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Today is Tuesday, May 26th, 2026. It is 4:30 p.m. This is the CVE steering committee meeting. Uh now open meeting recordings. I see no one else is recording besides staff. Moving on to the regular meeting. First item on the agenda, meeting minutes. Voting to

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approve the April 28, 2026 meeting minutes. >> Make a motion to uh wave the reading of the minutes and accept them as written. >> Second. >> Motion here. Second to approve the minutes as presented. All in favor say I. >> I. Say nay. Motion carries.

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>> Uh number two, old business FY2223 project updates. Oh, the first one's mean. So um we do have a offer that we have received with the GR. is still being listed and we have not made a formal motion on that offer but uh are

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intending to um hopefully get a decision from the board um on the offer that has been received for that. So looking forward to closing this not with this offer but with another offer um in

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the near future. This is off the agenda. That's all I have for that. Number two, Greenwood Pool demolition. So, it's wrapping up over there. Um, the seating is taking hold. There's still a few patches that might need to be

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receded, but the contractor is working to resolve that. Um, they found an underground drainage structure um that was caving in uh that needs to be replaced. So, we're doing a change order for that. Um, and the new fence and the

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swing gate are in as of Friday. So, things are moving right along. um talk about the pavilion a little later the next phase of the project. >> The fence looks great. Like I know that was a major um item that the uh youth

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youth group uh youth commission >> youth commission and um those that run the pool were looking to get finished up and I know you went out there today and took some photos of them. The photos look look great. So I'm sure they'll be thrilled to know that there'll be no impetent on the opening of the pool on

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the regular start season [clears throat] start. >> So a couple questions. Um so the um when you say the fence, you mean like the fence that goes to the street and around the whole structure, right? >> So part of it was demolished the part when we extended the barrier um into a

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good portion of the grassy area that was contained within the pool just for the um for the demolition that was happening. Mhm. >> Um we had to remove um that entire wall of fence. Um so that was reinstalled. >> Okay.

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>> With the gate with the intention the the gate is the gate that will be incorporated with the um sidewalk as part of the pavilion project. >> So this so that's what when you say swing gate that's what you mean. Okay. So that goes to the sidewalk. >> That will go to the sidewalk once the pavilion is built.

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>> Okay. And then and maybe we'll talk about some more with pavilion talk, but just for us and the public watching when so you have the pool and you have the pavilion, is there anything in between or is it always wide open all all the time? >> So there is the gate in between because the we need we can have multiple exits

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from the pool but there has to be one entrance that can be monitored by pool staff. So people are allowed to leave through that other exit onto the pavilion if they're having say a birthday party or some sort of event there that they want to go from the pool to the pavilion. But in order to reenter the pool, you have to go through the the

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proper entrance that's monitored by staff. >> All right. So the one entrance, the pool is that one entrance. >> That's the one entrance, but multiple exits >> and multiple exits and then >> is a swing gate. >> Okay. And then people can access the pavilion though if the pool's not open or the pool's not in >> it will not be gated at all.

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>> Okay. But it is um but they cannot get to the pool from the pavilion >> except through the proper entrance. The the one that's everyone already uses. >> Yes. Right. What I'm saying is if you're at the pavilion, you cannot get to the pool just from the pavilion. So like if

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there's people at the pavilion, I'm just I'm just trying to reiterate that [clears throat] people are going to be using the pavilion when the pool is closed and they're not going to be able to get to the pool. Yes. >> Okay. Just want to make sure just for safety. >> The swing gate will be will be locked >> because we will get that question. Um even when they see the structure, they're just going to understand how the

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me mechanism works. And when I was war two counselor, the pool war I two covers a lot of gardeners. [laughter] Um and so um the pool is one of them. And I just remember when there the a few

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years ago, I think it was around pandemic, the height of the pandemic time, like there was just like some problems with the gates. People were really concerned about people getting to the pool and so the pavilion's new. It's going to have all the new stuff. I just wanted to make that really clear just for safety. Um, I figured that was part

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of it, but I'd like to ask them. >> Yeah, the main entrance will adhere to the pool's regular operating hours. The swingy will only be an exit and will be locked similarly to the main entrance of the pool outside of normal operating hours for the pool. Thank you. >> So, you can you can use the the pavilion

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um outside of pool operating hours, but not be able to access the pool outside of normal pool operating hours. >> Thank you. >> Um, any other questions on that? And so for the actual like closing of the demolition, that changes now because we have a change order in because we have

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the structure that needs to be repaired and things. Okay. >> Yeah, it's still moving quickly though. He's just waiting on some um things that he ordered to be able to fix that drainage structure. >> Hopefully we can keep up the great weather and help them out a little bit. >> Yeah, [laughter] it definitely helps out construction.

