001Yeah. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. I just waiting. for 7 p.m. on November 19th, 2025 is called order. Before I start, there's a lot of planning that goes into a town meeting. The contingency planning for a water main break is not among them. Thanks to our reliable DPW, the restrooms are available, although certain people sitting up front would really appreciate using the outdoor portage because we paid for it. Welcome and thank you for being here this evening. The first order of business is what I call the preliminaries. This is where I go through some of the basics and explain how we will operate tonight. Town meeting is not the public comment section of a select board school committee meeting. Nor is it a public forum
002or a public hearing. What town meeting is is the legislature for the town of Ashland. And tonight we are sitting in legislative session. Together, we collectively approve the town budget, vote on capital purchases, approve bylaws, and more. My name is Adam Schuster. I am the town moderator. The moderator is elected by ballot for a three-year term at the annual election of town officers to preside at all town meetings during their term of office and is authorized by Mass General Law Chapter 39 section 15 to regulate the proceedings, decide all questions of order and make public announcement or declaration of all votes subject to the bylaws that Ashlin has enacted to regulate the proceedings at town meetings. The moderator as part of their statutory authorized statutoily authorized ability to regulate town meeting procedures reserves the right
003to amend, alter, and or wave any portion or all of these rules as a circumstances warrant in the interest of fairness to all parties. All rulings of the moderator are final. Besides serving as the presiding officer of this legisl legislature, I believe that my job is also to ensure that those here in tennis understand what is going on. And believe me, tonight there's a lot going on. I'll do my best to explain anything out of the ordinary again of which there is a lot tonight. If at any time you have any question have a question about something please ask there are likely others with the same question. I'll be guided in running town meeting by the fourth edition of town meeting time which is published by the Massachusetts moderator association and generally recognized as the
004authoritative guide to running town meetings in Massachusetts. Joining me in the front of the auditorium are members of the school committee, members of the select board, members of the finance committee, town council Lisa me, town manager Michael Herbert, assistant town manager for administration and operations Katherine Bird, assistant town manager for community development and community affairs Beth Reynolds, Ashlin Public Schools Superintendent Jim Adams, and with me on stage are town clerk Cindy Livingstone and Deputy Town Clerk Chris Sullivan. And apologies for anyone I may have missed. Just let me know later. This meeting is being broadcast live and recorded for later rebroadcast on WACA TV. Welcome to those watching us. When you checked in this evening, you received a yellow index card. It is important that you hang on to this card as you will not
005be able to vote without it. Because votes will be counted based on the display of cards. Non- voters may sit anywhere in the auditorium they prefer. I will generally be able to determine the results of each vote by a simple show of cards. Excuse [cough and clears throat] me. In the event I am unable to do so, we have tellers that will perform an actual vote count. Tonight's tellers have already been sworn in. Please ensure that you have turned all cell phones and other electronic devices to mute. If you must take or make a phone call during these proceedings, please leave the auditorium to do so. The warrant that was posted and from which we are working tonight constitutes a notice or warning to all voters of what we will discuss tonight. Town meeting can
006only take action within the scope of an article on the posted warrant. Similarly, any discussion is also limited to the scope of the articles on the posted warrant. Town meeting acts on motions. If there isn't a motion before town meeting, no action, including discussion, can take place. In order to allow for discussion, I will entertain a motion and a second for that motion after each article has been introduced and explained. But before discussion commences, once a motion has been made and seconded, it is subject to amendments from the floor. The procedures for amending an article are listed at the back of your handbook in the section titled selected townm procedures. If you have a question or comment during discussion of an article, make your way to one of the two microphones and wait to be
007recognized. After being recognized, please state your name and address and direct all your remarks to me. Please keep your comments brief and ensure that they are they relate directly to the article being discussed. If you are unable to get to one of the microphones, please raise your hand and I will have a microphone brought to you when it's your turn to speak. To ensure that we can hear from the greatest number of people, each speaker will be limited to one three-minute turn at the microphone during discussion of each article. Please remember that all comments or questions are to be addressed to me and nobody may speak in until recognized by me. Please do not address your remarks to any other individual. If you wish clarification from the previous speaker, please ask me and I will
