Acton Select Board Meeting - June 16th, 2025

001Good evening. Noting the time and the presence of a quorum, I'd like to call this uh June 16th, 2025 meeting of the Actton Select Board and Sewer Commissioners to order. Um, we're going to be uh jumping around the uh normal agenda a little bit while we uh await our colleague. So, I would like to start out with a uh chair update, town manager update, and members minute. Um couple of items that I would like to bring to folks attentions. On Monday, June 23rd, the next in our SE speaker series, the Actton 250 committee, uh we'll be having speaker at the uh Actton Memorial Library instead of here in the Faulner room. That's at 700 p.m. And Mass Department of Transportation is hosting a meeting on Wednesday, June 25th, uh starting at 7 p.m. here in

002the Faulner room. that will be also be available uh virtually to talk about uh proposed traffic changes at the intersection of Route 2 and Taylor Road. Uh Mr. Manager, I defer. Good evening everyone. Uh two events to announce. Um one is coming up this Sunday. It is the Asian Music Festival. It'll be hosted at Nara Park from 5 to 8:00 PM and it'll uh have a few acts there and it's hosted by the New Moon International Media and the Actton um uh Actton Chinese American Civic Society. Uh another big event that we have coming up at Nara Park is the July 4th celebration. Um it'll be hosted Friday, of course, July 4th. Uh the gate will open at 5:00 pm. Um shuttle buses will begin along Naog Park Drive from 5 to 7:30. There'll be

003a pause in shuttle buses from 7:30 until after fireworks, which is just about 9:50ish. And then we'll be running shuttle buses again from 9:50 until about 11:00. Uh there'll be a number of food vendors there, food truck um vendors. will also have a performance by um 36 Red. Uh they are uh Robert Craft's favorite in-house band, so we were able to get them for the concert. Uh again, it'll start at 5:00 p.m. and we hope to see you all at Narrow Park on the 4th. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Comments from members. David, good evening. Um I have a handful of things. Um, first of all, the uh uh school district has uh begun their strategic planning process and part of that is a community forward survey and I would encourage anybody who's interested

004to fill out the community forward survey. You can find that at abschools.org. Um on Thursday on on Junth uh Thursday when um town offices are closed um there uh a group of folks and sponsored by the DEIC are having a a uh Junth commemoration. Um it'll begin at um uh the congregational church and and and walk around th this area um and have several stops in this area, I should say. Um, you can RSVP to this. Um, uh, there's a link in the, uh, news item in the town's web page. On Friday the 20th, um, there's going to be a drag show at Nara Park. Um, uh, that you can find a a link to, uh, get more information, um, in at acttonrec.com. And finally on Saturday um in the afternoon there's a pride festival

005also at Narrow Park that's um familyfriendly. There are booths and activities and things like that. You can find information about that also on the actton.com website. Thank you. Thank you. I just wanted to give one last reminder that household hazardous waste day is this Saturday, June 21st from 9 to 11:30 at 14 Forest Road at the DPW facility. And this is the only hazardous waste day that the town will be hosting this year. The water resources advisory committee is uh conducting a survey that's available on the town website. You can either follow the news flash about the survey to the link or go to the public works um storm water management program page to find the link to the survey. And uh the rack is hoping for public input on storm water funding options. And

006um this last thing that I have is um an item that could not be reasonably um anticipated by the chair because I was notified in an email today from the Mass Municipal Association. They sent an email announcing that they had sent a letter to the budget conference committee advocating mostly for but also against provisions in the fiscal year 26 budget that's now being reconciled. So they have three um representatives from the House, three representatives from the Senate. The deadline um is June 30th and since this board is not meeting again until July 7th, I was wondering if you'd be interested in um sending a letter on behalf of the select board just um echoing their recommendations. Um and I and I wrote down a list of them if you're interested in that. Alternatively, I can

007send it from just me, but I think it might be more impactful if it was coming from the entire board. Well, I not having read the letter, um, and I don't think other members of the board have read the letter either, I don't think it's appropriate to try to send something right now. Go ahead. Do you want me to list the items that they're in support of? Um, and potentially we could do a 5m minute Zoom meeting between now and June 30th to approve it. Or shall I just send one on my own? Look for any guidance from the town manager. You know, um, here having your legislators hear from multiple people sometimes has a greater impact um than one. So, I actually reached out my my just in my role as as a town

008official this morning to our two state reps and I recommend that is an action that each of you could take and I think that could be in addition to the board taking a position writing a letter on its own. Um, or it could be an alternative to that. Um, not sure if that was helpful or not, but So, yes, that's that's helpful information. Um, and I guess that makes me think that it would be a great opportunity to to um educate the public on what these items are because maybe some members of the public who are listening would also be interested in writing to their legislators um to push for these. Um there the the Mass Municipal Association is encouraging the committee to include in its um reconciliation all of the unrestricted government aid or

009also known as UGGA. Uh, it's an increase. Um, full funding of the special education circuit breaker, charter school mitigation payments, and regional school district and Mckin Vento student transportation fully funding that um so that we, you know, AB can get our full reimbursement. um distribution of pilot funds to municipalities with stateowned land, liquor licensing reform, studying the chapter 70 formula, transferring surplus funds to disaster relief and resiliency. And the one thing that they are um the Mass Municipal Association is opposed to is section 110, which would jeopardize financial relief for ambulance services. and um MMA is actually partnering with fire chiefs of Massachusetts, pro- firefighters of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Ambulance Association on that particular issue. So I would encourage um board members and any members of the public to write to their legislators supporting that.

010You can go to the MMA website to find the template or actually not the template, the letter if for more details. Thanks. Thank you. Um, just a a quick um I was timing might be a little off, Mr. Chair. I wanted to talk about sending a letter to the governor and the attorney general um and possibly join in some area towns in some sort of proclamation on the 4th of July uh denouncing the activities of the federal government as far as ICE and what's happening. And I know that um Stow has a proclamation um that they're planning on um you know proclaiming on the 4th of July. So our timing might be a little off but um I was hoping to have a letter for from the act and select board on a a proclamation

011of our own. Well, again, we haven't seen the letter. We haven't seen the proclamation. Um, anything like this, I think, should be brought up at a regular select board meeting with proper notice in an agenda so that members of the public can weigh in one way or another. Um, I would certainly support your uh you taking the opportunity to write something on your own, but um I don't see how we can possibly deal with that between now and the 4th of July. Um, if you'd like to suggest an agenda item uh for our next regularly scheduled meeting in July, we can certainly talk about that. And I do have a completed letter and proclamation. It's set to go. So thank you. All right, moving along. It was suggested that because it's unusual for us to

012start our meetings at 6 p.m., although hopefully this will be the the new norm, I'm going to hold off on soliciting resident concerns until 700 p.m. Uh just in so we make sure that we don't miss anybody. So moving ahead, uh, let's take the consent agenda. I'll read through the list. Item 20, approve board and committee reappoints as listed. Item 21, approve updated traffic counting policy. Hold. 22. Approve appointment of Corey Godfrey as representative from the Actton Water District to the Water Resources Advisory Committee. 23. Accept a gift for $250 from Bersaw Gas and Oil Incorporated to support the 2025 summer concert series and special events. Number 24, accept a gift for $500 from tables to teapotss to support the 2025 summer concert series and special events. Uh 25 was removed from the uh agenda

013earlier today, item 26, approved meeting minutes, June 2nd, 2025. Hold. Accept a motion to approve consent items 20 22 23 24. So moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Uh all in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. Abstensions. Thank you. Back to consent item 21. David. Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. Um uh um I didn't uh realize that this was coming back as a as a consent item. And there are a couple of things that they're pretty small, but I think they're important things uh changes that I would like to see to the policy before we adopt it. Um I could uh list them now if you wanted to try to adopt them now or um this could come back as a regular agenda item or however you would like to do it. They're again they're pretty

014small and I'm happy to say what they are and we could adopt it as amended or whatever you'd like to do. Yeah, why don't why don't you uh let us know what you have in mind. Okay. The the there are two things. One is um uh it uh the policy has the speed uh collection signs as the um as one of the remediation steps. It's like step five or six in the process. But in reality um two things about that. One is the data collection in those is usually vital at the very beginning almost like a step zero. Uh because knowing you know the amount of traffic and the 85th percentile speed is is important to input to the process and really needs to be done um uh upfront. Um, and also it's it's practice

015that um the people uh can contact the manager's office or the police department and ask to have one of these signs if they put in on their street if they think that there's a problem. Um, and uh, you know, the town manager reminded me that you know that that can continue to happen, but that's not what this policy says. And I'm concerned about what's written down and that people because it says one thing, people may not know that there's another another way. And like I said, I think this that information is adopted. So the my first change would be to move that out of as a remediation step and move it up to the beginning of the process. And um the the second thing is if in in many cases for traffic problems um a

016board member is involved in calling attention to the uh process often because a constituent contacts us. And um I would like the policy to to say that that if if a board member is the one that brings the um uh you know the the neighborhood problem forward um either with a constituent or on the behalf of a constituent they the the board members involved in that that particular process on an ongoing basis because often at least it's my experience that um uh you know I I would want to uh let the uh constituent know uh what progress is being made and and why the decisions were made the way they were. So th those two things move the the signs up front as a data collection me mechanism and um if if a board is

017the one board member is the one that brings it forward have the board member involved in the in the uh in the process until it's until that request is resolved. comments from other members. Alissa, thank you. So, David, the data collection, are you suggesting that the speed trailers be deployed at the initial complaint or are you just talking about the the feedback signs that are moved around town? So, I think this I think maybe the manager can confirm. I think that when it said speed trailers, it actually meant both. They do exactly the same things. They're just different footprint. They both record the speeds and echo back the speed. So, they do exactly the same except the trailers take up more room. It's just a difference in technology. The trailers are older. Um and um

018so they they they do the same thing. And that that uh data collection is important. And also that's a um a very quick step. Um you know it's very responsive to um folks. They can often be put up within days. So if people are having a problem it's extremely responsive whereas this this process is a many weeks process. Right. So um uh I like the fact that it's it's it's quite responsive and and we then know if people are saying you know people are going by at 60 m hour in front of my house. We have the data then after that as to what the 85 85th percentile speed is and that kind of thing. Is that data stored on those feedback signs? I didn't think it was. The the we have several technologies in

019place. One is we've hung up brackets on several street poles throughout the community where we'll rotate through these mobile radar feedback steines. There is technology in those things that collects data about how fast the car is traveling and you know what time it is or and maybe something else. Um and that data is stored in that device until we take it off. Um, and then it has been used to understand traffic impacts, but it's not a traffic study. It's just sort of a it's something that we look at to help us inform um what what we're concerned about. And the the trailers, I believe, have a similar technology, although it's not the same one. Go ahead. So, I guess I would um Thank you. I didn't know that. I thought they just gave feedback. Um,

020I guess I would be in favor of keeping the language as is because there's a minimum criteria that needs to be met in order for the town to deploy any data collection technology. And if it's moved to the the very beginning, then it's going to be confusing if people expect that to be deployed right away um without having met this minimum criteria. And I and I don't think that we would stop using those, rotating them around when they are requested as we do currently. Um and the second I don't know if the board members involved board members should stay involved. Okay. I would I would also just want residents to be able to to um interface with staff without needing the having an expectation that select board members would be the gatekeepers. David. So I

021I would never say that uh you know I or any one of us should be a gatekeeper, but I do want to know so that I can proactively get back to them. If they want to ask the DPW or this this group um about the progress, that's completely fine. Um but also I want to be able to proactively get back to them. Or if they ask me, I want to be informed. So if they say, "Has there been any progress?" I can say yes, there have been two meetings or no, there hasn't been any meetings or whatever whatever the case is. I also want to say that the case today is that someone in town can request one of these signs or a trailer from the police department. That's exactly what I don't want is

022this indicates that that's not the case, right? This indicates like you you have to meet a certain minimum criteria to get a sign and that is not the case and people can call the police department. I don't like it written down in a incorrect fashion that's um people um it should say the way it really is. Um and so uh anyway I I'm I'm the policies that we issue as a board have a way of sticking and being and people read them several years later and say this is what they did three years ago. Um but that's not the what we do now, right? and and I don't want to take that ability away, right? I just had a resident contact me and then they contacted the police department and asked to have a sign

023installed on Stow Street and the police did it in two days. Um, and that's common. Uh, I mean it's not really common, but if people have a problem, they they can call the police department and the police department responds. Uh John, what's your uh feeling about these suggested changes considering you're going to have to deal with them? Well, I think that um this policy was presented to this board sometime in the last year after going to the transportation advisory committee and uh Corey York and Chin uh town engineer took that feedback, worked with the consultant and then worked with the transportation advisory committee again to incorporate that feedback into the revised policy and then the TAC uh met and agreed upon that which what's been put before you tonight. I think if we're proposing to

024make some I think these are substantial changes. I don't think they're just they're not grammar or uh typos. I think they're pretty substantial changes. I think I'd want I'd want to hear that that process uh went back through that process. Um because I think it changes the proposal uh to change the order of how things are are being done and to change who's involved in them. So I think anything the board decides to do we'll do. But I just think if you the reason that was on consent is that it was our understanding that uh the board had given input the TAC was going to finalize it and then we just bring it back and and approve it. Um but this is new new to me. Anyways, let's uh let's bring it back at a

025subsequent meeting. Um, David, if you can uh submit your suggested changes in writing to the town manager and then he can uh he can pass them off to TAC and and the rest of the traffic management group. David, I I did do that earlier today and um I just I was away for the weekend. I got back and prepared for the meeting and I did that um uh earlier today. I can send them off to you, Mr. as a reminder to put them on a um a a um uh an agenda. But I want to say that it is this body that issues the policies. The TAC is an advisory uh board. You know, I completely respect their input, but they're not the decision makers. We're the decision makers. So, um I think it's important

026that if we're issuing the the policy, the five of us, or a majority of the five of us have to have to agree to that. Yeah. I I agree with you, but I I I don't like trying to change policies on the fly where we haven't all had the chance to read them and and look at the larger context. So, if we can, we'll uh plan on bringing that back in a month or two. Um item 26 was I hold on. Yes. I just wanted to draw your attention that I submitted uh an edit to the member minutes. Um it was Mr. Benson's comments. Um it had been referred the select board had been referred as the body that Mr. Benson's suggested sent the the notice and it was actually town council. So, I um

027sent that email to Lisa and she made the change and I just wanted to make sure everybody knew that before we voted to approve it. Good. Thank you. I move to approve the meeting minutes of June 2nd, 2025 as amended. Second. All in favor? I I opposed abstensions. Thank you. All right. Consent has been Jim, apologies for being late. Um, I won't go into the long story. Uh, but here I am. Um, so I gather we have approved all the consent items including the board and committee reappoints as listed or did we skip over that? Uh, those were all approved. Okay. because the the document in here um u leaves some open questions that seem to need to be resolved by the liaison about um uh rack and board of appeals and uh cable advisory

028committee. So um just wanted to note that Alicia, so with the rack, I assume you mean the replacement of Matt Mosler by Corey Godfrey. No. Um, no. Um, the um, let's see if I can get this right here. Um, two RACK members requested reappointment this year who have each served more than two terms. And uh there's a a a person named Richard Doerty has applied to join the rack in 2022 and the BCC recommended in favor of his appointment. Um so um the select board in particular the liazison has the option of um uh in the case of people that have served more than uh two terms on a board or committee uh to bring bring the idea forward that perhaps uh you know a new person would be helpful in the turnover of committees.

