Uh good evening, Hollist. Uh welcome to the select board meeting this evening on April 6th, 2026. Uh where it is 7:02 p.m. We've got a very busy action-packed agenda today. We actually have a full room, which I'm sure will change very quickly as things move along. So, uh first things first,
we actually have a public hearing to start things off, a Constitution Village Road acceptance. So, uh, we're going to get moving on that first and then we'll get started on the, uh, items on our agenda. So, uh, if I could have the clerk read the, uh, the notice for the public hearing. >> Okay. Apologies for the froggy voice
here. Notice is hereby given that the select board of the town of Hollston will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2026 in the select board meetings room, room 105 at Hollston Town Hall, 703 Washington Street, Hollston. Ask for the purpose of considering the proposed acceptance of
old cart path station 0 plus 0000 232 plus 00 pout lane governor prince way hayawatha trail and minute man circle as shown on the plans entitled layout plan old cart path and pout lane holl mass
dated January 21st 2025 prepared by gueier and hanland uh hunden incorporated engineering and land surveying for the owner constitution village LLC and layout plan governance princip way Hayawa Trail and Minute Man Circle Hollist Mass dated March 3rd,
2023 and revised August 21st, 2023 prepared by Gueria and Hanland Incorporated Engineering and Land Surveying for owner and applicant Constitution Village LLC. said plans being on file with the town clerk. Such ways having laid,
excuse me, our town at, excuse me, such ways having laid our as town ways by the select board and future to authorize the select board to accept deeds for such ways along with associated drainage and utility easements as may be shown on such plan or take any action relative
there too. Um, motion to open the public hearing at 7:04. >> Seconded. All right. All those in favor? >> I >> I >> I >> um so just quickly, I mean, uh she uh the clerk uh read kind of what it is. Do we have like a map that we could just bring up quick so people know kind of
what we're talking about and then we can >> see if anyone has any comments um about it. So, this is just the uh this this process as uh as the town manager brings this up is a kind of a check in a box that we have to do. We have to have a
public hearing in order to go through a road acceptance process and uh so this is uh just the this part of the process. The planning boards uh had previously done their public hearing um >> November >> in November. So they're they're part of
the process is completed. We have to have our public hearing for the select board and then it goes to town meeting for uh for a vote. You're doing an excellent job stalling for me. >> There are Sorry, I put you on the spot. >> No, no, you're good. There are 63 pages
in this uh >> this document. Even just like just sort of a map to give sort of an overview. Obviously, we don't need to go through 63 pages. >> Yep. >> And here it is. >> Wonderful. Come on. There we go. Come on. And that's just my email.
do it this time. >> There we go. >> Great. Excellent. >> So, this is the area. It's up um um off one off 126 um getting close to Ashland. And uh we've accepted a couple of the
other roads. This is another part of the uh development that we're discussing uh as part of this hearing process. Um before I open it up to any public comments or anything like that, does that anybody in the select board have
any comments about this? Uh Frank, do you have any comments you want to make? >> No. Okay. Um All right. Uh we can take it down for now, but uh is there anyone in the room who'd like to make any comments um about the public hearing for Constitution Village Road acceptance
this evening? Don't all get up at once. All right. If we could just take it down so we could see the the participants so we can see it's a little easier to see hands up when that uh when that happens. Is there anyone on the Zoom this evening who would like to
make a comment or have a question about the public hearing for the Constitution Village Road acceptance? >> You may have public comment in the folder. >> Okay. No, we do not. >> All right. I don't hear anyone this
evening. I don't think we have really any other comments this evening. I think it's pretty straightforward. Road acceptances are usually pretty straightforward. So, I think uh since I'm not hearing anything uh at this time, I will take a motion to close the public hearing.
>> So moved. >> Seconded. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I >> I >> I >> And uh thank you. Uh apologies if we if we missed you. Um but uh we will be this will be coming forward at the town meeting uh to be held in May and uh as
the uh next step in the process for road acceptance for Constitution Village. So thank you for your patience with that. Four minutes. Not bad. Um next up um I think we can move ahead with um I know there's uh lots of friends from the
schools if they'd like to come on up and uh join us. could have them. We could get started on that part of the conversations. Whoever wants to come up, we can another chair. >> Yeah, whatever you guys need for shares.
Just make sure um you're near a microphone when you're talking so everybody can hear you. Let's just sit down. We'll just have everybody introduce themselves because on Zoom you have your backs to the uh to the audience. So, just want to make sure
everybody knows who's who's here. >> Are you one of Dam Albert? >> Um, no. Damon, >> I can't see. >> Both the very good-look Daniel. >> And happy belated birthday, Dan. >> Oh, thank you. And Frank, too. >> Oh, Frank. We share the same birthday.
>> Wow. >> Few years apart. >> Okay. >> I won't guess who's older. Um, so if you could just just identify yourselves like I said some your backs to the uh the audience on Zoom just so everybody knows uh who's here at the table with us that great >> Alfred >> Don Dorski
>> Frank Ogore >> Sarah Fitzgerald >> and you have anybody on >> we have Dr. Kusca >> and Dr. Kusca is here >> I believe >> good evening >> Dr. Jordan had a >> Yes. So that's that should be fine. Can >> can we allow uh Daniel Alfred on Zoom to
have sharing rights, please? >> I do. Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, I thought um so here's how I was thinking about it and you got and is we could start with a conversation about the school building committee to start. >> Sure. >> And then we could go to uh town meeting
stuff, the the um capital requests and the feasibility. Does that sound okay to everybody? >> Yep. >> Okay. Um so uh for the SBC the school building uh committee um I know uh Frank and Tina had been meeting and uh thank
you for all the work >> Hillary and I know but I know Hillary >> Hillary does a lot of things >> a lot of interviews >> um so uh thanks to Hillary who's not here um but just uh thank you for the work you you you all put forward in this in this process um and I know um we had
seen some of the documentation about um what's being proposed and things like that and um just want to make sure everybody has seen it and has had a chance to review it and things like that. Um and before we we get started,
we can just sort of say like, you know, Frank, you and Tina, if you have any comments or you want to kind of tee it up, like what's what are you proposing? Like what are we talking about this evening? Just sort of have a little bit of context that we can have. >> Yeah. >> Uh to to to work from. >> Tina, if you want to kick us off. >> Yeah, sure. So, we met uh on Wednesday
of last week. This is our third meeting. They've been very productive. Uh we came away from that meeting with three documents that were shared with my board and Frank, I believe you passed them on to the school committee. Oh, through Sarah. >> Um number one was the charge which we
based off of a draft template language that was prepared and shared with us by town council. Very simple. Um the second was um the designation for the school building committee itself. Uh hearing the request of the school committee for
two at large appointments as well as a uh not statutory but a standard expectation that a school committee member would be one of the appointments. So three appointments made by the school committee. two that we would uh give designating authority for and one that
they would assume have already and that the select board would have four at large um positions um as well. So and then the mandatory requirements which include one schools committee member, one select board, town manager and so on. The list
is there. That was the second document. The third document was a memorandum of understanding that would not be um binding but would set up in place for the length of the school building committee how the two boards would operate in terms of reporting status uh
and so on. Um that was something that I think probably needed the most review because it was the newest of the three documents. So we may want some feedback. We will want some feedback from the school committee on how they viewed thatou. I don't think we're prepared to vote on that tonight.
>> Um, from my perspective, I would say we're probably closest to a vote on the membership of the school building committee. >> Okay. >> Uh, the charge again is simple. So, we'd be looking to not I would say board's not looking to add language, but we have not heard from the school committee on that opinion. So, we could be close to a
vote on the charge as well. >> Yep. Okay. And will we have a discussion this Thursday uh in our full committee for all three of those? I I agree with you on membership. Uh we did receive some information back from the MSBA today um that I received at least um sorry I think you were on it as well that
>> all statuto roles are needed but you can have multiple one person serve multiple roles. So the statuto roles we can't eliminate or change them which makes sense. Um so they just want you to outline who's doing what role even if there's duplication. >> Um so like the representative of law bylaw role that we were questioning.
>> Yes. will likely either be we could use the school committee or the select board as a representative of law, but someone needs to be named in that position. >> Um otherwise, I agree with you, Tina, really good progress on the membership. I think that's key tied with the charge
um perspective on the charge. I think it is a little more open-ended right now. Okay. >> Um just so we don't confine too much, but make sure the rules of the road are set. Um the only thing on the MOU um I think we discussed Tina is potentially do we wait till school building committee is created? So it's really
between the three of us. So instead of just being between school committee and select board, school building committee, which we we had somewhat joked like because they don't exist, it's hard to identify, okay, what role they play and how we'll work all three together, but having them included on that as well.
>> Okay. Do you think you would uh reply with some draft edits? >> Yeah, from the school committee perspective. And then I think we can vote, but then also understand, >> let's say, at the school building committee once they're established to also weigh in. >> Okay. You're just talking about on theou. >> Yes. Yes. Correct. >> Okay.
>> Yep. >> Okay. Um so if we could just sort of um walk through um put Frank on the spot here again. >> Good >> for the Yeah. Yeah. You Frank. You Frank. Uh we have the computer. Um to just like to quickly go through the
charge and then the uh composition that we're talking about if if we can do that. Um, my expectation is that, you know, I I I would want all of us to agree to that. I don't want anybody come walking away from this a little unsure,
uncertain about this. Um, and looking to, you know, if we can't vote for it tonight that the expectation would be next Monday that we would and we would be able to have this buttoned up and move on at that point. But I also want to make sure that I, you know, Sarah and I had this discussion earlier today,
just like to make sure that everybody on both of our boards is has is in support of what's going on and understands and feels comfortable doing that before we said yes. And then if we needed a little more time to get some questions answered or for for some comfort that they wanted
to sit with it, they would have a couple days to be able to get that accomplished so that way it could be finished by Monday. But um so this is the proposal from uh probably want to zoom in a little bit
>> real high level green is non voting. >> Okay. >> Is that statutory just I'm just that that town employees are not able to be voting members. >> Best practice I think is how you described it Frank as opposed to by law or bylaw but best practice >> just see other towns that did it that way but
>> okay. Um, so we've got um a select board member, um the uh MCPPO certified, we have the town manager, uh a principal,
uh the superintendent. Um and we could certainly like that a representative of office of law. Um >> yeah, the only changing factor then there's here we're assuming they're non- voting, but if it is a select board school committee member, then it would
become voting. So that changes a bit of how we were thinking around having five voting members. >> Okay. >> Because that would make it six. >> That would make it six voting members. Okay. >> You got seven voting members on here already. I think >> I think you would have seven because you'd have a select board member, three
school committee members, and then three select board, three school committee appointees, a select board member, and then three select board who would wear double hats. It would be >> two. So there would be seven. Got it. That sounds like it would be seven people.
>> That would be sufficient. Um, and uh, has everybody had a chance to kind of review this and take a look at what this >> The only thing to note from the schools that's in terms of the criteria, we're still working through that. It's just ideas we've put out thus far. So, I wouldn't say we're locked in. Um,
>> okay. >> But ideas which we're thinking to make sure we don't overlap too with select board, you know, make sure we have a diverse pool. Okay. Um, so that may change slightly um in terms of the first and the third one with the schools, but >> but we could say, you know, but we like
if you know um I guess we could have two options here. You could take the time on Thursday to to iron that out or we could vote pending your decision if >> that's totally fine. I think it's just going to be criteria which we search for uh delegate there. Um
>> it won't change materially in terms of the count or obviously even Sarah looked to team here like Okay. It's high level. >> Yeah. No, and that's fine. That's fine. >> There's one potential edit there. So, if you scroll up to Sorry. Scroll down to
Hold on. Well, one thing I It's not an edit as much as I would call out that the select board is making the appointment on the school principal, the school superintendent. >> Okay. It doesn't seem um significant but I
just wanted to pull that out that in terms of the vote before this board giving designating appointing authority it would be for the three uh orange >> okay >> uh lines there the school committee member themselves and then the two
resident at large as described. My only suggestion would be sort of and I think you might want to talk to Liz about this specifically, but if the we're going to create the building committee before we appoint the atlarge members, which I think we should do, you don't actually I don't think you want to
create those spots until you have those people. So, you appoint the the select board member and the school committee member, >> maybe large spots as as defined by the boards. Well, then all the other non- voting members, but you what you don't
want to create a quorum of seven on a board that you only have two people identified um as voting members who can meet that quorum before you have everyone meet. So if you just essentially appointed and then did sort of pending the appointment of these
people, they become members and add to the quorum, you could then have either a quorum of two or you could say a quorum of three and the two would then meet the the three. so that the the schooling committee could actually meet um while working on getting those at large members.
>> Um I don't Yeah, we'd have to check with Liz about that kind of I I I I kind of hear what you're saying. It sounds like you're saying like basically if we don't have those members, we could theoretically say it's a building committee of three. >> Two or Yeah, >> two or three. But I I think I I I my I'd
rather just do it once and sort of say like here's the building committee with the full like who you know there's three members to be appointed by the school committee, three members to be appended appointed by the select board and then
the uh uh statutory roles that are >> you probably have one vote with the motion being that as appointed and sworn in those people then get added to the to the size of the committee to increase the the size and therefore the form. >> We have time on our side in that this
the this designation list is approved by the MSBA no earlier than June 1st. >> Actually, no legal on their side will not review it until June 1st. >> So, >> so we even if we did seat it and get everything, it still wouldn't legally be the
>> correct now that >> it could still be a standing committee. >> Yeah. and they could certainly get the the the administrative tasks accomplished. They just they just wouldn't be the official group until June 1st, >> which it's a fine line because MSBA has been pushing us across this process to
get ahead of it. Um >> but not but but >> but not officially, right? So, um I do think we still should show like we've got our ducks in a row and then yes, we got the note today from David via Julia. >> June 1st is when council on their side is activated to review. So, if we have
that ready for them to review on June 1st, that's the expectation. >> And the timeline that we're tracking uh most pragmatically is the uh uh office hours that you want to hold and we want to hold both at the library, the Rushford and Suns. >> Yeah, we're going to host Rush at least
probably one other Zoom and the center um which you can talk about tonight as well. >> Okay. And then also having the ability to accept statements of interest when we go to town meeting so that it can be shared in the presentation to town meeting. Okay. So I think that's if I'm you know from where I sit that's the
timeline we're tracking more so than June 1st but in any event I think there's time. >> Yes there I there is some time to to to figure out um but it sounds like there still are some we need to get a couple
things ironed out before we can vote on this. It sounds like like to to Dan's point like what does that look like administratively? Can we do that? and we want to make sure that we set it up in the right way if we're going to do that. And then I I' I'd rather I
>> if it doesn't count until, you know, June 1st to begin with, then I guess in theory you're you could vote to create a working group school. I don't know. I mean that in theory doesn't need a nomination. It would be like basically like these are the folks that would make
it up but wouldn't be official to almost be >> I don't want to rush the process of finding the ad hoc members. I want to think about this thought. >> Of course. of course and we want to give it give it a little bit of space, but I I mean I I I don't know. I I think you know we want to make sure that we're like what exactly are we voting on is
kind of what we're not I I don't think is certain right now like in terms of this like what is that? >> Well, I see one edit here. We'll take we'll remove the strike through on the representative of office authorized by law to construct a school building uh school buildings based on the feedback
Frank received from the MSBA. So that seems like a necessary change to what we have on the screen here. It does not change the odd number of voting members because it would be a duplicate um hat that person is wearing from from I would
say select board, but I think that's the open conversation here is is it a select board member or a school committee member. >> It doesn't it doesn't impact it doesn't materially impact anything. It's just sort of which hat who want who who's going to wear the hat. It's really >> who wants more work.
