Good evening, Hollist. Happy new year. Welcome to the January 12th meeting of the Hollist Select Board. We have some uh updates to uh to bring forward to the community. And we're going to start tonight by talking to the historical commission. We have two members here
this evening. If they could come on up if they're prepared to and sit by the microphones. We have Sarah Zarelli and Frank Chamberlain. Welcome. Welcome. Happy New Year. Thank you for coming in. >> Y happy new year to you as well. >> And uh so we brought you in um we wanted
to sort of talk a little bit more about the um wonderful report we got about uh the historical uh buildings in town, the census. um and wanted to talk a little bit about have more of a discussion with with everybody. So, please board, you know,
just don't wait for the moment. You just let's let's just start talking. Um it's uh we want to, you know, review and accept the the the final report. So, I want to go through that a little bit. We want to sort of discuss what are the next steps to take with this. And one of
the things that I had been talking about um offline and other places and I think is something that we should talk about a little bit here is how this uh historical census and histo history in general um relates to our master plan
and some of the things and the changes that are coming in Holl such as sewers, such as you know high school like different kinds of things that are happening and how we can sort of bring these things together a little bit more holistically. So, um, wanted to sort of kick it off with just like if we could
kind of just give the quick overview of the report again just to talk it through like what do we talk about just to, you know, set the set the stage for things. And again, like Tina, Dame, if you guys have questions, let's just, you know, let's talk. We don't need to wait for uh, you know, a timing and then we can
kind of get get moving on to other pieces of it. So, whatever, however you want to handle it, you two. >> Sure. Sure. So, I'm happy to open it up here. So, the report that we've put before you again tonight is from our historic preservation consultant, Stacy
Spies. >> We were able to hire her thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission, which was matched by the town of Hollist. >> Is she still do we still have more on the grant or is it she completed the >> She has completed it. She's indicated that she's open to potentially working
with us again in the future. Okay. But we finished the work outlined in our grant and we we've spent all the money. >> Yes. And we still and we have all the information from that. So like if we wanted I'm not saying we would but if we wanted to engage with someone else about some similar topics, we have all that information.
>> Yes. So there is a final report which I shared with you that will be also on file with the state historical commission as well. So it will it's a public document. It will be publicly accessible. Uh the full paper copies are available to anyone here and they will be online in the state database. It just
takes them a little time to migrate them. Uh so they are coming and they'll be publicly accessible. >> Okay. >> Um a real purpose for this work was twofold. Uh first of all, the village commercial district is not well documented at all. Uh we don't know much
about it, but it contains some interesting buildings and it's also a place that as you alluded to, Ben, might see some big change going forward if the town successfully moves forward with sewers. So, we wanted to document the area so that if we were asked as the
commission to rule on demolition delays, we could really understand how the buildings fit into the area, what the character was like, and really kind of know what we were dealing with from what had previously been an area that we didn't didn't really understand very well. So, we documented just a little
over a hundred properties through Stacy and that is summarized in the report. And then each of the forms, each property has its own what we would call a B form. This is a this is a nomenclature uh set by the state historic commission that has a whole
library of forms. I believe it's A through H that are different kinds of ways to document historic places, buildings, structures, objects, rocks, lands, neighborhoods, uh a whole whole gamut of things. >> We laugh about rocks, but I'm sure there are
>> there are uh There definitely are. >> Well, balancing rock is >> Yeah. Like >> when it was a balancing rock has a few rocks. >> Jasper's rock right up here. >> Yeah. >> Um there's also Jasper's rock and then there's also the rock pile on the golf course. So that's three significant
rocks I can think of right off the top of my head without even talking about it. >> She's already come up with the house. So it rocks literally. Yeah. >> Gas the wrong place. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Sorry. Love it.
Okay. Um so, um All right. So, you know, we have this document that has all this wonderful census about um the buildings in the village commercial district. Um, and so, you know, we wanted to I mean there's there's sort of an an expanded
thing to that, but I think we should just let's let's just sort of talk specifically about the report >> and sort of like, you know, um I know Tina like I think you had expressed before like you know an interest in >> um accepting it, promoting it from from
our position and um just curious if you still feel that way, have anything to add to that? >> Definitely. Um I I see three distinct areas here that this this is report is significant uh towards. One is funding.
I think that this report can be a resource for those seeking CPC funding. >> I think that the doc the report can be a document that people groups organizations efforts here in Hollist can use to support a funding request at
a state or federal level. uh and I'm particularly thinking about something like a cultural district or historic district. Not to say that today that's the direction the town wants to move in. But this becomes a critical >> piece to any kind of uh application for those which comes with funding.
>> Absolutely. >> Uh and then also again coming back to CPC I think that this document will serve those that might be coming to CPC to ask for funding. Uh so I see it supporting funding requests. Uh I see it supporting opportunities like for
example outreach to the residents who own the homes that were identified as being there were four I believe potentially um qualifying for the national historic >> national thank you. Uh so I think at a minimum uh
we accept the report and then would look to direct town resources to do some outreach to those individuals to um support and that maybe that pulls in CPC maybe it doesn't but >> it has the potential to >> okay >> I think in accepting it we open the door for that and then I think of process for
the town particularly zoning bylaws uh demolition delays as you mentioned I think that this report will guide some processes that uh are currently ly established and then will be established or will change uh as we look to uh as we
increase our efforts and focus in the downtown area whether it be sewer or some some other effort. So I I I see those as three key areas as to why this board should should accept it. Uh and then we should get it up on the website uh and then we should determine some followup steps and I think that's probably a collaborative process over
time what those follow steps need to be unless you're here tonight to present some in which case I'm wide open. I'd like to hear what they are. Yeah, we did. We did come up with a with a few. I I'm definitely a do your homework person. If you invite us to talk, like we should we should come with things to talk about. So, >> love it. We could
>> and I think even along that line, not only like potential zoning, but also potential um like should there be like standards or sort of like set types of things >> for like you know as we like I've had conversations with people who aren't in
this room about similar kinds of topics when it comes to potential sewers downtown like you know design standards and thinking about like how do we incorporate them >> to make sure like hey this is sort of like the Hollist we want it to be >> and that way we're not, you know,
presented with, you know, something that's sort of anathema to that ideal. >> We and that and that's part of what we felt. We felt we're we're kind of at a crossroads here. The the sew the sewer project when it happens opens up enormous opportunities for the town, but
you know, challenges as well. And and we wanted to be out ahead of this. I'm sure the rest of the town does as well, so that we can steer the what could be some exciting new development in the direction that we want it to go rather than having it happen randomly or in a vacuum or in a way that doesn't lend
itself to the to the character that the town is trying to trying to achieve. So, >> yes. Yes. >> Yeah. Just a quick question. I know you covered this briefly last time, but what level of uh outreach have you already done with any of the property owners who are kind of on this list?
So, it it's been pretty informal. We were out at Celebrate Hollist. We we had a table. We talked with people. Um I've had a couple people who have either I met there or have just um emailed the historical commission looking for information and I've been able to share
the forms with them. Um, I do think a very logical next step is to do some outreach um to perhaps even all of the property owners on the list to let them know that this survey was accomplished and that they could find both more information about their property, but
also do some education. that just because their property has been inventoried does not um impose upon them any requirements, any limitations to their property rights other than those already prescribed by town town bylaw.
Um and you know, invite people to engage. Um obviously I've only seen a subset of people who are already interested, but most people think it's pretty cool to be able to see what their property once was and who owned it and things like that. And for the most part, I think people are often very kind of
excited to know that their property has a real story behind it. >> For the four that were potentially destined for the register, have you guys chatted with them in person a little bit and to what extent? >> Uh, so we have talked with one of the property owners because that property owner is also a member of the historical
society. Um, makes it easier. >> So while the commission and the society are very distinct, we have a lot of there's a lot of flow between the two. Um, so I think we haven't done outreach because we wanted to be pretty intentional about it and knowing that the board was also interested. Uh, we
thought maybe working with the assessor might be an appropriate way to reach out to these folks. And again, I feel pretty strongly it needs to come from a place of education that your house is really cool >> and also you you should know that but you don't have to do anything about it.