029Um so at some point um that would be a wise thing to consider. Okay, thank you. Um, and you said something about cable advisory as well. Um, yes, but this could be dealt with later. Um, this was uh Matt Petroski applied to join the cable advisory committee in 2022. Um, and um could be could be appointed. Um, but we can do that at a at a subsequent meeting if we want. There is now a vacancy on that committee. Okay. Thank you, Alyssa. As uh as our liaison to RACK, um do you have any uh reaction to uh Jim's comments? Yes, I do. Um first of all, I wonder if Richard Doerty has been contacted since he applied 3 years ago. Um, second of all, I think as a member who has only served two years,

030I am not as familiar with the number of terms committee members have served. So, knowing that they've served two terms already would be helpful before today, before it comes to the board for approval. And then third, we do have an associate member Dave Bakudi. So I think that even um there I would if it if we were replacing a member I would promote an associate member before having somebody who applied 3 years ago come in. And I will also note that we are getting a new member in Corey Godfrey who was just appointed tonight. So there is some freshness there. Okay. Um considering that all of the other um appointments are going to expire at the end of this month, I'd loathe to uh hold this off. Um unless you have a a way around

031that, Jim, that the that this has already been approved. Mhm. Um, no. I think if you know if we want to take a different action at our next meeting, we can do that. You know, it's it's right here. It's um, this memo is not exactly a list of people to be appointed or reappointed. It does it's a list of people who are interested in being reappointed. So, I think what we're saying is that if they are interested in reappointed, the intent of the vote on consent is that they become reappointed. Um, I mean the the rest of the memo uh was the one that talked about the cable advisory committee, the board of appeals and the uh and and uh and RACK. Um, so I had I had had the notion that perhaps, you know,

032people had already read that when it first came out and I did uh send it to the chair and to the manager and suggested that these issues should be resolved before we voted. But since I'm late, you know, I I can't really do anything about it except to suggest to the members who are the liaison to those boards that they read the memo and uh decide if they want to make any uh you know re suggestions um at our next meeting. Thank you, John. I I would just say that if it's not crystal clear who the board just reappointed, then it should be something that is brought back to a next meeting with their specific names on the agenda and the appointment terms on the agenda, which I think is customary. Um u so if

033there's any confusion about that, if if we're if we're uncertain now, six months from now when we're looking back on it, we're going to be even more uncertain. So I'd rather do it again uh if if possible. Okay, let's let's bring this one back um at a subsequent meeting and we'll have a chance to untie this knot. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Chair, do you want a motion to undo the action we just please? Um okay. Um um I move to undo the action that in the consent that we did on item 20 and to bring that back as as a future agenda item. Second. Was I the person who seconded in the first place? I don't um Yes, I think so. Okay. Okay. moved and seconded to uh recon to uh retract our original vote

034on item 20 and bring it back at the subsequent meeting. Uh all in favor say I. I opposed. Extensions. Okay. Let's bring that one back. Thank you, Jim. I'm I'm happy to assist in um coming up with suggested terms uh based on the um the spreadsheet of volunteers and to you know distribute that via the manager to the board as soon as possible. Okay. Thank you. Well, uh, we've got, uh, about a half hour before our, uh, our posted public hearing. So, let's jump back to the sewer commissioners business. Item number one, sewer rate setting. Thank you. Uh, board members are are at the moment sewer commissioners. Uh Ellie Anderson, our budget manager, is uh going to provide a presentation on the rate setting process as uh she has done for the last few years.

035And uh with that information, we'd be asking the board to or the commissioners to set the rates for the upcoming year. Um and we will uh have time for questions as well. And director Cory York is also here virtually uh to assist in the presentation as well. Good afternoon or good evening. Um as John said, my name is Ellie. I'm the budget manager and I'm here to present recommended rates for sewer service for fiscal year 2026. As we all know, um each year the finance department reviews the upcoming budget, the financials for the sewer enterprise fund, and issues a recommendation regarding any rate changes for the upcoming fiscal year. And then as an additional reminder, we're kind of in the midst of using a meth methodology that was originally presented at the last sewer commissioner

036workshop in September 2023. As shown on this slide, operating costs have increased. Um the difference between I'm sorry it should say FY25 and FY26 budget um is about $145,000 which comes out to a 13% operating cost increase. Um given this increase, the methodology that was originally presented at that workshop um and the financial condition of the enterprise fund, we are recommending a 6 and 12% increase across all rate classes. So if this were to be approved, the residential rate would increase to 1721 per cubic foot and the commercial and school rates would increase to two. 2428 um per cubic foot. If we're translating that into dollars and cents and what that means um as a monthly billing impact for customers, that comes out to $5.27 more per month for the average single family residential customer,

037$1911 more per month for the average commercial customer, and then um $11243 on the average school sewer bill. So why 6.5%? Um as discussed at that workshop and then subsequently as we've approved rates um we're in the process of increasing revenue for the fund to prepare the sewer enterprise fund to take on the cost of the debt service associated with the wastewater treatment facility rehabilitation project up until 2032. that cost is going to be borne by a different fund where sewer privilege fees are connected. So, we had kind of determined that the 6 and a half% is what's necessary to get the fund to that point. Um, a couple of differences this year is that at the 2025 town meeting just last month, borrowing authorization was approved for the construction of a new equalization tank

038at the treatment facility. Um so this graph, this sensitivity analysis does include the addition of that estimated debt service um with that debt service being estimated about coming online in fiscal year 2027 and as shown that 6.5% increase still gets us to where we want to be in fiscal year 2032. Additionally, um this rate structure reduces the reliance of the fund on retained earn reliance of the fund on retained earnings and ensures that we're reaching that reserve target that we had discussed of 50% in reserves um 50% of the annual operating budget in reserves. So that's all I have. I'm happy to take any questions you might have. And I also have a motion on the next slide when the time comes. Thank you. Uh questions from the board. Jim. Hi Ellie. Um can you

039go a little deeper into the factors that um increased the budget by 13% this year? So, the biggest piece of this is the fact that we went out to bid um this past spring for a new contract to operate the wastewater treatment facility. So, some of that increase is actually contingency to kind of um negotiate kind of the unknown of what might come out of that contract. The budget was approved before any contract was awarded. So, that's the bulk of that operating increase. Um was it this year that we moved um some um personnel expenses and redistributed the redistributed some of them to the to the sewer enterprise fund? You are correct. That is a lesser part of that increase. part of my salary was actually aortioned into this enterprise fund and then the transfer

040station enterprise fund which we'll be talking about at a later point in the evening. So you're right that is a part of that increase. Other questions? Melissa, thanks Ally. Um I have two questions. Can you remind me the school uh dollar per month is um that per building or for the entire district? And then my second question, can you tell me what happens in um between FY31 and FY32 that brings our surplus back down to zero? Um what what is the borrowing that goes into effect at that point in time? So regarding the school billing question, it's purely just an average. So it's the flow. The sewer bills are issued in three different charge categories that residential, commercial, and school. So it's the school's portion of the total monthly flow divided by the number of

041bills that we issue to the schools. So it's the school's accounts as a whole but divided by the number of bills we issue, which I think is five or six. So it's just an average. Um, regarding your second question, the reason why that surplus, that net position line drops, is because in fiscal 2032, that's when this fund is taking on the cost of the rehab project debt service, which is around $250,000 a year. So, the cost to operate is going to increase resulting in um a decrease in our net position or surplus. Other questions? Jim, um I'm sorry that I don't remember the entire details of the uh you know the last time we approved this financing system, but um does this mean that the 6 and a half% is um an estimate for future

042years increases or is this specific to this year? Um so when we did that presentation a year and a half back, we were trying to standardize the rate setting process and kind of give a further outlook and predict what we might need to sustainably operate um this system. And we had determined that if we do a six and a half percent increase annually between it would have been fiscal 25 until fiscal year 2032 then the fund is going to have enough in reserves to afford to take on an additional $250,000 in cost when we start paying that debt service out of this account and instead of out out of the privilege fees like was approved I think two Januaries ago. So that's kind of the number that makes that graph work. Go ahead. I I

043it's going to take me too long to start up my calculator and you're uh much faster at this sort of thing. Um so 6 and a half% a year over the course of um six years. um do what that that's going to make um a pretty hefty increase over the that period of time. Um can is anybody here capable of doing that in their head or with a calculator about how much how much we're increasing uh the water fees over the next few years? I think at the time we had estimated that over that period the monthly increase for c for residential customers would be between $5 and $8 more per month per year. So then we would extrap I think we would extrapolate that out by the number of years that we're increasing by

0446 and a half%. If that answers your question. Uh almost I'll I'll play with my calculator. Uh, Alicia, thank you. Um, all right. I have a couple more questions now. Do you know the um annual amount average that we have been taking in in privilege fees? Um and also is there any impact to customers, rateayers who are maybe using less water and so their bills are going down which would produce less revenue. [Music] I believe I haven't rerun the numbers super recently, but at least at the time that we had done this analysis initially, so the number could be larger, we had collected about $2.1 million in privilege fees from the inception of the sewer system until right about now. And we had estimated the cost of charging the debt service to the fund that

045houses that revenue to be about 1.5 million. So that demonstrated that there's enough revenue in here to bore this cost, giving the enterprise fund time to prepare to take on that debt service payment. And then the I might not have understood your second question correctly, but you're right. The sewer bills are based off of usage as reported by the water district. So if someone's using less water than their sewer bill, their usage is down, but it depends on how much their usage is going down in comparison to how the how much the rate is increasing. Go ahead. Okay. So, so just want I want to confirm that we are not needing to count on any particular amount going forward from like until 32 in privilege fees. This is looking back at what we've collected in

046the past. That's right. Okay, great. Yep. And and yes, that was that was my question because at our house, our sewer bill has gone down because our water use has gone down. And I'm just wondering how widespread that is and if it's impacting our our incoming revenue if that is happening um to a you know with a large percentage of rateayers. David, um I just wanted to say that uh two things. One, Jim, if you want to figure in just really rough numbers. So, $6 per month per year or $36 per month for a average residential customer over six years. So, um that's that's definitely in the ballpark. Um and um I think it's uh very appropriate and that's why we were moving this way before to save the privilege fee money for capacity expansion.

047um with uh and capacity expansion can be a number of different things, but I think um since it's the the the privilege fees that pay for uh you know new hookups that were not part of the original district, um it it makes sense not to expend that on on replacing an old pump. And that's what we're doing with with the the um the the the program to the borrowing program that we have in place that we're just beginning to pay for out of these out of these fees. So, I I think this is a is a good good plan and um we we have six years actually to revisit it if it's if it's getting too much money or too little money or whatever. Brian, I was going to move to I was going to

048move the motion move to approve the fiscal year 2026 sewer rates as presented. Second. moved and seconded. Uh any discussion, Jim? It's about a 46% increase over the six years. Um so I just wanted to say that out loud because it it, you know, we we knew this last year that it was going to be an extraordinary increase. Um um but it just just brings it home to me. Um um I I'm I'm going to approve this or abstain. I'm not sure which. Uh I feel like I could I could ask questions all day and learn more and more, but I doubt my my the underlying vote would change, but I do feel underinformed. David. So we just not you know arguing or discussing make presenting your point of view just to provide additional information.

049We could have um saved an accumulated retained earnings in the enterprise fund since we started the sewer district to pay for pumps eventually wearing out. But I I'll say two things about that and that that's true for anything that a municipality does. It is really difficult to save millions and millions of dollars and have taxpayers see what are you using this for? Well, we haven't had any pumps fail yet, right? And so it's it's hard to um to accumulate um that money and we don't know exactly yet what's what's going to fail. It's much easier and straightforward to pay debt service. Um it it's just a thing. It's it's really, you know, you could definitely argue that we should have had higher rates all the way along, but it's it's difficult to figure out what

050those rates should have been, and we would have had, like I said, accumulated millions of in retained earnings to not have to take out the loan. All right, we've got a motion that's been seconded on the floor. All in favor of the motion to move to approve the FY 2026 sewer rates as presented, please say I. I. I. I. Opposed, abstensions. They're approved. Thank you. Um, now this is a great segue for item number two, the sewer governance study. as Jim points out, he feels quite underinformed and me too. Um, Mr. Manager, thank you. So, at the town meeting that occurred in 2023 or 2024, there was a citizen petition to asking voters whether they support the idea of looking at the governance of our sewer district and if there are alternative ways to do

051it that may serve the community better. That happened. Uh the subsequent select board goal setting that occurred identified that as a goal for last year, I believe. And so we were able to uh hire the Colin Center, which is a quasi government uh organization that operates out of UMass Boston that does a lot of local government work. We hired them to take a look at the issue of sewer governance and um sorry, municipal wastewater governance and identify uh best practices, looking at other communities that are similar to us u and identifying some recommendations for what may be a an ideal way to set up our sewer governance if we were to change it. And I think the report uh was published in the packet. I know I shared it with the board uh and the

052sewer commission earlier this spring and we haven't really had a chance to discuss it and I just wanted to make sure that it was in front of you and that uh I know that as part of this stakeholder engagement the consultants interviewed each of you I believe and also other members of the community and other people involved in water and wastewater and I think I think they did a pretty nice job. I think it basically lays out that there there is another way that we could do this here and it's just a matter of whether there's interest and will uh to pursue changes uh that they've that they've recommended. So, I'm happy to answer any questions or or read those recommendations if you'd like me to do that or however you want to proceed. I

053just wanted the sewer commissioners to to have that opportunity tonight. I I think John I don't have the study in front of me right now but uh they did come up with a a recommendation for how they felt um they should move forward. Can you read that recommendation? Sure. So uh after significant review of existing literature and case studies, the Colinsetter team determined that there was um an effective wastewater model u that would best meet the towns of actton offering the most flexibility and decision-m elevate technical expertise and align with the town's values would be an appointed wastewater commission which would serve to assist the select board with wastewater governance matters. This select board appointed commission would maintain some autonomy and be empowered to make decisions of a more technical nature while making recommendations to

054the board for decisions that are broader in scope and have public policy implications that may impact other issues such as land use and development. So, uh, the recommendation was to establish an appointed commission that just focuses on the sewer and then if there's any big decisions, they would make a recommendation to the select board to to to be the ones to make those decisions. Thank you. Comments and questions from the board, David. So I I think we could come up with something but the details matter here uh to to me anyway. Um you know as as far as money goes there are kind of three classes of money uh in my view. There's the rate setting right. We could allow the commission to set the rate just like we just did. Um uh there's uh

055uh expenditures out of the enterprise fund and um they could approve decide actually it's town meeting that puts the rubber stamp on on that. And the the final thing is when when we borrow and for what. Um and um so uh you know the to me in if you just lay those out in order the the last one I said to me is the most important that we maintain a little bit of control of the the rate setting is maybe they they could make those decisions. But you could argue that all three of those obviously Jim this one you had a pretty strong interest in the race setting, right? And so um we we'd have to decide what money matters they had autonomy over if any. Um and then what what money matters we retained.