Um, >> we could vote on what we have in front of us with that change made and we could decide today if that's going to be a select board or a school committee member. >> Or we could wait for the school committee to discuss at your meeting on the 10th. >> What do you guys want to do? >> Do this on the 13th.
>> What do you want to do? >> If you guys want to vote today, that's that's fine. >> Yeah, I'm okay. Voting. Yeah. With >> Okay. >> The edit that you proposed. >> Okay. So, it'll be a select board member or a school committee member who is the representative office authorized by law to construct school buildings.
>> I would say select board. >> We have finally found something that I literally have no opinion on. >> What? >> Unbelievable. >> Oh my gosh. Okay. >> Wow. >> It's 7:25 p.m. on April 6th. >> Um why don't we just make it a select board and and just move on because
otherwise we'll be here. We could advocate all night. Um and it doesn't it doesn't change anything. And I I one other change I didn't want to I know Dr. Jordan's not here but in reviewing this with him Yep. >> he would likely be a valuable member of this board. So having him as the local
official for building maintenance because I know we have an or there. >> Yes. Well and and we already have James Ke on the so he's already there in another capacity. So I think having um I'd want definitely want him there as well. So I'm fine with that since >> have all these people agreed to be on
the committee too. Do we ask James? >> It's a good place. Good time to ask. >> Um, >> but I mean the good the thing is is this is a long process and there is likely going to be >> change like somebody will change people have will move away from a position. So
those kinds of things are going to likely happen over time. >> Not not for today. The only thing I would ask and I think this would really be up to the school building committee but two to four four or I guess four residents there's not a lot of of sort of input from the community. So I would
ask the school building committee to strongly consider forming ad hoc advisory committees where they can bring in >> more people who can have real buy into to the process and involvement but are not like voting members on the official committee that makes those >> sure and I think that's I think that's a reasonable thing you can certainly with
different capacities because there's a level of complexity that you know you can bring in different people for different >> it's impossible Dan we just as we did talk about in the working group like how the school building committee will be uh respons responsible I guess not directed but responsible for communicating with
all other committees not just committees but advisory groups in town to get feedback >> there's a little ton of knowledge in town and a ton of people that can add a lot of value and >> yes >> make sure we include whoever wants to be involved in in some way agreed agreed no I think I think that's reasonable and I
think the the uh school building committee can can do that um >> any other comments or thoughts about the this is everybody body comfortable with this and moving ahead with this? >> Yeah.
>> So, I propose two motions. One is to vote the 14 member designation as as amended here. >> And then the second is to designate appointing authority of three positions to the two members, excuse me, three members to the school committee. >> Okay. Yeah, I'm I'm I'm fine with I
think that's fine to to do to do that. Um, so why don't we, you know, we we don't have to worry too much about making it like a perfect motion because we'll probably likely go through the MSBA and probably have to >> yeah, >> redo this in some capacity, but at least we've kind of gotten gotten ahead of
things. Um, so, uh, all right. Um, why don't we >> accept then? >> Yeah, we move to accept the, uh, the proposed >> Okay. Move to accept the proposed member designation of the school building committee with 11 select board appointments and to be uh authorized
three school committee appointments in the following motion as presented here. >> Seconded. >> All right. All those in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> And so we're good there. So we we've done that. >> Thank you. >> Um and then uh let's we got two other
things to do here. But uh the first is the uh we can um designate the school committee the ability to um appoint three members as um as uh presented. >> Okay. Move to authorize designating the
school committee with three appointments, two resident at large and one school committee members. >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Okay. So we've taken care of that. Do we want to vote on the charge or do we want to Do you guys want to talk about that first before we >> I think we need to talk about
>> Yeah. one more. Yeah. >> Okay. Um and then the last uh thing about this is that I think what I'd like to ask is that the town manager um and the assistant superintendent um issue a press release to the community um once
you guys sort of are official with what those members are from from your side of things. And um I would ask to if we could just basically have everybody who sends in letters of interest send it just to the town manager's office just to make it easy then they'll and the
town manager's office can then share it with this >> if anyone does we will forward it. >> Yeah. Like just so that there's one central place we're getting all this information and then bringing them all forward and handling them and then um you know as they come forward we can figure out how to you know put the
people in the right places and things like that. And I think there was one other thing you guys were talking about. >> So when we talked about how to receive those letters of interest and how to review, uh I guess we got a little uh high on ourselves and said, "Hey, well, the working group can be the ones that
screen those letters of interest." In in that conversation, what we discussed was that the working group, Hillary, Frank, and myself would just continue on to screen all of the letters of interest that come in through the town manager's office. And as a group, we would uh create slate slates of candidates.
Slates that Frank and Hillary would bring back to the school committee for your consideration to appoint and a slate that I would bring back to the select board. >> Okay. >> For us to consider it. But the three of us would go through those statements of interest, those letters of interest rather, >> and create those slates. Um plenty of
room for feedback, you know, back and forth. But that would be the initial process for reviewing the letters of interest. Then and then eventually what would happen is is that the working group would be dissolved once the school building committee is official and then they would handle >> new applicants for that and and create and be part of that process. So the
working group wouldn't be do that wouldn't have to do that in perpetuity. It would just be until the the school building committee was >> to be clear on that point. The designation is for the the vote to become a member is for the length of the school building committee. So it would be in the uh hopefully unlikely case
that somebody leaves out of town or is no longer on the board that they're serving. >> Generally what we do like for for most boards is that it's a year-long appointment. That's how you know >> this one. >> And uh you know and if it needs to be longer that's fine but people need to be you know people will likely resign.
People will likely walk away and we need to give them that flex. >> I think we just need to be clear in the press release when we put out like what this means right. The expectation is you will serve for the duration and you know please don't apply if you only can serve for six months kind of thing that that's
>> reasonable. >> Frequent meetings, long meetings >> probably >> detailed meetings >> probably. Yes. >> But they but they get to they get to decide when and where they they want to do those things as a as a as a committee. Uh any other thoughts about
this before we we move on? Okay. So once you guys decide on those what how you want those members to be, we just make sure we tell, you know, Frank and Dave when we get a press release out there, we can start to solicit for applications and things like that and um start to put together people to be on that if I've
had some people reach out already. Um should I just forward those on to you or have them go through? >> I I mean, you know, I I think the because the expectation is is they're going to serve particular roles. Yeah. >> Right. I mean, and if there's just like an outlarge blank, >> that's one thing, but if it's going to
be specific to a role, I think we'd want them to sort of say like, you know, this is my experience that fits that role. I mean, I I think that they should sort of be a little bit more formal because I think, you know, we >> we we do want to make sure to to the point of >> this is a long process and we're looking
for very particular kinds of people who have certain kinds of expertise. there will be plenty of opportunities for community engagement, but we don't want to put someone in a position that they're not >> able to serve in that way. And I think by Thursday we can align on the criteria so that that could become the
>> in the release what type of candidates we're looking for >> and then just review the charge and then we can you know we can amend that and and take care of that and then theou will be something that the SBC handles on when they are seated moving along >> which I think we can we can vote on ours but then also know like it's a we talk
it's a living document. >> Yeah. You get you get a preliminary yeah document and then they can kind of finalize it and figure it out. So >> Okay. Excellent. Okay. Uh, moving on. And I think this is where you come in because you're going to talk about capital >> if if it pleases the chair.
>> Of course. That's why I'm asking. >> Sharing is not turned on. Request it. >> Oh, it's not me. Sorry. >> That's why I thought you said before it was already done. >> Well, I because I had the icon. >> Oh, okay. All right. >> Now you don't need to. >> Oh, no. I have the icon. just I had to
sent in a request. >> Turn on sharing for uh Dan Alfred, please. >> So, what we're moving on to now is the uh the warrant articles and the um the capital requests from the schools. >> Thank you. >> This is 1BI on the agenda.
>> Uh yes, that is correct. And um also just sort of to mention um reiterate, I talked to um Sarah about giving you the opportunity to make sure you had an a chance to speak, whoever it is. Of course, Frank wrote it that Sarah was going to do it. I said, I don't know if Sarah wants to do it, so I don't want to
put her on the spot like that, but just, you know, whoever you decide, you know, there's you have a lot of stuff going on. Just having you'd be able to have an opportunity to speak to town meeting. >> Actually, I know. Sorry. I thought you meant right now talking about the capital. >> No, no, no. I meant I meant it. I I didn't want to I would never It's up to you. It's up to you and your committee
to decide. >> Figure that out. >> Exactly. >> I think we can keep it at 30 45 minutes. >> 30 45 minutes. >> 30 to 45 minutes. >> We're already planning for two nights anyway. So >> perfect. >> Sounds good. >> It might be. >> So just kidding. Just kidding. >> Okay. So just so we began talking about this with the with the finance committee
budget uh sorry finance committee capital subcommittee. Um so a lot of people know about this. We'll just go through these quickly. There is a more detailed deck that Dr. Kuska and Dr. Jordan put together given your schedule given your um >> much appreciated. >> We're going to we'll give you the high level and and Dr. Gus is here to answer
uh any questions you have. Um but our capital request is for $740,000 including $275,000 um for ELA curriculum K through 5, $150,000 for preK through 2 and 6 through8 science.
um $100,000 for uh Holl the high school uh supplies and stuff to help implement the uh the new schedule, $65,000 uh to replace our um maintenance director's truck that is um has a lot of uh duct
tape um and then $150,000 for uh technology infrastructure. So, just a couple notes. The $275,000 for the ELA curriculum um is matched with a $224,000 uh grant that uh Dr. Bernard, our our
assistant superintendent of curriculum, um was able to uh win for the district >> or get be granted for the district and and they're tied together. So, if we don't do that capital, we could lose that and then there's a subsequent um grant that
we're applying to that would also sort of kind of be part of that. So, um there's there's uh there's money behind that. Um let's see. And then with the technology infrastructure, uh it's actually about a $250,000 purchase. And
then we have an e- rate of 40% to knock it uh down to about $150,000. Uh and so we we're just asking for 150. We don't need the 240 and then giving back and all that. >> Okay. Um, we do recognize that obviously this is significant and that there are a
ton of capital needs around town. And so, you know, I think that what we haven't discussed as a committee, we we have, you know, some ability to to to look for for savings or additional sort of monies to to turn back to the town. Um, we can certainly work with you on that. It is not in the hundreds of
thousands of dollars, but, you know, it's going to be it could certainly uh reduce this by um some. Okay. >> Some some amount and I know that Dr. Jordan and uh and uh Mr. Fosio have been
in communication about different uh ideas, different different things. So, um yeah. So, that's uh where where we are. >> Okay. Okay. Um I'll see if uh my board has any questions. Tina, do you have any
questions? >> No. Well, I think what I hear is these aren't final numbers, but there'll be work done over the coming weeks to refine the numbers. >> This is the official request of the school committee as it currently stands. I mean, we are, you know, willing to, of course, work with the town of the board, especially in and how we can can fund
the feasibility study. Yes. But, um, this right now is our official request. >> Okay. >> Okay. Any questions here? >> Um, I don't want to go too deep down this road, but when you're talking about potentially savings, what what order of magnitude is realistic if we go down that road? like you said, not not hundreds of thousands of dollars, which
I accept, but is it like are we cutting really close to bone there? Is it the kind of thing where you want to avoid that conversation if at all possible, or are there places that we could still inspect? >> I I I think through a um uh a couple of different sources and
moving pieces around, you know, a hundredish dollars 100ish, you know, somewhere. I mean again we haven't discussed it as a committee. This is just kind of you know so there's been you know but but in my mind
>> slip >> yeah that's all thank you >> okay because I I mean I think you know because as we have this conversation about these um you know the the big ask is the feasibility study and what people are saying is you know and so I have to
kind of bring the two kind of together to have the conversation here um because you know the the question becomes you know uh the you know a lot of people have sharpened pencils on and and with the select board we've cut back about
$400,000 in requests. We have a million dollars that we're turning back from the uh uh from the Woodland Street project back to capital and uh a few other sources to get to a little over 1.9 millionish. So then the the two points there really
are is that you know is 2.5 the right number for the feasibility study and then is there any flexibility in any of these things to get us closer to that 2.5 because we we don't have you know we've found a lot of things and we're just
wondering from your side if there's you know warrant articles you can turn back if there's any of these these requests that we can talk about or push off till October to try to get us closer. And I understand you haven't had this conversation as a committee. I recognize that. >> But, you know, if 2.5 is the right
number, we have a gap and we're trying to figure out. >> Yeah. So, we don't know what exactly the right number the number will be. >> Um, >> we do know that the numbers seem to be getting higher and that there are a few districts that have gone for $3 million recently, whereas >> I remember when we first started talking about this seven years ago, I mean, it
was like, you know, half a million to a million dollars for. So, so, um, yes, >> it just keeps kind of kind of going along with >> obviously all the other things. So, um, I don't I know that, uh, you know, Dr. Jordan, Mr. Travasio, and, um, and Mr.
Geon, you know, have gotten together and seem to have agreed on the on the 2.5. Um, so I I wouldn't want to change that. So, that has not been presented to the board, a $2.5 million agreement. In terms of our budget, uh, our warrant artic our
warrant preparation, you've not presented to the select board or am I not recalling uh an approved or agreed upon number of 2.5? >> Uh, I so in the draft warrant, we have the two and a half million as the placeholder.
>> But not based on comps or quotes. That is the number that's just been requested by the >> based on comps, not quotes, you know, quotes. And not to get Frank into trouble, I mean the byg agreement simply mean the those three uh, you know, town
employees who were the, you know, most knowledgeable on these type of things got together and made that recommendation to the board. That's obviously not like >> Yeah. And I mean, I took I got a I I I um was presented with a list from uh of uh several feasibility studies over the
past couple of years. And it's hard because school size, you know, uh you know, we're talking about 800 students, you know, like when people want to like Lexington is not a comp with 2400 students and I think they had a $10 million request because they included the >> and just to be clear, there's $660
million high school is also not a comp. >> Of course not. Of course not. No. No. No. But I mean, but I'm saying it's difficult because it's, you know, it's difficult to find like the right ones. But the ones that I was looking at, >> you know, when I take like the average of those, it was like 1.8 million. If I tried by pupil, I was getting to 1.92
millionish. And I I mean, I'm not This is me doing back of the envelope math. And so, you know, no one's I mean, I don't know what the right number is, and I don't know how to get to the right number. So, I'm sort of saying like this is how I'm getting there. >> It doesn't appear to be a rhyme or reason, >> right? and and find you know you know if
if there is a different way that I can think about this please share it with me but you know the 2.5 I'm sort of like it seems aggressive and I'm wondering if there's latitude if there's a little bit of space there's >> jump yes yes >> so my comment to Frank was not in any way to question the process it's to
understand the process so I'm not hearing that there's been an analysis of um the correct right >> uh number to bring forward where we are at 1.9 9 million for a feasibility study from maneuvers made on the town's part
to return money from prior uh town meeting approvals. A million dollars for the Woodland Street pro project where we are pushing off $400,000 of capital expenditure requests from town departments. You know, we've got the number on our side to 1.9 million through decisions and maneuvers that
have been analyzed and shared back with this board. Um, in the absence of I think in the absence of analysis on how do we land on the correct number for the feasibility study, I feel like what the moment calls for is that analysis of perhaps I I understand the quotes are
not a part of this process. That doesn't necessarily intuitively make sense to me, but I can accept that. However, I do think we can go through a comparison study to come up with a number that more accurately addresses or uh gets us closer to what this town is in the
position to afford uh for May of 2026 given the maneuvers on the on the town side. That's my perspective. So, I'm I'm looking for an analysis to justify the 2.5 because I hear you saying, Frank, that the 2.5 was a placeholder upon the request of the schools as that
placeholder. But I think it's really for the three people in the room, James Kee, David Jordan, and and Frank Jvazio to explain. But that's what I'm hearing that it's a placeholder and and I'm just looking for the analysis behind that placeholder to get us closer to what we can present to town meeting. I think
that's a fair and reasonable thing to say. >> We can get you the numbers that Dr. Jordan looked at. There has been an analysis. This is not just a number that we, you know, >> where we're looking, but we're looking for that analysis. >> Fine. We can we can we can we can send you the the data. I will also say that, you know, I've seen a $2.2 million elementary school, a feasibility study for an elementary school. I've done. So
the numbers are >> I know there I know there I know there there a little bit there but >> what we wouldn't want to do is be low and then have to you know have a surprise of coming in and finding finding more. I think that and given the fact that we are now starting to see $3
million asks by by some towns um >> but you know >> that we want to you know get this done quickly and be >> so here here's the thing is that we're pushing to do this in May. Mhm. >> How do we get this done in May with
$600,000 between where we are and where we need to be according to what we're saying at the in this regardless? >> So, we're going to work to to work look at our our our capital request, but I think ultimately a lot of that conversation needs to happen with the finance committee.