008call on that person. Importantly, all debate is to be conducted in a respectful and courteous manner. No comments of a personal nature are to be made. Rude behavior, especially shouting, bullying, and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Anyone unwilling or unable to comply with this rule will be removed. I'd also ask that everyone refrain from applause and similar outbursts during discussions. Tonight, as I alluded to, is a little special. We have two separate special town meetings tonight. For ease of reference, I'm going to call them STM1 and STM2. STM1 is the warrant that includes 17 articles, was posted for 7 p.m., and which I've already called to order. STM2 is the single article warrant that was posted for 7:01 p.m. I'll explain the machinations shortly. If you do not have copies of both warrants, they're
009in the back. Some announcements. Babysitting is being provided, and thank God we have bathrooms this evening until 9:00 p.m. by the Ashlin Recreation Department. We should be done before 9:00 p.m. I don't think anyone gets after 9. We had people who get we there are people who guest after 9:00 p.m. We're just throwing them out of the pool. Uh but if we're not, children are welcome to join us in the auditorium at that point or any point this evening. They just can't vote. Thanks to Kelly Run and her team for making this service available. We have lots of holiday events in the next few weeks, starting with the annual Thanksgiving farmers market this Saturday from 9:00 to 1 at the normal location. The annual holiday stroll will take place Saturday, December 6th from 1 to
0104. There will be pop-up booths from local vendors downtown selling their products as well as the brick and mortar shops all over downtown. The day caps off with the annual tree lighting at 4:00. That's December 6th. Illuminate downtown Ashland happens from 4:30 to 7:30 on Saturday, December 13th. The annual Manura lighting will take place on Sunday, December 14th at 6:15 in Montenegro Square. Thanksgiving happens to be my favorite holiday of the year. For me, it's a time for family and food. But it's also an opportunity to reflect on what I have and to recognize that not everyone is as fortunate as I am. So, please join me in supporting the Ashland Food Pantry as it strives to address food insecurity through access to quality, nutritious food and basic everyday items. There's a QR code in
011the back table that explains how you can support the food pantry. And thank you in advance. The moderator's motions are listed in your handbook on page four. They're the same standard motions that we approve each town meeting. So, I'll ask to address them as a group. Do I have a motion to approve moderators? Motions 1 2 3 4 as printed in the handbook. Is there a second? >> All in favor, please raise your cards. Thank you and opposed. That passes unanimously. On to our business for the night. As I mentioned earlier, we have two special town meetings this evening. Right now, I'm going to suspend STM1 so that I can call STM2 to order. Once I've opened STM2, we'll vote on the moderator's motions for that meeting, after which I'll suspend STM2. I'll then reopen
012STM1. Once STM1 is dissolved, I'll reopen STM2 and we'll proceed to address the article on that warrant. Before I move on, does anyone have any questions about that? I I expect some. All right. Thank you for not having questions on that. So, a quorum of 25 voters being present. The special town meeting posted for 7:01 p.m. on November 19th, 2025 is called to order. The moderator's motions are listed in your handbook on page four. They're the same standard motions we approve each town meeting and which we've already approved for STM1. So, I'll ask to address them as a group. Do I have a motion to approve moderator's motions one two three four is printed in the handbook? >> Is there a second? >> All in favor, please raise your cards. Thank you. And opposed. Thank
013you. With that completed, I'm now going to suspend STM2 until the dissolution of STM1, at which point I'll reopen STM2. With that done, I'm now reopening STM1. Please note that articles 4, 6, 11, and 14 are being withdrawn this evening. Article six is being withdrawn due to legal delays on the part of the seller. Article 11 is being withdrawn because it has not met the procedural requirements to come before town meeting. And article 14 is being withdrawn because of a fatal drafting error that gave birth to our second special town meeting this evening. In addition, the petitioners of article 17 have asked to withdraw the article to allow for further discussion with the select board. Because article 17 is petition, I can't simply withdraw it. Therefore, I'll entertain a motion to dismiss article 17. Do