056And then there's the issue of policy um not pol. So I'm kind of assuming here because this is what was said originally is that this body would provide the technical expertise to decide you know technical decisions on running the plant and uh you know giving guidance or whatever to the uh the operators of the of the plant and that kind of thing and that that I think at least in the discussions we've had in the past and when we started this process that seemed to be the thing that most of the members of the board were interested in um having this board too and I we just discussed money with the second thing and the final the thing is policy or what I would call policy things like um should privilege fees be waved uh

057for uh low-income units or not right um and you know so we we have a we don't have a policy today we have a deacto practice practice. Um, but that that is a uh that's not related to the operation of the plant or anything. It's related to uh policy in town. And the other kind of thing that affects policy in my mind is whether we're going to say aim to sew lower Great Road or not, right? Um so policy things I think mostly belong with the board. Um because if we were making those decisions, we would definitely have hearings on them. We would and and and we have the visibility to make a hearing on them. Uh we might have other ways of gathering input from, you know, feedback from towns me, you know, people

058in town. Um and so I think the policy things are important for us us to retain. Um and the um anyway, I think I think I've covered all three of those. the op, you know, the technical operations, money at three levels and policy. Thank you, Alicia. I might not be as as clear and concise as David um because I have a lot of swirling thoughts about this topic and everything that was written in the in the report. Um, I I guess I want to start off by saying that in terms of public engagement, I have a different opinion than David that if this was an independent body um, distinct from the select board, um, there would be an opportunity for more public engagement because The sewer commission business for the select board's Monday evening meetings

059comes up not on a very regular basis. We do the rate setting pretty much the same time every year. Um but if some small expansion, you know, one parcel or somebody comes and asks for, you know, I want to build an ADU, so I need an additional bedroom. those things can happen at any time over the year and they're sort of not buried in the agenda, but nobody's anticipating them. So, if there were a body that was meeting regularly, I think that that would be um easier for the public to access because they would know they meet on the first Wednesday of the month in the evening and they and they might sign up for a special email alert for that particular body. So, I think that there's an opportunity for more transparency. It's also

060um I think the phrasing that the Collins Center report used was that an independent commission can serve as a platform for staff to engage with the public. So, I think that that's really important to to keep in mind. Um so, that has to do with public engagement. I also note that some of the things that David you just mentioned about what should should be um handled by the commission versus retained by the select board is a little bit different um than the bulleted list that they have at the end of the report. So the recommendation was for the select board to retain rate setting and um borrowing authorization and I don't think there was a distinction here um with what you suggested David but endorsing plans for major expansion and of course we'd have to

061all decide any interested party would have to decide what what's major and what's minor. Um and then the commission, the Collins Center suggested that the commission develop policies and recommendations and authorize waving fees and um minor expansions and also um on the recommendation of the DPW director, select the consulting engineer um with you know specific technical expertise that folks who would want to be on this commission would have um unique from the folks that generally run for select board and that also establishes their independence from from the board. Um, a couple of other things that that's um stuck out at me is that in in in addition to increasing potentially increasing public engagement, a sewer commission that was meeting regularly could keep tabs on, you know, operational the operation of the treatment plant, but also

062changes to that. For instance, when the equalization tank comes online, that's going to change things. Um, keeping tabs on the progress that we're making with um taking care of addressing inflow and infiltration issues. Um, they might even be able to address the issue that was identified when the West Act and sewer expansion failed at town meeting in 2019, which and we got an email about it actually earlier this afternoon about the funding model of sewer and maybe changing that and shifting it um away from only the better parcels to more of or even the entire town since there's a benefit to the entire town. Um, yeah. And I I I um I don't think this was in the report, but looking at um it might have been in the report because it's looking at conquer's

063model. They have a public works commission which deals with um water in addition to wastewater. Um, I do remember that the public works director reported to their public works commission that their treatment plant had been operating without any major upgrades for 40 years. And we needed some some expensive upgrades after 20 years. And I'm not saying that there was anything a miss and you know anything that we could have done differently um to prevent that but it would be nice to have more regular meetings in order to provide that oversight from from folks who are wastewater professionals. Thank you. Um, I think what I'd like to get out of this is, uh, a feeling from my colleagues whether you are in favor of the the overall thrust of the Collins Center report. And if so,

064uh, what I would propose is that we develop a a subset of either select board members or certainly town manager, DPW staff to come up with a charge and to kind of flesh out, answer a lot of the questions and look at specifically at some of the details that you and David have both raised and then bring that back um, so that we can uh, we'll a document to work off of and just as we you know have a charge for every other board and committee uh do that here. So I guess the question is my colleagues are you favorably disposed towards the the recommendation from the Colin Center Jim. Um well, first of all, I really liked the report. Uh um I liked um one of the things that stood out for me right

065at the beginning was uh they really couldn't find any, you know, general studies on what model of you know wastewater management systems works the best. So that it the the the the decision is is is more about you know what in our particular town is going to uh create the best conditions for success which they're defining I think reasonably as um you know uh strong public input along with uh strong respect for um you know uh professional expertise of the people involved in the plant. Um, and that's that's a that's a difficult balance to get. You know, you you don't want to get into an adversarial situation between, you know, the public and the experts, but each of them is going to bring, you know, really important points of view. Um the the the thing

066that I was left with as a question that I'm still pondering is um the difference between an appointed wastewater commission which is the recommendation of the report and a um a wastewater uh advisory committee. Um it seems like I mean I get logistically the difference is a commission is the is is is the sort of entity that goes to town meeting um to to create um which I think has advantages uh just because it creates more focus on you know what we're trying to do here um but it also points out that a wastewater advisory committee uh would be um a lot quicker to create because we can just we can create advisory committees whenever we want. Um, so between those two, I'm still not sure, but I I agree that the other two options

067don't make sense for Actton. Um, the um, yeah, so I had some detailed comments, but I I agree uh, Dean that the the key thing now is, you know, are we in are we going generally in the right direction or not? David, so I I think we should move forward with something here. I think again the devil's in the in the details. Um and I think um with regard to whether it's an advisory committee in the end or an entity that has power in and of itself depends on those details, right? For so for example, rate setting is a good thing, right? If if rate setting stays with us and all the money matters stay with the board, then it's easier to say that they're just an advisory committee. If they control the money in

068some way, however, then I think they need a legal basis to to exist. So, what I might suggest that we do and move forward is to produce a list similar to their bulleted list, but with with those things that the members of the board are concerned about. And then we in a future meeting, we go through one by one and say, you know, we'd like to retain that. No, they should own that completely. Um, and whatever. And then once we resolve that, I think it'll be obvious what kind of entity we we should create. You know, the things that um where Alyssa used the phrase quote keep tabs on quote. I completely agree with what you said, right? So, all the things that she was bringing up that they should keep tabs on how the

069uh the new buffer tank is working and you know, all all the things like that. I I completely agree is in um in in in their domain. I think that the you know whether we should expand the stu the sewer district or not. I have my opinion as to who's who should own that. But I think that's a you know any expansion of the district. We we and there little expansions like just um uh approving um additional privilege on an existing lot um but that is already in the district or is there's adding a lot that's adjacent to the district or a wholesale expansion like sewer and lower great road. Um, so, uh, anyway, I I I'd be happy to produce a list if people trust me to do that, of of the things that

070I think board members are concerned about, and then we could come back and then maybe it's it's obvious as to where we should move forward. Um, that seems like a pretty reasonable way to to move to the next step. If uh unless anybody has any particular objections to that, um why don't we pursue that? Uh Jim. Um well, in the spirit of sort of pre prefilling uh David's list, I I could mention a couple of specifics if that would be okay. Oh, okay. Let's do that now in open session. Okay. Yeah. Um, first was a concern that uh it seems like we have a there's a chartered role for the select board to transmit a budget that includes borrowing and spending to to FINCOM. So, I think we're inevitably on the hook for approving uh

071budgets. Um, but you know, getting the getting a commission or a committee or whatever to wrestle with the details and make a recommendation to us is is really helpful. But I think ultimately that belongs to us. Um uh what else? Um I think we're facing issues around both the both the you know the little mini expansions and the waving of of privilege fees and the possible possibility of bigger expansions. We're looking at uh policy questions around um you know will the will the the rest of the will the entire town take on the cost of the some of the benefit and um you know that's clearly the sort of thing that you know is going to fall mainly in our court. But if there is a a wastewater advisory committee or a commission uh they

072could do some analysis that would help us you know like to say oh looks like right now you know back of the envelope and you know expansion another expansion attempt in West Actton would cost you know this many dollars per SBU uh if it was entirely borne by rateayers and you know here's what it might cost if the town puts put money in. So that'd be helpful information that they could develop for us, but the policy stuff I think is inevitably with us. Uh Alyssa and then we've got a question from the audience. So, I would just say here in open session that I agree for the most part with their bulleted list of what should um stay with the select board and what should be the responsibility of the commission. And I just wanted

073to mention one other thing to keep tabs on um which I hope can happen if there's a commission that's independent and meeting more regularly and that is um the long addressing the long-term challenge that we've been discussing for years of expanding the discharge capacity to accommodate the parcels that are currently in the district have paid their betterment fee and are not yet hooked up. Um, in addition to folks that are already connected but maybe want to add bedrooms. Um, so I think that that that's another that's another challenge that needs some um addressing. Thank you, John. Thank you. John Peterson, 6J Jackson Drive. Um I'm reminded of the old saw water, water water everywhere. So earlier this evening you talked about the rack, the water resources advisory committee. Even as you're discussing sewers, the actton

074water district is meeting. And so one of the challenges that the sewer district faces regardless of you know who is actually in charge is how to coordinate with the other activities that touch on water. and to the email that I sent earlier this afternoon. Um it is a mistake to think that only uh people who are connected to the sewer benefit from the sewer because the sewer serves as groundwater protection which serves the entire town. Um so that's the case of um you know a public good occurring to me that I don't pay for and that's not a good uh circumstance. So I hope two things. I hope one that you do go ahead and establish a commission and then um unlike the commentary around having the select board trying to go off and figure

075out what the scope of that um commission would be, I would be much happier to see a couple of select board members, maybe a couple people from the rack, maybe somebody from the water district sit down, you know, and then with whoever, you know, might be interested in the sewer in the future and come up with, you know, I propose that you use racey But there are other tools that you can use to try and create the contours around roles and responsibilities for the sewer commissioners. Then let that group bring back to the select board, you know, a proposal that would actually be actionable with regard to the nature of the commission. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Uh time is marching on here and we do have a couple of uh hearings we have

076to deal with. Uh, I'd like to wrap this discussion up. Um, and again, it's going to be something that's going to get brought back. But I think personally, I feel that David's suggestion about coming up with a list of, you know, whose bucket all of these issues are going to come into would be a good start. And then from there, we might be able to flesh it out a little bit more. But at least if we know we're kind of speaking in the same um along the same uh pattern, then I think it'll be much more successful. So um I'm looking at David and I'm looking at John simultaneously, as hard as that might be to do. Um do you think uh this would be something that could be ripe to be brought back at

077our meeting in August? It gives you know month and a half almost two months to uh to come up with those lists. That would work for me. Okay. In that case, David, uh if you could move ahead with that list, that would be great. Um, we'll ask the town manager and Tom to uh put a little teaser in our list of uh possible items for agenda discussion. I believe our August meeting that we have scheduled is right at the end of the month. So, we'll try to plug that in, bring it back, and um that way, um we'll have enough time going into the fall to be able to flush this out and come up with a resolution. Right. Thank you. Um so, public hearings, the uh there's one one proposed public hearing. There has

078been a continuence requested, but I will read the notice point of query or something. Yes. Uh I would we normally have resident concerns now and chair update. I want to get the uh these two hearings out of the way. Great. And then we'll jump right into the resident concerns. Yes. Uh well, they're time sensitive. The Act and Select Board will hold a public hearing on June 16th, 2025 at 7:10 p.m. Continued from May 12th, 2025 in the Francis Faulner hearing room 204 at the town hall 72 Main Street, Actton and virtually act ma.gov/meetingsb G/meing SB on the application of suburban glass and mirror for a site plan special permit number 3/19/2025 under zoning bylaw section 10.4 at 60 Powdermill Road. The proposed project consists of redesigning and expanding the existing parking lot. Application materials and

079how to participate remotely are available online and at Actton Town Hall https doactton-ma.gov/de/view/collection-19067. The applicant has requested a continuance to July 7th, 2025 at 7:10 p.m. And I have a uh signed agreement on the timed extension. I'll entertain a motion. David, I move to continue the hearing on 60 Powder Mill Road um to uh July 7th at 7:10 p.m. in this room. Thank you. Can I get a second? Second. moved and seconded to continue until July 7th. All in favor say I. I. Opposed? Abstensions. Thank you. Next hearing. The Act and Select Board will hold a public hearing on June 16th, 2025 at 7:15 p.m. in the Francis Falner hearing room 204 at town hall 472 Main Street Actton and virtually on the application of Actton Seafood Company located at 541 Massachusetts Avenue and Mass

