Good evening, Holliston. Uh, welcome to the February 9th uh, select board meeting. We're going to get things started with some um, exciting introductions. Uh, we have the, uh, new center director, uh, an old friend, uh,
Cynthia Bnik. If you want to come on up, Sure. >> join us at the table. We also have Cheryl here who's now officially our uh assistant town manager. So >> Cynthia, welcome. Congratulations. It's
so exciting to see you here. >> Yes. >> Um and um just uh give you a moment to just sort of uh if people don't know who you are to introduce yourself and then uh tell us a little bit about like uh >> what's going on over there and anything you want to share with us and then we
might have a couple questions and uh go. >> Um I'm Cynthia Levnik. I've lived in town about 16 years now. Um I was on the school committee for a good 10 years and uh started as the outreach coordinator at the center in 2023 in November 2023
and then just recently was promoted to the director and I'm very excited to get started with a lot of got a lot of plans uh going forward but the primary focus right now is getting ourselves to full staff because we've been short staffed for six months now. So, it's only been
like two and a half professional staff members plus drivers for >> the last six months. And we've tried to maintain services exactly as it's been kind of status quo the whole time. So, um it's just a lot of like, you know, ducks on a pond with our feet just like
kicking furiously underneath us. So, and keeping calm on the surface. So, um yeah. So, we're we're excited. I'm hoping to we I met with Cheryl today. talked about um revising a outreach position hopefully posting soon so we
can get ourselves to full staff. Um this will be the first time that I'm doing a budget. So that'll be interesting. I'm very used to like the school committee format which is very different and I'm sure you're not going to give me 40 plus million dollars either. So that that'll be different for me. Um right now we're
working on obviously budget and looking for staffing but um developing our partnerships with our uh community partners. Uh we just started getting uh spoonfuls which is a food recovery program that's local that gets local from local businesses and brings that to
us on a weekly basis. We just started that about four weeks ago and uh it's been great. I think it's been a really great response from the community. They're really happy to have those additional food support, especially now when a lot of benefits are being cut. Um, SNAP benefits in particular are being cut. And I think this is helping
to fill some of that gap. Not all of it, but at least it's just one more piece of the puzzle along with our partners at the Hollist Food Pantry. Um, we have a new lunch program that we are doing with KEFET. So, our culinary department from KE is going to be coming monthly.
Unfortunately, were supposed to start in January um to come on Tuesday, but we had the snowstorm and they were closed. So, we'll be hoping to welcome them in February. Uh we're starting a new aquatics class partnership with the Willows, which is assisted living
facility in Medway that has a phenomenal um pool for aquatics that is um No, it's like a new It's like a what's the entry? It's like a wheelchair accessible entry, so you don't have to like walk into it. Yeah. Thank you. Ramp access. And um so
we're starting that in March, which is very exciting. I'm continuing the work with our health and safety response team to support our residents um without within the other departments and um planning a open house that we're hoping to to do with a lot of our other
community partners and other departments as well. Hopefully probably in the fall at this point. So that's some stuff that we're working on right now. Just a little little busy. >> Little busy. Yeah. >> Oh, that's awesome. I was actually going to say, "What are your priorities?" But it sounds like you >> Well, I just thought I'd throw them all
out there. There's more, but I I'm going to try to keep it brief. >> You can have time here. Um, I think the one question I'll I'll preempt everybody with is just, >> you know, what can we do to support you? Are there any things that uh this board can do to help you in any way?
>> I I mean, the budget's coming up, so I think that we'll I haven't, like I said, I haven't done one before, so I'll have to see how that goes. that I'm >> hoping to get support for our budget for the staff that we're looking for. >> Okay. >> And for whatever the >> Yeah. I mean, I don't know the uh the
select I'm sorry, the um council on aging board when we did the architectural study didn't look to want to support a new exist newer building for that site, but are interested in looking at partnering with the town around at some point a community center.
So, I think you can see some advocacy on that. Yeah. um as you know, but we have other things that are we're focusing on right now as a town, but I think that we want to get ourselves in the pipeline for that. Absolutely. As part of um a building committee that I'm sure will be formed at some point. >> So, just
>> that's very long term. I know. But >> we have lots of we have lots of buildings. >> Yes, I know. I know. But I feel like that's part of our, you know, future planning, right? So, >> no, that's No, it's it's great. Um uh open it up to the board. Tina, you have any comments, thoughts? >> Just two things. Welcome and congratulations. I'm thrilled that you're in the role that you're in.
You're going to do a wonderful job there. You're a wonderful person and I know you care deeply about the people in the town of Hollist from from the little ones that you started with in school committee all the way up to the seniors. So I I am thrilled that you're in the role that you're in. Two things I was just checking liaison assignments. I am
actually the select board liaison for the council on aging. Um, so we will connect because I would like to learn >> how you're approaching the budget this year and also understand how um the dwindling of ARPA dollars, right? Like they all need to be expended. Yes. Um, the end of this year if there's any
impact on your budget. So we'll we'll sit and have a chat hopefully. >> Transportation would be a big one. That's what I would say. >> Um, so that's one thing. And then the other thing I would just say like in the coming weeks, months, would love to sit down and chat with you as well. We're going to look at a ebike policy for the town of Hollist that will bring some
changes. But I think that's the best thing is that we >> address education and we know our seniors are riding >> um ebikes um rightly so. Uh and so there's potential for uh opportunity for education >> um for ebike safety with our seniors
that I think we should explore regardless but certainly as a complement to an ebike policy in the town. So those are just two things off the top of my list and again welcome. >> Great. Thank you. >> Yeah, thank you to you. Uh David, >> congratulations. uh you mentioned and alluded to some of the staffing concerns. What are kind of your top
priorities there in the >> short to get someone in to replace my former position as an outreach coordinator and outreach social worker is what I'm looking for. And then I think we could use some more programmatic staff support and navigation support. So I feel like as as
someone who was in that role previously, I can see that the needs are greater than I think what that current job description had listed in terms of housing needs, financial needs, mental health support needs, uh caregiver support needs, um Alzheimer's and
cognitive challenges, um supports and programming. So I think that we could use more support on that specifically. And then we actually uh just submitted a request to Sue Stone at the Hollison High School for a social media um and
marketing intern. So we're hoping that we'll get some some support there. And then Cheryl and I had mentioned or Shel had mentioned earlier talking about um the senior right work off program that we're hoping to you know just you know maximize what we can get from what we
already have as existing structures but we know we also need some other programming support as well. So >> delighted to hear it sounds like you're already leaping in with strategic comportments. So I'm excited. >> Great. Thank you. And just to jump off a little bit on what Cynthia just mentioned because her and I had talked a little bit about this previously um and
Cheryl and I um this is one thing that I know Cheryl's going to leap right into is really making sure that the seniors in town are aware of the opportunity with the senior tax workoff program historically. It hasn't been >> just frankly it really hasn't been utilized. >> Um I think right now we have
>> one. Um, so I think we want to make sure that that is a resource that's available to uh we want to make sure that people know it's a resource that is available to them. Um, and so I think uh Cheryl Cheryl and Cynthia I think we'll be working working a lot on that in the in the coming months. >> Okay.
>> And I know um I know Kevin uh Kevin Rudden our assessor goes to the center frequently to uh questions talk about uh programs and things like that as they come up because I know a lot of people have questions about the the taxes. Everybody's
>> um I'm sure Kevin will be a partner in that effort too about the tax workoff program as well. >> Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. >> Um well, welcome. >> Thank you. >> Wonderful to see you. We're so glad that you're uh you're here and uh getting getting up and running and uh you know, it sounds like you're going to sit down
with Tina at some point and >> I'm excited. Great. >> But if uh any of us can do anything to support you, help you in any way, you know, don't hesitate to reach out and call her and >> I appreciate it >> and uh we'll be there. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. I brought a few things for you just to look at. >> Oh, very nice.
>> You know, it's show and tell. So, I don't know if you've heard of the Dolman's, >> the Dolman. If you haven't, you should read the little article that was in the Globe about our adult men. Yes. >> And this is just a current newsletter. And then just I don't know if you already saw her at a glance from the um calendar year. So, I just want to bring those things.
>> That's awesome. Thank you. Thanks. >> Thank you. Thank you so much, Cynthia. Have a wonderful So, we're kind of in a weird spot here because we got about 15 minutes before a watery hearing and I don't want to get us too deep into the because I think the DPW conversation
15 minutes. >> Would people be okay maybe if we do the school building committee. I think we could probably bang that out in 15 minutes or so. Um, >> so that way we can uh continue to move ahead and we're not uh wasting time here. So, all right. So, we're going to go a little out of order. We're going to go to the number
three at this time. We're going to look at the school building committee uh development discussion. you know, um I had uh you know, we uh proposed potentially um putting together a working group um and
having somebody from this board and then maybe uh several members from the school committee coming um and working with a group to just um put together, you know, a proposal for what the uh school building committee would consist of. um
and um potential charge. Um the one I had found as sort of a starting point was uh conquered had a middle school. I mean it's you know it's uh obviously we're not conquered but at the same time it's sort of a little place to start
some ideas and things like that on relationships and expectations of this particular group. Um and um so it wasn't necessarily like this is what we have to do. I mean, basically the conversation tonight, what I was um hoping for is just basically to talk about, you know,
does a working group make sense? Does those particular um topics for the for the working group Okay. The um MSBA has very particular roles that need to be filled, but it's not necessarily,
you know, we it can be we have a little bit of flexibility because some people can wear multiple hats because there's a lot of >> roles, right? And um if we every single role had a separate position, it would be a very large group and potentially
difficult to to manage. So interested to hear your thoughts from both of you if that makes sense. Obviously, we don't need to get into the details. I think basically what I want to sort of keep this as a high level is that the working group, what is the expectations of a working group and does a working group make sense for this exercise? I think,
you know, given everything else that's going on for everybody, it kind of makes sense to have a small group kind of get together and make a proposal to, uh, the select board and the school committee in that sense. So, um, you know, if you guys have any thoughts or objections or contributions, you know,
I'm all I'm all ears. >> Just a tactical one to begin with. So, um, you've been writing this radio a lot longer than I have. What do you think given all the hats that need to be worn but also the workability of different sized working groups? What do you think is kind of like an optimal number for something to move ahead but still have
redundancy? >> I mean I I would probably say like you know the the the group that I I I can point to is when we had Envisioning Future Hollston the original conception had 17 members and just getting a quorum was a challenge. >> Yes. >> So I would say I would probably say
seven to nine potentially but obviously you know what are other towns doing? what makes sense. So, just from where I sit, that's kind of where I would say, but you know, I I'd be interested to hear um what other people think. Um you know, I think that's part of the
exercise uh with a working group is to say, "Hey, we looked at a couple different things and, you know, we talked to a few different towns. We asked some questions and, you know, we heard this kind of worked well for us, so going forward." So that's kind of how I would it's where I sit. But >> yeah, >> you know, be you know, it's obviously a
long term >> instinct level. I'm I'm a fan of the two pizza team. So I think that's about right as well. Seven seven to nine people. >> Okay. >> Just just enough. >> What is a two pizza team? >> It's a a group that's large enough that and small enough that two pizzas can feed them if they're getting together. Okay. >> Uh it's kind of like just a a natural
deliminator of like how many people can be around a table before you start having to like negotiate too much for what's on the table >> or for what? For what slices of >> for the slices. Yeah. So I got yeah 7 to nine is about right. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Um any other thoughts here?
>> Um I think like so I think there's some questions that we'll probably want to go down in terms of like representation of different viewpoints. >> Well that but I think that's the working group. I think the working group would kind of say, "Hey, why don't you guys kind of go through it and, you know, I
would ask that, you know, Frank and David Jordan on the school side kind of all, >> you know, be part of that um that that conversation and being able to sort of see like what makes >> and then uh my follow-up question on that is kind of like for that working
group to start actually giving us feedback. What's your idealized timeline?" Um, what I was going to propose is that we have something that we could review by the end of March. >> Okay. >> Um, and I know that's a little bit aggressive. I think the intention >> is to have to try to have some kind of a
group that could potentially um make recommendations to town meeting if we do a feasibility study at that time. >> All right. >> So, being able to have that input, I think, would be would be valuable from where I sit. Um, and >> just going to back you up for a second. The working group would look to the
timeline would be establish a working group that comes back with recommendations to establish a school building committee in time for town. Not the working group. Got it. Okay. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Do you have any >> Yeah, I have a couple thoughts. I I definitely think the working group is a is a strong way to start the process.
Okay. >> Uh so I'm glad that that's still on the table. I would like to be a part of it for sure. >> Okay. >> Uh I think that um there's a lot to discuss. you uh Frank I think you shared a school building committee charge from another community you mentioned conquered
>> and then yeah okay thank you uh and then we have the template from the MSBA as well and I I I was really struck in going through it in some level of detail how the charge and who we have as members of the school committee school building committee uh can really represent some of the strengths in
Hollist which are going to be unique to Hollist and so I'd like to be a part of that conversation uh I think of like our public safety teams that we have that collaborate uh with the schools uh youth and family services. We have some very strong um supports around our schools.