014I have a motion? >> Is there a second? >> All those in favor of dismissing article 17, please raise your cards. Thank you. And opposed? That passes unanimously. Article one, free crash cash transfer, sponsored by the town manager and finance director to see if the town will vote to transfer from free cash an amount of funds to be placed in the stabilization fund, oped trust fund, special education special purpose stabilization account, capital account, andor general fund, or pass any vote or action relative there too. The finance committee recommends the town transfer 3,22,462 for free cash to the following accounts. 1,813477 to the general stabilization fund, $32,246 to the OPED trust fund, $210,000 to the sped stabilization fund, and $696,738 to the capital account. Mr. Herbert. >> Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Good evening, everybody. It's nice
015to see uh some new faces here and some familiar faces here. Um as the moderator has mentioned, this is the article that we do each year for our transfer of free cash. Uh free cash is essentially the balance at the end of uh the fiscal year after we take in all of our revenue and look at all of our expenditures. This year the free cash number is 3,22,462. a little bit higher than previous years. The reason being is that this includes a fairly large allocation of ARPA funds that needed to be appropriated before we lost them. They are being distributed to the different funds via our um free cash policy where 60% goes to the general stabilization fund. um 10 or 15% goes to OPED trust and stabilization fund and the rest go excuse me
016the sped stabilization fund and the rest goes to capital. Thank you Mr. Herbert. To allow discussion, I'll entertain a motion that town vote to transfer for free cash1,813,477 to the general stabilization fund, $32,246 to the OPED trust fund, $210,000 the spent stabilization fund, and $696,738 to the capital account. Do I have such a motion? Is there a second? Discussion. Seeing discussion. No discussion. We'll move right to a vote. This will require a simple majority. All those in favor of the motion on article one, please raise your cards. Thank you and opposed. Passes unanimously. Article two, budget amendment, sponsored by the town manager, finance director to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds in the treasury a sum of money to be added to or to make adjustments
017to article 4 of the May 2025 annual town meeting fiscal year 2026 budget or pass any vote or take any action relative there too. The finance committee recommends the town raise an appropriate transfer as noted in the table in your handbooks to make adjustments to or add to the FY26 budget. Mr. Herbert, thank you again, Mr. Moderator. Um, as stated, this is a budget amendment for the FY26 budget that was passed in May of 2025. Um, after we pass that budget, we continue to get revenue, final revenue numbers, uh, including new growth numbers which are associated with our property taxes as well as state aid. Um, this year we realized a $449,000 positive difference uh compared to what we had estimated at town meeting. Um, and that is broken up by a new growth increase
018of 254,000 and state aid increases of 194,000. Instead of appropriating all of that money, we made a decision to essentially take the new growth figure and reduce the deficit that uh we were operating under in the FY26 budget. And then with the state aid increases, we distributed that according uh to another one of our financial policies. And so that money is being distributed as follows. Uh there's a $40,000 reduction in the KEFE Tech budget because that appropriation is actually going down. Um the school department budget will see an increase of 136,21. The conservation commission will see a budget increase of 20,000. Inspectional services will see a budget increase of 20,000. And the treasure collector budget will see an increase of 18,300. >> Thank you, Mr. Herbert to allow discussion on enter motion that the town
019raise and appropriate or transfer the following funds in order to make adjustments to or add to the FY26 annual budget. School department increase of $136,121. Conservation Commission increase of $20,000. Inspection services increase of $20,000. Treasurer collector increase of $18,337. Keith decrease of $40,222. Do I have such a motion? Is there a second? Discussion. Seeing no discussion, we'll move right to an immediate vote. This will require a simple majority. All those in favor of the motion on article two. Please raise your cards. Thank you. And opposed. That passes unanimously. Article three, property tax exemptions sponsored by the board of assessors. Select board and town manager to see if the town will vote to adjust the exemption amount and eligibility factors for the property tax exemption for senior citizens under Mass General Law Chapter 59 section 5
020plus 41C and a half to be effective for exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning July 1, 1225 or pass any vote or take any action relative there too. The finance committee recommends the town adjust the exemption amount and eligibility factors for the property tax exemption for senior citizens under Mass General law chapter 59 section 5 cost 41C and a half to 12% to be effective for exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. Mr. Manyani, >> thank you Mr. Moderator and good evening everyone. Uh this is an annual uh warrant article that uh we're happy to be able to uh afford uh our residents especially our senior citizens. Uh there are certain situations and certain uh requirements that are uh that are needed to be followed uh for the senior tax exemptions.
