyed the Thanksgiving Ashlin Farmers Market um holiday market. That was a lot of fun. >> Um lots of good good eats, lots of good people. Good to see the town out supporting that uh this time of year. So that was lovely. Um, and I can't recall if the uh veterans event um it was before or after our previous meeting. It's it was after um so and I I did uh get a chance to attend that. Thank you so much for your incredible words uh Miss Bennett and uh Mr. Herbert. A great presentation as always. And it's of course a big thank you to uh public safety folks down at the uh staff down at the community center.

097Everyone in Ashlin who made this event happen for our veterans. I come from a military family. Uh my grandfather, my father, my brother, my stepbrother all served in various branches. Um so you know uh veterans veterans issues very near and dear to my heart, my family's heart. It was great to see our community stand up and thank the individuals who keep our freedom um intact. Freedom isn't free. So again, thank you so much for making that event happen and thank you to our veterans. And that's all I have for this time. >> Thank you, Nikita. Claudia, >> thank you. Um yeah, and and uh also at the Veterans Day event, the Honorable Michael Fabry um was the speaker. Um and really uh you know, he we very interesting to hear from him. um and his

098wife Carrie Fabry, who I feel like is probably the uh real winner in that family because she has been uh a remarkable substitute for the Asham public schools for many years and and uh a favorite among many children. Um just to go back to I just did a little calculation and there were 172 children um that were serviced in by the uh gift program. So uh pretty special. Um, >> yeah, >> it is awesome. Um, and then I finally just wanted to thank uh really the DPW and the police and fire um yesterday for the DPW for stepping up and I know that they've been looking hard for u plow drivers and that but um you know you when you think about it there's a this was kind of a little tricky storm and >>

099um the roads were pretty slippery and they certainly stepped up and I had occasion to be kind of in the downtown area for a good portion of the day and I can't tell you how many times I've heard uh sirens of police, fire, uh ambulance going up and down 135 and uh so thank you to all of them because certainly in on days like that and weather conditions like that they are often pressed into service um very frequently. So that's it. I missed the um the market, the Thanksgiving market. I was at Santa's Village. So uh you know, >> went saw the big man himself. >> Yeah. So, thank you. >> Um, so I have a couple of things. Um, it's been a few weeks, so um, and my notes are not quite extensive, so

100I may need some help from Michael or Joe, but a few weeks ago, we met with, um, our legislative delegation for like our supposed to be a quarterly meeting, but it we hadn't met with them in quite a while and gave them an update, had a very lengthy discussion about 40B. Um and we also talked a lot about um supporting communities with um the financial burden that is happening not just from 40bs but um in general because of our operating budgets. Um so we did talk a little bit about that and about the challenges that Ashland is facing. Um we asked about um if there were any updates on the NIPS just in case anyone is you know keeping score. There's no no new NIP information. Um also we did mention to them that um

101about that nicotine-free generation um thing that was coming before the board of health to see if there was anything happening on the state level and there was not. So, um, just as an FYI, um, and there was one thing that I just, like I said, don't have extensive notes on that I believe Jack was, um, Representative Lewis was saying about our alcohol licenses and that there um, the home rule petition that we have pending, it needs to be tied to economic development zones or something like that. Is that about right? And >> sounds right. Okay, that's all I had in my notes, but um but that's still moving through the process, right? So, um and that is that's the extent of that meeting um in addition to the stroll this weekend. Um and the tree

102lighting. Yes. >> Going to have the tree lighting. I'm sure Santa will make a an appearance. Um Illuminate Ashland is the weekend after, so on the 13th. and that is downtown Ashland as well. So, that'll be a great event. Um Chrissy Reynolds from Ann Marie's Dance is the um the maestro of the event and um I know I'm going to probably be pulled into service for that as well. So, um it should be a great event because it always is. >> And Santa Claus is going to be driving around town on a fire truck. Take it on my take on my >> Oh, you know, I I heard something funny today on the radio and they were talking about uh one councilman, I think from Boston at one point said, "If one councilman speaks, they

103all speak." And it was because and if one said something, everybody felt like they had to say something, right? And I said, "Yes." >> Oh, yeah. >> So, >> hey, you're making it easier for me. That's right. >> Yeah. Um and then as >> less that you have to say, Joe. And then as Yolanda reminded me um about a week or so ago, it is our last meeting of the year, which um as some of you um may or may not have um fond feelings about, um every year I put our year in review to a poem. Um and so and I usually do it on our last meeting of the year. So, um, it I didn't have as much time as I usually do to pull pull it all together. So, it's kind of

104a, you know, it's not as extensive, but it will do. >> It's not my best work, but >> All right. We'll be very forgiving. >> But, okay. So, I present to you all the ode to Ashlin 2025. Um, as we approach the end of 2025, it's time to take stock of the year we survived. It really ran the gamut for this edition. From Mindes Bees to the Elon Musk petition, it was dominated in good part by 40B, three large-scale apartment projects. Too much at once, we can all agree. The mill building project was the center of it all. Concerns about Nyanza, traffic, and the height proposed five stories tall. One by the high school and one on 135. The stress on our infrastructure will be felt townwide. There were lots of positive progress and we