>> Is there is there anformational one pager a fact sheet? So it's like so your house appeared on this list. Now what is there anything like that? I imagine we are not the first town to be talking about that. >> Do I lose my house? >> Well, like what are my options? Why does
this matter? What's not? What are the >> We recognize the fact that something like this if you you just present this in a vacuum to a homeowner or property owner that could be alarming to them because they might view this as a as some sort of threat to their property rights or or something that would affect the value of their of their property.
can't be in my house anymore, >> right? And we understand that. Um, you know, there there I think there's good information on the Mass Historical Commission website. I think quite honestly if we wanted to do at this point now that we have a report if we want to do a a for a little forum or something like that it would not be
difficult to get somebody from mass historical from the commiss historical commission to come out and do a do a presentation to the town but but specifically focused at the at the property owners in the downtown commercial district to to indicate to them what what this means and what it
doesn't mean. So >> is are are there any houses in this that like in this I mean what am I trying to say >> district? >> Um no. Um so like the the I'll step back. So the survey went to very
particular houses. >> Yes. >> In very particular part of town >> and as we know there are lots of historical houses throughout >> Yes. >> town. Yep. >> Are there any of those houses >> brought into not necessarily the survey because I understand that was very
specific, but do we have other information from some of those other houses that we can bring into this >> or like is it incomplete? And then the second part of that question would be also is like what if somebody says I have a historical house can I voluntarily do some kind of survey or
something to add to this list? Yeah, we we have some really solid answers to those questions. >> Um, so there has been a widpread documentation of historic buildings in Hollist. Some of it is outdated. Uh, but all of it would be a foundation. Uh, the
coverage is pretty pretty wide as a rule and most of the um many of the significant structures and probably most of the ones that look exciting have been documented. Um, sorry, but that's like preservations bias, right? we're like that one, it's different.
>> Yeah, let's let's save it. Which is is good and important, >> right? >> Um so I think there's definitely space to be thinking about that and certainly the commission has talked from time to time. Um >> the revised demolition delay bylaw actually allows us to create a list of
structures that are on a bit of a list where like if they came up as part of demolition delay, we would consider them significant and would take different care with them. Mhm. >> Um so we have talked about working to create sort of a larger uh very locally based survey based on what the
commission in the community says is important. >> Uh we've talked about that but taken no real action on that yet. >> Um in terms of if an individual homeowner was like hey my house is old and I would love to know more about it. Uh we are in the process and actually
one of the next steps I proposed is to develop uh a program sanctioned by the commission to create official plaques. Um you've probably seen many of the like historic plaques on houses throughout the town. They were given out by different people with different perspectives and different priorities
>> and people email us periodically being like it broke. The painter stole it. Um >> what do we what can we do? and our answer has been well like you can you can make yourself another one. Um but we'd really like to formalize that and
part of that process uh would be having them work with a consultant or to do very thorough research on their own through the Massachusetts Registry of Deeds to document their home's history and create essentially we talked about those B forms. That's what a single property is documented as the equivalent
of a B form for their property. And then we would work with them to create a plaque. Uh the plaques would all be we created design that would be standard to the town and would have a specific look to it. If you've been in in many different towns across the state, you'll often see that each town has their own
flavor to the plaque that reflects kind of their own ethos and and things like that. And we would work to create that as well. So that's definitely one of our big goals for the coming year is to start to get that off the ground. We've surveyed a huge number of communities
around us who have programs like this. We've gotten all of their thoughts, ideas, and policies, and we need to kind of sift through that and begin to create our own best practices document. And then do we need to do a lot of community outreach to figure out what people in Hollist want? >> Okay. >> Is there a fun funding source for that
work like a grant program that would support that? Uh so there is not necessarily a grant program, but on my list tonight, what the select board can do for us is to help us find some seed money to get this program off the ground. Uh we'd like to see it be self-supporting. So in other words, you pay in for your plaque and that covers
our costs, but I think we >> Yeah, we can definitely I think I I think it's reasonable to start to explore >> what that looks like in terms of cost and and and >> right >> comp and need and then we can figure out what uh we can work with the town manager. Am I the only one at the table
thinking programmatic stabilization fund? >> I was not. But >> well, I mean, but I but I think we I think we have to sort of understand like what we would need. We might not even need seed money per se. We could all because if it's self-sustaining, they might be able to, you know, they might sort of figure it out and then, you
know, the person gives some money and then that kind of pays for the the action um that that's taking place. But I think let's let's look at what is needed and then we can sort of explore options to on on how to make that happen. So right before
>> I mean the other the other possibility that we will probably I'm sure will be exploring is continuation something similar to what we did here explore possible future grants federal funding is not as >> forthcoming >> forthcoming as it was. Whether we would be successful or not we don't know but
that is certainly another path we can see. Are there any like, you know, um, you know, we talk about like, you know, the the Collins Center did stuff for us when it came to like buildings and things like that. Is there some sort are there any other equivalents, history departments, anything that in the in the
area that might be interested in sort of helping to support as like, you know, a graduate program for a school or something? I don't know. I'm just kind of throwing ideas out there given our the historical nature of where we live. >> That's a good question. I don't I don't know off the top of my head, but that's certainly something that we can explore.
I mean there might be something >> I think we could talk to Max Page at UMass Amherst because that's the major preservation program and >> okay see if there's any like anything is pretty community oriented. There are also organizations that spec that that focus on specific types
of buildings or you know the building is architecturally significant or something like that there are ways >> okay >> to we things we can look into but I can't you know >> sure can't give you blanket answers. Absolutely. Um okay. So I think um I
think right now why don't we um if people are interested unless we have other questions about it um a vote to accept the final report and maybe we can and with that acceptance the we would put it on the website. Make sure it's put on the website and
>> adequate link to it. Is that if everybody's comfortable? >> Yeah. >> What was the date? Do you have direct date it was completed? >> Um put in the motion. August >> August. August 2025. I'm not sure. >> Let me just check the date on it. No, it is August 2025. You're right. Okay. >> I didn't I didn't know whether it was
there was a day involved. I didn't think so. >> Yeah. Excuse me, Rick. >> Yeah. >> Would you like I'd love one. >> All right. Move to accept uh the Holston Historical Commission Village commercial district survey of August 2025. >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor?
>> I >> I >> I. >> All right. Um next steps. So I think we had talked about, you know, it sounds like you you folks are going to be working on some things >> from your end. Do you think like maybe like later this year you might be coming back to us with some suggestions or
what's your what's your thought process on a timeline? >> It's not unreasonable. >> I think it's not unreasonable. I think it's really possible. I think one of the questions is one of the other big next steps. We've talked a little bit about design standards already tonight. Um the historical commission had been thinking
a lot about design standards and ultimately back burnered it to get the demolition delay bylaw >> revised. Um and so that's something we'd like to bring back and we need to work with the planning board directly on that. Um, but I think I think the
probably our three major priorities for this year, the design standards, the plaque program, and then implementing >> the recommendations of we received another state grant to have an archavist come review our collections, and we've received a great report that's really actionable, okay?
>> Um, that we'll be looking to implement this year as well. So, those are for an all volunteer commission of our size, that's actually a pretty big bite for the coming year. Um, so we'll see what we can do. Yeah. >> So, I I think you know um I think the the two things that I think like we want to try to we the town should be reaching
out to those four houses like in an official capacity if it's the assessor probably that that's probably the most adequate >> um so we can work with them to make sure that that happens and then I think >> you know when it comes to those design standards and things like that thinking
about um you know uh talking to certainly the sew commission the planning board. Maybe there's some sort of a public forum or something like that and if you need our >> support and help on that to sort of put that forward, we can certainly do that. And then >> if you can, you know, you had some other
options when it came to, you know, >> plaques and different kinds of things. Yeah. Is there, you know, >> I would, you know, is there possibility we could see it by like, you know, in time for October just to sort of say like if it's something that needs to be some town meeting action that we'd have a little bit, we have a little bit of
time to get there. You know, I'm not I'm not sure something like this I don't know whether it would necessarily require town meeting action, but but fall town meeting would be a good target. >> Yeah, that way if there would need to be it gives you sort of a a sort of a a natural place to make it happen >> and possibly time for a short
presentation or something at the beginning of the at the beginning of the meeting. I think people might find that an interesting way to approach something like that to get a little more visibility to what we're trying to do. >> Yeah. >> And I think we could do outreach at Springtown meeting. We were very successful with the survey that actually led to this MHC planning grant that we
>> basically handed out QR codes at Springtown meeting. Um, so we may do something similar to get an inventory of plaques in town. >> That be I think that >> I think we have a question from the back row if you'd entertain any comment. >> Well, the the person in the back row, I didn't want to single him out, but he's actually the person who came to me about
design standards. You if you want to just come forward to sort of because we want to be able to hear you. >> Robert, >> Robert Wne. Um I I previously worked for an engineering firm and so I had done a number of projects within historic built
you know areas uh Boston, Arlington and Lexingtons. So I know you were talking about making zoning bylaw changes, design standards. The other thing is to have a design review committee. Okay. And and I know the um Arlington has a very good model for that.