021And you can go to the assessor's uh website on the town website to get a list of all those exceptions. uh in exemptions. Um this usually runs uh for a family of two. Sorry about that. For $69,000 annual income for the for two individuals. Um, and then you have to be a resident here in town or you have own property in town and um for at least 5 years and um live here in in in Massachusetts or in Ashland for a total of uh 10 years as well. Um so the percentage like Mr. moderator uh had mentioned is 12% and basically that comes to about $1,100 a little little more than $1,100 a year as an exemption on your property tax. So, um I would strongly recommend that we support this and and pass it
022for those who can use that extra assistance. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Manani. to allow discussion. I'll enter a motion the town vote to adjust the exemption amount and eligibility factors for the property tax exemption for senior citizens under Mass General law chapter 59 section 5 clause 41 C and a half to 12% to be effective for exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. Do I have a motion? Is there a second discussion? Seeing none, we'll move right to a vote which will require a simple majority. All those in favor of the motion on article 3, please raise your cards. Thank you. And opposed. That passes unanimously. Article five, appropriate CPA funds for town forest survey work and property appraisal sponsored by the community preservation committee. See if the town will
023vote to appropriate up to $40,000 to enable survey work and property appraisals for potential land acquisition of parcels bordering the town forest and to meet this appropriation the sum of up to $40,000 be transferred from the open space account from the community preservation fund balance and with unexpended funds as of December 31st 2028 being returned to their funding source or pass any vote or take any action relative thereon. The finance committee recommends the town so vote. Mr. lad. >> Uh, good evening. Uh, chair of this. Is there a method? If you get too close, it rings. Okay. Okay. All right. Um, great work by our town forest committee read by uh Rob St. Germaine. This is to help uh with future acquisition projects as well as determining property boundaries of things that are noted in
024other articles. So, uh, Rob, is there anything you want to add? Thank you, Mr. Lad. >> Don't go too far, Mr. Lad. You're you're up next. To allow discussion, I'll enter a motion the town appropriate up to $40,000 to enable survey work and property appraisals for potential land acquisition of parcels bordering the town forest. And to meet this appropriation, the sum of up to $40,000 be transferred to the from the open space account from the community preservation fund balance and with unexpended funds as of December 31st, 2028 being returned to their funding source. Do I have a motion? Is there a second >> discussion? And to start us off tonight, sure. Dr. Curtis, >> uh Curtis Hoffman, 58 Hillale Road. Um uh in the spring, I attended a meeting of the Mass, uh the Metropolitan
025Area Planning Commission in which they indicated an interest in adding parcels to our town forest. So, I just wanted to point out that this is something which is in line with their plans. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anything further? Seeing nothing further, we'll move right to a vote. This will require a simple majority. All those in favor of the motion on article five, article five, please raise your cards. Thank you. And opposed? That passes unanimously. Article seven, appropriate CPA funds for field data collection and invasive vegetation management at Beaver Dam Brook Conservation Area. Sponsored by the Community Preservation Committee. See if the town will vote to appropriate up to $50,000 to complete field data collection and invasive vegetation management on the property along Pond Street referred to as Beaverdam Brook Conservation Area. And to meet
026this appropriation, a sum of up to $50,000 be transferred from the open space account from the community preservation fund balance and with unexpended funds as of December 31st, 2028 being returned to their funding source or pass any vote or take any action thereon. The finance committee recommends the town so vote. Mr. Lad, >> uh just for clarification, um the probably the thing that's most unique to people here is probably the name. So, Beaver Dam Conservation Area is a land of parcels connected with article 15 later in this consent. That is uh property that is along 126 that is significant wetland areas. Um it has Beaver Dam Brook running through it and as a result creating this conservation area will allow for the conservation department to start removing uh invasive vegetation as well as starting to