>> Uh and that's I think fairly unique to Hollist >> um or at least a very special thing here in Hollist. So I'm really interested to see that represented in the school building committee charge and membership. But I don't think I'm alone in feeling that way. Um but I'd like to be a part of that conversation. I think
that the the conquered example pointed out how establishing clear lines of communication through the charge is important. Um I came away from reading it with a couple questions. Well, how did they actually do that in conquered? I'd like to be a part of something that is um establishing a charge that has
really clear expectations of who's doing what. Okay. >> Um and Sure. >> So, yeah. >> Okay. >> All on board with that. >> Okay. Um I know I have two members of the school committee here. Um, I don't want to put either one of them on the spot, but if either of them want to Oh,
Dan Rose, raised his hand. Dan, you wanna make a comment? You got to unmute yourself there, big guy. There we go. You just identify yourself and then uh what uh >> they had to they had to allow me, but I'll I'll um defer to the chair if she'd
like to uh speak first. >> Go ahead, Dan. >> She said go ahead. So, um I I think that this sounds great. Um just a just a couple um points. I mean, Ben, I think, you know, we we we definitely need the working group to
come up with a you know, the ballpark for the for the study. >> Yep. >> Uh before before town meeting. So, you the sooner the possible sooner the better. One thing reading through the conquered charge that was uh interesting is that didn't occur until after they
had approved the feasibility study. So I think we're kind of we're we we we might want to sort of be working on and it may be the same working group but there be two paths right there's the sort of the how are we working together going forward which is the more that that charge bit versus the the sprint to town
meeting right now to get the um the correct figure out what the correct request for for funding is >> well what I the so uh that's an interesting point and I think what we could um the way I would look at it is that the working group could make that as the recommend commendation. Hey, this
is what we want to do. And I I'm I'm okay with, you know, that kind of flexibility of like, hey, we don't have enough time, so we're going to make a recommendation here or we need to give us an extra two weeks or whatever we if that makes sense. Um to that point. Um and I'm I'm fine with doing that. I
mean, the expectation is I mean, we've we're putting an article on town meeting. I just wanted to see if this body has an opportunity to weigh in on that exercise. >> That's kind of what I'm looking for. >> Sorry. Go ahead. >> That's okay. Go ahead. >> No, I was going to just say, you know,
just keep in mind I think that since there a school building committee will not have been set up, um I I would want the school committee through first the budget subcommittee which I chair and then the full school committee to to weigh in on on the the amount of the request obviously using the work of the
working group. >> Um >> yeah. No, and you're >> that obviously takes time. >> Yes. And absolutely. I mean, you know, we want this to be as collaborative as possible. So we'd obviously we absolutely want to hear from uh from the school committee and whatever path that
follows if it comes from you if it comes from the toll committee. It doesn't you know that's up to you to you guys to to decide that. Of course we'd want to hear your recommendation and your um weigh in on this on this process as well. >> Yeah, that's great. And just so I mean you know Dr. Jordan has has worked y
>> uh you know we're trying hard to find comparable districts. you know, we now have like a key tech has a number that they're going forward with their feasibility study. There are a lot of numbers, but I think it's important to try to get it. You don't want to be too low because you don't want to have to ask for more money, but you also don't
want to be so high that you, you know, kind of leave a a significant amount of money sort of sitting there for a while or needing to be reallocated later. So, I just I want to make sure that, you know, he gets the support of uh you know, >> Yes, absolutely. And I
>> so um uh I didn't want to get too detailed right now in that because I think the working group can weigh those weigh that if that's what they want to do. what's the recommendation for a school building committee and along that line if the feasibility study we can just make sure that the working group has that as part of the charge to just
sort of look at the feasibility study and is the school building committee can we get them seated and working fast enough or does there need to be uh some other recommendation from the working group in in this capacity that's fine as far as I'm concerned
>> um yeah I would just say that I think you know personally you know my my prior prioration would you get the number figured out right and get everyone solid with that defend the for town meeting y >> and then work on the sort of the bigger plan which is I think you know the charge and and
>> which is very important I'm not minimizing that at all right but I'm looking at sort of what is the sort of the next the sprint over the next four to six weeks versus the uh you know marathon over the next two to three years and I think that that charge is going to be incredibly important and I think it's also part of the big process
too parts of it anyway okay >> for the next two to three years but How do we get to town meeting and how do we get that you know approval for for funding at town meeting I think is the immediate thing and >> okay >> that's why that's two different sort of path made by the same team at least two
different sort of work streams >> okay >> my two cents >> okay thank you s did you want to make any weigh in on anything >> no I think I guess >> if you if you you do have to come to the micro they won't be able to hear it's
okay we're more than welcome Um, no. I I think just trying to understand really how we're going to have the working group and then merge that into the the the school building committee or is it going
to stay two separate? >> Well, my my thought was with the with the conversation about the school building committee is the working group would look at and make a recommendation on what the school building committee should consist of. It might be the same people. It might be different. I don't I don't know. We'd have to be able to sort of look at what are the what are the
roles that need to be played that need to be filled and then make a recommendation on, you know, on on how to how to go that way. >> Okay. >> Um I mean, it is a long-term thing. So things can shift and change and things like that, but being able to have those conversations lightly because trying to
do it here is hard, >> you know, in public meetings with lots of people and things like that and inputs. um being able to have something that we can look at and um and evaluate I think is the real goal I I see from this to be
able to have something that we can evaluate and think about. Um >> that makes sense. >> And I don't have a problem to Dan's point if the working group wants to weigh in on the feasibility study or they say it's too much we need to go different that's fine. I don't have a you know you know we do want to try to
get it um forward for May and whatever track that needs to to follow is >> fine. >> Yeah. And I think we just want to make sure that there's support going into developing that feas >> absolutely >> so that we are as prepared as possible
and that the community understands where we're at for the feasibility study when we get to town meetings. completely and we can we can start to talk a little bit more maybe offline about a plan go forward if it's forums if it's >> office hours if it's other things >> going to the center
>> going to the center you know what you know I think there's a variety of things that we can do to try to to get there from from where we sit and from where you you are I think getting everybody together will be important so I I agree with you there >> okay >> great >> thank you >> um so um okay
>> that that's fine so um you both comfortable if we just sort of say to the working group that they can make a recommendation on the feasibility study at least as part of this like you know hey the school building committee can do this or you know kind of being part of that um charge we don't want to
overburden the the group here but we want to >> move so sorry I got distracted by reading something could you just state that first part am I okay with >> are we okay with making sure that the working group is looking at not only the school building committee but also the feasibility article and talking through
you know, does it go through a school building committee as the next step or do we want to have some separate recommendation? >> It's the right people in the room in terms of a working group for either purpose. Um certainly as a member of that working group, if that's where I end up being, I would be updating and reporting back to this board for
direction um that I would take. But as far as a conversation, those are the right people in the room. >> Absolutely. >> Fine with that. >> Yes. >> Okay, sounds good. All right. Um I don't think we really need a vote. So, I I'm gonna recommend Okay, Tina, you can
represent the board. Sure. I think you may have you may have pre Sorry, but not to cut you off. I think you may have previously voted to designate Tina >> as she's also the school, right? So, I think you're good. Yeah. No. >> Yeah. And I think what we just we say
like you know um we we've asked the schools like they can nominate or bring forward a couple people whoever they they'd like to see um as part of this conversation and then that group can find a time to get together and uh work out some of the details and report back
to the respective committees on next steps. >> Sounds good. >> Sounds good. Thank you, Ben. >> Great. Great. It's almost 7:30. Um, all right. Dan, does that sound good to you? >> Um, yes. So, if you decide who the
members of the committee are, sorry, the working group are >> Well, from usina, we're waiting for and and you folks in the school committee would decide on your side who you want to put on the working group, >> right? But then as far as Mr. Keith and Dr. Jordan and >> Yeah. And and I think they can. I mean,
I said, you know, certainly Frank and and David and if they want to bring in James, I think that's totally fine. >> Okay. So, you don't think you need to make an official vote? I just >> No, it's a working group. We're just trying to get a bunch of We're just trying to get people in a room to talk to each other. It's not the committee.
>> No, no, we're good. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> James, do you want to step forth and be kned? >> I think he's going to be anyway. Sorry. Email, I apologize.
>> So, all right. >> All right. Um, >> thank you very much. >> Thank Thank you, Dan. Thank you, Sarah. Appreciate your uh your input there. Um, we don't have any other uh updates. >> None. Just uh for for clarity sake, we I've been putting um uh the MSBA project
on our agenda, not because there's particular updates, but just so that we have a little space if something does come up because sometimes things can surface along the way that we have an opportunity to talk about it. >> Could I ask one question along those lines? >> Yes. >> Um so we may not have an update on the
initial compliance certification. >> We um I have been trying to track that down. I have not gotten it yet from from Okay. All right. Thank you. Mhm. >> All right. Great. All right. Well, it is 7:30. >> So, we're going to move ahead. I
appreciate everybody's time there both uh talking about that and flexibility here. >> So, we have a water rate hearing uh because it is now 7:30. So, could you uh read the notice and uh we'll take a a motion to open the hearing. Notice is hereby given that the select board will
hold a public hearing on Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. in the select board meeting room, room 105 at town hall 703 Washington Street, Hollston, Mass to determine the water rate for fiscal year 2027. Remote participation instructions were provided when the hearing was posted, which was
uh January 26 of 2026. Uh move to open the public hearing at 7:31. >> Seconded. >> All right. This was a roll call vote. Dina. >> Yes. Uh Damon. >> Yes. >> And I vote yes. So the hearing is now open. We have uh our
DPW director here. Mr. Reese is here. And we're going to talk we're going to talk through uh this. And so the way this usually works is that we talk through basically the budget for uh the water department
because that sets how much we need to raise. And then we go and we set the rates based on the um the budget. So why don't we start with >> actually have one request prior to the course to the budget is regarding the tiers. >> Yes. >> Uh so we're set up a ste a tier
structure, >> right? >> Um so a request has come to the water office from uh basically what we do for our multifamilies is we cap the tier 2 charge for four families only. So if they whatever their volume is, they're
capped at a tier two. We'd like to um offer that to offer that request to be moved to include three families as well. >> Okay. >> Uh so that there's 19 of those properties in the town of Hollist. So they the three families 19 of them. >> Okay.
>> Uh we give that multi-unit rate to uh 66 accounts currently. So we want to add the three families which is a total of 19 additional uh units. Okay. So they'd be capped at a tier 2 usage. >> Okay. Cap. >> Will we need a vote for that, Frank? >> I think you would make that um
>> as part of >> probably voted as part of the motion to approve the the >> rates for 27. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. Yeah, we can talk about that when we get to the rates, but thank you. >> Okay. I know we had one public comment that we'll have to read it. We can do that when we get to to that point.
>> So, um so if you want to kind of walk us through the budget >> budget or All right. Well, >> I can start with >> Let's see. >> Do you want me to start with the personal service the the um personal service and indirect personal services, Sean? Then we can get more into the operations.
>> Yeah, that's fine. Whatever. I mean, it's the same numbers we we spoke about the other day, right? Yeah. >> Yep. Fine with that. Basic. I mean, >> budget's bare bones. So, don't you not a whole lot of We don't have a whole lot of movement. We've had the benefit of some debt service reduction. Uh but
still even at the current rates we're just you know there's not a lot of not a lot of fluff there. >> Okay. >> Um and you know Frank will will speak to any specific line item yet. >> Okay. >> So for the personnel services excuse me yeah personal services um most of that
is dictated by the the conditions of our collective bargaining agreement with uh the DPW union. The only non-UN personnel are Shawn. 35% of or excuse me 65% of his salary is covered through the water enterprise >> and then we have our two administrative staff here at town hall. The rest is uh
determined by the the parameters of our our CBA contract. >> Okay. >> Indirect personal services. Um those would be like employee benefits, health insurance, pension costs, oped costs, those types of things. Um, these numbers are based on our initial uh, benefits
estimates for fiscal year 2027 while Chris finalizes the payroll allocations. Um, these built in this number here, the 349,000 builds in some wiggle room. So, we're, you know, we're confident going with with that number while Chris finalizes the the figure for fiscal year
27. >> Okay. >> Um, Ben, did you have a question on that? >> No. >> Oh, okay. Sorry. Um, for I I should also mention for the personal services, there is roughly $6,000 included in that total for the town engineer. In the original memo that was
approved last year, there was a 8020 split between the general fund and the water enterprise for the coverage of the salaries there. So, um, if you recall when I gave the budget update a month ago or last meeting, I forget, um, there was roughly a $23,000, uh, impact for
the fiscal year 27 budget for the town engineer. Okay. Another five or 6,000 will be felt in the water enterprise to cover for that um, expected impact for fiscal year 27. >> So, the salary is included in the projection here. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Correct. >> Well, the the portion >> that portion correct correct.
