Thank you very much. I'd like to start by doing some introductions while you take your seats. Over to my right, starting from the end, coming this way, Sean Copelan, Chris Tvaris, Janice
Livingston, chairman of the select board, our town manager, Robert Pmpreion. To my left, your right, we have Jonathan CR, chairman of the planning board. Nathan King, we expect soon member vice
chair of the planning board. We have Andrew Cely who is vice chair of the finance committee and F you all disappeared there for a moment and F excuse me Kurt Prescowski chairman
of the plan of the U finance committee. We also have here uh in the room with us this evening Mark Rich who is a town councel and Susan Copeland our town clerk who I'm going to ask to read the return of
the warrant. Good evening. Town of Air special annual fall town meeting warrant. Air Shirley Regional High School Auditorium 141 Washington Street Air Massachusetts 01432 October 27th 2025 at 7 p.m. Commonwealth
of Massachusetts Middle Sex County. Greetings. In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of air qualified to vote in town elections and affairs to meet in the auditorium of the Air
Shirley Regional High School located at 141 Washington Street Air, Massachusetts on Monday, the 27th day of October, 2025 at 7:00 in the evening then and there to act on the following articles.
hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereof to the town clerk before the date appointed for said meeting given under our hands this 7th day of October AD 2025 Janice Livingston chair Christopher E
Tavaris vice chair Sean Copeland clerk >> thank you very much >> I just have to do I'm sorry I had to flip a page >> oh please do >> a true copy of test Susan E Copeland town clerk dated October 10th 2025. As directed in the foregoing warrant, I
have this day posted three attested copies in three public places, one of which was the town hall at least 7 days before said meeting. All as herein directed, Samuel A. Goodwin Jr., constable, dated October 10th, 2025.
>> Thank you, Mr. Too. >> Mr. Moderator. >> Yes. >> Uh Dennis Curran, Pleasant Street. If I might ask for your indulgence, there are still a number of people uh quite a few people in the lobby checking in for the
town meeting. Could we pause for five minutes until they've been able to take their seats? >> Uh thank you for the idea, but I'm going to continue. We have started the meeting. I have a couple more comments.
Um first off, limits of the floor. Voting members sitting in the three sections down below, spectators in the seats along the back. Other individuals who are admitted to the floor are town department heads and other in town employees who have
business on today's warrant. In order to speak, please stand at a microphone to address the meeting. And when you address the meeting, please state your name and address. Absent any objections,
I'm going to dispense with the reading of the articles as they appear in the warrant because we get to them each time we have an article. Thank you. Brings us to article one, zoning bylaw amendment section 3.5.8,
site plan review calculation. Miss Livingston, >> sorry, Mr. Moderator. I move that the town vote to amend the air bylaws chapter 3 320 zoning article 3 section 3.5.8
site plan review calculation by deleting the striketh through text as contained in article one as printed in the warrant. >> Seconded. >> It's moved and seconded. Thank you. I believe we have a brief uh a brief presentation on this from the town
planner Danny Ruiz. Can we go to the next page, Sam? Can you go to the next page, Sam? >> All right. Um, under section 3.5.8, it's the site plan review unit calculation. So under this section, uh this calculation was implemented in uh
October 22nd, 2018. Um as part of the open space residential bylaw, uh it was used to calculate how many units would be allowed within this bylaw. In October of 2019 at the special town meeting,
this calculation was amended in a way by adding a yield plan to the open space residential development bylaw. That new yield plan was used to now calculate how many units would be used or allowed
within those uh those de developments. So this calculation that exists currently, it has not been used since uh 2018. Uh so this uh amendment would just remove that section of the bylaw and
then any project that would come forth under site plan review that does not fall under the OSRD which is the open space bylaw uh would just use the schedule of dimensional requirements which if you can go on the next page
this is basically the breakdown for each zoning district. It gives out requirements of what parcels need to have for setbacks, open space, height, um minimum requirements for uh maximum building coverage. So all different
types of criteria for each of those projects. So any project that would come forth would have to comply with this. Thank you, Danny. Do we have any questions? Ruth Max and Schult 17 Taff Street and
um I don't know what month it was sometime this summer I approached the planning ward and told them that I wanted to present before the town a a farming by not a farming bylaw or
anything just Excuse me. Ruth, >> excuse me. >> Is this is this germaine to this article? >> Yes, it is. Because if I can't get all it does is finding say the error is a right to farm committee makes it that you know more specific that we follow
the law of the states instead of letting things happen to our farms. And I told them about that and I told them that if I didn't get that that if the town doesn't want a farm in there that's okay. pages. I wanted to use the the zoning. >> I'm sorry, Ruth. Excuse me. >> No, excuse me.
>> I I I don't understand how this is gerine to this article. >> Okay. I wanted to use this bylaw which was called cluster zoning as my as what how to develop my property. I thought it would be the best way to
develop the property and now it's being asked to be taken away from possibility of that. Uh can I just clarify on that? That's not what we're doing here. Um the cluster development uh section that you're talking about, it's called the
open space residential bylaw. Yes. >> And within it, there is a new yield plan which was implemented after uh this calculation was put into the bylaw. That's what governs how you uh calculate the units that are allowed in the uh project. What we're removing here is the
old calculation which is no longer being used. Uh, it's not being used now. >> Correct. Has not been used since 2018. >> Well, this doesn't mean it can't be used in the future. >> It hasn't been used, but it doesn't be.
>> Excuse me. I think I think you've got your answer, Ruth. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Other questions, comments? Seeing none,
all in favor, please say I. I >> opposed. >> The motion carries. Thank you, >> moderator. >> I'm sorry. The motion carries by 2/3. Thank you. Article two, please.
>> Mr. Moderator, >> Mr. Mr. Tvarus, >> I move that the town vote to amend the air bylaws, chapter 320, zoning, article 3, section 8.2.3, scope of authority, and section 8.2.8,
variances by deleting the striketh through text and inserting the underlined bold text as contained in article 2 as printed in the warrant. >> Seconded. >> Moved and seconded. Thank you. Do we have any discussion? Seeing none. All in favor?
>> I oppose. Motion carries by 2/3. Article three. Mr. Moderator. Mr. Copeland. I move that the town vote to amend the air bylaws chapter 320 zoning article 9 section 9.1.2
A.B. off- streetet parking requirements by deleting the striketh through text and inserting the underlined bold text as contained in article three as printed in the ward. Seconded thank you. I've just been reminded to say that we have on each one of the
zoning articles a report from the planning board and that they have supported them. >> It was seconded. >> It was moved and seconded. Thank you. I was trying to do two things at once. Danny, do you have a piece on this? >> Uh yes. Uh so if you can go to the next
page, it'll just be easier. Um so in this outlined area that's in red, this is our formbbased code. uh the downtown air forbased code section and this change would only be in effect in the downtown air forbased code area. What
this change would promote would be to reduce the parking requirement from one space per unit within residential to half a space which would then promote uh development within the downtown air um form code area. We have been working
with um potential developers and potential property owners uh to promote in uh shared agreements with uh future projects um which would then use uh businesses from that are in the downtown
area and share those parking spaces with proposed new projects that would then reduce the amount of parking that would be required on street or need to be built. they would have the shared agreement in a in a um actual written format which would then be reviewed by
town council. Um and this would help promote uh bring residential units to the town of air to help increase the amount of inventory we have and as well as bring some commercial and retail to the downtown area which would then help
revitalize the downtown. >> Thank you, Danny. Do we have any questions? Miss Naring, >> Lori Naring, uh, Highland Avenue. Um, my question is pertaining to all of the different units and homes that are in
this particular area. And it seems to me that they may already have parking problems, not enough parking for the various residents that live in those buildings. And I'm wondering if you've spoken, you said you've spoken to some of them, but I'm wondering if anybody who's here can speak to that if uh you
have had issues with parking because I know if I lived in one of these places, I would be concerned about going to half the parking spots available. Is anybody here able to speak to that? Okay, I'll just express my concern then.
>> Thank you, Miss Wy. Um Sarah with the 11 grunt and Shirley Road. Um I just had a question about article 3 because I was researching over the last week. I've been trying to follow the public hearing and the meeting minutes which I appreciate that you posted from September 9th. I think very helpful. But
then last night I'm just like, "Oh, I'm just going to check one more thing on the town website and bingo." You know, you guys are having a public the planning board is having a public hearing tomorrow and a site plan, a special permit like right in one of the properties. And it's just like it's just like what's really happening here? You
know, is that plan just a standalone plan? Does that have anything to do with this? It will be affected by this. >> So this project is already been submitted. So it does not get the benefit of this >> unless it's resubmitted. It doesn't really matter to me. It's just kind of
like over like I just want to know. You know what I mean? It's just confusing. >> Yeah. So uh that project was already submitted. It had does not get the benefit of this. future projects would get the benefit of it. Um but not the one that's currently before us.
>> Thank you, Miss Sudmire. >> Good evening. Beth Sidmer, Nasha Street. Um, I just wanted clarification on the process here because you've said that town council would review agreements that would be in place between existing
um, parking owners that might enter into agreements with potential developers. Um, but but this seems like it is a byright opportunity yet you're saying we would the town would somehow review it. But, you know,
I'm just trying to navigate the difference between um special approvals for reducing by half the parking requirements versus what seems to be a a by right. You know, that the option always exists for the planning board to
have jurisdiction to make these kinds of determinations, but this, you know, is saying that they would have that right. Yet, you're saying there is some kind of a town review that would transpire. I think that, you know, I I'm I'm certainly in favor of reducing, you
know, unnecessary parking requirements, and I would certainly be in favor of reducing some of the other ones that are listed in the prior part of this, um, um, article, the, you know, the bylaw in question, um, where there's some
requirements for two or one and a half and things like that. But this is, you know, like already very congested area and not being the type of community that has a tremendous I mean, we have we have some good opportunities and growing opportunities for public transit. But,
you know, I just want to make sure that we have um the circumstances in place that will allow this not to come back and be a problem for the community. >> Yep. So, um you are correct. There is a by right and then there is also special per. So what this would promote is this
is the by right change which would be automat it would say that u residential units within the formbbased co the downtown formbbased code would be required to produce half a parking space per unit. So, if you had a development that 12 units, there'd be six spaces that would be required on site. And as
part of that, the special permit portion, which um I referenced earlier, was a separate section in the bylaw that requires for shared parking agreements to uh be approved through the planning board as a special permit process and that gets reviewed as uh by town
council. Um in terms of uh affecting the downtown area, we have been working with these businesses. is we've been looking at um making some changes on some signage for the downtown area like West Street and um some looking at the
parking plan that's already been put in place to see if we can make any changes there because of during COVID postcoid um the amount of parking that uh is being used on street has been massively reduced because of working at home the
mart uh garage. So a lot of these changes have um changed the the uh outlook on parking downtown. We are al the town is also looking at look um approaching private properties uh uh propert private property owners to uh
look at expanding potential uh parking areas near the downtown to expand um the infrastructure for parking down there as well. >> Thank you. Conley, >> please. >> Mr. Moderator, it's Pauline Connley from
Cambridge Street. Sorry you didn't see me. >> I There's a There's a light in my eyes. You can barely see anything. >> It's awful out there. I I've been there. Um I just have a clarification question. This uh bylaw recommendation says
downtown/park street formbbase code in the T6 um downtown area. I'm not clear on the map because I can't see it that well. Um this does not extend to West Main Street.
>> This does not extend to uh West Main Street. >> Any reason for that? Yes, those parcels down on west um the west main street uh formbbase code, those parcels are much larger parcels can that can accommodate parking on site. As you know, the downtown has much smaller parcels and
that's what makes it difficult for any uh development to actually be able to um come down there. >> Is West Main Street in the T6 district? >> So, the T T6 district is a reference within the formbbased code. So, um, the
West Air Village has its own T6. The downtown also has its own T6 section. >> So, and and the amendment is to remove that T6 section. It's so that it's the overall downtown. >> So, West Main Street remains its own
separate T6. >> That is correct. >> That's unfortunate, but thank you for the explanation. So, I'm not going to make a motion for anything because I'm not really sure how to do that right now. But I just want to say I was really swayed by what Miss Suder said, >> please. >> What?