>> Okay. as far as you know where the you know their whe where they're supported the funding um for for different I don't >> but I think >> I don't want to sit here and tell you where I think the money should have opinion >> but but you know the thing is is that I think >> was it shared with finance committee
>> but I think the the thing is is that you know is it should start between us before it gets to the finance committee because the fact is is that if there's a disconnect and I think the finance committee does need to be there but I don't think we necess if we get to that number that makes sense that everyone is
agreement with I think we're you know so I'd like to see us get there and I don't want to see the finance committee just start saying like well this is what we're going to do and start saying you can have this you can't have this if we don't need to get to that point >> we'll provide the comparative analysis of where that figure came from
>> yeah and and and you know whatever we can do to get there >> let's get there to get that to that point >> just the sharing of information if you have a if you can just provide the basis for the 1.9 9. Um, >> yeah, I can I can I can show you what I saw and and we can we can compare notes.
I have no Yeah, no problem with that. I was just doing a back and >> there have been ones done cheaper, but they I don't know of any >> The hard part with all the ones for the 1.9 even is it's appropriated. It's not spent. And that's the hard part is we're talking a lot of times about what the town has put aside in an appropriation,
not what they have spent on the actual. >> Is there any way to get that information to see what because that's a good announcement. But I mean that the some of these like they're you know it's 2024 when they appropriate and they probably don't have the they probably won't have it completed until 2027. So we're kind of in this weird limbo space takes
forever >> and the comps in 2021 aren't going to be out right now. So we're kind of in a we're kind of in limbo. So um yeah if we could share that we can get that let's get that information. I'll share what I saw and we can compare notes. I have no problem with that. and let's let's get
to something that hasn't so we can feel comfortable with the number and then again if there's anything you guys can find that could help you know we've we've kind of looked as far as we can if we've turned back multiple several articles I believe that we had some money standing on it if there's anything
you know warrant article that you have that's out there that you know we're just holding this just in case if there's things like that that you you feel comfortable with releasing that can go that a couple of those can go a long way >> Dr. Yeah. And but again, that's sort of in that 100ish, maybe a little more, but but not get us closer about 600,000.
>> It gets us closer. That's what we're we're looking for. So, >> okay. >> More work to do. >> It's it's an ongoing process. We're going to get there. >> We're going to get there. We just have to figure it out. So, anything else before we >> Okay.
>> All right. >> Okay. >> All right. I guess uh thank you for your time. >> Apologies Dr. Kusca for coming and not having >> I thought they I thought they had questions. >> So um but uh thank you. Thank you. I have a I have another public hearing. So good times.
>> Only three minutes late. >> It is what it is. I already seen I see somebody here who's for that. So >> and if I could just say before I leave a couple time, but I fully support the funding for uh for HCAT. They do an incredible job and I think it's a okay >> really important that we continue to keep them working and afloat.
Thank you for the comments. I appreciate it >> and I'm sure they will too. Okay, on to our next topic of the day. So, we're on to the uh Marshall Street polls. So, if we could uh
>> I'm going to start with the best of intentions and hope that I finish this with >> If you if you need uh if you need somebody to tap in, just let us know and we got somebody. >> Okay. Okay. So, this is a a motion that legal notice for the hearing uh for the
Marshall Street pole installation. In conformity with the requirements of section 22 of chapter 166 of the general laws, you are hereby notified that a public hearing will be held by the select board in the select board's meeting room 105 at the town hall 703
Washington Street on April 6, 2026 at 7:45 p.m. Upon the petition of Nstar Electric Company doing business as Eversource Engine uh Energy has petitioned for permission to erect or construct a line of the transmission electricity for the
lighting, heating and power upon upon along and across the public way of the town here and after specified. A notice has been given and a hearing held on said petition as provided by law. Move to open the hearing at 7:50 p.m.
>> All right. Uh all those in favor? Yes. >> Yes. Yes. All right. So, it is open. So, if we could talk about this and I know we've talked about this before and there were questions about it and they were properly asked. So, it's uh >> Yes. Do we have a uh representative from
uh Eversource on the call? >> Okay. Uh so, your hands raised. If you could unmute yourself and identify yourself, please. Hi. Yes, this is Christine Cosby from Eversource Energy.
>> Hi, Chrisine. Thank you for >> joining us this evening. Um could you um so I guess like we've talked about this particular like there was one poll in particular uh before and uh the resident who lives there and I see the resident
is here now uh um for again and with questions because there is a um apparently the the poll was in very close proximity to some uh work uh underground and so uh could you tell us like what has changed about about this
proposal and um are we certain that we have it right this time? >> Well, originally we thought uh it was petitioned for a poll uh that was closer to um the gas line gas line out there.
>> Mhm. And um once they determined that that was happening, they went back to engineering and they re-engineered it so that they can place the poles in different location in order to support the existing pole line out there to support the new solar array um that's
being constructed. And so uh that that's what we've done. They they redesigned it, re-engineered it so the new pole location will not interfere with the gap line. Okay. Um, do we have like a map that we
can show and where this g where this poll is going to be? >> I think we do. Christine, I'm asking the town manager to look. >> Yeah, I believe we have it. I don't know if I have the actual map.
Oh, yeah. Here we go. Unfortunately, the map isn't entirely uh helpful. It's just a strip of of Marshall Street, but we can uh we'll pull it up nonetheless. Let me just see if I can just uh let me rotate this. Here we go. Okay.
So, all right. Uh Christine, just for uh those of us who don't look at these all the time, could you explain like what we're looking at and what we're poll we're we're talking about as a a new poll. Is it the proposed new poll
39-46A? Is that what we're talking about tonight? >> Yes. Originally, the poll was going to be installed on the opposite side of the east. You see the line where it says easement? >> Mhm.
>> That that's the that's the gas line. So, originally the pole was going to be placed on the opposite side of that line close close to the gas line. >> Okay. >> But once they determined that that they couldn't do that. Um that's where it was
redesigned to place it further away into the location that is highlighted in red proposed new poll uh 39 46A. Okay. All right. And it's about 30 feet away from the uh existing pole. Is that how I
should read this? >> Yes. >> Okay. Does it have to be 30 feet? Is that what they've engineered to decide it is? It can't be 100 feet or uh I'm just I'm just ask >> I I'm I'm throwing out a number that
makes no sense because but I'm the point I'm trying to make is it have to be 30 feet is what I'm asking. >> Yeah. Well, that's what they determined would be the best location is is 30 ft. >> Okay. Okay. Um Okay. Uh any questions from the
board before we open it up to the public? >> Just a comment. Appreciate the fact that we have these public hearings and that we can hear from residents in the area and and others as well. Um, we've had questions in the past about specific locations and the public hearing is
proving itself to be a process that uh allows us to get to the best outcome. So, just sharing appreciation for that. >> Um, the the uh actually Christine, one question I have for you while I have you on the on the line here. Um, uh, do you
do anything about double polls? >> Yeah, >> we got a lot of them in hall. I I don't I I don't I don't myself I don't have handled the double pole situation, but if there's any concerns that you have, >> I can take those concerns and and take
them to the proper people that can address those. >> That would be great because we have lots of those and we want to try to find uh some plans to move forward with those. But we'll take those we'll send those to you offline, but uh we we've had ongoing challenges trying to get some of them changed over the years. So, um, uh,
appreciate it if you could if you could help us with those. >> You have a list. Do you have a list of like the priority locations for the double polls? >> Uh, we have several. Yes. And I'm I'm happy to follow up on those. And and honestly, uh, I will say Eversource and Verizon have been very helpful to date
in uh, addressing some of them, but we still have some work to do. So, um, I'll be sure to follow up. >> Okay. Sure. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Send me whatever you have and I'll I'll make sure it gets to the proper hands. >> Much appreciated. Sorry, I jumped the uh
jumped the line here. Damon, you >> totally fine. Nothing for me on this. >> Okay. Um I'm going to open it up and I think I probably will have a there looks like there will be a comment here. So um I will open it up to uh the public if uh you want to come up and do you want to talk or >> Sure, please.
>> Yeah, please. I figured that's why you were here. So, because your husband was here last time, so >> he was. And I want to thank Tina um for her comments about public hearing because I agree that the opportunity to come before the public is uh yeah, >> crucial in this instance because I think
the communication has been challenging. >> Um and I'm looking at just to make sure I understand this map. So 3947 was the location of the original poll proposal. Is that correct? >> The I think that's the actual poll that's there now, right? Is that right,
Christine? That 3947 is what's already there. >> 30 Yeah. 39 over 47 is a poll that's existing and it's been there that, you know, it's it's a existing pole that's out there. It wasn't it's it's been out
there for a long time. It's part of the pole line. It's out there. >> Okay. So the existing that pole is 50 feet from the proposed pole which is going to be 50 ft to the left of that. So now
you're moving the pole 30 ft further from the existing pole which and you don't have the driveway marked here but I think there is a very large tree and a driveway not far from there. So, I guess what would be super helpful if they could actually mark the location
because currently the the pole >> stake is still the old pole stake. >> Um, so that would be terrific. So, we can >> forgive me, but we know who you are, but could you identify yourself? >> Oh, sure. Carolyn Dy 429 Marshall Street. >> Thank you. >> And the other comment I I want to give a
shout out to Rob um from the uh who's the deputy director of the DPW who's honestly been terrific. He came out, talked to us, was great. Okay. >> He didn't have a lot of information candidly, >> but at least he facilitated the conversation. Um, the one thing that I mentioned to him that hasn't been
addressed as far as I can see, in addition to the gas line and the gas easement, there is a an overhead major transmission line coming through that area. And I noticed that the poles that have been put in to date for the Marshall Street project are taller than
the existing poles. And I think that's because they're they're consistently making them taller for whatever reason. But if you use those taller poles in this location, you're going to hit those transmission lines above. >> So >> in addition to the undergrounding, there's a an above grounding issue.
>> Okay. >> So I just feel like we I think you had required or requested that someone reach out from Eversource to us directly. >> Yes. Did they >> and do a walk through with We never heard from anyone. We heard from the contractor who was actually here at this meeting last time. >> Yes.
>> Who tried to connect us to someone at Eversource. We never got any response from them. So, >> um, we still would really like to have somebody come out and actually walk the site with us and, you know, make us comfortable. >> Yes, absolutely. >> That everything is being >> concerned. It's in your front yard and, you know, absolutely. >> I mean, it's clearly a safety issue.
This is a major gas transmission line that they are and it was frankly concerning that >> that the stakes for digsafe were there >> and they literally put the stake on top of the dig safe markings which just implies to me that someone's really not
thinking this through thoroughly. Okay, Christine, if um could we um get someone from Eversource to sort of walk through this proposal with uh with the uh the the homeowner here? Is that something we
can do? >> Yes. Um I I just want I I just want to understand this. I I actually went out there and I did not see any stakes. So, >> okay. Maybe originally when the pole was
being installed close to the stand of the gas line, maybe they may have stated that at that point in time and then maybe that's when they realized, oh no, we can't put the skull here. So then they redesigned it and they they selected this location to be the best
spot to put it. But I did not see a stake out there. So whether or not there was one out there and it got knocked down or I didn't I didn't even see any kind of a steak that was knocked down. Okay. So, you are you talking about the stake from the original location or are you talking about the stake for this
proposed new poll we're talking about tonight? >> The proposed new poll right now this is all focused on the proposed new poll because right the original location is off it's off the table. That's not happening. We can't because of the gas line. >> Yes. Well, I I think the the point we're
trying to make here, uh, Christine, for the homeowners trying to make here, is that we want to make sure that the the proposal is not just somebody who's in a computer program saying this is the best place for it. It's somebody who's actually going to the spot and making sure that they're aware of the
topography and the uh other potential uh things around here. There's a lot of activ there's a lot of stuff happening here. We just want to make sure that they're that this is the right place for the poll so we don't have to do this again. >> Okay. I totally understand that and I do
believe that >> our our our source engineering folks have been out there and but I but I'll I'll follow up with that. I don't even know if they we may have even met with the town as well. >> Okay. >> Um and just solicited this location. Like I said, maybe there was a steak
there and now it's just gone or whatever the weather, you know, whatever the case may be. But I guess what I'm I I I you mentioned something about overhead overhead meter transmission line, >> correct? >> Yes.
>> So So you are you saying that there's a transmission line that's overhead? >> Yes. >> Or are you talking about the gas line underground? I'm talking about an overhead electrical transmission line running through the same corridor that the gas line runs through. So, if you
lift those wires at all from where they are now, you're going to hit the transmission wires. >> The the point the homeowner is making too is that a lot of these these poles that we're putting in for these new for the solar arrays are taller poles than their usual ones, and it we're concerned
about. >> I saw them. Yeah. >> Yep. I saw them. Yep. >> Okay. So, um I will definitely look into that. I >> make sure that reach out to who I need to reach out to to >> either set up a meeting to go out there
to make sure that everything's being done properly. Maybe what we can do along that line along that line is let's coordinate with maybe like Robert or someone in the town to make sure that we have that other so it's not trying to you know we can make sure that that you know like Robert can do that with
>> Eversource and walk through it with you just to make sure he he can you know I'm not picking on Robert it could be somebody else but just somebody having from the town side that could be part of that to help coordinate. And I have one other question if I may. >> Christine. Um, so does that mean that they're going to combine the existing
poll with the new poll or they literally are you adding a new pole and leaving the existing pole in place? >> The existing pole that's so shown on the plan that's in black. >> Correct.