>> All right. for uh for purchase services. Um you'll see an increase of uh about 65,000. In reviewing the town's uh liability insurance coverage, roughly 15% of the
uh assets that we have insured through Maya are actually um part of the water enterprise, their equipment, their plants, their automobiles, all that types of stuff. Um, so what I'm proposing is shifting that from that cost from the general fund to the water enterprise. Um, and so that's why you'd
see a a steep increase, not a steep increase, but you will see an increase on the purchase services line item for um, for fiscal year 27. >> Can you um, refresh my memory though? Like we went from 677 to 617. Am I reading that right?
>> We make that a little tiny. >> We did. So, I'm just trying to understand like that reduction, that $60,000 reduction. I mean, >> so I think the difference I don't know why, but the the for the the 25 is an actual number and the 26 number is a
budget. Got it. >> So, it could have been that we had an overage in in something >> 25 and had to deal with it in the budget. >> 25 we had the was not a drought year where we had a lot of overtime over the summer. >> But that would be applied to different line. I mean yeah we again we
I think the overall number for the water budget has decreased just because of the debt services. So >> I know >> you know and we continue to kind of not escalate each line and particularly purchase services. >> I'm not saying I want I'm not realistic but we're it's
>> I'm I have reduced those particular lineup. So at the one year we'll es we've we've again we've had the flexibility maybe we'll raise it one year and decrease it another year. It could have been due to excess chemical one year when we were ran >> 24 hours a day. >> I I totally trust you, Sean. I know I know you know exactly what you're doing.
I'm not This is This is me just kind of trying to understand the uh the fluctuations. >> We have dips and dives. Yeah. >> Okay. Because it's just sometimes it's could be just it's cost of >> purchasing materials. Is that what I'm understanding? >> Yeah. It'd be purchaser. So that is a
it's a bunch of stuff but any chemicals uh yeah like labs is professional service in there. Um Okay. >> I I just was wondering if there was like a particular thing like we had like this year we had to like do uh excess testing and the following year we didn't that that's the kind of ball I'm trying to get. Sean, you and I I know we're under
we're under the fixed contract for uh in terms of the the price of our electricity, but electricity is another one I think that we've >> that we've talked about as well, right? >> Well, yeah. Regardless of the fixed price, um electricity usage can fluctuate as well. So anytime we run
additional I mean those are 480 volt everything goes up the cost >> you know if you're running plants more the cost to run them goes up more so that electricity is always a large item >> that's all that's always that's always a part of it I get I got >> um any questions on purchase services or
supplies and materials those are obviously the meat of the meat of the budget >> anybody from >> no >> uh intergovernmental that is just the cost of filing a report with the EP correct Sean? >> Yeah, they base our That's our right to
pump water. >> Yes. >> So, we need that. >> Yeah. >> Based on our gallons they charge of fees. >> Was it a million? Is it a million a day? Is that what I >> uh is 1.3 is our withdrawal permit per day, I believe. Um yeah, it's a percentage of that. That's how they
determine the that fee. So, it's typically anywhere from 35 to 4,000. So, it's maintain that level. Gotcha. Uh jumping down to um to the debt service, as Sean mentioned, there's a a pretty sizable um reduction this year
just based on the the debt schedule. Um so I think if I'm going to scooch back up to the the top here where we review the uh uh proposed actual proposed rates for next year. Mhm. >> So, uh, at this point last year, um, we
were projecting a 2.5% increase for both fiscal 26 and then looking ahead to fiscal year 27. >> Uh, Sean and I are, uh, still good with that, sticking with the sticking with the schedule. However, um, last year's model didn't anticipate some capital
needs that have come up in the interim. Uh so you'll see that the um the total capital request for the water enterprise for fiscal year 27 is going to be about 345,000. 45,000 of that is a vehicle and another $300,000 is uh to appropriate or excuse
me to replenish a previously appropriated article that was used to um make various upgrades at our different plants uh excuse me water treatment plants. Um and so uh you'll see in in fiscal year 28 we also have $100,000 that is for another vehicle. And so in
order to accommodate um those requests and to keep the rates at a 2 and a.5% increase, we're recommending that the uh water infrastructure fee for fiscal year 27. um we we continue with the practice for fiscal year 25 and fiscal year 26 to
allocate $20 of the $75 enterprise fee to the sort of general water revenue bucket. Um and so we do that for one more year just to get over this hump and then beginning in 28 we'll go back to the $75 going fully to the
infrastructure account. Now, if you look down at the infrastructure line item, you'll see that uh even with the $2 million withdrawal that we made in October, even with continuing the practice of allocating the $20 of uh infrastructure
fee to the the general water revenues, >> um we're still maintaining and project to maintain a very healthy balance. Uh you'll see in fiscal year 28 we have a placeholder for a mil a $3 million withdrawal for a potential capital project. Um nothing set in stone just
yet, but again just to show that um even with the $3 million withdrawal, we'll still we'll still keep a a healthy balance in that account um should another major capital need arise. Um so Sean and I um put that placehold in there for 28 and another one in 2030,
excuse me, just to show that there is capacity in there. Is that is that lumpy on purpose instead of dragging a little bit each year? Kind of like pulses. >> Yeah. Well, I think and Sean, I don't want you Sean, you're the expert, but I think one issue you would run in with you having one every year is like half the town would be,
you know, our town would basically turn into the big dig where every road would be open. So if you look at Norfolk Street right now and then the potential for maybe Central Street in the future, um in October we allocated money for the stretch of Washington from I guess from
was it winter to Baker? >> Yeah. >> Winter to Baker Street. >> Um so just um >> I I just I I just want to elaborate on one thing. So it's an an account. So when the state looks at I mean again when the state looks at the the money all the water it's one pool. Okay. Okay.
The way we're dividing it is we have the retained earnings, we have the infrastructure fee. It's still the same money, but it's just accounted for differently. So, we're still I'm still allowed to use retained earnings for infrastructure replacement. It's just accounted for a little bit differently. It allows us, I guess, easier usage of
the money. >> Yeah. >> But it's still it's not like it's going towards something else. It's all within the water department within the within the same >> um department utilized the same. When the Department of Revenue certifies our retained earnings, they're not
certifying this is your infrastructure account, this is your meter fee account. They're saying, "Okay, you got all this money you have. This is your leftover money. Here's your retained earnings for all water." But internally, we track it a little bit differently. >> Can I ask a question? >> Of course. >> Uh just tracking here. So, the the Norfork project in terms of water main
replacements funded through this fund account is on target moving forward. No course correction? No, we've had it's pretty much near completion. It's all It's all set. All done. Okay. We are also >> the water aspect of it, not correct. Yeah, the water portion.
>> Uh then looking ahead to Central Street because I feel like this is a commitment this board's made. So, it's it's a good time to check back in for Central Street and >> you have the Washington Street intersection is >> is an immediate response. We funded for that last town meeting. >> I was going to say
>> Central Street. We've we've got um a portion of that used on a yard on Northfor Street. So, we've done some um we've done minimal work as far as uh field work in Central Street. So, that'll be a dis, you know, a discussion
that we have at some point to generate revenue to do uh your direct which would be central street water mains and then if we're going to follow that with sidewalk drainage kind of similar to Northrook Street. So, in terms of the projecting that we're seeing up here, that's not changing any of the planning for Central Street Water main project.
Perfect. That's why I want to check in. >> And I think and I don't know this to be sure, but Conquered Street may have or excuse me, um, Winter Street may or gosh, Washington Street from Winter to Baker may have jumped the line a little bit just because we had a lot of issues in our corner of town. >> Yeah.
>> Right. But it certainly doesn't mean it delayed any type of work on street. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. So, that that explains the uh infrastructure fee. How are we doing on um because we went to the meter fee, everybody's favorite um the uh progress.
>> You're near 90% completion on that. I think actually I would say over 90. We have about 15 homes left. Okay. >> Of which I'm just >> just they failed to respond to our letters. So, we're sending where trying to reach we're still trying to reach them. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Um but we're near completion on that.
>> Okay. So that's the software component. So we no longer estimate the readings. So the customers don't have to estimate readings. Um it certainly tightens up our unaccounted for water. Yeah. >> So we're no because we're no longer estimating usage and it actually um
brings us allows us to basically forecast our revenue better. So we we're actually getting actual dollar amount from our customers opposed to kind of like a random like >> we're estimating you and if you you know you go down we press the read the meter then we can give you an actual reading. So >> we have a tremendous amount of
abatements from that. Um >> and we certainly work with residents but it's a great thing. It's it's >> yeah it'll be it'll be good >> almost 100% complete. >> So so then I guess the next question is I know the answer but I'm going to ask it anyway because we're here. So if we're still collecting the fee
>> Mhm. >> the expectation is like we're doing we're going to go through a similar exercise like every 10 years or so. >> Well yeah you would want to right it's important to maintain that fee. Um >> right again only $8. It takes so long to build up any sort of substantial usable
amount. But even at that we then your next component will be a replacement of like actual water meters. Um and how we'll start that or we start that with larger compound meters. how you know but it's exactly that's what that will be utilized for and it's important for the
town to maintain this software um we got a little bit far behind and this however was selected was a whatever choice was made you know low bit or whatever it the company sold so it was kind of went in the bucket and uh >> okay
>> hope we have a really good product here >> okay >> in relation to that we'll be rolling out where as a user or a customer you'll be able to actually go online see your real time usage um and a lot of effective fun tools for the residents. So, it's okay. You should enjoy that if you like to
watch your water >> like numbers like data >> and Okay. So, you're saying too that we're we're going to be replacing the the physical meters. Is that what >> that's probably your next realistic goal? >> You know, again, those are those are multi-million
dollar projects. So, you don't nothing's rolled out overnight. Uh certainly you're going to need to substantiate that in conjunction with the meter fee, you know, and some other money, but we're not we're not there right now. So, >> okay. So, then we're we're building up the fee. You're building up the fee
slowly and then in a couple years we'll um we'll be doing another one of we'll >> do part whatever it is, right? That you know, like any software doesn't last forever, you know. >> Okay. >> If we get 10 15 20 years out of it, you know, but 10 years comes by like that. That's
>> especially when you're trying to >> get a balance that's uh sufficient to be able to replace it, >> right? >> Understood. Okay. Um Okay. Uh any questions from the board on the uh the revenue side of >> Nope. Just Frank, if you could scroll up
so we can see the bottom line. >> Oh, yep. So, with all of that um down down back to the operating budget. >> Thank you. So we'd have a small operating surplus of $40,000 based on the projections
which we're basically using fiscal 25 user data to update our projections for 26 which we're then using to project for 27. So there's a lot of assumptions in there. Um we have to >> but again yeah there there's no better way. Um, okay.
>> And, uh, again, any any overage would then flow to retain earnings that we could then use for capital or similar purposes. Um, and any uh underperformance would then just be a hit to our retained earnings balances. >> And that projected there for 27 has a 2.5% correct that we're looking to do
tonight. >> Okay. >> Yes, that's projected at the 30. >> That'll be that'll be the last question will be will be that. Does anybody anybody have any other questions about the revenue or the budget or the water park? >> No. >> Okay. So then the last question is the
recommendation for the tiers, the fees, the uh the charges. >> Yep. So >> we're recommending two and a half% across all tiers. Okay. >> Um we are recommending again to continue the practice of for the third year and final year of allocating $20 of the
infrastructure fee. >> Okay. to the general water revenues account um and to um uh for the three the for the uh is it the three the three family homes Sean?
>> Right. So we'll cap three family properties at a tier two usage. >> Okay. >> Maintain the meter fee at $8. >> Do you have like a quick like what what that looks like for like here's tier one, here's tier two. >> Oh yeah. Uh
So, you're gonna have to zoom in, right? So, I uh like tier one, it's like maybe just about 15 cents. Tier two, it's a 22 cent increase. I don't have a calculator. I'm just trying to
>> Oh, I'm sorry. I don't know. Why is this not here? I can get I can just pull it. I can uh do it quickly. Sorry. Okay. Well, they pull it down if you're going to be doing that. We can uh ask uh
have a couple questions. Um okay. So, uh so we're talking about uh central uh central street is the next project and there's some other just like regular um routine >> infrastructure projects with plants too. >> Well, the infrastructure will be the
Washington street conquer street intersections. I mean basically that section of water main replacement right >> um followed by that you're directed will be central street now what segments of central street if it's a portion if we phase out if it's the whole thing I mean
central street's a >> long road >> um those are discussions we'll have where you want the sidewalks to start where you want them to terminate all that stuff is >> will be yeah part of the conversation okay um we'll request
two articles in May. Uh one is for a vehicle. The other one will be to add on to an existing article we have which is I think it's called well four well six treatment plant improvements. That money is used to um outside the operating budget for larger expenditures such as
like vessel replacement or or vessel painting or if we need to replace media um things that the operating budget just cannot sustain, >> right? um it'd be too much replacing uh controls. The stuff is so expensive, so
critical to operation, right? >> Uh that without that money already set aside, you could >> and I know stop production. >> Some of those things I remember when we would put wall number five, we had uh we had to wait for a while because there were some parts that we were having trouble sourcing. I think they were >> Yeah, that that stuff is always
>> I don't think it's as bad as it is now. These guys will probably tell you it's you know everything goes but yeah it's it's not I mean just everything is is super expensive out there. >> Okay. >> Um >> okay >> the other thing I just want to make you aware of is
>> um so so POS we have we have we received some funding for POS. Okay. So with that money I'm going to say it's slightly over 500,000 whatever somewhere around that B maybe 700. We pretty much utilize all that money already. Okay. So, we're starting our pilot study program. Okay.