>> Do you have a question for the >> No, I don't. I was actually just going to make a statement. >> No, that's not allowed. Not at our town meeting. >> Is it to Is it to this? >> I'd like to make motion to reject this article. >> Second.
>> It's out of order. Well, that's fine. It'll help me. >> We >> Mr. Moderator, >> I'm over here. Sorry. >> Yes. >> So, just to help you, the motion is already on the table. >> Yeah. >> And then we would just vote yes or no. There doesn't need to be a separate
motion. >> Yeah. We We are discussing a motion that's been seconded and you can vote on that motion. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Any other com any other comments or questions
hearing? None. Again, this seeks two/3s majority. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. No. >> Carries by 2/3. Article 4 zoning bylaw amendment section
10.1.5 OSRD density bonuses. >> My turn. Mr. Moderator, M. >> I move that the town vote to amend the air bylaws chapter 320 zoning article. Am I in the right one? Yeah. Article 10, section 10.1.5,
density bonus by deleting the strikethrough text and inserting the underlined bold text as contained in article 4 as printed in the warrant. >> Seconded. >> Thank you. Moved and seconded. Do we have discussion on this article? Yes, please.
>> Julianne Govang, 34 Graten Harvard Road. Um, please correct me if this is the incorrect place to do this, but when I asked the planning board at the last meeting when this was discussed about an issue, we couldn't get it to council for an approval of language in time to get
on the ballot. So, I was told to bring it to town meeting. And the question is, and I believe it regards the uh section A of this, and I was just asking for some additional language that
would allow uh Abutters and residents of the town to be better represented and protected from incoming applicant proposals. So something as simple as um other geological
interests, etc., a maximum of 10% and somewhere in there not imposing on existing a butter privilege of privacy, privilege and quality of life. So essentially what this is is when a an
applicant brings a development proposal to the planning board, one of the things that should be considered is a pro proximity to a butters, what they're going to be doing to the abutter land such as blasting, pulverization on site,
that type of thing. um reciprocal things that come down the line from these things. These things should be initially considered. So I asked somewhere in this bylaw and I actually don't remember where we talked about putting it in but that was the language
that I asked for something that just better protects residents from incoming applications whether it's private property or otherwise. So I would ask, are you suggesting an amendment to this article? >> Yes.
>> Do you have it in writing? >> I wrote down what I just said, but the language that I said originally in the meeting, which I guess would be in the minutes from the prior meeting that I discussed it um was we tossed around a few different things and I was told to bring it to town meeting.
>> Excuse me for a moment. >> Of course, >> Attorney Rich, I'm going to ask a question. I'm a little >> Thank you, Mr. moderator through you. Um I don't believe that there was a a suggestion to bring it to town meeting. I think the the indication was that that
was not something that was going to be considered by the planning board. But the concern here is that's what what's being proposed is uh is more restrictive on on developers who would not have been warned of a a more restrictive bylaw. And generally what happens when you when
you present an article in at on on on the warrant of town meeting that kind of uh sketches out the four corners of the allowable action and it's difficult for with with respect to zoning articles it's difficult to sometimes determine what is more or less restrictive but uh
a language like this first of all it's it I it's not entirely clear what's being asked but if I heard what was being asked it's it it it introduces what may be some some vague language but also it becomes more restrictive on developers and users of their property who were not given a warning that this
additional restriction would be placed on the development of their property. So that that is a concern. >> Thank you. >> Does that answer your question? >> It does except it's also a concern to future residents that literally some just went through it and we had no turn
recourse and now I'm just trying to prevent that from happening to someone else ahead of time. >> Thank you. And I'm going to I I believe what attorney Rich has told us is this is something that needs to go before the planning board and then be agreed on by the planning board and brought to town meeting as a change in our bylaw.
>> Okay. So I go back to the planning board who couldn't get it on tonight's agenda and told me to bring it up tonight. I go back to them again and say, "Can we try this again?" So the process, excuse me for a minute, the process for bylaws
is they go to the the planning board or the other organ in this case the planning board writes a bylaw. It has to go to a hearing through the hearing process. It ends up as a warrant article and it ends up here before the town to make a decision upon. And what you're
asking is us to walk around that process this evening. What I'm asking is that applicants are forced to consider existing residents and if I have to come back to the planning board I'm happy to do that and that's why I asked please give me the process to do that but initially I was
told to come here with this and that's why I'm here. So thank you so much. >> Thank you. Um I believe I'm sorry. Thank you Lori. >> Lori Nearing um Danny this is for you. I'm guessing you
have a um fairly detailed presentation to explain this. Um I was quite involved along with several other people here with the OSRD very recently on a large project that impacts my neighborhood and it's a very confusing bylaw and I'm
guessing most of the folks here don't really understand the impact and the changes that you're suggesting. Uh the attorney just mentioned that this is making things more strict and I would like a really good explanation of what each component of this bylaw means. Um
in particular, I'm concerned that it it appears that you're removing um the requirement for uh inclusionary housing or maybe it's somewhere else. Um you're removing the requirement to encourage
and support um solar installations. That's what it appears like to me. So, I'd like to ask if it's through the moderator if we can have a better explanation of these changes. >> Yep. >> Yeah. D have it. >> Yep. All right. So, um regarding the
first change, which is um section A, that uh was to really clarify uh the calculation so that it would be using whole numbers and get rid of any fractions. Um the next one would be uh
regarding the uh public and uh this is under the first density bonus for 10%. Um we added in uh we we removed the word uh significant and added in uh the word public instead of town so that the
planning board had more of a um direction in what they wanted to consider. it was um a benefit towards not a benefit to the town but a benefit for the public. Um and then we also elaborated a little bit more on what could be considered a benefit. Um under
section B that is the old reference for the inclusionary housing bylaw um inclusionary housing calculation for the affordable units. Um that calculation differs from the newest one that we had
implemented uh in 20 uh 2024. Uh that inclusionary housing bylaw is now being referenced in this section. So the old reference is being removed and now the newest bylaw is being referenced in that section. And then
on the last section which is D, we're removing the solar on that one because it's already a requirement of the building code. So um it was almost redundant. We would be giving them a density bonus for something they were already required to do. So we didn't
feel like that was necessary. So what we did was we wanted to remove that and add in a different type of bonus which would be for if a developer were to come in with uh units of 1,600 square f feet or smaller which would incentivize um uh
smaller units which are more affordable. You know uh our we've been working towards promoting more affordable units so as to avoid those 2200 foot houses that are 800 900,000. We're trying to build in an incentive to promote the
smaller units so that uh air is more affordable. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Monterey. I yield to the gentleman on the on the >> gentleman sat down. Pauline, >> do you want to do you want No. All right.
I am going to recommend to the assembly that we >> Excuse me. Pauline, please identify yourself. >> I did already. Pauling Conley, Cambridge Street. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. >> I'm going to recommend at least as >> Can you step forward to the microphone? Thank you. >> You can't hear me.
>> No, >> I'm shocked. >> By all means, step forward. Be brave. >> I can't get any closer without kissing. >> Thank you. >> Um, I'm going to recommend to the assembly that for the time being we vote
down Article 4. There's a lot of complexity. Many of us in this room have participated in the recent approval of the uh development I don't know what to call it other than that at 38 Grten Harvard Road which included multiple
conversations about density. This particular article seems to permit a developer to add two atmarket rate units for one, 1600 square foot or less
quote unquote affordable unit, which does not augment our affordable uh >> inventory. >> What's the word? I'm looking inventory. >> Inventory. Thank you, Danny. Those two are not a they're not um they're not one
in the same thing. that >> I understand that >> but it does appear the way this is worded in plain language >> for every unit 1600 square ft or less which you described as being affordable
>> small a affordable >> for every unit built the applicant can request for up to two additional units up to a maximum of 30%. I presume those additional units would be market rate units.
>> So all so the 1600 foot ones are still market rate as well. So when I say affordable I'm not talking about in like SHI units. That's the inclusionary housing. I'm talking about affordable as in 500,000 not 800 900,000. There's a
big difference when we talk about big A affordable, which is the SHI inventory, and then there's small A affordable, which is really what we're trying to promote right now, so that there are more affordable units that people can buy, like new homeowners and people who are trying to downsize. That's really
what this is about. And one of the big thing is this is a special permit. So the planning board still has the authority to it's a four-fifths vote. So all so four out of five have to vote a yes on this and it still gives them the ability to review it and deny it if they
don't feel this is right for the project. Moderator there has been such an outcry of the building of homes in air for people who
cannot afford them. there is limited ability for people who can afford to live in air. I would suggest that article 4 is only going to increase the ability of the planning board to
increase the number of unaffordable units for those who need housing. We need housing. We need affordable housing. This particular density bonus um change in my opinion for what it's worth seems
to add more unaffordable housing housing based on planning board decision than affordable housing based on inclusionary and master plan recommendation. So again, I say to the assembly, I suggest we all say no to this. Look at it
closer. Figure out what's better for air and come back what in two years. That would be my suggestion. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. >> Thank you, >> Miss Gazera. >> Hi there. Uh Rachel Kazera, 30 Graten
Harvard Road. Um I was just wondering would you mind explaining uh what other geological interests etc means with regard to um uh a >> I would turn this over to Heather. She
can elaborate >> Heather Hamson our >> Thank you Danny. Heather Hamson our um conservation agent will be taking this question. Thank you, Heather. >> Oh, you're welcome. Um, to answer that
question, um, when we think of a geological feature, um, that'd be more like a rock face, a giant boulder. If any of you remember when um Shaker Mill Pond came before the conserv uh for the planning board for their OSRD, there was a giant boulder that was found on the
property that decided to become thanks to the work of the conservation commission and their recommendation became part of the open space and was saved. Um, so we're looking at more or less like a um, any of you are familiar with the oak hill in Littleton? A chasm
that's found on the property, any sort of geological feature made from glaciers, uh, um, waterfalls, anything like that that's not specifically listed currently. So, we're just trying to add more things that we can protect in the open space to
create more of a of that nature stuff. Sorry. >> Okay. >> Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. Further comments or questions, >> Lori Nearing. Um, so it's it's sort of
hard for us to weigh in on on this. This is, as we've said, it's very complicated bylaws and, um, those of us who have been involved in a very recent discussions of OSRD are really concerned that there are serious flaws in this. So, I'm going to um also suggest that we
vote against this and reconsider the way the wording is and the impact on affordable housing as has been explained by um Miss Connelly. >> Thank you. Further comments or discussion, >> Miss Sudmire.
>> Thank you. Uh Beth Sudmire, 16 Nasha Street. Um, I think that there are a lot of people who've been playing paying attention to the implementation of the open space bylaw, development bylaw, and
it has been very frustrating um to consider the density bonuses that we've seen and that the implementation is really first and foremost intended to protect the desirable open space
characteristics of a property. property and it doesn't seem like that always happens in the fashion that the bylaw might be intended. And so when we think about offering changes to the the density bonuses, I just really feel like
we need to be very careful because I don't think that we're achieving the goals that the bylaw is currently setting out to achieve. And when we propose a change like this, whenever whenever I commented at the public hearing, I requested that for,
you know, a number of these bylaws, including the parking one that we just considered, that we would see examples of implementation with, you know, like fictitious parcels just so that we could better understand what we would be getting out of this.
And I, you know, I I I don't know that we want to strike that we want to necessarily vote no on all the changes, but I think that um striking the changes that are proposed for D
might be a way to get some of the I I think I think just eliminating the solar part and as well eliminating the density bonus for the smaller um units at this time until we have a better opportunity
to review and consider it. But that would again that would take a motion from someone saying that we would make that amendment on the floor. I don't know what the planning board has
thoughts. Anyone has thoughts? >> Are you asking a specific question, Beth? table it so that it would be reconsidered. All right. So, >> excuse me, Beth. >> Okay, I'm gonna allow
>> So, Ken Disc, I'm a member of the planning board. Um, thank you. >> Sorry, Ken. We >> Ken Disc 180 Washington. >> No, no, Ken. Excuse me. We had somebody already waiting at the microphone. >> Thank you. You You'll get your chance, please. >> Uh, thank you, Ken. Um, for yielding.