>> That that poll's an existing pole has been there and it's it's been it's being replaced right now. the taller pole which is pretty much already done. That's staying there. That's part of the existing pole line. >> The 36A which you see highlighted in
red, that's a brand new pole going in. It'll be that's a new pole added to the pole line to provide additional support because of the height of the poles, the weight of the cables. Um so that's why that that poll is there for support
reasons. Okay, that pole is not new. The 3947 is the old pole. It's short. >> If you're putting a tall pole in the new location, I you're going to have challenges with that because you're not going to be able to increase the height of the existing
pole. >> But anyway, I mean, somebody can come out and we can talk about it then, I think, is the best. >> But there there are some challenges. Yeah. Yeah. But the the pole 47 has been replaced with the tall pole already.
We we'll take a look. We'll take a look when they come out. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I I I believe I believe that existing poll 47 has has been replaced with a taller pole already like many many of those polls going down the
street have been probably because it was a replacement. They could they could do that without have to, you know, go before the board. But because this other poll is brand new, um we have to approach the board,
our select board for permission for grant location to put because it's a brand new poll. >> Well, you're looking for some factchecking on that to confirm. >> Yeah. >> Facteing. And actually, if I could ask a favor of the board, I think the way that the last meeting, which I did not
attend, but I understand it was left, that the poll was approved contingent on someone contacting us, which they did not do. Right. >> If we could be clear at this meeting that they cannot proceed with the new poll absent this on-site visit, >> we can make sure that that's part of the
uh we can make sure that that's part of the the motion here that they have to they have to >> Okay. >> do that to be to get to do the poll. You're specifically looking for a walkth through coordinated with town staff >> and never source. So >> yeah, and I know that Verizon is also
somehow involved in these polls. So I don't know if Verizon is a party to this, but anyone who is going to be making decisions about this, it seems should be at this walkthrough. >> Absolutely. Okay. >> All right. Um >> Okay, good.
>> Great. Um thank you Carolyn. Yeah, we'll make sure the motion includes that great >> language that that >> um Thank you. >> Thank you for coming. >> Appreciate it. >> Anyone else have any comments about this uh utility poll this evening?
>> All right. I will um take a motion to close the public hearing and we can discuss. >> So moved at 8:07 p.m. >> Seconded. >> All right. All those in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. All right. So, the public hearing is now closed for this poll. I don't think we need to keep it up there. So,
um are people I I think it's reasonable to have a motion that the um uh there needs to be a walkthrough to make sure and confirm, especially considering the last time we you know said that not only did they not get the walkthrough, but it was also they needed to move in anyway
because of some uh existing conditions. >> Christine, could I just ask you? May I ask you uh what is the timeline to arrange a walkth through what that includes utility company rep uh representation at a minimum ever source town staff and abudding residents. What is the timeline that you would time
frame you would give to organize a walkth through like that? I'm actually not sure, but I I would think that it might be something that could happen somewhat soon because I know that they're they're anxious to get the the solar array.
>> Yeah. >> You know, energized and so so I I I I don't think it would be a long, you know, I think it would be a reasonable amount of time that I can I can make these arrangements. >> Yep. >> If I could just get if I could just get the names of who should be there. I
mean, I I'll reach out to our engineering folks. >> Okay. I >> I think the best way to do it is to is to we can um you can reach out to the town manager's office and he can coordinate with the resident and the a staff member and you that way you're not they can make sure that everybody's is
is at the is at the event. >> I think that's the best way to do it. >> Okay. And then my question would be for Frank as well before I I uh offer the motion when Eversource goes to so without these dependencies like these contingencies on a vote like this if they were this were a more
straightforward poll hearing with an approval from the board does Eversource contact you before they come into town to do the work are you aware they're come so Christine I think that's my other question is how we confirm you know short of town staff will report back to the town manager's office but
just in terms of Eversource feeling like you have satisfied the requirements within the motion, you would then move forward to install the poll, but how can we on the town side on behalf of the resident as well as our own staff, how can we ensure that that walkthrough has
happened to the satisfaction of all those involved? So, I'm wondering is there like a feedback loop that we can insert here where you're contacting the town manager to let them know you're about to do installation? Can we in include that because that seems like the highest level of assurances for the
resident that their concerns have been addressed. Is there a way that we can do that? Because if so, I'd like to include it in the motion. >> Yeah, we >> that you notify the town of Holl. Yeah, I will I will I will get that information over to the people that
would be involved and I'm sure that they would probably be able to >> Yeah, just notify that notify us that you're you're doing the installation. >> Excuse me. >> We would just want notification when the of when the installation was happening. >> That's what we're asking for. Yeah.
Great. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Christine. >> Thank you, Christine. We appreciate your help this evening. Um, thank you. Uh, so I can I'll take a motion and we would want to include in that motion um that there would be a walkth through coordinated by the town
manager with Eversource, the resident and uh a member of town staff and then um maybe Robert, but can't speak for him per se if depending on availability. We want to make sure it happens um at that time and then and the uh Eversource will
uh notify the town um of the installation when the installation will be happening. >> Okay. Right. >> All right. Um move to approve the installation of the poles as described during this uh hearing. New poll 36
sorry 3946A dependent upon a walkth through coordinated through the town manager's office to include utility company representation at a minimum ever source town staff and abuing residents
and also to include notification of the town of Holliston prior to installation of the poll after the walkthrough. >> Seconded. >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I >> I >> Okay, >> we good. Okay, then let us know. Keep
let Frank know and we can make sure that we can coordinate that with it'll be easiest just to go through him to coordinate it. So, you know, >> thank you. Thank you for coming, Caroline, >> Christine. Thank you for your time and your assistance this evening. We appreciate it. >> Thank Thank you. And I'll be sure to reach out to the town tomorrow to get
any other kind of information that they may need as well. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Uh, moving on. We have been a busy night. Uh, we got the assessors to talk about their stuff. So, uh,
Kevin and Jeff to come forward. Just uh, >> good evening. We have the chairman of the board, Jeffrey Marshall, and myself, Kevin Rudden, the assessor. >> Welcome. Welcome. >> Thank you. >> And, uh, so we're going to just go through I think >> the one, if I can interrupt you, the one the one article you had questions on.
Yeah, I think I that's that's actually what I was about to say is I think we're good with um most of the articles. I think the only comment I had when I was going through the warrant comments is that if we could just make sure that the comments I mean we can add our own comments but if you could add them it might be easier just to make sure that
the comments say we've done this in the past. This is not a ch like to basically illustrating because sometimes these articles they blend together just to make sure that the uh comments say if if something is a new or if this is something we've done in the past with no changes just except for it's like
it's cola or whatever. >> The marked up versions. >> Uh yes. >> Okay. Based on the questions you raised the last time I was here. >> Yes. >> I went back and tried to simplify it. Unfortunately, all those crossovers except what's in yellow were the town
council reformatting the article. The only difference between our current means exemption, which we've now done for two years, are the three sentences highlighted in yellow. And I will go over the changes.
So one says instead of a property tax exemption for seniors on property taxes it says for debt exclusion construction projects. Okay. Instead of saying then in section
one instead of saying for property taxes it says that any exemption would be equal or less than the actual cost of borrowing in any fiscal year for a specific debt exclusion funded project. to be set annually by your board.
So that reverts to the language we have now. Then the only thing we did is when we got to the section that referred to the um state income tax credit which said 50 to 200%.
Karin and I sat down and reviewing this Karin Sandborg the deputy and said wait a minute that's way too much money for a thing so we said not less than 10 and more than 40 and then I appended
to show you what that looks like based on the current 2730 that would range from a exemption of $273 uh at 10% to,092 and that depends on what would be out
there if we wanted to to help people. So in other words, we don't have numbers yet on anything. Let's just say we're talking the highway um and water building and we don't know the cost as of right
now, but let's assume it was $280 on someone's tax rate. You could say your board could say 10% and they'd get 273 off. And again to for people who are listening, we had 33 people qualify this
year >> for the means tested. The qualification is identical. So if this were in place right now and there were a dead exclusion cost, you would be limited to 33 people.
And the again, you know, if it's five years from now and you've done this and a large educational facility is on the docket, then you could go up the line. So basically, there's those three changes
and specifically the biggest one is tailoring the percentage to what an actual cost might be. And then literally it there is absolutely no difference from what we're doing right now. And I hope that clears it up. And
unfortunately all the green, blue, and red changes are the town council reformatting the article and asking questions. >> But I thought it might make it easier if I just started with the other. What I literally did was lay them side by side and say, "What are the changes?" And
it's those three things in yellow. Does that help you grasp it more? And I apologize for not doing that the first time. >> It's okay. >> I think I think one thing I had thought about afterwards is I think it would be a good idea if the you know and I like
that you put it in there is that the assessors would make the recommendation to the select board just to have another another voice to sort of like double check to sort of have be a little bit of a check and balance in this case. >> That is the procedure now. That would stay the same. >> Exactly. And that's the previous the previous iteration you had had the
assessors making the the that's that was >> because as you know I I said I based it on another towns and what I went to when I went did the u after getting the feedback from the three of you >> is I went to what do we have today? >> Yeah. >> And what do we need to accomplish and
lit and literally >> the only changes again are the title. >> Yeah. >> Saying it's debt exclusion >> y >> and the percentage. Okay. >> And the the the board coming and recommending the board of assessors coming and recommending to you stays the same. So what I would envision is as we
come in in October for that percentage if this were to go forward um through your board and go on the warrant and get passed by the the voters and then go through the legislative process the board of assessors would be coming in October for two percentages.
>> Right. Right. >> Or only one if there's no debt exclusion. >> If there's no debt and then we would have a recommendation in why. >> Gotcha. Okay. >> So, I hope that simplifies it for you. I know you in particular >> that makes that makes a lot of sense. >> Well, in the end, it's the explanation to town meetings. So, the clarification
and the simplification is is helpful because I do think some folks will see that there's a, you know, a subset of residents who will be exempt from from paying for debt excluded um projects uh projects rather with debt exclusion. And so, the clarification, the language will
be helpful for the ultimate success. So, appreciate that. >> Right. And and the nice thing about it to tell you the truth is since we're following the state guidelines on income and everything else in effect the state law is deciding through copied into here is deciding what the criteria
is. But again I mean we can stand up legitimately say there are 33 people who would be eligible if this were in place today. >> Sure. Right. >> It's not everybody in the town. >> Right. Right. Right. >> Thank you. >> Uh Damon. No, that I I was clear on the intent uh from the get. So, I appreciate
I think the language will actually be helpful for the discussion. >> Well, you know, I say sometimes we're so involved with it we don't realize we can't explain it to somebody who's not. >> So, I I apologize for that. But it's a good exercise to go back though because now it's much easier to explain to
anybody now that it's simplified. >> Yeah, I think that that is the overall win here. And I think when we when lay people who aren't paying attention to all the gobble yoke all the time see this, it'll be much more clear. And I think right help out a lot. >> Okay. I think it makes all I think it makes a lot of sense. I'm pretty I'm comfortable >> and the board is u through Jeff is
familiar with the changes. >> They're actually going to vote on uh next Tuesday >> 15th. >> Okay. >> Uh the full board, but the the members have seen this version and >> there's no objection, but just as the board took a formal vote to support all the other articles, next Tuesday they
will. And I will forward that to to Frank just so you have it for your records. >> Great. >> So I didn't want to mislead you on that either. Much appreciated. >> Thank you, Kevin. >> Thanks. I think we're I think we're good. We really appreciate you uh making those changes. I think it makes a lot it makes a big difference coming in. It >> like I said, thank you because it's a
good exercise. It helps you. >> Yeah. >> Like like I said, sometimes we speak our own language and then >> sometimes it's good to have somebody saying like, well, what does that mean? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> So, thank you. Much appreciated. >> Yep. >> Have a great evening, guys.
>> All right. We got plenty plenty to talk about. We got uh HCAT next. You want to whoever wants to come forward to talk to us. >> Okay. >> And we we
>> Chris Lawless, uh president of the board of Hollis Cable Access. >> And Bob Shore, treasurer, 10 Cassandra Lane. >> Thank you both for coming in. Um I we uh I had had some conversations with uh with Ukrao and uh Bruce to talk about
this a couple months ago and then I we had another conversation to follow up to sort of get some more information and um you know I think all of us agree that HCAT is a wonderful resource in Hollist and we want to figure out how to keep it moving and moving along when the current
model is uh has some challenges. So, if you could just uh do you have a presentation or however you want to >> have a brief presentation just kind of given the background. >> That'd be great. >> Um Okay. >> Hollist Cable Access is an independent not for-profit corporation was formed in
1985. For 40 years, our mission is to provide the residents of Holliston with all the local news and live events necessary to keep them informed regarding town issues and events. Despite our success in carrying out our mission, we are caught in the same
financial situation as other local cable access stations. Namely, it's decreasing revenue from cable subs providers like Verizon and Comcast as subscribers cut the cord and move to streaming.
Right now, we are in a transition period due to that and we need financial support to move through it. We don't even know what the bottom of the cable subscriptions will be. We've been saying it for five years. When is the bottom going to be >> and actually our Verizon contract is
under negotiation right now um to be finalized in September. We don't know the terms of that. Uh what we are doing is we're creating a fundraising arm that will have several components with the goal to allow us to be financially
self-sufficient for the future as best we can given that we are not in control of the big picture of cable communications. Part of our financial initiative is to present an article at town meeting for
operating funds on the warrant at May During this transition, we know that we'll have this operational gap and this these funds from town meeting will allow us to create and implement a robust funding program, fundraising program,
review our expense structure, and keep local news in Hollist. Thank you. >> Okay. Um uh I have a couple quick questions here and one of them is for Frank here. has we've had and and
forgive me if I I think I've been talking about so many different things I might have forgotten if we've talked about this but have we've had have we had council review sort of how you know because this relationship is sort of like we we have a relationship a quasi relationship with HCA but they're independent you know I'm just sort of
trying to make sure that like you know this kind of a process with the Warren article is feasible and we want to make sure that we get it right so it doesn't turn into something that could have legal challenges down the road Sure. Yes. So, uh, both feasible and defensible from a legal perspective, uh,
per town council, >> um, oddly enough, I'm not sure if that's the right way to put this, but, um, organizations like HCAT, uh, folks who are like sort of our our PEG providers, >> um, pro I forget what the PEG stands for, >> public educational,
>> yes, public educational government, um, >> uh, are exempt from, uh, chapter 30B for state procurement statute. Um and so we can enter into sort of a number of different funding mechanisms with HCAT that uh might otherwise be prohibited um
for other organizations. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> And so any potential so we've sort of Liz Leiden and I and MTC have sort of crafted a a draft warrant article that you know should the board want to move forward with it uh would be permissible. I think, you know, my, you know, when
when we met, um, a couple couple weeks ago, I think the big question that we had is just we want to make sure that, you know, uh, this is going to come off a little bad, but I and I apologize, but we want to make sure we don't just give you money so that it doesn't and it doesn't do anything. So, we kind of want
to have an understanding of like, is this the right thing? Can you get to where you want to be? Because, you know, you're, you know, we we want you to be successful. But we want to make sure that we're supporting you in that success, but we also don't want to give you money that you and you have a two-year program that you can't reach
that might be infeasible. Is this is it a realistic timeline that you're thinking about? Are you you know, is it and and what is the expectations for you know uh for that profitability or not profitability for that for that ability to be um to not need that? Yeah.
