Thank you. Seeing as it is 8:30, I will call the Wednesday, July 29th, 2026 economic and community development committee meeting to order. The clerk will please call the role. >> Councelor Kazinskis, present. >> Councelor Harder. Councelor Heath >> present.
>> Thank you. Seeing as the quorum is present, we will continue with the announcement of open reading recordings. The posting is on the wall. Anyone here recording the meeting besides staff? Okay, we'll begin with the reading of minutes of prior meetings. Meeting
minutes from April 29th, 2026, May 13th, 2026, May 27th, 2026, and June 24th, 2026. Councelor Keys, >> I like to um make a motion to accept a uh
remove of the minutes as presented. Second motion made by councelor Key, second by councelor Kinskis to wing amendments to accept them and accept them as presented. Is there discussion? Just want to thank the clerk for giving us all of these minutes. Um appreciate
that and we are um now caught up. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Those say no. Motion passes. We have no items for the first time on the agenda. We will go to um item number three, the monthly Waterford
Community Center update. Item 11893, July Waterford Community Center update. Mr. Mayor, >> thank you very much, Madam Chair. The uh beginning with the uh roof repair and solar installation. There's actually an update from when this written uh item was submitted uh because of yesterday. Uh but long and short is uh we're hope
actually it's listed here on the agenda that I was holding a meeting yesterday with select energy. um they are sending over the um power purchase agreements and contracts that are needed. Uh the solar panels for all 23 megawatt systems uh when you add up all of the buildings
that were getting solar panels on that the uh city council voted to approve a couple years ago and then there was a backlog in solar panels uh production because of uh the various different federal incentives that were there. Uh the solar panels were purchased last year. So, we have all 23 megawatts worth
of solar panels that are already purchased and sitting in selects uh warehouse. Um they're just waiting for final approval from National Grid uh for installation and connection. Um and that's why those are done there, too. But while we expect that final approval to be issued by October of this year, uh
we're getting the final contracts and agreements that need to be approved by the city council. Uh and I should have those within the next month. So, by our September meeting, I'll have those agreements for all of our city buildings, including the Waterford Community Center, for you to review. Uh, and that will also have the uh price
ranges for the uh cost savings for the city and everything else in between uh in those agreements as well. So, you'll be seeing those uh quite shortly. So, it's nice to see that those are finally moving forward. uh and to see that select pre-ordered the uh solar panel
systems so that we can just go once we receive the okay and final approval from grid for connection. Uh again the reasoning for that delay is because of the saturation of the energy market out here in central mass. Uh we produce more energy than we use out in this part of the state and they don't have the transmission wires already in place to
ship our power to other areas of the state. Uh that is currently under construction which is why we're now looking at behind the meter systems as was said earlier. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> Um, thank you for that. And I would say as you mentioned briefly there, but when
anything is presented to the council or there's anything that we do need, I would, you know, as you typically do, but across all savings for everything where those solar panels go, especially because it has been so long and it's a good explanation as to why we've waited.
Um, but I would make sure all that is out there so it's very clear um what is going to be saved specifically for the Waterford Community Center. Um, but also across every project that those panels are going to be going to be used for. And it's refreshing to see that that's
going to be done. Um, and just for clarification too, the roof at Waterford will be replaced. Yes. As well, and that's part of this. That's not something the city is paying for. That's something that is done because the solar panels are being put on the roof. It's
something that um is taken care of by the solar company. >> Yeah. So the the solar if uh the vote that the council took previously a couple years ago was to lease the roofs of the buildings to the solar company. Uh so the savings themselves for specifically the community center may
look lower than the other buildings, but that's because they're improving the roof, replacing the roof as a lease holder improvement on the property. So, just like if you had, you know, rented an apartment and you redid the kitchen in the apartment yourself and your landlord deducts your rent because you made that improvement, that's what this
is going to be looking like uh for the roof of the community center. It's a lease holder improvement of the replacement of the roof so that they can put the panels on top of it. >> So, the water So, the water for community center needed would have needed a new roof anyway. Yes. But since we're doing the solar piece of it, it's getting taken care of at no cost to the city. >> Correct. the solar panels are getting
put on and now will save that will be energy efficiency and also um the cost of whatever power it is it will be zero. >> Yes. >> For the building. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Anything further than that? >> Great. U moving forward to the
renovations. I I combined a couple sections here just because they all relate to each other here, but I wanted to make sure that they all stayed on the agenda if they had excuse me stayed in my report if they had titles with those updates in my last report. Uh but the building renovations, the senior center, the concrete ramps and the construction. Um we are meeting with D. We were going
to meet yesterday. That meeting was moved to this afternoon. Um so we are uh having a virtual meeting with D this afternoon and an in-person meeting with D next week uh to present the plan that we have uh for the full cleanup of the asbestous that has been disturbed. And
then also our full remediation plan uh for removing um the asbestous in the twotory wing. That way we prevent any future asbestous disturbances in the area that will be the senior center. The plan for this is to fully uh remove and
replace the floor tiles and ceiling tiles on the first and second floor, excuse me, on the first floor of the twotory wing. And on the second floor, remove the ceiling tiles and the floor tiles, but keep that area unfinished uh if you will. So, keep the exposed wood
uh up there because we don't have an elevator. So we can't utilize that space for any public facing services. So close off the second floor and then put in new floors and ceiling tiles on the first floor. That'll make it so that there is no asbesus left in that wing of the building. Uh so we don't have to worry about that moving forward. Will there be asbestous in other parts of the
building? Yes. And we have the aera report that shows that just like it showed where the contractor really should have seen where the asbestous was uh when they did the work before, but now we can fix it just moving forward and get to where we are and bring it back to zero so that we can move forward the right way with this project. Uh the
finance committee did recommend uh this moving forward at their meeting earlier today. Um so just to keep uh to update the committee on that from a different committee uh that was there. Uh Chief Lgoy also spoke with the uh marshall's office and per the fire code, we don't need sprinklers for where the building's
currently at with the tenants that we currently have. Uh but included in that funding proposal that I've submitted uh that the finance committees reviewed um is running in a water line into the building because you need a separate water line when you have sprinklers in the building. uh where we plan on paving the parking lot later this year and
working on a plan for funding for the concrete ramp since the money that was originally appropriated for that is now going to the asbesus uh abatement if the council votes to approve that plan. Um which I'm going to get to that in my next part there too. All of those things we don't want to be ripping up the concrete and the asphalt that we just
put down to run sprinklers in. So we're running that line in so that when it comes time for the sprinklers we already have the equipment in the building that we're not then digging up what we just put down. Um and then patching because we dug it up in the end. Uh so all of that is um moving forward as it is. Uh
the uh I talked to the engineers and the original plan for the concrete uh if you remember had all of the front areas of concrete as well as the rear of the building. Uh we were replacing the concrete walks that are behind the building as well that lead out to Wilderfield. If you isolate just the
front of the building uh to the front entrance, uh the entrance to the one-story wing, which is on the horseshoe, uh the three ramps that lead to the classrooms that come from the Wilder Field side of the building by the old superintendent's office, and then a ramp that would lead into the old
library room that the CAC is using as their food pantry that would go out by the refrigeration units. That has a cost of $83,000. When you add the back, that's where we get closer to the 200 uh uh the $200,000 uh and then so working
on a plan right now to cover uh that $83,000 so that the ramps can still get done. I'm hoping to have done by the next uh month, month and a half so that we can still capture that this year um so that we can move forward with those. So that's the update on the uh construction side of things. Um once all
of those are moved forward, we'll be able to figure out what needs to be done in terms of a punch list for the other renovations that have been done in the building. But everything's on pause right now until we get the asbesus out of that section of the building. Uh this may this actually this will it's not even may will cause a delay in the moving of the senior center uh to the
spot. But we have to make sure it's done the right way. And at this point too with the senior population we make sure that we have no other future potential disturbances over there and that once they're in they're in and it's their spacef fully. >> Okay. Any questions discussion?