Uh, I have a I I have a >> You got to identify yourself, please. >> Eileen Donovan Crayons, 46 Washington Street. I apologize. >> Thank you, Eileen. >> Uh, I'm not usually at um town meeting. I have problem with my neck and I usually I can't it's hard for me to sit that long in in these chairs. So I have
a point of confusion. I I'm I'm I'm confused about whether we're asking for specific questions uh regarding you know various points and ABC c um or whether we're having argument so or and
commentary. So I'm I'm kind of confused. Are we are we looking for, you know, specific responses or are we open to argument and commentary? Because those seem like very different things to me. Aren't we looking for specific points?
>> Thank you. Um, if I may take a moment, warrant articles are presented to the town meeting for discussion and for vote. Changes can be made from the floor through an amendment process. >> Okay. Some people will stand up and say do it
and some will say don't do it and there will be information with those requests. >> Okay. >> And we're in that process right now of debate. >> Great. So it is debate. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you >> Mr. Disc. >> So Ken Disc 180 Washington Street also a
member of the planning board. So Danny, thank you for the u presentation and discussion. One of the things that's com I just I'm commenting as a member of the planning board now first and then I'll talk as a citizen. So one of the complicated things about changing zoning and there are specific requirements that
we go to as a planning board. Not the least of which is we have to pre-advertise the hearing that we have when we discuss these changes. So the planning board did in fact hold hearings or on one public hearing. coincidentally was the same night as another piece of
information that we were discussing at the planning board. So it was a little stretched that evening. So the long and the short of it is the planning board comes to a conclusion after discussing with the town planner with other members of the town hall including conservation if they're involved in other committees
in town and we come to these decisions but I can tell you there was never a thought in here that anything we were doing was going to make affordable housing more restrictive in the town. In fact we would never do that as a board. We would always be thinking about what we can do to make affordable housing a
benefit more of a benefit for the town and for people moving to the town. The idea here was to get rid of things that typically have confused the discussion of density bonuses in the past and therefore became difficult to issue a special permit on always keeping in mind
that we have the ability to turn any application for a density bonus down unless that density bonus has a benefit to the town and to the development. So, we don't we're specifically talking about a section of the bylaw here that says to a developer, if you come into
town and you make a proposal, we will consider giving you some density bonuses. We'll consider give you extra units if you strictly comply with the requirements to get those density bonus units and you have to get a special permit. Each one of those density
bonuses comes up for discussion by the planning board and with the advice of the town planner and the the five members of the board. We discuss it carefully in the project that came up in the past. There was a provision there was a request for some density bonuses at the beginning of the project but they
didn't reach the uh level of approval. So they they just never went that into that particular approval process and never got there. So what we're looking at here is to try to take away things that we think are complicated and shouldn't be there and clarify it. Specifically, the solar is easy to take
out. That's a cinch. The part about inclusionary housing, which I think was B, was to get to us to a point where the the advant the benefits that we put into the the zoning bylaw to include make inclusionary ping inclusionary housing,
excuse me, part of our our town. Why confuse it with a section in our bylaw for density bonuses? Let's just use the inclusionary housing con uh requirements to determine what we're going to have for inclusionary housing. So, I don't see any issue with these. The first
paragraph was simply to clarify a couple little uh you know, couple little words in there. The second one simply says we agree that the inclusionary housing part of the bylaw should rule and we shouldn't have to give density bonuses for a complicated calculation. The last
one again takes out the solar. And we're trying to actually make something better for the town by saying, "Look, if you come in and give us some smaller units instead of the big units, we'll give you a chance, not guaranteed. You can ask for, as it says, of two, but we still
have to grant you a special permit." In other words, we have to sit down and discuss that item before we do decide that we're going to grant that those extra bonus units. So for someone to come up to the mic and assume that they're going to get those units, they're making an incorrect assumption.
It has to go through a strict process of of of evaluation by each member of the panning board. Some of us may agree, some of us not, but it needs four four out of five votes to get a density bonus. So I would like to see the article moved exactly the way it's written because the other problem here
is if we don't do it, I do not want to keep these paragraphs in there any longer. I strictly think we're much better off passing it the way it is than leaving the the language there that's now that I think is a detriment. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. >> Thank you,
>> Miss Go Miss Goang. >> Thank you so much. Uh Julie Govang, Graten Harvard Road. One of the other problems with the language in the OSRD is the determination of open space. So, not to keep reflecting back on the
last business that was just went through, but the open space was literally piece together down to every blade of grass. So, there was a small bit here and a small bit here and a little bigger bit here and a bit over here. And then, you know, later in the
process, another entire plot was added just so the applicant could move forward with the open space. Correct me if I'm mistaken on that. So, with the language as it's written, it's very easy for an applicant to come in
and say, I have this parcel, but just in case that's not enough here, I'm going to try and buy this parcel over here, and if that happens, then we can move forward. So, that's the per my perception of what happened. So, the
language of the OSRD is very flawed, and I agree with Mr. disc to some degree that this needs to be changed but I also firmly believe that as it is the changes that are being made aren't significant enough to benefit the residents of Ayer
but further define how applicants can fit their proposals in thank you so much >> thank Thank you. >> Are you coming back for another Pauline? >> I am, Mr. Moderator. >> Different. Is it different information or the same? Okay. Thank you.
>> Pauline Connley, Cambridge Street. >> So, delving deeper into the proposed changes. >> Thank you. Um, what is what is recommended to be stricken?
No, I it's there we go. Okay. What is recommended to be stricken is a 23% affordable housing uh inclusion. I'm going to use that word inventory. Inventory
section B. If the applicant permanent, this is being stricken or if we vote for this, we are striking this language. If the applicant permanently restricts ownership and occupants of units allowed by section such and such as defined and
makes a binding commitment to construct affordable residents, a maximum of 23% for every unit included in that allowable unit count. Um, trying to cut through this. Two bonus market rate units may be
permitted. That's what I raised earlier and I found the language I was looking for. Currently, our OSRD only requires 10%. I believe because I remember arguing that point last year. Um
Danny is shaking his head so I would like to hear what he says. But we're striking a maximum of 23%. How does that help our inclusionary bylaw? >> So our inclusionary housing bylaw currently is 10%. >> Right? >> That that is our inclusionary housing
bylaw. What we've found and the reason we changed it from 20% to 10% was because we were not getting projects that wanted to do even 20%. In the eight years that it had been enacted, we had never received any project that actually applied under it because of the strict
requirement of 20%. Developers could not make those numbers work. So based on that, we know that the high number that's already set in the OSRD, which was previously set when the old bylaw was in place, we want to match it to the
current bylaw so that we we know that when we receive projects, we will get inclusionary housing by inclusionary housing units. Um, this is only a density bonus that they can request. The other one is a requirement.
So what I hear you say which is not your which are not your words is that we're going to give the developers what they need so we can get 10% instead of the 20% we demand. >> And I believe that correct that >> I believe that to be contrary to what
our master plan and our community preservation committee and anyone else involved with affordable housing Mr. moderator himself. And therefore I again say to the assembly say no to this bylaw change and let's work on it so it is
better for the community. >> So one clarification the 20% that's written in here is not a requirement. It's they can ask for it. They are required for 10%. That's that's it. >> My point exactly. I think we should make
them require 20%. >> We can't. Thank you. If it's our bylaw, we can comment. >> Thank you, Mr. Moderator. >> I think we're clear on your viewpoint. >> Mr. Disc, do you have something different to add, please? >> Okay. So, I probably don't have anything
different to add. I'm sorry, but for clarification, when someone comes up to the mic and says we're giving away something to someone, they're presuming the planning board isn't even doing their job. So, I take license with that and find it to be contrary to what actually happens. So again, I remind the
the the assembly that these are special permit requirements. They need a four-fifth vote. There's nothing that's guaranteed in the language here that gives anybody the density bonuses without thorough examination by the planning board that it's in a benefit to the to the development and it needs a forfeits vote. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Please. >> Hi, my name is Brenda Remington, 86 Foxrun Drive. I don't want to be rude, but can we move on? This is really >> getting ridiculous. >> Thank you.
>> Question has been moved. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> This also requires the two/3s. All in favor? >> I opposed. >> No, >> it has two/3.
Article five, grant of easement national grid. Thank you, Danny. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Motion to call the question. Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. Rich. >> Quest. That was Sorry. Motion to call the question. All in favor? >> I opposed.
>> No. >> Okay, we're back to the regular question. Twothirds, please. All in favor? I >> opposed. >> No. >> It carries by 2/3. Thank you, Mr. Rich. >> Article five, grant of easement national
grid, one Main Street. >> Mr. Moderator, >> Mr. Tvaris. I move that the town vote to transfer the care, custody, management, and control of a portion of the town owned property located at one Main Street for the purposes of uh conveyance
to the national grid of an easement for an overhead and underground electrical distribution uh system and related pernitences and to authorize the select board to convey an easement to National Grid on such terms and conditions as for
just consideration. which may be nominal consideration as the select board deems to be in the best interest of the town. And further to authorize the select board to enter into any and all agreements and take such actions as may be necessary or
appropriate to carry out the purpose of this article as contained in article 5 and printed in the warrant. >> Seconded. >> Moved and seconded. Thank you. I believe we have a small presentation. >> Yeah, this is a Whoa. Yeah, >> pretty brief.
>> They're good bikes this year, Dan. >> Yeah, I'm Dan Vansuk, DPW director. I'm taking care of the next uh three articles. They're all related to easements on town property. Um so, article five is related to an easement for National Grid for electric and it's
um it's on the town hall um uh lot and it's in the back on Newton Street. So, this allows them to place a pole and do upgrades to our transformer and supports the 12 Newton Street Habitat for Humanity electric service as well. Um, oh, stay there. Go back. There we
go. Article six in the middle. Um, is easement for a storage container. And this is with Katana Spagna. Um, so this supports their ability to to put a storage container on a piece of town property. And I'll show you where it's located. It's in a tight spot near our
sewer pump station. And um, article 7 is related to the Grove Pond water treatment plant. And um as many of you may know, we have an upgrade going on there. A new storage tank, a clear well storage tank, and there are electric upgrades. >> I I know you're on a roll, Dan, but we're dealing with article five right now.
>> Okay. You want to do those? All right. >> We're going to have to go back and forth a little bit. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. >> I mean, sorry. I'm sorry. Uh yeah, article five, the easement for the electric. >> Do we have questions about or discussion? Do you have any more do you have any more on that? Um
>> um no, that's pretty much it. questions about article five, the easement for the electric at the town hall. >> Lori Naring, could you just describe what it will visually look like? Is we talking about a big tower or >> Sam, can you move forward please a couple slides? I have a sketch. There
you go. Article five. So, in the back there's an existing transformer. You can see pad 4-1. It's probably hard to see here. So, they're putting in a a um utility pole next to that and upgrading the transformer right near the town hall parking. Okay. So, it's just a utility pole. It's not a
tower, a cell tower or anything like that. Right. Thank you. >> Further questions, comments. >> Hearing none. Article five. >> All in favor? >> I opposed.
Article five carries by twothirds. Article six. >> The moderator. >> Hold on. Let's get a motion. Please go. I move that the town vote to transfer the care, custody, management, and control of a portion of the town owned property located at Zero Nemco Way for
the purposes of conveyance of an easement thereon for a storage container and related appertinences and to authorize the select board to convene convey an easement to Katana Spagna Corporation on such terms and
conditions and for such consideration which may be nominal consideration as the select board deems to be in the best interest of the town and further to authorize the select board to enter into any and all agreements and take such actions as may be necessary or
appropriate to carry out the purpose of this article as contained in article six imprinted in the warranted. >> Moved and seconded. Thank you. Dan, can you stay with six now? >> Sure. Yeah, I'll stay on six. Um Samantha, next slide. It's kind of hard
to see and I don't know how many people agreed in engineering plans, but in between NOA and Katana Spagna, kind of tucked back there off a New England way is our sewer pump station, the uh Stony Brook pump station, and there's several utilities. There's railroad track, which
is actually used by Katana for their oil uh production. So, um they require an easement and there's a small sliver of town property there um where they um were able to find like the only place to locate a storage container that they required. So, um that's what this
article's um gerine to is to allow I think it's a roughly say about 2,000 square feet plus or minus um for a storage container for them. >> Thank you. Do we have any discussion or comments questions?
