Ashland Select Board July 16, 2025 – 7:00 PM TOWN HALL

001Thank you. Good evening. I'd like to call the July 16, 2025 select board meeting to order at 7 o'clock. This meeting is being recorded and broadcast live by WACA TV and is live stream on Facebook. Remote participation is available using the Zoom platform and uh conferencing platform. Any distribution, I'm sorry, any disruption with the video conferencing platform will result in the platform being shut down. In the event of a disruption, broadcasting will continue on WACA and live stream on Facebook. So, with that being to order, uh first um order of business is citizens participation. Is there anybody in the audience or here on Zoom that has anything uh they would like to add? Step up to the podium. Sir, if you'd be so kind to identify yourself and your residence, please. >> Make it sound

002so formal here. >> Uh you know, they pay me to do that. >> If they only knew, >> Mark 7119 Main Street. Good evening all. >> Good evening, Mark. >> To the chairman, I would like to Ask a town manager a question. >> Absolutely. Go right ahead. >> I was in the office a couple couple weeks ago with a piece of paper. Did you get to see it? >> Yes, I did, Mark. Thank you. >> And >> Diane Diane made sure I got it. >> And was there any thinking over it? >> Um, I thought you had some good points. some of the things I think we talked about before as well. Would you agree with that? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Um but I think um was there thought you had some good points to

003it. But >> yeah, I thought you had some good points to it. That was a question you asked. >> The reason I did get that because thank you to to your newsletter that had that child out there. That was my ammunition to set that up. I went to the ZBA and had the ZBA have a bad paper in the package and they did and with the target of the 61 W Street it was it came up a couple of the questions came up and one got answered about conservation pe one is for the uh what happened in this town with the entities and all all that that was 40 B of all both all three of them were built So I'm just I my theme was for that was what I saw on the chart

004there the state in my mind is trying to erase the uh committees town people and all that and have the state be in charge of everything without the town actually having a say. So I'm I was looking at that for reasons why those I looked at the chart and the questions up and David everybody in here. I think the sound needs a a stronger power to get the state think that it's not just a small town. It's a town with the citizens and everything and grow with enough to grow in the state's eyes only. That's it. >> Pretty smart. Thank you, Mark. I I know if there's anybody else on the Zoom board that's I don't see any hand raised. So, uh we'll move right along. That's okay. Um okay. 710. We have an introduction.

005Want you want to do Yep. You want to do Peter? Yep. We have a few minutes. So, we're going to move uh move things out of out of order for a moment. um out of our consent agenda and um where am I here? Yep. Sorry. And uh Peter Wilner uh is looking to become the newest member of the historical commission uh for a term that will expire on August 31st, 2027. So, Peter, if you would be so kind, come on up to the uh podium, introduce yourself, and tell us a little bit about yourself and and uh while you're throwing yourself to the wolves, I mean, why you want to be part of the >> uh Thank you. My name is Peter Wilner. Um I am a history teacher and I have, excuse me, if

006I'm a little horse, it's because my allergies are uh doing what they do. Thank you. Um, as I was discussing with Michael just now, I've always been interested in history and I've been interested in preserving the character of where it is that I'm living. I'm living here now. I've been here four years. Brandon, you and I have discussed this. Uh, we spent a long time and I appreciate the time that you you gave me. Um, and I went on the tour that Jim Nielsen gave and I he you know, we've talked about the development that's going on in town, talked about it from Jim's perspective. Brandy and I, you and I discussed it and I'm interested in if I can help preserve the character of the town given certainly all the development that's going on.

007Um, I want to be a part of that and I talked to Jim about that a month ago, something like that. And, uh, the opportunities come up and so if I can, I would like to serve. >> That's that's Well, that's good enough for me, but I'll open it up to board. If you have any questions or comments you would like to address to Peter, this is our time to do it. >> Anybody? >> Mr. Wilner. Hi. >> How are you? I I full disclosure, I had a chance to uh speak with Mr. Wer at the last uh at the last historical commission meeting. Um so I I this is not a surprise to hear what you said. Um but just just a question. Um so you're a history teacher. Just a point of information.

008Uh what what grade do you teach? >> Um I was teaching uh ESL history. ESL newcomers tend to test into nth or tth grade. Um, but they could be as old as 17. Um, I am completing a program at Framingham State University for my next level teaching license. And so this semester I'm going to be doing my my practicum at Hopkins Middle School and 8th grade 14. So 13 14 year olds. >> That's great. Just one other question. Um, so you you've let us know that you want to preserve the character of the town. Is there a specific uh character that you can point to that you'd like to preserve as you as you would define it in Ashland? >> Um there's a what I would call a colonial character all the towns in Massachusetts

009and certainly in Ashlin. And so I know this is a something that's been what I'm about to talk about is something that's been in process for a long time. But the mill buildings, if there's some way to preserve something of the character of those buildings while the needed housing gets built, I'd like to be part of help to do that. For example, >> thanks. Thank you, >> Yolanda. >> Hi, Peter. First of all, thank you for stepping up to volunteer. >> Thank you for the opportunity. historical commission has been a little bit of a rocky over the years. So, it's nice to bring some new people and support the work that's already been done by so many of the great members. Um, so you said you've been in town about four years and history teacher.

010What's your favorite part of history that you like to teach? >> Michael, as you and I discussed and as you and I might have discussed, um, early American and local history. >> Oh, nice. So, it fits nicely into stepping into this role, >> I think. So, yes. >> Great. Thank you. And thank you again for volunteering. >> Thank you, >> Randy. >> So, I was really happy to see your name um as a as a person that wanted to to join the historical commission. Um you know, we did spend some some good time talking. Um Peter had reached out to me following town meeting and asked some really great questions regarding the historic district. um and just sort of my perspective on on historical preservation and we we kind of brainstormed and it was a

011very uh it was a it was a really great discussion and so um you know I had I had said to him I said oh you know if there is an opening on the historic commission um you know I would suggest that you that you know you might want to consider that and even if there isn't you can still attend the meetings and I know he had um worked with Jim and the historic commission um leading up to town meeting too and gone to some meetings. So um I just wanted to thank you for for um like formally wanting to to to join and and to uh to to continue to make a difference in action. So thank you. >> And Miss Kagan, I wanted to um extend my remarks in answer to your question.

012Before I was a history teacher, I was a mediator. worked in uh Firmingham uh District Court. Um a mediator, as I think everybody knows, helps people that are on different pages about different issues. In this case, it was housing um and small claims have a conversation where they can come to a convers come to a solution themselves rather than having to go to the court where the judge is going to make a decision for them. You might like it, you might not. Can't do anything about it because that's what the court told you to do. Um, as Brandy, you and I discussed, there are different interests in town which might seem to be conflicting, but I think at the end of the day, again, as you and I discussed, um, we all want some version

013of the same result and I think those interests can be brought together and I would like to help do that. Well, thank you for adding that information and that that actually echoes my thank you for your comments. I think my mic was not open. Try this again. Um, I think your comments actually perfectly echo uh the comments I made I think a meeting or two back about this. Uh, I think we all want the same thing, right? Um, but we just need to figure out a way to to get there together. So, um it's good to know that you have that skill set. Uh now, we've got a couple folks uh with that skill set, uh with on the commission. So, um I'm confident that we're going to be able to preserve the character of

014historic Ashland while uh looking forward to the future. So, again, thank you so much for volunteering to uh to do this. >> Thank you for the question. >> Yeah, >> he had a great answers. >> Thank you. Um, this is the first time we've had an opportunity to speak with one another. Yes. But >> when was when were you a mediator uh at Fian District Court? >> Um, let me think for a second. Uh, I was a volunteer mediator around 2018. I then started working with Metro West Mediation Services. Um, working with Spanish speaking and Portuguese speaking parties. I speak both those languages which is why they wanted me to >> do what I did >> that was for a year and a half 2021 to like the first half of 2022. >> Very good.

015Well, having that uh background behind you uh the word compromise would you know that very well then so and sometimes we have to compromise in the positions that we're in so that we can try to satisfy everybody and not just one small group. >> It's the goal. Bringing everybody together. bring everybody together. That's it exactly. So, I appreciate that. Um, when we have taken this out of the consent agenda, I will ask uh the board if uh for a vote. >> I move that we appoint Peter Wilner to the historical commission with a term to expire 83127. >> Second. >> Thank you. All those in favor? >> I I >> So that's 4 uh and one absent. Congratulations and we look forward to your service and great work. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Peter. >>

016Thank you, Peter. >> Don't feel like you have to hang out. >> No. Yes. >> Great. >> We have to go through. That doesn't mean you have to. >> So, thanks a lot. Um, we have uh on our agenda for 710 and we just sled over that. Um, I'll turn it over to uh, town manager Michael Herbert uh, with the introductions of Katie Cole and uh, Jasmine Ferinaci. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm actually going to turn um, uh, this first passing the buck. It's just >> Yeah, just passing the mic. >> Um, pass this first one off to Katherine who's going to introduce Katie and then I would ask Beth if she would uh, introduce Jasmine. So I have the pleasure of introducing Cool um as our new assistant HR director. Um

017so just a little bit about our process. We were thrilled to receive um over 40 applications and we were able to get that pulled down to four highly qualified finalists and um who we chose. Katie comes to us with over 11 years of HR experience um including the last two working in the uh nonprofit sector and so she joined us on May 27th 2015 as I said as the new assistant HR director. She'll be working closely with our two HR generalists and myself on all things administration and daily operations for the HR department. uh she holds a professional and human resources certification from the human resource certification institute. She has a bachelor's degree from Regis College and she also holds her MBA from Cambridge. So like I said, I'm thrilled to introduce her and welcome

018her to the team. I look forward to her expertise and also the fresh perspective that she brings. >> That's good. Yep. Come right up, Kate. >> Hello everyone. I'm Katie and as Katherine said, I'm the new assistant HR director and I'm very excited to join the team and I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have for me. >> I will open it up to the board. >> Anybody? Go ahead, Brandy. >> Go ahead. >> So, first of all, welcome. Welcome to Ashlin. Um, is this your first municipal um role? Uh, because I know Katherine said you've been in nonprofit for two years. Is this your first? >> It is. Yes. And I am very excited to learn all about municipalities. >> Okay. >> It's it's just like the other world, right? So, >>

019absolutely. >> What So, what is what has been your first impression of Ashland? >> It's seems like a really great team. I've enjoyed working with Katherine, Kathy, and Susan. The HR generalists are fantastic. They 100% know what they're doing, and they help me out when I'm flailing and I'm like, well, I don't know what's going on. Um, but the team is really great and it seems like the whole like town of Ashlin group is wonderful to work with. So, I've been having a really great time so far. Right. >> Really? >> Welcome. >> Thank you. >> So, um, so nonprofit and public sector, there are a lot of similarities, but there are also a lot of differences. >> Yeah. >> Um, what's your plan on on getting up to speed? uh with the municipal life

020here. >> Um so, Katherine has been really great in helping me with collective bargaining agreements and unions and stuff like that. And when I was getting my PHR certification, there was a big focus on union. Um I haven't gotten to use that knowledge yet. And so now I've been able to join a municipality where I can um use some of that knowledge. Um, and then as I mentioned, Kathy and Susan have also been really great in getting me up to speed on benefits and payroll and how that relates to both union and non-union uh, groups. >> Yeah, of course. >> Hi. Hi. Welcome. >> Thank you. >> Uh, I respect the HR hat. I've worn the HR hat in private sector, which is why it's always a little we know it's different in in public

021sector. Uh, sort of to follow up on what Makito was saying. So, how do you feel your experience, and I'm sure you answered this in the interview, but I think it might be good for our residents who are meeting you as well for the first time. How do you feel your experience in private and nonprofit is going to be a benefit as you move into p into public sector? >> Sure. So, it's all about helping people basically. It doesn't really matter what sector you're in, finance, nonprofit, municipality, you're here to help. And so I especially see that in the HR field where everyone else here is here to help the public, we're here to support everyone who helps the public. And so that's really the basis of my philosophy uh within HR. So um I

022can take what I've learned in finance in nonprofit and just bring it here and it's so far been a very smooth transition. So >> great. I hope that answered your question. >> Congratulations on joining the team here. Uh do you have a far commute or is it pretty easy? >> No, I live in Framingham actually. So, >> oh that's a travel that's a long way. It's a long way. >> Well, depending on what side of Framingham, it could be, but it's this side. It's right near Cushing Park. So, very close by. >> Well, again, welcome and it sounds like you're going to be a great fit with our team. >> Thank you. >> I just want to thank you for taking the job even though you offered it. You could say no, but you took

023it. So, we appreciate that. So we we look forward for your uh your efforts and and keeping Ashland moving in the direction that Katherine has already started and continue her uh her vision and I know your vision will be very much the same and uh we look forward to working with you down the road. >> Great. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> I am going to interrupt the uh I have a hearing at 7:20 that I have to read by law so I apologize. Thank you. Uh legal notice. Notice hereby given that the select board will conduct a hearing regarding the application for a wine and malt beverage uh retail liquor license. The applicant Anthony Porizini is the owner of Marathon Auto Services LLC. DBA Marathon Mobile. Marathon Mobile Auto Service LLC. DBA

024Marathon Mobile. Anthony Forenzi. Uh 103 West Union Street, Ashlin, Mass 01721. A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025 at 7:20 p.m. People uh or persons wishing to be heard on this matter are invited to attend the public hearing in person or by logging in on the Zoom uh meeting and platform. Interested parties who are not able to attend may submit written comments to the select board's office at town hall 101 main street ashan mass 01721 or by emailing Susan Roby at srobyanmass.com uh signed by Joseph Jmani Jr. Select board. Um I'd like to open up the hearing and ask for an we suspend the meeting. >> Is there a second? >> All those in favor? I >> I >> thank you. >> Second that. >> All those in favor? >> I

025>> Thank you, Beth. Sorry about that. >> No, I appreciate actually that little break because my uh introduction won't be as eloquent as Catherine. Um but Jasmine speaks for herself. So, uh she's fantastic. So, I'm so happy to introduce Jasmine Fernac as our new uh director of planning and economic development. She comes to us with loads of municipal experience. Um her most recent um spot was in Dover um as the town planner. She's also worked for Lancaster, Bridgewater, and Wearham. Um she has the bachelor's from planning and from Arizona State and she started with us on June 23rd and it feels like she has been here forever. So she's been a great um she's had a great start um with her career here in Ashland. She's um working very well with our uh our staff

026and our community development team. Um so I'm really excited to introduce her. So I'll have you come right up. >> Thank you, Beth. Hi. Nice to meet you all. >> Hi. >> Good evening and welcome. >> Thank you. >> Nice to have you on on the team. >> Thank you very much. I'm elated to be here. >> Baptism under fire with all the 40 bees that we have. >> I wouldn't have it any other way. How would you know I'm any good? >> There you go. There you go. That's the answer I wanted to hear. Very. >> Okay, let's move on. No, no, >> his work here is done. >> I open up the question and comments to the board. >> I'll start. Well, first of all, welcome. Um, as I said, you've already received