>> Um which will determine the type of filtration that we're going to need at these at these plants to remediate that. That's a that's going to be a real cost to the town down the road. Okay. I mean, >> so it's millions of dollars to to do these things. So, you get into
discussion at what cost? What cost do do people's really right what like that's today what's tomorrow? So, Again, those are going to be real substantial issues that the town's going to have to uh we're going to have to make decisions on on whether it's going
to be SRF type of thing or how we're going to pay for these retrofitting of these plants. a sort of >> stable >> stable revolving fund from like we built the treatment plant at well five we use that utilize that source but again that that's our debt s so we increase debt you know
>> just those are things you have to deal with as every community is so >> okay >> you know I don't maybe we'll get another $10 million of settlements but I maybe we won't get any you don't you don't nobody lets us know >> we might have to make some uh >> but we're in the we're in the process of evaluating
we're evaluating um what we're going to need to do to remove it and meet the standards. We're in compliance now. >> Yep. >> Um and we're on track to maintain compliance, but there'll be real numbers that come down the road to us and um things that we're going to have to
address just >> when when do you think we might have answers about those? >> The pilot test takes months to do. Uh sometimes can take over a year. So, it's a large window there to get um to get this stuff in place. Okay, got it. Okay.
Uh, and it looks like Frank's got the uh the rate structure that we're talking about here. So, you'll know uh actually, sorry, I have 26 is up here. Excuse me. Um, so you know, the the there's obviously the 2 and a half% increase. Uh, but there's also um for the first
asterisk uh I've updated the um >> Okay. >> four family plus to three family plus for fiscal year 27. as that that's potential for the for that. And then the uh residential accounts are the ones who pay for the uh 4,800 plus cubic feet.
>> Okay. >> Okay. Any uh any questions about the uh the rates here? >> We have public comment. >> Yeah, we haven't got public comment yet. I'm wondering if if uh you or Dave have a question at this quick one, you want to go ahead? >> I have no questions. Thank you. >> Okay. on the 2.5% rate increase. I I
actually really appreciate the conservative stance there and trying to make sure that we are projecting an increase that's reasonable. Um in your discussions, did you ever come up against scenario planning where you thought that 2.5% would not be enough?
Well, um, initially yes, because we were looking at greater than greater than anticipated capital needs, but I think given that we are we used the in for the past few years, we've used the allocation of the infra infrastructure fee to offset sort
of an anticipated spike in water rates. Um, I think we were comfortable >> going with that going >> pretty high degree of confidence. >> Yes. The only other thing um about water rates and just from from prior experience is the weather. Like you never know what
people could start using way more water. They could start using way less water because it rains every day during the summer. We already have the water restrictions in place during the summer. But you know, you can still alter behavior of of a homeowner based on, you know, things that are outside of our control. Um but unfortunately or
fortunately I suppose um >> you know we're not really in a in a position to guess what the weather's going to be. >> It's totally totally fine. I just I just wanted to note it fuel operationally conservative. I want to make sure Yeah. Okay. >> But it's also I think it also leaves a little bit of space too because the debt service is reduced. So it gives us a
little >> Yeah. Yeah. So right we're not to we're not looking to gouge anybody. So it's a minimum standard >> you know to maintain >> you know operations. Yes. uh what the our residents or customers expect. We have the retained earnings which is the
buffer or fallback if you know if needed money outside of the operating budget and which we do this board allows us to you know we go in there and we we kind of predict our projects and our needs and we operate from there. Yeah. But we're certainly on the conservative side but >> yeah you know as we maintain the
projections think we'll be in good shape. >> Yeah wood. And Sean, we're grateful for all the work that you do. And I think you have you have a tough job because when you're doing things right, >> people don't notice. When something goes wrong, it's like, what's going on? But I I have to say that, you know, we really
appreciate all the hard work that you put in and your team. >> Um, >> no, we have great team. So, we have we have we have good team and we have good town support. So, that's what helps. >> But but, uh, yes. But, um, so, all right. So, now we're going to get to public comment. I'm going to ask for uh Zoom comment and then we can get to to
read the uh the the email. So, at this time in the public hearing, this is an opportunity for if residents have questions or comments, they can ask a question. It's uh we're only talking about the water rate hearing. This isn't general public comment at this time, but
if you have any questions uh for uh the select board, comments for the select board or for the DPW director um or the town manager about this uh what we've just been talking about with the uh water rates and the water budget, you
know, this is a good opportunity to do so. If you want to just uh raise your hand under the reaction button, I see someone coming on. It sounds like it looks like you might want to ask a question. Um, and uh if you could just uh raise your hand or Okay, there we go. And uh if you could just unmute yourself
and if you could just give us your name and address and you can give us your question or comments. >> Um thank you. Uh my name is Mark Namoth. I'm uh at 178 Dalton Road here in Hollist. Uh my question relates to the
um adjustment charges between the the actuals versus the estimated for uh for residents. I didn't know if this was the appropriate time to ask a question about that or if later in general comment would be appropriate. >> You could certainly ask the question now and we can do our best to answer it.
There might be something, you know, if there's any followup, we could certainly get back to you. But um you're welcome to ask it now if it's about the water about water rates. Uh so my question relates to uh charges where the um the estimates that were
provided by the water department and paid um over the last in this case 5 years uh differ significantly uh below what the new water meter is now
saying. And um in in my case that is uh I received a bill for thousands of dollars. And it appears that this bill uh goes back 5 years uh in in adjustments
between estimates and and actuals. And my understanding is that under our water rules and regulations section 1.12 uh that adjustment bills like that are actually limited to one year. Um and
wanted to ask if that was uh you know if that was taken into account for for such buildings. I might be a one-off but wanted to ask. >> Yeah. So, so with that in your case, the actual usage
the actual usage now justifies the bill. Um, but we can we would just basically have you contact the water office because I can't I I believe your name rings a bell. So, we can we would abate the we would bait a large percentage of your bill. So, again, we're trying to
work with the customers. We realize that that the bills have been estimated uh and then you call them with a real bill. Now, there's a difference between the actual usage and our our estimate. Um, so we try to work with you on that. The rules and regs do say we only can go back a certain year, uh, that finite
number and we try to stick with that and work with you best we can. U, but certainly, uh, when I reviewed that section of the rules and regs, I'll I'll strike it out there. I mean, we don't >> So, it sounds like >> hasn't happened before. You've been talking to the uh the department, the
water department about this uh this concern. >> Yes, I I sent a letter several days ago. I'm sure they'll get back to me. I just saw that there was a public hearing this evening and and wanted to come and ask as well. >> Okay. >> So, and >> I appreciate you working with me and and
I'll look forward to to hearing from you, sir. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yes. So, again, anybody that's written in, we've >> drastically >> you're you're working you're working with customers and we because we recognize that this this is a uh there's a discrepancy here and we're trying to
uh uh get get it right moving forward without making it to making it punitive in in the process. Um so, um I appreciate your question. Um we'll they'll uh the water department, I'm sure, will look at it. We'll get the letter and we'll get >> We have we've already So, they they have
it and they'll be getting back to um in the coming days to try to work out a a solution with that uh you're comfortable with. >> Wonderful. Thank you very much. Thanks everybody for your service. >> Thank you. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your question. Does anyone
else uh have a question uh regarding the water rates this evening? You can raise your hand under the reaction button. Don't all jump at once. >> Okay. Um I'll go back one more time
after this. I know we have one letter that was sent to us. If we could just read um the uh the public comment that was uh given to us. >> This public comment was received from Janice Miller, 208 Winthrop Street. Um, my question is whether the select board
and water department have considered offering a discount for residents who could serve their water use to half the top of the tier 1 levels, 750 cubic feet per quarter. As the town's water resources are limited and water bands are in effect as early as the spring,
offering a discount incentive for those who can effectively reduce their water usage to a minimum would serve to conserve our precious water resources. Thank you so much for considering such an initiative. Again, Janice Miller, 208 Winthre Street, received by email. I'll
just point out email is a great way to get public comment to the board and we will always include it in our meetings. We do >> I would say to that uh it's great to conserve. Our tier structure is your method of conservation. So, we set the rates lowest we possibly can to generate revenue. The water department is an enterprise account. So, we function not
off of your the tax off the revenue that we're generated by selling actual water. So, the tiers are set at a minimum um which is the 1500 gallons. I don't think going any lower would would do it if you I mean you can always save money
by not using water I guess but I wouldn't be in favor of uh offering an additional >> basically an additional right tier 1A or something but >> yeah and and it's such a critical infrastructure for the community. >> It's still your cheapest utility by far.
>> Yeah. And it's but it has so many it has public safety options and it's just it's such an important part of our uh our community. We just we have not explored doing something like that. Um and I think uh the you know we do have an obligation to make sure that the um that
we take care of our system right >> and we uh on a daily and daily basis and uh they our water department is out there doing all sorts of things. We've had a good winter so far. Uh and >> winner in what way?
Fair. Fair enough. I mean, I haven't heard about like a water break. That's what I'm That's kind of the point. I know. That's not >> We had three in December. So, we we we Okay. >> Stop talking. >> So, anyway, um All right. I'm going to >> City Worers had 26 as of the first of
the year. So, >> yeah. I don't know why I even said that. >> Um, one more time at the Zoom. Does anybody on the Zoom call have any comments for the or questions about the water rates this evening? Raise your
hand under the reaction button. All right, hearing none. Um I believe we can uh take a motion to close the hearing and then we can deliberate and take a vote on the rates. >> Move to uh close the FY27 water rate hearing at 8:05 p.m.
>> Seconded. All right, it's a roll call vote. Tina, >> yes. >> Damon. >> Yes. >> And I vote yes. The public hearing is now closed for our water rate hearing. Um and uh so just going around the room here. Um >> I have no additional uh comments.
Prepared to vote as presented. Okay. >> To accept as presented. >> Same. And again another note of thanks for all the hard work. >> Yeah. I uh I really appreciate all the work that these these uh Sean and his team do on a daily basis. They they are unsung heroes of getting us water that
we don't even uh see as often as and and give credit to often enough and we appreciate it. So I'm I'm ready to take a motion to uh vote on the uh uh tiers as presented with the change to um
add uh three family homes on captive tier 2. So we have four components to the motion uh which will include a 2.5% increase across all tiers. It'll include the continued practice of splitting the infrastructure fee as described. It will
uh include as Ben mentioned the cap uh the three families being capped at tier 2 level and then the $8 water meter fee remains unchanged. I will make that motion. >> Seconded. >> All right. All those in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> So great. Thank you so much for your time. Um, I don't know if you're sticking around the next next fun stuff. >> Thanks, Sean. >> Thank you, Sean. Really appreciate it. >> Um, >> now get to talk to our engineers.
So, we're going to get an update on the DPW building project proposal and um we're going to bring some folks from Weston and Samson forward. There's another chair if I want to get over there.
Um, maybe you can put your microphone up on the other sides that way. Let's check and have a microphone just in case. >> Do you want to do you want to come up or you >> It's up to you. I mean, I don't
>> I got a >> Okay. >> Did you bring the mold and some is that you have to stay or the corner >> the the panels? >> Yeah. >> Yes, I did. >> Oh, >> yes. >> Show and tell. >> Yeah. A little show and tell tonight. Thank you.
>> So, welcome. You can just uh give us your uh your name, your role here. Um we've certainly met you before, but just want to make sure that if people are joining us, they can uh they'll know who they're talking to. Plus, you're back to the Zoom, so they always get good to see you. So, >> Sure. I I'll start. My name is Alex
Francisco. I'm a project manager with Wesson and Samson. >> Welcome, Alex. >> Okay. I'm David Steves, a project architect for the DPW uh project. And with me is Alex is and also Mike Richard. He's our discipline leader. So I'm glad he was able to make it tonight. >> Discipline.