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>> Um anything else? >> Okay. >> Uh public social services for FY223. So, um, we have the two open projects that received a reallocation of funds. The Gardener Community Action Committee Food and Heating Assistance Expansion Project and the Montichus Veterans

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Outreach Center Veteran Services Expansion Project. Both of those are winding down. Um the the CAC's been able to serve 458 people um as a result of this grant and they've you know been able to improve their refrigerator,

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their freezer, other equipment at the food pantry, waiting on the delivery of their new vehicle. and MBA has served 66 veterans um providing food, clothing, access to accessibility equipment um to help them move around the facility

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better and um some outings, a fly fishing trip and a um baseball game. >> So, they're they're winding down. Um there shouldn't be any problem with them completing their projects by the June 30th deadline. There are no other questions on that.

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Then FY24 uh project updates Greenwood Pavilion. >> So the pavilion's out for bid. Um there are we had a pre-bid um conference about a week ago. Two contractors showed up. Um hopefully there'll be additional

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interest. Um, an addendum was issued today to add um, some minor changes. Some bike bike racks are being installed that weren't part of the project initially that are being reused from another project that

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we had that did not need them. Um, the plans are were changed. There was a minor revision to the plans from what was initially proposed before the conservation commission. So you may go back to them just to let them know

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what's happening as a as a courtesy. Um just a little bit more it's a nicer um design. The walkways and the landscaping are nicer than what they initially were. Um there's more landscaping more more native plants being planted. Um so th

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those bids open on June 4th. Hopefully we'll get some good results. Um we have a couple alternates. One of the alternates is the lighting. So, I really hope we have enough money in the budget to proceed with that. Um, but we'll see.

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Yeah, >> I would say I'm sorry. Okay. Um, I would say if um certainly as a courtesy of the conservation commission, I would say to just do it and if you can't get to one of their meetings, I would send them >> some, you know, send them something over email just as informative. It doesn't

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have to be meeting deliberation, nothing, but just send them something informative to >> um, you know, show your best effort to be able to do that. >> Just as and if there's any changes in any design or anything. And I know that Jason and I have a conversation about this too. If there's any of those kinds of things, just make them as public and

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>> open and noted as possible to anyone who would be interested because if there is anything that changes in things, like you'll just be responsible if you didn't tell anybody about it. So, um, which is probably fine, but I would say the checks and balances of it being a public project. So, I would encourage that.

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>> Okay. >> A couple other things um to note on as Amy said, lighting is considered an alternate for for the bid process. Um, we hope it's incorporated so that the pavilion can be used um to its full

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extent outside of um daylight hours. Uh, but we'll end up being seen um upon [clears throat] bid openings of whether or not that can be incorporated. Um, I know people have reached out with a

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couple questions in regards to the pool. Um, I guess one of the the main ones that we'll be we'll be looking to kind of finalize is is maintenance um on it moving forward. So, we're currently kind of in talks between the um uh youth

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commission as well as DPW to see which of the two of them uh would be responsible for the grounds. It seems like it's going to be incorporated um at least the usewise incorporated alongside the pool because people are likely going to request um uh usage of the pavilion

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for birthdays and and other such events alongside the pool itself. So, it might make sense to incorporate it into the maintenance that the um youth commission already does for the pool because they do maintain the grounds inside the gate. Um, but that'll be a conversation. Once

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we get that finalized, we'll be sure to relay that to the rest of the committee so that you can be sure how the grads are going to be maintained moving forward following project completion. >> Would that be um I guess the so the youth commission who does that does like

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how do they maintain the pool already? I don't know. >> They the the youth commission doesn't maintain the pool right now. has a proposal for the youth center director to also oversee the pool >> or youth center. >> Yes. >> Cuz the the pool already like they maintain the grounds within the the gated area. So

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>> who who does that Boston? >> The lifeguards. >> The lifeguards do that and the lifeguards are hired by the city. >> Yes. >> So the city maintains the ground. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> So that would be who? The DPW. The DPW mows the lawn and >> this would be under payroll for the

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youth center because they're the pool is currently maintained by the youth center or >> nothing is under the youth center yet. So I wouldn't want to say that was what happening now before that >> anything [clears throat] on the patio is overseen by the lifeguards right now. So if that's u um

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you know regular cleaning dayto-day cleaning >> is done by the lifeguards. there is a custodian who's assigned to the pool who's split between [clears throat] the pool and the council on agent and the senior center. Um, so they'll take care of any like hard maintenance work that