Self-sustaining that. Thank you. um in this process if you could just kind of give us a little bit more clarity on that. >> Um so some of the proformers Mark miss if you've had a chance to review those um you'll notice that
fiscal year 26 that ends June 30th we're financially challenged which is why we're here tonight. Um, as Chriso mentioned, we're starting a number of fundraising initiatives such as um, and we already have sponsorships, but we
haven't actively pursued them as much because of the Verizon and Comcast contributions. With those declining now, we have to ramp that up. Uh and that also includes uh what we're calling vendor services where certain programs
we run uh and we have many award-winning programs. Uh but there's certain programs that the town benefits from that we're more than eager to provide the town with uh inind contributions. Uh
just like we do the schools for rent forgiveness. Uh but at some point we have to start to monetize sure >> those services. So that's in the proformas that wasn't there before. >> Okay. >> Um we're also applying and we've been
applying in the past for grants um from places in town even such as the newcomers >> so that we can fund special projects u of a lighter magnitude. Uh but equally important such as our u uh podcast
studio that we're looking to create. uh and and revamp the existing radio station airway instead of there. So, >> and we're also going to look take a hard look at our total expense picture. >> Yes. Sure. Yes. >> Now, are you saying like with like
podcast would it be something like, you know, making it up? Is it something like somebody could if they wanted to do a podcast, they could like rent out the space for an afternoon or something like that or would it be more like podcast? Yeah. >> So, it would be like a a revenue source, not just >> basically. Yeah. Monetizing is what we
need to do, >> right? Yeah. >> Okay. >> We have a lot of resources. We have a lot of technology. We have a lot of great equipment. >> And we can monetize. We're going to try to monetize that um you know, the technology that we've got. >> And we have a lot of great volunteers as
well, both full-time and part-time, um who do camera work, editing, production. Um >> Tom's here every week and he's awesome. >> I know. >> He's fantastic. Uh we also have a couple of other uh folks with us tonight. Bruce Yfoy, our station manager if you don't
know, and Heidi Gibson is a board member with us tonight. Uh and we have three or four other board members. We have one open spot that we're trying to fill. So if anybody's interested, we'll do a shameless plug here. >> Great. Okay. Um but we are open to
having uh people join us and contribute uh because that >> allows us to also stretch the dollars we have to spend um by filling in positions to maintain the level of quality and the number of productions and programs
>> that uh we currently run. >> Okay. Um uh two other points here. Um, Frank, the town grant here in their proforma is 52,000 and we had talked about a little bit of a different number
and I I just kind of want to know if like if we had that conversation. >> So, uh, we did have a couple things shift budget-wise. We had initially sort of spitball the number of around 52,000. >> Um, my recommendation to the board was that we find operating dollars as opposed to something like free cash,
which is more one time to fund the request. And uh because of those sort of budgetary challenges and changes that we've experienced, um the operating dollars that I've been able to find are roughly 42 and 42,000 and change. Um
just my recommendation, but um you know, that would be a little bit of a you know, the gap between the 42 and and 52. >> Yeah. >> Um >> and that's you know, as of whatever today's date is, April 6th at 8:30 p.m. Those are just, you know, what we've sort of been able to describe together.
We just kept the >> Yeah. >> plug number. >> Yep. >> Well, I just I just wanted to point that out because that was >> helpful to know. >> That's very helpful. Thanks. >> You know, in order to fund payroll and other known expenses through the end of the fiscal year, we've also moved our CD into our
savings account so we have access to it. >> Okay. >> So, you see some redemption there of that number to cover expenses. >> Okay. Um that would obviously mean >> unless there's fundraising, we'd have to dip a little deeper. >> Okay. >> Um it doesn't put us at a critical
juncture yet, right? >> Um but obviously um we want to make sure we have enough liquidity >> so that solveny isn't an issue to assure the board and and >> and um I think one other question before I open it up to the board here is that
so we're talking about the vendor services the the 40,000. So we're talking about like you know things like this like coming to like the select board meetings and things like that. Are there anything other particular kinds of events that we're talking about or >> Well I think that um what as a as a
starter we would enter into memor of understanding. >> Sure. where we would um both of us would figure out which events we would cover always for you, which would be the live, for example, live school committee, live
select board, um town meeting, graduation, >> um plus all of the other events that we uh all the other meetings that we uh stream through Zoom and make it available. Bruce, can you think of any
others? >> Well, I mean, of course, we do all the school sports. >> Yes. >> Um, >> school sports, >> varsity games, home games, and of course, football, home, and away. >> Okay. >> So, what we can do is the the basis of
this agreement would be we have industry data and we know how much it costs us say per hour to to do this work for you. Yes. And we would come to an agreement say this is what it costs us for this set of events right
>> and um every quarter say we did 300 hours >> right >> at x number an hour and we would become a vendor for that amount for that in that respect >> okay >> it's all it's all to be
>> figured out but I I like it because I think it gives you uh value and it gives us um pays us for what we do. >> Yeah. >> So that's a that's something down the road that's part of our plan. >> Okay. >> And that number will be refined
>> of course right now. >> It's just it's yeah >> the balance. >> Gotcha. So then that's the expectation and then fundraising >> um the fundraising efforts that you're you're talking about and then looking for grants >> and brand awareness. >> Yeah. >> Um again we're hosting at Rushford and
Suns on April 27th. >> Okay. >> Um an open event. >> Great. Oh, >> we have right here. >> You got it. >> Can the camera see that? >> Hold it right up. >> Um, okay. Um, Tina, do you have any
comments, questions right now? >> Yeah, a couple. So, does is there any state legislative action that you've you're hearing about to address these changes that might come into play? I don't see anything reflected on the doc on the reporting that you've shared with us but would you anticipate anything
coming from the state in terms >> in terms of funding >> like on the cherry sheet although I wouldn't think so but any any state legislative action >> an ear mark should we do ask for >> there is legislation >> mark yeah >> before the uh state legislature that's been moving at slower than a sales pace
>> okay >> um >> for all the cable access stations in Massachusett statewide >> yeah so it's >> and It's we're hearing, Bruce, if I'm not mistaken, uh that part of this is viewed as a tax. So, the legislature is
very leerary of trying to not everybody's supporting it, but it would allow us to uh what monetize better. >> Yes. A lot of the streaming services that >> Well, what it what one version is that Verizon and Comcast would then have to
pay more and that's the rub. Um >> so >> okay, >> we don't anticipate anything. >> There's a lot of versions going out there. >> Um so at best it would be fiscal year 27 and those proformers as we continue to
>> move forward with our financial projections. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> My role is is new at the board um as treasurer. They didn't have one before. >> Okay. Um, so now we're again acutely
focused on trying to be not only of value for the town, which we've done for a number of years. >> Absolutely. >> But also fiscally responsible >> so that um all of the constituents in town can support the hub HCAP
offering. >> Okay. >> Okay. Just you might not know the answer to this, but at the state level, if legislation were to move forward, do you know if it's like a local option that municipalities can opt into in order to receive the the um you know, it's not there yet.
>> Yeah. Right. Got it. Okay. Um you mentioned that the Verizon contract is under negotiation. We've not had um is it I'm blanking on Barry. Thank you, Barry Sims. We've not had him come back to the table to update us on the contract negotiations. We we typically do, so I anticipate at some point he
will. um come and share with the board how it's going. Do you see that having a positive impact on revenue through Verizon? >> Well, we've been declining. I can see that. >> Well, we've had a we've had a good relationship with Verizon in terms of
the the equipment grants that they've negotiated with us and also the fact that we get um we have a nice 5% is our number that we get from the subscriber revenue. Okay, >> that's we hope to continue that in the
in the future, but there is really no guarantee um >> because their subscriber numbers are going down. So that 5% >> so they may be much more they might be harder to deal with this time but I just because they're they
realize what they have to deal with. But >> okay, >> we're hoping uh we'll continue the same good relationship but nothing's in stone. >> Okay, >> I guess I'll put it bring it up under other board business, but maybe that's something that we have Barry Sims, if you're still chair, um, come back and
update us on contract negotiations. >> I mean, yeah, we can we can certainly talk to him um, about it and see if there's any updates from his side of things. I think the question I would certainly have in that situation is it's like is there a different model that we
should try to work through versus you know or is there but I I don't know how much we would be able to get out of that in >> we're trying to figure out where the incentive would be for them >> right or they or they would want something in return and not necessarily
so if we start trying to change then they might not give you the capital investments that you you >> yeah need Comcast to the residents giving them fiveyear price lock, >> but they're not going to give us this price for five years, >> right? >> So, we'd be taking a hit in the short term.
>> Sure. >> My last question is, so in for 20 fiscal year 27 coming up, you you're asking for a town grant, and that's going to be a standalone article, a rates and appropriate article, uh, appropriate article. But in fiscal years 28 and
beyond, this is actually a question for Frank, it'll be worked into the operating budget as a fee for service. So, what what budget would that sit under? >> That's a great question. Um, I imagine we would probably maybe just under the select board budget, we would have it under the communications line item or we
could call it out separately. Um, that was sort of why I thought it was best um that it come from a raise appropriate source as opposed to a onetime funding source. We're going to anticipate having this as a recurring >> Well, it sounds like they're working on anou for that for that effect, >> right? Yeah.
>> Right. Um, so I Yeah, I mean, we could I mean, in theory, I suppose we could split it, you know, between us and the schools, but I'm not sure, you know, that if that really matters. So, it might be just best just under the select board's budget. >> Okay. >> Um, >> and Tina, I'm not sure if I heard you correctly. I thought you mentioned
fiscal 27. We're looking >> for the town article, so fiscal 26. Yeah, I think I did miss that point, but I heard you say that originally and then I'm so focused on fiscal year 27, >> but we don't >> we can revisit it again in 27 if you'd like. >> So, this is a
>> So, but if a town meeting, if we're raising and appropriating, I think the idea would be July 1. You need it before July 1. >> Is that what you're saying? >> Uh, yes. >> So, we wouldn't be able to do it that way. We'd have to do it through a free cash or something, right? because we would have
>> we would be we would be solvent through 26 >> but if we >> go ahead >> if we don't get it until 20 >> until July 1st >> right right >> so if we if we because if we raise an appropriate then it becomes part of the budget and then we don't have to go back and
>> try to figure out like where does that 40,000 come from we've already baked it into the budget >> and we would get you the money on July 1 and then moving forward we' already kind of that's what I'm hearing Frank say so that you know, if >> calendar year 26, fiscal year 27, I think, is >> Yeah. Well, no, but that's what I'm
trying to >> July 1st being fiscal 27, >> right? >> So, yeah. So, that would be okay if we if because if we go through town meeting the way we have it structured now, it would be raise and appropriate and it would be July 1 that we would >> that would work.
>> Okay. >> Okay. >> That would work. >> That would be okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. We just adjust some of our savings account money. >> Yeah. Because because like I said, the ideal part of doing it that way is then we've baked it into the budget moving forward. So we kind of like we found
sort of a way to fix to help you now and and and have it sort of there for the town >> and be part of the vendor services. We'd be able to sort of allocate something towards that end. >> Got it. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Glad we had that. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Any questions?
>> Uh that actually hit my budget worry, so I'm glad we addressed that. Um, I really appreciate the forward thinking mentality on monetization. Um, I think it goes without saying, right, the fact that you're anchored to an infrastructure that is cable, which is, you know, basically phasing out or at least changing dramatically, but you're
putting your feet into something new, the streaming services, it's very forward thinking, and I really appreciate that. Um, I love the discussion of monetization. I think as you all probably know, anyone can be a content creator now. We're heading towards a content creator economy, but there's still a very big gap between
being a person with a phone doing Tik Tok videos and someone who's got multiple guests in a podcast format where you still have 8 to 18,000 of equipment that you need to put up, which is something that the average teen who might want to do this uh wouldn't want to pay for themselves, but might not be
too uh hesitant to drop $20 on for, you know, half an hour or whatnot. And I so I think that's really smart. I'm sure the devil's in the details. Um but maybe there's a there there. So I'm glad you were all looking at that. Yeah, that's all. >> Thanks. Um, and um, I think the my my
only comment here too is that if we could sort of just check to see if there's anything we can add to our earmark request, like if there's capital or something like we because I I think it's hard to do like operating expenses, but like if there's something in particular that we're, you know, we we we send a letter to our legislators
every year asking for different kinds of requests and things like that. and it might behoove us to include in there if there's something you know >> 20,000 50,000 whatever the number is to see if maybe there's an opportunity there we can add that to the request. So in the statement of financial position
you will see in column L >> uh down at the bottom rows starting row 46 47. >> Okay. >> There's a summary of our capital requests >> for that year. >> Yeah. And so yeah there's like computer
editing systems 11,000 fiber connections with a high school 31. If there's anything town hall meeting room upgrade 26,000 um is is that this room is Um but um but you know maybe like things like that. Maybe there could be a few of those that we could
>> What's the timing on something like that? >> So we would send it soon. >> We're going to send it soon. And I have it on sort of the draft list. I think we Crystal, you and John and Ben and I or some combination of the people in this room uh had talked a little bit about the earmark previously,
>> right? But the in terms of the actual timing, um the state's budget process is about to kick off in earnest uh at the in the legislature. Um they signed the budget July, August, earmarks typically
aren't accessible um the actual like even if it's approved, the actual funds typically aren't accessible in the second h until the second half of the fiscal year. So January, Februaryish. Um so there would c even if we got it you know it would certainly be uh >> oh yeah that's delayed. Okay.
>> Okay. But this would be capital expenditure uh related anyway. >> Most likely it's capital it's capex related anyway. >> Okay. But when would you want to know from us that amount? >> So I had so I sort of penciled in a
$50,000 request for uh capital needs just general capital needs for equipment. Um but if you anticipate it being any lower or higher, we can certainly discuss. >> Okay. We'll we'll work on that. Okay. >> Just to Is that a >> Yeah.
>> Okay. Yep. Maybe we kind of also maybe um nudge our legislators too about it just because of the the uh the importance of it just to make sure that they can kind of be like hey this would be really great to to do >> and if you know might be some opportunities here but you know again if it's if it's something you need more
pressing then maybe we don't put it in there so that you're not you're not waiting for something that you need more immediately but you guys we you can work it out offline to try to get that. >> But I have one more question. I wondered if you wanted to take a moment if you have the information in front of you just to plug your viewership if you have it monthly or
annually or quarterly your viewership on HCAT just so folks understand the importance and how many people tune in. >> Thank you. >> Do you want to >> self promotion on that? >> But if you're going to if you're going to talk you got to come up to the microphone so we can hear you. >> I gave you the numbers.
>> Nice move to entirely. But we have about 1500 subscribers. I'm I'm generalizing. My screen went dark. >> Um on the uh both Comcast and Verizon side. >> Okay. >> Uh we have far more on YouTube. >> Okay.
>> That's our main distribution >> that and and Facebook. >> Facebook as well. >> Uh we don't have a payw wall. Um so that's one of the reasons we're trying to look at what would people consider paying for. Um, but there's other
programs like Chief Cassid's um >> story hour. >> Uh, story hour, >> awardw winning story hour story hour. >> Forget that >> um which we'd want to make available, you know, for everybody to learn from. So, there's certain shows that
>> we'd really like to um draw draw people in for and others. Um, and then, uh, you know, some shows have gotten a lot of hits. Uh, one of the PSA announcements on Rushford and Suns was our largest
viewing one, wasn't it? >> Yeah. >> And the Just Thinking episodes on School Sports really hit it out of the park, too. >> Great. >> Yeah. >> Love it. >> Y, >> fair to say, not a day goes by someone's not tuning into an HCAT production. Not a day goes by someone's not
recording something in town on production. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I appreciate the question. >> Stories in the town. >> Yes. >> I was at the library on a Saturday and I saw Tom recording uh recording an event at the library on a Saturday morning. No less it was memorable.