Seeing none, all in favor? >> I >> opposed. Article six carries. Thank you very much. Article seven, grant of easement Grove Pond, Clearwell. >> Sorry. >> Yes. Two/3s. I'm sorry, Mark. Thank you. He's not letting me get by anything
tonight, >> Mr. Moderator. >> Please, Miss Livingston. >> All right. We're on article seven. >> Article seven, grant of easement fun. We're on the same article now. >> All right. I move that the town vote to transfer the care, custody, management, and control of a portion of the town
owned property located at 99 Barnum Road for the purpose of con purposes of conveyance of an easement thereon for an overhead and underground electrical distribution system and related appertants, and to authorize the select board to
convey an easement to National Guidation which may be nominal consideration as the select board deems to be in the best interest of the town and further to authorize the select board to enter into any and all agreements and take such actions as may be necessary or
appropriate to carry out the purpose of this article as contained in article 7 and printed in the warrant. >> Seconded. >> Moved and seconded. Thank you, Dan, please. >> Yeah, briefly. Uh Samantha, next slide. Okay, so very similar to the the first
one. This is a grant of easement. It will be for national grid and basically we have to reconfigure the electric on site as part of the clear well storage tank upgrade which is being done at grove water grove pond water treatment plant. So new location of electricity new easement location.
Do we have any questions or comments? This will need twothirds also. All in favor? >> I opposed carries by 2/3. Article 8, Community Preservation Fund, Devon's Crest Affordable Housing
Support. >> Mr. Thank you. I move that the town vote to transport transfer $400,000 from the community preservation fund from fiscal year 2026 budgetary reserve category to support
the creation of affordable housing at the Devonsrest Apartments located at 35 Littleton Road Air pursuant to a grant agreement through the select board with the Devon Crest Tenants Association on such terms and conditions as the select
board deems appropriate. Seconded. >> Moved and seconded. Thank you. I believe we have a brief presentation. >> If you would like. Yes, please. >> I was looking for you, Janet. >> Again, I'm blinded by the light.
>> Go ahead, Sam. I thank you very much everybody. I do appreciate it. I do have another presentation, but we're going to go past that one and go right into this one because I wanted people to be aware a little bit more about the community
preservation funds. Um, and it will be on the website. So, if you do want to look at it because it will give a nice breakdown of how we make our decisions to get the money also to how our monies are broken down. So this here is the Devon Crest Tennis Association which
we're going to try to keep air affordable. There are hundred in the background information. Next slide gives you some ideas where this is a natural occurring affordable housing unit. It was purchased. It was a private
purchase. So with that really the town couldn't step in. So now with every the work that the Devon Crest tenants association have done now we are able to go ahead and work with the state to make things more subsidized and controlled
like say by the by the state. So with that um again we'll be able to maintain this property as affordable in perpetuity 99 years depending upon who's in government at that time. Next slide.
All right. Um, I know this sounds terrible. I wanted to emphasize that this project is going to be allow people to remain in their houses. All right, everybody. I know that I've heard word out on the street. It's like, okay, it's
going to be affordable. Does that mean, you know, we're going to be getting people, you know, outside? No. We are able to keep the individuals who are living there now continue living there, and we're going to be able to keep it affordable. So, there's 114 units that
are there. 79 have already been rehabbed and there are 35 that have not been rehabbed. Those are the ones that are going to be able to get what's called a Massachusetts state voucher program. That voucher allows the individuals to
go ahead and pay 30% of their income for their rent. Again, that voucher is a programbased, meaning it stays with those units. If a person moves, it's not going to go with them. So, what we want
to try to do with this 400,000, if you go to the next slide, please. That 400,000 that they're asking for CPA funds allows us to take again 114 units really
will be 80% of their area medium income or below. And with that, we're able to take some of that and put some money aside in like an escrow fund. So that instead of being 80%, it's going to be
60% of area medium income, which means now it brings down that rent. And what they're going to do for that difference between 2200 to,700, they'll be able to take from that escrow account. Again,
it's not a voucher program like the 35. It's those 79 units that we're going to be able to try to take two or three of those units and have that money aside to reduce it so that more um eligible individuals are able to go ahead and get
those those you know rents. Then I wanted to make sure people were aware that there are additional funding. the affordable housing trust went ahead and gave $170,000
to be able to be um the same uh 80% AMI area medium income bring those down to 60% one to two units. So, if we put those two monies together, the $570,000, we're able to go ahead and take
approximately three to five units and bring them into a 60% area medium income. So, that allows more individuals to stay there. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts also likes looking for local um support so that you almost use
this money as a leverage. they were able to give the Devon Crest Tenants Association $10.5 million and that happened later on in the or this past summer. So, it really is a like I say a success story because they were able to
go ahead and take this private endeavor and now make it a truly public um affordable housing complex. So, that's what the 400,000 that they're asking for. Next slide.
You sure you don't want to You sure you don't want to start there with the applause, Janet? Huh? >> I didn't. I know. This is works out great. Well, thank you. Um I really do appreciate your support, >> right? Um >> Yep. >> Oh, yeah. I want to emphasize to the 114
units are going to help out with um keeping us with the 40b amount of units. So, we're going to get closer to the 10%. when you're closer to a 10% um SHI, the subsidized housing units, you don't have a negative 40b developer coming
into town. All right. You're able to go ahead and say no, we do have, you know, I say 10% and uh you can tell them to shush. >> Is that a technical term? >> That is a technical term. All right.
Depending upon who's in Never mind. All right. So, next one says, "Thank you." I believe the next slide. Yes. All right. So, um again, it's a good community working together. Um and you can the last slide you can just ignore really
that gives a little idea about the 35 units with the voucher program, but I went through that. >> All right. >> Thank Thank you, Janet. >> Thank you everybody. >> Janet Janet, don't run away. There may be questions. Does anybody have any questions or comments?
And I got another one coming up after this. >> Seeing none, this requires a simple majority. All in favor? >> Opposed? >> Thank you very much. It passed by majority. >> Article nine. >> Mr. Moderator,
>> Mr. Copeland. >> I move that the town vote to transfer $250,000 from the community preservation fund fiscal year 2026 budgetary reserve category to support the purchase and installation of two separate generators
for buildings B and C at the air housing authority located at 18 Pond Street Air pursuant to a grant agreement through the select board with the air housing authority on such terms and conditions as the select board deems appropriate. Seconded. Move
>> a seconded. Thank you. Um Janet, you've got a little brief presentation. >> Please go ahead, Janet. >> Go ahead, Sam. >> Okay, it's only two slides really. Um go to the next one. All right. I wanted to
make sure people were aware that the state is already putting money into not only 18 Pond Street, but Isaac's Lane Pleasant Street School. With that, I think it's about $1.9 million that the
state has already put in for new roofs, new new fire um alarm equipment um all all throughout that. They're also too going to be working on new parking lots and making um the sidewalks ADA
compliant. So with that 100, like I say, 1.9 million is being used for that. The 250 that they're asking for is to support building B and C. Building B is two stories. It has an elevator. If there is a power outage and some there
is any type of an emergency, it's difficult for anybody to try to get down those stairs, especially, you know, if you are disabled. And then building C also contains the current senior center, the congregate housing, the authority
offices, and in the senior center there is a community room. that community room. Again, if there's an emergency, you want to be able to stay close to home, especially a senior or someone who's disabled with that. They're able to charge their phones if that
generator's there. So, again, it's just the I think there's one more slide to say thank you. And um that's it. If there's any questions, I'm here. Always true too. Same thing with CPC meetings. If you've got any questions, >> thank you, Dan. Any questions or
comments? She's taking my job now. >> Seeing none, again, a simple majority is required. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Article 9 passes by majority. >> Thank you so much, Mr. Moderator. Mr. Moderator, um before you call
article 10, I'd like to make a motion for a secret ballot be t that a secret ballot be taken. Uh, it is a motion for a secret ballot for article 10. >> Do you have a second? >> All in. Okay. This is no vote on whether
we have a secret ballot or not. All in favor for a secret ballot, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? >> No. >> Thank you. Article 10, >> Mr. Moderator. Miss Livingston,
>> I move that the town vote to appropriate 13,550,000 to construct, equip, and furnish a senior center building, including site preparation and design and engineering costs, and any incidental and related costs and expenses. that to meet this
appropriation one the treasurer with the approval of the select board is authorized to borrow 11,550,000 pursuant to the provisions of Mass General Law Chapter 44 section 7 or any other enabling authority and to issue
bonds or notes of the town therefore and two 2 million shall be transferred from the town's capital stabilization fund provided that any borrowing or expenditure here and under shall be subject to and contingent upon passage
of a debt exclusion ballot question pursuant to the provisions of Mass General Law Chapter 59 section 21C. All amounts appropriated by this vote shall be expended under the direction of the select board and the select board is
authorized to enter into any and all agreements and execute any and all documents as may be necessary on behalf of the town including contracts in excess of three years to effectuate the project as contained in article 10 and
printed in the warrant. >> Seconded. >> Thank you. Moved and seconded. I believe we have a presentation. >> All right, next slide. >> Oh, I'm >> I'm sorry. Doc Dr. Petray. >> I'm Katie Petray. I am the director of
the senior center. Uh the town of like much of the nation is aging. Um those that are aged 65 and older are 60 and older I'm sorry are 25% of heir's population. Uh if we take out the uh
people who are under 18 and look just at adults in the town of air 40% of is an older adult. This is a very significant segment of our population. According to uh UMass did a population projection
study that predicted an 182% growth in older adults in the town of air while at the same time a 20% decline in school-aged children. So this is a very important segment of our population and we need to be able to provide the
programs and services that this group needs. A senior center is a very important piece of that puzzle. They're a vital community resource that provides older adults with the tools they need to stay healthy through a variety of health promotion and um educational and
cultural opportunities including fitness and exercise classes, lowcost nutritious meals, uh social and intellectual engagement opportunities, health education and screening, as well as transportation and social services.
These all seek to keep older adults healthy and independent as well as reduce the negative health effects of isolation and depression. Next slide, please. The uh road today to today has been a
multi-year effort that began back in 2017 when the town of air added the need for more community and senior center uh and a new senior center into the 2017 master plan. That was followed in 2018
by a feasibility study that looked at available pieces of land, the needs of older adults in town, and proposed a nearly 12,000 square foot senior center. That carried forward into 2020 with a fall town meeting that uh proposed to
purchase a West Main Street parcel for a new senior center. that um that effort was tabled amidst concerns about um the site itself and general COVID uncertainty. Uh after a few years, the effort was picked back up again in 2023
with an effort between the senior center and parks and wreck to build a combined community center. Uh that too came to an end. It was halted due to concerns about the location. Later on in 2023, we began the current
effort uh that we see today. Uh we the senior center site selection and building committee looked at over 50 townowned and privatelyowned sites and pursued um and recommended to the select board a senior center on Bishop Road.
Next slide. Uh some additional background. Our current senior center is um we're located at 18 Pond Street in the basement of the housing authority. It's about 1,700 square feet and though it has served us well over the years, it's
simply inadequate to meet our c the current needs of older adults in air, let alone the projected increasing needs. We have just two rooms. Uh we're unable to accommodate all of the older adults that would like to attend uh our
programs. Currently, we can because we only have 13 parking spots, we're um really not able to hold con hold concurrent programs even though we do have two rooms. There's because there's just not enough space to park all of the cars we would need. Uh as a reference,
we have a 24 seats in our dining room and only 13 um 13 parking spots. We cannot easily due to the small space accommodate walkers or wheelchairs. Um, and if people do try, it's often a frustrating experience. Uh, trying to
use a restroom that is not ADA compliant, uh, if you need a mobility aid is not a dignified experience. And I think we can all agree that, uh, people need to be able to visit the senior center and have a a positive experience.