027a couple emails from me passing on your information to the MAPC group. Um, I'm the chair of the Metro West Regional Collaborative. So, I'm the Ashlin representative, select board representative to that organization. Um, what do you see? I mean, you you've been here a couple weeks and challenges and past experience, how is that going to help you with some of those wonderful challenges we have going on right now? >> So, I know a lot of your challenges really seem scary because you're getting a lot of housing at once that's going to impact your, you know, public um amenities and your infrastructure and your public services, but you have such an incredible team here that I don't I hope everyone really realizes how set up for success you really are. You have the most qualified team,

028the most dedicated individuals that I've seen in any community. You have fantastic, knowledgeable boards who are very committed to their roles here. You have staff that go above and beyond to meet the needs of the public. So 40Bs are, you know, they are terrifying because it does impact your neighborhood a lot. Unfortunately, from my perspective, it's a very standard checklist of things that we go through. So, I have had a lot of experience dealing with 40bs and a lot of it is really just how can you maintain that balance between what the state allows and what the community needs and how you can work with the developer to make it as friendly as you possibly can. I'm sure you're well aware that after these 340BS you will be above your subsidized housing inventory 10%. Um,

029but then at that point it's, you know, part of my role to make sure how do we keep including affordable housing to make sure you maintain that 10% so you don't become subject to these unfriendly 40bs in the future. So it doesn't end here. This is going to get us over, you know, a certain speed bump to buy us a little time for us to provide the plan that Ashlin would like to see for affordable growth in its future. >> Great. Thank you very much and good luck. >> Thank you, >> Nikita. I think you've already answered like two of my questions when you answered Yolanda's question. Uh because I was going to ask you about your experience with 40BS and actually just that planning component, right? You know, just looking forward, you know, okay,

030so yes, we will be at our 10% but then like what happens after that? Actually, let's dig in a little bit. So for uh some of the communities that you previously served, how how did you go about that that process? So, unfortunately, none of the communities I had served were able to reach their 10% subsidized housing inventory. It's really difficult to maintain that housing inventory when you're competing with general housing stock. Um, so that's why it's so important for us to know what these numbers are. We have to work really closely with our assessor and our building department to realize what our actual growth rate generally is per year so we can project that accurately out to the following years. Um, so I've never been able to I've never had the opportunity to bring a

031community above its 10%. But it is something that I've worked with every community I've been into. How do we reach that affordable component in a way that's feasible and and tasteful to the community so that we were not relying or subject to 40bs to get us there? So that way it's intentional. It's planned with your community in mind. Where would you like to see it specifically? Where would those places fit best instead of being subject to where a developer finds space? Did I answer that? >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome, Randy. >> Hi. And welcome. >> Um, >> in addition to the 40 BS, as you know, we're in the middle almost almost to the end of our comprehensive plan process. Michael knew where I was going with it. Yeah. >> Yeah. So

032um Yolanda and I have been a part of the the the comprehensive plan steering committee um for 10 years. Not just kidding. >> Anyway, sorry. Um >> it feels like 10, >> but we are we are um in the home stretch of this. Um so my question is >> um when we as we as we complete this as we get to the to >> having the final plan and we're looking at implementation. >> Um what are your thoughts and you know have you have you sort of done that before? Have you been kind of involved in that process? Because you know as As we've gone through the plan, um, we've got some really great things that are in there that we want to be able to implement. I know, um, we're going to have some

033challenges with some of these because >> obviously, um, budget is going to factor in and everything else too. >> Um, so I'm curious like what your experience has been with with, you know, taking something like that and and helping to implement it. >> Absolutely. So, ideally, that's my role in every community. So whether your master plan comprehensive plan is outdated or not, you still had tangible goals in that plan. And usually nine out of 10en times, more often than 90 out of a 100 times, the community hasn't reached even 50% of those goals yet. More often than not, up until probably the last 20 years or so, comprehensive plans were never really made with sustainable, actionable steps to hold you accountable to your goals. So that you know we set these magnanimous dreams and they

034were wonderful but we didn't set out any of the tasks or the thought through on how to get us there. So my role in each community has been what are your major goals as a community? Do you need to increase your economic development? Do you need to increase walkability? Do you need to increase safety, public education, general education? So really how I will be implementing your goals for your master plan is taking everything that Ashlin has really integrating it in with your community and their needs. So creating strong relationships with your businesses, your citizens, your stakeholders, um really hearing their needs and matching them to our goals and how can we implement them together so that way nobody's being left to the fray and being left out um of these plans or being neglected as

035we move forward because the plan is to move forward together. And I'm sure as you know, Michael's brought on a fantastic um program called Civvy Social that we're running. And I think that's going to be a huge part of what we do. Reaching out to people over social media. Humanizing um local government is a huge way. That's that's how you pass your overrides. We become people. We're not just, you know, out there sucking your tax dollars. We're your friends. We're your neighbors. We're sacrificing our time with our families to come help your families. And once you create that sense of community, all of these plans move forward a lot smoother because you're doing it together, not against one another. >> Great. And I have one other question. I know that this role has um kind

036of evolved this, you know, and has incorporated >> economic development, which um you know, Beth has championed for >> for nine years. Yeah. >> Um how do you see economic development in Ashland, you know, potentially evolving or what do you like, you know, as as what you've seen so far? Um, and you know, what what do you think are our strengths and and what do you think is like the future? >> Your strengths are certainly your community. The people that you have here, they they've been here. You have strong community. People that start business here, want to keep their businesses here. We just spoke with a business today who was lucky enough to open up in Ashlin in the last year, two years, and now they're looking to expand. And that's amazing. They're not looking

037to leave. They're coming here and saying, "How can we grow?" Um, so that's a big part of what we plan on doing. You know, I Beth has set the stage with all of the developers and local businesses. You know, she's set such a precedent and is such a positive experience for them. And I'd like to continue that moving forward. I want to be open and friendly to developers to Ashland. I think our biggest challenge right now is is traffic and bringing people in. We're not off of any main roadways. So, it's really going to take a lot of partnership, whether that be with different businesses togethers or maybe even with regional um resources, but we have to find a way to bring the people here. The businesses are here. We need them to thrive here.

038>> Great. Thank you very much. >> Awesome. Those are great comments, Jasmine. Appreciate that. >> Thank you very much. I think the both of all three of you have done a great job in selecting the people that um going to take care of our future >> and and I'm uh I'm extremely satisfied and happy to hear comments that were made and the answers that that were provided. So, >> thank you. >> Um I wish you nothing but the best and I look forward to working with you. >> Thank you very much. >> Couple of years. >> Thank you. I just I know we talked a little bit about Katie's uh process, but uh Jasmine also went through a pretty rigorous process. Uh we ended up having over 20 people apply actually. Very very it was

039a very very qualified pool. We ended up interviewing five candidates. Um and Jasmine rose to the top. So we're very lucky to have her here. Um, as Beth might have mentioned and Jasmine has certainly expressed maybe indirectly, she feels like she's been here for for a while >> in the best way. Feels like coming home. >> Could I just add something too to that? You know, it just struck me with the whole interview process thing. So, Trisha Kendall, who's the chair of the planning board, was was involved in that process heavily. I know that she had >> absolutely >> um worked to gather questions from the planning board and had sat and interviewed all the candidates, >> debriefed with you all. Um it was a long long process. So um >> and kept the planning

040board informed all along the way too through that question there too. >> So I just wanted to acknowledge Trisha too and her role. So keep the bull by the horns. >> Very good. So thank you very much. >> Thank you so much. It was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Always nice to see great uh great talent coming in coming into town. Thanks, P. Peter. Thank you. >> Um I will entertain a motion to reopen the hearing that was set for 7:20. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> I. Anthony, why don't you come on up? Hello. >> How are you, sir? >> Good. >> Uh just just to remind everybody what this hearing is about. Uh Anthony is the current owner of uh Marathon

041Auto Sales, better known as Marathon Mobile up on West Union Street in Ashland. He and his wife have taken over, it's a family business now. Taking over what, four years now? Five. >> Almost four years, right? And uh they've done a fantastic job. They brought back the uh the cafe style uh convenience store setting which which what it was when I used to work there years ago. And uh brought back some great memories and I'm I'm sure that you will do well. I did ask for a uh a copy of that. >> Oh, and I appreciate that. >> Yep. Thank you. >> I'll pass this around. >> Is that the drawing? >> This is the drawing. Yeah, >> I had called uh Anthony uh earlier this afternoon about providing another copy of it. So, I'll

042let you all take a look at it. >> And u >> so tell us the reasons why you want a malt and liquor uh malt and wine license. >> Well, one of the main reasons is we get asked a lot if people stop in all the time and ask us if we do, you know, sell it. And I think it'll bring a little more business to us. people are coming there for a lot of different things. We're just trying to increase a little bit of business and make it a little more convenient. I know living on that side of town. It'll be helpful to some people um instead of crossing all the way across town, not to take away business from anyone else, but I just think it would just be a nice addition to

043what we have. Nothing crazy, nothing, you know, not too much, but just a little bit. >> That's good. who's going to be responsible for maintaining that area and making sure that you know Stuck doesn't get uh legs and walks away from it. >> Yeah. Well, I both myself and um our employee, our full-time employee will definitely be in charge of all that as well as making sure everybody's trained to know exactly. We keep an eye on everybody anyways. As you know, we get a lot of the kids that come in, so we have eyes everywhere. I mean, and usually >> owners, >> right? So, we're always in there. Our family is always in there. >> Um, and on busy shifts, we always try to have usually, you know, runovers so that there's more than one

044employee on. Y >> um and we'll we can adjust that accordingly. If we're busier, >> then we'll, you know, we'll definitely staff it so that it can be watched closely. >> Okay. >> Yeah. referring to the uh drawing too. The way >> the way we wanted it is that it's in the back of the store. That way it's not near the >> grab and go or steal or any kind of theft. So >> it's going to be limited to a certain spot and any of the stock is going to be behind the storage area. >> Okay. >> Not going to have access to anybody at all. >> So that's the door in the far left. The far left store on the lefth hand side. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. We're going to use the existing

045cooler that's there now. The walk in. >> Yeah. We're going to remove the soda from those three doors. We're going to use that exact >> and that that's be the area. >> Yeah. The storage area extra will be in the back. >> Got it. >> Okay. That's good. >> As well as the OS system the way it's set up now that any tobacco products that get rung up automatically shuts the computer down and stops the sale a driver's license scanned. And obviously that's one. >> Yeah. >> Then it allows the sale to keep going. Well, the alcohol is going to be same as exactly the >> same way. >> Oh, yeah. Unfortunately, no idea. >> That's our big That's our most biggest priority. >> Well, you answered my questions already, so that's that's that's pretty

046good. >> Yeah. >> I'll open it up to the board for additional questions and or comments and then I'll ask you. >> Yeah. Um I I have to say as I was looking at this, one of my concerns was the fact that you're right next door to a school. >> Yes. >> And I tried to find the time to see if any if we have any policies about the location of liquor stores near schools and I don't believe we do or if we do. So, um, it was good to hear. It's good to hear that you are going to be very strict about IDs >> and and your employees as well and that also the access for the beer and wine is not going to be very easy, >> right? >> Um, I'm I can

047only imagine you guys get run by kids a lot. It's a place for them to hang out. So we have a lot of eyes everybody watching >> that time and then we have extra person come over the guy will come over when the kids come in just to oversee it. I mean kids you know only six kids is it five or six I forget five or six at a time at a time in the in the in the build. Okay. In the store >> unless it's raining then we'll let them stand by the door and then as some leave they come in it just gets too chaotic. Yeah. >> And especially if we have that. So it'll be watched heavily. You know, we're very particular we're with, you know, selling cigarettes. >> Same type of

048thing. You don't have an ID, >> you're not going to get it. Our system shuts down. You have to scan their IDs. >> Okay. Um, how big of a stock are you planning on having for beer and wine? >> Not very big. Just the staples. Um, like I said, it's going to be three coolers and then storage in the back, which would be out of sight, but it's probably just going to be three coolers, but not going to be a liquor store and right, just the the popular brands. >> Okay. Um, and this is more a question to either Katherine or Diane. A lot of times with stuff like this, we either hear from other businesses in the area. Have we heard from any other of the liquor stores as to their thoughts on the

049impact of this or >> No. >> I had called I called Diane today about that. It hasn't heard anything any merchants or residents and I know that notifications went out to your butters in and around that area and we haven't heard from any of them. >> Okay. >> Those were those were a couple of my concerns. So, okay. Great. >> As was mine. Thank you. Thank you. And and I would and I would just say that should something happen, I think we're going to be very very, you know, right on top of it, right? If we find that there's underage >> alcohol either being sold or taken or anything, >> um just because of how close it is to the school. >> Oh, yeah. >> Okay. >> Makita. >> Um I don't really have any

050questions. You answered like most of my questions when you were presenting. I I did notice the placement of the alcohol in the store and you know I think hearing about the point of sale system shutting down before any sales are made actually uh was something that answered a big question of mine. Um and also just the way the layout seems to appear like you're going to have a really hard time if you're trying to lift a lift a beer or something like that. But that the line of sight is like right there. >> Exactly. Like there's there's I'd be I'd be kind of impressed if someone actually managed to do that. Um, but so I just wanted to say that I I I did notice that thoughtful design before you had come. >> The other

051thing too, um, >> make you feel a little more comfortable too. When the kids come in, all backpacks and everything are left at the door. We don't even we don't let them walk in with them anyways. So >> the chances of them walking out >> would be really hard. >> Thank Thank you. >> And we have kids, so we're >> Yeah. I mean, they're a little bit older, but still we it's we'll be very >> very strict about that with our employees as well. There'll be no tolerance for it at all. >> Excellent. Excellent. >> Any other comments? Uh questions, Randy? >> The only question that I have is more logistical. And I don't know if Katherine or Diane have the answer to this. Um the amount of liquor licenses that we have to give,

052do we know what the number is currently? Okay. >> We would have two left. Two >> two remaining. >> Retail malt and wine. >> Malt and wine. >> Okay. Okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Um I don't have any other additional questions. I appreciate the uh the effort that uh you both have provided us. Um I know that you folks are very diligent in in in your work ethic and and things that uh that go on. I was hesitant at first when I when I first saw the application as and I agree with Yolanda because of the the proximity of the school and I had some major concerns. Um so uh I haven't heard we haven't heard from the school so but I know the the steps that you have taken to keep the

053kids from being out of there and not you know being able to do the five finger discount you know in their backpack you know because everything's outside. I I think I think you took great steps to keep that from happening. which is very appreciative. >> Five finger discount. >> It is an old term. >> Sheltered life. What can I say? >> I'm sorry. You know, once a cop, always a cop. What can I say? >> What can I say? >> Okay. at at this are there if there are no other questions or concerns and I and I do know that we have not received anything from uh from the community with uh with suggesting that they're not uh for it or for against it. Um I will uh >> I move that we close public

054hearing. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> Okay. All those in favor >> I that's 4 and one absent. I move that we approve the liquor license for Marathon Mobile as presented. And >> do we want do we Yeah. Walt. Should we call Should we actually specify wine and malt beverage retail liquor license >> if we Yeah, we could do that. Wine and malt beverage liquor license. >> So that way they're not confused with other alcoholic beverages that people may want to see there. >> Okay. So the motion has been made. Is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> All those in favor? I >> All those opposed. Zero. So it's four Z one absent. Congratulations. Good luck. When do you plan on uh initiating your uh your turn around?