027do the collection on how we can improve those trails. But I think the name of the property is something that it will be new to people because it was previously unknown and unnamed. Um, and so the the Beaver Dam Brook Conservation Area will help identify what is Framingham, Sherburn, Ashlin, all in a triangle area along 126. Um, and is really going to be a great uh addition to town. >> Thank you, Mr. Lad to allow discussional. entertain a motion that the town appropriate up to $50,000 to complete field data collection and invasive vegetation management on the property along Pawn Street referred to as Beaver Dam Brook Conservation Area and to meet this appropriation that sum above $50,000 be transferred from the open space account from the community preservation fund balance and with unexpended funds as
028of December 31st, 2028 being returned to their funding source. Do I have a motion? Is there a second >> discussion? Seeing none, we'll move right to a vote. This will require a simple majority. All those in favor of the motion on article 7, please raise your cards. Thank you. And opposed. That passes unanimously. Article 8, appropriate CPA funds for high school softball field play and surface dirt replacement sponsored by the CPC. see if the town will vote to appropriate up to $25,000 for replacement of high school softball field playing service dirt and to meet this appropriation the sum of up to $25,000 be transferred from the open space account from the community preservation fund balance and with unexpended funds as of December 31st 2028 be returned to their funding source or pass any vote or
029take any action thereon. The finance committee recommends the town so vote. Mr. Glad >> more than you wanted to know about dirt, but at its current uh thought process, uh replacing the dirt will reduce maintenance for the town. The current uh infrastructure of the dirt relies on a lot of DPW work and by replacing it uh will save the DPW a lot of work. So straightforward. >> Thank you, Mr. Lad. to allow discussion and enterain a motion that the town appropriate up to $25,000 for replacement of high school softball field playing service dirt and to meet this appropriation the sum of up to $25,000 be transferred from the open space account from the community preservation fund balance and with unexpended funds as of December 31st 2028 being returned to their funding source. Do I have
030a motion? Is there a second discussion? Seeing none, we'll move straight to a vote. This will require a simple majority. All those in favor, please raise your cards. Thank you and opposed. That passes unanimously. Article 9, accept Mass General Law, Chapter 272, Section 73A, sponsored by the Historical Commission. See if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Mass General Law Chapter 272 section 73A in order to allow the town to not prohibit the removal in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the state secretary of a gravestone or other structure of or thing which is placed or designed as a memorial for the dead for the purpose of repair or reproduction thereof by community sponsored educationally oriented and professionally directed repair teams or take any action relative there The finance committee defers this
031recommendation to town meeting. Miss Keegan, >> thank you. So um yes uh so this will allow for the removal of gravestones and other structures in order to repair restore by community sponsored educationally oriented and professionally directed repair teams. It will allow uh the incredible work that the Ashlin Historical Commission has been doing specifically in the village burial ground to continue. Uh so this is very uh critical for us to accept sort of that uh initiative to go on. >> Thank you, M. Keegan to allow discussion. Entertain a motion that the town accept the provisions of Mass General Law Chapter 272 section 73A. Do I have such a motion? Is there second >> discussion? Seeing none, we'll move right to a vote. This will require a simple majority. All those in favor of the motion on
032article 9, please raise your cards. Thank you. And opposed? That passes unanimously. Article 10, except the provisions of chapter 138, section 12D, regarding the municip municipality's ability to allow transfer of on premises wine and malt liquor licenses to all alcoholic beverage licenses sponsored by the town managing select board. to see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of chapter 138 section 12D, which allows the town to approve an on premises wine and malt beverage license holder to trade in their existing license for a non-transferable on premises all alcohol beverage license or take any action relative there too. The finance committee recommends a town accept the provisions of chapter 138 section 12D. Miss Kinsman, >> good evening everybody. Good evening every >> Hello. There we go. All right. There we go. Hi everybody. Um