080under chapter 140 section 181 of the Massachusetts General Laws for an entertainment license for acoustic and vocal music. The application can be inspected at town hall during normal business hours. Login instructions for computers can be found here. For a computer, please click on the link to join the public meeting actinmma.gov/meing SB. From telephone, dial 6468769923 and enter webinar number ID 503-918-785. Telephone users may dial star 7 to request to speak after joining the meeting. Computer and app users may use the raise hand feature to request to speak. Is the applicant here? Please come forward. How we doing? Very well. Uh your name, sir? Dan Govin. Can you uh give us a little uh description of what you have proposed? Well, we are looking to just have acoustic solo mostly solo um acoustic artists come and

081play out on our deck um for a couple hours on weekend nights just entertain the um clientele. Thank you. Um and I think the uh the operant word here is acoustic. Yeah, thank you. Um questions from my colleagues. Alicia, thank you for coming in. I appreciate that you have suggested some early ending hours, 8:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. That's great. Very considerate. Um, I'm wondering about the location of the speakers on the deck and which direction they will be facing and just wondering if it's possible to not have them facing the residences that are directly across the street. Yes, exactly. So, what we plan on doing is our deck and you I'm sure you've seen it. Okay. So, there's a corner in the front that's at the road. We're building a little platform so where is

082projected towards the building not towards the street. So if any sound will reflect to the back parking lot. Other questions? David, sorry if I missed this in the application. How late in the year do you expect to be running uh these things? Well, it's always always going to be about weather and people sitting outside because there's no sense on having it if they're not going to sit out there. And generally that runs May to like October latest and it's always weather permitting. And of course with the weekends as they've been going, we haven't been too successful of having weekends that weren't raining. So, it's hit or miss. Thank you. Yep. the questions uh questions from the audience. I will entertain a motion. David, I move to close the public hearing. Second. Moved and seconded to

083close the public hearing. All in favor say I. I. Opposed? Abstensions. Thank you. Another motion. David. Uh I move to approve the um uh entertainment license for acoustic and vocal music for Act and Seafood Company 541 Massav. Second. Moved and seconded. Any further discussion from the board? No. All in favor of the motion please say I. I. I. Opposed abstensions. Thank you. We look forward to it. Thank you. All right. Um, now we'll uh jump back to item four, resident concerns. I'm Ann Chang. I'm speaking for the board of trustees because I want you to do uh look at the wild garden which is right out there which is named for William Wild who was the guy who gave the money to the library the memorial library and the memorial is for the Civil War

084soldiers. Uh the garden was a cooperative effort between the library, the town conservation officer and the acting garden club and we couldn't have done it without any of them. Uh we re we need to recognize this cooperative effort and lauded those involved. Chris Bushy the teen librarian Ian Bergman the town conservation officer and uh who wrote the original grant and to the very receptive Actton Garden Club before the grant was written. There were meetings to discuss the scope of the project, who would do what work, and of course the funding. Chris and Ian worked closely with Kathy Vman and Barbara Wasel and mapped out the garden. Barbara, in fact, put out a a design plan for the garden and chose the plants and directed the clean uh cleanup method. Uh Barbara and Kathy were able

085to get um 20 to 25% discounts on plant materials from the native plant trust in Framingham True Talk uh natives and in Rochester and Blue Stream Nurseries. The funding for the specialized plants came from the active memorial libraries planter fund which is a one of the libraries trust funds. So it didn't come from town coffers. Um they Ian and Chris had help from the following planters the people who plant did all the work. Uh Janet Irons, Titus Cow, Dave Hagen, Jenny Holden, Ashud Yagmar, Miriam Leisac, Olivia West, Sylvia Hopelden, as well as Barbara and Kathy. There was also initial help from the DPW crew in the preparation for the site. So it was a total cooperation. One minute. Oh, okay. The Wild Garden is designed as a native pollinator garden. It will attract birds, butterflies,

086bees, and other species. This garden, aside from being beautiful, which it will be as it grows out, will become a site for future library and conservation commission programs. The trustees of the Actton Memorial Library are grateful to all the to especially to the Actton Garden Club and all those others for their work and cooperation that made this garden possible. Thank you. And thank you to all of the folks that have helped us with this. Yes, sir. Uh Scott Sullivan, a Patriots Road. Uh seeing on the agenda the economic development strategic plan for approval and having recent access to data, I ran the census data from the current year and I found which is on the handout that's being passed around that there's a material difference in the actual town data versus what's in the strategic

087economic development plan. And uh since the plan is one of the foundations of the plan is the assumption on the population in the town and granted it's not the entire assumption for the plan. I just wanted to bring to the board's attention that uh there is a material difference um in the bands and the actual census data for for currently. So running the data off of the current numbers, you would not get to the projections that they currently project. And in a stable uh interest rate environment and uh declining or stable interest rates, uh people tend to move, sell houses, change residencies. Um in rising rapid interest rates, people tend to not make decisions. and with uh a potential of future declines in interest rates and additional inventory at the MCI conquered facility where they're

088looking at affordable housing in multiple units. There could be areas for the seniors to have relocation opportunities where they currently don't have today in the upper bands and the most likely scenario in my own personal opinion is that the data in the future will follow a bell standard deviation curve. If you look at the existing data which is the graph I've presented to everybody, it follows a normal standard deviation curve um bell curve. So that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you. No one online, Mr. Chair. Well, there are six people online, none with their hands raised. Okay. Thank you. In that case, we will move on to uh item eight, adopt the economic development strategic plans presented on June 3rd. Thank you. So, uh, meeting held at the, uh, 50 Ottabbon Recreation Center last

089week, uh, where the consultants that were hired with the grant funding that we received from the state to do our econ economic development plan presented their findings and members of the economic development committee were there and a few interested residents. Uh, it was a second, it was the follow-up meeting. There was also a workshop held earlier in the year which had more people attending. Uh but I think the final uh plan has been published online and I believe it's in the packet. Uh this is a document that'll be used for both the economic development committee and perhaps the select board and and staff in general as we look at planning efforts and uh goal setting and other initiatives that we want to work on. This plan will be the foundation for that going forward. So

090to give it the credibility that a plan like this needs u to to carry that type of weight, we'd asked that the board adopt it. Um some of you are in attendance and have seen the report previously. So we didn't have Patricia, our economic development director, come here tonight to make a presentation, but if you'd like that to happen, we can do that. Uh if you have seen enough from the report, we'd ask that you consider voting to adopt it. uh not approve it or recommend it, but to adopt it um as a plan for the town to work on. And this of course is one of the multiple plans that will be used as we as a community work towards our work towards our next comprehensive community plan. There are housing components of that.

091This is the economic development component. There's a climate action component. There's an open space and recreation plan component. All those studies that we work really hard to develop with community engagement will be brought forward as we do the next comprehensive community planning effort. So any questions? Happy to do my best to answer them. Thank you. Questions from board members? David. U Mr. Chair, can I ask Mr. Sullivan a question? Certainly. So if I if I may. Yes, please. Um, if I may, I I understand what you said in terms of the statistics. Um, did you have a bottom line implication there? Are you saying that you think the housing turnover is going to be higher than what is predicted? Well, I think what first of all, what you said, if I got you correctly, is

092that there is not as much of a drop in the 20somes and 30somes as the report indicates. That's number one. And the middle band, which I highlighted a group that I would assume would be parents, which are like the 30s to the late 50s, is understated dramatically. Um, it's it's right now it's 53% of the town population, and they're projecting it at like 40% going forward. So, and that not to mention not to say that everybody in that band has children, but the likelihood is that if you're in this town and you're that age, you have children and that the lowest band is overstated. And in fact, the senior band, if you're going off the current year's numbers, is understated. So, like I feel like the foundations that they're basing their assumptions on aren't in

093line with at least this one data point from the most recent year is indicating. And because of that, I feel like their assumption on housing turnover and people being not leaving town and staying in and being kind of, you know, staying here. Um, if you look at the the bell curve on the age bands, when people get older, they they leave the town and they're not necessarily staying here. And if interest rates go down and there's more availability local, so for people that want to stay in the Actton area, if MCI Conquered puts, I don't know, couple hundred units and you sell your Actton house and you downsize the Conquered, you're still a half a mile away from Actton. So, you can still have access to the people you want to have access to and

094you can have more affordable housing. So I I think there will be more inventory in the short run. I think interest rates will be lower and I think that will change the uh in my mind that would change the underlying assumptions. I think there's a lot of good material don't get me wrong in that plan. and I think it was very well done. But uh since I recently had this data and I was coming to this meeting, I just happened to look at it before I came here tonight and it just jumped off the page that the data is not providing the right trend analysis going forward. Right. So you don't really object to the report. You're just highlighting some things that um that where you differ in interpretation of the numbers and and some

095of the numbers are off. You think this is factual. You could all do the same thing I did. And I just want to make sure the board's aware that if you're reading this, if you were to read this report, you would be misled by the projections of the town populations in the bands. And I'm saying factually this is what it is. You can project off this or you can assume there's some magical events that's going to put us back on the run rate that they're projecting. But I think that the most realistic thing to do would like you could take their assumptions on population growth, but I would start with the actual numbers this year and roll that forward and see what that looks like. Thank you. You're welcome, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to

096mention that um this work very well put together analysis of the census data is is certainly accurate based on the returns that we get at the town clerk's office for the annual census, but that is different. It's a different data source than than the census data that was used in this report. So, um, Mr. Sullivan's reporting 18,000 residents in 2024, which isn't accurate. There are more than 18,000 residents, that's just the number of people that responded to the town clerk's annual census. So, while this data that's that Mr. Sullivan compiled is certainly analyzed in a very uh precise way. It's not the full population that the RKG study looked at which is the census data which shows us having 20 4,000 people in 20 well more than 20,000 people certainly and just a simple question

097if there's better census data can I get it because apparently this is the only census data that is available right so so the US census has volumes of data available on its website um so that's what the RKG study looked at the census data that I believe that you used is the town clerk census data y which is the best available but it's based on returns so if we send out 9,000 if we send out the census to 9 9500 households and we get 8200 back How many people are you saying in the town that you believe? How many people in the town do you think there are? Uh we believe there's closer to 24,000 people in town. So it's significantly different number. Um but it's unlikely to change the bell curve. Well, maybe because

098statistically that is significantly a large sample size. It's more than a reasonable sample size. If I have 80% of the population and it shows a bell curve, you're going to end up with a bell curve. That's stats. That's how it works. I'm not sure I would agree with that, but I don't think it's necessary to to get into that at this point. Thank Thank you. Um, I I will give one anecdote. Back in I actually worked as a census enumerator during the 2000 census and chased people to the ends of the earth to try to get them to fill out their paperwork, which I know the town clerk is not prepared to do. Um, so it yeah, there certainly are lots of different numbers floating around. It depends upon how determined you are to to

099get the last one, which at least in 2000 the feds were really interested in that. Um I I think this I'm I thank you, Mr. Sullivan, for bringing this forward to us. Um, and what I'd like to see is if we adopt this plan, and certainly we can relay all of this information. I don't think there's anything that would prohibit the uh the economic development committee and uh, you economic development director from looking at this and seeing if there's tweaks and changes that need to be made in some of the portions of the uh, of the report. But I think you know the report is voluminous and and very well done. I think it runs what 75 or 80 pages. So I I would 140 and that's why I read it so quickly. Uh so

100I uh I would be interested in uh in getting a motion to uh adopt the economic strategic development plan as presented. Um with the understanding that like any document as new information comes in uh it has to be reconsidered. I move that we adopt the economic development strategic plan as presented on June 3rd. Second. Moved and seconded. Further discussion from the board. Jim, um I was also reading it with an eye towards um you know the eventual next comprehensive community plan. And one thing I found really helpful was the um the survey results embedded in each recommendation. So you could see some of the recommendations were, you know, wholeheartedly accepted and some were, you know, a lot closer to 50/50. Um, and that's going to make a difference when we get to the comprehensive community

101plan, especially in places where uh there may be um um you know places where the goals of the economic development plan don't necessarily fit with the goals of the other plan and the comprehensive community plan process is going to need to resolve that by you know seeking community input and having discussion. So I mean so for example um the there's a there's a there's a goal here about undertaking planning efforts to identify potential parcels or contiguous parcels that could contain 5 to 25 acres and work through members of the real estate community to investigate their availability for acquisition, development, suitability and developer interest. And um that's exactly the kind of thing that you know uh other plans might say oh no that should be for affordable housing or that should be for open space or

102that should be for uh you know agriculture. So um I'm happy to vote to accept the plan uh w with the understanding that you know when it comes down to it we're going to have to reconcile the places where the gears of this plan don't really mesh neatly with the gears of the rest of our plans. Thank you. Um I just have one comment and and these plans are like living documents, you know, they're not um they move. So that's all. Thank you. Got a motion on the floor. It's been seconded to adopt the economic development strategic plan presented on June 3rd. All in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. Abstensions. Thank you. Item nine, approve FY26 short and long-term goals. So, these will be displayed on the screen momentarily. They were published in the

103packet I think uh over the weekend and they are the res the goals that were voted on by the board at your workshop last week uh with a few minor style changes. So uh we'd ask that the board adopt these as your goals for the year if you agree with them. Thank you. Comments. I really like the stylite, whatever you just said, the editing. Um, I do have a suggestion for our first short-term goal. However, it's my understanding that our HVAC and emergency power replacement project includes a lot of accessibility coming into compliance with ADA. And I'm wondering if this might benefit from some rebranding to be more inclusive of all of the elements that are involved in that project. Um, I don't have a particular suggestion about potential wording and I was hoping that

104maybe David might have a suggestion since he's on that working group. David, I I would ask Mr. region if um there are ADA things in this part of the project but I am not fully aware there are ADA things in um the town hall facility goals overall but I'm not aware of any in this project so maybe Mr. Beian can comment. Sure. Um thank you. There are some uh improvements that are required because when you improve a building beyond a certain value of um of the building, you have to make upgrades to anything that's lacking. And some of the just for an instance, some of the railings coming up to this floor aren't at height that are acceptable for ADA. So, that's one thing for instance that has to be changed. In terms of access