They were very tough in terms of the even material the facade material and >> you know going after the architect with all you know selection of materials and that sort of thing. So I would recommend that you know you look into some maybe the Arlington model for that. Okay.
>> And then also the MAPC is a good source. Um you know they may be able to help you in terms of instituting new bylaws and that sort of thing. >> But that's a good place to start. Yeah. >> Thank you. Thank you Robert. Yeah, >> he was actually the one he came to me u >> y
>> while back talking about design standards within l of sewer. So I'm glad I suggest that. >> Yeah, I think design standards are something that probably is is a broader going to require a broader discussion than just the historical commission. It's not the historical commission plays
a role in it, but we're not. >> But we also want to be thinking about it, especially in the context of sewers. If once we kind of let the cat out of the bag, it's out. And we want to think about if there's ways that we can sort of talk about it and work with it,
>> now we're in a better position than after building has started, after things have happened. So I think you know any anything that we can do proactively I think would be very that's what our thinking has been right along and why the timing on this whole process has
happened when it has because we recognize that there are going to be >> we wanted to be out ahead on this. Totally. Absolutely. Um, have you presented to the planning board, zoning board? >> We haven't. Uh, we I've talked with
talked with Karen Sherman a few times. Um, >> to be clear for folks listening in or who are less familiar. We currently do have design standards on the books for village commercial as uh section um chapter 5 section K of a zoning zoning
bylaws. Um, so those currently are available, but the commission thinks based on some of our research and talking with folks informally that maybe we could give them a little more of a backbone or a little more specificity in certain areas. So I think the first step
um per my conversations with Karen Sherman is to have that conversation with the planning board. Um, because it is already an established bylaw, there is some room for the planning board simply to revise it is my understanding. Um, but it also it could end up being
something that needs to be uh more of a full bylaw process, particularly if we were to set up a design review committee because currently those standards are overseen by the planning board. >> Okay. >> When you, if I may ask, when you get to that point where you have a an agenda item with the planning board, would you
just keep the board informed? I imagine a member or several members of the board, this board would like to attend to to follow this conversation. And that's part of one of the reasons I think why we haven't pushed the planning board too hard yet. You I think we felt this conversation needed to take place
first. So >> yeah, and I think I mean I would also um you know uh encourage you also talk to sewer commission and reach out to them and see if there's a time that you can even if you're just like making them aware of >> we've had a couple of casual conversations with with the folks on the
sewer commission already and you know let them understand that we're not Right. We're not we're in no way making any attempt to interfere with what they're trying to do. As as taxpayers, as residents of the towns, we're supportive of it. We're just trying to be >> Yeah. And I think >> along alongside them, not not in
>> giving information is never going to be detrimental. People not knowing like this is what we're talking about. This is what's going on. What do you guys think? Exactly. >> And then I think the third one um is, you know, is envisioning future Hollistan might have some interest sort of understanding what this stuff is going on as well. I guess and I think
that's a good point because I think the most of the surveys have indicated and one of the things that we've worked from is most of the surveys have indicated that one of the things that is that people find appealing about Hollist is the the visual aspect of our down our downtown. Uh this is one of the things
that strikes people as they drive through and lends you know so we we look at something like this we feel there's there's an economic value to the town I would I would like moving forward if you haven't already that you connect with the economic development coordinator >> share another one too. Yeah,
>> because you, you know, these these buildings, you know, we we we look at them and we think they, you know, they we kind of take them for granted, but they they drive some of the economics of this town and probably could do more. Um, >> I mean, in in that kind of a context, it
might actually be best if you went to Envisioning Future Holston first because there's a member of the planning board. I'm on future Austin. There's a member of the EDC. there's like all those you can you can sort of get into people's heads with a lot of overlap with you know in one conversation
>> um you know certainly you know talking about some of these other ones but we can help but in that group in in that setting can help facilitate some of those other things as you said we're all volunteers so yeah you know adding more we don't want to add more work to your to your plate but you know having those conversations and that kind of a setting
we can >> we can use we can leverage that to sort of have other agents to talk about Right. >> We're also not, you know, we're not necessarily the best place to do some of these things. We can address the historic aspect of it, but we're not, you know, the we can talk about the
economic development aspect of it. We can talk about the the the things that are being contemplated by Envision Future Hollist. But but you know, there again, our lane is the historic end of it. >> But sometimes it's just the marketing of it. Just like what we're talking about, you know, let's talk about the economic benefits of historical places
>> and if we can all work together to to produce the same the same end result, then that makes everybody happy. >> Yes, >> exactly. Um any other thoughts from you folks about um next steps with uh the final report? I think we >> kind of touched on it, Frank. We have
kind of like what we want to do on that side of things and kind of some ideas and you know, we're not like it has to be done at these times and things like that. So please, so you know, something happens, we it'll happen when it happens, and we're >> trying to move in that direction. Um,
>> and then, uh, lastly, um, one of the questions I had thrown out to you, um, in emails to both of you, was to talk about sort of when you read the 1999 master plan, there is a historical >> part to it. And one of the things that
you know, uh, Sarah, thank you so much for doing this. You kind of went through like what has happened, what hasn't happened from >> that master plan because sometimes you look at it like, oh, that seems very reasonable and it's like, well, this didn't happen because of, >> right, fantastic job putting that together. >> So, thank you so much for doing that. I
think that's, you know, really helpful, I guess. So, you know, we can review some of those things sort of offline rather than getting into the weeds on every single one of those. But I think my big conversation that I want to have that we've started having is do we want
to push towards changing a master plan and how does that impact historical places, historical things and um just wanted to sort of get your two cents about that as you've gone through this exercise both the survey and looking at the master plan
>> and what you think about that kind of an effort if you think it's worthwhile you think it's something that we should do >> you What do you think about it? >> Sure. Um, so I guess I should give a personal disclaimer is that professionally I'm a museum master
planner. Um, so as someone who master plans professionally, of course I think a master plan is an important and valuable tool and that at 26 years old ours has reached the end of its usable life. Um, and so I do think that there's
a lot of benefit to doing a new master plan. And I think what a good master plan would be is actually a lot like what we had in 1999. One that really looks holistically. So they had seven areas of focus, one of which was historical and cultural resources. And I
think that same kind of holistic focus of like what are all the pieces that come together to make Hollist a town in a community that is distinct, it would be an appropriate way to to do that. And I think it is really important that that the historical resources are represented
in some way in that planning process, whatever shape that takes, how if the town moves forward with a new master plan planning process. >> Okay. So you you seem to think it's a good idea. >> I do. Yes. >> Okay. Okay. Have you have you tal has the commission talked about it at
anything like this at all or is it just sort of the offline conversations just just out of curiosity? >> We did consider it at our last meeting essentially in the sense that we felt it was a process we'd like to be a part of because we think that
>> historic resources have a really critical role in defining the experience of living in Hollist and the feel of the place and what attracts people to come here and invest in it. And so I think we talked about essentially seeing this process as maybe heading down the tracks
and something we wanted to make sure that we didn't miss the train on that we wanted to be consulted and engaged with. >> I find this fascinating. I'm glad you shared your comments. I I Ben and Damon really strongly feel that we provide a
service to the planning board as a select board as the executive board for the for the town. We here were the point of contact for so many boards and committees both organizationally in our structure >> uh but also just in our interactions through our meetings and the type of of
uh items issues that come to this board for example accepting this report. We hear from boards and committees uh on what needs they have, what goals they have, what priorities they have and I feel in that way we offer service to the planning board which is to gather this
information these comments about goals, priorities and needs for the historical commission in this case but in other cases other boards and committees and bringing that to the planning board saying basically this is what we're hearing. This is what we're seeing. Will you engage with us on this topic? So,
uh, you're not the first border committee to sit before us and and share a thought about a master plan. Um, you won't be the last. Uh, but this is certainly a public meeting and I feel like in this moment I just want to recognize I think our board has a a service to provide the planning board.