>> Um yes. Thank you madam chair. Um, as far as the uh the moving of the uh senior center uh senior center, is there a uh estimated time? >> Uh it depends on how long the remediation takes for this one. It's not like it's a there's no big design that
has to be done. It's not a brand new construction project. It's rip up and replace what was there. Um so I don't see this project taking too long. Uh but there are, you know, the uh owners project manager has to go out for bid. That's a minimum two weeks for bidding and a minimum two weeks for contracting and then the full project would have to
go out for bid. That's a minimum two weeks uh type similar situation there. Um and then going through the process with D because when asbesus is removed sometimes D requires someone to be on site uh to review that it's removed the correct way. Um so there there's timelines that have to
be followed. I don't think it's going to be too long of an extension there too. Um, but my guess is in the first quarter of 27, we'll be looking at the uh senior center board, not the work being done, but the senior center actually making the move. >> And I just have a couple questions on
that then. So, at the finance committee meeting last week, um, director, uh, Cormier had come up and he mentioned an OPM being hired. Yes. >> And that this would go into 2027. And I know that you've given the finance
committee a lot of these similar updates as well. And I noticed it in a written update. >> And so my question is this is the first that was the first I heard about an OPM being hired. He said he'd had a conversation with you. Yes. >> And then you've just mentioned it here
after his question. So I just >> I just would like a little more information about how OPM came about because we haven't talked about OPM for this project. It's been going on for a long time. So I just Where did that come in? So the OPM is required for a dollar threshold. Uh so anytime that there's a
project over a million dollars, you're required to have an owners project manual uh manager per the uh general laws of the Commonwealth. Um each project that we've undertaken at the community center, at least in my opinion, have all been separate projects because they're not reliant on each other. This is one comprehensive
project. So since the project itself has a cost that meets that dollar threshold under the general laws, that's where that's required. >> The But what part of the project is a million dollars? like what's making the million dollars >> the um >> that wasn't before. You know what I'm saying? Like >> Yeah. So, this project has a price tag
of $1.2 million for the asbestous remediation removal and the fire line coming in. >> Sorry, I should have said I forgot that the estimate was not in this packet and was in the packet from earlier today. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's that was that was what confused me about the meeting and then when you just mentioned again I'm
like it just seemed like we're just mentioning this OPM thing and I'm like this that's kind of a big deal. So, what where did that come from? Um, okay. So now, and was that something that director Corner initiated or you guys said it was and why did he do that? Because he saw this is going to be over
a million dollars and that's >> correct. >> By Mass General law, he stepped in to do that. So he mentioned that that was a requirement. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, and does that does that add to cost or how does that add to cost? >> Uh, so that's built into the $1.2
million. Uh, it's 7.5% of the the cost of the remainder of the project. >> Okay. Thank you. Let's have one question. Um, I don't want to solo, but >> I'll say for the public watch, what is a OP?
>> Uh, if I may, an owner's project manager is the city's representative for a project. So, the the way that the law is written, uh, and the thresholds are the old thresholds, those really haven't been adjusted in a while, too. Uh, it's a basically construction manager that the city hires to make sure that the job is done correctly. Um it's required on
all projects with a price tag of over a million dollars uh for construction work. And where this is uh removing and replacing it's considered construction work. Um the um they basically make sure uh that the contractors performing the work are doing it the correct way that
um double-checking the work that's done over there, making sure the payroll is done correctly with prevailing wage uh and all of those other things. They're basically the city's representative to oversee this portion of the project. >> Okay. So that besides that, do you have any follow-ups to that? >> Um, no. I just that's what I thought. I
just want to make sure that I on the same page. >> Correct. >> Because I Googled it before. >> So I would just say then if because there is this big shift now with the asbestous remediation and now the water line, which all makes sense for preparing for the future projects, are
all good things in my opinion. >> If we're going to spend $1.2 million, we need to know for what all of that's going to be. Um, so that I I would have appreciated if I was included, especially I mean in our packet as well. Um, >> because I had watched their meeting and it was just on Friday and then I we had
our update which I know was around the same time and like it's not in here either. So I just wanted to make sure that I had asked about it but you could just mention it too. >> Um, just knowing that's part of the project and when you hear something like that you as soon as the cost associated with it as well. So if we're going to do something that's 1.2 million, we need to
know everything that we're paying for in that and that's part of it. So the the breakdown was in the finance pack. I'm happy to send that here. You're right. It should have been here too as well because they relate to each other >> and and for the record to finance committee was at 8:00. We were at 8:30 this morning. So that just
happened. Yeah. >> Um but again, even in finance on Friday, it seemed like it was another discussion. We just want to be very clear on how that h that happened. But again, it's something that's required. It would have been part of the project. It's just not something along the way like we need to be informed on those kinds of things. And now we're informed.
>> Um Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. Uh and then another just question about the asbestous remediation. Um so the first again just to be clear so the first floor of the twotory wing is going to be the senior center when it is all done and completed with the asbestous
removed and remediated and nothing else existing. The floor tiles and the ceiling tiles will be replaced. The floor and the ceiling will be replaced and then the second floor cannot be used because there has to be an elevator for public facing purposes. Yes. So everything will still be removed, just
not replaced. And if there is a time when we can use the second floor, >> then we will be looking to correct >> finishing that project at that time. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Um and the cost estimate we have to put an elevator in on the second floor right now is $775,000.