105to bathrooms, to office spaces, we're compliant to a degree, but there are some minor changes that have to happen. it's just costly because there's so many small things. So, while um there are ADA components to the project, the major focus is still the HVAC replacement and the emergency power uh replacement project. Alicia, thank you. I I do remember reading about the railings um especially in the stairwell and also I think countertops and and signage with um braille on it. And I'm just wondering if there is a significant enough percentage of the total project costs that it would be worthwhile adding in HVAC accessibility and emergency power replacement just so that voters at town meeting will understand the scope of it. I I would say that any request well the anticipated request of town meeting could

106include all of those things. Um and the goal may or may not need to include it. Okay. Um David, I I would not object to um Alyssa's suggestion. However, if she want if we want to um add another clause there or phrase that that's fine to to me. Maybe just add at the end and related Americans with Disabilities Act modifications. Thank you. Other questions from the board about any of the goals before we vote? Jim We're we're just voting on the short-term goals for now. Right now? Yeah, we can do the whole thing. Okay. Then uh let me talk about I'd like to talk about the long-term goals for a little bit. Um so I guess I'm wondering what the appetite is of the board for um reconsidering these goals. Um we noted near the

107end of our meeting that we missed two goals that were widely supported last time. um identify and implement services and programs that address housing insecurity and diversify and expand the public transportation program. And um I think that the problem was that um so we had a voting system where we each had five votes uh that we could put on any of the candidate goals in any amount. Um it created this um side effect which was that by the time we got to long-term goals, we figured out um that um any time any board member put two of their votes on any goal, it was going to become a long-term goal because of the way the numbers worked out. So we and and at least two of us I I didn't take a look at the

108actual numbers, but I could see them and for myself and for others uh did do that. Um, and I think that caused, you know, I think we were all, those of us who did that were hoping that, oh, well, those popular goals, they'll definitely get selected by other people. I'm going to, you know, I'm I have my pet goal that I really want to push over the the the finish line. Um, and so we end up with long-term goals that to some extent um, look like um, each board member got to pick a long-term goal, which I don't think really results in the kind of well-th thoughtout plan that the staff and the town deserve. Um, I mean, I have a couple of ideas about how to fix it, but I I wondered if if

109the chair would be willing to assess the willingness of board members to to reconsider the process. Well, we met for in excess of three hours and went over this and I think the point that you raised was something that we actually discussed towards the end of the meeting and I don't think I think people acknowledged it. I I will also acknowledge that just because a long-term goal um this particular list for this year does not include those items. Um it doesn't mean that those other goals will not be considered. Um they're still out there. But um I think it depends upon what I don't want to see is having us end up with another halfozen goals under long-term goals. So somewhat similar to the discussion I had about, you know, don't suggest any new hires

110until you figure out people you're going to get rid of, I would suggest we do the same thing with these. But I would certainly be interested to hear the comments from my colleagues about whether you want to reopen this or not. Melissa, thank you. I'm glad that you raised this, Jim, because I spent a lot of time over the weekend, well through the whole week and over the weekend thinking about whether or not I was happy with this set of goals. and I have I'm proud to um announce that I have made my peace with it. Um I will note that the year that you were chair we had how many votes? Can you just remember 20 votes something? It was a rank choice from 20. We had ranked choice. We had many many points.

111Um I was my first uh year on the board. I used several of my votes on one goal. Um, and that was probably the only reason that it made it to the the through the final cut. Um, and I will also note that when I was preparing over the weekend for this meeting, looking through the meeting packet, rereading the sewer governance um, report and realizing I did not remember to put forth as a long-term goal to, you know, continue on that. But then, you know, going back to 2023, conduct a sewer commission analysis was on our short-term goal. And in 2024, it wasn't, but we still went through it. And now we're still talking about it. Um, and now we've just assigned David to bring us back uh a bullet point. So, so that sort

112of adds to my um piece with with this list as is. Um, and just happen stance. I I went to uh an MMA well it was an MSA training on Friday and learned about another goal setting process in a different town that was much more um lengthy and and careful. So there were two workshops and for the select board instead of just one. And the first workshop was compiling and presenting a list to the select board of goals that came from staff department heads. um and also rolled over goals from the past so they didn't get lost because that's always been a concern of mine is that wait a second if we come up with this great new idea and we suggest it and then through the vote it makes the cut then what happens

113I mean we lost housing and transportation which I think the community when we get emails from individuals and committees that's always at the top of the list for things that they want us to um include in our goals. So I think that that you know maybe in the future a future year we could incorporate something like that and then there's a second workshop where the select board brings back like we do individual submissions and then it's voted on. I was pretty uncomfortable um at our goal setting meeting on Monday being there reading for the very first time in that moment the goals that all of you had submitted and then having just a couple of hours to think about it like I I want to mle it over after I've you know gone home and

114had a sleep and thought about it some more and talked to people. So, I think that going forward, I'm okay with this year um not reconsidering this list, but um considering it uh beefing up our our process next year and in the future. David, so I I agree with Lissa that um uh we I don't have any desire to redo the process for this year. I do think it's reasonable for us today. If Jim wanted to formulate one more goal to add to the long-term list, that might be reasonable for transportation and and and housing. Um, but if not, no. But if you do, I think that's a reasonable change. I do think as far as the process goes, the minimum that we can do is to document the process that we used in the

115previous year, um, which we have not done. And we've um uh we used to be a little bit more consistent with the process, but in the past 3 years, we've had different process each of the three years. I mean, not not wholesale different, but slightly different. And and so um uh and so I think it's because we don't have it written down what we did the previous year. It's hard for us to assess what did we do well and what did we not do well. Um and so um we need to do a better better job with that. Thank you, Fran. You guys are going to love Porchfest. Trust me, Jim. Um, thanks for thanks for the feedback. Um, I'm happy to take this as a learning experience. Um, I'm also and not try to

116add another goal. Uh, I also, um, um, take to heart what you said, Alyssa, which is that there are, you know, there's plenty of things that we're going to continue to work on that don't show up on the long-term goal list. I mean, it's it's clear, you know, transportation's a clear priority. Uh, you know, if it's if it's missing there one year because we've got cool new things to talk about, uh, we can live with that. So, I'm um and and with the notion of, you know, actually writing down what we did, uh that would be great. I think that's a that's a that's a that would be a forward-looking move. And I was really glad that you learned about um additional goal setting processes done elsewhere. Um you know, when I think about, you

117know, a comparison between the kind of um care that goes into the goals of well, like the economic development plan that we just approved uh and the other plans. Uh these goals are also just as important because they're, you know, they they set staff in motion uh via the town manager to to do a lot of things. So I think it does behoove us to have a um you know a well thoughtout and well doumented process that results in goals that you know we we all have the sense um you know meet the needs of the community. So uh you know I think we can just keep learning. Thank you. All right. I David, did we already make a motion? No. No. So, I I I move to adopt uh um the goals that were

118in the packet with the amendment that uh um Alyssa made to the town hall goal um for FY26. Second. Okay. moved and seconded to accept the uh the published uh list of goals with as edited. All in favor say I. I. Opposed? Abstensions. Okay. Approved. Thank you. And uh Mr. manager, I will chat with you and we'll try to find a way to memorialize our process from this year so that can pass it off to the uh the next chair for next year. Thank you. Item 10, approve transfer station rates. Oh, you're back, Ellie. Um Ellie, the budget manager is back and Cory York, the DPW director, is also here with us online. um for this next discussion of another enterprise that we operate here in the town of Actton. Okay. Hello again. Um, so

119as John said, we're here to review transfer station rates for the upcoming fiscal year. Okay. Um, so just as a reminder, I was here last August with Karen Switzer Nef and we um issued a recommendation to increase the fees for access stickers, but with the promise that we were going to come back the following year after we had reviewed bag fees and then also the bulky recycling program. Um, similar to the sewer enterprise fund, we're kind of on a mission to try and standardize the rate setting process and create a system where we're looking at um the financials and the rates that we assess on a regular basis. Um, if approved, these rates would go into effect on July 1st with the plan to revisit rates again at this time next year. So looking at

120the operating budget, I will say this does not include capital outlay. So this is strictly just the cost to operate the transfer station. Between fiscal year 2025 and fiscal year 2026, there's an increase of about $78,000 which comes out to 11.54%. The driving factors behind this increase are salary costs. This does include the impact of the collective bargaining agreement approved at last year's special town meeting. Other salary changes like we had discussed um in the previous presentation like part of my salary is now charged to this fund as well as increased trash disposal costs. So those are the main factors that equal this 70 almost $78,000. So looking at the recommended rates at this time, we're not recommending any change to the access stickers. So um if approved, these would stay the same as they

121were at the previous time that we reviewed them. So they are there for your reference and in the slides I printed out. We are however recommending increases to the pay as you throw bags. So, as shown, if approved, the 8gallon bag would increase from 60 to 65 cents a bag. The 15gallon would increase from $1.15 to $1.25 per bag. And then the 33gallon pay as you throw would go from two $2.55 to $2.80 per bag. Um, for the bulky items, the two changes that we're recommending at this time are one to at home compost bins. I'll go into a little bit more detail about this on a later slide, as well as the mattresses. So, if approved, the compost bins would go from $25 a piece to $50 a piece if you were to purchase

122it from the transfer station. And then mattresses would go from $20 to $22. So, why these rates? Um the pay as you throw bags and the fees that are collected from them are primarily intended to cover the cost of trash disposal as well as support the overall operations of the transfer station including capital investments. This increase though increase though incremental does result in an estimated increase in revenue of about $12,000 which will support the pay as you throw program capital needs and then operations overall. Like I said, regarding the bulky items for the at home compost bins, there was a um rule set by Mass D that was related to our recycling dividends program that the town could not sell these bins from more than $25. This rule has since been lifted. Currently, we purchase

123these bins at a cost to the town at $65 a piece. So, increasing it to $50 would allow us to better recoup that cost, but also still provide these bins at a discount. We did a little bit of a Google search and appears it appears that to buy a comparable bin, you're usually going to pay around $100, a little bit more. So, we'd still be offering these at a good discount. For the mattresses, we did a little bit of analysis and we found that it costs the town between um all cost factors about $22 to dispose of a mattress. So, this increase would simply be bringing the fee that we're charging more in line with what our costs are. So, that's all I have. I'm happy to take any questions. Like John said, Corey is

124online, so he can also assist if needed. Thank you. questions. Jim, sure. Um, at last year's hearing, we started exploring the idea of having a combined uh what I call senior or lowinccome rate. Um, I was wondering uh did that process continue? Have you been looking at it? Did it make sense or not to do to move in that direction? So, I think John or Corey could provide additional detail, but the capital article that was approved at this town meeting, the transfer station subsidy, is a direct response to that request and also the citizens petitions that were previously passed at town meeting. So, I think there's some program design that's going to have to be done to figure out the best way to move forward with that, but it is definitely front of mind. Thank

125you. Um um I was wondering if uh in the last few years we had ever looked again at um the notion of being able to um weigh the trash that was being disposed rather than using pays you throwbacks. Um the reason that has come up over the years uh is because a few reasons. One is that it sort of you know more accurately reflects the cost since we have to pay by the ton you know why not charge by weight. Um and second uh there are people for whom it sticks in the craw that you know u in an attempt to be environmentally minded they have to keep using these plastic bags. Um and if they could use you know any old bags they had lying around and they just you know stuck them on

126some kind of electronic scale and had it charged to their account or you know whatever made sense. Um, so clearly that would be a, you know, a big investment, but it would, uh, drastically reduce the cost for, you know, you wouldn't have to buy Paisy throwbacks. Um, and I was wondering if we'd ever relooked at that in the last few years. I'll defer to Corey for an answer. Yeah, I know we looked at that um, years ago, but I we haven't looked at it in the last couple years. just seems like technology keeps marching on. It may be getting cheaper and cheaper to do something like that. So, I think it might be worth, you know, looking at at some point. Um, it may be easy to rule it in or out as a possibility

127with a with a quick look. Alicia, thanks again, Ellie. Um, I have a couple of questions. I'm curious if we know what percentage stickers sold are for seniors. And I'm also curious why we are choosing to offer the compost bins at a discount. Is there some sort of expectation that's set by the state or is it just that the town has decided that's a nice thing to do? So for your first question, I do have those numbers in front of me. Um so for fiscal year 2025 and this is through the end of May so it does not capture the entirety of the fiscal year. Um non senior stickers so total access for trash and recycling we had sold 2280 of them. And then seniors um same thing all access we sold 233. So the

128number the split between senior and non senior is pretty close. And then for your second question, I would again defer to Corey. Yeah, we when we first started selling the compost bins, we were we were passing the cost through. So the cost that we were acquiring those through the state contract was what we were charging. Um, and then as Ellie said, through our programming with the D where we we show um what we're doing and we can get credits and get money back to help offset other programs. They for a while had instituted a policy that it we couldn't charge more than $25. So then we we cut it down from I think at the time we were probably paying we were charging $50 roughly what we were paying. We cut it down to 25.