Um because of our small space, we're not able to offer the variety of programs. The things that people who are recently retired, people that are in a stage called active aers, and those with more limitations have different um different needs and interests. And so we need more
space in order to offer that wider variety of programs that they need. We don't have a commercial kitchen in our current space. So, we're unable to provide um the kind of healthy lowcost meals on site. Uh what we're currently doing is bringing in catering from
outside sources. Um so, uh it is it is at a significantly higher cost than it would be than if we were able to um cook the meals on site. Uh, additionally, uh, my office, for example, has walls that don't go all the way up to the ceiling
and there are no private consultation spaces. So, um, for town nurse visits, t tax tax preparation, Medicare consultation, and any kind of, um, private, um, social services, there's not the kind of privacy that that we need to do those. Um, and all of the
above make it difficult for us to comply with ADA requirements. And so, um, on the next slide, I've prepared a short video for everyone to watch, um, for those of you that haven't been down to the existing senior center, so you can see a little bit about what, um, the situation is there and what it
means to some of our older adults across America. Senior centers connect older adults to friends, services, and a sense of belonging. In air, where 25% of residents and 40% of adults are over 60, dedicated staff and volunteers make the
most of a tiny space to keep people active and engaged. The Air Senior Center occupies just 1,700 square ft in the basement of senior housing. The senior center has only a handful of parking spaces. The steep hill up from the overflow parking lot at Peron Park
makes access difficult, especially for those with mobility issues. Bathrooms near the entrance are not ADA compliant. Volunteers at the front desk welcome guests, sign them in, and arrange transportation. A small sitting area
acts as a waiting room and a lounge. While the dining room holds 24 older adults for daily lunches, special events can bring in up to 50 people, creating space and safety concerns. Afterwards, these same tables transform into
classrooms and meeting spaces for crafts, speakers, and other events. Morning programs must be completed in time for lunch for space and sound purposes. Without a commercial kitchen, meals must be prepared elsewhere and reheated here. Catering is brought in at
an increased cost compared to what meals would cost if prepared on site. Staff offices are cramped and lack privacy. The nurses clinic, Medicare counseling, and other services occur in areas with no privacy and frequent interruptions. A
neighboring room borrowed from senior housing is available for senior center activities, though housing events take priority. To promote complete health of older adults, senior centers offer mindful activities like arts, crafts, and technology workshops along with
physical activities such as taichi and yoga and social activities like bingo and knitting. These activities keep minds and bodies active and forge lasting friendships. There is so much more that could be offered, but the small space is limiting. A new twostory
13,000 ft senior center is proposed for Bishop Road. The concept includes several flexible programming spaces, a commercial kitchen, and relaxing lounge spaces to serve the wide needs and interests of heirs older adults now and
into the future. The design prioritizes fall prevention, accessibility for mobility and vision impaired individuals, comfortable furniture, noise reduction, and fitness equipment for safety and inclusivity. The proposed project is a significant investment, but
the building committee and town leaders are working hard to secure grants and reduce expense to taxpayers. Residents will vote on the project at the fall town meeting on October 27th, followed by a ballot on November 4th. Your voice matters. Join the discussion and spread
the word about a new senior center for air. The senior center is the place to be. >> I look forward to coming down here because everybody always has a smile on their face. >> It's a safe place. They provide lunches
and varied activities and a lot of them are free to seniors. >> The lunches are amazing. >> Now been a little over a year since u I lost my wife about 54 years. spoke with the director here and she
said, "Well, we have lunch here. Why don't you join us?" I said, "That's a good idea. I think I will." So, I've been doing that ever since. Uh, and it's been terrific. There are many days when I've taken the paper with me, come here,
get a cup of coffee, and read the paper. >> We have wonderful rides, and the drivers are wonderful. They are so helpful and they call to make sure you're okay if there's a problem. But it's important with seniors
that are immobile and do not I don't drive anymore. So I look forward to the rides and they're very friendly and very helpful. >> And the van drivers, we have two now. They're very nice. Take you practically anywhere you need to go. >> The people just mingle here and they
have a good time and they just enjoy being here. Okay, next slide. So, a modern senior center would address um all of our current um needs, including a variety of multi-purpose flexible spaces for the
exercise, social, wellness, and educational programs that a fully functioning senior center offers, as well as a commercial kitchen for daily meals, outdoor spaces, confidential meeting, and office spaces, adequate parking, and accessibility for all.
There are benefits to the community as well, including a heating and cooling station uh that can be used during inclement weather as well um because the building would have a generator as well as much needed community space um outside of the hours of the senior
center. Uh next slide. So this space is designed specifically for older adults. Um we are lucky to have Catelyn Architecture, one of the most experienced architects um who's been involved in the um design or
construction of over 60 um senior centers in Massachusetts and and nationwide. And he um puts in a lot of features that are really important for older adults. Uh for example, u fall prevention is um front and center. There are no curbs at the entrance. The
selection of the flooring is designed to help prevent injury in the case of the fall. Um there's no stepovers on fitness equipment. You know how you have to like sling your leg over onto an exercise bike? These are all step in. Um as well as furniture that's designed for um you
know hands and wrists that maybe have arthritis in them, things like that. It's very um older adult friendly in terms of um it's designed for it's designed for everyone to use but with subtle touches. um for those with low mobility. So, by having a what I'd call
hub and spoke model where it's a dense floor plan where when you walk in the front door, you can see all of the available options that prevents things like long hallways. And for anybody who has achy joints or uses a u mobility device, um having long hallways is
sometimes a deterrent when your activity is the third classroom on the left down that hallway a long way. Um, it's also uh friendly to those who are hearing impaired. As we get older, sometimes we have trouble back um blocking out the background noise. So, um there's noise
reducing ceilings on the first floor as well as sound absorbing panels throughout the building. Uh, and there's a hearing loop in the multi-purpose room which allows for um more moderate AV in the system in the room and allows um I
believe 90% of hearing aids have a a dial you can change to so that um a small AV system can send the audio directly into your hearing aid which is um a great equalizer in terms of um active participation in our in our
events. Um something that's also very subtle is um low vision. Uh it's low vision friendly as well. That has to do with um making sure that there are multiple forms of lighting in each room and that there is what they call wayfinding flooring so that um someone
who can only see the contrast can um navigate across a space. Next slide. So to give you a little bit more detail about the building itself, um the building total square footage is 13,000 square ft. uh 8,000 of that is on the
first floor. So when you um first come in um off to what would be the I guess the left but right here um is a coffee cafe space that is for loud and boisterous gathering. Um and then there's an activity room here. Uh as you
make your way further back, this is a uh reading room lounge area with a see-through fireplace and upholstered furniture. That's where you'd want to have more quiet conversation or if you're just looking to um read the newspaper and have a cup of coffee, you can do that there. Um off to the right
there is um welcoming and accessible staff areas as well as um ADA compliant restrooms and a companion restroom. Directly opposite the um front door is the large multi-purpose room. Um this
room is divided into two parts so that um on a day in dayout basis we can seat um 40 to 50 people for lunch with the divider down the center and run fitness programs on this side. When we have um you know every other month or so uh when
we have a larger program we can open up this space and have seating for up to 150 for a large event in that space. There's a commercial kitchen as well as a medical equipment lending room. Uh senior friendly stairs that have a lower
rise so they are more friendly on the joints as well as an elevator which would take us to the second floor. Uh next slide. The second floor is a partial second floor. It goes over the main box of the building but not over the large multi-purpose room. And at the
top of the stairs, there is a uh large open space here that can accommodate either two full-size pool tables or a variety of card and game tables. There's a another multi-purpose um activity room here as well as a um full gym here with
strength and cardiovascular and free weight uh equipment in it. Over here is another um activity space that can be divided. This I would see envision as like a secondary um fitness area where
um let's say you have a smaller class. It doesn't make it any less important, but for a smaller group of people like a Parkinson specific um fitness class or a joint recovery one for pre- or postsurgery, that sort of a thing. Um as well as being able to be divided for a
number of um smaller group meetings. Right now with only having two rooms, if there's just a small set of people who are interested in a particular topic, it can be hard to justify using one of the two rooms. But when you have multiple rooms, if it's
important to a small group of people, they can find a space to meet in. And uh another set of restrooms up here. And last but not least, the um wellness room. And that room will be available for any kind of private consultation um
such as Medicare counseling, AARP, tax prep, uh the uh town nurse, manicures, pedicures, raiki, massage, any of those things. Uh next slide. Okay. And so, um these were in the video
as well, but here's a couple of renderings uh about what the space could look like. Next slide. And the total project cost is 15.1 million. And I just wanted to provide an opportunity to show that that
15.1 million includes um everything. So that's the construction of the building itself, uh the necessary site work and the land development as well as the cost to bring the utilities to the site because there's currently uh not utilities on Bishop Road as well as all
of the required professional fees from for the OPM and the architect. Uh as well as the all of the furniture and fixtures that would go inside it as well as the uh a contingency And so with that, I will turn it over to
the town manager to discuss the town's proposed funding plan. >> Good evening, Robert Pompan, Airtown Manager. So Katie has outlined uh the project for which the building committee has put an enormous amount of work in
and as she mentioned it's been a seven-year process to get to this point. So, I'm going to walk you through what the town's proposed funding plan is for this project, talk a little bit about the tax impact uh to residents and to
businesses, and then touch upon the operating costs so that town meeting will have um the full picture to make an informed decision. I do want to thank uh the finance manager Barbara Tierney, the DPW director Dan Van Shawwick, Katie
Petray, the senior center director, uh the town accountant, uh Carrie Cooper, um and the building committee for all of their work on the funding plan. We are hiring an IT manager, so take note. All right. So,
>> two buttons, right? >> Two buttons. >> Okay. So the town's proposed funding plan and a lot of work into went into this about 10 months of work once the building committee had come to a point as Katie mentioned the project is just over 151
million. So, there were some additional funding already secured for the project. A $300,000 grant uh from the state, a Council on Aging Housing Grant, $60,000 in opera funds that was the American Recovery Funds um from COVID as
authorized by the select board. Representative Senna, our state rep, secured a $50,000 legislative earmark. And there was a small portion of urban development action grant funds um authorized by the select board. And we're going to talk about UDAG in in
just a moment. So that brings the price down to 14.7. So in looking at this, we wanted to find a way in which we could mitigate the impact to the taxpayers at at 15.1 million um as a as a large sum and the
average impact to the residential tax rate was well over $200 in year one. So, we are proposing to use a couple of the town's um resources. The first is $2 million in capital stabilization, and
that's part of article 10 tonight, subject to a a town meeting approval. A million dollars in the urban development action grant fund, which is under the authorization of the select board, which did vote on October 21st uh to authorize
this contingent upon the passage of the project. So assuming that it brings us down to 11.7 and then the debt exclusion which is the main piece of article 10 we're asking in there to the authorization to borrow up
to 11 11,550,000. However, our target in the plan is to only borrow up to the 10 10 million. However, and we'll talk about this in a moment, uh we are planning for a contingency having to do with the
current climate um with some of the grants. So, assuming the debt exclusion, that would bring us down to 1.7 and then anticipated funding of 1.3 million of a CDBG grant specifically for senior centers. However, we learned you cannot
apply for this until you have an approved project that's shovel ready. and then $43759 between fundraising and additional grants during the process. The um there is already 62,500
in pledges to date. Next slide, Samantha. So, the debt exclusion real quick, per our financial policies, any capital project, which this building is over half a million dollars with no direct funding source is funded through
a debt exclusion. And that's a two-part process that's set by state law. Step one is approval by a twothirds vote of town meeting which is tonight. And the second piece is the approval by a simple majority vote of a ballot election which
the select board have set for Tuesday, November 4th at the town hall with polls open from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. at town hall. So both of these votes must pass. The borrow authorization, the passage of
the debt exclusion would authorize the town to borrow up to the 11,550,000. The town will only borrow funds as needed for the project. Uh though the borrow authorization is the 115, our target is to only borrow up to uh the 10
million. Um the the balance of 1.5 million is a contingency largely on that CDBG grant, which I'll touch upon in a minute. Next slide. So the big question or the first big question is the residential taxpayer
cost impact of the debt exclusion. So keep in mind the project total cost is 15.1 million. We're looking to borrow up to 11.5 million over a 25 uh year period.
and the estimated average residential tax impact. So the current residential tax rate as of tonight in air for residents is $11.96 per thousand in value. The assessor um
we've been able to calculate that the median air residential home value, so the average in air is 550,000. If you apply the 10 million borrow for 25 years to that median value, the
average impact on the residential tax bill that this amount would be $143. Now, of course, if your your home is valued higher, this number would move up. If this number is lower, this number would move down. But this is the median.