>> Um which we don't have right now. Um so I don't see us using that second floor in the foreseeable future. >> Thank you. >> No. Anything else? >> Thank you. Uh the gardener farmers market. This should be an easy one. The next market is planned for August 15th uh with the uh theme preserving the
harvest uh building up to the fall season there too. They had a very successful market last month um with a lot of people there and it was a great day. Um they are expanding their services. I know they've gotten a couple one-day liquor licenses as well too. They do have a me vendor now and I know Moonhill Brewing is also coming to the
next one. Um and there's also several different bread options. I think I've never seen more sourdough in my life. um and other different baked goods, uh fresh produce, different uh woodworking, carvings, different knittings, uh an alpaca petting zoo. Uh there's there's a
lot of different things that's been over there, too. So, they're doing very successful. >> Um no updates on the disability commission side of things. It's the same as it was last month. Um but we are still working with them to get them into their space. Um Gardener Educational Television has moved. uh they are
operating in their new station. Um Mount Wusa Community College was getting rid of some of their uh office desk setups and these are the full uh workstation setups, not just the desks. So they have the the walls that are like corkboards, but their fabric boards and everything else in between. So those
actually got brought over there for their new uh studio as well, too. So they're operating the new workstations that are over there. The uh floors were recently waxed uh so that they could start moving all of their equipment in. All of their equipment is now out of the high school and into uh the new studio. Uh we were waiting on
Comcast, which is scheduled uh by Friday this week, to make the station back live again. Right now, the station's down just because of the transfer of uh the cables that have to be done. Uh but we do expect that by the end of the week to be back up and running. >> Has there been anything to the public about it being down? I haven't seen anything, but not that it's like is it
on channel 8? I I haven't I haven't checked channel 8 to see if it's on there. I know we put something up on the website before. I'll double check to make sure everything's still up. >> Okay, thank you. Um, and just for the public watching, where exactly are they located? >> Uh, so if you walk in the front door of
the building and pass the former principal's office and then go down uh around the gymnasium, they're in the back corner, what used to be the art room. >> Thank you. >> No, any questions? >> Okay. Uh if they're not up on Friday or whatever it is moving forward, then I'm
assuming you have a plans for that just because y we won't be able to broadcast meetings or you know whatever else. >> We can broadcast from here. >> Okay. >> Um but everything else will just be direct upload to YouTube and the video on demand. >> Thank you. Yep. >> Um the next section, Growing Places and
Gardener CAC. Uh our new interim building commissioner, Roland Jean, is meeting with the executive directors of both Growing Places and the Gardener CAC. One just to get an update of how the projects are going. Um where he's now overseeing uh the building department and the construction projects that have to be, you know, the building
permits are pulled for and everything like that. just to get a feel of where things are, where communication could improve between the department and those facilities, but also see what else they need to fully get operational and get up and running so that the CAC can fully move into their site, uh, get everything going over there and, uh, growing places
can install their new, um, generator and the condensers that were recently approved by the city council. I know those meetings are happening next week. Uh so uh the communication is continuing and actually improving on a greater uh scale over there with uh the work that the new building commissioner is doing
>> is um when is the CAC going to move in >> that I think will be determined from this meeting so that the finalized there's still no like this was the kind of the date that's what he's going to get from that >> correct yes >> okay so if we can at our next meeting >> we I'd like we'd like to know that too because that was a question that's kind
of been looming out there um but you know assuming that he will have a hold on it because really projects going to run out of your office at this point and >> if we know we have some delays till 27 at least for the senior center side of it like >> I would hope that in 27 all of this
>> like we can just be moved in and make it a functioning community center the way it needs to be and it sounds like it's all coming around but that is one of those things and also for the benefit of the CAC as well so >> okay great thank you any questions on that council please no >> and then I believe the last thing I have
on my list here is hive athletics uh they are a new soccer league and volleyball league that's formed that's using Wilderfield. Um so it's a new option for our community. We've had long-standing and good relationships with the various other leagues that operate in the city via Chair City Soccer and the other different uh that are there. This is just a different
option that's done. So the uh Balabra uh evangelical church that is located on Pleasant Street at the former St. Joseph site uh is trying to get out into the community more by offering uh things for both their congregation members and for the members of the community at large uh
to get involved and get to know each other better. Uh so that's why they've started this high athletic program. Uh so they are paying for the portaotties that are on the site uh because they're utilizing those for those fields. They're using them on Wednesdays and Saturdays for practices and games uh for the um items that are there. This is a
newer congregation. This is a church that moved from uh Dorchester to Gardener because they felt that they were getting too crowded out in the Dorchester area and many of their congregates are actually now moving from the greater gardener uh from the greater Boston area to Gardener and the surrounding communities. So, uh they're
using this as a way to welcome their uh congregation members to the area by going from, you know, the busy Boston life to still making sure that people have a sense of community by getting to know each other and really get to know other people in the community that way too. uh through sports. So that's uh a
new program that's being offered there. So if you drive by and there's a soccer league happening on uh WY Field, you know the story behind it. >> And um I know you mentioned that one of your last updates as well. And um my question is if um
you mentioned soccer, but also volleyball. Where are they playing volleyball? >> Uh that they're looking at figuring out. They were trying to do it on Wilderfield, but they couldn't get the grass cut low enough for an actual volleyball. Uh, so that's their their spring plan that they don't have a specific place for yet. >> That was you mentioned. I was like I just didn't want anyone to assume it was
like in the building or anything like that. And I but I I was also curious as to where they they would be doing that because that's not something that we have typically in this area. So that's pretty it's pretty nice to have a new offering in general. Um, and I'm glad that the fields are being used. Um, we're playing field notes.
>> Um, I've actually received several uh calls and emails from neighbors uh in the Waterford community uh Waterford area. Waterford Street in particular um saying that they like to see the field back to being used because one um it puts it on a while we had it on a regular mowing schedule, it puts it on the quicker mowing schedule because
they're maintaining the area of the field that they use. >> Um but it also makes it used more and increases the foot traffic more. So there's less concerns about, you know, what's going on in the field, what's happening over there because it's used on a consistent basis. It's it's not something that's just kind of left there and you don't know who's on the field specifically. So the neighbors seem to
really like it as well. >> That's great. Thank you. Anything further on the Waterford Community Center update for this month? >> I have nothing on mine. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. >> We kind of did this a little bit differently. Um, and I thank the clerk
for uh helping me rework the agenda the way that I wanted it done. Um, so I think what I'll do is I will entertain a motion to u place the item on file. >> Second. Uh motion made by councelor Desenski, seconded by Councelor Heath to
place the item on file. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. So say no. Motion passes. Thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank you, Madam President. Uh Madam Chair, >> um we will move to the next item, which is the quarterly community development and planning department update. Item
11894, quarter 2, community development and planning department update. Good morning, Director Stevens. >> Morning. That was a mouthful. Um so yeah this is my July 2026. So everything from April 1st to now um in
terms of everything happening within my department. Just as uh first item on here is going over current staffing. Um as it's known by this this committee and many others within the city. Um this department has been experiencing significant uh staffing challenges
following the departure of both the assistant director and the conservation agent. Um despite these vacancies, we have still continued to prioritize maintaining uh service levels and project oversight for the various projects, constructions, reviews,
reports, and the boards and commissions that are all reliant on this department specifically, including but not limited to the planning board, Gardener Redevelopment Authority, Conservation Commission, and CDPG steering committee. Um recruitment for the assistant director has progressed and a preferred candidate has been identified. Um the
hiring process is currently awaiting. uh internal reviews that that exist outside of my uh purview um before an offer can be finalized. Um and while these reviews are ongoing, the vacancy does continue to place additional demands on the the
remaining staff of uh myself and and Iris um as the two two remaining soldiers here in the department of community development. Um and but that that's that is all I have on staffing. I don't know if you wanted to like ask questions in between
>> um each item specifically, but >> Yes. Thank you. Um do you have any questions? >> Um no, I don't really have a question, just a comment. Um I trust in the hiring process given the uh the last ones that
you you hired and obviously they left for good reason and you've built them to go ahead and uh be leaders themselves and that's awesome. I just can't wait to see who you bring in. Yeah, we we got to a very good point with the team that we had had previously. I was very sad to
see them go. They were very sad to leave. Um but as I said in the previous previous meeting, one of them had uh taken another opportunity with another municipality. The other one was returning back to school to continue with their education. So I uh I wish
Justin and Amy truly all the best. And they were it was a an absolute pleasure to have them as as really the full team. the first full team that I was able to build here in the department. So, I I will remember them very fondly. We had a we had a going away party for both of them when
they when they left just to just to see them out. >> Whoever comes in has some big shoes to fill. So, >> uh I would agree and I am glad to know there is an offer for the assistant director. I know um I would have had the quarterly update at our last meeting, but you were kind of right in the midst
of all of that um and needed to get the the posting out and you would obviously have much more of an update this time around. So, it seemed to make more sense to do that. I'm glad to know that there's an offer out and that you're confident in it. As a counselor said, you've done a lot of work and there was really a good year run of a full
department there um that really set a great foundation for you to be successful moving forward and that was a full team effort for sure. So you know the kind of team member you need to be able to do that whereas um before that when you came in you know what you wanted and um you really found it. Um
but now it's like you have this foundation. So I I I'm excited to see you know who comes in and what's next for you and the and the department because I think it'll only be the benefit of the city to do that. Um and you know just keep us updated on it.