129They've since lifted that requirement. So, we were bringing it back to 50 with um the idea that um we still get some funds to the grant that we can offset that delta kind of help promote composting different ways. Um and then we because we also use those funds to help offset the food waste collection at the trans station. So, um, we were just kind of bringing it a little closer in line with the idea is we'll continue to evaluate those two initiatives and if we have to in a future year, we'll bring it, um, we can bring it back to ad cost, but we thought for now if we can just recoup a little bit more of the money we're putting into it, um, is kind of a good first step. Alasha, I just have

130a a followup on the P. So, this is about half, well, not quite half, um, of the stickers sold are at this senior discount. And I'm wondering if the town is in alignment with other communities, um, this seems like a very deep discount, and I'm wondering is are other communities similarly such a deep discount or steep, whatever. I'd defer to Corey on that. Yeah, I know. when years back um we've looked at other communities. Um we were every community is a little bit different. We were similar to several that I looked at. I can't say in recent years that I've done that reassessment to see where we fall. That's something we can look into just to see how we align. We've in the past worked closely with Littleton as they've developed their fees and we've

131kind of kind of balance check each other to see how each of us are doing and why our numbers are a little bit different. So that's something that we could evaluate further just to see how our that program aligned with other programs, you know, in the state. So I would I would appreciate having a a look at other communities to see if we're in alignment. I realize that in addition to that sticker fee, folks have to buy the bags. Um, and depending on the size of bags you get, that can be pretty expensive. Um, but it would be nice to know how how we stack up against other towns in the area. Jim, um, my recollection is that the the balances uh in the fund uh fell this year uh compared to previous years. And

132my uh what I recall about that is that we chose to make um some you know capital expenses and that brings the balances down. Um is that generally the way we're doing it that we're sort of a the operating funds tend to build up and then we get something expensive and they come back down or is this you know like a a problem that we have a a low balance in the fund now or what? So you are correct. We did appropriate more from retained earnings to fund the fiscal 2026 budget than we probably have in years past. And the reason for that is we are planning on purchasing a front-end loader. So I think there's a couple of things going on with the retained earnings. On one hand, I think traditionally it has been

133used similarly to free cash where we put this money aside especially for these capitalally intensive funds like this one in sewer where um we might need to have money on hand in order to make capital purchases. So that's one. On the other hand, the enterprise funds are reviewed annually by the Department of Revenue when we go to set our tax rate. And they advocate where if you do have sufficient funding in retained earnings that you kind of um lower your revenue estimates and appropriate from retained earnings to provide for the unknown in the upcoming fiscal year, especially when we're having town meeting before the current fiscal year is closed out. So this makes for a smoother um tax rate setting process where we're not getting in a situation where our tax rates held up because

134of questions or concerns about the health of an enterprise fund. So I think those are the two main considerations when we're looking at appropriating retained earnings. Unless there's any other questions, uh, I'd be looking for a motion. I move to approve the FY2026 transfer station and recycling facility fee structure for the facility access stickers, P A T bags, and bulky items as presented. Second. Moved and seconded. Any final thoughts? All in favor of the motion, please say I. I. Opposed. Extensions. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. John, I I would request that the board consider taking item item 13 now, which Cory York and a consultant are here to uh present. Absolutely. Um item 13, South Actton Village complete street study. Corey, hey, how you doing? Um, yeah, as we bring up the consultant,

135Nicole, um, as you know, we've been looking at the Main Street corridor in South Aton, sort of between Central Street and High Street. So, we've gone through a series of, um, outreach and looking at ideas. Um, we recently just did a sort of a final outreach to the plan, took in some public comment, and Nicole made some final edits to the report that was in your packet. So, um, I'll hand it over to Nicole. She can go through, she has kind of a brief presentation, then we can take some your various questions on. Very good. A brief presentation. Thank you. Can everyone uh see my screen here? Yep. All right. Well, good evening everyone. Thank you so much for making time on the agenda for us tonight to allow us to present our final South

136Active Village complete streets plan here. Uh my name is Nicole Rogers. I'm here on behalf of GPI. We're an engineering consultant firm out of Wilmington, Mass, where we partnered with Tool Design on this effort and we've been working with Corey and the town to advance uh this project. So, just quickly, we'll dive right into things here. Um, I'm sure many of you are aware, but last year the town of Actton updated its uh zoning to comply with the Massachusetts MBTA communities law, which requires zoning for multif family housing near public transit, specifically around the South Actton station. Uh, but in order to kind of truly foster a sense of place and support that future growth, uh, the village really needs to be redesigned with pedestrians and bicyclists in mind. So to support these goals, uh

137the town has invested in the South Actton Village complete streets plan, which essentially just offers design guidance to help improve the public right of way, prioritize safety and connectivity in the area. Uh so the plan focuses on the main street, Route 27 corridor from Central Street in the north to High Street in the south, uh shown in the red here. You also see that extends to some side streets like School Central and Maple Street to really help connect with some adjacent planning efforts and just ensure continuity um within the study area. Important to note that main street is mostly under the town's jurisdiction. However, the bridge over the MBTA tracks uh which cuts through the village is under Mass Dot jurisdiction. So, it kind of limits what we can do in that section. uh South

138Actton Village, obviously home to the MBTA commuter rail station and also connects to the Asbit River Rail Trail via Maple Street. Also want to note that it is part of the Envisioned Aset Freeman connector trail. You can kind of see it in this dotted uh green line. That's a future link between the Aspet River and Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, which is currently in the really early planning stages with Match Trails and neighboring communities. Um, businesses are mostly clustered along the western side of Main Street between Central and School and the village sits within a historic district. So, a lot happening here. Um, and with most of the destinations located on the western side of Main Street, residents on the east side face real safety concerns uh when crossing mostly due to traffic speeds and volumes.

139Uh, so the goal of the plan improve the public ride ofway really focusing on sidewalks, intersections, and bike connections. Uh so we're not addressing private property or building facades. And just to reiterate, you know, this is a planning level effort. So further design, you know, survey outreach, all of that will be needed uh before any implementation. Uh existing conditions, just quickly, what are we working with out there? Uh a lot going on. Um several intersections, particularly Main and Central Street, suffer from poor geometry. So this results in high speeds, uh limited visibility for both drivers and pedestrians. That problem is really compounded by speeding along Main Street, especially at the northern and southern entry points to the village uh where the posted speed limit drops from 35 to 25 and oftent times drivers, you know,

140carry that speed into the village. Um there's also some outdated signal infrastructure at the main and school street intersection. That signal is currently stuck on a fixed time plan due to a malfunctioning controller and vehicle detection is not working. So, the system can't really adapt to the actual traffic conditions. Uh, combined with the split phasing and poor geometry, uh, this leads to some long cues that I'm sure you all know, can extend back into some of the adjacent intersections, um, adding to the overall congestion and just undermining the village's walkability and accessibility. Um, sidewalks, I'm sure you're all aware, uh, narrow in poor shape, um, oftent times blocked by parked cars. Uh, crosswalks are long and poorly placed. bike facilities are inconsistent or missing, especially on Maple and School Street, uh which are key links

141to the MBTA and the Asper River Rail Trail. And then parking. Um while there is enough parking, it is poorly signed and underutilized due to kind of unclear rules and just lack of visibility. Um so we've conducted uh several public outreach efforts. Um uh as far as outreach goes, you know, we launched a public um project website and survey promoted through the town channels. We hosted several pop-up events. We also heard from local business owners and the transportation advisory committee. Uh this past April, as Corey was just mentioning, we presented a draft plan at a public open house. There was general overall satisfaction with the plan. Uh but based on some feedback, we did make some revisions to better balance parking and bike access uh especially along Maple and Stow Streets. Uh there was also

142some important discussions about potential long-term improvements kind of beyond the scope of the study but critical to the uh future success of South Act Village. Um so pulling all of these uh elements together, we've developed this area conceptual plan here. Uh now pretty hard to see at you know quite a large scale. So, we're going to break this down into sections and start in the northwest sector here. Um, so as vehicles approach uh the uh village from the north, uh we've introduced speed feedback signage along with flush medians uh to act as a gateway treatment. So, this really helps calm traffic and signal to drivers that they're entering a more active uh pedestrian focused area. Um but the star of the show here is definitely um main at Central Street intersection uh which you can

143see has been reconfigured to more of a T-type intersection. So this is really going to help slow turning speeds uh greatly improve your sight lines and really reduce the pedestrian crossing distances. Uh moving along Central Street, uh the roadway is widened slightly to accommodate sidewalks and bike lanes. Uh this intersection at the MBTA has also been realigned to eliminate the existing right turn slip lane. Uh this change greatly reduces bicycle conflict points um and also allows for a safer pedestrian crossing. Uh you've also see that we've integrated the do not block um intersection markings here. Um also worth noting that we are not proposing a crosswalk across Central Street at the TE station. Uh we did evaluate that as a possibility, but due to the existing speeds and just the limited sight distance out there,

144it wasn't considered the safest option. Um instead, a crosswalk is being proposed at the Prospect Street intersection just off the map here, and that will be implemented as part of uh the Central Street Complete Streets project, which this plan has been coordinated with. Uh continuing to our kind of north middle sector here, we're looking at the main and nylinder um way intersection. Um you'll see that that's been uh reconfigured to create a more compact layout. Um that once again slows turning speeds and improves visibility. Um, biggest thing here, the crosswalk, uh, the midb block crosswalk is located, um, to the north side of the intersection, uh, reducing the crossing from three lanes to two, and it also moves one of the existing ramps out of a driveway area. Um, this allows for an RFB to

145be installed here as well to enhance the driver awareness. Uh we're also proposing new ADA compliant curb ramps and reconstructing sidewalks throughout the area uh with proper delineation to improve accessibility and prevent that vehicle encroachment from happening. Um in addition, we're proposing to kind of just formalize driveway access along the western side of Main Street. You know, providing more clarity and kind of structure for all users. That being said, important to note that we are maintaining all of the existing driveways in response uh to requests from business owners to preserve their parking uh supply. And then moving to the middle area, this is really the core of the village area at Maine and school. Um so here uh we've introduced tighter curb radi and realigned crosswalks uh that will greatly reduce those crossing distances and

146better match the pedestrian uh desire lines. Um, the existing signal controller will be replaced to restore vehicle detection and allow optimized timing. Um, you also see that we're adding a little bit of southbound left turn storage. Um, along with striping to help improve visibility over the bridge crest. Um, you'll see that there are some pretty large curb ramps. Um, those will be there to support bicycle left turns and a shared use path connection will extend along School Street to link to the upcoming River Street project. Um and then moving towards the south section. So, uh in between Maple and High Street, our travel lanes are narrowed to slow speeds and create space for a northbound uphill bike lane that does not exist today. So, great improvement there. Um ADA compliant curb ramps with tactile warning

147panels are proposed throughout, but specifically at the Ericson driveway. uh tactile panels um will help alert pedestrians to the extended driveway crossing while preserving that truck access. Um once again at the southern end, another flush median and speed feedback sign will kind of mirror that northern treatment. Uh so this calms traffic, enhances visibility and uh safety at the high street intersection. Um moving to the eastern section, this is school street. Um, so School Street is reconfigured uh to narrow travel lanes and introduce a shared use path on the south side. Uh, replacing that informal on street parking that exists today. Um, the path narrows slightly near the main street bridge to avoid any structural work and those large uh ramps at Main Street will support the bicycle uh left turns. Um the original concept, for

148those who saw it, um originally had the path on the northern side, but public feedback uh led to this revision to help us preserve some critical residential parking on the north side. You'll see that there's a little bump out there. That's to facilitate the multif family housing. Um and it also better aligns with the River Street project, uh which will formalize one-way traffic and add a contra flow bike lane with a median refuge island. uh curb extensions will, you know, calm traffic and shorten those crossing distances. And there's a relocated midblock crossing uh with an RFB to improve visibility and reinforce uh safe pedestrian behavior at this intersection. And lastly is the western section at Maple Street. So Maple Street is a key connection between the Aspet River Rail Trail and the MBTA station, but

149currently lacks any formal bicycle accommodations. There were some marked uh bike lanes there previously, but they were never reinstalled after there was a repaving. Um even when they were present, there was a lot of illegal parking which essentially force eastbound cyclists into oncoming traffic. Um so several design options were explored here, including a two-way buffered uh bike lane on the southern side of Maple. But once again, uh great great public feedback. uh they raised concerns over safety um that on street residential parking loss uh and MBTA access specifically the bike racks um restricting eastbound uh bike travel was also considered but not recommended uh due to likely non-compliance and safety risk. So the final plan that you see here kind of balances all those needs in a kind of creative way here but we have

150buffered bike lanes that'll be added in both directions from Main Street to about 10 Maple Street uh west of 10 Maple Street. the westbound uh bike lane becomes a shared facility to preserve that access to the MBTA and the bike racks. Uh the eastbound lane then shifts a little bit to be able to retain some of that on street parking. And you'll see that there's the green back shar uh which will help provide some turning guidance here. Um, so to tie everything in together, the plan is, you know, really designed to coordinate with several adjacent efforts like the Central Street Complete Streets Project, uh, the River Street Project, and the project at 19 to 21 Maple Street, which will aim to reconfigure the Maple Street and Stow Street intersection with curb extensions to improve safety.

151So as far as implementation goes, we did do a preliminary cost estimate that was developed on a street by street basis um with intersections uh pulled out. Uh the total construction cost for the full study area is estimated at approximately 6.15 million. So that said, it is recommended that the town tackle this in a phased approach and use some creative funding sources uh like complete streets, mass works, housing works uh just to name a few. So, while beyond the scope of the study, several long-term strategies uh were identified that could help strengthen a South Active Village um parking, you know, it is available but poorly signed. So, improved wayfinding could certainly help visitors navigate and reinforce the village's identity. Um the main street and school street intersection is really delayed by, you know, obviously the

152the signal controller, but also signal phasing that's caused by its offset layout. So, a long-term fix may, you know, involve uh converting Railroad Street to a one-way and creating a rear circulation loop uh behind those businesses to help ease congestion, which would certainly require private property coordination and therefore was kind of outside the scope of this study. Um improving east west bike connections particularly across the main street bridge that remains a key priority. Uh there are some structural constraints that will require mass DOT coordination or consideration. Um and truly advancing that Asabet River Bruce Freeman rail trail connection remains vital for this area but also regional mobility. And then finally um some sidewalk gaps on Central Maple and Stow Street that are kind of outside our project limits uh really do limit access to some

153of these key destinations. So filling these gaps will really enhance safety and connectivity uh for those walking or biking into the village. So, as we wrap up here, um we're finalizing this conceptual study. As a reminder, it is a conceptual plan. So, additional funding uh will be required to move the project forward through design and ultimately into construction. Uh that said, there are a few elements, particularly lowcost short-term improvements such as, you know, the traffic controller and the video detection uh that the town may wish to advance sooner. uh these could help address some of those more immediate concerns while kind of setting the stage for these longer uh larger term improvements. So that said uh that's that's all I have. So any questions? Happy to take them. Thank you. Questions from the board. Fran,

154thank you Nicole. It's Nicole, right? Thank you so much. What a great presentation. And I just I don't have questions. I love the um the gradual tea uh connection on Central and Maine. I think that's awesome. Uh also, how creative is having uh both direction bike lane on Maple. Um I I I I love that idea. And I'm also glad you mentioned 1921 Maple because that project is underway. Uh they came to the historical commission last week and they're starting construction there. So it's exciting. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you, Alicia. Thank you so much, Nicole. Um I really appreciate that you were able to maintain those residential spots on Maple and School Street that um will make people very happy. And I I I echo what Fran said about um re realigning intersections, shortening crosswalks.