If we have to borrow the full amount, it would be $165 again um for on the residential tax. I do want to point out that the town's borrow capacity, this is how much capacity the town has to borrow for
future uh projects that after the funding of this project, the town will still have over $56 million in borrow capacity for future capital uh projects. Next slide. On the commercial industrial side, as
you know, the town of Air has a split tax rate. The commercial industrial personal property tax rate is higher at $25.19 per thousand. and the estimated if you assume the residential value of 550,000
just like we did for the residential and interestingly in talking with the assessor this is actually almost the median average on the commercial industrial as well the impact to businesses in year one at 10 million would be the $297
and if we had to borrow the full amount it would be $352 on the commercial industrial impact. Next slide. So the capital stabilization fund, I just wanted to touch upon that real quick. That is a fund used by the town
to save funds for the purposes of future capital. We really started saving into that over the last 10 years. And that's a huge testament to all of you at town meeting. As of July 1st, we have over $ 8.1 million in capital stabilization,
which actually exceeds the minimum required by the town's financial policies. The minimum required by the town's financial policies is slightly over 200,000. With the goal of minimizing the cost impact of the senior center project,
we're proposing tonight $2 million of capital stabilization funds towards the project. By using the two million in addition to mitigating the tax rate which was the primary goal the finance major manager has calculated that there
would be an estimated savings of over 1.3 million over the 25 year of the borrow by using the 2 million 132,956 saved in year one that's principal and
interest and then of that 143 to 165 I showed earlier About $27.50 of that savings on the residential tax bill is made possible by using the capital stabilization. Next slide.
Here's the capital stabilization fund history. As I said, the last 10-year history. We're at 8.1 million. Uh many of you are familiar. Each annual town meeting is when an appropriation from free cash is put into um this fund. If
the project is funded, the senior center project, it'd still be a balance of 6.1 million and that wouldn't include anything that town meeting puts in the spring. Next, so then on the operating costs of the senior center building, and I want to
thank Chuck Schultz, the facilities director, uh, for his help on this. The current FY26 Council on Aging budget is 251,976. It's about.7% of the town budget.
We have calculated that the estimated annual facilities maintenance operating cost of the new building would be about 108,700. The director is proposing for the building one additional full-time employee which would be 55,000.
The director's proposing a 20,000 estimated additional program for supplies in the new um building and that would increase the omnibus budget for the COA by 183,700
or grand total. So this would be their existing COA budget plus the new operating costs for the building would be 435,676. This amount represents approximately 1.2% of the town's uh budget including the
omnibus and school assessments. And we would anticipate that this operating budget would go into effect probably between the FY28 and FY29 period. We're currently in FY uh 27 preparing for Next
slide. And Mr. Moderator, that's the funding plan. I'll turn it over to you. >> Thank you, Mr. Pont. Brian discussion and questions. I'm Jim Naring, Highland Avenue. I am a senior on a fixed income and I am
enthusiastically in support of this proposal. The committee has worked tirelessly through multiple iterations and uh I encourage my fellow towns people to support this. Uh the committee has been responsive to input from the
public. They've been responsive to economic concerns from the select board and others. Uh this is a big win not only for the mature residents of our community but for the town as a whole and I encourage all of us to uh vote in
favor of it. Thank you. >> On this side, is it Mr. Katigan? >> Uh John Katigan 203 Otto Drive. I've been looking at this very closely and I really have to congratulate the people
that have put together this proposal. It has been very carefully looked at to be needsbased and refined to address some of the subtleties we might not think of off the top of our heads.
When I look at it, it it seems to fit very well with the character of the town and the town's pursuit of community, broad-based community, from youngest folks and kids to seniors.
Um, my wife and I, Kathy, uh, are essentially blowins into the town. We came here in ' 06. And as I looked around at the town and what it does, I've been really impressed in how it's focused on both community
and service. Uh I look at the library and see that function growing and being a personal growth facilitator for tots through teens through adults. We just saw what was being done with
Devon Crest to to further uh some of our citizens We looked at the aggressiveness of the town and trying to address the impacts uh brought about by the closing of the hospital.
And at my own development as we moved in, the developer ran into some problems because of the uh economy of the time. We had yman service and consultation from various town entities.
uh fire chief Padrazzi insisted on sprinklers in the in the development fire sprinklers. Uh we had a lot of input from the three generations of DPW heads to help us with engineering and
technical issues and supporting our work with the developer. uh town manager was involved uh in supporting some of those efforts uh just as he was in developing the the figures you see here and the pursuit of uh
equity at Devon's Crest and uh the hospital pursuit as I look at it I've looked at other town senior centers uh Westford Groten Littleton
to get some idea of what goes on in a well-developed senior center. And I hear that in the streets tonight. It is carefully thought out. It's a place that is warm,
trusted, welcoming that people can go to for socialization to get trusted counseling, unbiased. And let's face it, the society today is
getting ever increasingly complex. taxes, Medicare, Medicaid. There's a lot of stuff going on and it's hard to keep up with for an individual.
A centralized organization that can look at the subtleties across the spectrum in depth and then share it with the individuals is powerful. Reducing anxiety and improving the quality of life.
what I heard today from the gentleman that just spoke, I hardly support. I urge you, please support this program. >> Thank you. >> To my right, please. Hi, my name's Nancy
Jack Bony and I live on 18 Pawn Street and I have a question about a couple items that Katie did not include in her slide presentation or video.
Basically, in the very beginning of your flyer, it says the primary purpose of the building is to be a senior center during
the normal workday. Then down further, it says, "Additionally, this building could be used as a resource for broader use if the town wishes.
For example, community organizations could rent out the space for a nominal fee. Town boards and committees could meet in the space. large community events may be able to
reserve the multi-purpose room as a rain location. Now, my first question is that this is well making a statement first.
My first impression is this is not a senior center. This is a community center so that who makes the decision
about who can rent the space, who's responsible for cleaning up after the people rent the space. And I want to know why you
missed putting this information up on your slide and why it is actually a community center. >> So, it's not actually a community center. It is a senior center. It will
operate solely as a senior center between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., let's say. Um, and then I anticipate we'll add some evening hours um in a new space. Um, but when it is not in use as a senior center, I think
it can be a valuable resource for the purposes that you outlined. Um, so it was not in it's not in the presentation because I can't fit all of it into the presentation. I was asked to limit it to 15 minutes. So, um, that's what the four-page flyer is for, to fill in some
of those details. But I think that helps, um, the community to see that it can serve, um, I mean, 40% of adults in town are older adults, but it is a benefit to the community at large. >> Who would be
responsible for deciding who can rent the space? What would be considered a nominal fee? And who would be responsible for any damages
or repairs that might be needed if people are in there? Will that be in a written agreement that these people have to sign for? >> Sure. So, um, some of that granular
level is not ironed out yet, but I will say that the town does have a, um, event policy already in place, um, for the use of town buildings and large gatherings. And so, um, I anticipate that this would
fold under that, um, and then be modified as needed. >> So, it will be a community center. No, it's not a community center. It's a senior center. And then during off hours when it is not being used as a senior
center, it has the opportunity to be open for broader community use. >> Okay. Well, in my opinion, it is a community center, which
you actually even did that with the first newsletters came out. >> You said it was a community center. >> Thank Thank And I would like to say
that the expense and the number of rooms you feel you need is way out of whack and I would like personally to get from you.
>> Excuse me. >> Excuse me. Understand? You may speak through me about the building. You may not You may not direct your comments at another person in the room, please. >> I would like to get from her.
>> No. >> Well, I'm talking to him, right? Not to her. I would like to see a print out and graphs on what is considered
to be an increase of a new center by air residents. I mean there are a lot more seniors in here right now than use the center.
Okay. There are a lot more seniors. >> Thank uh hello please. >> So I would like to see data showing the percentage of people that are using it now from air
based on the projected number of people who will be using it once it's built. >> Okay. Thank you. So we have a question. So, the current senior center last year served um just shy of 600 people um of
the nearly 2500 older adults. And so, I'm I'm flipping to that to that note I have. Um that included um over 6,984 um total program visits. Um 159 social
service clients. We delivered almost 2,000 meals on wheels last year. Uh gave 210 van riders over 5,000 rides and could not do it all at all without our 25 wonderful volunteers. So, thank you to those of you that are here tonight.
We really appreciate you. And so the current senior center, despite our small space, was able to serve 594 people a total of 15,336 times. When we um were in the planning
stages, we interviewed um all of the directors and that had built in the towns that had built senior centers in the last 5 to 10 years. and they uniformly reported that their participation doubled if not tripled in
that peri opening up new doors. So to answer your question nearly 600 people and we expect that number to triple um in the in the new space because we have a actually much smaller space than many of those towns did when they opened up.
I would like to know if I could get together with her and see the projections and graphs of exactly what this new center is going to prov
provide based on what it's being used for now. >> Sure. Anytime. >> Thank you. So that that is outside of the scope of this of this article right now and I would ask Dr. Katie, would you be willing to sit down with her? >> Yes, absolutely. We'd be willing to meet
with you anytime, N please. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um >> Jason Rendo, Lton Street. Thank you. >> So, I like the new senior center. It looks like it's going to be very nice. My only question is why Bishop Street?
No one lives around there. There's no uh sidewalks going to and from there. Uh so, everyone is going to need to drive from where they live to the new senior center. Would you care to comment on that? Thank you. You get that? >> Yeah. Through the moderator. Um yes. So
we um took several months looking at all 54 townowned pieces of land in an effort to keep the cost low um not having to acquire a piece of privately owned land. And uh thanks to the DPW who printed out tireless numbers of maps uh for the
committee to examine. and we looked at each of the parcels based on the criteria for the for the project which was roughly 3 acres. Um and so we based on how large the parcel was, whether
there were wetland issues, whether there were restrictions, um we were able to whittle that down to um eventually um like 11, five, and then three sites and then determined that Bishop Road would be the best site. and I agree with you.
Um there is nothing else out there right now. Um but given the alternatives, this seemed like the the best opportunity. >> Thank you. I usually walk by Bishop Street on my way to Barkin Shop and usually in the spring I see it flooded out. So I was very worried about
flooding in there. >> So the flooding happens uh not at all near where the site the proposed site is. So, um the proposed site is about a half mile from Park Street and the flooding uh that occurs is much much much further down where the railroad
tracks go over. So, um that would have no impact on the senior center um operations and in fact that gate there that closes during the funding during the flooding um we're in uh talks with and there's verbal agreement um with
mass development to move that gate um beyond the center project. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. On this side, please. >> Hello, my name is Chris Valentine, 141 Snake Hill Road. Um, I just, uh, first
off, like the presentation was fantastic. Um, there's so much good work that's been put into, um, showing that we need a better senior center in our town, and I'm 110% for it. Um, there's
one really big thing that I'm very much not um, in favor of, which is the size of the project. So, um, you know, if if it's 13,000 square feet, that's seven to eight times the size of the current
senior center at 1,700 square ft. That's really, really, really big. Um, if there's in in the video, you show that there were, you know, perhaps 50 people that would like to be there at any given time and it's totally not possible, which is very unfortunate. Um, and if we
were to triple it, you know, then we have room for 150 people, which is what you said that we would have in the dining room if it's like fully extended. Um, so, uh, just a couple other notes that I that I I wanted to to mention here. We
can talk about I mean some of these things, but you know, there's a purpose of future budgeting, right? If we want to hire someone for a full-time position and then spend an extra $20,000 on supplies, we could do that right now and
have lots of benefit to our seniors. And I think that would be fantastic, right? Um and you said also that there's about 600 residents that used it out of the 2500 residents that um senior seniors in in
the town right now. That's about 25% of all of the people that use it. And if that were to double or triple, you know, that that's totally plausible, then we can double or triple the size of the building, which would puss it put us at
about 5,000 ft building from 1,700 square ft, which is significantly smaller than the plan projects right now at 13,000 square feet. So, you know, what sort of justification is there for spending so much money on a project
right now um when if we were to reduce the size in half of the total uh building um it seems as though it could probably adequately fit the need in the town. >> So, um there are a couple of through the
moderator there are a couple of um points there. So going from 1,700 square f feet to 13,000 square feet, I um understand that that could seem conceptually like a large leap. Um >> doesn't seem it is. >> Yeah. Um but
>> um but the idea is that we have not invested in our senior center or our senior population in since the I believe 1980s when um we moved into the current space. whereas other towns have made
incremental um expansions and so this is really um a catch-up for us. This is not um a place we should have been doing the incremental things all along. >> Is there any sort of study that shows >> please let her answer the question? Sure.