that I know I really appreciate um with um the both positions actually being vacant, you moved very quickly to get them posted into to fill them um with efficiency with also making sure that the jobs were done kind of on the way
out as well. Um so that was great to see. So thank you. Yeah, we were able to have a good number of interviews as well with both uh Amy and Justin um attending um as a second party along with myself for some of the candidates before that they they left just because we were able
to really move on on getting those um job descriptions finalized, those posted, get a couple of uh candidates in. But we got we had some very very qualified candidates. Um, and these are candidates that have also been vetted through uh, UHLC. So,
they've also reviewed their resumes uh, for the assistant director. And then I'm making sure to also involve for the conservation agent uh, members of the conservation commission uh, for their review as well because they they work very very closely together with with the agents. So, want to make sure that we
get their their insight as well. >> Thank you. Uh, I think also the work that was done kind of so recently to fill the at least the assistant director position, it just paid off because you could kind of just move forward with that and you knew what you needed to do.
So, I mean, it it all is for something, you know, even if it if it um the time's shorter than you'd like it to be. >> Um, okay. If there's nothing further, we can move on to the next. Thank you. I'll just go through for um next slide is just going over upcoming projects and then I'll start with um rear main
southside. So this has been again awarded contracted. This is for $3.5 million of an FY25 uh housing works or HWIP uh infrastructure grant program. Um this is again for the other half of the rear main project that has not been uh
started yet and includes the remaining parking lot for and bring and including uh bringing underground utilities to the site of what will be a private residential development that would be gone out to bid at the completion of that project. Um, as was the case with
the last quarterly update in regards to this, uh, we as the redevelopment authority have been negotiating with the owner of, uh, the Cumberland Farms property um, out there as that hadn't been portions of that property that are
vacant, had not been acquired, uh, to have full sight control necessary to move forward with the project. And we have gone through many iterations of possible ownership with uh, with their owners. This includes options for land sale, ground lease, future purchase
options, etc. Um, it's been a lot of a lot of back and forth. Um, we're still reviewing uh the best possible avenue for us to move forward with the project and obtain the necessary ownership uh to see through uh what we see as the the
development out there. Um, >> so I just have a couple qu Sorry. Okay. A couple questions on that. So, when you talk about the housing piece and it going out to bid, can you just kind of talk about how that's like separate from what's going on there now with the grant
part of it, you know, like with all the redevelopment that's been done? I mean, really, it's pretty amazing how quick it's been done in the last year, but >> I can't wait to talk about it. >> I mean, it's just it's like so much. So, like we're just going to talk about where we're at now, but um >> yeah, >> so with all the you know, there's there's the structure there, there's
kind of like the parking area, there's much more parking that's going to be added. totally cleaned up over there, but there's more to come and that piece of it is not part of that. So, I'd like to distinguish that. >> So, there's two completely separate grants overseeing these two projects. There's 3.5 million from an FY25 housing
works infrastructure grant program and then there is a FY23 Mass Works infrastructure program for $4.1 million uh that we received from um uh from through Mass Works uh to oversee
the ongoing construction that we we see out there. So again, two completely different grant funding sources for these projects. The one that has not been started would in our grant application put forward that the intention for this was to create a
publicly bid out private development for ownership of the area identified for a large scale uh residential housing uh structure with the intention of really creating as many residential units out there um as possible in the identified
area that we we moved. we moved forward for the uh um project design. I believe previously these these plans were probably circulated um in terms of the the design of the project uh the intention of it being not connected to
the north side but actually its own consolidated parking area with the intention of it being majority for the residents within that private development. Um >> but there would be parking separate parking for those residents as well. That's the that's the parking areas
here. Most of it would be would be focused towards uh parking necessary for those residents within that private development. >> But it would all be public parking. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> And um sorry not to interrupt you there, but I do have some questions here if we
can do that. Um and so when this goes out to bid publicly, >> that goes to whoever like it's awarded the way any bid would be awarded. And then where's the 4.1 million come in? Who who what is that money used for? That's the housing works or that that's
that the 3.5 million is the housing works that's overseeing >> the project that we're talking about here that hasn't been constructed and the 4.1 is for the ongoing construction related to the rear main north >> right so the phase one >> so I guess what I'm trying to decipher for the public who aren't like aware of
how these things happen all the time because I think it's important for this is when someone goes out to bid and they bid on this project and what they can do they are getting money from that $4.1 million mass works grant to complete this resial structure if you're around it. Correct. You >> definitely >> if I could jump in here. So the $4.1
million was the bid bid out project that the contractor you're correct is getting money from that $4.1 million. That was for all of the work that was done for the uh subsurface material for the parking lot that was currently made. the paving of the current parking lot, the installation of all of the concrete
structures that are out there, uh the uh pavilion stage that is there, the water feature, all of those things that you see currently being done across the street from the library that I believe are later on in the packet are what the $4.1 million are going to cover >> for the mass.
>> The housing works that this this $3.5 million is if you see the smoke stack that's there, everything that's on the library side of the smoke stack is the mass works grant. All the vacant land that hasn't been touched yet on the police station side of the smoke stack is the $3.5 million project that has not
been started yet. And the majority of this going to, you know, running the utilities to the site for the eventual apartment building that's going to be constructed there. >> Okay. >> And the money from that grant is not going to be go going towards the bid process. >> It has nothing to do with the
contractor. the the bid process is is essentially for because we're consolidating a good chunk of land and putting $3.5 million worth of infrastructure upgrades into into this through the housing works grant that was awarded to this. Okay. The public bid
process is essentially developers anyone from the public being able to you know put in and if it's a valid bid being vetted and it's essentially a decision of of what the value of the work that has been done into the
property. >> Um what's that valued at? >> So I just wanted to make it clear to the public that this these two are separate. They basically these the 3.5 and 4.1 abut each other. >> Yeah. Y >> um in that same area and one is really
to prep the area so that when that bid goes out that whatever whoever it's awarded to can just go in and start and they don't have all these other additional costs. So we're basically getting it ready to make it attractive to someone to go in and put housing
there. Correct. Um, and then the other the 3.5 million that area was that was other infrastructure that needed to be done anyways underground and all those other things, but also it's already going to be a public area with parking and all those other things. >> So, I just want to make it clear that like it's a regular bid process for the
area. Anything that's gone into that already is part of the 4.1 and it ends there. It doesn't go to any contractor or anyone who's going to be building anything. It's only used for the city purposes to make it an area that's ready to be built on. >> Yes. Okay. >> Thank you. the it so in total the 7.6 6
million that's going towards both projects are both well they're a for entirely for public infrastructure and for the benefit of uh the businesses in downtown the residents in downtown to incentivize people to come downtown for
the the employees for the the um the people who live in the apartment units in downtown. Um, and it's also to incentivize future development in downtown. That includes both the intended residential development as part of this housing works grant, but
hopefully as a spur to in to spur on additional development in downtown because of the public infrastructure improvements that are a part of both of these projects. >> If there's people living right there in town, they'll be able to walk to and go to. Yes.