033thank you Mr. Moderator. Um as he stated, this would allow the select board as the local licensing authority to permit um an on premises wine and beer license um to trade it in for an all alcohol license. Um this would be for establishments like restaurants. This isn't for retail sales. and it could potentially give restaurants a little bit more flexibility if there were no more all alcohol licenses available. Um, currently it would only be applicable to three establishments here in Ashland. It would be Dolce Deceal and Spice Kitchen. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Kinsman. To allow discussion entertain a motion that the town accept the provisions of general law chapter 138, section 12D. Do I have such a motion? >> Is there a second? discussion. >> Not a talkative group tonight. See no
034discussion, we'll move on to a vote to cause simple majority. All those in favor of the motion on article 11, please raise your cards. Thank you and opposed. That passes unanimously. Article 12, update dog kennel bylaw sponsored by the town clerk to see if the town will vote to amend chapter 87 animal control section 87-8 of the town of Ashton general bylaws as is printed in your handbook. The finance committee recommends the town so vote. Miss Greavves. >> Good evening. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Uh, this article is to clean up some bylaw language, as well as to reflect changes to Ali's law, which is a state law based on the death of a dog in a kennel. So, not a lot of changes, but you'll notice in the art in the package where the underlines
035and bolds are, those are the changes that we're looking for you to review and pass. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Greavves. To allow discussion, I'll entertain a motion that the town amend chapter 87 animal control sections 87-8, 87-9, 87-12, and 87-21 of the town of Ashlin general bylaws as set forth in article 12 of this warrant. Do I have just a motion? >> Is there a second? >> Discussion. Seeing none, we'll move to a vote. This will require a simple majority. All those in favor of the motion on article 12, please raise your cards. Thank you. And opposed. That passes unanimously. Article 13, municipal tax payment agreement bylaw, sponsored by the town manager and finance director. to see if the town will vote to amend the town of Ashley general bylaws by adding a
036new section new chapter 26-7 municipal tax payment agreements in accordance with the general laws chapter 60 section 62A as is printed in your handbook the finance committee recommends the town so vote Mr. Herbert uh thank you Mr. moderator I'm actually going to turn it over to our finance director my mistake. >> Thank you, Mr. Moderator, and thank you, Michael. Um, so there were signi significant changes, um, tax title reform changes under section 140 of the Massachusetts Acts of 2024. And accepting this article would reduce the initial payment for a payment plan, which would be um, go down from 25% to 10% of the total needed to redeem the tax taking. Um this would, you know, help folks um you know, enter into a payment agreement and also um this would stop any kind of foreclosure
037um petition or anything by the town. So um that's about it. It's still it's a five-year payment plan as well. So it's 60 payments. So, you would put down 10% of the total due and then we would calculate, you know, 60 payments out and you'd still have to keep up with your um current taxes. Um but I think this is um a move in the right direction to help folks who have fallen a little behind in their payments. >> Thank you very much. To allow discussion, I'll entertain a motion. The town amend the town of Ashland general bylaws by adding the new chapter 26-7 municipal tax payment agreements in accordance with general laws chapter 60 section 62A as set forth in article 13 of this warrant. Do I have such a motion? Is there a
038second discussion? Seeing none, we'll move right to a vote on article 13. All those in favor of the motion on article 13, please raise your cards. Thank you and opposed. That passes unanimously as well. Article 15, acceptance of conservation restriction sponsored by the conservation commission. to see if the town will authorize the conservation commission to enter into a conservation restriction with trustees of the reservation for the land to be gifted to the conservation commission from Peter Zani for the land shown on town of Ashlin Ancessor's map property addresses and IDs as indicated in your handbook to be part of the area known as the Beaver Dam Brook conservation area or take any action related there too. The finance committee recommends the town so vote. Miss Solomon testing. Uh so this article would be as referenced