055>> I got to contact some wholesales. >> Y >> and we'll go from there. Um soon as we can, but I don't want to rush it. >> It's going to be hopefully within the next six. >> Good. Very good. >> That's okay. >> Oh, yeah. No, that's on this before we get >> hopefully it will help out with the holidays, too. you don't miss out on Thanksgiving or Christmas or whatever. You know, >> that's true. >> You will have to reapply in December, I believe. Yeah, because it's a it's a yearly. So, because you did it now, you'll reapply in December, but you don't have to do anything with that as long as everything's going smoothly. >> Oh, okay. It's like a renewal. >> Yeah, it's a Yeah, all of all of our liquor licenses

056get renewed on an annual basis in December. >> Okay. Oh, okay. >> Oh, great. >> Yeah. I'm sure if you have any questions, Diane and or Sue when she comes back from her vacation, she'd be more than they'd be more than happy to answer your questions and >> steer you in the right directions. >> And thank you very much for this cuz this this made it a lot easier. >> Yeah, that was good to see. >> I appreciate that. Thank you again. >> Good luck, guys. >> Thank you. >> Always a pleasure. >> Thank you everyone. >> Yeah, >> thank you. >> Okay. Uh next 7:45. Are we close to it? Right on the money. My goodness. Yes. Yeah. Okay. We also have at 7 um sorry about that. 7:45 another hearing and I'll read

057the hearing notice. Read the hearing notice. I apologize. Notice is hereby given that the select board will conduct a hearing regarding a request to install one new pole. Poll number 6-37A is an alpha. This work is necessary to provide electric service to the solar project located at 13 Joanne Drive. Chestnut Street southeast of Leside approximately 63 plus feet northeast of Joan Drive. Install one new pole again. Poll number 6-37 WO number 7128227 Ashland Mass 01721. A public hearing will be held on this matter on Wednesday, July 16th at 7:45 p.m. Parties wishing to be heard on this matter are invited to attend the public hearing either in person or logging into the Zoom meeting. Interested parties who are unable to attend the hearing may submit written comments to the select board's office town hall 101

058Main Street Ashland Massachusetts 01721 or by emailing Susan Roby at sue roby ashland mass.com signed by Josephani Jr. the chair select board. Um do we have a representative from Eversource here? >> Yes. >> Jackie Gappy Eversource. >> Yes. Hello there. >> How are you tonight? I'm welcome. If you would wouldn't mind identifying yourself, please. And >> Jackal and Jackal and Deputy Eversource. I'm filling in for Chris Cosby tonight. >> Okay. Thank you. Is there any way you could uh turn your volume up a little bit because we're having a little difficulty hearing you? Unless it's just my ears. >> No, it's probably mine. Can you hear me better now? >> A little better. Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. We'd like to install a new pole 6 over 37A and this is to provide um electric

059service to a solar project located at 13 Joan Drive. >> So this this solar project is actually on the uh the apartment pro uh project uh location. >> Yes, it is. >> Okay. And so you're just installing the pole, but somebody else is doing the uh solar work as well. >> Yes. >> Okay. I'll open up I'll open up the questioning and comments to the board. >> So it looks like on the plan that this is a move of a poll or not? >> No, it's a new poll. >> Okay. Because on the map on the map there's a there's one. So 637A. Oh, that's the proposed one. >> And then there's another one not too far away. Okay. >> Right. >> So there's already one there and you're just putting an additional one. Yes,

060we are. >> And then how far back is 13 Joanne Drive? Which which unit is that? >> It's there's eight right there. It's for the whole It's for the whole parking lot. It's for the um solar panel for the parking lot. >> Oh, okay. >> Oh. Oh, interesting. >> And is that that still hasn't been installed, the solar panel for the parking lot? >> No, it hasn't. >> I see. Okay. That was not clear. >> So, these these panels are not going on the buildings themselves. They'll be going on structures that are in the parking lot. Yes. >> Okay. Similar to what we have at the high school then, >> right? Because there's already, if you look at the maps, there's already solar on the buildings. So, they're adding more solar to the parking lot.

061Okay. >> That was really my only question. >> Nikita. Good. Okay. Brandy. Good. All right. Then I'll entertain a motion to >> close I move we close the public hearing. >> There a second. >> I'll second that. >> All those in favor? I >> I >> uh there's no further discussion. I entertain a motion to approve the request. >> Move that we approve the poll as requested by Eversource. >> There second. >> Second that. >> Thank you. All those in favor? >> I That's 401 absent. So congratulations. Uh you've been approved. And when when do you anticipate the work to be done? >> I'm not sure. I work out of a different division. and I can have them find out. >> Okay. If you would, that would be great to find out and appreciate that.

062>> I'll talk to Chris tomorrow. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. Thank you. Have a nice day, buddy. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Bye. Bye. >> Bye bye now. >> Okay. How we doing for time? >> Wow, we're 10 minutes early. >> People are on. So, if we can start early. Okay. Uh I know we had at 8:00, but I'm sure that Helen and Joan wouldn't mind starting early. Are you good with that? >> Hello. >> I'm good with that. >> Yeah, I thought you would be. >> Okay. We're looking uh you folks are going to provide us an update uh on the village burial ground project and we're looking forward to hearing uh what you've done and what uh what's left that needs to be done. So, I'll turn

063it over to the both of you. Good evening. >> Hi, good evening. I'm I'm gonna start. Um, so I I wanted to start by saying I really want to welcome Nikita Keegan as our new historic mission liaison and we're hoping to have her uh join us when she can uh with the cemetery working group and some of our events. And also, I'd like to give a shout out um to Susan Ruby and Diane Workinson. and I know they're not listening, but I'd like you guys to know that them as well as the DPW have been very helpful to us. Um, and they really do deserve some acknowledgement. So, I just I really wanted to say that before I started. And so I want to give you an update and then I want to discuss a

064few things which we hadn't discussed before um that I feel like because this is a municipal project uh that you need to be uh aware of and and we need your uh input on on a few things. I'm going to do the update first. Uh so so far for 2025 we are continuing uh the historic uh restoration of the gravestones and we are cleaning up the property of the invasive plants and um poison ivy, a lot of poison ivy. We're really glad to get rid of that. Um, so that's been been uh ongoing and uh the number of gravestones right now uh that have been repaired or are in progress of of being repaired is over 30 because at last count we were at 30 and I haven't gotten a number in the last two

065weeks. So I know we're over 30 um gravestones that have been repaired or are in progress and most of those have been completed. Uh the number of gravestones right now on wooden pallets that are down there to protect them from additional damage is 60 gravestones that are standing and uh but leaning slightly or severely is 26. And gravestones below ground uh that are unknown uh but our volunteers have been finding them regularly so we know they exist uh is unknown. Um so that's all ongoing and I'll explain a little bit more about that in a couple minutes. Um we have ongoing removal as I said of the invasive plants. Kathy Rooney's our um our landscape uh design person who or expert who's really been very helpful and so she has ongoing uh work down there

066with all of that and that uh will continue. And uh this year we did participate as a group. We uh joined with Clean Up Ashland and we uh got rid of some trash that was down there which was very nice. And we're planning to have two uh community engagement days, their working days for volunteers to come down and assist uh supervised with light repairs. more more like uh probably more like they'll be be watching uh as these things are done and they can kind of see how things are done and and if they can help a little bit then that that will be supervised and uh also cleaning some of the headstones. Some of the headstones they were all cleaned last year but some of them uh because of some um some of the dirt

067and the rain splashing up onto them. I guess some of them do require a little bit additional uh clean up. So, we're going to do that. And there's uh some more invasive removals uh that we will do and those are July 23rd and August 11th. Both both of those are going to be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. They'll be week nights or week evenings. Uh so people can come down after work and it won't be quite as hot as it would be during the day because during the day can be very hot. Um we have ongoing documentation. We have a documentation group and they are doing uh different types of documentation uh that include photographic documentation and uh paper documentation of all the work that's down there. They keep record of of the condition of

068the the gravestones before they've been worked on. They keep a record of who worked on them, what work was done, and the condition of the gravestone afterwards. And that's all on paper, which eventually the photo uh documentation and the paper documentation when we're finished will go to town hall um in in two forms. There will be a a solid hard copy book of all the uh the work that will be able to be placed in the vault. So in the future people can look at that, but we'll also have electronic documentation that will be able to be accessed. Um, so that you know if and actually that could actually even be put on to if you know the historic commission uh has on their on their page maybe we could have something to link that

069to it which would really be nice. We we've only kind of discussed that. We haven't really gone into the details of it yet, but that's something that we'd like to do. So the documentation is ongoing. We did apply for some CPA money this year. We received a $5,000 administrative grant. They didn't feel that we had applied for enough money. Um they really thought we should have applied for a larger amount. Um so they gave us the $5,000 for the GPR service, which is a ground penetrating radar because one of the things that we kind of need to know, especially before we really want to plan out our survey, is how many more headstones are down there. um because we are finding so many headstones underground and we know there's more there. This will give us

070a more accurate number and also it will locate um additional bodies down there that are not marked. >> This is Yolanda. Sorry to interrupt. What organization gave you that grant? >> Um CPC. >> Oh, it came from CPC. Okay. Thank you. >> CPC. >> Yep. And uh so um yeah, so we'll be uh looking for bodies as well. So, if there's bodies and we know there are that aren't marked, we'll have a better idea of how many of those are uh are there and we'll have um more additional information uh to complete the you know when we go to do our kiosk to complete all the historical information of the of the site and you know what exists there. Uh so that's something that we're looking forward to doing. Uh we had some interesting event

071come. It's not really an event. I don't even know what you call it. We had an interesting thing happen. So, while we were discussing uh getting the GPR, the $5,000 uh service, um we were offered and it has to work. This has to work out correctly and we're not sure it will, but we're really hoping it does. And it's going to kind of depend on dates and people and machines and how it works out. But Bridgewater State um geological archaeological department uh offered to do the GPR service for us uh free. And if we can do that and we can get that service in place, it would have to be done sometime before they go back to school uh in September. So I can't talk to the guy until the 22nd because the guy who's

072running the program is out of the country until the 22nd. So, I will find out then if we're going to be able to actually access that service. And if we do, we actually can give the $5,000 back to the CPC because we won't need it because they're going to do it for us uh for free. So, that's that was exciting uh news and hopefully that all works out. If not, then we will use the $5,000 for the professional service. And so our next steps is really just to continue with um all the work that we're doing eventually working into our um phase where we will uh get the survey done for professional work uh that may need to be done. We're looking into who we need to talk with about the crypt as far as

073getting that restored if it's possible. We don't know. Um >> I'm sorry. Getting what restored, Helen? There's a crypt down there. It's a crypt. It's not It's not Yeah. It's not a crypt like a family crypt where people were buried. >> It's a crypt where they stored bodies over the winter when it was too cold to actually bury them. >> Yep. >> And there's a big top piece which we just realized what it was recently. Weren't really sure. We knew it was part of it, but we really didn't know exactly. But after someone down there, one of our volunteers, uh, stared at it long enough and realized that it was sort of shaped like a triangle and that if we fit it back on top and laid it the bottom at the top would be

074sort of would come to a point above it. It's actually it's actually pretty cool. Um, I I I can't really draw you a diagram because I'm not on here, but anyway, that that's something that we're really hoping that we can find out who could help us with that, but we're still trying to do that. We haven't found that yet. >> So the the people who Sorry, Helen. Uh so the people who do the gravestones could not help you with that piece? >> No. For a number of reasons. First, we have to have somebody survey that whole um area to to actually determine whether it's even stable enough to place that piece back. that piece. I don't know how much that piece weighs, but I can tell you that those >> those uh headstones down there

075that are are obelisks are over 2500 pounds. This thing's bigger than they are. It's huge. Um so, I don't know. You would really need somebody to come in that knew what they were doing. And it would have to be >> worked on. I think they would have to be able to sort of repair it. Not repair that piece, but repair the area that it would set into. They would have to be able to place it. we would have to make sure that the whole area is stable. >> Um, so all that has to be done and we're still trying to figure out who we need to do that. >> Okay. >> So, um, so those are our next steps. Um, I do need to discuss tonight a few things. So, originally when I came, I

076I I I had discussed, you know, the restoration of the headstones and the and the um, you know, the property itself with the invasives and the trees. There were some dead trees down there that are now gone. And um we I think we had discussed, you know, installing some historic kios some kiosk down there with the history and maybe one as a memorial to some of the unmarked um graves down there. So that that was all discussed, but we had a few things and and we also discussed the sign. I guess the DPW at one point uh Michael, I think you had said the DPW was going to take care of the no dog sign because we had discussed doing it. who said they would. But I want to I do I want to add

077to that a little bit. Uh but before I do that, I want to discuss the sign. So when you come into the cemetery, there's a wooden sign and it says um Ashlin Cemetery 1828. It's a very nice sign actually. Um it's attached to a big uh granite piece of granite. It's nice cuz the the wood is in good condition. Has a little bit of um chipping on the sides, but overall it's not bad. Uh it's been down there for 15 years. The cemetery working group has discussed repurposing the sign, having it repainted, and what we want to ask you is we would like to put the um the original name of the village burial ground on that sign. So, we didn't want to go ahead and do that uh without uh your input on that.