>> Yeah. Great. Thank you. Any questions, further discussion? Anything further on that director? >> No. >> Thank you. >> The Waterford Street Community Center uh previously it was the fire system electrical upgrades. Uh we are looking at reallocation
uh for this to be part of the funding source for the senior center asbestous abatement. Um this is due to the uh CBG projects have to be justified under three different pillars they call them of um justified justification for the
for the projects and those are either uh low benefit to low to moderate income people's uh elimination of slow and blight or more rarely uh for uh hazard um or or emergency response uh in face
of natural disasters. Um so the ones that the city more commonly uses are LMI uh low mod income. I use the the term LMI just for the sake of uh uh briefness but um low mod income or for slum and blight. And previously the fire system
electrical upgrades were justified under LMI. Um, there were some questions about the broader use of the building because essentially you need to have over 51% of the benefit area uh in a structure like
this being presumed to be a benefit to people who are low to moderate lowincome peoples. So that includes people with uh disabilities, that includes uh seniors, that includes veterans, that include it
includes a wide variety of uh of of groups of peoples that um are presumed to be LMI. And with the intended uses that were already identified, we had to go and actually do the math of the total square footage of those areas intended
for those LMI benefits against the entire square footage of the intended use area for the for the for the building. And so we had to make sure that that was over 51% and it just wasn't actually hitting the with the current uses as they're built
out. If if more come in and that you know those intended uses do change and more tenants come in to use additional areas then we can you know recalculate that but as it stands now um CDBG will not be able to be used for a benefit to
the building at large. It's the same reason why we have to um now justify projects whereas gardener used to be an LMI community where over 51% of the population of gardener was uh low to
moderate lowinccome uh and that's no longer the case as of 2024's census data. So now we actually have to justify the project the intended use area around a expected project and look at the census track data for those areas and
justify it like that if we're going to use that as as the justification. So similarly we have to look at the use area for the building and um so that that's just the background as to why we are swapping over from the fire system
electrical which was a at large use >> of the entire building and now looking exactly and now looking at just specifically the area going to be used for the senior center and having this be part of the funding stack necessary for that. Um so >> yeah the the main reason for the 51%
issue is because the uh cafeterium and the gymnasium are for general public use uh so while the senior center the CAC and growing places are all benefits to the LMI community because of how big their cafeter
so that it didn't meet that 51% because anyone from the public when the building's open you know if Holy Family Academy wants to rent it out for their basketball games or say Hive Athletics wanted to use that as part of their future volleyball league, which again they're not doing now. Um >> that's you can't say that that's an LMI
benefit because anyone in the community can go in and utilize those spaces. So that's as a result of that unless we were to restrict those to the current tenants, we we can't use that um to meet the LMI, which I don't think would be good for the public as a whole, too. >> Okay. And so because the second because
the first floor of the twotory wing is is would be senior center is its own area enough that this 122,000 could be used for that area. Correct. >> Should there be sprinklers going into that area. Is that correct? >> The this is going towards this
asbestous. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry. I'm looking at fire and I'm thinking of all these other things. Okay. So that would be to pick up the asbesus. That's what you said you Okay. So that would be to pick up the asbesus um cost asus remediation
cost. Yes. For that area of the building. Okay. >> If there are any projects that are specifically towards the areas by used by current tenants that have a presumed benefit to LMI peoples and again that list is available online of of all those
beneficiaries that are presumed uh for that benefit. Um and if these project area if any of the projects happen for specifically garnered towards any of these areas then it's a it would be an eligible project for us to move forward with. >> Thank you.
>> So >> discussion on that. >> Oh sorry I was I was just going to go ahead. Sorry. Uh so just in terms of current work, we've already sent over the request to EOHLC uh for the reallocation from electrical service to the asbestous payment. It has already been indicated uh by their team
that the project would be eligible. Uh and that's preliminary. Uh we are still waiting to get uh the full list of um expected beneficiary numbers. So essentially the total people that are um of of benefit to um the senior center
currently uh what the full scope of work is detailed budget estimates um all all that together to send over to uh HLC to move forward with that reallocation. So, it's just the justification um background information that they need to
see um to be because you can send them saying, you know, we're looking to to change it over to the benefit to the senior center area of the community center and and getting a bait all the asbestous there, but they need to actually get all that justification um
documentation to be able to actually move forward with that. So, >> well, that's how you have to be creative in municipal dealings. And so, that's what we're doing. And I see it and I I think it's a great idea. So, thank you for looking into that and um recognizing that this
paid can change this around and use this funding for this thing that now has taken priority to obviously get the building um open for use. So, I I appreciate that. I have no questions. Right. Uh the next slide is just going over
social service providers. Uh again, it's just going over the numbers of of the funds that have been allocated off of FY24, FY25, and FY223 that we're looking to uh wrap up. Um, I believe the most recently the FY223 are
the ones that we have identified as as the ones we really are looking to kind of uh wrap, but the CAC is is I think still looking to uh or have delivered their expected food delivery service van that we reallocated back in I think like
May or April. Um, >> and then MBOX additional assistance. uh they're they're they're always doing projects and and and uh day trips for for their for their uh um residents. So,
we're just looking to work with them in in terms of reimbursing them on all of their work um to get FY223 uh as those are the only two remaining items within that grant year for us to wrap up, close the books on, and then we'll just have FY 242
and 26. That was a lot of um again from the team that you had built and from Amy that was a ton of work that was done this year to just close it out forward and be creative. So thank you >> for doing that and more importantly social services are getting funding that
they're going to utilize and that only benefits the community. So thank you. >> Um is there anything further on that? I think the next part I know in the packet is ongoing projects but I think we can cover that under up upcoming community development projects. Okay. Um, so I
will make a motion to place item 11894 on file. >> Second. >> Motion made by council seconded by councelor Keith to place the item on file. Is there discussion on the motion? All those in favor say I. I. Those say no. Motion passes. Thank you very much
for that director. We'll go to upcoming community development projects >> or ongoing. >> This is on >> upcoming and ongoing. We'll just we'll say but it is under it's listed on the agenda. quite a few quite a few ongoing that have um if you actually look at the
previous iteration of this presentation a lot of them have moved from upcoming to now ongoing. So it is it is kind of exciting for me when I was making this. >> I was like you'll see another version of this. The one who gave it I was like it's the update clearly the updated version of it because a lot has happened. So >> it's it's quite satisfying for me to
copy and cut and paste off of one slide onto onto the other and be like yep it is ongoing now. Um starting off the rear main north side as we discussed uh this is ongoing uh substantial completion by end of August. Um for this is for the
amount of $4.1 million of map 23 mass works infrastructure uh program. I think we all know what's what's going on with the rear main project in terms of what the intended uh result is. You can drive by it and see the parking area, the green space, the pavilion, the all the
work that's happening out there in terms of um movement of the utilities as well, providing uh a more uh streamlined um uh utility roads for the main street businesses to have better access for gas
deliveries, for trash pickup, for snow removal. whereas they were having some very significant issues over over the winter months that I I was working as best I could with them in terms of how they can you know potentially um you know hire a uh a snow plow or something.