So, um, so we did a comparables study and, uh, once again when we looked at what neighboring or similarly, um, sized towns had, um, a number of them had buildings around 10 or 11,000 square ft. And when we were doing those interviews
during that research stage, they uniformly told us that they wish they had built it larger. Um, that their 10,000 square feet was not large enough. Um so that's why um we in consultation with the um with the architect came up
with this this 13,000 square feet and we had originally um actually hoped for something larger but we've made a couple of reductions to get to where we are now. Uh, in fact, two members of the Graten Council on Aging were just in my office last week and they were lamenting
about how they thought that how they thought at the time that 10,000 square feet was such a big number and that they would never be able to fill it. And about five years, I believe that that senior center has been open. Um, it's now full. There are sitting people in
the hallway to do meetings because there's not enough meeting space. Um they in fact and Vert.Ex will appreciate this um they said that they wished that they had built it according to the specifications of Littleton um which is a larger town than us and therefore has
a larger senior center. Um but we really thoroughly researched um where we thought we needed to be what um back in 2018 when we uh conducted the first feasibility study and asked the residents of AIR what they wanted to be able to do in a senior center. So, we
really compiled all those things together to come up with that. Um, I I if I recall, you said something like, "Well, we could hire someone else or spend more." Now, uh, unfortunately, we can't. I literally don't have another place to put another desk. I can't put
another I'd love to hire another staff member um, even to just help now, but there's not another desk, another space for a desk. there's not any more space to do more programs um in the space we are we are just bursting at the seams.
I understand um so I I I just can't I just want to reiterate lastly is that I you know a building this large I know we've cut back on it in previous presentations. I think one was close to like 25,000 square feet or
something like that. >> Or perhaps maybe that was the total square footage of the entire um lot uh that it was to be built on. But, you know, I I don't think a project like this would have taken so long to be able to pass if we're if it were smaller and
more conservative. Um it's uh it's it's just too large. So, um something something a little bit smaller and you you'd have my vote, but uh it I have to descent tonight. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> On this side, please. >> Adam Carrier, 57 Cambridge Street. Um I really don't have a whole lot to add to what the uh other gentleman put on. the the price tag is a little frightening to me frankly and the the
tax increase uh although it might seem moderate is uh you know uh would be a burden for my family. I do note that the finance committee uh is noted as having not recommended this project or not recommended this way of funding the project on the uh docket and I was just
wondering if anyone here could speak to that and their concerns. >> Mr. moderator before you before you >> yes >> entertain that um I just want to make a correction on the on the warrant note um the vote was 2 to one to one which
unfortunately is represented as a not recommend but in fact that should be recommend >> no recommend >> it should be it's 2 to one to one >> two voted no one voted yes one >> and an abstension does not count as a vote >> well it's still
>> it's two it's two to It's two to one. Two to one against >> two to one again. >> I misunderstand. >> Oh, never mind then. I apologize. >> Thank Thank you, Mark. Yes, I'm going to get an answer for you,
>> Mr. Pascowski. Would you like to respond? >> Hi, Kurt. Uh, can everyone hear me? >> Okay, good. Thanks, Kurt Frescowski. uh chair of the finance committee. Um thank you for the question. Um so you
were the question was why we've uh there was two votes to not recommend. >> Okay. So uh there was two votes to not recommend. Uh one vote to recommend. Um, I'm going to have uh our vice chair uh
can uh uh address the not recommend. Um uh I wrote a note so I wouldn't ramble on. Uh so the finance committee is in full agreement that a new senior center is a clear and definite need for the town. However, the committee's no vote reflects a belief that the current
proposal represents a greater cost and long-term financial commitment than is fiscally manageable for the town. A few key points. Uh, one is building size and scope. Uh, as it was presented to the committee, it looks like of residents, not total users, 380 residents visited
the senior center with 65, this is residents using it uh once a month or more. the existing number of visitors were doubled or tripled. Going by state recommended guidelines, you're looking at a facility closer to 10,000 square feet. Um, thus the building uh appears
to be about potentially 40% bigger than it needs to be. The other thing was we'd like to have explored alternative options such as a phase construction plan or uh competing proposals at a set price such as what we can get for 8, 10 or 12 million would have allowed for
more informed evaluation of the project uh and scope and modeling for taxpayer increases. Um the building significantly increases maintenance and upkeep and there's additional staff member that will be hired. The proposal as shown here indicates $183,700
or a total of 73% increase in the operating budget related to this project. The total increase in taxes per household for this and all upcoming increases should be a factor uh when considering any project for the town. And the median taxpayer can expect to
pay $143 which was presented earlier for the senior center project. And there's also an anticipated two and a half% tax increase for the total omnibus budget and the school assessment. Uh this means the median household have a minimum charge of $473 to their tax bill
assuming that there's no uh construction uh costs and if the grant falls through. So I think as a committee we're not ideologically opposed to this project uh and just want the public to be uh aware that uh of the numbers and they can make an informed decision. If the town approves the project, uh the finance
committee will happily stand behind the residents, but we just want to make sure everyone uh understands the cost and impact. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Um >> Mr. Moderator. >> Mr. Moderator, >> I'm sorry. >> Mr. Moderator, can I can I provide a
point of clarification? >> Okay, sure. I just wanted to um point out that our existing utilization is impacted greatly by our facility. Um so um when we look at the projected numbers, we're looking not only just at
who the current users are and the projected double or triple, but what the needs of the town will be over the next 30 to 40 years. Because as I mentioned at the beginning of my presentation, uh the UMass population projection studies show 182%
increase in the older adult population. And so that's quickly going to become um a much larger number. And so when we are building uh we want to make sure that we're able to accommodate not just who is using it now but who we will
anticipate using it. >> Thank you. >> We have people standing and making uh >> I have a movement. I'm sorry. Please come to if you choose to move the question. >> Okay. I would like you to come to the
mic. We have people waiting to speak at this point. >> Mr. Seekman. >> Eric Eric Seman, Church Street, also a member of the finance committee and and I did vote to not recommend the
proposal, echoing much of what has been said by the last couple uh people that spoke, including Vice Chair Andrew. Uh I think we all understand that the current situation is not ideal and the town
would greatly benefit from a new senior center. That is not the point of contention. The point of contention on my part is the expense of the proposed senior center. Through various meetings and
discussions, it did not appear that the committee really uh considered other designs, other sizes, knocking off the second floor, going back to the um architect and saying, "Hey, what could we get for x
square feet? What would it look like? What could we get for x number of dollars? What would that look like?" They it appears they took the list of all the wants and the wish list and it appears that they just got all of it which is fine. A lot of people have to
decide how are we going to finance or purchase a big thing. Families do it all the time. School systems do it. Businesses do it. They don't get to just say, "Well, this is everything we want and this is the cost of it, so we're going to do it." There's financial
considerations there and I don't believe that the committee seriously took into consideration whether or not it was palatable for the residents of the town or financially feasible for the residents of the town, especially considering the project does
impact a lot of people that don't use the senior center. They're just not of the age. >> I'm just talking. >> Thank you. >> Oh, hold on. Oh, I lost my train of thought. I will stop there.
>> Thank you. >> Excuse me. Please maintain some decorum. >> Miss Whit. >> Thank you. Marge Wy um 11 Grat and Shirley Road. I use the senior center.
Um, this is a project the seniors that use the center do not want. They think it's too large. Um, the ones that pay taxes do not want it, but I am
>> excuse me, please. >> Mr. Moderator, I have three questions. >> Thank you. I was just going to ask >> I have three questions. >> Yeah. No, just one moment. I'm going to ask the people who assembled here this evening to show patience and be polite. Booing,
clapping. We're going to dispense. Please dispense with that now. Okay. Please march. >> Okay. I was a teacher. I was a teacher. They can um >> first of all, um >> excuse me. I have a point of order being called.
>> Move the question. >> He's in back with me >> again. Thank you. We have people waiting at the microphone. >> I one employee to run the kitchen to do um activities
to do the newsletter. I'm unsure. Is it one employee for the kitchen? >> So the question >> So the question is who's the employee I would be hiring? Um I would hire a program coordinator who would be in
charge of planning um the programming for the building as well as the setting and resetting of rooms as well as the newsletter. >> Okay. So Denise is cooking. >> So the town of air is is lucky to have a
dining coordinator position already um as part of the town's payroll. And so in a new space, um it won't be Denise, um but we will have a dining coordinator who's in charge um of preparing the
meals and then um there will be opportunity for additional volunteer positions in assistance role in that in the kitchen. >> So you're getting rid of Denise. >> Excuse me. >> Okay. So I I mean I'm not sure about the question asked an answer. That was just
>> So there we go. >> So >> yes, >> air seniors, are they a priority in this new senior center? >> Of course, >> we don't have priority now. >> So excuse me.
>> So no, I'm just asking because you're asking us to pay for the new senior center. >> Missy, I'm going to ask you to be to please pause. We're discussing it. We're discussing a debt exclusion.
>> It's out of our taxes. >> It's our tax money. >> I' I'd be happy to address what the common practices are for senior centers >> all four years now. >> So, senior centers are open to residents of all towns.
>> We cannot use other senior centers. >> So, >> okay. And I have to ask you to stop arguing. >> And the other question you asked, you mentioned the flooding.
>> Are we who's taking care of the flooding from Bishop from Park Street? Because I would ask I would go down that street to get to it. >> Again, >> thank you for your question. How is this
relevant to the debt exclusion? because >> I don't believe it is. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> But if I can't get to the center, >> I appreciate that you would like to argue with me this evening.
>> Through the moderator, I can provide a point of clarification. So, the town of Air is in um in talks with Mass Development and there is a verbal agreement in place um to move the gate
to 400 ft beyond the proposed entrance of the senior center which would mean that the gates openness or closure due to flooding that is much further down the road would have zero impact on senior center operations. >> Thank you, Katie.