078And we've already talked to Mr. Mancini, who has uh was the original uh person who did that sign, and he can re take the sign down, repurpose the sign, sand it, paint it for us. It would cost, I think he said, something like $240, which we have the money for. Um, but I did I did want to know, um, you know, if you would approve of the village burial ground 1828 being painted on there. >> I'll jump in. I think that's fine. I think it's, you know, they're they're working on it as the village burial ground and let's give it back its original name. >> I'm fine with that. >> Okay, great. >> I don't have a problem with that. Does anybody >> No, >> I don't think we need to vote on that. >>

079I don't think we need to vote. I think we just need to say go ahead and Yeah, that's fine. >> That's fine. >> Okay, good. Yeah, we didn't want to do it without because it is a municipal property and we did not want to do that without input. >> Yeah. And so the other thing I wanted to ask as far as those no dog signs. So, we've been having some issues down there. the the 128 main building houses people with dogs and you know that's to be expected. Um unfortunately they're using our site as um the potty room and you kind of can't blame them. They're either going to take their dog and walk them out onto the sidewalk or they're going to take them back there where there's grass. Um, but it's not good

080actually for the the grass or for the gravestones and um for the people who don't clean up after themselves. Uh, so we were hoping to get a more expanded sign and we're also having another problem. So the people that live to the side the on the conquered street sign have kids who are coming in there. they're playing uh kind of sport like things and balls. And um we were hoping maybe we could get a little bit more expanded sign. Maybe something with like not exactly as big as the one that you have down at um the Wildwood, but something it it with some more information on it like that just to kind of have it a more generalized like not just dog sign, but to be a little bit more inclusive of other things that

081may happen on the property that really shouldn't. >> A list of what's allowed, not allowed. Yeah. >> Yes. Exactly. Well, and and something that states this is a sacred burial ground. This is not a playground or dog. >> It's not a playground. It's not a dog. It's a graveyard. It's a graveard. I mean, it's not it's not a Yeah. >> It's not a public It's not a It's not a playground or or field or dog park. >> Yeah. >> And and I would I be correct in thinking that some of those tombstones and that are still rather fragile. I'm not sure fragile is the right word, but could be damaged. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Um and that is a problem and that's another concern that we have. Uh, so some of them um, you know,

082have been repaired and but they're still probably more fragile than something that maybe never was broken in the first place. But even some of the stones that haven't been broken, I mean, you if you're forceful enough, depending on what's going on, I mean, damage can be done. So, yeah. I mean, it it's just it's not appropriate. And actually, it is a municipal property. It's probably a liability issue. Like I don't know if kids were to bring in bikes in there. I mean, they're playing ball in there. We're finding toys in there, but you don't know what else could be going on in there. And and certainly certain things would be an issue. >> Should we be considering at some point fencing it in? >> So, we've discussed that and I'm a little concerned with it

083not being accessible. We want it to be accessible. We want people to go in there. Um because also a couple of the members maybe discuss even putting up a chain at the entrance with the sign on it, especially over on the Conquered Street sign. I don't know that a chain would really keep them out anyway. >> Um this is why I'm bringing this up with you. Um but we the sign definitely should be there. I just I I don't want to make it so that people don't feel like it's a place that they wouldn't want to visit, but I don't want it to be, you know, a dog potty and playground because those things are just inappropriate. You know what I mean? It's just >> I I think you're right, Helen. I think we can

084put specific signs. I'm sure there's signs, you know, either we have we have something I know at like the schools that say dogs not allowed on the fields. Um, we must have something somewhere else that at Wildwood, right? What we have at Wildwood to say that, you know, it's not I mean, I don't know what it is at Wildwood. I don't go there enough. >> It's a big enough sign that that it lists all the things that you can't do. >> I would support putting a sign probably on both sides. One at the 128 one main side and then one on the other side near the houses that butt up to it. And I would also say maybe it's worth if we know who the management of the the apartment complex is. um that we

085reach out to them and just let them know we're putting up signs and if they can also communicate that to their >> to their residents, >> maybe even some flyers for that building >> just just to let them know that that um that it's something that we're concerned about >> and I think something similar on the other side if we could do a walk through or something to those neighborhoods saying to those neighbors saying we understand your kids like to play here but it's not a playground. You have access to the Mendes. You have access to Stone Park. >> Corner spot is across >> corner spot right >> front front street. >> So there's other places for them to play rather this is, you know, this is not an extension of your backyard. >> Not

086even quarter mile away from Stone Park. That's where the park is the place. So you know, >> right? >> Get on your scooters, get on your bikes, and >> is there a place for people to take their dogs around there? >> That's the question. that does that exists that isn't part of >> the cemetery partner. >> I mean, I see people walking their dog all the time down Main Street and going to the Riverwalk and >> Yeah. >> to the Riverwalk to the Trolley Brook Trail. >> Yeah. >> There's been something. >> It's not as convenient as going into that nice grassy area that's a cemetery, but it's also a cemetery, >> so it's not appropriate. You know, maybe when people build apartment buildings, they should provide some kind of an area for people to

087>> or don't allow dogs in your apartment if you don't have access to a place to walk them, >> right? >> Yeah. I know like some of the larger ones like Cirrus and the the new the new one has they both have one. Um Okay. >> But some of these um >> Ashan Woods has a dog park. >> They have they have a Yeah. So Ashlin Woods, the Asher has a dog park and Cirrus both of those bigger ones >> those. So that's that's a good thing to consider when we're doing a uh development agreement with these developers. >> Absolutely. >> Certainly for >> Waverly. Right. Absolutely. Without a doubt. >> Yeah. >> So um Helen, I have a quick question for you. Um >> Sure. >> The only public access is that the one

088that's only on Conquer Street by the um by the brick building or am I missing? Um well there's the one behind the feder. So there's in the stone wall that that that surrounds the cemetery actually on four sides. Um on the back side it's very low though. So around with the the two sides to the each side in the front. They're sort of above ground and you really see them better. There's a break with an entrance right behind the federated church and there's a break where the DPW has access over behind uh one of the apartment. There might even be two apartment buildings there. I'm not sure. Um, in their driveway, there's access and they have uh the ability to drive through there and come into the cemetery because I believe that's where they're bringing

089all their equipment because they got sort of short changed on the right of way over by 128 Maine and they can't get the equipment in over there anymore. >> Yeah, it's it's it they walled off to be very honest with you. I was looking out back there uh two days ago just taking a scan of what was what was happening there. And what bothers me a little bit is the fact that folks have to walk through the federated church property to get to that public opening. And so does the town have some sort of mutual uh understanding agreement that they can use that access or are people literally just trespassing? Yeah, absolutely. I think DPW does have like an access agreement or an access ease. >> Okay. >> To get back there, >> but that's

090for the DPW to do their work, right? So, >> there is a legal right of way at the one. So, if you go into the 128 main driveway >> and I have the deed actually I have the deed right here, I believe. Um there is a on record deed uh right of way because we needed that information to actually be able to apply for the CPC funding. So I can probably tell you um >> that that's kind of >> you can get there from so if you're at 128 Maine and you're you know you step off their parking lot you see the >> right there's a wall and you have to go >> you just follow the stone well you follow the stone wall a little bit and there's an opening. They also have signs

091that say no. It can get kind of confusing. >> If you do want to look it up, it's book it says 71827 page 81 >> and then it goes through page let me see I have it here all the page goes through page 89 and it's middle sack south registry of deeds uh recorded >> on the deed readed register. Okay. Doc. Yeah, it's document number 168132. Certified October 31st, 2018. Recorded time 2:31 p.m. >> Okay. I we we we understand that. >> Yeah, we >> We're good. Thank you, Helen. >> Okay, >> Kathy. >> Well, in case you needed the information. >> Hey, Helen. >> Yeah. And >> Kathy here in person, Helen, so she's gonna answer some questions as well. Helen, I just wanted to um bring up the fact that the church will

092probably let us put a sign on their property out on Main Street um because we have a good relationship with them. We've been working on that and they've been working on helping us. They've been extremely helpful actually. >> Okay. >> They give us access to bathrooms and meeting rooms like that. >> The refrigerator for our lunches. >> So, that's good. >> So, I think that's going to work out. We haven't haven't specifically talked to them yet, but um they're very amendable and I've been helping them with their >> Oh, that's good to know. I just didn't want a liability issue. >> Yeah. >> You know, somebody walking up to go to the cemetery and they fall and get hurt on on the on their church property and you know >> No, they know they know

093about it. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Appreciate. >> Thank you, Helen. >> I I do have two more things I wanted to bring up tonight. So, one is the fence, not the fence, I'm sorry, the stone wall. Um, so originally when we had all sat down and you know, we're thinking in terms of this restoration project, the stone wall was never discussed and we never discussed it with you. Uh, but being down there um for large amounts of time, we've come to become very familiar with that stone wall, which is beautiful um but in a lot of disrepair in a lot of places. Um so we have discussed as a group uh the stonewall and we need to present that situation too because it is a municipal stonewall and municipal property. Um and and I

094have in my group two two uh two thoughts. Um, so you know, I I had kind of thought we would be on board with really doing the work as long as we got your permission or adding that to our CPC. We have some people in the group who are a little bit concerned about that because they're concerned with the cost. It's going to be very um expensive and they're concerned that if we go to the CPC with that on there, the amount will change so much. it would be quite large and the getting it passed at town meeting may not be um as possible with that amount on there. So I just want to present this to you, let you discuss it. I I don't know what your feeling on that is if you know

095if the town itself wants to like assume responsibility for that stone wall getting it fixed, but it does need a lot of repair and I can tell you in a couple of places it's very compromised by tree roots. Someone I spoke with told me that most of it you can repair, but there's two sections. They're about five to six foot sections really that have to be taken out and replaced um because of the tree root damage that are are seriously compromising. >> Has to be drooed. >> Yeah. The trees going right into it and under it and breaking it all apart. Um so yeah, >> the tree the tree where the roots are coming from, are they on town property or private property? >> That's another problem. I think they are on the other side

096of the wall which makes them not on town property. >> That becomes an issue. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I thank you. Thank you for that H. I think you know we can take a walk through and see what's going on and then >> um it's been like this for a while so I don't think it's something that has to be >> immediately taken care of. So yeah, >> but we can take a look at that. >> Helen, do you know approximately what the cost would be? Like what number you're looking at? So, we have had a couple of different um estimates and one was low and one was higher. And I think the one that was low didn't realize that the stone wall behind the back was there because originally we didn't realize it either

097because you can't see it unless you walk on the other side of that wall. >> Um so the higher one was for $28,000 which include cleaning it, repairing it in all of the sections where it needed to be. and he did look at the back wall, all the sections where it needed to be repaired and replacing those two sections. But again, that's one estimate >> and I don't know, you know, I wouldn't go with one estimate. I don't think anybody would really. So that >> so that's kind of where we stopped because that was where we started having this conversation over like like who's really going to assume this responsibility of this. So we kind of like left it there for right now. Yeah, that makes sense. I I mean my recommendation would be that

098you and one second Kathy um would be that >> you know we let them move forward put the signs up and stuff like that and then take a look at it and decide >> you also may want to entertain getting a hold of uh the labor's training center because they're always work they're always looking for projects >> works for projects to help train their their employees. So, >> well, that's a really good idea. >> Every now and then, the brain works. >> I think Kathy, you got I think Kathy, >> I just want to add something about that wall. Um, I was down there one night. Fortunately, I had my orange fencing with me, so I was able to fence off more of the crypt area, but there were kids from 128 and kids from

09928 Maine and kids from the other the gray and blue apartments. >> Well, there's kids in all of them. >> Um anyway, some of them are running around on the walls. >> So, I'm that's what sparked sort of like maybe this isn't such a good thing because some of them are, you know, you don't know when the mort, >> right? >> So, that's not a drywall, that's a cemented wall. >> Well, I think it was badly repaired. >> Okay. >> It it it could be dry laid probably municipal property. It needs to be properly mortared on the top. There doesn't seem to have ever been a capstone on there. >> Okay. >> But I would wouldn't know unless I saw really old pictures of it. If if those even exist and so far we don't

100seem to have them. >> Yeah. The stone walls back then were they were all dry. >> Yeah. >> And I think it's been I mean you can see it's been repaired multiple times. >> Okay. Um, and then those trees on both sides of the wall are either Atlantis, tree of heaven, or norally maples. Both of them hideously invasive. >> So, I don't know. We get rid of them. That would be great. >> We'll have to have somebody take a look at the the property lines and see where we're at. But, at least for right now, let's get those signs up >> because that that would be very helpful >> and send, you know, notices to the uh the apartment complexes that uh these locations are not playground, dog park, you know, it's a burial ground.

101>> I'll also add I think uh Mr. Chair, that um we should definitely get to the butters, but you know, Kathy, when you were talking about like just kids playing, you know, kids kids come from all over, right? So, I'm thinking maybe even a larger community message around, you know, what the appropriate use of what, you know, about about the uh the burial ground and what we're trying to achieve here and the appropriate use is is appropriate, >> right? Most unfortunate part is every dog that goes in there wants to go up to the stones and do their business against the stones. >> And like I said, yeah, >> people are handling them, you know, let alone it's would you want that done on your gravestone? >> Prettyful, you know. >> Exactly. Exactly. So I

102and I think, you know, the signage will definitely address that. But I think a a wider community education effort >> is is necessary, not just I mean messaging for the abutters is important, but I think everybody needs to be aware of what's going on here. Yes. Thanks. >> So, just a process question, Michael. Um, so for these signs, because it is municipal property, like are like is that something that we would take care of or is that something that Helen and her team need to do anything for? >> What's the process? >> If if it's a, you know, a simple sign, I mean, we have a sign making, we have the ability to make that W if it's a couple we can do. >> Okay. >> Which is basically what they did up the at

103Wildwood. >> It was the green green sign with the white lettering. >> Yeah. >> So it's visible. People can see it. They if they can't see it then they should one they shouldn't be driving. >> That's how big it is. >> Well hopefully they're not driving up to these signs anyway. But >> it's tight. Pretty tight. Pretty tight. It's pretty tight. >> Helen, anything else? But if not, thank you. We appreciate all your >> No, I have I do I do have one more thing. I I I know I'm probably going over my 20 minutes. Um but I did have one more thing and it's just something to think about for right now. Um but we want one we we we would certainly want to get your your input and your um opinions, but also

104I think we kind of need your help with it even if if if it's possible to go ahead. So um interestingly enough so if we are able to even in the future if we were able to get money say to do that Stonewall which would be a huge amount of money there's possibilities of other grants the mass historic in um commission does 5050 matching grants every spring >> on big historical projects um generally I forget what the number is that they have to be over might be $15,000 but it's it they can go up to quite a large number and it's a 50-50 matching grant. So, we've we've taken um a workshop uh last year uh to learn how to sort of apply for these things and what you need to have for these things.