So hopefully that's a thing of the past and that we have a very clear paved road for them uh that's very easy to maintain. Um so essentially for current work out there the pavilion's been completed the asphalt and pavers are uh the asphalt has has put down its first
layer. Uh the pavers are complete. Um so very slight change to the the list there. Um but the maj majority of available on-site work has been completed. Uh the contractor team is waiting for um and completing some
alternate work uh landscaping the chain link fence around the the tower structure uh out there uh while we're awaiting National Grid uh for their and Verizon to schedule their work related to the project. Verizon needs to remove the last remaining set of wires off of
the utility poles out there. And National Grid needs to come in off of uh um and and come in with their with their transformers uh uh with their civil team for removing the poles and uh seeing
through the rest of rest of the work out there. Um so >> it does say substantial completion by August 31st, 2026. What is substantial versus complete? like what is it? >> If there is any work still needing to be done, it would be offsite at 8 Main Street.
>> Okay. So, it would be done usable, we can look at it and it's >> it would be decided on whether or not it would be open for the public depending on because the electrical service would happen upon completion of the electrical service being completed at 8 Main Street. That's the feeder that actually
brings all the electrical service to to the site. So, as long as the utility poles are removed and the the team can come in and put up the essentially the top coat, the sealant over the top of the the asphalt that they've already placed there because essentially they
have to it's the poles exist in the center of of the paved area. Um especially along the utility road for those those businesses uh not really in the parking areas then parking area themselves. There might be one pole in the parking area. Um, but essentially
they're going to patch those once those poles are removed and then put the final coat of uh sealant on uh for those for those parking areas. So, it would be decided on if there's no electrical service, if there's no lighting uh there
if it's going to be overnight parking if that is uh >> it's not to rush the project. I was just wondering like is that substantial by August 31st, but what's like the people done and safe and open and lit lit and ready to go? You know, that's
>> I I would say if people drive down Derby Drive or they look out the back windows of any of the main street businesses and they look out there by September 1st, it's going to look like either the project is open or should be open. And it's going to be dependent on whether or
not we decide to open the project up. If the work at 8 Main Street still hasn't been completed yet or if it has been completed and service has been provided to >> the project site >> is dependent on 8 Main Street and getting >> just for public safety of having
>> lighting out especially is if it's going to be overnight parking. We want to make sure that we're opening up um >> if there are alternate solutions for lighting for through like generators or or other opportunities. You know, that's something that we haven't discussed yet. if that is something that we get to near
the end of August and it's decided that you know we've been waiting on this civil team from National Grid to to move on their end which um you know >> so that's what we would be waiting for >> that's all yeah that's that's really all that we're waiting for in general >> okay >> um like I said the the construction work
and the electrical work available for both the contracting team with UL and the subcontractor with Dagel electrical all the substantial work that they they can do currently is is basically at at at end. They're looking to demobilize some of the equipment that they will no
longer need to use. Uh moving on to other construction sites. Um so we're really kind of spurring down and we're just waiting on on national grid. So we we've chimed in with them. >> We're knocking on their door. We are like this you're it for this huge
project that we forever and you continue to do that. That's all that would be the request and the expectation. I think it's been like listen all this is going to be done by the next you know month or so and we're still you know we don't want to be waiting on you to do it in terms of national grid like
>> to make them aware we kind of have >> because truthfully we've we've originally been waiting on the easements to be filed uh from national grid of them completing their easements with the right ofway team and then submitting them to the city. So most of the delays in turn because we've already had paid
the the remaining fee uh the 922,000 that was previously uh had been discussed in previous meetings and so the past I'd say two months we've just been waiting for them to complete the easements from the right ofway team right >> and even with like I I myself have been
taking the easements down to the registry of deeds and rather than go through the warrant process of waiting through uh getting a check through the city I've been paying out of my own pocket and then just getting reimbured after the fact cuz I I'm I'm operating it. I'd rather get the headache done.
>> Yeah, it needs to be done >> and move forward with it as quickly as possible and hopefully like move them on scheduling of seeing like you know the city needs to >> this is they if they have been paid the 922,000 then they need to do the work. They have
our money they need to get the work done and you're clearly making trying to make that happen as best you can. upon yourself. So >> that that's as long as that's on the record, I think. >> As as quickly as we are able to, but there are no remaining items as a
responsibility of the city in regards to this. All responsibility for this project as it stands right now that are that are halting the progress that could be happening right now relies solely with Verizon and National Grid. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. Any further questions, comments? >> No. Um, I'm just excited about this. Um, you know, I don't know if the public knows about the splash park, um, a splash pad, >> but, um, I'm pretty sure that that right there would be a very exciting, uh,
feature. My daughter would love it. Um, and yeah, if anyone get in touch with National Grid, it's definitely you. Got a lot of progress in a lot a little amount of time, so no pressure. >> I appreciate the the vote conference. >> I walked in last week. That's really
cool. >> Yeah, it's awesome. >> Go ahead. >> The South Gardener Village Center utility upgrades. This is ongoing for the amount of $1.48 million through an FY26 Mass Works uh MWIP grant. Uh this
is to overhaul the utility wires underground at the South Gardener uh village center. Um, in terms of also removing those overhead wires underground, similarly to the the rear main project ongoing, um, this is aimed at not only uh enhancing the area's
visual appeal, but supporting the residential development uh, and fostering e economic growth in in the in that area. Um, we are working with time bond as our uh, contractor for the engineering services uh, and construction oversight. uh they have
completed their surveying work uh and the latest that I've heard from them which I think is just about a week ago now is that we are waiting national grid to complete their right-of-way information so that time bonds design can continue. So essentially we're just trying to make sure that we have um the
right property lines and the the right of ways from National Grid of exactly where they want you know the transformers and the underground wires to be placed um for us to be able to make any progress on on that front as well. >> You want it to be functional.