>> We have amazing staff and volunteers. >> A recent show was the Diwali celebration. You know, cultural events also get >> quite a bit of interest. Great. >> From different groups. >> Love it. >> And obviously the sports allow people across the country to see their
grandsons, nephews, cousins, whatever. >> Yeah. And we're uh we're talking to Bobby about the 250th. I'm sure there'll be plenty of opportunities for uh uh for for those kinds of events, too. >> Yeah. Well, we did the 300th town celebration. >> Yeah. So,
>> awesome. Um Okay. >> I think uh >> was the information provided the right kind of information you're looking for? >> I think so. I think so. I mean, you don't >> can I think I I think what I I like is that you you you have a plan. It seems
realistic. You're not, you know, we're not we're not going to say we're going to make a million dollars doing, you know, you know, asking for hand trying to break even. >> Absolutely. >> That's all we ask. >> And and and you've diversified your revenue stream, which I think is good. So there's a bunch of different things you're looking for so that if something
is a little bit lower, you know, you're not putting all your eggs in one basket. So that's kind of what I'm looking forward to see. And I think it it sounds great. You have some plans. I think Are you talking to the finance committee? >> 14th. >> The 14th. Yes. >> Okay. >> Great. >> And they have this information you sent out to the Wonderful.
>> So, um I think we're good. >> Everybody good? >> Solid. >> All right. Thank you. >> So, thank you so much for coming in this evening. Really appreciate it. We appreciate everything you HCAT does. Excuse me, the hub does for uh everyone in Holl. So, thank you. >> It's more than just cable access now. >> It's more than just cable access. So, we just appreciate it.
>> We'll have to uh explore other avenues, too. Maybe there's other things we other programs that we can figure out to try to get more viewership and things. So, >> story time with us like >> maybe maybe see what it is. Maybe it's a Q&A with with us or something. >> Really appreciate. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you so much for your support. Thanks. We'll be talking. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. >> You need to support us. Bobby's coming up here. >> Mr. Blair, you want to come forward? Oh, so Deb, you're on this in on this
too, huh? Mr. Blair, good evening. >> Bobby Blair, school street 183 Mill. >> Well, thank you very much for coming in. I know you put in a citizens petition. I was a little taken back, but why didn't you come to us and just say like, "Hey, can we just be on the agenda so we can
have this conversation to to support?" >> I we would >> I didn't know how it worked. >> It's okay. That's okay. I'm just I'm just saying it would like it would have been great. We could have we probably could have had a conversation like this and we probably can get to to where you need to be. So, why don't we back up and sort of say like what you know you put
through a citizens petition at particular request. If you could just kind of walk us through what it is in that petition that you want to talk to us about. >> Actually, we kind of formed a grassroots organization. >> Okay.
>> Out of some of the groups in town. Um, and I kept thinking and we had put in for uh monies from the state and get turned down. >> One of the things was the bus tour on
the applica. Well, you can't use any of the money for transportation. Well, geez, you know that kind of thing. >> Sure. >> But we did put in for money and we didn't get it. Um, I hate going around with a tin cup anything. I hate asking
for money. Um, but alls I could think of is uh Staples Chamberlain uh who was the town moderator way back when. >> Mhm. >> He left town on April 19th, marched to
Boston. Um he went to Fort Tyonderoga. Uh he took several trips down to uh Newport, Rhode Island. Uh, and then in 1778,
uh, Massachusetts, uh, Sadie City and town, you're going to have, uh, a shirt, breaches, shoes, and socks for your men in the Continental Army. And this guy left from right out here on
his buck board and horse. And he went out to Albany, New York at the end of January. Okay. >> Oh my. >> Uh, no GPS. No days in. Uh, no McDonald's on the way. I don't Alls I
could think of is Jesus, where do you stop? You don't know if someone's a loyalist or not. But he got to Albany and then he went down to uh Valley Forge and left off the rest of the things the people in town had made. Then he made it
all the way back here uh in time to moderate the first town meeting in March, right? >> Wow. >> I mean, >> he did all that in two months >> and he was 50 years old. >> Young Very young. Very young. >> Very young.
>> What a hero, right? Uh there was Jacob Miller up in uh well it was underway street drive now uh and he uh commanded a a fort on Castle Island in Boston with Paul Rivere. So that's how Paul River's
family ended up out here. Okay. And I kept thinking about these guys. I'm going Jesus, you know. >> Sure. >> God love them. Uh, so I says, "We got to do something for the 250th." I put it on uh social media, said, "What do you
think?" Some people said, "Oh, laser light show." That laser light show couple years ago was 9,000 bucks, right? Someone said, "How about fireworks?" Well, the Lions Club is going to have fireworks. Uh, I think they're the week
after the fourth. Okay. So, uh, that'd be kind of redundant. So, Deb, uh Joanne Halbert, the town historian, uh Gina Stutsy, uh celebrate.
So, we've kind of gotten together and uh we came up with some things. >> And we've been knocking on doors and trying to pass the King Top around. >> So, I I guess so. Before you do that, so like if we as a town were giving the
money to do these, who would we be giving it to? >> You'd be giving it directly to Clapman Hill Orchestra. >> Okay. >> A oneshot deal and that's it. Uh
actually, they're on the list here. If you want me to just kind of go through this. >> Sure. Go ahead. Uh, Saturday, May 16th. Uh, Casey at the bat had a terrible fall in January with the uh the rain and the wind and uh I put on a pulley and uh we
cremated them. Uh we have a new Casey at the bat coming, but it also falls at the same time that the Mudville baseball team is playing a team from Connecticut at Goodwill. So, we're going to have a a procession. We had one for Casey number
two. Uh and this will just go down exchange across mechanic down to school. We'll have a little ceremony and that's done. But it's Americana. I mean, you know, um uh one organization that did kind of pop
up uh and they're having a uh spring uh choir concert in St. Mary's across the street on uh the 29th of May. Um and then uh Saturday, June 27th, I've
got the Unlikely Strummers coming. Uh they're a 20piece uh ukulele. Uh they put on performance. Uh Saturday, July 4th. Hopefully, we have a a reading of uh the Declaration
of Independence. I mean, that's what it's all about. Right out here in front of town hall. Uh, I kind of talked Mount Hallless Lodge into having breakfast that morning. They normally wouldn't. Um,
and then, uh, the Lions Club has their carnival. Uh on August 15th, we have the Claflin Hill Orchestra who went up on their price this year. Uh we've done this twice. Uh it was 3500.
Now it's 4,000. You added in another four or $500 for a police officer. And we were lucky. We had a meeting before with the chief and uh we used to have to have two
cops. I mean, and that was $800 for two cops. And uh he kind of downsiz it. We only need one now, which saves us 400 bucks, you know, when you got the 10 cup. >> Yep.
>> Uh so, and that is on August 15th. >> Okay. Uh if anybody else wants to have something, I'm sure we might have a little money left over, you know. Uh
we're going to try to have a trivia night. Call it revolutionary trivia at Rushford's right down here. >> I think the star performers are in this room right now. And I'm looking at two of them. >> The chiefs on my chief.
>> Whoa. Whoa. I just >> So them are the things that we No one else came up with it. The town didn't say, "Hey, we're going to do something before July." There was no organizations that said, "Hey." >> Sure. >> So >> there you are.
>> This is grassroots at least for Staples Chamberlain and Jacob Miller. >> Yeah. >> Just you know, them people are heroes in my eyes. >> Totally. and we appreciate you uh coming forward. But so we're talking you the
citizens petition you brought forward was for $2,500. Is that correct? >> Yeah. >> In because of the 250th >> that is pay a portion. >> Yeah. A good portion of >> it. Class Hill Orchestra. >> Okay. >> And that's something that's been so wellreceived in the past two years. The
first year we had 150 people that came to the concert which was terrific. And then last year we topped it to 350. So, wow. >> We're hoping for even a lot more this year because it's really gained a lot of momentum and they're such a great orchestra. >> Okay.
>> And we had talked about maybe seeing if there was cuz uh putting it into the celebrations budget. >> Yes. >> Is there any room there or is like what do you think or >> uh something we have to talk about with the the level three? >> Uh yeah, I mean we could uh you know one
option would be to make the H cut request you know 40 as opposed to 42 and change. Um, I'm sure we could probably, you know, find $2,500 somewhere if we wanted to to adjust the the celebrations budget upwards >> by that uh by that amount.
>> Okay. >> Thoughts, comments, I guess. >> Uh the like I'm sure we could find 2500 somewhere probably. We we want to clarify. Uh, otherwise it sounds like we have $2,500 that we can sometimes choose to
spend on certain things, which I know is not what you're saying, Frank. What I hear is he's expressing there's some creative accounting that he's going to endeavor to undertake to find the 2500 and you'll present that back to the board. >> Yeah. >> Uh, and wide open to hearing that would would want to do that. Yeah.
>> Um, >> yeah. I mean, my concern about that is I'm open to it, but times a tick and if we need to do something, I think we'd have to have something like tonight to be able to move ahead. I I don't really know if we'd want to be able to wait
>> too much longer here. >> So, one possibility is, and I could be way out of turn, seeing as I'm not a member of the select board, but the select board does have a gift account that has a little bit more than $6,000 for it uh in it. Excuse me. Yeah. >> Um that >> what do we what do we usually use that for?
>> For me I think >> that's where your baked goods usually come from. No. Um >> I haven't I looked back in Munice. I hadn't seen any transactions out of it. >> Okay. >> Um so and I checked with accounting and the treasurer to see if there because a lot of time gifts come in with sort of
like strings attached. Right. >> Um we're not aware of any. Okay. >> Um there's also a uh a Blair Square gift account. I'm fairly sure that was related to the development of Blair Square. Um >> well, why don't we why don't we do this? Like why don't we explore if one of
those we can use one of those to to to help here and we can talk through like you know if it's >> what's appropriate especially if it's like there's 6,000 there and we haven't used it is there can we you know do something here to along that line. >> Yeah, I think I would be comfortable
with using utilizing that uh for >> I think it's absolutely appropriate use to do something like that. Bobby might say it's penance for the select board not doing the lion share of the work to do the work that he's done. So >> I get asked a lot of things and I didn't get asked this one.
>> Oh, you weren't asked. I was asked. >> So I I >> Oh, so we'll blame you. >> Yes, you can blame me. >> Okay, cool. Cool. Does that mean I was? >> I would never do that. But >> you were not asked. Oh, no. When was it? It was November of 2425. Sat on your porch and you asked about this.
>> But we don't have to go back in time. So, I guess what what I'm saying here is is that I think it would be probably a challenge to do the citizens petition, but we should be able to get you something that maybe even more than the 2500, but depending on how we look at it. >> Oh, >> like sooner.
>> Oh, >> if you're okay with that. >> Oh, just check in. Just check in. >> Fine. Fine. >> Um, so because I I think we can find a solution. We just need to kind of like figure out exactly what that looks like. Make sure the package is right and then
make sure that we can do that and we can, you know, you can check cuz I mean you talked about the Clap Fun orchestra and we can see how much we can >> work there and what that looks like um to make that work out with the with the gift account.
>> It could be helpful to just have um for the citizens petition piece of it to have uh because I think there were 13 >> 12 or 13 signatures on it. Um we just need depending on how many there are there need to be uh basically nine
people left um as signatory. So if you have if there's 13 people on it, we need four people and you could be one of them to just sign and say, you know, I I authorized the withdrawal of the um >> the citizens >> the citizens petition >> and then uh that'll sort of like tie up that loose end just so we don't have it
like sort of lingering out there and then we can explore the >> because we should be able to have an answer in the next couple weeks like next week if not yes by the end of the month we can have an answer on that and I and I'm confident that we can make that y in some capacity if it's you know paying them directly or going your
celebrate Hollist, whatever it is, we can figure out what that looks like. Does that sound good? >> Okay, >> wonderful. >> Uh, quick question. Where where can one access the virtual or digital tin cup? >> How can people donate online for you
these efforts? >> Do you have a a site someone can go to? >> No. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> We'll have to get you Venmo. >> Like I said, we're very very brash. >> Yeah. So, I don't want to create a whole
nonprofit. >> We we're using uh >> celebrate Hollison. Uh someone gives us a check, make it out to celebrate Hollison, not Bobby Blair or Debbie Moore. You know, that kind of thing. >> Sure. Got it. Okay. >> And the events go May 16th through
August 15th at this point. Yes. >> Which is a wonderful amount of time there. A lot of >> Well, you you've got the Lions Club carnival in between there. you could celebrate Hollist. >> Does uh do we have all that in the calendar for the town? Because we have a town calendar with events or all those
events. >> Yeah, I was going to say maybe we could just have one page of consolidated list of all the community events that were happening >> and then we can make sure they're in because like there's the there's the the what do they call the Sophie or the the the >> the SUFFA? >> The SUFFA, excuse me, the thing in in
Blair Square that has like it has events and stuff on it. making sure those kinds of events are on that, you know, so we can advertise those. >> All I've done recently is um put like the Claflin Hill concert on Hollist Happy just to give people save the day type thing, you know.
>> Okay. And we put it on because the town website we have events an events calendar there and then we can also see if there's other places that we can put these events to make sure that they're out there and celebrate Hollison and >> get them all tied together. >> Have you tagged who will read the Declaration of Independence? Uh we're
going to have uh Chris Kane is going to be the MC. >> That's awesome. >> Um he's got the revolutionary uh Yeah. We're going to take the uh independence uh and split it up in 13 parts
>> and then have notables uh luminaries from town uh each take a part of it and read it. >> Very nice. >> Awesome. Sounds great. This is giving I hope joy to you for you. You seem very happy talking about it. So thank you for your
efforts. >> He's put a lot of sounds. So >> I can't wait. >> He's done a lot of lot of that. So Bobby, thank you >> as always. >> All right. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> You too. >> All right. >> Thanks,
>> Mr. Kee. coming with notes, too. >> I'd also uh just quickly turn while James is walking up. We have uh Staca. >> Okay. >> On the off, excuse me, from the uh sort commission is on on the line as well. >> Okay.
>> Um so, James, I don't know where you want to start, but >> um I was just just in order on your list there. DPW facility update, downtown sewer update, and N Green Street update. >> Sounds great. >> And these are all tied to warrant articles. I think that's the genesis of the conversation, right? >> Yes.
>> Um, so, uh, obviously the article for the DBW is going to be a debt override. Uh, we're currently working on, uh, refining the project cost estimates, uh, which obviously are going to ultimately be the
number that that uh, >> yeah, >> ends up on the warrant that's still in process. >> Okay. >> Um, >> and the expectation is you'll be back next week to talk. They'll be back. The west will be here to talk to go through that in detail. >> Yes, absolutely. >> Uh just as a matter of uh process, we're
continuing to work through the design. Uh and these are subtle changes in the design. Um won't have a substantive impact on project or something something primarily a lot of resident feedback. Um so we've talked directly with some of the direct butters. Yep.