155Um the medians, I love those. I think that's really going to um improve pedestrian safety. I I'm I know that the businesses in that middle north section requested that their driveways be maintained. Um so this isn't really for you, but just for the board and staff. Um, I think that potentially eliminating one of those driveways may open up additional parking spaces. Um, and you did mention considering an improvement of circulation perhaps with uh, Railroad Street being one way or perhaps just um, reconfiguring those those driveways, maybe eliminating. I I think it it is definitely um in need of improvement for circulation and even even grading right there. So just wanted to to note that potential change. I do have one question. Um in the list of costed projects, is there any prioritization that took place

156there? Is that reflected in our complete streets plan or is that sort of just left up to the town? uh kind of left up to the town. Um there are definitely I mean a lot of these are in your complete streets prioritization plan. So Maine at central is pretty up there. Um I would also say main at school like the intersection just the signal controller that's more of like a lower cost in in the grand scheme of things a lower cost uh you know short-term improvement that can make a lot of um really great benefit in the area. uh just you know uh fixing the traffic and and making that a little bit more predictable um so that it is actually you know identifying real-time traffic conditions and and responding that way. So yeah, and

157just to add um this project got initiated because one of the select board goals a few years ago or um was the main and central intersection, but because of how busy it is here with all the intersections and then the various projects that we have on all the side streets, we wanted to kind of conceptualize how they all would connect and would work. So now that in my sort of my thought process and the next steps um and the select board having a goal of main and central and then on our townwide complete streets central street came up as the top priority. Um now that I have kind of an understanding of how we think we want to conceptualize South African village. I was planning to focus on the main and central intersection and start

158um looking at a 25% design kind of getting that started and then as you know we we're able to get funding at town meeting to replace the signal controller. So we're working on a scope for the equipment at least to get that in there so when we work on the main school street it's it's functioning but we can also easily adapt that to whatever changes we make there as well. Thank you. Uh Jim, hi. Uh this is a great plan. Very exciting to see. Um a few particular questions. Um uh Corey, could you assure me that Niander Way is a public way? Can we uh reconfigure it? That is correct. Yes. Great. Okay. Um the next one was um maybe a question for Nicole. um that that uh proposed future connector to the Bruce Frimman

159rail trail. Um I have and I think what you show on your map is basically uh a rail next to trail. Uh it's um Oh, you're finding it. That's so good. Um um it it basically showed it as uh Yeah. Yeah. as sort of like directly next to the tracks. Um I I also have this recent um uh map from um from MAPC uh from the landline project that shows that proposed connection instead going down um River Street. So I just want to make sure these two efforts were somehow communicating or in touch with each other. Um can you say anything about you know River Street versus going right next to the right next to the rails as far as the connector goes? Yeah, definitely. So, this that's shown in the map here. This is

160from kind of like the high priority mass trails um initiative and that's like a a whole, you know, other study. Um so, I took it from that, but I I am aware Corey actually sent me some of the stuff. there is an ongoing or they're to schedule at least a design cheret um for this kind of connector trail that will kind of you know be more of a green line um and you know have some offset connections and river street is one of those uh potential you know alignments. So, our kind of, you know, tie-in um using School Street and putting the shared use path on the south side um and improving that intersection at School and River River Street will be beneficial. Um obviously, this isn't like super preliminary planning uh stages. So, it's

161hard to tell exactly where those connections will be. Um but it will be super beneficial to the area once that kind of starts uh coming along. Great. Yeah, it was it was exciting to hear um the the MBTA uh what was his title? But he's he is working on rails uh trails next to rails and uh that if we could work that out there there is there is some night nice funding possibilities there. So it was whatever works out it's all good. Um, and the last question, um, maybe for either one of you, um, I know we had that early experiment on Central Street with, um, you know, what can you do with just striping to, uh, create some bike safety and, uh, was a little controversial at the time because there wasn't a real

162strong roll out or communication about what was going on. Uh but it does end up with um bike bike bike lanes that kind of appear and disappear as you go as you go out Central Street. And does that does how does that relate to the uh beginning part of Central Street that's part of the project area? Yeah. So definitely those kind of uh bike lanes that go from side to side, you know, it was beneficial um you know to have that uphill bike lane in certain you know directions. Um but you know Central Street is very windy. Uh it it does have some speeding issues so it's not the safest option um out there. Um, ideally you would want a dedicated facility for your bikes or um, you know, a buffered facility on a on

163a roadway like Central Street that does have, you know, quite a bit of traffic traveling on it and the speeds that it does. Um, so we've actually been working with Corey. Um, like we mentioned, Central Street was number one priority within the complete streets prioritization plan. So, uh, the town did go after a complete streets grant, um, to kind of focus on Central Street, um, particularly from Martin, uh, to the MBA MBTA station as like phase one of that roll out, um, which would put a shared use path on the southern side and a sidewalk on the northerly side. So, providing that shared use path on the southerntherly side, you have, you know, great access to the MBTA station there. um you know the long-term whole Central Street uh corridor that's kind of you know

164to be developed um but this is kind of that that main critical corridor um where you know a lot of people are using Central Street from Prospect Street to get to the tea um so creating that crosswalk there and really integrating these these two projects and these two initiatives together. Thanks. Um seems like a very solid plan. Thank you, David. Yeah. Uh, thank you for this uh really thoughtful plan that considers and and balances uh all sorts of needs. You did a great job here and it's concluding the the the the public feedback. Um I don't have any real questions, but I just wanted to say as a matter of history, there was one point when the the the train station was designed was only going to be uh accessible from the north side of

165the tracks. And at that time there was a design for a a bike bridge cantalie cantalvered off of the main street bridge um to get because they uh the uh bike path had to end at the train station. It couldn't end across the tracks in the train station. So the in order to get all the state funding for the the bike track bike trail, it had to end at the at the train station. So anyway, it there was a a consideration for a while of cantalievering a bike bridge off of the main street bridge. Hey, any uh questions? I think we had at least one person online that uh has hand raised. Uh online caller, I think it was Royce. Uh, if you'd care to uh speak up. You'll have to unmute yourself, Royce. You

166You're You're unmuted now, but we can't hear you. Are you speaking? Well, maybe uh I think he's having a problem with his microphone or something. Maybe you can take another person for a moment. Yes. Uh go ahead, man. I I have a question about uh number three School Street, which is supposed to be a coffee shop. And when we were looking at the plans, we were going to put parking along that street. and now you're putting a bike lane. So I didn't know whether you were going to have parking and a bike lane or parking or a bike lane. So I mean that that's what when we looked at those plans there was going to be on street parking for the coffee shop or whatever the heck it's going to be at at number three

167school street and doesn't seem to be there any longer. Yeah, this is uh this is conceptualizing um the approach and we've been working with Kristen Gishard and the in the plan department as they're looking at the options for that stretch. So, um there's going to be more coordination needed to kind of vet this out as as plans advance down School Street, but um trying to find a a good cohesive way that connected bike traffic getting to the train station and down to River Street. Um at least this way gives us a vision of how we hope and then it's just a matter of how do we make all the pieces fit. There's going to be more to come on that depending on how those properties come to be and how this how the road project

168go. But at least they can kind of visualize what we're thinking and then we can kind of see how that all fits together. Thank you. Other comments, questions. Okay. Um, I would be uh interested to see if we can get a uh a motion. Is is there a drafted motion? Otherwise, I I would move to uh ex accept the uh uh South Aken Village complete street study. Second. Moved and seconded to accept the uh the plan as submitted and described tonight. Other questions, comments from the board? Alyssa? So, it was my understanding, especially as it's written on as an agenda item, that this was a presentation and especially given what director York just said about this being conceptual and it will evolve and there's coordination. It depends on how things develop, you know, individual parcels.

169I'm just I'm not comfortable accepting a plan because I feel like this is not a plan. It's it's a study and there are proposed projects. Um I'm just surprised that we're we're moving to accept it. David, I did say study. I didn't say plan. I moved to accept the the the South Act and Complete Street study. Thanks. We're just receiving it. Yes. And I kind of um to me that means that we want to move forward with it, right? It we do have to go to through to get to 100% design on each of these things. I mean the the the thing that um Miss Chang brought up is an excellent example of the balancing, right? having the bike path on the other side makes it easier for parking in in front of the potential

170development there, but makes it harder to connect with the the the bike trail on on River Street or the sidewalk on River Street and and potentially harder to connect with um you know, getting bicycles down um Maple Street, but um you know, so it's you know, those trade-offs will continue to to happen, I think. Allesia. So I guess if we are um accepting this study then that gives staff the go-ahhead to say do the 25% design advancement on main and central etc. I believe so. All right. No they'll be back and you know we'll probably be going to town meeting to look for money. Okay. Um, all in favor of accepting the South Act and Village Complete Street study say I. I. I. Opposed. Abstensions. Passed unanimously. Thank you, Corey and Nicole. Thank you. Okay,

171I'll jump back. Try to get back on order here. Approve act in Boxboro Regional School District request to place wayfinding signage on Haywood Road. John, thank you. This is a request that came in. Um they're doing some wayfinding work and they identified that there was one that would be on Haywood Road, which is a town road. And uh we checked with planning and I believe uh it's not an issue unless Cory I think Cory checked to see if it was in the right of way. Cory, is he still here? Oh, we lost him. Um are there any concerns about this um sign being installed as proposed in the packet? Um and if not, we will say okay. I I looked at the uh at the photos and it appeared to me that the uh proposed

172sign was actually some distance outside the town right away on district property. So I uh it doesn't seem to me to be a a major issue. Um, Haywood Road I believe is only 40 foot wide rightway and it's bounded on the school side by the stone wall that's at the back side of the sidewalk. Sidewalk there's about 6 ft of road shoulder behind that uh well infested with the poison ivy and the stonewall and it looks like this sign's going to be behind that. So I I'm not I don't think it's a uh an issue for us. Here we go. Um it appears their proposed sign location it looks to be to me to be well outside the town rightaway. Those that row of trees basically is right in front of the stone wall which

173would be the back edge of the town rightaway. So it looks like it's on their property. David, can I just ask you a question? Dean, the the the top one is to the uh upper parking lot. Is the bottom one the same intersection just the other corner or is it is that other one down in uh by the tennis courts? Cuz I was thinking the other one was down by the tennis courts. And if so, it could be old Charter Road, in which case we may own it. Um, actually, if it's down by the tennis courts, that's not Old Charter Road. Um, the section of Charter Road that's still there actually is uh right at the uh directly opposite Charter Road itself. Okay. So, that's actually a that is a an access driveway that they've

174got that goes into um their complex, but Charter Road is probably another 3 or 4 hundred feet. It is actually at the uh corner by the uh privately owned daycare center. It's kind of funny that each of us is saying, "No, you own it." No. Um but um can could we approve it anyway? And if uh that we don't have an objection and I I mean a sign is not really I mean even if it was a we had to reconfigure the sidewalk or something in the future, moving a sign is not a big deal. It's Yeah, I I would be inclined to to approve it and tell the district to move ahead with it. So moved. Okay. Second. All in favor of uh approving this request from the uh school district, please say I.

175I opposed extensions. Thank you. Item 12, discuss act in Boxville regional school committee school assessment. John, we received correspondence from the chair about um actions that the school committee took last week and uh the board has the opportunity to uh call a town meeting if you wanted to uh have another vote or just uh consent by not doing anything to what they uh did at the meeting. And the the action taken was to change the assessment reducing it uh based on what they had estimated. Initially an estimated would be uh what they would be able to reduce the assessment by if state aid numbers came in what we had hoped and now that state aid numbers are where they are they they were able to reduce it. So that's my understanding of of why this

176is on the agenda. Um if there are any questions we can dig into it further. David. Yes. So actually it's an odd situation. their budget goes up, but our assessment goes down. And assessment goes down because they they promised that if they got this $150,000 back um through through a uh one set of state aid that they'd reduce the budget and they're just following through on that. Um I mean, sorry, and they reduce the assessment. They're just following through on that. But in addition, they are um increasing the budget based on chapter 70 aid that's anticipated on July 1st. Um, now that the budget is in conference committee, they're pretty darn sure that they're going to get it because all the bodies, the governor, the House, and the Senate, all agree that they that on

177the chapter 78. And so, they're pretty darn sure they could get it and they're able to um uh have fewer position reductions this year using some of that uh that money. So, that that the chapter 78 was increased to $150 a student this year. So, um, the budget's going up, which we could object to if we wanted to call a town meeting, but the assistance is going down. So, why would we object? Alicia, would you like a motion? I would. I move to consent to the reduction in the assessment from the Actton Boxboro Regional School District. Before that gets seconded, is there a suggested motion? Because I think the action that we would take here is to call a special town meeting. If we don't do anything, then nothing happens. So they want to hear

178from us. Oh, you're right. Yes. Because they would otherwise have to wait and they can't wait because they need to post positions and fill them. I second Ellis's motion. All right. We've got a motion if somebody wants to second it. David did. Okay. Moved and seconded uh to accept the lower consent to the lower uh assessment. All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Extensions. Done. Item 14. Approved notice of intent application by RH adhesives for 279 High Street. Um, John, do you want to speak on this? Would you like me to or Okay. So, our reach Adhesives um is a uh a small manufacturing operation down on Old High Street uh in a historic building and community preservation recommended and town meeting approved funding u to support some of their operations to uh to make

179the building preserve the building. from a historic point of view. Along the same lines, their attempt they uh have been working with conservation commission and zoning enforcement to get their site into compliance and eliminate some areas of of non-compliance as far as storm water and other issues in proximity to the wetlands. uh they've reached an agreement with the conservation commission um to initially they were going to build a trail and now what they are proposing and this was something that's been worked on and actually the notice of intent was co-signed by Cory York to build a rain garden to take some of the runoff water from uh old high street and infiltrate it into the ground and it the work is being done on a piece of town owned property, basically the access to the

180blue and green trail. Um they've been working with a number of folks in conservation including Ian Bergman uh and has previously worked with the town engineer and with Corey to come up with a design uh full design in a packet by Stamsky McNary which was in your packet uh describing it and basically and I don't envision any considering that they're doing this in response to a request from the conservation commission. I don't expect there'll be any issue there where we are the publicly owned land and where we are the stewards of that. They felt it would be appropriate to get a a letter of consent or a vote of consent from this board to allow them to do this work to improve this piece of town property at no cost to the town. It's uh

181anyone has any questions about this? Alyssa, thank you. I do recall that there was uh non-compliance I think related to the groundwater protection zone where a trailer was located. Um, has that trailer been moved or was that project the original project that resulted in the condition to grant the easement and then it was amended and now it's being amended again? It's basically correct. Um, there are number of it's a historic property. There are a number of areas of non-compliance that they're working their way through and I think this is hopefully the final piece u to get them over the hump with the conservation commission. Well, I'm always in support of a new rain garden. Um, considering I've been speaking about it, I will move to uh approve the nose for 10 application by RH adhesives