And I I would like to see us move in that direction to engage with them to pass on to share what we're hearing from um all of these other volunteer boards and committees that are doing excellent work for the town of Hollist. >> I I mean I I'm coming at it from the angle like envisioning future hall and
tomorrow one of the me the members of the economic development committee is bringing forward at uh the meeting tomorrow um for EFH uh a sort of a master plan process for you know making sure that
we're constantly like updating things like that. It's a little bit more um it's not necessarily updating the current plan, but thinking about like, hey, we need to make sure that we have some plants that we don't leave this for 26 years. We're
>> looking at it every few years and going forward with the process and some kind of engagement. So, I'm I'm sort of looking at it like, hey, you know, as we're talking about some of these things, >> there might be other angles that we should pursue um to think about it from, you know, not just from an economic development perspective, but from a
historical perspective. >> I greatly appreciate the specificity of this that why a master plan? Well, why a master plan tonight? Why a master plan update is this? >> So, I I really appreciate you coming forward with some very specific comments and as to the benefit or need that you
see in in an updated master plan. So, thank you. When is your when is the next meeting for the historical? >> Uh it is yeah next week we'll be meeting next Wednesday. >> Yeah. >> Um Damon, any any thoughts about master plan?
>> I'm generally supportive of master plans. Um so yeah, no no further compass. >> All right. I mean I I think it's something that you know I'm starting I want to push for um but I recognize that it's a planning board document. to Tina's point collecting that and I'm
looking at it from >> this angle from our board's perspective and from vision of future Allison's perspective from a strategic planning perspective that it's sort of a document that we need to be thinking about is putting you know rubber to the road for things as opposed to just hey we want to do nice things hey this is how we do
those things >> well because the a good master plan will give you that it's really a vision document right is that it's that mountain you can see in the distance and it gives you that guidepost to get there whereas your strategic plan actionable goal oriented Right. >> But without a good master plan, you can't do a good strategic plan,
>> right? They they need to go together. They need to be both working together. >> Um, any other thoughts about >> the last thought I had was that we appreciate the support of this board. Um, we feel there's both cultural and
economic advantages to to preserving and maintaining and promoting Hollist's historic past and incorporating something like this into into a master plan or into into our future strategic plan. But we couldn't we we could, you know, obviously we're biased. We
couldn't do it without the without the support of this board and without the support of the other boards in town, economic development, envisioning future, Hollist planning board, all the partners in this effort. So we we appreciate that as well. So >> when I when I was doing the survey analysis from the strategic plan,
historic came up quite a bit. Yes. >> Like you know right up there with with >> resources like natural resources was historic nature. >> I think those are two very important parts of >> Hollison's character. >> Yeah. >> May I make one last comment? >> Of course. I had the the benefit of
listening to the MAPC's arts and culture team talk about this type of work in any community here in Massachusetts and they made this comment and I wrote it down because it just meant so much to me. It's very important to keep your feet firmly on the ground. We we are normal
people living average lives here in Hollist. And the reference that they made, the comment that they made was in recognizing the historical uh aspects of your community, the context, whatever, you are acknowledging the common person of the time. And I thought, well, you
know, I'm nothing more than a common person. >> I could relate to that. This isn't about anything other than understanding the common person of a different time. And I that just really resonated with me. um is very approachable and very uh
grounded. You're >> absolutely as as why this work is important. So I would this town would not be what it is today without the efforts of the people who have lived here for the past 300 years. So we we stand on their shoulders. So
>> we do. >> Yep. Okay. >> All right. I think we're good. Thank you so much for coming in this evening. Happy new year. >> Yeah. Happy New Year. Well, we really really appreciate being here and we really appreciate the support of the board over the last couple years. We feel like we've >> really gained a lot of traction and so we're excited to keep going forward
>> and keep keep us surprised on how things are going and then we can, you know, um when we get to things like forums and things like that, if you want to go that route, we can work together to make sure that those things are promoted and part of it. >> Um and uh thank you so much for your time this evening. Really appreciate it.
>> Thank you. See you. All right. Moving on. All right. Um so now we are going to um bring forward we're going to talk about um appointing a new assistant town manager HR director.
>> Yes. So Frank, if you want to kick us off and talk a little bit about um who we have. >> Absolutely. >> To to Cheryl, do you want to sit up at the table for us? Please come on up so we know who we're talking about. >> Um so the town manager act specifies
that the uh assistant town manager appointment will be ratified by the select board. So tonight, it is my pleasure tonight, I already said that, to present uh Cheryl Hule for the select board's consideration as the town's next assistant town manager, HR director.
Cheryl is no stranger to Hollston. She served as the human resources benefits manager from February 2021 to March 2020 2022 2024. And uh during her time here in Holl, she actually took part in creating the HR
department. Uh so it was very much a homecoming for her. Um Cheryl after leaving Hollison left to become the human resources manager just next door in Medway uh reporting directly to the town manager during which time she not only managed all HR matters of the town
but was also involved in other initiatives directed by the town manager's office. Cheryl is a Society of Human Resources Management senior certified professional and during the interview process set herself apart from other candidates by demonstrating knowledge of not only the nitty-gritty
HR work uh that is required of a small town HR director um but also that she has the required collaborative and communicationbased skill set needed to work with uh department heads to deliver not only for our residents but for our employees. Um, I also want to really
really thank Chief Cassidy, Chief Stone, and Jackie Winer for all of their uh time commitment uh in serving on the different interview panels. And at this point, I will open it up to the board for any questions that they have of Cheryl. And thank you for coming, Cheryl. >> Thank you for having me. >> Thank Thank you for coming in tonight.
Cheryl, if you just want to kind of reintroduce yourself to the board and the community and uh what brings you back to Hollist and uh anything you want to sort of add and then we might have a couple questions for you. Absolutely. >> So, for those that don't know my full background, um I've been in human
resources for over 30 years. Started at Sunlife Financial in the financial services industry um doing HR. I was primarily in benefits. That was my specialty for the 10 years I was there. U when I started to raise a family, the commute was too much for me. So, I
decided to stay local and I went to a local dental practice who had just opened and they didn't have any HR services in place. So um I ended up staying there 20 years and took that from a practice of four people to about 17 or so by the time that I left u
multiple specialies and I did all facets of HR there, payroll, everything. Um my son went to college. I decided to go back into um more of a HR role like in in something other than the healthcare field and I came to Holl. Um I was the
first person when uh Travis was here. They had been working with Mary Beth Bernard on starting an HR department. She was a consultant that um so I was the first person hired. I worked with Mary Boscet in the treasur's office. At the time Mary was doing all of the HR herself essentially. Um and
then Kathleen was hired, Kathleen Buckley, and I worked with her and I was here a little over three years and an opportunity came up in Medway. So I decided to go um and I learned a lot there. It was different from my time in Hollist. I was physically I still am
physically seated within the town manager's office. Um so I got a lot of exposure to other facets of of working for a town. So the reason I'm looking to come back is I think this is I think this is the right time in my career for a step up in the human resources area.
And the idea of learning something new was very exciting to me. That's pretty much why I wanted to come back. >> Great. Tina, questions. >> Uh, I'm thrilled that we got you back from Medway. I remember the day when Kathleen told me that you were leaving.
Uh, I remember uh the the comments and emotions around that. So, uh, it was it was sad to see you go, but that makes it all the sweeter that you're coming back. So, how's that for a welcome? I I do have a couple specific questions that I that should be very uh easy, but I'm
sure you shared it all in the interview process, but for the benefit of the people listening, um I'm just going to ask you two or three real quick questions. One of them being um your experience in Medway offered you a unique experience you hadn't had in Hollist, maybe probably not in the in
the dental um uh practice that you were involved with. Uh you you called out collective bargaining as an experience you had. Could you just speak to how you um worked in Medway? Yes. >> In regards to collective bargaining? >> Absolutely. In Medway, we they have three um collective bargaining units.