>> Yes. >> Thank you. Any questions, comments? >> Okay. Memorial pavilion constructions project. So this uh the memorial pavilion construction this is the amount of $719,342.51. Um so this was originally designated for
the demolition of the school street school project but had been reallocated through the CDPG steering committee uh used to now construct uh and see through the next phase after the demolition of the Greenwood memorial pool facility last year. Uh this project was uh had
completed its bid process and was bid out to diversified construction services and we're going to be having a pre-construction meeting uh actually with the engineering and construction construction team tomorrow >> to walk through the site. The only question I have about this project and
it's more about the pavilion itself. Um I guess and um the I know the green demolition was is separate. It's long gone at this point, but um I we had talked about previously the city had saved a lot of the significant pieces of
the um indoor pool um and you know historical significance and things and which was wonderful that we did that and had taken an inventory just because it has come up again recently. What's the plan for those pieces and how are we memorializing them
and and what what are we doing? >> The the pieces are currently in the DBW's cold storage building. So, we do still have them. The sign is there. The koopas are in the backyard of DBW. Um the bid for the construction of the pavilion came in higher than expected. So, right now this covers just the construction of the actual pavilion
itself. We applied for a uh grant through the Commonwealth Shared Spaces Program uh that's basically used to help uh build up and promote areas that are meant for community gathering and uh community public use uh to fund not only uh portions of the uh items being uh put
forward toward the pavilion, but also the items in the alternate that weren't able to be funded, the sidewalk upgrades, the lighting uh and things of that nature and the electrical work. So, all of that's in a separate grant program. uh this just gets the pavilion built uh because of the just the way that the cost came in. So uh in order to just get something done on the site to
get some type of structure over there so it's not just a vacant landscape uh that was put forward for here and we're trying to get uh the funding from there but we do still have all of the items and they are still protected and in storage >> and but how are we going to get a plan like in the future and we don't have to vet this all out now. I just want to
have the information out there and that it is a conversation is how are we what's the plan for possibly incorporating those into that area or somewhere in the city where the above ground pool can be I'm sorry the above ground pool the previous indoor pool can
be memorialized for the historical significance to the city that it is and people can be aware of it like I understand that to me that's more of um sort of the um the decorative piece of it, which is okay to come later on. I just want to make it really clear
to the public that like the pavilion structure is being built as it was going to be built >> and there could be add-ons later and that is still a piece that is coming. I don't want that to get lost because if it opens that that could be confusing and when it is open and available for people to do it. I think we should have
some of signage there saying like even with the pictures of the stuff that's been saved being like these are going to be incorporated. the city is apply is waiting on funding or a way to do it, but we want to know this is an ongoing project. I want to make that really clear because that criticism to me isn't fair when we do have our project and we
very mindfully kept those pieces, you know, and and to be part of this, but um leaving it just sitting there and we also have funding available for it like this was going to be done anyway. Um, so to me that's for people. I mean the
green room pool has been such a a a topic of discussion for so long that I I'd like to see it seen through being like, "No, this has been mindful and thoughtful. It may take some time, but it needs to be acknowledged." So that's kind of where I'm coming in with this. Like I said, we don't need to vet it all out now, but I just I want to get that
conversation here. >> And it's important too for just everything. Like we said, we've said it once one because we've said it, but two because the community impact that that pool had as you said. So, it is something that we absolutely are still looking >> and just continuing to go through in a different avenue. >> Okay. So, I would just like I said, I
would suggest or maybe even request that like there's some type of signage or something out there at when it is done. If you can incorporate into your meeting tomorrow, I don't know if it's appropriate to do it there, but something that just says like there's more to come and this is what we have saved and this is significant of these
pieces. You could probably get the historical commission on making some writing for something. Like seriously, that's what I would do. Um because that way if there's any questions it's like oh it's actually right here you know or you can take a picture and send it to the person who has the questions like actually actually right there on site letting you know what is to come and
what we did so that we did do this you know mindfully because I don't we just want to make sure that there's good information on out there and I know we have a lot of people out there who are great ambassadors and do that but we have people who aren't as well um and so I'd like to make sure that they have good information. >> Yep. >> Thank you. Anything further on the
federal >> downtown phase 5. This is another one of the CDBG projects. This is for the amount of $340,000 uh dollars from the FY25 CDBG application. Uh the public bid for this is in progress. Uh we already did
convene uh the relevant city departments to review the proposed design of the improvements and uh actually they're they're looking to slightly reconstruct the crossings to make them look more perpendicular to uh the crossings over there between Willow and Main Street. Um
make them uh essentially more safer. We had that meeting on June 11th. Uh but again, the public bid for this is open and is ending on uh August 5th. Um, so in just about a little less than a week. >> But this upgrade is going to include new
crosswalks, sidewalks, curbing, uh, street lighting upgrades, and accessibility improvements uh, for both the crossing area as well as all down Willow Street. >> Any questions, comments? Looks like that one is moving along. Thank you. Master plan update.
>> Next few of these are for the most part all completed, I think, except for the mitigation plan on the next um slide 15, but essentially the master plan update that's been completed. Uh the plan was presented to the planning board at its
meeting on May 12th and uh subsequently adopted. Um there's been previous meetings where we discussed this. I can go over kind of a high level of what the master plan is if deemed necessary. I mean I think we've gone over it at our previous meetings and I don't I and like
you said it has been adopted has been completed. Um you know I was part of a certain committee you know for that and um I was very impressed by the process. I thought that they were on top of it. They knew what they were doing. Um they being um the firm that
>> very planning. >> Yeah. Yeah. They walked us through it and scheduled all the meetings and told us what they got meeting next and all those things. And I just can't emphasize enough where I'm glad that we have this in place. I think it was done really thoughtfully and thoroughly and um it's going to be a great road mapap for the
city. So I don't know if we need to update any further on that any questions. >> The uh master plan I haven't sent up as a communication yet just because we're still waiting for a plan that doesn't have the word draft across it since it's finalized. Once that's done, I'll send it up as communication like I did the
other plans. Um, I am planning on having a uh web page on the website created that just has all of the plans because we've had so many recently done. Um, so we are working on that. Uh, the other plan that just was completed um that I would normally send up as a
communication like I've done these um was the slum and blight inventory. However, it's 1300 pages long. So, I'll likely just be emailing that to the council so you can see that rather than have that put in your packet. Um, but that'll be on the web page so the public will still have access to it that way. you could throw a link in too so that we
can find it ourselves. But yeah, no, that's great and I think that's >> um any community should be able to find whatever plan the public should be able to find that really easily because they do some planning for their community. So I appreciate that being done. >> There's a lot of work put into these. So >> yeah,
>> the meat and potatoes of this inventory can mainly be gathered between pages 30 and 50. That's where all of the maps are. >> That note should be made on the website >> because like I 95% of it is the each property has because we went from 300 to
over,200 properties identified as part of that and each has a page. >> Well, for that was you and Iris in your office works and worked on that with you as well. Right. So >> that was with BSC group. Yeah. >> One of our on call engineering teams. I that too is something I mean that's been
done in a year >> and they they they were the ones who did the previous iteration of the slum and blade inventory which expired in June >> of of this year. So they already had the background knowledge of of doing slim and blade inventories. They already had done ones of the of the much smaller 300
parcel inventory that we did two years ago, three years ago. Um, so they were able to just pick right up, meet with us, um, just talk through what their plan was and and really get through what is essentially a
plan in a very short period of time. So I was very impressed with their work. >> Great. Thank you. >> Do you want to go through the rest of the plans whether you want to do it? >> Yeah. uh housing production plan also uh has been uh presented to the planning board on June 9th, adopted by the planning
board, presented to finance committee on June 9th as well and to the city council on June 15th and subsequently adopted. So that was also done by Barrett planning group um and allows us to identify affordability of housing and a wider variety of housing types available
in the city. um but has been completed. The municipal surplus property plan also has been completed, presented to finance committee also on June 9th and to the city council on June 15th and subsequently adopted that included both a market feasibility study of what kinds
of developments uh especially specifically this one iteration was on specifically residential types of housing. uh which ones are economically feasible for developers to come into gardener and build and uh which ones currently we do not have the market
conditions to uh support at least at face value. Um as well as identifying uh looking at all 200 don't if I have on here I think it's 200 around just north of 200 uh municipally owned parcels and which ones are can be
identified for um future sale. So we already have some interest I know in in some of those parcels, but uh as was previously stated, we have uh our priorities on mainly maintaining these projects and once we have the bandwidth to incorporate some of these land sales
that were identified for us to move forward with, then that's something that my department will will look at moving forward. >> Thank you. And then the hazard mitigation plan. Uh this is we got an extension until uh well Halloween uh October 31st of this
year. Um this is our first uh specific to gardener hazard mitigation plan as we previously relied on the Massachusetts regional hazard mitigation plan to address hazards and extreme weather conditions. Um the chapters for this plan are have all been completed have
been completed and are still under review by MIMA and FEMA for uh completeness as well as a look through our engagement process to make sure that we've engaged with all the relevant stakeholders of which they require us to engage with throughout the drafting process of this plan.