>> Yeah. >> We're actually building an accessible dwelling unit for David to live in on his mileage. >> Um before we dive in, I do just want to um I want to just note that um we've spent a lot of time in this room with
the team from Western Samson. we appreciate their time. But I know Sean and Robert Walker, James Kee and and Chief Cassidy, you're probably wondering why was Chief Cassidy there. He's generally just a smart guy. But um also we've uh we've tackled a lot of different issues and heard a lot of
different feedback from when we were having our um information sessions in the fall in the leadup to Octobertown meeting. But even since um we've heard additional feedback from the community and we've tried the the best we could to incorporate that feedback while you know
working with Western Samson to deliver a uh responsible program I think that's the term right program. >> Yes. >> Absolutely. >> So um really looking forward to this present to this update. Okay. And um I might jump in when we get to the part about um well we talk about some of the
creative solutions that we've worked on I think to to get the the scope tightened. >> Of course Frank rank and thanks for that and feel free anybody to jump in. I I'll I have a brief presentation and update for >> brevity sake I'll kind of go through it and we can go back. So I have a
>> some slides I'd like to share. So, I need to share my screen. >> And and just for people at home to recognize, too, we'll uh get this presentation up on the uh the town's website with the projects um as soon as we can the next few days. >> Are you Are you on Are you on there? Is
Dave Steves >> or are you sharing from a different uh name? >> Dave Steves. >> It is Dave Steves. >> Got Okay, it's got to be me. >> Um >> can we can we get >> discipline leaders Steve? >> Can we I know, right? Can we get Dave Steve's permission to share his screen,
please? Take a second. >> Share. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Screen. It should give you an option to share your screen. Zoom likes to change it too.
>> Yeah. >> What's this button button? >> Apologies, folks. We just have a little uh technical uh difficulties we're working through to uh on that screen. You should be able
to share with using Teams because then I can do PowerPoint where I can >> Oh, nice. >> And then you can actually like scroll through. It's pretty cool. >> Even if you're not the presenter, you can actually go back and like see that slide again. You can actually look at
>> Really? >> Yeah. Teams does some really good stuff. Never would have. >> All right, here we go. You can see my screen. >> We can see your screen. It's right behind your head. >> All right. >> So, we'll be ready to see it. >> Perfect.
Okay. Thank you everybody for seeing us this evening. Happy to give you this update on the DPW. Um I think we met uh in the fall, so uh it's a lot's happened since that time. Um we have a quick agenda for you. I'd like to kind of just
quickly three basic parts. We're going to just touch on what's happened to date, the study, the site selection, and where we are in the design. Uh we'll talk about the the the design process and the status of that. And then we'll
uh end up with just a uh an opinion of the probable costs and then touch on next steps for the project. So here's a quick overview of the project timeline of how we got here. Uh it was essentially four basic phases which you
can see in the upper right hand corner of those four colors which was the feasibility study, the site selection process, the design and construction. And as you can see we are about onethird of the way through the design process in
the orange dots. Um, a couple of key things is that we had started the site selection back in 2023. In October of last year, the town had selected the Art Street site as the site for the new public consolidated public
works facility. We started uh design just thereafter in November. And a critical next kind of milestone date coming up is the May 26 town meeting where we are going to have a design development progress set for with an
independent cost estimate to go to town meeting for project construction funding. At that time we are going to continue the design process which is scheduled to complete in November and then uh go out to bidding and then construction thereafter for 18 to 20
month construction process. So just quickly what's happened so far? Uh we did um the feasibility study where we had evaluated all the existing uh facilities and conditions and walked through there and measured them and found out um the deficiencies, how they
worked and how they operated. We went through uh extensive meetings with the DPW and Sean and his staff. Um and we uh included all the vehicle and equipment and storage um components for a new public works facility. We had gone
through all the uh space planning and all the sizes of the spaces that we had need and we had gone through a number of iterative processes to try to reduce and economize and see where things spaces could be combined and become more efficient. We went through also a
staffing summary needs of what they have now and the projected also including the town manager that we're uh accounting for in this new facility. We had then moved into the slice site selection process and we had evaluated
uh a total of 16 sites. You can see um there in the initial study it was uh uh six sites where there were three townowned sites which was the existing two sites that the public works was
currently located on the art street and central street site as well as street the other town site as well as three other sites was the uh original charge to evaluate in May 23. just point that out as a critical uh crossroads is that
we had um looked at Axton Cross as a potential site um that was in Landcourt and had been approved at town meeting in that May 23 town meeting for us to continue further evaluation uh and
assessment of that site being feasible for a new consolidated public works. We found that that was extensively contaminated and with a five to 10year projection for cleanup and D coordination that site was proven to be not fi not viable. So we consequently
the town went out for two follow-up RFPs which uh the first one included six additional sites that we evaluated for size, shape, use. Um there was nothing there that uh rose to the top of to be a viable or
exceptional or uh affordable site. The town went out for another uh RFP for an additional four sites. All told those 16 sites were evaluated in October. They came up with they decided to select the
first site site number one the existing Arch Street site. So here's the Arch Street site. You can see um this is the existing developed area uh of the site which is undersized
frankly to uh uh accommodate uh consolidated and new uh updated public works. So we have some strategies on how to make this a viable site. One is to expand the southern
portion and which is an elevated area to excavate that to make a a large uh extended pavement area to accommodate the new public works. We're looking at excavating along the edge of the
property line adjacent to the rail trail and containing that sloped edge or now excavated slope with a 14 to 16 ft high uh retaining wall. And then on the downs slope side edge, we're looking to add a
small retaining wall uh to fill that edge of the site. In other words, to give us a big enough footprint to accommodate the new uh facility. We're looking at also including some of the program which is essentially the parking uh at the lower site currently unused uh
lower site area. So this is what we're planning. Uh you can see the new uh and I'll just kind of outline some of the major components. Um you can see outlined in the black dark black line is an efficient consolidated
building the operational building footprint. Um you can see that it includes a twostory administration and employee facilities uh component,
a center drive aisle vehicle and equipment storage bay, a drive-thru wash bay which maintains all your equipment for use and longevity and a drive around salt shed. Um you can
see the access arrows where a vehicle can come in, drive around the salt shed and then exit. And then a townwide fueling uh component. Um you can see adjacent to the operations building. That's how a vehicle would come in and access that as
well as a material storage and open canopy storage structure on site. In the upper right hand corner you can see we have a just a diagrammatic site section where uh along the left edge of that you can see the height of the rail
trail where we are proposing to excavate down and include that retaining wall and you can see the outline of the relative size of the building to give us a a level pad area for the new facility. And below that is the program that we're uh
accommodating on site. So this uh it it seems repetitive but there's a pretty critical uh component here that I wanted to point out. It's that drawing on the left which was the key drawing for us to uh validate that
this site is actually uh actually works. Um you can see from the main entrance that we're proposing at that location that's the main entrance for all townwide vehicles and DPW vehicles that will fuel and use the salt storage facilities. So a vehicle that comes into
the site, it's a bus or a firet truck, it can go in fuel and make that turn and have adequate clearance to in one shot make that turn and exit directly. You can see also uh looping around the salt shed where a DPW truck can come in and
turn around and optimally uh load on the driver side uh side of the salt shed. So that's the drawing that once we put all the components now that we're consolidating here, we were able to confirm that it's uh an efficient and
viable and active site. Um you can see on the right hand side we have two conceptual floor plans that we're developing. Um on the lower plan you can see we have the office and employee facility space. Next to that is the
highway and water and water lab shop spaces. Adjacent to that is the vehicle maintenance vehicle and equipment maintenance and wash space and then the vehicle storage garage above that. Then above that plan you can see on the
second floor we have a second floor space of offices and mezzanine mechanical uh space and the remainder of the mezzanine space is shown there outlined in red uh because that's trying to utilize mezzanine space as much as
you can to maximize usable area in the building where you have double height spaces in maintenance bays or the vehicle storage bays. So here you can see just a detailed overview of the footprint of the plan
very uh efficient operational layout just linear um so for very clean and simple circulation and the elevation is the front elevation below um and I did bring a sample just to give you a sense of what we're
proposing for the exterior envelope for your building. So, this is a factory foamed in insulated metal panel that encloses what would be a pre-engineered metal building system. So, you can see
this is a 3-in panel. It has a uh a metal cladding with a h striated surface and embossed finish so you don't see oil canning. very resilient, durable, energy efficient and very coste effective to
enclose an industrial space like this that we're uh talking about. The administrative portion uh is not in so this is actually the finish of the interior of the space as well. So in a single panel this is the outside of the building then you have an interior
finish that is you know this is where the girth framing uh supports that panel. So very very efficient to install and cost effective. We are considering for the administrative area since it's finished not in panel but uh drywall and
carpet and DCT um it would be a different style like a profile series panel but still industrial and resilient and very cost effective. So >> could you tell us what VCT is? >> Vinyl comp composition tile. >> Thank you.
>> You see it in all your hallways. >> Yeah, I know. I'm just calling out acronyms just but >> sure. >> Thank you. >> So here you can see kind of a perspective view of the operational uh functional layout of the site. In the
foreground, you can see the salt shed, uh the brinefill station, the the remote uh fuel above ground fuel tanks, and the fuel canopy right there adjacent to the main entrance on the left edge. The
sequence of the building is as we kind of walked through a moment ago, which is the administration and employee facility space, shops, maintenance, wash, and then the vehicle storage on the right. One thing particularly that I want to point out is that on the right edge you
can see of the of the pink vehicle storage volume. There's a blue space that's designated for a fire department substation apparatus to store on site and I want to talk about that in a little bit. But that's a a component to this project that's been added to this
site and to this program. >> Yeah. >> Go ahead, Frank. Just to be clear, not a new substation. A relocation of the substation from Central Street to Arch Street. >> Right. >> Thanks. >> It it is new, but it's not a uh adding on here. Yeah.
>> So, here's a view uh looking at from looking at the site from the opposite end. This is from the Abutters property. You can see the open canopy storage um in the foreground which would shield and and uh screen the operation from the
abutter for sound and uh noise and visibility. >> Yes. >> Quick question. What is the radius on that? Is that a half mile, quarter mile? >> You have a what I mean to say is there are structures that are not a part of the DPW facility. Got it. What is the
radius though? Are we looking at a a quarter mile a half mile radius? Would you say it looks more like a quarter mile radius? >> I would say. So the how far we extend our view. Uh that is I would have to guess Tina that's probably about a/4 mile. Yep.
>> Okay. >> So we're looking at and you can see on the right edge. So the the left edge is where we're proposing uh the retaining wall along the rail trail to enlarge the uh the pad area for the facility. And along the right side, you can see the
lower retaining wall we're looking to fill. So, you have enough driveway access for perimeter vehicle circulation around the site as well as uh an apron in front of the maintenance base.
You can see here just a a quick uh on your in your top view is a bird's eye view looking at it from beyond the rail trail. And in the lower image, you can see a perspective view from how it would look entering the site.
Okay, let me jump into some any questions so far on the facility that we're proposing. Okay, let me jump into the development of the project uh uh costs and I did want to talk about um two basic
approaches that we had. So we had an initial design that has been revised but I wanted to share this uh with the board which is on the left side. Our original planning included uh the the highway and water departments to be located at Arch
Street, but because the site was so constricted, um we thought it would be beneficial to locate the fuel station have a um the townwide fueling at Central and also include a seasonal
storage equipment for uh storage of equipment uh that's out of and mowers and and plows and flip them during the uh the seasons so that you know we could minimize the footprint of the building um and make sure that it worked that we
talked about in that earlier slide. So this was uh to locate the fueling here. So it was the main facility at Arch Street supported by some supplemental program at uh central
and we had done uh a cost needs I mean a space needs analysis originally and this is just a quick update slide >> which shows that our initial planning uh called for 51 a half thousand square foot facility and we had revised that
down to just over 45,000 square ft and working with Sean and Robert um and James and Frank. Uh and so we had done that process a number of times and we had set a very aggressive uh target
of 37,000 plus square feet which would have reduced the overall square footage by a total of 20%. We are now looking at the current design which is based on actual layout numbers and it's at 40,000 square
ft. So our which is right from my view right on the money with our target of the 37 by adding the 1,800 of square of stairs two stairs
elevator elevator machine room that that adds that square footage to our total that so we're currently at 40 and change which represents a 20% total reduction from the uh original square footage.