One is municipal and that encompasses the department of public works, the library, and the clerical administrative staff in the town. We have a police and a fire. Um when I was in Hollist, the contracts were renewed by Travis. He pretty much did that. There was only one
that was up for renewal during my time. Um, so I had experience administering the contracts, but it the experience was more in medway. There were certain instances that I had to collaborate with people to make some changes. For example, the fire department
was is short staffed, having to do a lot of forces, and they were trying to come up with something to alleviate the stress of the people getting forced and all that. And the chief came to us and thought about instituting a new model called the PDIA model. So, I had to do work with that. Um, we I've had
experience creating side letters with the contracts. I've had experience administering grievances. I've had experience with >> pretty much all things on all contracts, multiple side letters. Um, I had to have
positions regraded and reclassified for the library. they went through a tremendous change and we found that there were some roles that weren't um in the correct um stat grade. We created some new positions recently and just
tried to make that into a little bit better of a situation for the library. >> Thank you. >> Um I'm compelled by by your uh stating that you're you're looking for professional growth uh throughout the past number of years and you're bringing that to Hollist as well. So in terms of
the assistant town manager role, how do you chase down that professional grow growth? Are you looking for certifications? Are you looking for training? Are you going to involve yourself in in organizations outside the town halls and like the MMA, Massachusetts Municipal Association or others? Do you have any sort of and
maybe you don't you're going to take some time to figure out how you're going to do that, but anything you would like to share about how you'll go about the professional growth that you look to accomplish here in Hollist? >> It's a little bit of both of that. Um, I'm already a member of the Mass Municipal Association. I'm a member of the Mass Municipal HR Association. Okay.
Um, I'm a member of Sherm Obviously. I think my approach to getting into the assistant town manager part of it will be to immerse myself in the role, get familiar with the boards and committees to find out what the needs really are. Um, I've had lengthy conversations with
Frank about mentoring me and suggesting things that would help. Um, one of the first things I thought of was a municipal finance class that's offered by MMA that I thought would be very helpful for me, um, and that I'm interested in taking. So, I am open to any educational opportunities that come my way. Um, and we'll we'll gladly take
those. So, I'm going to see what the needs are and then try to get direction on what the best way is to educate myself and learn how to serve um, the needs of those boards, committees, staff, everybody. Excellent. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Uh what's just philosophically,
first of all, I'm really glad that we're having you here. Like I'm delighted that you're join. >> So happy to be here. >> Uh what's your thought on kind of like maintaining good labor relations while also holding a high bar for accountability in municipal government? I know it's more philosophical and and vague, but kind of curious where your
heart. >> It's not it's actually it's critical. So I I feel like our in the in the workforce today, keeping the employees motivated, satisfied and wanting to be here is very important
while balancing with the needs of the town are financial and otherwise. So I think it's trying to develop a relationship of trust with the people that you're trying to work with. Um, I feel like you have to know what the outcome is and sometimes there are hard
conversations, but I think it's about building relationships and making sure that everybody's needs are understood and realistic expectations of what can be met on both sides. >> That's awesome to hear. Do you have any kind of early thoughts on and again I'm not holding your feet to the fire on this, but on how to like assess kind of
performance evaluation for the I guess the softer skills. So like you know we have folks who perform a function X but there's also the public facing function of like how they interact with the folks in town right with citizens and such and that's always a tough line I think for municipal governments because it's like you can be perfectly good at the job but
also have real challenges in communicating with individuals and that can have like a net positive or negative effect any early thoughts on how you might go about assessing that in the future I know it's forward facing I'm just gonna I won't I won't tie you to anything but >> that's okay I think that um doing performance evaluations and listening to
our managers in what their feedback is and what they're observing with the employees, making sure that we have good training in place. But I think that um we have to we have to go at it in providing them with the training that we think they need for what we want to see >> and making sure that we can evaluate
those programs to see if they're giving people the skills that we want them to have. >> Interesting. Yeah. And I' I'd be very curious as we go on to have conversations about kind of like how to how to use assessment tools that are from the public inward facing. I think that's always a mixed dimension that some people don't track, but I think it
could be really useful for us. >> Yeah, I think it's very interesting. I mean, that's who we're here to serve. So, I think getting feedback from from people who utilize our services is very important. >> Great. That's all I have and I'm just so delighted that you're joining us. >> Thank you so much. >> Welcome back. It's so nice to see you.
Appreciate having you >> do these things. I had a couple quick questions for you. Um, so the first one I have is just sort of do you have any like in um again sort of along Damon's line, I'm not holding you to anything, but like do you have any thoughts about like what you want to do when you come
into the role? Like you know, first 60 days, first 90 days, first six months, you have like sort of like a a sort of a an idea sort of like of where trajectory you'd like to sort of go in that in during the first few months of your your time here?
>> I do. I think um the first thing and this is what I know of and then I think after this it's going to be up to to me to work with Frank on this, but I need to immerse myself back into the benefits in HR. Joanne's been working down there by herself looking for some help. Um a
lot has changed since I've left. We've got the new health insurance. So, I really need to identify what is what everything is right now. Get myself up to speed so we have a good second person. Um, I don't never really a fan of one person knowing how to do everything and always depending on that
one person for everything. So, I'd like to get up to speed on what HR is looking like right now. From Joann's perspective, I'd like to look at what positions we have open and what your recruiting needs are. Um, I feel like that's something I would want to get right into. I can monitor the website. I don't see much of right now, but
something that's good to to know, see what's coming down the pike. Um, so it would be to immerse myself in the HR. um and then see what what Frank's priorities are for the role. That's what I'm thinking. >> Okay. And then um another uh question I
had for you was thinking about um personnel bylaw changes and things like that. Did you have you had some experience doing that in Medway? I mean I'm not asking you like have you analyzed all of our you know bylaws? I mean that's a little you know ahead of things but just sort of like thinking
you know holistically like you know what you know what kinds of things have your experience has been in medway and you know thinking about moving towards you know do we need to do some things sooner things like that just sort of like putting that on the radar as well as you know if there's opportunities to do
those things you know do we do them in May do we but also continually trying to make sure that we're up to date on all those pieces as necessary so just sort like what your thoughts are about bylaw changes and things like that for the personnel. >> My thoughts are that it should be an ongoing process first of all and I can
tell you that when I compare the two Holl versus Medway, Holl's a little bit more complex with the consolidated personnel bylaws that we have and Medway's had the town manager act for a much longer time. So they have a personnel policy that is actually issued by the town manager and all changes go
through that. So it's actually much simpler. Um so I have had experience in changing that. For example, um let me try and think of one of the ones that we had to change recently. We have a health reimbursement account, let's say. And so people who incur deductible expenses,
they can file for reimbursement, but there weren't parameters set on it for, you know, you have to do it within six months of the end of the plan year, that sort of thing. So, we put some controls on it. And it was as simple as we updated the uh personnel policies and just issued it out. the consolidated personnel bylaws that are in Medway are
a lot more um involved and they're longer. I think they're important. Um some of my priorities are would be to review things like our discrimination policy to make sure that we're compliant with things like that. I mean, I can't remember off the top of my head exactly what state they were in when I left. Um
you know, I've looked a little bit, but I think it's going to be an ongoing process to look at those and update them. And I need to understand a little bit better and I will how the the town manager act is in place here and is this something that Frank is able to take
over by issuing more standardized simplified personnel policies >> and and I think along that line I think you know we've you know as as the person who kind of went took the town manager act made some couple tweaks and things like that John did most of the work I
didn't write it but um thinking about some of those things that are open to opportunities as they as they come forward if there are things that could be streamlined changed refined >> um to make sure that you know the business of HR is handled by the people
the professionals whenever possible as as appropriate I think is I think to me is something I'm just saying that now we haven't had a discussion about it so it's not a select board >> comments but I think you know being able to sort of think about those things I think is a is valuable and not being afraid to like hey can we rethink this,
hey, can we change this? And we want to hear those kinds of options and opportunities to see if we can, >> you know, it feels like Collison sometimes can be a little bit 20th century thinking and we want to move to the 21st century with some of the things and I'm I'm not picking out HR as that, but it just that you know, as you go
through, you know, not being afraid to to bring those things forward as as you think is necessary. >> That would be great. And I think that it's important to have um the bylaws clear and set expectations. Yeah. >> For people. It just makes it easier for everyone to do their job and it's it's
important protects the town. It's just um I very interested in that. >> Absolutely. Um okay. So um according to the town manager act, we are not the appointing authority. Frank is but we ratify the assistant town manager
position. So we have the opportunity when we can sort of discuss amongst each other. It's like you know are we comfortable ratifying? I mean, I personally am. I think it I think Cheryl's great. I have full confidence that she can do the the job and I'm excited to work with her and I think
she's interested and wants to do more and wants to learn more and I'm excited. We hope we you can come to some meetings sometimes uh for with us to >> you know um not every meeting but certainly you know when we get into like town meeting times and things like that having you participating and and part of
that uh the conversation I think is very valuable for us. >> I look forward to it. Um but um I'm I'm in favor of doing that and just wanted to sort of hear your thoughts before >> I think you're looking at me because I make the motion not >> you make the motion like why are you looking at me then? >> It's just kind of my nature is to kind
of look this one up. So I can do this if you want. >> Uh let's move to um >> ratify here. >> Oh yes, let's just just checking. Just wanted to check. >> Okay. Uh we have a motion. Can we have a motion to ratify the appointment of um
Charl of to the HR assistant town manager position effective February 9th. Is that correct? >> Okay, that's the motion. >> Okay. Move to approve the appointment of Cheryl Hule to the to the assistant town
manager HR director position effective February 9th, 2026. >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I >> I >> I. Cheryl, welcome. Thank you so much. I'm thrilled to be back. >> We're so happy to have you back. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. We look forward to working with you. >> Look forward to working with you.