105all say hooray. The arboritum is almost done. And the pricey dog park is underway. After two long years, we finally finished the comprehensive plan. Very ambitious now to try to accomplish what we can. Thank goodness for our consultant. The ultimate diplomat kept us on track and wrangled the 29 of us who were kind of like cats. Thanks to our crack team, the open space plan is now complete. We also added land to the town forest, which is a great feat. Rebuilding the Warren Barn and an ice rink on the lot. Looking a good-looking landscaping on the 126 roundabout. Lots of new staff in lots of new staff this year in town hall getting up to speed quickly for us all. With any crisis, Beth and Katherine are on the case, even to get an emergency

106portaotty during an untimely water mane break. The downtown historical district didn't go through. Partnering with property owners to preserve our history is the thing to do. Great work done on the VI village burial ground, huge cleanup, and even GPR to see if unmarked graves can be found. Michael and his minions hosted 1,000 trick-or-treaters this year. Fabulous Clover Road opened with lots of great beer. We gave out grants and scholarships, too. who cheered on our marathon runners, including Makita, who flew. There was downtown after dark and public safety night. New events engaging residents. Such a great sight. Another season at the market and at Corner Spot pulled off an Ashland day in a crazy short time. A total long shot. Rumor has it that the downtown poles will finally come down and the new YMCA hopes

107to break ground. 126 will finally be complete and hopefully the water mane work along Union Street. We have officially arrived at the holidays. Downtown stroll, treelighting, monora and Santa's sleigh. Dancing and singing at illuminate. Downtown is all lit up. It will be great. Looking ahead, it is going to be a really tough year. A budget crisis looms. That much is clear. Inflation has hit us hard. It is a gamecher with chaos in DC and grant funding in danger. I'm thankful for all of you and the rest of our crew working hard for Ashland in all that we do. Now in my third term, ready for whatever it brings, I know without a doubt that together we can do hard things. And as we approach the end of this year, I wish you and yours so

108much holiday cheer. So, happy holidays to everybody since this is our our last meeting. So, >> that was awesome. >> Thanks. Well done. >> Very very nice. >> It is one of my >> I would actually say that that was some of your best work. >> Yes. Spec especially when shot notice. >> Well, and not just because I was specifically named, >> but I think it was awesome. >> Thank you. Thank you. It is one of my favorite things to do because it really like it it's it's funny because >> we do so much throughout the year and we really don't take stock of it all that often. So, >> but it it's it's it's been a challenging year, but it's been a good year. So, >> thank you to all of you because honestly,

109like honestly, it it's really true. It's like if if it wasn't this group, this entire group, the staff we have, the people working together, if it it would just be so much harder to do what we do and to love what we do because honestly, nobody sits here and and and hates it because it's just too much damn work if you hate it. So, you have to love it. >> The people who hate it do one term and then they're done. >> Yeah. So, but anyway, but thank you to all of you guys because because it it really makes it worthwhile because of all of you. So, thank you. >> So, you know that holiday lighting commercial? Well, this one house is cuz lights all over the place and then the house right next to

110it says ditto. >> I'm going to do that right now. >> Ditto. >> Everything that you said it couldn't be any felt heartfelt warmth. So, thank you. And thank you to all of you. been an incredible touchy ter near the end and um we'll get through this. We've got through it before. Some of you folks probably don't remember when Ashland was selected as a town for an ash dump. And that's how we started getting involved in politics when the state ashand could only be used for ash dump. So, our legislative body in that meeting that we had was a little shortcomings. I would just say that. And um I was a little disappointed, but I wasn't expecting the moon or the sun. Maybe just a little better understanding. But that's okay. We'll take care of

111that when when the time comes. However, let's talk about some nice things. You're right. Holiday lighting, the stroll. Sunday 4:00. Santa's going to be making his way through town. I think the uh schedule is on Facebook, so take a look at that. Take a look at the uh the streets where the facility will be coming down and around. Uh I know some some neighborhoods have like a little get together at the corners where they're waiting for Santa to come. So, there may be something that you may want to do with your neighbors. Find a location and do something like that. I know the folks come down off of uh, you know, the Sandstone area, Indian Brook Road right here, and they they get right on right at the uh, >> think we can do pretty

112well just right across the street from my house. >> Oh, yeah. They're all >> We have a new addition to add to that. >> Yes, you do. >> This year, too. >> That's pretty good. Um, and then, um, Saturday, uh, at Montenegro Square, he said 4:30. I know that uh the tree lighting ceremon will be there and I know that u I've been told Santa is definitely going to be there. So look forward to uh seeing all of you there with with glasses in hand. Of course it's hot chocolate. >> No nothing else other than that. >> It's like a nip. >> Oh jeez. >> On that I I just want to say thank you to everybody for all your hard work all these years of for this year. guys have done a great job.

113Katherine's it's been a baptism under the fire for you and and oh my goodness, God bless you both. And um Beth Reynolds the same. You know, they're learning as they go along and it's going to be a an arduous process, but it's going to be one that you'll get through and you'll look at it a year later go that really wasn't that bad after all. Right. >> Well, that that >> Yeah, we'll go with that, Joe. >> We're going to leave it at that. when I'm here. >> Wow. So, with that said, happy holidays to everybody. I I wish everybody the best and let's hope for the new year. And the new year brings hope springs eternal. So, let's hope we get something good out of this. With that, I'll ask for a motion to

114adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> We'll see you January 7th. >> Happy holidays, everybody. Bye.