>> Uh and certainly have heard from uh folks along Arch Street. >> Yes. No one is against this project. They're they look at the DPW as uh a good neighbor. Um and they've been in that area for many years. Um but there were some concerns uh about,
>> you know, positioning of parking lots and and you know, how the roadways would would go and so those all have been uh incorporated into a redesign. >> Okay. Fantastic. >> So part of the uh uh meeting next week could go over the revised plans uh as well. >> Excellent. Okay. I think that would be
good. >> Great. >> And we want to emphasize that that the feedback from the abutters is is some is being heard and and and um taken into consideration as we >> Yeah. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. And so um we feel that we've come up with some good
design changes. And again, these aren't things that cost a lot of money to do or if anything, you know, have no impact. Uh it's just a matter of shifting things around. So >> if it improves the quality of life for the people around there, absolutely, let's do it. Um uh just as a plug for
HCAT um myself and Robert Walker uh are doing a heartbeat of Hollist segment on Wednesday. >> For them yeah not the uh the host or the actors. >> Um and so >> the talent >> the talent yeah better word
>> talent. >> Uh so we'll be doing that. We'll also be talking about Goodwill Park but uh as it relates to the DBW facilities. So it also be a chance to um you know show the residents uh through this segment the current conditions right >> so a lot of people haven't been down
there uh but this will be you know shots eye opening shots uh of of of the current conditions. >> So any questions on >> did you say both facilities or just the >> we're just going to do the focus on the art street. I mean we could probably go over to central um but um
>> I think it's more of the same >> but I think it's more of the same. Right. Any questions on DBW? >> More to come. >> More to come. >> We're on track to meet our requirement for posting or getting a ballot question to Yes. the clerk and we're on track for a warrant article with time to present
it to the community. Good. >> We have the language. We just have highlighted X's where the dollars will be. >> Yeah. And the big thing we're going to want to figure out, make sure we have um a proposal for funding and at that time so we can make sure that like this is what it looks like, this is what it would be, this is how we're going to
fund it. If I may, one quick question on that. Will, so we're going to do this on the 13th. >> Uh, yeah, next next week. Yes. Monday is the 13th. Yes. >> Okay. I think having the finance committee and or capital subcommittee
>> clued in to getting the same information that may be relevant to other conversations they will be having. Yep. >> On cost and assumptions going into the debt borrow. I am on their calendar tomorrow evening and I this is one of the things I will be bringing up.
>> Okay, >> great. Next is uh downtown sewer. Um and Staca, jump in if you'd like. Uh but basically the town has received uh $2.6 million uh in state and federal funding for this
project. Overall project is estimated just under $7 million. So, it's a great uh great start. Uh we're going to use that funding um to uh do the improvements to the wastewater treatment plant. And I I use the words
improvements loosely, but it's really adding excess storage capacity at the plant, changing how some of the treatment process uh will operate. Uh but that goal is to go out to bid within 30 days for that work and start the construction this summer. >> Wonderful.
>> For the pieces related to the plant. >> Okay. Also concurrently we're going out to um you know uh bid for formal design engineering of the collection system. So the plant obviously is going to treat it. We need the collection system >> for all 71 properties
>> uh you know collect the effluent and and bring it to the plant and >> okay >> and that formal design really gets down to the minutia of this property septic tank is right here. There's a big oak tree and a shed right here. how are we going to route the pipe without disturbing uh you know these things on
on the properties. Um so that is also uh beginning. Um we uh the site surveying work uh is is scheduled to happen within the next probably 2 3 weeks. >> Okay. >> Uh associated with that of course uh the sewer commission um is working very
closely with uh Frank Debasio uh to to see if we can get additional you know congressional directed spending. uh as well as um our application for the one-stop grant program. Uh we've had uh direct conversations with the folks in
that program and and and you know asked them to help us what is the best way for us to leverage this is it. This is what we need to get over the finish line. How do we position ourselves to best get the full funding amount that we need? Okay. >> To get this project >> and and and at this point um the the the
the thing that we're waiting for is the funding for the project. That's pretty and like also and there's some administrative like like um town manager uh town meeting needs to approve elements of you know establishing a a sewer um >> yeah I was going to get to that
>> yeah some of those things but what I was just trying to make is like you know D has finished their part of the process and they're they're so there's like those kinds of licenses and permits on that side of things are complete we're just looking at >> they're complete uh we have enough
funding now to as I said do the necessary work to the plant, do the formal design level plans to bid and we likely feel comfortable that we would have funding left over from this to start some of the construction. >> Okay. as well. Um and so
>> uh but to that point um uh with respect to the properties, you know, we we have identified 71 properties within this sewer district and at at town meeting >> uh there's an article to establish this district and basically we're just taking
what is already designated as village commercial for downtown >> and that will then become the boundaries of the sewer district. and what happens within that district, who's in, who's out, you know, who who um you know, wants to be part of the system and that
type of thing, uh is is governed and managed by the sewer commission. >> Gotcha. >> Uh but town meeting needs to approve what the bounds of that district are. So that's the purpose of that article. >> Gotcha. Y um in general, um we've sent out uh easement requests because
obviously we have to put pipes on people's property. uh we're taking ownership of their existing septic tank and those kinds of things. So, we need an easement uh uh for that. Um we've sent those out. We've received several back uh signed. Um we've received
several questions, rightfully so. If I were a proper owner in there, I have lots of questions. Very good questions. >> We haven't had anything negative. Everyone is really excited and charged about this project. So, it's very, very positive. Is there um any concern or overlap with potential water main
replacements on Central Street for this or in any other water man? I the the reason sort of I'm asking here is like is there you know is there going to be potentially you know digging up certain things and then you know and there could be potential for
you know sort of multiple occasions. We want to try to avoid that if >> No, absolutely. So, uh, the beauty of this system is it's not doesn't really sort of follow a traditional big pipe down the middle of the street approach. It's a cross-country route. >> Uh, so the effluent is carried on small
two and three inch diameter pipes. >> Okay. >> Much like a oversized irrigation system, if you ever put an irrigation system in your house. So, the machinery is like a ditch witch that will draw these pipes underground and the the goal is to stay out of the streets, go cross country
through people's property. Okay. Um, you know, if we have to go into a sidewalk, we'll go into a sidewalk. But the the big expense of of of a pro a project, this project like this would be digging up the street, and that's what we want to avoid. So, >> yeah. Okay.
>> Um, and uh any questions on that? >> Exciting. >> It is very exciting. Very exciting. Before we move on to the next uh item, do you want just want to give a quick plug for when the next sewer commission meeting is in case folks who are listening might want to questions about
their property? >> No, absolutely. So, uh the sewer commission meets um uh scheduled uh to meet the third Wednesday Thursday of every month um at uh 6 p.m. here in this room. It's also virtual. We've had some
ad hoc meetings that we've had to put in there, but generally the third Thursday of every month. >> Okay. >> So, that's the Thursday. That's uh so the April the 16th. >> Yeah. >> So Staca, do you want to add anything? Staca is a member of the uh the sewer
commission. >> Yes. You don't you don't have to if you don't want to, Staca, but you're welcome to to speak up if you have any comments here. >> Just that James really is the talent. That was a great summary. >> It's true. That's how we That's what we refer to him here in uh as well. The
talent. >> The talent. >> Thanks, Disha. >> Thank you. Um, next on the list is uh Nine Green Street. Um, and the request here again is another Warren article um to request additional funding for ongoing work for that property. And we
we say Nine Green Street, but it's really nine Green Street and the surrounding downtown area. Yeah. Um and um you know basically uh it's no surprise that there's contaminants uh in the soils there um from prior industrial
uses from many many many years ago. Um and uh it's been identified by the D as something that the town needs to address. >> Y >> um we're in basically uh a phased approach with the D. There are five phases. I don't know if you want to get
into the details, but you know, initial is an investigation. Phase two is detailed um mapping, if you will, of the contaminants on site. Phase three is what's the remedial action and four is um you know, basically implementing the
plan. And five is just ongoing monitoring of that. >> My main question about this is that um how often do we have to do this and for how long we have to do this kind of monitoring? Because so the reason I'm asking is that like we have like I I brought this up to Frank before is like
we have an a line item in the select board budget for testing at Marshall Street because we have ongoing testing there. >> And my question is is that should this be a budget line item in the select board's budget like the Marshall Street >> eventually. Okay. >> We're not there yet. We're still in
basically have started phase two >> of five. when we get to phase five, >> then we're doing >> then then we're going to do the monitoring and then that can go into a budget. So, right right now, okay, >> um we're in phase two. There are a number of monitoring wells. Yep. >> Fortunately, the EPA
>> uh is involved with this as well. Um and I believe it was two summers ago drilled several additional wells um you know, downtown. So, that's great. Doesn't cost the town. I think I remember that because people were talking about the trucks that they still had and some of the stuff that they were leaving there that for too long.
>> Yeah. And um and so um we still have more work to do on the phase two. Okay. >> Um that's what this uh additional funding will achieve. We also as part of the requirement have to provide um every six months status updates to the D.
Okay. So our our LSP licensed um uh SCE professional um you know KCO Oliver Leak um >> uh is our primary contact uh and he's been doing a lot of the leg work associated with that. Of course we have to pay for that fee. >> What's the what's the time scale between
the phase two and the phase five? What are we looking at there? >> Years. >> Great. Like >> years. handful of years or like >> we're probably not >> I suspect that this is probably a five five year >> I won't I won't hold you to that just
orders of magnitude for my mind. >> It's good to note though these things do come to an end. So factory pond we were moni we were doing dam assessment for that and paying for that for a number of years and we did come to the other side through an expensive difficult process
>> but these things do come to an end. Yes, they do. Um but um you know there's obviously more work that needs to get done and um I think the real expense comes with the cleanup and you know there are grants there super fund I mean
there all these things that help us with that um this work that's that's leading up to that point um is basically our due diligence. >> Got it. Okay. >> All right. Any other questions from the board? That was it for me
>> for James. >> Okay. >> All right. Well, James, thank you for the uh for the updates and we'll look forward to next week. We'll be uh >> Oh, yeah. Talking about DW >> holding our breath. >> Thank you, James. >> Thank you. Thank you for your time. >> All right. So, now we're going back to
1A 9. >> I remember that. >> Oh, boy. Discuss potential vote on select board's recommended budget. Um, so, uh, Frank had sent out sort of the updates, the $49 net change. Um, staggering and, uh, just kind of wanted
to check in because that's what we talked about in our previous meeting. Just wanted to check in to see if everybody's comfortable with that, everybody's okay with how that looks and shakes out for a level three budget and if there's any comments, questions.
Um my hope because I wanted to present um to the finance committee tomorrow our level three budget and be able to walk through that with them uh the changes that we've made. >> I have high comfort I'm eager to get their feedback.
>> I know you've been trying to make sure that there are a lot of open doors for collaboration there hoping that they'll avail themselves of more of that. >> But yeah, the more collaboration the better. T any thoughts, comments? >> Nope, I don't actually. It's tight.
>> Tight in terms like we're not far off from the level two. >> Yeah. >> Which is not far off from the level one. >> So I think it's been a a strong >> process throughout and we've been well informed. >> Um so no, I don't have any comments. >> Okay. So uh we I'd like to take a motion
to approve the level three budget as presented. >> Okay. So moved. >> Seconded. >> All right. All those in favor? Hi. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> And um I had sent over um a uh some slides and uh potential letter.
>> Um and um I if uh you know you have comments maybe, you know, we don't have to do them right now. You can send them through Frank. Um I would ask that you prioritize the slides because I want to present them tomorrow. >> Okay. >> Uh before the letter and then the letter we can prioritize as necessary. But if
you have a choice, look at the slides first. >> Tell me where the slides are living. >> Um, I gave them to Frank. And you know, >> did you say send those to Frank? Cuz I sent my recommendation. >> You can send you can send comments to me. That's fine. You can send them to They can you can
>> So any any comments, any feedback, any anything you it might be, you know, uh, but I'd just like to get those um from you guys uh by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. >> Okay. And just to confirm, the level three uh recommendation includes
reducing both the health insurance and keef tech uh budgets and uh giving money to hide for life better. Okay. >> So, so but yeah, when when you get them, Tina, just just take a look at them and prioritize the slide so I can uh
>> um present that to the finance committee. >> Okay. >> And Okay. So, we'll move on from the budgets, talk about some war articles. >> You want to just pull? Uh, >> yeah, let's just kind of go through the list. Um, I think that the two that
we're probably not going to have, >> we still have to figure out are the the main ones are the feasibility study and uh the DPW, but I think we should be able to have a pretty good sense of the others. Mhm. >> I'd like to, you know, even if it's not a vote tonight, um I'd like to have a
vote next week on as much of it as we can. U preferably the whole thing. Um if we can do that, but I recognize that there's a little bit of pencil sharpening about the feasibility, but at the same time, I'd like to have as much of it done as we can have.
>> Okay. So, we I think we've been through a lot of these or some of these I know we went through last week uh in in more detail, but I'll just sort of read out their uh titles and stop. >> I just noticed you're you got a typo in the >> article three. Article three.
>> Oh, yeah. Clearly, I am not a graduate of the Hollson public school system. Okay. All right. So, uh we hear the reports of all three boards. Uh Ben, based on the comments that you made at
the last meeting on the revolving fund uh article, I added comments that note the two changes >> uh one for Pinerest, one for the uh uh building inspections revolving fund. >> Great. >> Uh the amendment for the interest rate perm,
I'm not sure, is uh uh one that we do every year per state statute. We have to include that in the warrant each year. uh article six through >> Yeah, I think I I'd like to and I'll take it offline, but I'd like to sort of change the uh some of the comments on article six, but um
>> Okay. >> I'd just like to tie tie up some of those, but we can take that offline. >> Sure. Okay. Um so you and I can touch base on those before Monday. >> Yeah, we can touch base maybe later this week some of those things. >> And we kind of talked about uh was it article 13? Is that the one we just
talked about with the assessors tonight? Uh it might be a little 14. Yep. >> 14. >> Okay. >> Yep. So this uh the version that's in the draft warrant right now is um the most up-to-date version. >> Okay.
>> Um so that gets us to article 15. Um I did remove the uh sustainability invoice finding that we had roughly $30,000 in the uh sustainability revolving fund. Um, I think we would want to keep as
much money within our operating budget for fiscal 26. Um, how even if not, I know it's $5,000. It's a relatively small amount, but knowing that we're going to be likely, uh, searching for money for snow and ice costs, um, or at least having, you know, as much money available to us that we could transfer
from our operating budget to snow and ice. Um, so I did remove that one. Okay. Um but fortunately uh the chief does have room to within his operating budget to uh pay for the town of Medway's invoices for those intercept services. Um any questions on the prior year
bills. >> Okay. Uh class or excuse me the um waging classification plan. Again we do this every year. >> Yep. >> The change being for the um >> the cola. >> The cola. >> Yep. uh the fiscal year 27 budget. Yep.
>> Um so now we'll update the website with the level three information um so that that can be tracked. >> Um >> as Ben mentioned, this is one that I suppose could change. This is the um transfer into the capital expenditure
fund. Um, yep. >> This will obviously impact what's available for the following article, which is the capital budget article. Um, so the highlighted items were the uh the school department's items that uh were sort of briefly touched on tonight. Yep. >> Sounds like the school committee may be
going back and revising some of those. So I've highlighted them in yellow. Okay. >> Uh so we'll see maybe after Thursday and obviously by the time you meet on Monday. >> Yeah, we can we can revisit this one on on Monday. I think I think this will we can put this in the list. Um we do have a couple water retained
earnings um >> yep >> requests as well. The finance committees capital subcommittee is meeting again on Thursday. >> Okay. >> Uh to round out their review of these items. Uh James just touched on the article 49 Green Street.