>> Thank you. >> Frank's like, "It cannot come fast enough." February 19th not come fast enough. >> Thank God. >> Four more weeks. >> Um all right, moving on. Um we have uh mass
trails funding um priorities for conservation commission and trails committee projects. I know Robert is here. Um we Robert if you want to come forward or if you just wanted to you certainly can but you don't I didn't want to put you on the spot although I
know knowing you I'm like he's going to be prepared. So, we have Robert Widneck from the trails committee and um here to sort of talk about Frank, could you just kind of like bring this forward sort of just talk a little bit about why we're having this conversation?
>> Sure. So, we have uh the state offers a mass trails grant program that a couple of different committees in town were interested in pursuing this year. The deadline is February 1st, uh so just in a couple of weeks. So, um, we have, uh, like I said, two committees that are
interested in, uh, in pursuing it for three different projects. Um, and so we caught up internally about, you know, what might make sense, the most sense to pursue the the the grant funding for. Obviously, we don't want to have conflicting applications. You want to give the town
the best shot overall. Um so um after speaking um with Tyler and James and Robert um we think the best course of action here is to prioritize the upper Charles Trail drainage improvements which is the third phase of that project.
>> Correct. >> Right. So um for a couple of different reasons. Um first the other two projects are studies or or engineering design type projects. So there's a uh a master trail
excuse me a trails master plan that the concom would like to move forward and um the other be the other is actually also a rail trail related project. It's engineering for the restoration of the fips tunnel. Um so we thought a more
shovel ready project or a project that you know actually results in in work being done may be prioritized by the state when they're um evaluating the different applications. It also happens to be the most expensive of the of the projects. So, >> how much?
>> Uh, I think around 100 grand is what we >> 89,000, but they match um we have to do an 8020. So, we have to come up with 20% of that and we we've been using volunteer help for all these other projects. So, all the volunteer help and then the DPW has been great. They've
been providing equipment and their help. Um, so we count that towards the match. And so it it works out that we'll end up asking them for I think it was a little over 50,000. >> Okay. >> Just for context, the other uh two projects in terms of cost. Uh Trails
Master Plan um we have a sort of rough estimate probably somewhere between 20 and 30. I think a few years ago they were going for 17 or 18 I think you said when so we assume some escalation. >> It was a while ago but >> yeah some escalation there. Um and then the FIPS tunnel engineering um we have
pegged around 50,000 which I think we actually just got the bit the two bids back for that so far. >> Um so um given again sort of the the number of potential applications and the limited source of funding, we thought it best to prioritize one. Um and so the
recommendation of the select board is to prioritize the uh continued drainage project or to continue rather the um the drainage project down by um uh 1750 >> um and potentially work with the
community preservation committee to seek funding for the the two additional projects if they and you know I think the way to approach the CPC with this with these I guess two remaining projects is you know we have three projects that the town is hoping to
accomplish this year, all trails related. >> Let's take sort of a holistic approach to this effort and say, "Okay, these are all the trails things that that we want to get done this year. We're seeking outside funding for, you know, the most expensive piece of it. Let's see if we can use CPC funding for, you know, these
other two maybe costwise smaller projects." And if um you know if needed or you know if they request I probably shouldn't say this out loud but um you know there probably are alternate uh sources of funding that we could tap for um you know if they wanted to see some
sort of you know 5% match or 10% match or something like that to the CPC grant. Um but I think this this approach makes the most sense. Now um just one sort of big picture uh question here that I had was sort of the you know I'm glad we
were sort of able to identify you know multiple stakeholders looking for similar sources of funding from a grant program. Are grant programs generally going through your office that have been applied to by the town like at least just like an advisory role in some capacity. They're kind of like letting
you know hey we're we're doing this. Here's the here's the grant that's being applied for. here's the application and then keep making sure they keep me apprised of anything that's coming forward from any uh board and committee not just once that report to us. >> Uh yeah, I can't think of any I haven't
had any surprises yet where there's been like a oh we got this grant and oh I never signed that paperwork. So >> yeah, I I just bring it I bring it up too because like a couple years ago we got one that was a little bit of a surprise that kind of you know the the grant process like the select board did find out about it
>> but it was sort of it felt like it was not really sort of a shared experience and just sort of thinking about like you know thinking about things in sort of like a Hollist way, not necessarily uh you know this board, that board, this this place, that place. sort of it I I
would just sort of like you know um want to find a way to make sure that anything I mean certainly you're signing off on most of them but there might be opport there might be others that might be coming through other channels that >> don't need to be signed off by you and I think it would be important that >> you should be knowing about what's going
on in those other places and making sure they're coming to you about it >> and I think in this case it was a combination of both you know volunteers and staff that were sort of raising the flag like we don't you know we want to do this but what's the right way to go about it and you know both reached out to to me and said you know what's the
best way to >> to move forward here. >> I think it makes sense. >> Ben, are you uh suggesting a communication from the town manager to department heads and to boards and committee chairs to say >> sure >> grant applications. >> Yeah, just like make sure make sure like
you're you're copying the town manager on any grant applications something like something to that effect or signing any grant applications through the town manager's office. seems like a reasonable >> I think I I even if it's just like you know collecting them you know just to sort of know what's out there so they're sort of like a house of >> grants that if people want to find out
more or look back at other things that there's one library of them in in the space I think would be a good idea I would say to Tina's point yes we should >> let everyone know hey you're applying for a grant if it's not already signed off by the town manager directly please
make sure you're just uh sending a copy to the town manager's office >> that makes it I I think that's reasonable. >> Okay. >> Any questions about the uh mass trails grant? I mean, I think makes sense to me. >> Yeah. I just have one on ter in terms of
scope for the access path from 1750 down to the trail. Would this grant opportunity allow for any kind of improvement? I think of that as a very critical piece of infrastructure in terms of connectivity because the time
will come where excuse me one second. Um yeah, forgive me. Um the Johnson Drive neighborhood um the your neighborhood behind the Pope Industrial Park. I see a future where we
will have much greater connectivity from those neighborhoods and I see their point of access to the trail most likely being >> down through 1750. So does this application give us the ability to improve that? >> It actually will in fact do that. Um I
had met with Rob Walker a couple weeks ago about you know some other things but we were also talking about it. We drove around the site and looked at it. But one of the things we're planning on doing similar if you we're doing a similar project to what we did at Fipps Tunnel, you know, we took out the ditches, put in pipes, put in gravel,
raised the grade and all that. So in this case, one of the issues with the access going from the trail to the 1750 Washington Street building is that it needed to meet the ADA slope requirements. And so with this RA, we were planning on raising the grade in that area >> of the trail itself
>> of the trail itself. And so that would actually benefit. So he Rob Walker plans to you know obviously hold off until if if we're successful getting this grant raising the grade then that'll help um make the grade less to the
>> Okay. >> Is there a crosswalk there? There is not now. But you know, when you think big picture about connecting folks up in that neck of the woods, >> that's the that is 1750 being able to get from Johnson Drive across the street in a safe way like is there's that sort
of I was just thinking as I drove down there >> like there's like you know you can get to a lot of Brentwood that way and you know getting that access in a safe way could be. >> Yeah. a lot of our neighborhood and the people behind us um all come down through um to Pope Industrial Park.