105And one of the things you need to have, even though, believe it or not, because I did call them up again and and and ask because it doesn't seem logical, but it it it is. Um, one of the things you need to have on the property, even though it's a cemetery, in order to receive any kind of matching grant from the Mass Historical Commission, is a it has to be located within a historic district or it has to have a deed restriction. So, at this point, I'm thinking um that what we would probably like to put a deed restriction on the property and we would want to discuss that with you and also just find out what the process of that is and and and and your your opinions on that. >> Helen, how many

106acres is the cemetery? >> Oh my god. You know, um you did ask me acres and I don't know the acres, but I do have the square footage somewhere. I just don't know if I have it right here with me. Um because I had to give the guy Well, yes, it's probably >> that. So, it currently has no historical or any kind of restrictions on it from your understanding. >> It does. It does not. No, it does not. And strangely enough, because why would you ever assume that would be true of a cemetery? because I always thought it was illegal to disturb a a cemetery, but apparently according to Mass Historic Commission, um that's not necessarily true. So, yeah. >> Well, that's good to know, Helen. And I think the idea that you need to

107put some kind of restriction on it to be able to get grant funding, I think I personally would behind be behind that, but I would ask that you work with us or or Makita. >> Oh, absolutely. um because we have some other stuff we might want to uh >> connect with that. So, >> we should definitely connect on that >> when we get a chance. >> Yeah, that would be great. Yep. And I just looked it up. It's 55,218 square feet. >> It's little. >> Okay. >> An acre and a quarter. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Still >> piece it together. >> Thank Thank you, Helen. Thank you. >> Thank you. And thank you. Um very um >> happy I was able to come and and talk to you all tonight and I feel like we

108had a really good good conversation and I and I do thank you very much for your time. >> Very welcome. Thank you for all your effort and your work. Appreciate Thank you Kathy for coming in in person. >> Thank you Kathy. >> Really thank you very much. Tremendous amount of work. Absolutely. >> Yep. And it's looking good over there. I did walk around. I I didn't go on the property, but I walked peripheral looking. >> Oh, take a walk through there, Joe. There's probably more there you don't see if you're only doing peripheral. >> Let me find my name in there. I don't want to, you know, >> there's a lot of really good work that's going on in there. >> Go ahead. >> All right. Thank you. Thanks, Helen. >> Thanks, Helen. >> Um,

109we'll go to old and new business. And, um, the first item is uh, we're going to withdraw that. Yeah, I just want to give the you know the public has seen that discussed the town manager's evaluation. Uh so we as a group had decided we were going to start this process back in the spring. Different things came up. Um and then I was away for the most of June. Thank you all for keeping things going while I was away. So and then since I've been back, life has uh work has sort of taken over. So Michael and I have not had an opportunity to finish his evaluation. So rather than try to throw something together for tonight, uh Michael and I spoke and I'll present something based on everyone's evaluations because I now believe that

110all of the evaluations are in >> um he he and I will draft something and present it at our first meeting in August. >> In August. Okay, great. Thank you. >> Yeah, >> appreciate that. Um the next uh item is discuss and vote to appoint Michael Herbert as the Ashland's representative for the Metro West Veteran Services District. Now, I think all of us may have received an email about about concerns about putting additional work uh on Michael's desk. However, I'll let Michael explain that this is not something new. This is something that Michael already has been appointed on or so this is not we're not adding more work to Michael. It's a reappoint. It's a reappoint. So, Michael, if you want to explain that, please. I appreciate that. So, the Metro West Veteran Service District

111is made up of the towns of Ashland, Hollist, Hopkinson, and Medway. And, um, ever since I have been in town, um, first as the assistant, um, the town managers of each of the four towns serve on the board, um, which is staffed by our regional veterans agent. And, um, like I said, when I was the assistant, Tony was the, uh, rep on the board. and then uh when he left and I was appointed um I've been serving in that role for you know the last nine ten years. So uh as much I really appreciate the concern uh this resident has expressed for my workload um this wouldn't be a new thing. >> Do we have to do this on a yearly basis or can we just determine to say we want to do it for

112the next two years? >> Um I think it has to be done on a yearly basis according to the agreement that we have. Okay. >> Okay. >> And what sort what do you exactly do you do in this role? So, so we typically meet on a quarterly basis, although sometimes we need to meet more frequently uh depending on what happens. Um, we basically review with the veteran service director uh the different cases that are going on for the different towns, not by name of course, but certainly the workload and the number, how much assistance has been given. Um recently we have worked with the legislative delegation to secure emergency funding uh or or funding for an emergency fund um that can be accessed uh by the board. Typically the chair and the director have a

113have a conversation if an emergency situation arises and the and the chair is empowered to make that decision on behalf of the board as long as it's under a certain threshold amount. I don't remember exactly what >> so basically you all are helping ser veterans who require some kind of services. They're in need of some sort. You help um >> correct veterans and their families. Um there's something that's called chapter 115 benefits. So um and this is actually could be a public service announcement if you're a qualifying veteran, which is a very broad definition here in Massachusetts. um you are eligible for chapter 115 assistance which is monetary benefits uh based again on certain thresholds and um the way you would do that is you would contact um our veteran service district and ask about

114how to apply and how and if you're eligible and they'll walk you through that. >> Do we currently have an agent because I know we were missing one for a while. Did that get filled? And >> yes, we just uh the district so and technically they are an employee of the town of Hollison. So they serve as the agent, but um Kathleen King from uh the city of Framingham. >> Oh, nice. >> Nice. >> Awesome. She's great. >> So, does she serve all four towns or just have >> she does and John her veterans agent, she's the director, I should say, rather, and then serves as the agent >> and he like he was over at the community center today. So he has regular standard office hours. >> Great. >> In addition >> Yes. And

115in addition to that, uh people can call and set up and make appointments. >> Great. Okay. >> And are those those dates available online? So if people have concerns or they need reach out to somebody, they'll >> Yes. And uh we do advertise them online u also through social media and we have put it in the newsletter as well. >> Good. Thank you. And and we have a do we have a veteran section on our website? >> Um the veterans district I believe has a website and I believe ours redirects to it. So it links to it. Okay. All right. And do we um >> do we feel like the you know sharing with three other communities is still an effective way to service our residents. Do we feel like that's working? >> It's it

116seems to be working very very well. The numbers fluctuate. um in between the towns, you know, depending on case load, you know, obviously people either move out of town or sometimes forunately they pass away. Um I can tell you what we feel um just as town representative and then also for the district. You know, one of the things that we're trying hard to do, and this is happening nationwide, is just engage some of our younger veterans and um and that is becoming especially uh especially challenging um and especially, you know, some of these organizations like the Americans Legion and the VFW u you know, they're seeing their membership kind of drop as well. And in fact, I think actually the VFW just appointed really quickly and I can tell you um um Dustin Pratt as

117the new VFW commander. >> His installation I think was earlier this week. >> Oh, nice. >> So, he's a younger veteran in town and that's one of his visions and goals as well. >> Great. >> Very good. Thank you, sir. I would like to make a motion to reappoint Michael Herbert as Ashlin's representative to the Metro West Veterans Services District. >> Do we have a second? >> I'll second that. >> Thank you. All those in favor? >> I. >> All those opposed? >> Zero. So, it's 5-0. >> And thank you, Michael, for doing that. >> Thank you for doing that, Michael. >> It's continuing doing it. Thank you. >> It's a great organization. Great. >> Well, it's farreaching and that's sometimes our veterans are the last ones to get any help. So greatly appreciate it.

118Uh next on our agenda is to discuss the status of the Mendes Building Committee. So, do I turn that over to you or who >> or I mean I I think this one slipped through on the agenda because we have not had an opportunity to talk with Lisa about the specifics of this which um okay we were going to talk about the composition of the committee um and I believe believe we've had some issues being quorum some nights and so so they wanted to reduce the number of um committee members is that >> potentially if if if that can be done um potentially. Yes. And then there's also a sequence and structure that we need to do to make sure that they're voting members that are remain that could help me. >> So if the

119board doesn't have an issue with that, we'll uh remove this for our next our next uh >> Yeah, because it sounds like we still need to have some review with Lisa before we can do anything, >> right? >> Um I mean certainly last night was a good example. We had a mind committee meeting building committee meeting last night and we were waiting for a few minutes for people to get online to be able to make quorum. >> Y >> I I knew >> actually it's been a a problem for several months. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And um I think Paul generally touches base with people if >> you know so it's a it's a a lot of work for him as well. >> Right. Right. Um, >> yeah. I wondered I was expecting that there

120was going to be some kind of number floated out here tonight, but wait for Lisa for that. >> So, we haven't haven't received that information. >> What would be what would be a workable number? >> I don't know. I was looking to him, right? >> You know, I was thinking he might have offered something because he did bring this up at not last night's meeting, but our previous meeting in June. >> Okay. >> Yeah, the June meeting I missed. >> All right. Actually, if if you don't mind >> in France, >> I can um >> Yeah, right. Yeah, I'll get the text and get pulled out. >> He was texting me. I'm like, "Yeah, Paul, I'm not not not happy." >> But I will say, uh, Paul has called a meeting, um, next week of,

121uh, certain individuals on the project team to talk about the fields. Maybe that was discussed a little bit last. >> Yeah, it was. Yeah. So, that's an ongoing issue. And, >> um, you know, it's, >> you know, it's been over a year. I mean, it's been a while. Right. Since they even first seated it >> has >> can't seem to grow grass. >> It didn't grow. >> So, what about at the other landscaping on the conquered street side, you know, where the the hill used to be and the big stone. >> Yeah, that was kind of a mess. I thought recently when I went over there just to kind of look and see how the grass was doing and I thought that was kind of a mess. I don't >> I haven't been I I

122it's been a it's been a couple months since I've had a had an opportunity to walk over there. There's been a lot of issues with some of the grading and water flow and I know conservation's been >> working with the team and yeah. >> Okay. That was that was one of the concerns I was going to ask you folks back to. >> Yeah. It was kind of a mess because there you know there's an area there that was sort of created to maybe take your class out. Um >> and there's a you know sitting area and that and it it was it's a mess. And then there's no grass on the fields. So now we're we had hoped that we would have students and kids playing on there >> this summer. Yeah. And so now

123we're >> right >> kind of back. >> So So it's definitely a problem. >> Okay. >> And then um I I think eventually at some point maybe this would be something to bring up to Paul. Um the there's going to be some dugout work done. Um and I think it might be good to do that before they're too too far along. Um that was going to be done done within the budget but outside of the project management because their number was kind of outrageous. So they the >> dugout still hasn't been done dugout work. So >> is that being is that being contracted out or >> So what happened was you remember the bid came in really very high right and so we value engineered some items out and one of them were like prefab

124dugouts to the tune of about I think it was between 90 and $120,000 and um so in my mind when I saw what they had put in its place it was just outrageous because all they did was put in fences >> um and you know with no roof which is huge for kids that are playing >> right >> ball and that and the fence is very high so for a ball to hit them it would have to go up and come down so I mean that's a good thing but they need to have roofs and there's a number of different ways to do that and certainly that was my expectation even when we took out the prefab um dugouts that they would look we would do something you know with a roof >> look like

125a devil. >> Come on. >> Yeah. >> Right. I mean I've been on a lot of ball fields with you know many children at this point >> and there aren't too many around that don't have roofs and we in fact in Ashland went back and I think outfitted some of ours that didn't have >> retrofitted. Yes. >> And there's a lot of different ways to do it and blah blah blah. So, um, it's a bit of a >> again I bring up the laborers training center because they're always looking for projects. >> Yeah. >> You know, and why we don't utilize. >> Well, again, there is some there is money to do that this and again they but when I think they came back at $150,000 now to do it. It's like >> right. Yeah.

126>> That that was my reaction. In any case, >> that's telling me >> Yeah. The pricing the pricing when they came back to re to add the roofs was just ridiculous. >> It was more than what we had, >> right? what we had engineered out and we still have you know we have funds still. So, so we decided to take it out of their hands and do it. >> But, but I think I'd like to >> Michael have you touch base. >> No. Is that project too big for an eagle Eagle Scope project? >> The roofs of the dugouts? I would think so. >> Okay. I'm just I I I don't think that >> I mean I think you know one thing that they they pro they're going to have to reduce the fence probably

127because you probably don't want the roof up there. You probably want to make it a slanted roof. So, um, but I took at one point dozens of pictures of different >> D. Is the fence 8t high? >> Oh, yeah. Yes, definitely. 8 ft. >> That's That is high. >> And so, you know, and I whatever you can put some You can put some cement pads down, put some posts, and then put the >> roof on. There's many things you can do >> because we, as you said, we retrofitted at Warren School because originally the ones at Warren School had no roofs. >> Correct. So >> you can look number you can see even you know go and look around at all the different this is we have many different styles of dugouts. I mean >>

128oh yeah >> we didn't find one particular way to do it and always do that but >> have you contacted any other any other towns around see who they utilize and maybe there there may be some >> yeah I don't think much I don't think any work's been done on this really except to decide to take it out of the project and I think just the fields themselves have been a big issue. It's been a lot of energy and what they're doing with that. So, >> okay. >> I guess you don't really need dugouts if you have >> unless you can have right until you're playing >> unless you're playing on the field. You don't need >> So, I'm not suggest suggesting that more should have been done at this point, but I just don't

129want it to get lost. >> You know, it was suggested to me at one point that we could just go back to the town some at some point and >> Yep. I don't >> and have dugouts built and I was like, "No, we spent $84 million on this school. We're this should needs to have dugouts." >> Yeah. Y >> and there's still money I don't disagree with that settlement at all. >> So >> not much but >> Okay. Well, thank you for the update. Appreciate that. Uh next on the agenda is discuss the potential development agreement with the YMCA. Um Michael, >> uh thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, so I believe I sent to you uh an email that um had articulated that Rick McFerson uh the executive director of the YMCA had reached out

130and inquired as to whether or not the board would be interested in working on a development agreement with uh the YMCA for their project, the new regional Hoy facility uh that Hoy family facility that's coming to Ashland off of uh Memorial Drive. And I also sent a copy of a previous or the latest uh development agreement that we had executed with UGC and the Arbella at Ashland development. So you could have an opportunity to see what's typically included in a development agreement. Um I would expect a development agreement with the YMCA to be a lot less cumbersome and a lot less complicated but um what they are looking for um is some stability and some assurance in the in the fee structure. So because obviously like they wouldn't even really be able to get a

131know what the building permit fees are until they get to a point where they're actually pulling the building permit. um they would like to have that number kind of solidified ahead of time for their financing purposes. It also gives us an opportunity to think about things that maybe we would like to see out of um this regional facility as well. I know we've talked about possibly having a preference for the field that's out back, which wouldn't be the size of any kind of regulation field, but could certainly be used for like a used soccer field or something to to that effect. But um anyway, my question for the board is um first of all, do you have any questions on what development agreements are? Number two, are you interested in continuing a discussion with the

132YMCA on developing a development agreement? And um third, typically you have me negotiate these, but if you wanted to be a part if I would suggest maybe one of the board members be part of that discussion as well. The only thing I would caution is I know all of us have had some involvement in the YMCA and sometimes an informal capacity or a formal capacity. Like if you've been on the board recently, I don't think it would be a good idea to to be that person that would look good on that, right? It wouldn't look just >> appearance standpoint. >> So on that note, I'll I'll start. So I am a member of the board of the Metro S YMCA. I'm also on their leadership cabinet. So I feel like I can be part of

133the discussion, but I think when we go to take a vote, I would recuse myself for the vote because I don't think that would be appropriate. uh in regards to the why and and what they're looking for. I think it's going to be a great partnership for our community. Uh in their back area, they're not putting any kind of regulation field. It's more going to be like a grass with an oval that you can walk around and things like that. Um so it's not like we can say we have first right of um access to that field because it's not going to be a typical field. Um, so but I I think it would be very good for us to work with them as a partner because as I said, I think it's going to

134be a real benefit to our community to have the YMCA here. I think um they're going to bring people into our community. They're going to bring people who then stop for food and daycare and and different things like that. So, >> and that was the discussion that was had on Tuesday with the roadway traffic safety, >> the number of people that would be coming to the Y. Yeah, >> once it's built in addition to potential 40B at the end of the road and how that traffic would be impacted at that intersection with the additional traffic of those folks wanting to utilize the >> Y. >> So there's there needs to be a traffic study on that. >> Oh, definitely. >> So I don't know who's going to be responsible. I would think that Y would

135have >> it'd be like a part of a peer review. Yeah, part of the peer review. >> Is there going to be some kind of traffic study for >> I would think for the >> 55 West 55 West Union is going to have to do one >> some information with that and that >> when they do it that should be included with the YMCA being >> and that's something that we need to make sure that >> they they realize that part of that but that was a discussion that was brought up on Tuesday. Well, I I'm I'm pretty sure they're aware because like they're not putting a fitness they're not putting a fitness center or a coffee shop or anything like that. Yeah. In that building at 55 West Union. They're like, "We're going to