>> Oh come on. Did I skip one? Okay. Sorry about that. My computer froze. Uh the next is a uh $10,000 appropriation from free cash for a department head class and compensation study. Obviously with all the conversation about department head salaries uh both Cheryl and I felt that
this would be approved next step so that any potential future changes would be tied back to actual >> and I I think I you know I think this is something we should be doing ongoing >> um regularly. It should be it should be a regular um engagement to do this whe
whatever the cadence is but >> it is something that should be ongoing. >> I think yeah Cheryl and I found was that there was last a comp study done in 2020 was it 2023 or 2022? >> It was 2022 but it was not for this group 1 to 600.
>> So we think next time you know we'll get the department heads done this time and then the next time we do this we'll just sort of do the whole kitten kaboom. >> Yeah. whatever like whatever the cadence is, but I think we should have a regular cadence for um for the department heads and for um the uh >> Agreed. It's actually in the
>> Yeah. So, we need to be doing it. >> Uh financial support for HCAT. Um so, this was obviously just supported in the level three vote that the select board took uh just moments ago. Um CPC,
this is a final list at this point. Um the open space committee is no longer pursuing well I shouldn't say that the open space committee is not um anticipating the purchase of uh a piece of the Jasper Hill 52 Jasper Hill uh for
this May town meeting. It sounds like the negotiations are still ongoing. Um so uh that will not be an additional CPC request. Okay. Uh for May, perhaps in the fall. Um I know the negotiations between that the the committee and the
uh parcel owner are ongoing. >> When you do the skull session, Ben and Frank with the town moderator. >> Yep. >> And the chairs of the school committee and finance committee. I I we haven't seen a a CPC article with this level of
diversity among the funding requests. Having the town moderator and town council discuss how to handle pointed comments on any one project so as not to jeopardize the the to the total article. So just having a plan. And I would just
ask that that's discussed in that full head meeting that everyone's prepared to if needed break this article up to for conversation purposes, deliberation purposes. Sure. >> Um because I I could see an indefinite postponement >> in the past. We've also done um uh
>> bigger ones we've broken out. We did that with Goodwill Park. >> Oh, okay. because um and we might want to see if that's the right thing for like the bike park because to that point I think most of them the smaller ones I don't think are really going to be something but the bike park might need to be separate but we can explore
because I think it just like if it if it's going to generate some more conversations than the others then it might be a better idea to have it as a separate article. >> Sure. >> The bike park folks they have done a tremendous amount of outreach and I do believe they'll be in the lobby at town meeting. I think that's part of their plan. So, it should be I'm assuming
it'll be a pretty well-informed town meeting voter that walks in, but there is a lot of diversity here among the project. So, okay. >> However, to strategize um productive deliberation would be would be good. >> Good. Okay. >> Okay. >> Um DPW we just talked about. This is the
one I was saying we have all the language just all the X's are in there. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um so, actually and just today um James, Chris and I, uh we're doing some brainstorming with all the different spreadsheets up on the screen. So, at this point, we're just
waiting for the numbers >> and uh we'll have a um a plan to bring to the board at our at your next meeting. >> Okay. >> Uh the high school construction project feasibility study is uh the two and a half million that we discussed with the >> Yep. >> uh school committee earlier.
>> Um obviously that one the funding method still TBD. >> Yep. >> Um sewer district creation. So this basically says that everything that is the village commercial district is also the sewer district. Uh the meets and bounds will be the same.
>> Um road acceptance constitution village which uh we just had the public hearing for a couple hours ago. >> Mhm. >> Um the next two are about uh kenno bylaw updates that basically make the town's bylaws uh consistent with one another,
the both the general bylaws and the zoning bylaws and also consistent with state statute. Um, this one was actually not flagged in time for uh the planning board to hold a or for them to vote on um uh formally sponsoring it. So,
they've asked that we take a formal vote to uh sponsor each of these bylaws. Um I think that came up at the uh >> okay >> that was out the beginning of the month. Okay. Um so um if the board wouldn't mind taking a vote to it's a formal vote
to sponsor those so we can volley that back to the uh board that would be much appreciated. >> Okay. So it's 28 and is it 27 28 or 28 and 29? >> It's uh 28 and 29. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Yeah. We'll do that at the end once we get through. >> Okay.
>> We can do that. Uh, article 30 and 31 are both easements for the uh, 52 Jasper Hill property. Um, both for storm water access and utilities. Um,
these all have been uh these two have been uh drafted by town council and reviewed and approved by uh the counterparties council as well. Um, just to sort of recap that saga,
even though the intention or at least, you know, what what has been discussed to date for that property is to maintain uh the residence as a single family home with potential for, you know, an ADU. Um, it was discovered during the buyer's due diligence that the uh residential
the single family home easement was never actually recorded at the registry of deeds, so it doesn't actually exist. Um so um while the last development that was proposed needed a new easement uh there was an assumption that there was an underlining existing easement for a
single family home that is actually not the case. Okay. >> So uh we just a little bit of a housekeeping item I guess. Gotcha. >> Um and then speaking of easements we have one more for uh Norfick Street drainage. Okay. >> Um these would be improvements part of
the infrastructure improvements uh that are being made right now. >> Okay. Um so this is um Sean Ree and the uh engineers working on the team have requested this to take place in May. Okay. >> Quick question on this. Have they has there been outreach to residents that
this will impact? >> Yes, they've I believe it's three different properties. Uh so they've they've gotten the sort of the okay from those different uh property owners. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> And I can get you the numbers. >> No, just want to make sure that they there's >> it's right there. There's four. Oh
>> 13 135 115 629 and 340. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And we've been in communication with them. We understand that they >> they understand the situation. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um >> that's all right. Uh so um are both of
you comfortable with voting to sponsor 28 and 29 for the kennels? >> I am personally. Yes. >> Okay. >> Move to sponsor. >> Yeah. Articles 28 and 29 within the May 2026 annual town meeting warrant.
>> Seconded. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I I >> I >> um I had three on my list to talk about next week which was the capital article, the DPW and the feasibility study. Um does anybody else have any that we want to review?
>> The feasibility study for the school specific. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Do you have any others that you >> You mean review to vote for inclusion? So what no like we would go through in more detail because we have we don't have all the the n like basically what I'm getting at is that those three I
would take out but the I think everything else and this is what I'm asking is pretty good. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Yes. >> And everybody's comfortable with those. We don't have to take a formal vote, but I would like to be able to say that, you know, just those three really need
uh the select board needs some more information and it's mostly just like trying to get some details in there. >> My one comment would be numbering, but we can have this conversation down the road. >> Yeah. Well, we I think we can go into more detail next week, especially like if we if like let's look at the CPC if
we want to that article out >> and then um we can look at numbering and make sure that it's right before next before we take a formal vote. >> Teaser, I think we should move 24 up. >> Which one's >> DPW? >> Just earlier >> earlier and then we we can we can talk
about it. Let's figure out what the right law is >> to to to do it and then uh we can get that um uh figured out. Um, so, okay. So, those are the three that I have. Does anybody else have any for next week that they want to talk about? >> I think those will be plenty of meat. I
don't know. You >> Yeah, there'll be plenty to talk about. Um, um, I'm also saying this, too, because I wanted to sort of make sure I did this because I do have to go. Um, but, um, everything else is mostly um, just standard business, so I can walk
away. Um, but, um, okay. I don't think we need to take a vote tonight. on anything else. We voted on the budget, but um we would just go through in more detail on those three and make sure that we're comfortable with everything um next week. And I'd
like to be able to get as close to a vote next week as possible. Go >> ahead. >> Um and uh on those I think we have to have the DPW because in order to be on the ballot, it needs to be ready by I think it's the 15th. So
I don't think runway there. So, >> um I don't think we need a vote, >> but um I got to I got to go. I got a jet. >> So, I'm getting late and then um but um everything else I think is just standard business. Sounds good. So, you guys should be okay. >> Yeah, we should be. >> Thanks, man. You're not going to hear my
other business comment for you, but that's okay. >> It's for me. >> Yeah, compliment. It's okay. >> Okay, >> I'll share. >> You want You want to hold it? >> All right. Let me know. >> All right. Good night. >> So, I think that brings us to warrants. Yes.
Do we have anything else outstanding? Uh let's uh maybe public comment. >> Public comment. Yes. All right. All right. Let's move to public comment. >> Uh let's see. Anyone uh here presently want to contribute to the public comment. Otherwise, we'll move to online.
Seeing nothing. Anyone online wants to contribute to public comment? Going once. Going twice. No public comment. Moving on. All right. slipping around. >> Select board member updates.
>> Let's see. T90. Select board member updates. >> Two, real quick. In my role as chair, uh clerk, not chair. Excuse me. I'm reading chair. It is clerk. >> Ben's not even dead yet. >> Yeah, I know. I know. Did you see that? Just right to the chair. >> In my role as as clerk, I would just say
that we did get uh we were contacted over the week by Mr. Brinster, who came to public comment a week or two ago. He's asking for an update. I'm just going to elevate that up. I'm sure you and and Ben will figure out. >> Was that the farming?
>> Yes. Yes. The the call for um a response to uh enforcement but also zoning. Uh I believe they asked was for a holistic approach, but his specific public comment was reaching out as I have not heard it back in two weeks. And you have said that in a couple days of my statement I'd be hearing something. So
just elevating that as an outstanding item for the board to loop back around with Mr. Brenster on >> and uh Frank and I met this past week >> uh about the ebike policy. We are nearing the end and we'll have something for the board uh in April or early May
to review just for changes to traffic rules and and regulations. >> Excited to hear about that actually. >> Uh that's it for me. >> Great. Uh no updates on my end so we can move briskly along. >> Believe we're up to warrants at this point.
>> Yes. So I have one warrant. uh for for you tonight. It is uh one it was signed uh March 30th, 2026. An amount totaling 1,246,279.77. >> Sure. It's 77 cents. >> Just want to make sure. >> Yep. >> We're on a tight ship around here. Uh
great. Thank you very much. >> Comments from the town manager. >> I will keep it brief. Uh but I just want to announce a >> couple of save the dates to start. Um, the select board will be meeting next on April 13th, which is outside of your
normal schedule to finalize the town meeting warrant. Uh, the town meeting will take place on May 11th at the high school beginning at 700 p.m. Please arrive a few minutes early to allow time for check-in. The annual town election will take place on May 19th. Voting also
takes place at the high school. among offices up for election. It is also expected that the DPW project will also be on the ballot. The DPW project will also be discussed in depth at the April 13th select board meeting. Stay tuned for other public engagement opportunities on this topic and for an
upcoming HCAT feature on the conditions of the existing buildings. As a reminder, the deadline to register to vote for town meeting in the annual town election is May 1st at 5:00 p.m. For questions about the DBW project, please feel free to contact the town manager's
office. And for more information on voter registration, please contact the town clerk's office. Uh, as announced at the last select board meeting, a number of town staff and volunteers are pleased to announce Hollison's first annual Hollison History Day, which this year will take place at Blair Square on the afternoon of May 2nd. This year's focus
will be on the history of the railway in Hollist and the evolution of the rail trail as we know it. So far, we have two businesses in town that will be offering special promotions that day at their locations and representatives from the town will also be on hand to on hand to inform residents about the upcoming town
meeting and opportunities to volunteer in local government. If you are a small business owner interested in participating in the day's events, please contact the town manager's office. Uh before ending, I just want to give a special shout out to Donna Muzzy, who we all know actually runs the town
of Hollist. Last week celebrated her 24th year working for the town of Hollist. Many thanks to Donna and all that she does for the town. >> Remarkable. >> That is the town manager update for April the 6th. As stated previously, the select board will meet next on April 13th at 7 p.m. to finalize the town
meeting warrant and learn more about the DPW project. >> Tina, any questions for town manager? >> Not at all. Thank you. Mhm. >> I have one brief followup, but maybe it's better for the clerk, but um believe the signing up for various elections at this point is closed. >> It's closed. >> Uh as far as you're aware, are there any
positions for which we um we do not have enough candidates to fill full slates? >> To my knowledge, there are uh there is a vac there are two people running for there. Sorry, there is one person
running for two finance committee positions and >> although we may be expecting a writing candidate potentially there. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> And uh there was one more >> uh that was the housing I'm sorry it was the housing authority. The housing
authority we we also had a um one person running for re-election did not get their papers back. >> All right. Excellent. Thank you for the update on that. I appreciate it. Uh and then uh moving along to approval of one-day liquor licenses. Uh for the clerk, I think we have to handle each of these individually or >> they're called out separately. Is that
how you'd like to do it? No consent agenda for this. >> Uh I was advised by Donna Muzzy that we cannot do that. So >> All right. Well, uh I think you're okay to just say >> as presented. >> As presented. >> Okay. Move to approve each of the four one-day liquor licenses. Bonfett, beer
and wine liquor. Uh sorry, each of the three. Bonfett, beer and wine liquor, and beer and uh excuse me, Bonfett is one, Lions Club is the second, and the Lions Club is the third. So, a motion to approve all three as presented.
>> Uh seconded. Let's take a vote. >> Yes. >> Yes. So, passed. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Uh moving on to board business. It is a consent agenda. Madam clerk, >> move to approve the consent agenda as presented this evening. >> Seconded.
Let's take the vote. >> Uh yes. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. >> All right. So, done. Uh moving on to other business. >> Two real quick things. My uh comment that Ben will now miss but here later uh is that I I genuinely and uh generously
appreciate his comments earlier when we had the school committee at the table. Uh and he was asking them to engage with the select board particularly on the capital expenditure requests. Uh I think that's exactly the where the deliberation should uh be uh that the
select board uh manages and presents the warrant and so again the select board table between the the school committee and the select board is where that deliberation is best served in my opinion. So I appreciated him calling on that. Um this the finance committee serves as an advisory role when the
select board has presented the warrant with the deliberation that we've done on it. So I I thought it was a really appropriate and good grounding comment and I think it was appreciated by those that received it. So I see that as moving the conversation in a productive way. Again, glad that Ben made that comment for the benefit of everybody.
Second thing, completely unrelated, ribbon cutting for Goodwill Park. So when Bobby Blair shared the procession from Goodwill Park where the game's going to be played down into into my neighborhood in Mudville, I thought, uh, when are we doing the ribbon cutting and is this an opportunity? So, I just put
that on the radar uh to be thinking about how to coordinate with parks and wreck if they're interested on a ribbon cutting event. I heard May 16th for that baseball game uh which will come up super fast and in the middle of I don't know town meeting and town election, but u maybe there's some interest there in
doing something. >> I think they are planning a ribbon cutting of sorts. I'm not exactly sure on the date. >> Okay. >> Um but I will double check with Mark Frank. >> Okay. Maybe let him know that there's a game happening that day. Yes. Okay. All right. Thank you. That's all I had. Thank you. Thank you. Um, mine is related and also similarly brief. I I
also want to recapitulate that I think Ben has been doing an excellent job opening up the conversations in the appropriate ways, especially considering that we are really engaging very quickly in a a fiscally tense situation as so many more questions about finance will start hitting us. The answer is to have many more open conversations to make
sure there's a lot of daylight. Uh, something that I think as a project is is something we should all be engaging in. So hopefully we can continue that and I will encourage personally, privately and and publicly uh members of all the committees to engage in a much more robust conversation openly. I think
in public light is always the best way to go. There's going to be a lot of conversations, potential misunderstandings. Being very open about our points of view, um but also being a bit humble about what we know and don't know is probably the right step forward. So that's all I'll say. >> That's it for other business. Uh I think
I'll accept a motion. So move to close at 9:45. >> Seconded. All in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. Good night, Hollist.