Okay. There's actually like connection between Hemlock Drive and and Poke Industrial. So, that's one place and it's been on the what is it? Complete streets project to have crosswalks at all those locations. So, yeah, at >> or near the the post office Morgan
Morgan's way, is that the right? >> No, you're thinking I think Johnson Drive. >> Johnson Drive, >> right? It's about a 500 foot if that section where you look. Anyway, the >> is a future conversation. However, if if in this application we're able to build out some of the connection before it's
actually made, it's a good thing. So, I'm glad >> that's a good thing to add to the grant application. If you can trail, mass trails always want to have connectivity. And so, if we could say we'll make improvements to >> just reference. Yeah, you can reference the the tier 2 plan that we have with complete streets. >> We need to modify that grant
application. Yep. Mhm. >> Okay, that's good. Okay. Anything else? >> No, that's it. >> Damn it. >> Just in terms of kind of um ordinality after this priority, of the two other priorities, which one do you favor as the next step?
>> Well, the um FIPS tunnel restoration could be a major project and it would it would involve shutting down the project for maybe close to a year. And so I don't see that as an imminent danger of, you know, it's not, we've had engineers look at it and they say, "Well, it's not
going to fall immediately, but it's, you know, it's there and it's um, you know, it should be dealt with." Um, so I would think, you know, >> my heart just stopped. I heard there's faces in the ROOM THAT ARE LIKE Street Bridge. >> Do not say that out loud.
>> There's Robert's like, "Shoot, why did you say that out loud? Sorry, Frank. >> Forgive me. >> So, but yeah, I don't think you know the imminent danger. So, from a >> from a planning standpoint, I think the mass trails probably would be next and
and there may be other sources of funding. >> Excellent. Just curious. Thank you. >> Um I guess two questions along that line for those other projects. So, the master plan, would that include potential um additional trails um or adding any new
trails, things like that, or just like >> I'm not that familiar with what the scope was. >> Yeah. So, I think I think it probably would. I think uh a focus of it would be increasing or improving, whatever the right word is, uh connectivity. Um so, I think connecting trails via new trails,
I think, would probably be be a piece of that. Yeah. >> Okay. I mean, I always wonder like, you know, one of the things that comes up is, you know, like the uh the fact that sometimes like the Queens is kind of isolated in many respects is like other ways that we could leverage trails because sometimes doing things like
sidewalks is precarious or or extremely challenging in the case of things like Winter Street. >> Um but you know, you have like Melon Street like you know, is that something that could be expanded and then suddenly you could connect find ways to connect parts of the town to high school or downtown and things like that? other
places that we can leverage connectivity from uh from that perspective. >> It's also kind of well the trails uh master plan is well timed with the uh update of the open space and recreation plan that we're working on right now too.
>> Um so I I think once the mapping portion of that that effort is completed I think there'll be the the focus will switch to public input >> and so we'll be able to see you know you know what people want. >> Yeah. Is connectivity an issue? Where is it an issue specifically? Um, you know,
should the town be acquiring new land somewhere to improve connectivity, that type of stuff? >> I mean, I always thought about that like um I used to live um on Highland Street and I was probably not even a thousand feet from where the FPS tunnel is and yet the trail was like
not accessible to me whatsoever on Highland Street. You know, it is, you know, we did try I tried it once and that is not a grade that's that's good. I always think to myself is like, man, it'd be nice like to have a little bit of access here to be able to because there's a whole part of town that would be like, hey, this is great. You know,
going Wiking Woods is not very accessible either. And it was just like this is something just thinking about like, you know, finding ways to make things a little bit more accessible for more people. I think is is interesting. >> Master trails plan should look at that and I had worked on the need master
trails plan and that did that exact thing was that it looked at taking the various open space through town. how do we connect that via sidewalks, crosswalks, that sort of thing to get it to all these trails connected? And so that was part of it. And we included the
costs of sidewalks and that sort of thing. >> And yeah, I mean the other one like I think about is like I know Wayland had um they have like a trail from like one of their one of their uh one of the main streets to get to the school and it's sort of it's a little more open so it's
not as like you know so kids are walking there to try to get to school. It's not something scary or something like that. But I just think about finding those opportunities and finding those ways to get people to to other places when you know sidewalks aren't necessarily available or feasible in in in
circumstances and thinking about trails that we've seen that with the rail trail that people sort of do see it as that backbone through way to get to other parts of the town that I think is a valuable and important. So I um just you know this is an opportunity to talk
about that. Can I ask just back up to the the trails master plan again? >> This is put forward by the conservation commission, >> correct? >> As a support to the open space master plan. >> Um, not specifically. I think I just used that as sort of an example of where
um during the open space and recreation plans update, we might gau some feedback from the from residents, the public about where connectivity might be might be an issue. Uh, so this is not a today conversation because there's no active
planning right now for a trails master plan. This is a down the road, >> right? I think right now there's still the conservation commission is still trying to get the funding to to move forward with the plan. >> Maybe you and I could talk offline, but I I'm I'm listening to the conversation. I'm really wondering if it's not a bike
pedestrian master plan where in Hollist so much of if we're thinking of trail use, we are thinking of pedestrian and bicycle use for the purpose of active transportation. Um, but maybe so I'm not maybe I'm I'm missing the scope of a
trails master plan. And that's why I would like we talk offline, >> but depending on what that scope is, it includes, I'm wondering if a pedestrian bicyclist master plan is a broader document that accomplishes what you're what we're talking about with the trails
master plan and something else >> which is I would say needed in Hollist given this public input we we do receive. So maybe you and I can talk. >> Y >> um interested to learn more about the scope of a trails master plan. Okay.
>> Any thoughts on that? So you perk up a little bit. >> Well, no, it's it's it's sort of a different animal um from what I think the conservation >> need to learn more. Yeah. >> Well, the conservation commission was looking at its own conservation lands and then and I don't know did they talk
about it making connections to say the rail trail or other parts of town and >> I expect that would be part of it. Yeah. About like looking beyond even just their >> Yeah. But when I think of a a I think you're thinking of a bicycle pedestrian master plan that's more on looking in
streets and how to get you know bike lanes and shar sort of thing >> more so than than looking at you know a lot of the conservation commission lands there are trails that shouldn't be where they are based on wetlands or species or
that sort of thing. So they wanted to look at you know where do we look evaluate the each conservation land what are the trails on those lands how do we make improvements to make them more accessible and better access and then um you know how do we connect
>> I've seen a number of communities use a pet bike master plan to accomplish trails goals I think the the landscape has shifted significantly particularly out of the pandemic um but it's from the mass bio T point of view, uh, it shifted
significantly to trail use as, um, act for active transportation, the way you would look at a sidewalk or a bike lane. But again, there's just more for me to learn. That's, um, I'm uh, not not weighing in one way or the other, looking >> circulation section, too, when it comes
to a regular master plan, a planning board master plan, too, I believe, has a circulation component as well. I mean there's a lot of these kinds of you know inevitably you know um I know that's what sort of the impetus of future visioning future Hollison is to sort of try to get away from creating a
whole bunch of documents that don't talk to each other and trying to think about how do we get all these documents to sort of be under the same umbrella to sort of accomplish the same goals. Um, and I I think probably I put on that hat a little bit too much and I think a little bit too much about like, hey, can we leverage this to do other things? But
at the same time, I'm also trying to find those opportunities. If we can, you know, use this to do a little bit more, we might be able to find ways to solve other problems and look in other spaces. But >> I think it's a it's a good conversation to have and we need to talk a little bit more about getting people out of their
cars and going places. Well, certainly the Broad Hill Audabon property really drives home the need for a trails master plan. Uh just we we've got tremendous opportunity here in Hollston and I mentioned Broad Hill because any
connection to Broadill is um significant benefit to Hollist. There's a lot of trail network that could connect to the Broad Hill >> properties. There was actually a study done by MAPC looking at that to make the connection from the eight arch bridge >> over by the schools and over to Broad
Hills. >> And up to the Ashlin >> State Park. >> Um, any other thoughts about this? I don't think we need a vote or anything. I think we're just kind of I think, you know, it makes sense. just making sure from a policy perspective that
>> you know we're we're kind of you're kind of taking putting your eyes on or somebody is putting their eyes on all the grants just to sort of make sure that we're not seeing these overlaps. It sounds like it is happening but just to make sure that >> it does happen in in other spaces that you know somebody might just in good
faith trying to do the right thing and then all of a sudden Paulson doesn't need three applications of the same grant. >> Right. So, uh, any other last thoughts, comments here? So, Robert, always good to see you. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> One thing, you know, if you do go
forward with the the the 1750 Washington Street drainage uh things, I do need a a landowner certification or authorization and that typically has come from the select board. They would sign a letter. Sure. Um, so in that draft document I sent to you, there's a a letter that you
can look at and authorize and sign, but it basically tells the DCR that the land owner, in this case, the town is authorizing the work to be done on its property. So that >> Yeah. And I think as part of the grant process, I think we would certainly Yeah. And if it's coming up that soon,
you know, we need to put it on the next agenda that we need to sign it or something like that anytime. >> I provided a draft of that letter in that package. That makes sense. So, I do have the draft of the >> Yeah. Okay. And I think we're I think we're, you know, absolutely in favor of
signing it if it's needs to be all three of us, me, Frank. >> Yeah. I don't know. See, I'm I'm not that familiar with the town manager role and that sort of thing, but but in the in the past, it's always been signed by the select board. >> Yeah. And we're happy. I think we're I think that'd be fine. I think we we'll
sign it to make sure that that >> or authorized by the select board. Voted on by the select board. signed by the >> if you need a vote we can do a vote right now. >> I was going to say we can move to authorize Frank. >> Yeah, we can. I think we could do that. Um, you know, and you can come back to us if you need one of you need us to sign in short clarification. But yeah,
why don't we have a motion to authorize Frank to sign on behalf of the select boards. Um, but if you need us to sign it, we can. Okay. >> Move to authorize Frank Trabazio, town manager, the town of Hollden to sign uh an upcoming Mass Trails grant
application on behalf of Slackboard. >> Second. >> All right. All right. All those in favor? >> I >> I go. Cool. >> Nice. Great. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Happy New Year. >> Thanks, Robert. Moving on to handle it right here if you don't mind. >> Okay.