182at 279 High Street on behalf of the uh select board. Second. Moved and seconded. Discussion. All in favor by motion, please say I. I. I opposed extensions. Thank you. Item 15, approve appointment of Nina Pickering Cook from Anderson and Creger as town council with a term to expire on June 30th, 2026. I folks probably recall that select board has appointing authority over four individuals. Town manager, town clerk, town accountant, and town council. So, we need to approve uh Nah's reappoint or take any other action. If anybody would like to make a motion. Alyssa. I move to approve appointment of Nina Pickering Cook from Anderson and Creger as town council with a term to expire on June 30th, 2026. Second. Moved and seconded. discussion. All in favor say I. Thank you. I just Oh, I just

183wanted to say that um in the you know there are certainly a lot of situations that come up where we need either town council herself or a specialty attorney. And I've been pretty satisfied uh myself with attorneys that I've dealt with in various situations. So I just thought I'd make the comment before All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Extensions. Approved. Okay. Item 16. Uh I mentioned this briefly during our goal setting. I've been approached by folks from the conquered select board who uh wish to discuss uh issues of mutual interest regarding senior tax relief programs. They've done a couple of programs. Um they've rolled out a program on their own which is one that we've been thinking about and they wanted to have some regular contact uh to do they've got a task force

184looking at the implementation of some of their senior tax relief. So, um, they requested to see if we could get someone assigned to it, and I'm opening it up to see if anybody is interested in taking on this assignment. And Jim, um, I'm the leazison on to the non-existent, uh, tax relief committee and, uh, I did take the opportunity to, you know, get familiar with our current programs. So, uh, I'd be happy to take this on. I will say that um you know the people that do all the work are are the staff. So I would hope that you know somebody from the assessor's office would be involved in this communication because they know a lot more than I do. Yeah. I think I think they wanted to have kind of a brief meeting just

185to sort of set the stage. So, um, we have anyone else interested in wrestling gym for this assignment? Alyssa. wrong. So, I was actually going to volunteer for this um because I have been interested in learning about Conquer's residential tax exemption and I proposed as one of our goals to create a you know create a program with a subsidy similar to the childcare subsidy for senior tax relief. Um, but I'm really not interested in wrestling Jim out of this. You're handing it to me. Okay. Are you sure? You don't feel that strongly about it? Okay. Then I volunteer to do this. Okay. Then as chair, I will so designate you as being the representative and uh I will uh send an email out and include you on it so they know who to contact. Thank

186you. Jim will find something else for you. We'll find some markers. Yeah, I've got some long-term goals for um 17. announced revisions to operating hours for town hall and human services and senior center buildings starting July 1. John, thank you uh for this opportunity. So, uh I I think I mentioned at the last meeting and it's something that we've been discussing a lot lately, which is um staffing and recruitment and retention. We're going through uh what I would almost call a crisis with staffing. Uh I think we've in the past had issues with recruitment and retention in the fire department. Uh and before that it was public works and I think in both instances we made changes to the collective bargaining agreements that have made substantial improvements to those both departments and we're seeing the

187fruits of that right now. Uh however, with non-union employees and the folks that work in this building and some of our other offices, uh we're seeing turnover in areas that um are creating challenges for us as an organization. And uh we're at a point now where we've been working with staff. We've been talking to departments. We've been analyzing what other communities are doing. And I think there are a few areas that we can make improvements right away that will have an impact on recruitment and retention. So, um, one of those is town hall hours. And by town hall hours, I'm also extending that to other, uh, municipal offices that operate at the same hours as as we do, such as the human services building and a few others. So, um, over the last 5 years,

188we have seen significant changes to how the public uses our services. Uh remote and virtual services were introduced during the pandemic and have remained a primary option for many people in this community. Uh we have technology that allows for meetings, permitting activities, payments, licensing, and other services to be conducted online pretty much any time of day. Um the current hours we have in town hall, um we're open 42 and 1 half hours per week. Um, and I think staff work a 40-hour work week and we shift things around to make sure we can cover the full 42 and a half hours. People aren't really coming into the building as much as they used to. I think that um we're very busy in the morning. Uh, are busy and we track this. We have door counters

189like many libraries do that track in and outs. Uh, we have a lot of activities in the mornings, in the middle of the week, and then the rest of the week is pretty um, you know, appointment based or or sparse. um the number of hours that staff are in the office throughout the week is not as much of a factor in the provision of effective public services as it once was. And I think that's that's something that I wanted to kind of say. Uh and I think there's a new way of business with this online and and other things that we've been able to leverage, but our employees are doing both. They're working the full schedule like we used to 20 years ago and they're available every second of the day on their phones, responding

190to emails, uh addressing issues, uh providing services and so we're doing it all. Um we observed through exit interviews, engagement with staff that there are other communities that are paying similar providing similar benefits but have shorter work weeks. So it's something that we really feel is necessary. Um, you know, I think we talk about recruitment and retention. We talk about it's creating stress on our organization. Uh, we're having turnover. It's it's creating um people having to do more. Like every every when someone leaves, we have to find people to do their job. Uh, a lot of times it's Maryanne. And so she's currently doing three jobs. Um, and she's doing a great job with it. But seriously though, u we spend resources onboarding staff, we spend resources, training staff, and then uh there's a lot

191of work that goes into bringing someone into the organization. So, one thing that we want to do is we want to adjust our scheduled hours to reflect this new way of working and allow our employees to maintain a reasonable work life balance. Uh we've looked at data, we've talked to departments, we've looked at other communities, uh we've looked at the needs of the residents, and we proposed to change the town hall hours uh by reducing the afternoons by an hour Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and reducing the evening uh on Tuesdays by an hour and a half. We would still open the same time in the morning. Um the permitting office would still maintain its practice of being open even earlier than that to to help its contractor uh clientele get to work and out the

192door sooner. Uh and we would still stay open uh for extended hours during voter registration timelines and other times where the town clerk's office needs to have hours open longer. Um this change in town hall hours uh will not uh cost us anything. uh it will not impact services and I think it's going to be a welcome change. Uh it's part of something that we're several things that we're doing to improve uh recruitment retention. Uh the result would be changing folks that work a 40-hour work week to have them work a 36-hour work week. Uh we're also looking at other things to our benefit package such as increasing uh get getting people to acrew 3 weeks vacation faster. You used to have to wait five years. We'd like to change that to starting at two

193years, you get three weeks. Uh we're also introducing a longevity program which rewards employees with a one-time payment that that stay here longer than 5 years. This is something that I think most of the union contracts have. Uh but uh it hasn't been a program available to non-UN. So, we're doing that uh going forward. So all these modest investments in our non-UN employees outweigh the significant cost to the organization of having to continue to contend with turnover and difficulty in recruiting for key positions. Um we'll still be open 38 plus hours a week and then we will work with um some of the other buildings like the human services and senior center building. Those hours would stick the same they would carry the same hours over there. Um, other buildings like the recreation building have

194a little bit different hours because of the program that they offer. The libraries will have different hours because of the programmings that they offer. And any changes to service hours will be discussed with the trustees. Uh, but the full-time work week will change from 40 to 36. So, we're investing in our employees by finding ways to uh keep them with the same salary but reduce their weekly work uh schedule hours and recognizing the fact that they're working tirely for us around the clock. So, that's a long way of saying that the hours will change starting the first week of July. Um I'm certain that the public will not um be impacted by this. uh but if they are uh we'll we'll address it and and look at ways that we may need to revise this

195further and I appreciate your input and the feedback you've given us to date and I would welcome any additional ideas um that you have for us to consider as we look at other ways to improve recruitment and uh retention in our organization. comments. David, uh, just a quick question and not not a not a prompt for anything, just a a question. You you decide to leave the opening time at uh 8:00 um rather than 8:30 or something because of that increased customer traffic in the morning. Yeah, we we've had several conversations with different uh departments and traffic flow varies from department to department, but overall um there's an overwhelming difference that we saw the first half hour of the day would get more use from the public than the last half hour. Um so that's

196why we shifted it to keep it at 8 a.m. instead of starting at 8:30. Thanks, Alicia. I have a a question similar to David's. I remember that the Friday uh workday was reduced in order to provide that evening on Tuesday. And I know that you said you have counters to track how many people are coming in. So people are not really taking advantage of that evening. um the town hall is open to come in after work if they're say commuting home around 6:00. So this isn't really going to impact people's ability to get services if if we switch over on Tuesday to closing at 6. Yeah, we we really I I think when when it first started, which I think was 200 maybe early 2018 uh 19, we saw it being used. I think that

197was uh a welcome benefit to the community to be able to come here at 6:30 and and interact with staff. Uh but since that time and particularly since things change a lot in 2020, it's really slowed down. I think we'll occasionally have someone coming in that wants to get married in the clerk's office. Um and uh but those are often by appointment. um people that are coming to do business in the permanent counters. Uh whether it's, you know, contractors or or homeowners that are curious, they they haven't really utilized those later hours. Um and if they have, it's been by appointment. And we would maintain, you know, that opportunity. If someone says, "I can't get there till 6:00." We say, "Okay, we can meet you at I mean, I can't get till 6:30." We said,

198"Okay, we'll meet you at 6:30, I think." Uh and we do that anyways. Um, so the most traffic that would come to the building would be for the Tuesday night meetings. The town hall has a lot of meetings in it on Tuesday nights and so there would be traffic, but it I think a lot of it would be for that. Uh, anyways, I just want to follow up to say that I think we talk a lot about how our acting community is a global community. people living here from all over the world and folks that have moved here from Europe would completely understand and applaud us for this um move towards better work life balance. Brian, I was even going to suggest cutting the Tuesday hours back even more. I don't know if that fits

199into um the overall numbers. Um also, how does this apply to uh staff that um support committee meetings? Um because I always hate to go home and then have to go back out again, you know, as a rule. But yeah, thank you for the questions. We we thought a lot about that. Um, we think that even though the the later Tuesday didn't get used as much as we thought it would, we think that people have become accustomed to that. And um, they've also been accustomed to the hours on Fridays. And so we felt like we were in a good spot to leave it the way it was or the way it is uh, relatively, but and reduce the the to 6 p.m. we don't think it would have an impact. Uh in terms of the

200question you had afterwards which was um about uh staff. Oh yeah. I mean they do that anyways. So right now they would be here from 8:00 to 7:30 and then the meeting would go till 9:30 and that's and that's how long they'd be here or or a night like this. We'd be here till whenever. So I think that'll continue and we we we'll do our best. I think the select board uh has started a practice potentially of meeting at 6 PM with the eye towards having things wrap up sooner. Um I think other committees may may follow suit and and look to where available schedule meetings during business hours so that it doesn't have the same impact to on staff. Uh but to some degree this is what we have signed up for. Um it's

201the line of work that we're in. But any any improvements that committee members are willing to to make to that um effort, we we would surely appreciate. Thank you, Jim. Um just my thanks for the careful way you've thought this through. Um, I this this makes sense to me and um I hope that it helps with the you know retention and recruitment crisis we're in and I think it will. Okay. Um, would anyone like to make a motion to approve or confirm? Yep. Support Jim. Yeah, I was just going to say I think this stuff is entirely within the purview of the town manager um, you know, as the way he works with his staff. But I'm happy to have a vote of of support for this change. I would move that we support these

202changes. Okay. Got a second. Second. Moved and seconded. Comments. All in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. Abstensions. Okay. Item 18. appoint Nathan Ryan as alternate representative for Actton for the Boston Regional Metropolitan Planning Organization. Um he works in our those of you who haven't met him, uh he works in our planning department and we've got an issue with um lack of availability for some of the uh the other planners. Well, I will move to appoint Nathan Riot as alternate representative for act of the Boston Regional Metropolitan Planning Organization. Second. Second. Second. Moved and seconded. All in favor say I. I. I. Opposed extensions. Thank you. Item 19, approve a three-month extension for the memorandum of understanding with ACT and TV with the same terms as the expiring agreement. Um, so it's a 10-year agreement

203uh which work should have begun to renegotiate it or look at it. Um, that didn't happen. It came to our attention uh within the last week and the existing contract expires at the end of the month. We don't have time to discuss or to do anything on it if we want to keep acting TV operational. Would anybody like to make a motion along those lines? Oh, John. Sorry. I just wanted to take a moment to you to recognize that this the funding for acting TV comes entirely well other than some other their own fundraising that they do majority of the funding for acting TV comes from the town of Actton uh through the fees that we the revenue that we get from the cable access uh agreements that we have with the major cable providers.

204So for people that are wondering what this is about, that's that's why we have an agreement with them is because the agreement is to provide them with the funding and they provide the services. Uh and I was hoping that we could have a discussion with the board and if you have a desire to include the communications advisory committee, which I can't remember whether or not they were involved in this in the past, uh that would be fine too. But uh 10 years, the next 10 years is a lot different than the last 20 years. Which of these two agreements focused on? So, thanks for for putting the putting this on at the last minute, Mr. Chair. Um, yeah, I think some of the discussions I've had with folks over there is, you know, decreasing revenue

205because people aren't using the uh the Verizon and Comcasts as they have been in the past. So, and that seems to be pretty much a nationwide problem. So, um hopefully in the next couple of months, um we can get a new agreement, understand exactly what they're looking for. Um who's our representative to cable TV France, busy summer, I will check in with them. Yeah. Are you um thinking just to overlook, you know, looking over theou and if what their involvement is? Yeah, I would I would think so. Um and they some of those folks might be more attuned to, you know, exactly how bleak the revenue projections might be. So know exactly what the implications are and cuz believe Mike Gowing is the head of ACT and TV. So great. Thank you Jim. Um yeah

206so as you said um you know people are switching to direct internet and even if you get that from the same provider it doesn't provide revenue into into the into act and TV. Um so the related challenge is um the contract with Verizon uh and and um whoever the other provider is um Comcast, thank you of course um you know to to beef up the revenue if we really want to keep Act and TV uh doing what it's doing now. But I I totally agree that starting with just, you know, taking the current contract and extending it for three months is a good start, but we're we're really um we're really in a hard place with the future of Actton TV. Okay. Would anyone care to make a motion? David, I move to approve uh

207a three months extension to theou with acting TV uh keeping the same terms and agreements um uh during this period. Thank you. Second. Moved and seconded. All in favor say I. I. Opposed? Abstensions. Okay. Mr. Chair, do you want one more motion? I believe so. I think we've beaten this one to death. I move to adjurnn. Second. Second. Okay. All in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. Extensions. We're done. Thank you. Well done.