So to touch on the cost we um and why we kind of changed course a little bit. So we had the Arch Street site that we were developing and the central street that had the seasonal storage building uh that included an updated substation for the parking of the fire apparatus. So it
was there and so it was incorporated into that uh portion of the work. Um, but the site development costs and everything else put the uh the costs for the Central Street site at just under $8 million for that site and the 63 Art
Street at 48 1.5 mill uh 48.5 million or thereabouts $56.5 million roughly total cost. And so the town and Frank and James and the like the general consensus was that's
you know going to be more than you know we bargain for here is can we really get um Art Street to really work and consolidate the operation there. So we had uh put this cost together that
goes back to the validated uh site layout that we had confirmed just a moment ago. We're showing a cost here that is really a range which is we have our costs that we estimated in the high range based on
our early estimates of um 6% uh annual escalation over 3 years plus an 8% um uh design contingency for the unknowns. But we since we've been developing the design and we've seen
costs more more more so moderate uh in the recent pasts. We tweaked those numbers of escalation and contingency to to ratchet down what we expect the the escalation to be into a more realistic
range which is keeping at 6% for one year but ratchet down to five and then four over the subsequent years. and then a design contingency of 6% instead of eight because there are less unknowns because we're further along in the process. So that gave us a total from
from a more realistic projected uh cost uh view of 47.5 million to a high-end estimate of 49 and a half million out of that and I refer back to that May
23 town meeting uh that we talked on the Axton Cross. There was funding that was allocated there that was reallocated recently that uh for 6.5 million that has been allocated towards this project.
So the total cost remaining for uh from the low end to the highend range of projected costs are just over 41 million to just over 43 million. And this uh just correlates to our you
know projected square foot cost numbers of a 6% contingency uh and then the escalation going from 654 and what that ends up with a $940 per square foot construction cost facility.
That's the where we are in the process. Uh just I'll touch up uh quickly here about next steps. We're going to continue developing the design. We're working towards the May town meeting deadline to develop, refine, uh and make the design as efficient and
cost-effective as we can. Pulling together our documents for that Maytown meeting. We're getting an independent cost estimate. Um, and then we're going out to bid in November. And from there, it's going to be relocate the DPW operations to temporary facilities
because they won't be able to operate when start construction and then into construction by the beginning of the year. So, so from here we probably I'm not sure we'll have another update. Um, probably until we as a you know, you as
a board and probably us as a staff are happy to continue to update the board. But I think from Western and Samson's perspectives, their their pencils are sharpened and they're ready to start working on a more refined uh I guess you would call it a from concept conceptual to schematic design that we'll see
beginning of April. uh that will be uh accompanied by a more refined price tag that we would go to town meeting with. >> Um and we'll have all of that in by by deadline. We know it's a tight timeline, but we're going to make it work. Um did you Sorry, did you hear something you wanted to add? >> Well, I was just going to say we
appreciate the town jumping in, you know, very weekly or bi-weekly meetings, whatever we do to kind of uh all hands on deck to finalize the design and get everything. >> We've had a lot of fun in this room. >> I know. Oh, yeah. >> We do. Um I think so at this point I think it might be helpful just to point
out um you know the one of the slides that David showed had the sort of two-sight solution that at town meeting we mentioned in October. I think we talked about core operations at Arch Street with the potential for satellite operations at Central Street which I think going into this exercise we were
very open to it knowing the constraints uh the size of the Arch Street site had. Um, however, once we saw the price, we realized that we really needed to get creative and figure out a way to basically get off Central Street entirely. Um, and so, you know, and
really there wasn't even much in that 8, was it $7.8 million that was uh proposed for Central Street. We were talking about a three bay seasonal uh non- temperature control garage. So, basically for seasonal storage. um a new
uh temperature controlled garage for the uh ladder truck that was in there. And then due to the building code requirements, we were also going to be required to have uh bathrooms and you know, associated septic system uh for the the the um the substation. So from
there, um, you know, James, Sean, Robert, myself, the fire chief, um, got into this room and brainstormed and figure out ways to utilize assets that we already have in town, um, to find other places for that seasonal storage,
um, to maybe bump out one of the the bays on Arch Street so that we could house a ladder truck there. Um, and so I think, you know, we had a we had a lot of discussions about how to make that work and I think we have a lot to be proud of about how we found creative solutions um to bring down that price
tag. Um, but obviously there's still some, you know, some some work to do. >> Yeah. And I I think um you know for me me personally not speaking for the board but I like the idea of having Central Street being cleared that we can start
to think about what we you know at some point down the road what what happens to that site. >> So being able to not have anything there um restricting our ability to to make uh as as a community a decision about what to do with that >> with that with that space. I think the
other thing um to bring up before I um let you folks uh if you have questions or comments here um I think one thing we had talked about the other day was um sending a letter to a butters of the art street site. >> Um we wanted to just sort of let them know and maybe we you know there
certainly there's the two direct but maybe we should expand that a little bit just to make sure that the people in the area kind of like hey here's what's we're talking about. Do you have thoughts at this point in the process before we get too too deep that we want to do? Um and um so I'd look for uh the
board tonight to just uh authorize Frank and James to reach out to those um in the immediate area so that just to let them know, hey, here's what's going on and you know um just so you're aware and if you have questions, comments, thoughts, anything like that. Um, and
then the last thing, um, is I once we kind of get into April and we're talking to you about those those dollars, I propose that we also have a forum as a another GPW forum because it's just been too long since we've had one. Yep.
>> We should just do another one. Um but this way we can have an opportunity to sort of talk about the plans and see if there's questions and things like that and get it give people an opportunity so it's not town meeting floor >> um to to try to get some of those things and again probably reach out to those butterers let them know hey we want to
talk about this please let us know what your thoughts are >> and we can really start to talk about because I I think probably the thing that people are going to want to talk about are dollars and cents >> and I appreciate you trying to uh value engineer I think was the term that you used to try to find ways to to bring
those numbers down. Um because uh you know it's it's it's not it's not just can we build it, it's can we sell it, you know, like we have to make sure that people are on board and are comfortable with this. And you know, we want to make sure like as we you know, I'm sure you
know, we're invited the MSBA process. So we're talking about a high school, so we want to be able to sort of talk about the DPW and high school. >> We don't want people to start >> pitting them against each other. So, we want to make sure that financially that we have a plan to go forward and that we
that these things are. So, I'll stop talking and I'll see if Tina and Damon have gone questions or thoughts right at this time. >> Yeah, a couple. So, I think this is probably for Frank, although jump in. Um, the So, we saw the range there after we removed the 6.5 million already
allocated. We saw a range of 41.19 up to 43.13 million. If we were going today, we have a placeholder on the warrant for this article. If we were going today, we would be putting in that 43.13
million today. We're going to target the higher end as we go into town meeting for appropriation. >> If if we were going today, >> we I would I would assume we would target the the higher number. >> Okay. Um, but I think, you know, I think
and David and Alex, I don't want to speak for you, but I think a lot of the numbers that you have right now are um, what's the right way to say this. You have square footage and you just multiply that number by the square footage you have. Yeah, it's not it's not sight specific, I guess, is what I'm trying to say. >> Well, it it's
>> well, some some of them are, but yeah. >> Yeah, it's getting there, but it is a high level. Um, so that will be the what we're going to target in May will be an independent cost estimate and that's going to be very specific. >> Right. >> Okay. So it'll it'll be quite a different number than what we've seen
presented. Not just size of the number, but how the number has been calculated. We'll see something significantly different, right, >> as we go to the town meeting um with the warrant ready to go. Got it. That that's helpful. Thank you. Okay. Um, a couple things. You went over some of
the changes that were made. You mentioned right at the outset that from day one, this was a this was a tight site and and that was going to have to be looked at really carefully. >> Uh, you spoke about some change, some operational considerations and so on. Are we losing anything on this site that
you would want the the the board to know that you're not going to be able to accomplish this? It was in the outset it was a goal for this program. Uh because of the site constraints we're moving in a different direction. Is there anything that we should know? I didn't hear anything but I just wanted to ask that. >> Okay. Um
uh operationally we are anticipating growth into the building. Right. So we're not shoehorning the public works and the water department into a building that if they hire another employee that there's not a locker for them. >> Okay. So more staff potentially. >> Yes. So there's room in the in the plan.
Now the site is nonetheless constrained. It's going to, you know, >> be bounded by a salt shed and a open canopy, but there's room there to store the all the materials that we've reviewed with the DPW and what they expect and what they anticipate. So, uh,
it does accommodate the program. >> Okay, great. Uh, and future plans for something like say not committing this board or the town to future decisions, but solar. We're not removing that, taking that off the table. There's a future where we could outfit what you're proposing with solar.
>> There is. We uh make all the the steel frames for the pre-engineered building have the capacity for solar arrays. >> Okay. >> Got it. >> It's a perfect opportunity as you can see from the plan. >> Okay. Yeah. Uh two more questions, comments. It's really nice to meet you,
Alex. I'm not sure we've met you at other meetings. So, and you're project manager. You'll be project manager probably through till completion of construction. Correct. >> Okay. One thing I would point out, and when you had that image up that showed all the white boxes, uh, and I asked the radius on those, this is a very
residential neighborhood. >> The comments that you were making about excavation had me, uh, thinking about the number of trucks loading, removing earth, because when you excavate and leave a 14t wall, I imagine you're removing a fair amount of earth from the
site. Yeah. >> Um, just uh to appreciate that. Um that rail trail >> has two very low bridges, one on Arch Street and one on Exchange Street. I imagine much of the truck traffic will be coming from the heavy commercial
vehic heavy vehicles rather that are removing soil or bringing in materials are coming off of Washington. It is the major road in our town. Uh I just want to make sure that directions for those when the time comes. I'm not sure if we're going to have another opportunity where I can speak so bluntly here. uh that they're not trying to access the
site through Arch Street or Exchange because they won't fit. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> And when they don't fit, they end up um sort of rolling through the neighborhoods >> looking for access. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> So, glad you're here, Alex, because I'm happy to be able to share like boots on
the ground residential information here. Those bridges can't allow a truck to pass. And I think neighbors during the constru construction period would be quite >> unhappy with the trucks turning and then they're backing up and then they're, you know, it's a problem. So I just wanted
to push that out. >> No. And I thank you for that information and that'll be definitely noted once boots are on the ground >> and this is a funner one, but similarly there are blueberry bushes. >> Okay. >> Um on the site. So, if you're able to preserve those I know the neighborhood
which uh will go down there with their children and pick blueberries would appreciate them. I don't see anything on the designs that shows they wouldn't be there, but I'm just going to raise up the value of those little blueberry bushes. Um that's a little less serious. Um
last question. Have you in the past couple years in building buildings like this, have you worked with building committees through the project? Is this something that you're familiar with? Yes. >> Okay. Like community building committees that are Okay. Okay. That's it. Thank
you. >> Okay. Sure. >> Tina touched on a few of my points, but I I'll add a few here. I think um first of all, the mezzanine space that you described. Um that was unattributed space, right? So that is space that cannot probably be used for office space in the future because it's an open
overhang. It's more storage. Storage. That's exactly right. >> Right. Just want to make sure because we're talking about potentially having future growth. There is a limit from what I saw to what we can actually add. It's it's just it is what it is, right? >> Okay. Just want to make sure that yes, that mezzanine space didn't have a a novel use that I was not like thinking.
Okay. Second one. Um if I remember the site map correctly, I think the place where you're going to put the parking area is rather close to one of the residential abutters. Um I could be wrong on that. I I'll take a look at the map, but um I'm wondering if um I'm
assuming that you'll probably put in some kind of like visual barriers if possible to help with that. Again, I'm not asking for that at the moment, but that'll come, I'm sure, but I just want to note that. I'm sure that the abuters there's only I think three. >> Um >> direct >> direct, right? But you know, someone in the Lord have those concerns. Just
asking to be mindful of that. We've gone through a lot of conversations with a lot of potential abutters and potential spaces. We're not going to make everyone happy. I just want to be really respectful to the people who are in fact >> No, I appreciate that. And we have discussed BMS um to kind of hide or mask the the new facility.
>> Yeah. More to come. I don't want to get into the tactics here. Just putting getting that >> absolutely vegetation. >> Yeah. And then uh the final one is just I think that the obviously you're going to be doing the independent confirmation of the costs. I think that's going to be a key strategic component. There's uh what I would generously call a healthy
degree of skepticism on all cost estimates provided by consultants in this town. So the independent confirmation of those costs is a a very strong and important part of the narrative when we go in front of town meeting to make sure that people understand there's you know there's nothing a miss even though we're here
and close to the process and know that's not the case. Narratives are often out of the control of politicians in their towns. So >> just putting that >> that's thank you. Thanks D. >> Thank you. >> Um um I think one other question I had was
I think they were doing some soil testing in the area. Has that been completed or I think >> Yeah, we were doing some uh test pists and some borings to get the uh geotech uh assessment done as well as taking the samples at the same time. So piggybacking on onto that to get the uh
>> hazardous material uh profile >> and there's a full geotechnical report that's just about ready to be shared. >> Okay. >> Yeah. You I mean you don't have to if you don't have the details that's fine. I just just was sort of like just trying to just reconfirm that where we were in
the process. >> Yeah. Doing all that site reconnaissance, survey, flow test, test pits, you know, we got to know the foundation. Yeah. >> Those are all >> Yeah. stuff we got to do, >> big components, >> especially with an with a facility that's been there for a long time. Exactly. >> One one other question. We'd heard
certainly from our DPW deputy director that there was a concern over one of the culverts. I imagine that's fully incorporated into the the site development costs. I do remember hearing that that was something that would right out of the gate probably need to be addressed. So, as long as that's come up in conversation, it's been considered.