039earlier to create the Beaver Dam Brook conservation area off of Route 126 as part of a grant that is involved in the um Framingham and Sherburn parts of these parcels. The donation to Ashland requires us to have a conservation restriction put onto it as well. And so this vote would allow the conservation commission to enter into that agreement so that we can complete the creation of the area. >> Thank you, Miss Solomon. to allow discussion under entertain a motion that the TEM authorize the conservation commission to enter into a conservation restriction with trustees of the reservation for the land to be gifted to the conservation commission from Peter Zan for the lands shown on town of Ashlin assessor's map property addresses and IDs as follows 0 pond street rear 014-022-0-000054-00000 pond street rear 014 SL22.0-000055-0000.0
040bracket road rear 014016.0-153-000000.0 zero including approximately 27 acres and is shown on the plan by GCG dated and on file with the town clerk and to be part of the area known as the Beaverdook Beaver Dam Brook conservation area motion. >> Is there a second? >> Discussion. >> Hi Marty Ring uh 42 Bay Colony has this conservation restriction been written already? Has a conservation restriction be written already? >> The conservation restriction has not been written yet. It is in draft. Uh this article would just allow us to further go into that draft and actually make the final agreement on it. There would be further conversations and public hearings related there too. >> Thank you. Anything further? Seeing no further discussion, we will move to a vote. This will require a twothirds majority. All those in
041favor of the article motion on article 15, please raise your cards. Thank you. And opposed. That passes unanimously. Article 16 endorsement of comprehensive plan envision Ashland sponsored by the comprehensive plan steering committee. Se at the town will authorize the conservation commission to enter into uh [clears throat] accept the uh res the resolution printed in your handbooks to endorse the town of Ashland's 2025 comprehensive plan in vision Ashland or act in any manner rel relating there too. The finance committee's recommendation. Is there a recommendation for the finance committee? >> Yes, there is. You guys hear me? >> Testing. Whoa. >> Holy cow. Uh, yes. The finance committee does have a recommendation. The finance committee recommends the town uh vote in favor of the article's adoption. We believe that the plan provides a thoughtful long-term vision for
042Ashlin's growth, development, and quality of life. However, we do want to be clear on why not one item uh that our support is uh and and uh adoption for this article is not a commitment of funding. Uh many of the initiatives outlined in the comprehensive plan would require substantial future appropriations, phasing, studying, acquisition, building, and then ultimately maintenance. The town does currently not have the fiscal financial capacity to implement the full scope of this plan without additional resources or an improvement in fiscal conditions. Thank you. >> Okay, Miss Greavves. >> Good evening. Thank you, Mr. moderator. Thank you to the select board and planning board for the opportunity to present Ashlin's next comprehensive plan, a plan that will take us to 2035 and beyond. This plan was approved to bring to town meeting by a
043joint vote of the planning board and select board at a meeting on 102825. Next page, please. I want to start by thanking the 29 member committee that spent may many hours in meetings, conversation and and reaching out to the public for their input. I would ask that if any of the members on this slide are here to just raise your hand so that the community can recognize the work that you did. Thank you all. >> [applause] >> Now, on to the plan that we are asking for your approval of this evening. Here is our vision that was generated from many meetings and many discussions and input by many of you. By 2035, Ashland is a diverse, inclusive community that honors and preserves its small town charm, its rich history, and open space. The town features
044vibrant and sustainable neighborhoods with exceptional schools and aesthetically pleasing public and private spaces for living, learning, working, gaining, shopping, and I believe that's not the correct word, and playing. Ashlin's reimagining of land use prioritizes the creation of safe, walkable, bikable, and multimodal transportation options to address the needs of its growing population, enhance community connectivity, and provides well-maintained, accessible recreational amenities. Ashland is adaptive to the community's changing needs with an emphasis on cultural assets, diverse housing options, town infrastructure, open space, and climate change solutions. The town promotes business opportunities to foster prosperity and account and economic stability. Ashland also focuses on affordability and accessibility for people of all ages, ensuring that everyone has the ability to enjoy the benefits of our town. Ashlin's community spirit is defined by flourishing downtown areas, welcoming gathering spaces, and celebrations