>> So the extension to October 31st was because they're still reviewing it. Like why did we get that? Well, we we asked for an extension with with the state uh because with the understanding that it was it has been with MIMA and FEMA for >> for a good bit of time. >> So, we've submitted what we need they need to review.
>> Yes. Okay. Thank you. Any questions? >> The downtown mobility plan, this was through the raise grant for the amount of $1.25 million. Um the RFP bid is in progress. We have actually received the two
relevant bids. It's not public information. Actually, I thought the finance committee meeting was going to happen a little bit longer. So, I have both time bonds and the other uh Walker uh Walker Consultants as the two relevant bids we received for that. Um that's my next thing to do after this
meeting is is to go through the uh comparative criteria for both of those and then sit down with uh actually yourself uh chairperson Kazinskis and um uh my my counterpart in uh my department Iris and and just go through those and
essentially rate the two uh qualified candidates of of which one we're going to essentially be moving forward to based off of their criteria. Um this includes uh a look through a multitude of of different microotal uh studies uh
transit scale mobility hub uh uh last mile connectivity essentially that's that's for anyone who's looking to um go to certain areas but they they don't have the means of of making that last step essentially like missing middles of of of transit options in the city. uh
parking infrastructure. It includes um electric vehicle charger placements. It it includes quite a bit. It also includes the planning, engineering, and preparation um of documents for the fourstory parking garage on West Street in the in the downtown area. So, the
improvement of that uh existing parking area. >> And just for clarification, that is the design and engineering of if we were to move forward with a four-story garage on West Street. does not mean we're getting a four-story garage on West Street. Um, current estimates for construction on that are around $10 million. So, we
would not be able to do that unless we got a separate grant to build that. Uh, which the federal government does offer. But just because this is going forward, there's no in the immediate foreseeable future construction project. This is just if we ever were to move forward with that, we've got the plans ready to
go out so we can go immediately out for bid for it rather than having to wait for that to be done first. >> Thank you for the clarification. Um, any other questions on the North Central Pathway phase two?
There's going to be many phases, I think, in the end because this one is actually just for um planning, but this is for the amount of $250,000 of which is uh 200,000 from FY26 Mass Trails grant that we received a couple months back as well as a required
$50,000 uh match through uh municipal capital funds. Uh so this would oversee the planning of the remaining remaining uh nature trail uh all through the existing end right next to the natural grid uh substation uh that has already
been completed uh last year as well as all through past Park Street where we'll have a crossing and all the way through uh to where it would connect to the Route 140 um pedestrian overpass that's being seen through by the uh engineering
department here in the city. Um so we had actually the public design hearing uh with MASTA on June 16th uh to go over the remaining design of the trail and answer questions from the public. Um we received our notice in state standard
contract uh back in well actually a little less than a month ago or a little more than a month ago. Um, we've signed that and we're essentially waiting for the returned endorsed contract and notice to proceed uh from Mass Trails to
essentially move forward with uh the design services from Time Bond. >> Thank you. I don't have any questions on that. Just um glad to see this moving along. People are really excited about it. I know it'll be like you said a bunch of phases, but glad to see it continuing because a lot of work has
been done and get people excited and you know they want to see it out to the end. So, um it's it can you know slowly but surely, but I still think it's being done efficiently, but this is the pace that it would be going at like it's not like anything is moving anything up at this point. So, I really appreciate that
and um I have no questions council. >> Um yes, I actually have two questions. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um as far as the um initial um uh plan for it over there behind Park Street. Has that changed a couple times
the way the path is going to be? No. as such. >> Uh maybe before my time, but essentially like the it was when it was originally formulated, it was originally supposed to go off of the National Grid substation, but they did not want to
have essentially encouraged or formalized access through their rightway if they ever had, you know, an emergency response or if they, you know, they have a lot of construction vehicle going out of there. So that's why kind of the first phase that was completed last year kind of trails through the the wetlands
and and goes uh through Crystal Lake Drive um and then loops into what what is the um railed right of way uh for the previously existing railroad that was there over a hundred years ago.
>> Yeah, it was just there um over the weekend and the last weekend. just way wider than it did last. >> This National Grid is completing their A1B2 uh extension or improvement project as as the mayor actually alluded to uh previously about the um solar
limitations and and power limitations in in central Mass. Um so that's part of their their uh project and I I I think I've said in previous uh meetings that I consider it essentially them uh leaving the red carpet open for us. uh they do all the clearing and we come in and we
spend the next year planning it out and we have a nice clear area that we do not need to worry about coming in and and going through um the the issues of having equipment out there necessary for for those clearings
and essentially just go through you know the relevant um you know meetings through concom just for the actual paving and installation of the um you know necessary accessibility handrails, uh, safety handrails and the
pavings themselves. >> Awesome. >> And then the Keys Road culvert replacement is in the packet >> still. Um, so >> Oh, is it? >> Yeah, it's after the North Central Pathway phase 2. I know it wasn't in the list.
>> Oh, yeah. Um, >> oh, was it not in the list? It it it wasn't in the like ongoing project list that was kind of at the beginning of it, but it is the last um >> I think it got cut off in the slide. There was so many so many ongoing projects. It got cut off. >> I mean I mean hopefully a lot of these
plans will not be there for that time. So we're good. But um still in the in the slide deck. >> Yeah. >> Um so this is the other project that has moved from upcoming projects to ongoing. um because we were looking at a few
different funding sources for this uh for this project, but we actually got uh the full funding through Mass through the Community Culver grant program. That's for the amount of $2,14,230 uh to oversee the entire construction of the replacement of the Keys Road cover
into a full bridge that serves both Wild Wilderbrook and the 60 plus households uh that rely as as this essential crossing uh for them. >> That's I'm so glad that happened. >> Yeah, we we we had a little because we
still had a full team when we when this when it when this came through. We we had a lot of a lot of yahoos, a lot of celebrations on after that came in. Um so after we got the bid the full project amount, uh we're going to have time bond move forward with the projects uh
bidding and construction services and the city auditor is in progress with working through the state standard uh contract as well as the notice to proceed um for this project uh for creating an account to hold these awarded funds uh for us to move forward from there.
Thank you. Questions on just excited about this one. It's in my backyard. So, >> you heard again from the war the war counselor. >> Um, is there anything further on any of
the topics of the meeting from anybody? >> Okay, I will make a motion to adjurnn. Oh, actually, wait, hold on one second. Um, that was upcoming community development projects. Oh, that was just discussion to make sure we have nothing in subcommittee. Um, so now I will make a motion to
adjurnn. >> Second. >> Motion made by councelor Gizens, second by councelor Keith to adjurnn. All those in favor say I. I. Say no. Motion passes. Meeting stands adjourned. Thank you. Thank you everyone.