We're all >> I think we have to do it before this project even gets off the ground. >> Yeah, that's what I mean. >> Yeah, I think we're actually we're already working on >> Robert's already another one coming in under budget actually. Well, God did I say that? Yes.
Yes. >> Um and then I think um so um one thing is can we take a I'd like to whether or not we need it. I think we I'd like to have a vote uh a motion to authorize uh James and Frank to reach out to the
abutters. Um, I'd probably just make it a little further like appropriate about its I guess would say. >> Um, to just sort of make sure that they're aware of the plans and that they, you know, send them a letter telling them what's what's going on and, um, you know, let them know that we want
their input and that there will be an opportunity for a forum as well. Um, but certainly if they have uh particular uh questions, concerns, thoughts, um, you know, we love to hear from them and um, make sure that their feedback is incorporated. Yep. Absolutely.
>> Uh move to direct the town manager to create an abutters list for interested neighbor for not interested but um a budding neighbors in the general area uh to notify them of the DPW progress new
facility progress and plans for town meeting vote as Ben said and forum. >> Yeah. making sure they just they're aware of the process and that they're you know looped in as much as possible appropriately. >> I will second that compound motion.
>> Um and all those in favor >> I >> I >> so uh Frank if we could you and James could yep >> reach out to those folks. Um and then I think the other the other question is is that you know we had talked about a building committee. Um and I had
talked to some other folks. I I mean I do wonder if you know adding some of that that layer is necessary at this time but I don't know I mean you know it maybe it might be premature that could be something maybe we revisit or something like that but I don't know um
what Tam and Dana what you think about that at this time I we sort of went back and forth about some of the details of it but I don't necessarily know like I mean I know that uh there are West Samson's already meeting with you know facilities
director town manager, fire chief, and you know, so certainly the uh the DPW director and highway superintendent. Um so there's, you know, definitely stakeholders that are communicating and talking through some of these things and understanding that. But, um I don't
know. I mean, I just kind of wanted to hear your what you think if you should go ahead. >> As a preliminary com like as an early conversation, I see many benefits. Uh, I this would need to come back to the board with a more detail, particularly
what that charge would look like, but I don't see Well, let me rephrase that. Every conversation we've had to date about the DPW facility has been tied to a couple different issues that I think a a municipal building committee that's
more general. So, not necessarily a specific DPW building committee, uh, but a municipal building committee uh, could address. So, the idea of what happens to Central Street is something that in time could land before a municipal building
committee. We heard earlier at the start of the meeting that the center has some questions about building. So, I think we have we have a broad set of needs that we hear we at least as a board hear from the public. Maybe not our department heads saying if this would be of value. Um, I'm not saying they're for or against. I'm just saying we do hear from
the community a fair amount um about what's going to happen to say Central Street when this is over. So, I see a benefit there. Um, I liked some of the information about the school building committee charge and one uh that was presented the conquered example and one was they become the face of uh the place
for community groups to go with questions that could be of value here with the DPW project. Um I don't have you obviously have experience with building committees and perhaps there's some conversation um prior to our next meeting about what that could look like
where they add value and maybe they don't add value in your professional opinion and maybe uh we want to hear from our department heads on how they feel about it as well. But as an early conversation I think there's I I have a strong interest in in learning some more about it. I I can see some benefits. I
absolutely can see some drawbacks. >> Well I I heard you say a couple things. Are you talking about like because we had talked about briefly talked about a municipal building which I >> probably where I'm leaning more. >> I I think you know uh I think that would probably be an October conversation. um whether or not I'm in it, but who knows?
But um I think that is something that I think the town needs to address simply if for no other reason than the fact that we have lots of different independent boards with buildings and getting us all in the room to sort of think about those things I think could be helpful
>> as it relates to the DPW project. I would say central street rises to the top of >> and that would be part of the absolutely. So that would be certainly be something that could they could make recommendations for. Um but um yeah I mean but but I think uh what do you
think about just the DPW a DPW specific one beyond the >> I do not have an opinion tonight. >> Okay. >> Actually I'm in the same boat. Um I like the idea of a broader committee to discuss these issues in general. Yeah. I do not have a strong opinion on this specific one. >> Okay. All right. then we can table the
DPW and just address it at another time if he needs to at this time and we're not going to talk about basically um anything else any other last thoughts from the board here >> anything for us I mean we're we're
moving uh we're moving ahead and we're >> we're looking for we're looking uh the yeah we want to you know see in early April and >> uh because I think the ballot closes is because it would have to be a ballot question. >> April >> 14th, I want to say yeah 14th. I think
we'd want to have something probably like like end of March, early April to be able to discuss and make sure that we're comfortable with moving forward to try to >> uh piggy back on that um and uh go from there. >> Yeah, great. >> Steam ahead. >> Sounds great.
>> Terrific. Thank you. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you so much. Appreciate it. >> All right. Good to see you. >> Nice to meet you. Thanks, >> Ben. just to um just to provide some context about that $41 million figure. Um >> I know we had talked a little bit about the average tax bill impact and
socializing that number early on as as early as possible. >> Yeah. >> Um so uh we've run through a few different scenarios. You know, some of those numbers that um that Weston and Samson has provided include contingencies and escalations. Um, so
there's a lot of different factors that go into what the average tax bill impact would be for something like this. >> Interest rate. Um, whether or not we um opt to structure our debt with uh a level debt service payment structure or
level principal uh payment structure. level principal, your payments decrease over time, but with level debt, they start a little bit lower than what level principal would be, but they stay flat for the duration of the bond. >> Your mortgage, >> right? Exactly. Um, so if uh we were to
assume a a 4% interest rate, which is probably a little bit higher than what we would ultimately get, uh, a 30-year borrowing and a level debt service borrowing, we're probably looking at the neighborhood of $250 plus or minus $50 or so. uh in terms of an average tax
bill impact and again that's on the average the the average home in Hollist which is about assessed at about $730,000 right so you think a lot of people would be paying less than that some people a lot of people would be paying more than that >> um but again there's a lot of different
factors that go into that $250 figure also assumes a million dollar offset from the general fund >> which we have more capacity to offset than that but that's just that total would just be used for >> sort of tax bill outlook purposes. >> Yeah. >> Um so again, I think the board has
really um uh been transparent throughout this entire process and just to keep with that theme. That's sort of the the assumption that we're working on right now internally. And I think u I think you know the there's a lot of work to do on that because we sort of have to look at a bunch of different things and
finding ways to um to to manage the um those numbers but also to try to um minimize the spikes and things like that for residents and making sure that we're we're thinking about it. I think there's uh there's there's a lot of work to do
on that side to to get to get to a comfort level um with some of those numbers and things like that to make sure that we're borrowing at the the right rate and things like that for >> for everybody. >> One thing that we've been working on internally is sort of a 10-year outlook
of, you know, estimated tax bills with different, you know, we have DPW high school on the horizon. And so, um we're fine-tuning that a bit. And so perhaps when we get closer to the the estimate being provided by Western and Samson, we can sort of roll that out and figure out what the uh you know the board's
preferences in terms of a >> you know the long-term financing for the project. >> Okay. >> Just thinking about the forum. I like of course we've been doing forums all along. They're >> so fun. >> No, they're and they're they're good and they're they're good practice for future
efforts uh and informative for for residents for sure. uh when you when you mentioned a forum before town meeting and now that you're talking about some of the projections you're doing and we're talking about tax bill impacts and so on. Um I think there's more to more we could fine-tune
about what that forum ahead of town meeting would include because uh the person walking into that room to hear the information presented is drawn in for one reason um but it's also an opportunity for a
lot of education. So just thinking about the true intent of a public forum a few weeks out from from town meeting. >> Okay. >> So I I think there's a great opportunity there. I wonder if uh how we'll approach that in a way that is um getting people
where they're at for what they're looking for uh and making the most of the opportunity. I'm not sure I guess what I'm really trying to say is I'm not sure anyone's walking into that room ahead of town meeting looking for final plans on a DPW. And I don't think they're going to be ready to do that to
say it's going to look like this and sit like that on the land. So they're probably coming maybe maybe we're before we go out to bid. >> No, but I mean but we could address that, you know, when we get closer to that. But I think at the very least that know this is at the end of the day this is going to a forum that's going to be
talking about the dollars and cents, >> right? And that that's why I'm sort of thinking maybe some some an opportunity there to um have a very good conversation about dollars and cents in general. Yeah. Well, we also want to make sure that we uh that we don't um
create a uh a uh an agenda that uh people don't want to go to. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> I mean, we like we like municipal finance. I mean, we talk municipal finance, but I know like uh when when Travis did his municipal finance um uh
stuff upstairs, it was awesome, but it was also not a lot of people came. And I want to make sure I I want to make sure that we're doing something that we can capture uh people talking about these things and um thinking about those
things. And I appreciate what Tina is saying, but may you know, maybe it is a little bit more of a town meeting >> forum where we could talk a premeating, you know, forum. But let's let's let's table it for now. Let's let's put some thought into what that looks like and maybe we can uh have some conversations. We got a we've got we got a little time
so we don't have to have an answer right now. But I think uh you know Tina raises some a good a good point about >> you know maybe we uh expand it a little bit to beyond just a DPW form. But at the same time we >> I don't I don't actually know that I'm saying what I'm really saying is pull back the curtains on the high level
thinking that goes on in these decisions. So you're, you know, I'm listening to Frank and the the level of detail there is tremendous and we have firm firm controls in place, uh, firm hands on the steering wheel, so to speak. And it's an opportunity to pull back the curtains and let people see the
process by which these decisions get made in a in not in a detailed detailed detailed way, but um, I like what you're saying, Frank, and I think people would really appreciate hearing the type of projections and analysis that goes on when we look at the type of debt we're going to need for DPW. Uh, and I think
that's probably what is going to draw people into the room. So, if it's a chance for Frank to shine and his team to shine, how we how we go about analyzing and making these decisions, I'm all in on that. That's really what I'm saying. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. Well, on that note, let's
move on to the annual town meeting budget updates. Uh, Frank, what do you have for us for >> No major updates for me. I think we're just want to keep this on as a uh recurring agenda item for uh for us to
have through town meeting. >> Okay. >> Um I did add one article on to our placeholder list from the town clerk. She's interested in working with the animal control officer to update our animal control bylaw to come into compliance with some new state regulations. Okay.
>> Um so I think that's more of a >> could be more of a Sorry. Go ahead. >> No, no, no. Please finish up. I'm not sure if it's a um a housekeeping thing or if there's some, you know, more broader changes that will take effect, but um her and I were discussing that today and I think we're I'll have more
information for you next week. >> Um the in terms of the budget, uh the finance committee has started their budget reviews. They started last week. They'll continue tomorrow. Okay. >> They'll take a little bit of a break before your >> um your uh meeting on the 28th.
>> Okay. Um, a couple things, um, that I was going to add here, uh, to mention. Um, the first is, um, I talked to some folks at the the hub. Um, a second update on this, but, asking about potentially an article on, um, warrant.