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needs to be done on the site itself and any larger cleaning that needs to be done. And in terms of like lawnmowing and vegetation control, that's done by DVW right now. >> Okay. >> But that is done by DVW. >> Okay. So the DVW So the pavilion piece of it then, thank you. That's that

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clarification is important I think. So the DBW then so for the pavilion what kind of maintenance would need to be done like lawn >> just going and um we whacking >> okay so and then >> it's an open air pavilion so the actual like structure itself doesn't need

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>> too much maintenance >> okay so the custodian then who is split between the council on aging >> yes >> and the pool >> yes >> they they do the regular cleaning areas like the bathrooms and like any of the

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Yeah. Okay. So, they wouldn't be needed for the pavilion because there isn't I mean there's going to be trash over there. >> Yeah. >> Um so, we would have to find someone to do that regularly cuz DW wouldn't do that. >> Well, the the DBW does the moves the trash to the required areas for pickup in the parks and playgrounds as part of

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the municipal grounds division of them. Okay. >> The parks fall into that. So, being in the same similar this would almost be treated as if it was a similar to the parks and playgrounds that we have. >> So, is there something and maybe this is beyond the scope of what we're talking about right now, but this is I think it's important. Um, so that's why I'm asking is like, so if we would we

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because the Greenwood pool is the pool. Is the pavilion still part of the pool? Because it was the pool. You know what I'm saying? Like I would think it would be and so how would that have been maintained before? Like the like around the pool any type of lawn mowing and like wouldn't that just stay with whoever did it before? There's just more

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lawn to mow now. Like >> and it's the DPW who's doing it anyway there too. >> Okay. So maybe >> the trash control. I mean that could be whether the [clears throat] custodian of the DPW is who moves the barrel out to the street when Harvey goes by whatever that's different but the lawn is already mowed by the DPW. Okay.

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>> So just be continuing to mow the lawn. >> Then I might say that would be a presentable um suggestion to them because it's like you actually are already responsible for this. You know what I'm saying? >> Yeah. I did have a conversation with the DPW. I think we're just trying to finalize like

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it's already in conversation and I just bring it up because I want to make sure that it's aware that thinking ahead for maintenance of the pool follow or maintenance of the facility following completion is already being thought of >> cuz they mowed the lawn around the old indoor pool structure and it's pretty much doing the same thing now. It's just

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around the pavilion that's in the spot of the old indoor pool structure too, >> right? So that's kind of what my suggestion is is that let's just to me it's the same the space has not changed the thing that's on the space has changed. So I think that that's a reasonable suggestion and then obviously

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any removal of the trash wherever if they do it at the ground I mean grounds and things like in the parks then sure this isn't like a park necessarily it's it's a new thing but also if they're there anyways doing that then they could just be responsible for that too and make that in their schedule. like I know

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they have a lot going on, but they're there to do the pool anyways. That makes sense. I would take um the youth center is not part of the pool at all yet. So, I would just leave that there. And I think if that does come over and that does happen, >> then they'll be responsible for making

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sure that like everything gets mowed and gets done, but it's like they're not the ones they that wouldn't be the person doing it. Just the over >> appreciate the clarity. >> Yeah, it would be the oversight. Is that correct? Because I just don't want to like overstep or anything. That was kind of my understanding if if that change

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does happen. So regardless, but the mechanism won't change even if the view center becomes the point of contact for the pool. >> Mhm. >> Great. Any other questions on the pavilion?

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FY25 project updates downtown improvements phase 5 signing construction. So, these are improvements on Willow Street from Main Street to Pleasant Street. Um, Tyen Bond has been working on the design and the bid documents. We

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they're 75% complete on on those and we're going to coordinate a meeting with them, DBW Engineering, and possibly police and fire um to coordinate the work um that's proposed. It's a little bit tricky. I think that this when you

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you know when you head up Willow Street it kind of >> Yeah. So so they've tried to straighten that out a little bit. Um we'll see. I haven't seen the plans yet but um we'll be talking about that and talking about issues um you know that may arise during

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construction >> downtown improvements phase six and sign only. >> So we haven't moved forward with this. Tyen Bond's also doing this work. We haven't moved forward because we are waiting on the results of the slum and blight inventory that we discussed at our last meeting. This will be that

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street will be part of this and we want to make sure that it's eligible to qualify to meet a national objective of eliminating slum and blight. So just reluctant to dive into that before we have those results because I don't want to spend money on it if we can't move forward. So that that will be complete

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by June 30th. >> The lake inventory is that something that Iris is doing or is that >> No. Um it's um the VSC group. They did an initial inventory in 2016 and they're updating that. And at the last meeting we discussed expanding the parameters of