136have a YMCA and we have a coffee shop across the street." >> Yeah. But they might not realize that we our expectations. >> So that has to be brought to their attention. >> The traffic expectation is something that you just don't forget about. You have to you have to prepare for >> So that's good. So thank you. Yeah. So we don't have to vote on that. Do you want to? >> No, I mean it's it's certainly up to you. I know they um they'll be beginning the planning board process soon. Um obviously the quicker we can start having those discussions, the better off we are just in general. Uh just so we're not rushing around. But >> having some background with respect to that with UGC and I I I would I would love to

137be part of that uh discussion and be part of that uh development agreement. group if the board feels fit to to do so and anybody else that would like to to do it as well. But I just think >> I I recommend we only have one person because otherwise it's a separate >> it's going to get That's true. >> Yeah. You can't >> That's right. >> in order it would be one member and then you wouldn't like officially appoint that person. >> Sure. >> Okay. All right. Well, that's something for us to ponder. >> Well, if if it it would be, you know, a positive thing for us to go ahead and make that decision tonight, then I think we should make it unless there's something more that we need to think about or talk

138about. My only question would be what would be a potential negative of of getting this development agreement done early. It seems to me that it it's a positive. I think we all feel very strongly that the Y is very going to be very positive for the community. Um, and so you know what what is there a negative to getting the the >> No, I mean it'll it'll take a little bit of time. It'll take some time um to develop something. But again, I don't think it's nearly as complicated as the SE one, which took like over a year to work on. Um, but again, that one was very complicated with a lot of different pieces. >> Well, and there was land and there was all kinds of stuff, >> a lot of transactional type of

139stuff that was in there. see that this one's going to be pretty straightforward. They're looking some for some reduction in fees and they're looking to work with us to to have some allowance for either Ashlin residents or something like that. So, and they're very open to that. >> It would be it would be a very uh tight fit. >> No. >> So, I I don't necessarily see a negative in terms of having the discussion, starting the discussion. Um obviously what would happen is uh we would work we would negotiate something it would need to be brought before the board. The board would need to sign would need to pass it by a majority vote before >> and then what about in terms of the time you say it's not a you don't feel as though

140it would be a huge time issue for you but >> I I don't think it would be a huge time issue for me. It's definitely some additional time but I I plan to spend some time on this project. I mean been involved with it for years now. >> Ever since >> it's it's because that you Steve and I went to one of their board meetings that we were able to get the Y to come here. So >> instead of Hopington. >> So just from a process standpoint like um if you would be working with the Y and whatever terms that they would be kind of coming back to us with, would that be discussed? Um like I I I kind of I my only concern is I don't want to get to the point where

141the development agreement is final >> coming to us before we know >> that's just a process. It's >> a process that goes through. >> so you don't get the total end package. It's it's you get it as it comes along >> I think and then you make it then you make a total decision. >> But you know what I'm you know what I'm Yeah. I would say probably in order to keep things fluid but at the same time keep the board informed of what's going on. So it's not >> if there's any questions or concerns then those are discussed >> during during that time. >> I say we probably have an initial meeting and kind of see what everybody's thinking putting on the table. Um I think at that point we would come back to

142the board say okay are any of these non-starters for >> okay >> and anything that would be >> what would you want to see in the town >> thank you >> all right so if you want to move forward >> do you want you want to take a vote on that now >> um we don't have anything on our agenda to take a vote so we can do it I don't if we need to. >> I don't think we need to have a vote, but I think we can recom, you know, we can support Michael in continuing the discussion with the YMCA about a development agreement for the project that's going to be put here in Ashland. >> That works for me. >> Okay. >> And then we'll wait on the additional member. >> No,

143I think Joe, I mean, unless someone else wants to do it, but I think >> that's fine. >> And I didn't mean to overstep. No, I don't think I mean was there anyone else who had interest in >> I just did I just asked because I was part of that development agreement but >> I think Joe if you want to >> be happy >> from my perspective if you'd like to do it I I'm support >> reach out to Rick and we'll start that >> boxing gloves >> I don't think you're going to need I don't think you're going to need boxing gloves I think it's going to be a very comfortable Easy discussion. >> I know. >> And if you need box and gloves, then maybe you shouldn't be the person there. >> We'll

144go to uppercuts, Joe. >> We'll go to upper cuts. >> There you go. >> We'll go to uppercuts. All right. Um, next. Well, thank you for for that. Uh, discussion on the timeline, agenda, and meeting materials uh to be sent out. Um this is a this is a concern that several members have come to me about you know getting information you know a day or two even a day before the meeting we don't have time to sit down digest the information that's being provided us so the thought sat down with Michael the thought process was let's set a time frame as to stop date stop time when we get information so information is provided to us for the weekend prior to the the next meeting. That should give us enough time and that should give

145staff enough time to provide the package of information that we need to have so we have time to read it, digest it, formulate questions and or concerns and be ready for the next meeting. Anything that comes after the weekend, unless it's an serious emergency or emergency that needs to be uh we hold off till the next >> I mean that's been the goal for a while, right? I mean it hasn't always happened. There's been stuff that's either been added or or material gets gets presented later. But that I mean that I mean we haven't had a hard and fast rule, but that's been the the goal is we have the meeting we have the agenda meeting on Wednesday and by Friday the packet is out with most of the with the information. So what I'm

146hearing from you is that if the in if the backup is not available by Friday, then it gets removed from the agenda on Monday >> and it goes to the next meeting. >> I'm fine with that as long as it doesn't interfere with trying to get things done or to your point if there's an e It depends upon what the material the item is. You know, there's some things that unfortunately happen that we have no control over. >> And so, granted, that that's going to be the exception to the rule, >> but from what I've heard from other board members is that they would like to have more time to digest the information that's being provided to them and not a day and a half before. >> If I'm wrong, then please tell me I

147was wrong because I thought that's what I had heard. So, >> no, I I think that's true. I think um you know, if we had to add in some flexibility maybe and I think this happens sometimes now is is it in in the packet or whatever or in the body of the email that comes with the materials, it says this piece is going to be back up for this. It will be added Monday or by by Monday. So, you at least have so you know that it's it's coming. And and the other thing that I would like is if we get if we're getting something really last minute like within the 24 hours prior to I'd like to get a I know I've said talked about text messages, but I'd like to get a text

148message to because to know that it's there. Yeah. To know that some I should I should look at it. That's all. I mean it doesn't it's not nothing I'm >> that violation of open meeting law or anything. I just want to know hey look at your email. But this affects everybody. So, you know, Brandy, what do you think? I mean, >> I do think like the process has improved a lot um in the last two years like because before we would be getting a lot of stuff last minute and I think we've we've gone away from that. >> Yeah. >> Um which is great. I think one of the things that I always appreciate um is when when everything is final that we get a quick email just saying everything is final because >> sometimes

149I'm like hunting in the folder going did anything change and most of the time it doesn't >> but just to have that like that that final >> final final >> yeah like this is >> I would agree with that that just you know nothing and and not on Wednesday, >> not on the day of the meeting. Ideally, it's Tuesday, right? >> So that if anything has changed and and more information needs to be reviewed, you at least have Tuesday night to look at it. >> And that should be highlighted in in the form. So that way we're not searching for what the change >> what was changed or updated. Yeah. So, but I do like Claudia's >> like, you know, if if there's something that we need to look at >> and we have less

150than 24 hours to look at it, then just, you know, >> to Joe's point, instead of, you know, if we know we're not going to get it until 24 hours before, unless it's timesensitive, we push it to the next agenda. >> Yeah. I think, you know, I think it's perfectly reasonable to expect it on Friday. Sometimes what happens is especially if we're waiting for like a board or a committee to send a presentation sometimes, right? >> Like some of those things we don't necessarily >> That's fine. We get that. >> I think where we get I think where we get into issues is when we have like budget season and we're reviewing like budgets and it shows up in our packet >> detailed documents that we that's going to take a little while to read

151and and comprehend and make sure we understand it sitting here. And I get that like there's multiple people involved in putting a lot of this stuff together and timelines and all that stuff. >> Um, but it is really difficult like with I'm thinking budgets because it's like we're we're trying to we're trying to make sense of all the stuff and it's it can be a lot >> in a in a short period of time. >> Yeah. And that's where it gets it can get really tricky because you know you have a deadline on the back end that you have to get like a vote done by or something like that and then you're like you know rushing you know got all these other things that are kind of coming on it's like oh I got

152to get got to get the budget done too. So it's certainly not ideal for anyone. I would agree% >> and the agenda setting meeting takes place on Wednesday at what time? various times. It's usually in the afternoon. >> Yeah. >> So that ideally >> you would like anything that we want >> be placed on the agenda, you'd like it before. >> I send it the last couple of times I've sent emails out on Monday >> to get that information for me for Wednesday. So that way I'll have it. >> Yeah. >> But it's always on the Wednesday or off the off Wednesday. >> Yeah. And it's better to kind of make sure that like Susan and say Katherine have that just because they're working to get a draft agenda to review at the agenda. >>

153Okay. >> It might it might mean we have to be a little bit more discretionary in terms of what goes on the agenda. >> So like when we get on Wednesday and like there's a number of items like we might not be able to put all of those on be, you know, meet those backup requirements. We might have to push some of those things off, but that's something >> we I think reasonable people could figure out. >> Yeah, absolutely. So we we're good with that and we'll start working with that with with the office staff so that way there's any issues. >> Nikita, how about you pass? >> I mean this sounds fine. I you know I can't speak to what happened the year before um you know but as long as there's a process

154that we follow and that everybody understands what that process is and everyone understands that expectation I'll be happy. And you know We're trying to put something together to address last minute notification of vital information. I think we we put something together. I think we run the process for a little while. We come back, we talk and figure out if it's working out and we just make tweaks. But let's let's let's let's get a process in place as quickly as possible. Make sure everybody understands it and run it for a little while. >> That's why disclaimer at the end of the agenda because there are emergencies that come up that, you know, >> we're not expecting, but we have to deal with it and act on it >> of course. So, and that disclaimer covers that.

155So, >> right. But I mean, I think it's reasonable to say like for any kind of regular business, like if we don't get it by X, you know, then it's going to be in the next one. And I think also I I think it would be helpful if we let our our boards and committees know what that process is and when we expect their materials >> um so that they can plan accordingly. And if it's not like a critical function, then they need to understand that if they don't get their backing materials in by a certain time, then they're going to get bumped to the next meeting. >> Good idea. Great idea. >> All right. Thank you. Let's move on. Okay. Office hours, Farmers Market, July 26, which is this coming Saturday. >> No, no,

156no. Next Saturday. >> Saturday. three week from Saturday. Week from Saturday and September 6th and October 4th. So I I'm available all those dates. I know >> you're not available for one of >> uh the September 6th. I'm not sure yet. >> Okay. >> So I have to It depends. I might have some family in from out of town. So I maybe do an I don't know yet. So Okay. But I'm available on the 26th. I'm actually willing to set it up and be there for the first time. >> I'll be there to help you out. So >> and then take >> if you get there what you want to get there at 8:30. Okay. quarter is plenty of time. >> Okay, sounds good. >> So, Yolanda Joe. >> Y >> I think Makita said,

157didn't you say you might make it on the 26th? >> Yeah, I'll be I'll be >> okay. I'm actually going to be on the Cape. So, >> I I won't be part of part of the day >> between the three of us. We can >> Yeah, we poor folks, you know, we have to stay around. >> Could we um tap Jordan to do kind of a um to include it in the newsletter? and do like a flyer >> that we're going to be at the farmers. >> Do we want to include people from the comprehensive plan while we when we're there as select board members >> because we're going to want to do some public outreach regarding the comp plan and we're having a meeting tomorrow night and I'm sure no one on the comp

158plan has thought to reach out to the farmers market to try and have a tent. you you're welcome to bring that up. I'm not going to be able to make it. >> I know you're not going to be at the meeting tomorrow. I just wanted to you know and not just for this time we're at the farmers market but in September as well because then we're getting ready to present it to the select board and planning board. So I think it might be good to again be getting more input possibly unless that's too late. So we'll have to see. Yeah, I don't know what the timeline if it if it'll line up with what we've got going on, but that's a question for maybe Boltz, you know, like what the >> Right. But I also

159think it's, you know, something we can talk about is the comp plan process and >> Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. Um >> Well, one of you two will need to be there. >> That's fine. >> So, um >> Yeah. I'll bring it up tomorrow night. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. Uh, next on the agenda is the update on the 40B projects and I will turn that over to Michael. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Yeah. Um, so I will run through some of these quickly. So, uh, 10 to 60 Main Street. Um, the next so the next ZBA meeting scheduled for next Tuesday, I believe the 22nd. Believe that's next Tuesday. Um and uh so we still have not received the architectural drawings um which I know were supposed to be on the agenda

160for next Tuesday. Um that does not mean that Jeff will not who is the developer will not submit them before the meeting. But um I anticipate given this late date, you know, it's going to certainly be up to the chair, but John Trafan, the chair, you know, he might, you know, proceed with kind of, you know, showing what those architectural drawings are or you might say you got it in too late and we'll have to move it off to the next meeting. So that would definitely be up to him. One piece 61 Waverly Street at the >> Yeah. >> So what else? Where else are they in the process? Because aren't we at we aren't we at our time frame for 10 to 60 main in regards to when they applied and when we were

161supposed to be done? >> Remember they gave us an extension and >> I heard I heard rumors of that. I I didn't hear the detail. Okay. >> Yeah. I think I want to say September. >> Okay. So we have an extension to be able to finish that. >> We do. Okay. We do. >> What is what is that going to look like when we hit that deadline and how long does the ZBA have to put together their >> decision? Yeah, >> I want to say 45 days. Um, but let me check. Let me check for sure, Claudia. >> Okay. And the other thing I just want to say is I know that this was brought up to me by a couple of people. You know, at one of the meetings, you know, John does a

162great job. Um but at one of the meetings, you know, his response to a public member with comments was you um yeah, that's been discussed and it's settled and and and I I I kind of actually feel the same way is that maybe there are discussions that go on when people bring up different topics or or things that they have a problem with or that, but there's never any reporting out by the board, you know, like, okay, this is we had a conversation about >> uh, you know, >> the color >> storm water or whatever, and this is and this was what how it, you know, >> came out or the these were the >> what the discussion looked like. >> Um, and I don't know how to, you know, deal with that. I don't

163know how to, >> um, >> would that be presented in the decision when they get the decision? It would be and you know it certainly probably wouldn't be categorized but maybe in the minutes as well but I think Claudia what you're talking about is just maybe a rundown list of like the outstanding >> like somebody said I forget what what they in particular raised but um they had some comments and John was like well that's been worked on and decided and we're moving on and you know I've didn't feel like that was the way to handle that. I mean, I'm I know they have a lot on their plate and it's been a long haul and >> but it would be nice to know what >> Yeah. were different aspects, >> right? I mean, we