>> Um, I don't have the language. They just said that they were they were going to do a they they were asking to try they were trying to do a citizens petition, and I said, well, let me bring it to the board and see if they're open to it. I think uh without language I don't think we any of us can commit but at the same
time I think uh um I I could reasonably say yes we will listen and we will see if it's something that we would be comfortable putting on the war. Um but um having not talked to either of you about this previously I just wanted to bring it up and see if you had any
thoughts or concerns about uh that taking place. Again I don't know the specifics. They just said, "Hey, we might want we have some things that we want to put forward." And they had not given me language at that time. >> So paraphrase on what they're looking to discuss. >> I think it's uh financial. It's so
they're looking for I don't again I don't 100% know, but I think basically what I'm saying is is that we should give them a placeholder allow and we'll have Leader to come forward with language and say, "Hey, this is what we're proposing." And we can say, "Hey, great. We'll put that on there." Or, "Hey, you should go through a citizens
petition." That's kind of what I'm saying at this time. So, I realize it's vague, but I but I also want to give you the heads up that it's coming. That's >> we we were at 34 articles. >> Yes. Uh and now I have uh 36. >> 36. And right now there is or is not one
that is a feasibility study for the MSBA program. >> There is so as a placeholder. Yep. >> There's a placeholder within the 36. Thank you. Um the second point uh I'm going to make here too um is uh for the summit on the 28th
um I think couple things that I wanted to try to propose I talked to finance committee chair about some suggestions and some thoughts about that. I think a couple things that we can do um leading up to that is sort of give like here's the standard questions we want to have
answered by the presentation and thinking about some of those things to to best use our time use our time and uh use the time of anybody who's participating in the in the process. Um and then um what I will put together is
some like hey this is what I'm thinking about for how this goes. hear the questions something like that um in anticipation of our next meeting which is before the summit so we can you both can see it have and if you have any thoughts about it at that time hopefully
I'll get to you before then then you'd be able to say hey can we change that can we add this do whatever but just thinking about like you know if we're going to have the same four questions hey I mean I could probably say with certitude that we would say we want to know what changed in your budget and what caused those changes that's a
reasonable question rather than us asking we just say make sure your presentation outlines that that kind of thing >> that and um just to to prepare people for that uh for that exercise. Um so I'll have something um I'll talk to the finance committee chair too just to make sure he's like hey does this work for
you because the intention here is just to try to make this more efficient for department heads. So they're going they're making one presentation and then if the finance the finance committee can review those presentations rather than hearing the exact same presentation a second time. you know, if there's ways that we can do that. Um, and the third
thing I have is, um, one of the things that I'd like to ask you to do, Frank, um, we had talked about it, but I'm just going to bring it up here, too. Are there opportunities or places that we could look for efficiencies across budgets, licenses, contracts, anything else that we're not thinking of? I mean, I'm sure
we do a lot of those things, but making sure that we're utilizing as many efficiencies as possible. I know we have like, you know, there's a townwide, you know, uh, paper contracts, so everybody's paying the same rates and things like that, but finding any of those things. And then, you know, maybe even, uh, trying to, uh, talk to the
schools to make sure I know we do all these things, but just, you know, let's make sure that we're continuing those conversations and see if there's, >> you know, places that we could find some some kinds of efficiencies and things like that to, uh, best use our dollars.
>> Yep. And I think just making sure that you know as you're going through this is for from the town manager budget perspective you could say hey wait a minute what are these two connected or these two something that we could find something for. So that's one thing I just wanted to throw out there and sort of say something about that.
>> Um that's all I have. Do either of you have any comments or thoughts about town meeting budget um at this time? >> Yeah. Okay. Caveat. I just got off a plane. >> Totally understand. Cop. I'm minding the
clock. >> I know. I know. >> My brain is stuck on the agenda. >> Dina for you. That is quite >> You know what? That's a good point. It's only 8:00. >> I'm just kidding. Totally fine. Totally fine. But I mean, also like putting these things out there and then, you know, you can ponder it and you can always uh give uh Frank some information
if we need to. >> Um and that's all I have for that. And um any last thoughts on number four before we go on to >> I Nope. Nothing. Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right. So, let's move on to public comments.
>> Mhm. You're good. Do you want >> No, just quickly. >> Yeah. Come on up. >> Quickly because of time, but I just wanted to remind the community, Stacy Rafy, 20th Street, not remind you of my name. um that tomorrow night, Tuesday, February 10th, is the opportunities and
pathways night at the high school. This is an open invitation to anybody in the community. Um Principal List has put together this evening program um so that you can see all the great things going on in the high school in terms of the
different pathways and tracks that students have opportunities. like did you know that there's a global citizen halfway and what does that mean and what are some of the cool things that happen in that track like I don't know a trip
to Paris and France where they learn uh Paris and not France and Italy where they learned about sustainable farming etc. So there's you know tons of stuff going on at the high school. So, we just cordially invite everyone 6:00 to 7:30
p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, February 10th, >> at the high school. >> Hope to see you there at the high school. >> Wonderful. I will be there. >> I'll see you there. >> Thank you. >> Um, anyone on the Zoom have any public comment this evening? You can raise your
hand under the reaction button. And don't fret if you miss your opportunity at this time. Feel free to email the town manager's office and we can get your comments read into the record at a future meeting as well.
Okay. All right. Select board member updates. We're moving on. So, uh, Tina, >> well, it's the benefit of being the clerk, I get to say some things first. So, I'd like to just welcome Cheryl to the table. First day, Frank, uh, was Wednesday. Yeah. So, it's lovely to have
you here. Uh maybe you'll join us often, but it's certainly not expected to have both of you. We're privileged tonight, but welcome. >> Um I have no other updates. >> Okay. >> Um very, very minimal. Um I won't go into them specifically here. I did have
a couple of community organizations reach out with questions about like general budgeting and such. And uh what I'm going to be doing for next steps is actually putting them in contact with the right boards and individuals in the town. I'll bring them back if they go from idea to anything more substantive. >> Okay, cool. Awesome. Um I have a couple.
Um the first is uh just wanted to congratulate these schools on uh choosing a new superintendent. Uh James Kimmel Carter uh was chosen by the school committee uh last week um to be the new superintendent pending contract
negotiations. Um um I met him and when I was in the screening process and uh he's a wonderful effervescent individual who has a real joy and passion for learning and teaching and uh I think he's going to uh be a wonderful uh uh addition to the
community. So uh when he gets when he gets closer we can welcome him formally. But just uh congratulations um on that process. Uh my second um update was uh the Super Bowl the other Okay. I know Frank did that too. Uh at the uh at the not not the one yesterday that wasn't so
super uh for us. >> I was going to say, what are you talking about, my friend? >> At St. Mary's, the uh the uh food pantry did their um uh their annual uh soup uh >> bowl. Um my uh my wife said to me,
there's I don't see any advertising for this. And then I find out why because they sold out. So why would they advertise if they don't have any place for people to go? So, uh, it's a wonderful event. Uh, lots of great people coming together having lots of really good soup. And, uh, thank you to the food pantry. Um, I noticed all the
pictures. There's some wonderful people. And I didn't see Karen Jwitt in those pictures because she probably taken them, but she's a huge part of that process. And thanks to Karen and um, and to Steve um, and to all those folks uh, over there who work so tirelessly to uh,
um, help uh, other members of the community. So, thank you very much to the food pantry for putting on that event. It was a great event. Uh my third thing um to bring up uh in my meeting with the uh the hub uh the Hollison hub that new name for HCAT they uh uh one of
the proposals I made and I wanted to just bring it up and sort of see what you both thought of it um is that you know so we do our town um we do our uh the town hall digest where we put out our um um our updates and uh we have
links to the meetings. I suggested that could we make our link the YouTube link so we could send if people want to look they can um uh use the YouTube link to uh at the hub um it's probably a little bit buffered a little better than trying to go through Google Drive when you get
the uh the ones through the website um but it's also uh giving them an opportunity maybe we can feed a little bit of traffic towards them and might not you know so just thinking about that and encourage others to do the same um as they join in the uh the town I'll digest if their meetings are recorded by
the um by the >> uh that's all I have for board updates at this time. Now we get the uh right we get warrants and then we get your updates. >> I will be very quick. Um, so two
approved warrants since we last met January the 26th for $2,522,493.38 and on February 2nd 1,645,83451. Also, since you left, excuse me, since we last met, um, we have received a number of donations. $180 for the
centers for, excuse me, for the center for pool sticks. Um, another $2,500 uh donation from Silicon Andra uh for the center again. And the uh one more name I had to write down separately. We had
another donation for $500. Um I think it was a the right word is a bequeathment. Bequath someone bequathed that $500. Uh so thank you for that generosity. Um in terms of actual other updates,
nomination papers are now available for several elected town offices including the select board, school committee, and library trustees ahead of the May 19th, 2026 town election. The deadline to collect signatures is March 31st, 2026th. The May 26 uh town meeting
warrant is open. As we've discussed in these meetings, residents can submit articles for the May 11th, 2026 town meeting by the date that the warrant closes, which is March 9th, 2026. Uh, as we approach town meeting and the budget process continues, a reminder that the
select board will hold their all-day budget hearing on Saturday, February 28th here at town hall, also virtual. The finance committee has also begun some of their budget review process meetings. Those meetings are recordings are also available online. As the
Norfick Street infrastructure upgrade project continues, there are several water shut offs and traffic detours expected this week. On Tuesday, February 10th, that's tomorrow. Uh water will be shut off on Cold Spring Road from 7:30
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and traffic detourred through Shaw Farm Road and Clark Drive. Later this week on Thursday, February 12th, water will be shut off on Guling Street and Dudley Road from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and traffic detourred through
Holly Lane. Please plan accordingly and consider storing, excuse me, and consider storing water for essential use during this planned shutdown. A couple other DPW related uh updates. As a reminder, Marshall Street Recycling Center is now closed on Sundays, only
open Saturdays, and the on street parking ban uh from 11:00 p.m. at night to 5:00 a.m. remains in effect, especially during the snowy season. We want to make sure that the roads stay clear if necessary. DPW is still considering uh excuse me, still uh completing snow removal operations. So,
we want to make sure that the roads are clear during those times. Since the select board last met, we've received exciting news regarding the town's downtown sewer initiative. Congressman James McGovern's office has officially secured 1.092 million in congressionally
directed spending to support this project. We extend our sincere appreciation to Congresswoman McGovern and the rest of our federal delegation for their continued support of this project and we continue uh to look forward to working with them uh with our federal delegation and state delegations
and other community stakeholders to bring sewer infrastructure to the downtown. The sewer commission meets this Thursday, February 12th at 6 p.m. to discuss this and other project information. As Ben mentioned, I attended the Super Bowl on Friday. We
had a lot of fun. It's a very impressive operation they have at the pantry. I toured uh the day right after the day after the big snowstorm. Um so many thanks for having me. And that is my town manager update for February 9th. The select board meets next on February 23rd.
>> One quick question. Uh could you reach out to uh Representative McGovern's office to find out when he's holding office hours in his uh district? >> Sure. >> Uh I think I would like to go in person. He's been here before uh when he's been in town for office hours and he's met
with staff and board members. I've never had that opportunity. Uh but especially given his work to bring the the money to the downtown SE project. Um I would absolutely take the opportunity to go to his office hours now um if my schedule allows. So if you could get a set of dates
>> Yeah. >> contact us to say when's he next in the district. Yep. >> We'd love to connect in person to say thank you for his efforts. We have been, not to hold him to anything, but we've been talking about um having him come and tour the downtown to see what the sort of impacted area would be and the
different opportunities that sewer would bring. >> Um and obviously there's a lot of different different angles there and touring the downtown. You know, we would walk right past the food pantry, which is obviously a great community organization, all the small businesses in that area that would really benefit from uh from the sewer being in the
downtown. Um so hopefully we'll get something on the books soon. And I think politicians sometimes in the past have sat down to have a beer. So maybe stops at Rushford and Suns as well. >> Oh, okay. Great. >> Sure. >> Good to go. >> Okay. >> Y
>> excellent. Um well, we have a couple uh golf course advisory committee uh members um in our board business. I see Deb here. Did you want to make any comments, Deb? I don't want to put you on the spot if you but I just noticed you turned your camera on.
If you're good, if you're are you good? Are you you're or >> Yeah. Um I just want to say that um we're very happy to have the two candidates. Okay. >> That have come forward and for our associate member to move into a
permanent um full membership. >> Okay. >> Um we're very happy to have such great interest in our committee um as we keep moving forward and trying to do a lot of capital improvements. um to make it the great place that it is and to continue
to increase the play at the golf course. So, I'm very happy that these people that have interviewed with us and we're recommending for their um membership >> and that's uh Deb Moore. She's the chair of the golf course advisory committee um who's making those comments. So, Deb,
thank you. >> Um thank you. >> Uh I don't have any objection to those being consent agenda. I don't I assume you're both okay with that. >> Yeah, sure. We'll just read the names where >> Yeah, why don't we just read the names here? Um, we have a consent agenda to appoint uh Bruce Chapen and Zachary Lux
to the golf course advisory committee in the positions stated on the agenda. So, move to approve the consent agenda. >> Seconded. >> Uh, all those in favor? >> I >> I >> I. >> All right, Deb. Thank you. Have a wonderful evening. >> Thank you.
>> Um, and then, uh, lastly, other business. Um, I'll just be quick here. Um we're trying to work on getting our legislators, state legislators here, um before uh the process for the budget is concluded. Uh we're still trying to iron
out the details. It might have to be an off night because we don't meet that often. So it might have to be a different evening, but what we could do is maybe instead of, you know, we could move things around and do some other uh other business on an evening like that. So um just kind of keep you uh apprised of that uh situation. I I actually did
hear back from the Senate President's office and Reparina Dross's office this afternoon. Um it's looking like March 9th might work, which I believe is a quote unquote normal night, but um there's actually five Mondays in >> March March. So I guess it depends on
what >> Well, usually we do second and fourth. Um so uh I think >> that would be a regular >> if that's a regular night that would be perfect. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Great. So awesome. And uh any other business?
>> Nope. Greg, >> none for me. Cheryl. >> All right. With that in mind, it is 9:21. I will take a motion to adjourn. >> So moved. Second. >> Uh all those in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. We are adjourned at 9:21 p.m. Thank
you very much for your patience this evening and uh hope you all stay warm and we will see you again on the 23rd.