>> Okay. Thank you. I'm going to remind the folks in the room this evening. We're discussing whether or not there will be a ballot question on November 4th for a vote. There is a ballot ballot question. It has to pass. This has to pass here this
evening and then we have an election where you can go and vote yes or no about the senior center. So, we're going to stay please stay focused on this article this evening. And this gentleman to my right, please. Thank you. Uh Mike
Hallowell, Pleasant Street. Uh through you, Mr. Moderator. First, I want to thank all of the committees and the select board for the superb due diligence that has been conducted on this program and on this plan. The plan itself,
not just the size, but the capacity and the different services that this facility will capacitate is absolutely fit per purpose. And fit for purpose is not just the size of a facility. It is
how it's laid out. It is the wellthoughtout things for the needs and concerns of many different needs for many different seniors. What is necessary is the focus on who it serves. It serves
and will serve today 25% or more of our population. And through the years, it's going to serve every single resident of air once you reach a certain age. further
and you know with the help and good luck and good health it's going to serve every resident of air for 20 to 40 years of their life and that is worth it if we do not invest in our community and our people and our
neighbors and our mothers and our fathers and our children who will someday be seniors because we're all going to be seniors at some point. Then what are we investing in? This is a good plan. I approve the debt exclusion
and thank you. >> Thank you. >> Please, please on this side, please. Miss Stoddard. >> Yes. My name is Marian's daughters and I live
at 204 Autumn Ridge Drive and uh I would I'm would like to speak strongly in support of the uh this the new center the senior center and u would like to
say that uh I lived in Groten for 56 years before moving to about uh seven or eight years ago At about the same time the Grten Community Center was being constructed, um
I spoke by telephone today with the uh executive director of the Grten uh center today to uh about tonight's meeting. And I I asked her if she had uh
any advice uh for us and she said that she said well she said yes. She said everyone should know that this is not a nursing home that's being constructed that this is a this is being constructed for the benefit of everyone uh in in
air. And I also spoke with her about the about uh uh Grten being able to provide services to people from air because I know many people from air are going to Grten for their programs. And so they
are still able to accommodate people from from air but but they are so filled uh with uh with people who are using their services that she doesn't believe that they will be able to uh accommodate
people from other towns soon. And uh so I think that uh that it's important for for people to know that everyone in here would benefit from uh this new uh
center. Not just just the older people like myself, but everyone. And uh one of the things that I think that the town of air is lacking and that the senior c senior center could provide is space for
for for meetings. I know that at the the library here in air they have some wonderful programs but they are so limited in space for people to attend that it it just seems uh really a shame
and uh that uh we don't have a place in in in in air for for uh for programs that are that will accommodate everyone and provide parking and I think it would
be great that this the new uh senior center in in air if uh uh room were provided for for for other other programs. And I know yesterday I
attended I was at the Grten Senior Center for a program that was given by the Grten History Center and the program that was provided was by the National River Watershed Association. And the
room was nearly packed and and but there was no other facility in Groten that that was as attractive or provided the parking that was that they had that uh that could have accommodated this
program. So I think that air would would benefit that every town everyone in air would benefit by the construction of new uh air so-called senior center. Thank you. But it's a center for everyone.
>> Thank you. >> Lori Sable One Winthreb Avenue. As a senior and a taxpayer, I am 110% in favor of this project. No ifs, ands, or buts. I do have one question though. um
at a presentation that you get that Katie gave a few months ago at town hall, an info session, uh you um factored out the amount that we would be paying on our taxes a little
bit more granularly in in other words, I I saw a bunch of numbers that that Mr. Pomprienne also put up on the screen about our tax burdens, but I'm wondering
um how little I will be paying per month, for example, as a taxpayer. I think if we see numbers like that, I think uh the argument for the new senior center is a
little bit more compelling. So, I'm curious. Um, >> I think I just got the answer from the person in back of me. $12 a month. That seems like a a very small price to pay. >> Thank you, Katie. You're all you're all
set with that answer. Thank you. On this side, please. >> Uh, good evening, Mr. Moderator. Christine Goule, uh, 15 deer run. Um, um, just a clarification question, and this is geared towards conservation agent. Um, I'm just curious about what
the actual parcel is currently now, the environmental impact, and many comments have been made tonight about the flooding. And as my understanding, when the gate closes, it helps protect that in a in a in a in a in a in a in a in a in a in a in amphibians that are crossing the road, most likely including endangered species. Um, and so there's
talk about putting the gate um back. And I just I just want confirmation that um that our amphibians still can safely cross the road. what would be the environmental impact. And if possible, it would be great to have a map that's pulled up. It's been talked about the
gate being moved. I would appreciate a visual to say, you know, this is where the flooding is happening, where the crossings are happening, where the gate will be moved, and and where the actual um building would be placed. So, I I appreciate the clarification on that. Thank you. >> Thank you. I think uh Mr. Von
Scalquick's gonna gonna Yeah. Uh Mr. moder I'll tackle a bit of the um environmental um so the the proposed site is not located with um within a 100 foot buffer of any wetlands. It's not loca not located within a flood zone. Um
it is however located within a a priority habitat natural heritage endangered species program. So there's permitting ongoing through that and the committee's been actively working on that and been able to get ahead of the game because usually you get the the project you know funding before you can actually do that. Um and so we've been
working with the natural heritage folks and and we um expect that to move forward. Um additionally, um so yeah, that's the kind of the major permitting that's on the site. There is an ACE as well, so it has to go through the MEEPA process, but that comes after
you've got the project uh design the the design developed further along. >> Mr. Moderator, may I ask a followup question? Um could could you clarify um what are the steps you need to do since you are in critical habitat? Are you
looking at um you know passages for amphibians to go underground? Um what sort of things are you looking at to to make sure that the critical habitat is protected? Thank you. >> So you know really that's going to be between us and Natural Heritage as we
design further design the project. We're you're going to work with them, show them our plans, and they'll tell us, yes, do this, no, do that. Here's some restrictions you have. But, you know, working with them so far, this, you know, it's something they're going to be able to permit, but there's just going to be, you know, some restrictions to
it, but we'll be able to design and make it work to fit the uh the habitat of the area. Thank you. I I think it's kind of early in the process, but he's working with them. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you for clarifying >> on this side, Carolyn. Hi, I'm Carolyn
McCreary. Uh 612 Avenue East. There's been um you know talk about the expense of this, but I'd like to broaden our view as to what actually the town has and what this
project is asking of the town. Currently, we have 8,184,000 in capital stabilization. This project is asking not for 800, not for 8 million, but for two from that
that um pile of eight. We currently have 3,82,000 in UDAG funds of which 1 million would be used for this project.
In addition, we have 5,247,000 in general stabilization funds. So what we have in in funds stabilization funds plus UDAG is over 16 million which itself would pay for the project. Not
that I'm asking that we do it that way. I think what we're what we're proposing is good but it's it's something that will not break the bank of of this town. >> Thank you.
James, >> I don't know that it moves. There you go. >> James O' Conor, uh, 12A Turtle Hill Road and a senior citizen that has listened for several years at town meeting when
we first discussed the property on West Main Street and there were issues and then the whole question of the senior center dropped. I've listened tonight and I'd like to say that I have gone to the senior center. I'm not a regular
attendee because I can make lunch at home. But when I've gone, the lunches had to be catered because they couldn't use a commercial kitchen because there wasn't a commercial kitchen in place.
And as far as the question about the use of the space, I'd like to just quote Kevin Cosner from the movie Field of Dreams. If you build it, they will come.
Okay. Okay. Please. And I personally think because I go to facilities in Grten, I've gone to facilities as your former moderator in other towns and seen what they have. And
I know that if we build this here and air the residents, I have never seen this room as filled in the town meetings I've attended. That demonstrates a couple of things to me. a concerted
interest in our elderly or our senior citizens and a need that we see to try to facilitate that. I want to congratulate the committee and all the people that put an incredible amount of work into
putting this together because as an accountant I looked at the numbers. It's really impressive and I think this space because I do geriatric case management. I know of people that have ADA
difficulties. They don't go to places because they're afraid to go. And so for once I think air is going to be well not once because I don't want to say that word. air will be stellar, providing a
facility that's state-of-the-art, that's spoken wheel, and that will enable people to feel more than just welcome, but an active resident and meaningful. And maybe perhaps when we just mentioned
the flooding situation, if you watch PBS, they may have a program that we can offer for seniors to look at environmental impact with the amphibians, the turtles, and other
things. So, thank you very much, >> Mr. Curran, please. >> Uh, Dennis Curran, Pleasant Street. Um I am a member of the council on aging board as well as one of the building committee members who has been working on this over the last uh couple of three years. So as to the size of the building
um I it's hard I understand that you divide 13,000 by700 square ft and you get something that you think is is way too big for the town's needs. I can assure the assembly here that all the senior center directors that we spoke
with and we spoke with many um Sterling, West Boilston, Groten, Littleton, um North Andover, Andover, the UN Situit, um the universal sense was that you shouldn't build it too small because as
Mr. Okconor said, if you build it, they will come. I spoke with the uh senior center director in Littleton this afternoon and as many people may know they just opened their new senior center uh five months ago I believe in the middle of May and that's a building
that's a little over 15,000 square feet and she has reported that in the three months uh since they've been keeping track compared to the three months last year they've had a 147% increase in in signins. That is
they are getting 1300 additional signins each month that they didn't have before. In fact, she is bemoning the fact that now they're trying to figure out how to schedule additional fitness classes because the current fitness classes are
all overs subscribed. I I think that the the bigger danger for the for the town meeting tonight is if we build it too small, it will not adequately meet the needs of
the community for the next 50 to 75 years. This is not a temporary structure. This is a municipal structure which will be outlasting all of us. And I think we owe it to the future generations of people in air to build something that they can be proud of.
1.2% of the town's budget is not excessive in an effort to meet the needs of 25% of the town's population. >> Please, Becca. >> Uh, Rebecca Crayons, Washington Street.
Um, I am a young mother and also I am the children's librarian and heir, but I am speaking strictly as a citizen. Um I feel that it is our my uh ethical and moral obligation to serve our seniors because they serve our children. Um so
they have paid for our parks and our schools and I feel only the responsibility to pay it forward and I'm speaking specifically to other young people who are involved in any civic engagement which there are not many of us here. Um, I think in order for us to, you know, show support for our
communities and show that we want people to stay in our towns, we need strong community supports like senior centers, so people want to buy into our town and stay here. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> gentlemen. To moderator Murray Clark
Groten School Road. Um, I'm a lifelong resident of air. I've been involved in many many projects in the town over over the years and the latest one being this uh building we're all in right now as chairman of the uh renovations and uh building of this and I just urge
everybody to vote in favor of the u u debt exclusion. Uh the longer we wait to do this, the more expensive it's going to get and the less you're going to get for your dollar. We found that out with this uh with this project. We certainly found that out with the fields project.
Every time that was postponed, yes, the money went down, but yes, we get less for our value uh every time. So, I urge, strongly urge that we vote in favor of this override uh debt exclusion. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Hi, Mr. Tillson. Dan Gleon, Howard Street. Um I'd like to quickly echo a couple other comments about the work that the committee has done. Mr. U Gallalahan is his uh sorry Mr. Carr and his folks as well as the town's people on what they've done. Also I was about
to make a comment similar to the woman before me and also Mr. Clark. I was involved in the high school project the fields project. We asked senior citizens to step up with no no children in the school system and support those projects and they did. Mr. Clark was just one example of the many seniors who participated and helped us get the vote
out for the and the support there. So I want think we'd as a woman said pay it back to the senior community who supported the schools uh anytime I've asked. So I'm here to support them tonight. And then one quick question through you to the town's administrative team. Uh in other times we've had large
capital projects, we put out a a debt sheet that show because debt is being paid off every year. Correct. So this what you're seeing the number tonight isn't just you you're adding that on top of what's already there, but what's already there is going to be dropping as debt is paid off. So I know for example the middle school contribution to the Shirley Regional Middle School is up in
a year or two. The high school I think is up in about five or six years. So there's other other capital I'm sure is coming off. So I don't know if anyone on the administrative side of the town can speak to other debt that may be falling off. So that the what the number that was shown tonight isn't actually the the full number of what people are going to see as an increase. It's going to be
less than that. >> Mr. Moderator, >> Mr. Pontreon. Yes. through you. U the town's finance manager, uh, Barbara Tierney, I think, would speak to that. >> Thank you. >> So, debt does fall off every year and we
I did specifically look at the general fund. So we do expect this um I looked from 28 on to 2031 and from 27 to 28 general fund only we will have about $105,240
fall off. 29 will be another 111,248 fall off. 2030 95,159 will fall off and 2031 91 118 334. And again, this is just just for the general
fund. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Thank you. And I think I make a motion to move the question. >> Uh moved and seconded. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. No.
>> Okay. We're here to vote on the um Thank you for your patience. We're here to vote on article 10. twothirds majority. All in favor of article 10 >> I >> opposed
13 million >> motion carries 2/3. Thank you very much. >> I will I will entertain a motion to dissolve the meeting. >> Mr. Moderator. >> Yes. >> First show up on November 4th and I make a motion to dissolve the meeting.
>> Yes, you can. Do I have a second? Seconded. >> Second. All in favor of dissolve. I >> Thank you very much everybody. Have a great evening.