045of its diverse population and robust robust volunteer volunteerism. There are five core themes and each core theme has many goals and strategies. The first is building and enhancing community. It has three goals associated with it with 12 strategies and it's focused on strengthening our community. Our second core theme, I'm going fast because I only have five minutes. Uh promoting long-term sustainability. There are four goals associated. This is 28 strategies and this focus on um on h how we can strategize for tough when you can't read your own notes. Um ways to improve and enhance Ashlin's goals of sustainability. And there's a lot of nice detailed strategies related to this. Our third core theme is guiding development that honors open space and conservation. It has four goals associated with 13 strategies. This looks at what is
046already being built, what has been built, and how we can determine how we're going to enhance our community with possible future growth. Um, again, lots of details. Next is core theme four, enhancing town services and economic development with three goals and 20 strategies. Its focus is on enhancing our town's ability to supports its residents and businesses. Core theme five is creating a connected and accessible community with three goals and nine strategies. It focuses on connecting within Ashland and within our region and how can we do that um in a productive way for for Ashland as well as the areas around us. The next steps are implementation where we stay the course and embrace our journey. When this is passed, the planning board and select board will put together an implementation committee that will work closely
047with town staff, all other volunteer committees to move this strategy forward. And yes, the finance committee has stated that financially this might not we might not have the funds right now, but as a community if we vote this plan, we get to decide how we spend and if we spend for these projects that we think we've received a lot of information for that people think is important. Last picture. This was our start hundreds of years ago. We get to determine if the plan before you can be our future. I would ask that you support this. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Mr. Greavves. >> To allow discussion, I'll entertain a motion that the town accept the resolution as set forth in article 16 of the warrant. Do I have such a motion? Is
048there a second? Discussion. And I was going to ask for the planning board's recommendation. Thank you for standing up, Trisha. >> Uh, Trisha Kendall, 6 Ribbona Road. I currently chair the planning board. Um, as per Mass General Law, the comprehensive plan does fall under the purview of the planning board. The planning board, however, worked um in conjunction with the select board um on the comprehensive plan and the team that was described of which I was not a part, but which uh worked very hard over these past two years. And in a recent joint meeting of the select board and the planning board, the planning board members did vote unanimously to support this uh comprehensive plan. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Kendall. >> Hi. Uh Paul Alprin, 11 FEMA Road. Uh love the plan. Really
049enjoyed reading about it several months ago and continuing to learn more about how it's being developed. I just have a question. I hope this is appropriate. Do do we have an idea how we're going to pay for some of these things if we vote to move forward? That is not part of this conversation though. Okay. >> Dr. Hoffman, >> Curtis Hoffman, 58 Hill Del Road. Just as a point of clarification, at least as I understand it, then response to the finance committee's um statement, should we approve this this evening at any point where a proposed appropriation is planned, you will have to come back to town meeting to get an approval of that. Is that not correct? >> That's correct. >> Yeah. Thank you. Hi, Leah Suarez, 25 Valley Road. I was also a member
050of the comprehensive plan uh steering committee. I think what's important to keep in mind with this plan is that it's a guide. It's to help our town leaders decide what should be prioritized. Um it's not a honeydew checklist that we're going to be checking off the items over the next 10 years. I also think it's very important to recognize that there is a lot of growing frustration in this town about the fact that we feel powerless. A lot of that is due to state mandates and we took that very seriously when we're developing this plan. I think we wanted to prioritize resident input in our town government as much as possible and that's been woven into the different goals, the different strategies throughout the plan. Thank you. Seeing no further discussion, we'll move to a
051vote. But before we move to a vote, just a reminder, after we [clears throat] dissolve this STM in a in a moment, there's still action to be taken on the warrant for STM, too. So, don't go far.