164want to talk about transparency. I mean, they throw that out to us all the time. Well, hello. >> I mean, how does everybody know when something, >> you know, I guess on some level, you don't know until they're done render their decision with the conditions, right? or without conditions or however, but um it would be nice to know that something was addressed with the developer, you know, in in some kind of a meeting. >> Yeah. >> You know, I didn't >> I can talk to Beth and Jasmine and John about like a like an like an ongoing issue list maybe. Um that would have >> an ongoing what's been resolved, right? so that people understand okay that you know this section of the building's been resolved and done and either way that >> I think

165you need to be careful saying resolved it might be a piece that's going to they've not or come to an agreement or they have come to an agreement because now it's going to but it's going to move forward as is >> right >> I guess that would be you know helpful >> it's kind of like you know in union negotiations when you're going through and there are some things that you put tenative agreement on, but it's subject to the whole package, >> you know, and I know that there's been a lot of conversation too about just even the flood zone, right? And and I mean I I can't imagine that everybody didn't think about um 10 to 60 Maine this week with what happens in Texas and is continuing to happen, >> you know, across

166around the country. And that >> to me it's just irresponsible to just kind of ignore that or >> or some of it's going to go away >> or or or some of the plans even that have been proposed for how to deal with it, you know. So, >> so there is um like I said, I'll talk to Beth and Jasmine about seeing if that's something that we can enumerate, I think, a little bit better. Uh so, so the you know, everybody, the public um at large as well could have a better idea of what's been what their what what issues where the issues stand. I think certainly um I do know that they still need to go to the conservation commission and I think you know concom's probably going to require their own peer reviewer

167as opposed to using the one that was done through the ZBA. U but >> you know a conversation too about in what order that should happen. Um right it it is kind of >> I can see both sides. I mean on on one hand in some cases it would be beneficial for them to track roughly along the same course but at the same time I can understand wanting to have the site plan kind of finalized because then you'll know what needs to be like what needs to be mitigated or what needs to be addressed from a wetland standpoint. I would think though from a de developer perspective is if they could be working with Concom at the same time because most likely they could re they could have it complete almost with ZBA >> but

168they're the ones that don't want to do that. Consom wants to be involved now and they have bought it. >> Oh, >> it does seem like it would make sense, right? I would think because we know conservation's going to have certain requirements that you know because of wetlands and pl and you know flood zones and flood planes and stuff like that. >> Um the other thing so so what is happening now is that um John Trafettan myself Jasmine Beth Lisa um and Brian Winter are meeting on Mondays talk about the next today's meeting, you know, ZBA meeting, we're talking every Monday >> um just to coordinate efforts and, you know, make sure follow-up items are being followed up on. So, uh one of the things that we talked about this past Monday was um you

169know, there were some questions that Brian had asked um of the developer and the developer had sent a response. I think we owe response to that as well. So that should be upcoming. Um >> are those on on the website? >> Those are on the website. Um the thing is is I know um the planning department had sent out those comments from Jeff to the different boards and committees and I know some some board members, some committee members have like spoken individually to John or reached out or said something at meetings, but um like Probably the best way would be through if you if you want it to be from that particular board or commission, best thing to do would be bring it up through the board and then have the board send correspondence or

170correspondence on that issue >> which is similar to what we've done before, right? We've asked boards and commissions to put their give their input on the different projects. So should do the same. >> Okay. >> So so that has been communicated. >> Okay. Great. Does that mean we as a board should discuss um 55 West Union? >> I think I think we definitely I think um you want to talk about when I get there? >> Sure. >> After Okay. >> Just one more thing you said. So John sometimes sends out >> Are you just you were saying he sends out responses? >> No, the planning department >> sends out responses. So, like when we got Jeff's responses to our questions >> to send it out to some people, should they maybe just copy the select?

171No. >> Um, it should be copy. >> Haven't seen anything. >> No, seriously. I haven't seen >> nothing. >> So, you haven't seen the question. Bonnie, yours did get asked though, didn't they? As part of the Okay. All right. >> That Brian is he asked most of it. >> Okay. >> I just say thank you. >> Welcome. Um and then 61 Waverly. I know at the last meeting uh the peer reviewers, civil and traffic. They had received supplemental material from uh the developer and had uh my understanding is that the developers agreed to all the all the changes that the peer reviewer had asked. So um so that seems to be marching forward. >> Who is that traffic consultant? >> Let's say it's MDMish. Yeah. >> Misho. Okay. And um then on 55 West Union

172uh so we did get an extension a slight extension to open the hearing date on August 12th. Nothing major. >> Could I go back to 61? >> Sure. For a second and I and I apologize board. But Tuesday we discussed 61 Wavely Street result of roadway traffic study with the intersection how that would be impacted by that development because they changed they added entryway entry and exit on each street. So >> what do you mean they added one? >> They only had one entry. >> Okay. Oh, so they've added another one. >> Yes. On the east. >> Wait then. So there's three now. >> I thought they got rid of the one at the high school. >> That's not what I was told. >> One was gated as an emergency. >> Okay. >> And then

173you had two access ones that were available. >> Right. one that was one that they then had lined up with the high school and one on the um on W on >> on W on Waverly Street on 135. >> Yeah. Right. >> Further down right turn. >> I missed uh that meeting and when when I logged in it was already over at 8:00. >> It was over and I missed it as well. >> That family thing. >> Yeah. But anyway, the problem was when they when we saw or heard what was going on, the concern was taking when you get down to the intersection by the public safety bill. >> If you folks ever tried to turn right at that that intersection, you can't >> unless you make a wide turn and you're out on

174the opposite lane, the other side of the street turn. So, you're actually in Westbound traveling. >> Oh, so you're coming from the high school and you want to take the one east to go east. Okay. >> Yeah, I told you that I watched somebody backing up, right? Because they couldn't make it because there were cars stopped >> on the westbound side and they had to back up and then I watched somebody else yesterday. >> Yeah. very similar problem trying to make >> but to change that to change that intersection you have a five foot drop >> from East Union Street to Wavely Street at that area >> which means you're going to have to ramp everything down. So >> if any changes needed to be made >> that'd be a major major concern. >> You're

175looking at a you're looking at a $3 million job >> right >> and that that that's the bare minimum. That's the bare minimum >> and probably some taking of land. Oh, absolutely. Take the lane. >> Could you could they push back the um stop line uh as you're heading west on Union >> line of sight? Well, you could, but >> you have a light, >> but you still you're still dealing with that 5 foot differential. >> All you I'm not saying change the intersection in any way. >> Yeah. >> What I'm saying is if they're coming from that Yeah. That right. So people stopped at the at the light and cars couldn't take the turn. Well, if they're back a car or two, then people could turn and if they have to go into the

176other lane, >> move the stop line. >> It's fine if >> right? >> Well, we put a no right on red, right? Well, I mean, >> so if I have a red light, I'm on I'm coming from the high school >> and you're on >> and I want to take the right to go east. If you make that no right on red and the stop line is back further, sure, our traffic engineers could figure this out. But you if you're you could do no right on red, but when do you take if they if there's if the green light is there right to go straight but then people the other people in this other group if you're trying to go right you can't go anywhere right? So now you can't have traffic isn't going to

177flow if somebody's trying to go. >> You're doing it when the light is green. Right. light turns green and there's already a a right turn at the bottom of that, right? So >> light turns green, you everyone can go and and if the people on the other side are back further, then you can make that right-hand turn and when the light turns red, you're not going anyway. >> I don't know. Like I said, I think our traffic might work without having to spend $3 million. Or if we have to do that, then we put it on the developer and say, "We think we think the intersection's going to be impacted by your project." >> That's that's that we were discussing at some point that developers and that could be part of development of at this

178or any work that needs to be done. >> Any changes to the intersection going to be on you guys? >> Is is the exit on um Waverly Street is that Oh, you can go right or left from there. Do you know? >> Um I believe this um I was just looking at it. Um I want to say there's actually one Actually, I want to say there's two, I'm sorry, entrances and exits. >> Because we received an email today from someone about a pole being in the island where people need to make a turn and that if there's big trucks trying to go in and out, they're going to hit the pole. >> I haven't looked at it. The poll there is a poll that >> and I will tell you right now, we've had that

179was part of the discussion on Tuesday even before we got that email and and Mike Duka corrected us on that. When the high school was built, there was a discussion about changing the intersection to begin with because of the school buses >> and that would require that those two poles, the two Eversource poles, if you go down there, you see they're side by side, Eversource is has no intentions of moving those. >> No, no, no, no. That's not my understanding of the email that we got. My understanding of the email that we got is that there's a that in the new plans there's a pole >> in the center of the exit from the new apartment building. >> I I haven't seen that yet. >> And that that pole could be an issue. >> Why

180would you put a pole in the middle of the >> probably the poll's already there? That's probably >> right. So anyway, >> oh is that was that the email from uh Robert's road res? >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Okay. >> I don't think it's a right turn only. >> Okay. It might not be. It might be that it's it's a for entry into it. Is it? >> I don't know. >> I have to go back and look at it. >> So, has that intersection been thoroughly discussed? >> It was >> as part of the as part of the project project. >> Again, it feels like it just gets >> pushed away. >> Well, like I don't know like my question. You said that the the um the developer has been pretty amendable to everything that

181the peer reviewer has said. Has the peer reviewer brought that particular issue up? >> I haven't seen I haven't had the opportunity to watch >> seen one about the poll seen an issue about the poll and um >> No, I'm I'm asking like like did the peer reviewer talk about >> did our traffic study person say >> as of Tuesday when I asked that question? Yeah, >> that had not been brought up. It's it's more the it's almost as if the way they have it set up is that by the way, nobody's going to be going down and take trying to take a right and >> they're they're going to use these other two exits and if they want to go towards Framingham, they're either going to take a left onto East Union and go

182out that way or they're going to come down to the Wavely Street exit and take a right >> which would make sense >> as being perhaps >> the other way around. Yep. >> If you go want to go to Firmingham, >> right? So, if you're coming out of the complex, you're going to just go to Waverly >> and take a right >> and take the right. Okay. And if you want to go west, you'll come up and come out east. >> So, it see I think that that is the rationale and why it it >> it is what it is. >> Like I think they move the entrance the Waverly Street. Yes. driveway and then they also put like a pedest to adjust for the sight lines and then also they put in a pedestrian

183crossing those lighted pedestrian crossings. >> On which street? East Union or on Waverly? >> Waverly. >> I think there's one also on sidewalk. >> Say there's no sidewalk there. So why the hell are we putting a pedestrian crosswalk? >> Okay. Well, that's something for us to follow >> because some people may still want to walk, right? you and you're gonna want to cross the street and walk against traffic. >> Take your life in it like walking along. >> You can do it now. >> Well, part of that letter that we received too talked about bicyclists, right? And and I have looked at that since we got got it and went, "Oh, yeah. I wouldn't want to be riding my bike down >> agreement that we we sit down and talk with the developer. This is

184all in front of his property. Guess what? You put a sidewalk in there." >> So, but we're we're not going to have a development agreement, Joe. Noium with the 40B. >> Yeah. So, >> but it could be something that says, you know, if you're putting this in, >> you need to put a sidewalk in and you're in front of your property. >> So, that becomes part of one of the GBA uh requirements. >> So, that should have been brought up by the peer reviewer and >> and it wasn't. So, this is the point. That's >> I believe. No, I know. I know. I know. I'm just talking. >> You're dealing with my frustration. >> No, no, no. I know. I'm just talking process because >> No, I I and I appreciate that. So >> well

185that was why finally Mr. Wy attorney winner actually raised up some of those issues to get them on the record because the peer reviewer has not >> been talking about Waverly or you talking about 10 to 60 >> in terms of attorney winner. Yeah 10 to 60. >> Yeah because I know that like he's >> No, but now the same thing maybe needs to happen with the other project, right? >> Yeah. >> The other projects, right? >> Projects. Yes, I do. Um I I don't want to necessarily set an expectation here but I do think that with a full team in place I think the discussion uh the work around 55 West Union I think see will be a lot different >> now is it too late in the process to kind of because because

186Waverly Street's kind of coming towards conclusion Right. Um, is there still room to be able to address these issues? Question >> Waverly. >> Yeah. >> Um, I think until the decision is risen or written, um, and as long as the public hearing is open, believe it is, I think there are still opportal opinion. Okay. So, >> so, um, like you'll talk to you'll talk to our attorneys and try to Okay, that would be great. >> Yeah. If, um, if one of you wants to just maybe summarize real quickly just kind of like the the points you want me to make for sure, just so I have them all um for that would that would or if you all just want to send me your points um, I can consolidate those. was there was a big

187issue initially about storm water and has that been resolved? Again, it's another one. It's like, okay, it was brought up. How do how did you know where are we on it? >> I I don't know. I don't know about that particular one, the storm water, >> but I do I do remember being an issue. Yeah, >> because I think they there was there was one like literally like a storm drain that was supposed to Yeah, that was supposed to like they called the basin and it was literally like a little storm drain, right? >> Well, there's the there was the catch basin that needs to be cleaned. >> Yeah, because then they did come up with that that they didn't know about, I think. the picture of the picture of the land. >> Yeah, I

188believe on one of the one of the sides there's a pretty large basin. >> Okay. Okay, >> that's good. >> We'll just keep keep tabs on that and Any other cons questions, concerns, get them out. >> Yep. Okay. >> So they can be part of that discussion cuz if we don't open our mouths, the opportunity goes by. We don't want that to happen. >> Yep. >> Okay. 55. >> Yeah. I um I think we should have a discussion at our next meeting and exec >> about that. >> Okay. was kind of surprising, right, to we >> Yes, >> we didn't expect that according to what we had been told. >> Yeah, >> that's correct. >> And that and that was an issue that came up with respect to the traffic flow coming in on Memorial

189Drive. One of the many discussions that was had which I brought up earlier about when we talked about how much traffic was going to come to from from the Y coming in. >> So, will be all part and parcel. So, executive session uh next meeting. >> Yeah. Okay. I just I've got a just a couple questions >> I want to talk to about >> 6 p.m. work for you folks executive session. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. So, we'll hold off any more discussion on 55 until uh executive session and then if you guys have any questions, jot them down and get to us. >> Yeah, >> that would be greatly appreciated. Okay. Consent agenda. >> I move that we approve the consent. >> One quick second. I'm sorry. Um, we already took uh letter

190H out. >> Yep. But I'm asking to remove letter G because there is a change in the date and the change of the date is Labor Day weekend and there may be some concerns with police and fire. So I'm asking if we can take this >> move out as well. >> Right. >> Okay. I move that we approve the consent agenda minus items G and H. >> There a second. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> I >> that goes 5 Z. Thank you very much. >> So, you're going to have you're going to double you're going to have them double check with because I I thought the new date was not Labor Day. >> No, I I I just got the U printed it out. Hold on a sec. >> Right. They

191went from August 30th, which is Labor Day weekend, to September 6th, and Labor Day is September 1st this year. Okay. >> So, I think they were moving it from Labor Day weekend. >> Yes, they were moving from Labor Day weekend on Saturday, August 30th. >> But it is September. >> Saturday, September 6. >> So, do they still need to talk to to fire, police, DPW to make sure that that date works? >> That's Yes, that's correct. That's that's the information that was provided to me today. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Okay. I'll manage your report. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, first up on the list here is an update on our board retreat. Um, I think I think overall just uh reflecting on it over the weekend. Um, I thought uh I