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the area that they're inventorying a little bit to include larger portions of the four census track block groups that are kind of downtown and just around this area because they're the four census tracks in the city that have the highest concentration of low and moderate income people. So there's a lot

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of need in those areas. Just driving through them. you can see that. So, um, we expanded the area that the inventory is being conducted in this year >> quite substantially from 350 parcels to I think over 900 in total. So, almost

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tripling um the amount of indexed parcels and and properties. The only thing I'd add uh especially with this being where it is is that we were notified this morning that the city's request for funding for phase seven of this through the congressional

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directed spending program uh was included in the initial appropriations committees uh presentation. Now things can still change too by the time it goes to the house president's office about two years out from seeing any funding. Uh we had requested 1.2 million. They cut that to 550,000. So we'll be working

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with the engineers to see what that can cover. But that would go from uh City Hall Avenue to the next step to Pleasant Street to Baker Street. Um so there's some things that would have to be, you know, changed into that with a reduced amount there too, but just building. So so you can see the progression from 56 and then later to seven to connect five

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and six. Um but we're working on that too through a different funding source. So the 550 for for the so we got that from >> so it it's moved on to the next process in that one but it's a very it's the congresswoman selected that out of one of her five projects that she has then

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it goes to the congressional appropriations committee on the house side >> and they cut it >> they cut it from the 1.2 to the 550 then they send it to the full house and then it'll go to the senate from there. So it's it's one of those we're probably still two years out from any final action on that one. Um, but that was the

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biggest hurdle we had to climb was to get it through the appropriations committee. >> Thank you. >> Just more showing the continuation of the effort. >> Any comments on phase six or five or seven? >> Um, Waterford Street Community Center

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fire alarm electrical improvements. So, at our last meeting, we talked about um the state having some additional questions about the overall scope of the project and how this piece of it relates to that. Um, and we haven't resolved

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those issues with them yet. Um, but we're working on that and we'll schedule the meeting soon after we have a little more updated information on the current status of of the improvements that are happening there. Can you just remind us to how that was funded?

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>> So that is funded from fiscal year 25 funds and it's 122,000 >> and we we think well maybe you need more info but we think that will cover everything. >> Um Tai and Bond provided two different

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estimates. One for a piece of the kind of fire alarm system and one for um everything that needs to h that they recommend should happen. um as you know with the sprinkler system and everything. Um so no it will not cover

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everything. >> And we had confirmed before though that what it would cover is like up to code and legal and fine. It's just there's more that they would suggest, right? Like >> I I I could be I could be speaking totally wrong.

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>> Yeah. So this will likely fund the design portion of it. Uh we have [clears throat] a um plan agreement with the fire department would be the code enforcement officer on this one that within the next 5 years looking at the alarm system within the next 10 years we're working towards the sprinkler

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system. This is the first maybe actually substant probably first two three [clears throat] steps >> in that process is getting to this point here so that we can move closer to that 5ear goal. >> Okay. Thank you. I'm sorry. But with that said, >> in this in this process, if you get

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through those first two, three steps, >> Yes. >> we and we get, you know, in the first 5 years, we get that done and we're going towards this other goal of getting like sprinklers or everything else, it can the building can still be open. >> Yes. Okay. >> Yes. Because this will also design a portion of sprinklers, too. >> Thank you.

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>> Any other questions on the community center fire alarm improvements? Moving on to public social services for FY25. >> So we had a um a meeting with all the public social service providers just to

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go over their agree their grant agreements reporting invoicing um the monitoring that we need to conduct um during the year of their programs and um it went really well. We did not include the um St. Paul's group

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because their project's so different with the um repairs to the retaining wall and having to do you know actual work on the site. It's not just serving people, it's physical improvements. So um we did not include them but um we will meet with them separately in the

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next couple of weeks to go over all the requirements that they have to be mindful of Davis Bacon labor requirements and other requirements that they have to ensure are met um during the course of the project. But everyone has their grant agreements signed with the exception of St. Paul's and are

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moving forward with their with their projects. Any questions about any of the specific social services for FY25 or in general? >> All right. There are no other items on

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the agenda. Any final questions before we entertain a motion to adjourn? >> Just I just have a comment. I will add um an update on the Selenic Blade inventory for our next meeting so you know how that's going. >> Awesome. No other comments or questions for

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today's meeting and I'd like to entertain a motion to adjurnn. So move second. I hear a motion here a second to adjurnn. All in favor say I. I. I. All post say nay. Motion carries. Meeting J. Thank you all. >> Thank you.