192thought we had a very good and it was a very long session. So, I appreciate the time that you spent um as well as uh Beth, Paul, and Katherine um in going through that. I felt um I felt we got a lot of things uh out there and discussed. We talked a lot about kind of project workload. Um we talked a lot about kind of the history of our staffing levels and what that looks like now and what it looks like compared to some other com some other communities. We also took the time to talk about uh things like communication and things that uh you know the board feels like um it needs and and what it can do to help make these projects you know turn us around from um just being a community

193that does a bunch of projects kind of well to projects really really well. Um I do want to say I just reported to the staff uh on Monday actually the support that the board had showed in terms of reducing our project load and especially um again reflecting on I really appreciated you know Makita your suggestion about you know when you look at splitting up your time making sure that you're leaving enough time for unanticipated things that might come up and doing more proactive and professional development work as well and then I think we spent the afternoon uh working collaboratively on developing this project evaluation matrix and I feel like we co-created something that we all feel invested in. Hopefully you all feel the same and uh so I will have a nice clean version of

194that uh that reflects our discussion and reflects what we agreed to at our next meeting to just make sure that everything looks good before we start utilizing it and start uh putting the projects through that evaluation matrix. But um overall I felt again it was a long day and appreciate your time but I felt at the same time it was very productive. So you know I didn't go home nobody went home feeling like oh gosh I just wasted a Saturday morning and afternoon. Felt uh I felt good and definitely appreciate the support the board showed for for us and the team definitely heard and appreciated. >> Michael I just have a question about that. So, so now that we kind of have developed this matrix and you're going to present it to us in the

195finalized version at our next meeting, when is it going to actually >> when are we going to use it? So, I would suggest that we at our next meeting we make sure that it reflects everything that we talked about and then um I can hand I'm going to go through that project list and a lot of those things we have to do, right? Either because they're mandated or because we're halfway through them. But there are some that are in a stage, an inflection point if you will, where we can take a pause. And I would expect that, you know, we I think we both agreed that we would um, you know, the board and the staff would also together um score those or score those individually and we'll bring them together and we'll see what

196that looks like. Then then we can go back and say, "Okay, well, what kind of capacity do we have to do these?" >> So, do you think we'll have that done by the middle of September? >> Um, I think we should have that done by the first meeting in September. September 6th, believe that >> six. >> Yes. >> Third, Sep. I'm thinking August. I'm getting August. August coming in the fourth. Yeah, if we get the matrix, if if we if we if we get the heristic on the next meeting, that should give us plenty of time to be able to pull that together. I mean, less folks have about Yeah, but I it looks good. I was looking at it again and kind of, you know, after we made the changes and had a clean

197copy put together um after our meeting on Saturday and yeah, I think it's going to be a good good instrument. for us to use. Also, it's a very transparent way of doing things, very very clear way of doing things. So, I think it'll benefit the community. So, thank you. Um, and then next, uh, so at KEFET Tech, our friends at Keith Tech, uh, they were awarded a pretty large career technical incentive grant award. So 575,000 and that allows them to do uh training um and in three specific areas electrical, HVAC and plumbing. Um so it's going to allow them to take 60 individuals and train who are undermployed or unemployed and train them in those trades and move forward. >> Um and then I will actually have more updates on Keefe Tech at our next

198meeting. Hopefully some news with regards to our kee assessment that's part of our FY26 budget. Um but then also as they're preparing and starting to talk about capital projects and potentially even an MSBA project. Um we uh we need to talk a little bit about that and what that would look like. And then also the board of education has also changed things around for their admissions process to where it is a lottery process now. Um and there are concerns that we should have as a community regarding that and considering the number of applicants Framingham has into that system. It could be where you know some of the smaller towns could be locked out from year to year. Plus, we'll have no kind of idea what our budget is going to be from year to year.

199So, Superintendent Evans and I talked about ways we could maybe >> would it be a lottery every year? >> Be a lottery every year, >> which makes no sense because I mean lottery for like just the incoming class because if I'm going going in as a freshman >> I'm sorry that No, now I see what you're saying. Yes. The >> Okay. Cuz like if I go in as a freshman and I have to put my name in to see if I can year after year. >> So, it's lottery to initially get into their program. >> Well, can't you just assign x number of seats based on population for each town and then do a lottery within that community? >> Not according So, not right now. Um, we're going to talk about the potential of changing

200the regional agreement um which would need a town meeting vote. >> So, how it's not lottery now, right? Now, kids apply and as long as they have space, they get in. space and whatever formula they use. This is a the lottery though is a very different formula than what they're what they're currently using. >> I think the issue has been really caused by problems in other communities where you know they kind of pick and choose and some people are kind of kept out. >> So has any resident not been accepted or been denied access? >> Some of the you know some of the um >> technical schools now are very popular choices. >> Right. Right. I mean, and and so I think in in some communities where their technical school is very popular for whatever

201reason, it >> it's uh they're trying to address >> I think it's also a popular option um just from what I've heard. So there's, you know, kids that go to like St. St. Bridgets um and that they opt for kef versus >> going back to public school >> going back into >> so you know um but but I would I would hope that there would be some sort of like it wouldn't be just a complete random lottery. >> That's the way the board of education decision is right now. There there's a potential to change. >> That seems ridiculous, but >> it is. It is. Superintendent Evans would agree. >> Does agree. >> So, it would take it would take a town meeting vote to change our >> everybody all towns would need to have a

202town meeting vote and the city council. >> Okay. >> So, that would that would that would affect our assessment. The only the only number that would impact is the first like the incoming freshman class, right? Because once they're there, >> they're there, >> right? Once they're there, we can say, okay, we have we currently have 65 kids, >> 10 of them are seniors, so that's going to bring us down to 55. And then what we wouldn't know is the other piece, but like what's the timing of when they expect to know that or because even now sometimes we don't know until September. >> Let me give a little bit more information. >> Superintendent. >> Okay. >> Or if there's some place we can go read it, you know, shoot it. >> I wonder I wonder

203if it would be on their website. >> Yeah, >> it's not right now. And then I'm just curious. >> Yeah. And that's all I have. Well, thank you, sir. Appreciate that. Well, we're down to board reports, Yolanda. Both of them. >> Okay. >> Left to right. >> So, um, we had a Mind School Building meeting last night, and we don't have to discuss this now, but I just have, um, I just want to make sure. So, we're getting close to do our last borrowing. Uh, the full project was 84 million. our MSBA uh refund or rebate was um 319. So we have to borrow about 52 million. And my question is I want to make sure that when we go to do the last borrowing, we are subtracting out what we have to borrow from

204the money that we received for the >> um the thermal thermal. >> Yeah. It's like $3 million. So yeah, again, not we don't discuss it tonight, but if you could just let us know where things are at at our next meeting and because I know you said we're borrowing in September or something. >> Yeah, we're borrowing. So we've got things going towards bond council and I think I shared with you on Saturday, I think the savings we're anticipating is $40 for the average. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um and let's see a couple other things. So when I got back from vacation, uh we had a Metro West regional collaborative meeting on June 26th. I was part of a Mass Select Board meeting on June July 11th. We had another comp plan. We're having another comp

205plan meeting tomorrow night that Brandy won't be coming to because it's her birthday. >> Um the garden club is going to be at the farmers market this Saturday and I'll be there for a little bit. And then coming up next week, Girls Inc. is coming here to Ashland. I don't know what the final count is. Is there still spots or is it full? >> I don't know. Okay. >> Don't know. >> Um, so I'm going to be coming in on Monday. I think Brandy is as >> Oh, okay. >> I I can't. My schedule's I have to go into Boston that day. So, >> well, you're going on vacation afterwards. So, um, and then next Friday, the 25th is YMC Advocacy Day. And I believe everyone should have received an invitation. And they're doing a

206new thing, something with bananas. Banana Olympics. I have no idea what, but I've seen some stuff. So >> that wasn't part of the invite. >> So something about that. And then >> use your imagination. >> And then the last thing is uh the YMCA is creating what they're calling a vision room and it's it's at their offices on Waverly. The idea is that it's going to have furniture and colors and some plans to sort of show what the feel of the new YMCA is going to be. I don't know when it's going to be open to the public, but if any of you are interested and want to go, let me know and I'd love to take you over and let you see it. >> Yeah. Okay, cool. >> Great. I'll start seeing what I

207can do and fit into our calendar and >> Thank you. >> Um Yeah, you're welcome. >> That's cool. >> And that's all I got. >> Thank you, Makita. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, couple things. Uh, I attended the historical commission meeting earlier this month. Um, pursuant to the historical commission. Just a reminder, if you haven't heard this earlier in the meeting, uh, the Ashlin Village burial historic uh, burial historic cemetery. There are two working day events. Uh, one is on July 23rd. The other one is on August 11th. They're both from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Um, I had a chance to volunteer to do some work uh there last year and it was great. And uh so if anyone's thinking about getting involved, now is the time. So uh please reach out to them for

208further details, but I guarantee you it will be educational and it's a great way to learn about our incredible town's history. Um I also a little while back attended the Palm Street Pminade. It was an informal event put on by K jersey and other volunteers. Thank you so much for an incredible community event. It was really nice. We couldn't stay too long, but got a chance to uh hang out with a nice group of people and um you know, it was uh it's what community is all about. So, that was great. Uh and just a a big thank you to the Ashlin uh farmers market and area. Um I was tremendously honored to be able to speak at the Junth celebration um a little while back in June. Um just a beautiful event. It was

209great to see so many folks in the community there and uh it was uh really lovely. So that's all I have. >> Thank you very much. >> Yep. >> Love you. >> Well, I'll be quick because I don't have anything different. I um also attended the Mendes School Building Committee meeting last night and um and had the opportunity to speak at areas of event on Junth or or the day after I guess it was. Um, and it was um, it was a very, you know, first of all, Makita did a wonderful job. Um, and, uh, >> as did Claudia, I may add, >> you already spoke, you can't say anything. And so, um, >> wow. It was uh you know it was it was it was a great feelgood thing for our community to see

210um our community standing out there and um you know coming together and really celebrating who we are as a community and who the what this country is as a so that was pretty special. I I would just have to say that thank you all for representing. Um I had a wonderful vacation, but of course when you go on vacation you miss certain things. So um thank you for representing. >> You're up next. >> So I'm going to be really brief too because I don't have a lot either. But um I have been at the farmers market pretty much every week um except it's Saturday. We're all in retreat together. Um it's I just wanted to to uh give a shout out to the Ashlin Farmers Market this season because they have really knocked it out

211of the park. Um they have a ton more vendors this year. It just seems like it is a bigger market. Um even on days where the weather hasn't been quite so cooperative. We've we've still seen a lot of people come on out. Um and so I would um I know we were talking about office hours before, but I just Wanted to give another plug the fact that we're going to be um at the farmers market, wanting to talk to people. Um bring your questions, bring your comments and your feedback because that's a really great opportunity for us to hear you. Um and that is going to be on Saturday, July 26th from 9 to 1 at the farmers market across from the library. Um and just a super quick um update on comp plan. And

212I know tomorrow is going to be a big meeting that I'm going to miss. Um, but we are like in the draft phase of our comprehensive plan and that is >> that's good. >> And so that is a huge that's a huge thing. We've sifted through a lot of um a lot of strategies and data and it's starting to kind it's really kind of cool to see it start to come together because it actually now looks like a plan. Um, and then the timeline is going to be >> you're you're going to miss some good discussion though. I was surprised at how many of those strategies people wanted to discuss. I'm like, "Oh, this is gonna it's gonna be an interesting meeting tomorrow night." >> It will be. So, I'll be thinking of you. >>

213I'm sure you will. >> No. >> Yeah. >> I think I've only missed in like the two plus years, I think I've only missed one meeting. So, this is my second. So, and it and it's >> you're consistent >> and it's a it's a the big birthday. >> Sorry. Sorry. Unless unless unless you guys bring beverages, I'm not that's not gonna not going to happen to me. Um and that is really all for me. And uh yeah, >> you can have you can have my birthday. >> I don't think that'll work. >> No, probably not. But that's okay. But thank you for offering. Thank you. All righty. Um, a few things. First of all, I would like to uh send our condolences as a board to two former Ashland employees uh who has since passed

214away this week, which is quite unfortunate. Judy Belchure, who worked uh for Ashland for a number of years with the DPW and food pantry, she uh she had a long struggle and she was a wonderful person. and uh Sandy Ferris has passed away. She was a kindergarten teacher for for many many years in Ashland and a wonderful person and uh the likes we'll never see again for sure for either one of them. Um so my condolences to their families and and uh and their relatives. Uh summer concerts uh this coming Tuesday. It's a new band uh it's an Indian band uh that's Bollywood Indian and Bollywood uh festival. So be there or be square as Otis says you know and um it was uh so that's that's one of the other things and um the

215Ashland day uh event committee uh corn sales uh we can't keep the corn in the store fast enough. It's incredible. I you buy it. We we appreciate and that helps support the summer concerts and the Halloween parade and uh holiday lighting with Santa uh down by Montenegro Square. We continue doing that and we have monies left over we will uh though we may suspend you guys are going to work on something that's great. Uh any monies we have left over we'll continue to move forward. Uh, one other thing, personal note. Um, I worked for that man, for this gentleman for, uh, close to 22 years. He was my first police chief. And I have to tell you, he was a man that just I'm sorry, I'm going to lose it. He was the epitome of

216what a police officer should be. He was fair. He was tough, but he had respect for everybody. He no matter who you were, what you were, what your economic situation was, he he was just a wonderful individual. And for him to carry the badge and the uniform and wore it with pride and dignity, that's where every officer should carry and and and use that wear that uniform. I learned that from him. I tried to keep my career just like him. And um I kidly used to call him, you know, the Andy Griff of the Bashland because he never wore his gun. Never wore his gun. Here's a man that was shot and he never wore his gun. I would have to remind him, you going out, chief? Yeah. Where you going? Where's your side on?

217Oh, I left it in my drawer. Well, that's a great place for go back and get here. Here's a patrolman telling the chief what to do. >> Can you remind everyone who that was, Joe? I'm sorry. >> Who was that? >> Bob Good Friday and um he was a great person and um my condolences to Joanie and his family. Um he was just a he was a great guy. He was a hell of a third baseman. We had a softball team and um he would play softball with a cigar hanging out of the side of his mouth. And that's one of the things I always remembered about. He could he could play third base just as good as Bregman could play. and um going to miss him dearly. He was a great friend and u

218I owe him I owe him my wife because he introduced us him and his girlfriend at the time introduced my wife and I and uh so I every time I look at my wife I'll never forget that night. So thank you Bob and with that I will uh ask for a motion to adjourn. He was a good man. He was a good man. I'll ask for a motion to adjourn. And our next meeting is August 6th and we have decided that we're having an executive session at six o'clock. That works for everybody. So there's a motion. I need a second. All those in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. Good night. And don't forget Tuesday night, >> great Bollywood music. So be there.