>> Um Okay. So, uh, moving on to the DPW building committee. So, we have kind of a draft charge that we've sort of been be able to look at >> and think about. Um, you know, I I I
think there needs to be some kind of a group that's sort of looking at the day-to-day workings and sort of thinking about what's what's going on here rather than the select board. you know, we don't meet as frequently and you know, frankly,
frankly, what you know, um, I don't think we really necessarily need to be involved in the day-to-day decision- making or thought processes of, uh, a DPW building committee. So, having a commission, you know, with our facilities director with, you know, uh,
the appropriate stakeholders within, you know, for for this particular, uh, exercise, I think would be, uh, beneficial. Um, I do think one thing I was just thinking about, um, I know I wanted to put it on this particular, um,
uh, agenda is that I have had a couple people, uh, residents reach out to me about with some comments and things like that. And I kind of be almost want to sort of say like, could we maybe like take a look at it, have a discussion about it this evening and then sort of like leave it out to the public, say,
hey, any feedback, any comments? We might not get too many. And I have the two people that who have commented to me, I can reach out to them specifically and say, "Hey, what do you guys think >> on the charge for the >> Yeah, just to sort of just to sort of see if like anybody like they they had very specific like building experience in other municipalities and they were
like, hey, I had some some suggestions just thinking about that because there's, you know, the way it's written at this point is to have some resident um input in investment in it. It might be an idea to just sort of like see how if anybody
gives a little bit of feedback about sort of like what we're talking about here. Um I think one thing that I had sort of a comment about here was sort of a question is that should it be a committee or a working group? um you know is it something I know committee
sort of implies like an open meeting you know agendas and things like that you know is that something we really want to get into having those kinds of discussions in an open session or should we be having a little bit more of a layer and then the open meetings where there's more they're not having the
particular design and engineering discussions um in a public way is that some of those things might not necessarily be appropriate for a public setting but I'm just curious just for thoughts, feedback, and if James wants to come up and chat with us, you can. You don't
have to. >> If you want to do you want if you want to come up, you can, please. James, >> because I think this is this part is kind of your your wheelhouse here. So, just curious like, you know, we have James Keith, our facilities director, if you had any comments or thoughts about the charge that was sort of put out
there and like, you know, what your take is on that and then my comments about a committee versus a working group if you had any comments or thoughts. >> Sure. So, uh, introduced myself, James Keys, facility director. Uh, Frank and I, um, he, uh, had sent that document out. Um, made some comments on it. Uh, I
think, uh, in general, it's a good idea to have various stakeholders involved in this process. Currently, uh, we have a a bimonthly meeting with the engineering group >> twice a month. >> Yeah, twice a month. >> Okay. Just making sure.
>> By weekly, by monthly. I never really fully understood that. But uh so uh certainly Robert Walker is in that meeting as the deputy director of DPW. Sean Ree uh if he's available as the director of DPW, myself, Frank
Dvasio uh are in these meetings. Um yeah, and we're getting down to sort of minutia level details like okay, you know what, maybe the break room should be over here because the flow and that type of thing. >> I wouldn't say that's warranted discussion at the committee level. I
think that just doesn't make sense. >> Yeah. But I think there's there's certainly value to having, you know, engineering input and thoughts about those kinds of things. But yeah, like you know, you can sort of say this is what we came up with versus the that kind of level of conversation. >> Yeah. Yeah. And that that's that's what
I was getting at that I I think there is value um to have uh outside expertise or resident input that has this type of experience >> to review, hey, this is where we're at, >> right? >> It's sort of like a check.
>> Yeah. >> Um as opposed to involve in the sort of daily or by monthly conversations on the details of the of the facility. And it seems similar to I mean didn't um for the Wooden Street project didn't was there some kind of a similar kind of a
body that kind of came together didn't have necessarily have outside input but didn't you guys have sort of something similar for that uh >> uh not with with Woodland Street. Woodland Street we had very strong engineer uh PAR corporation uh this was Weston and Samson with the DPW but with
carp uh was very very strong um in managing the process for us. We also had pro you know input from the DPW team as well and myself uh and that worked well. I mean this is you know something that's 10x in terms of cost right
>> uh and so I do feel that that uh we have um >> that there would be benefit by having and I don't want to call it a check but just sort of uh a review or a validation um before we get to the point of
ultimately town meeting >> right >> um where this is going to be presented to the public so >> maybe at least coming to us at least before it comes to us you've sort of already vetted it and sort of thought through some of the engineering to get the decisions and thought processes. >> Yes, >> that would be my my recommendation. So
to answer your question, not a full building committee that we may have for you know like a high school or something like that. >> Yeah, that's that's statute. By statute, we have to have that versus this is this is just like us talking like hey we are out of our scope to really be able to handle the the the details that you're
working on for this project. So maybe I don't know would you call it a peer not a peer review but sort of a review uh >> we call it kind of a working group something like that just just so that way there's not necessarily you know you guys can meet as you need to and then you know give updates to
>> us but it's not like you know voting you're not taking minutes those kinds of things just to make sure that there's you know I just have concerns about like you know getting into some of those details because I I don't necessarily want think that it's appropriate for a committee having those kind of meetings
to talk about flow through for a break room is right beyond scope and you're making it >> thinking about something. >> It's okay. >> No, I want to hear but I think I think I think >> guilty is charged >> sort of these milestone points
throughout the project, right? So we're we're coming up to >> Springtown meeting where there's going to be a request and whatnot. So let's let's have this >> review ahead of that time, right? And then you know there's going to be uh sort of the you know selection of the
contractor and then maybe that that group can you know during the construction phase >> come and take an orders manager like a technical advisor. >> Yeah. Some kind of a group that can >> something will come up. They always do >> and those kinds of decisions like you know you need to make some decisions in real time and thinking about those and
having that expertise available is good. What was the term that Weston Sam won Weston and Samson used when we were in our last public forum? They made a commitment to the public body that was there to the board as well that they were going to uh it
was basically keep the costs as low as possible but they used a term value. >> Thank you. So here's my question. I I I'm actually in favor of an appointed committee because I think that that's where you get the the accountability and the transparency when you're when you're
expending taxpayer dollars of this size. Uh I the the the working group accomplishes a very good effort. Uh and I see the I see the benefits, no doubt. I think that if we're if we're looking to maintain public trust and we're looking to demonstrate transparency in the process, which I think we have been
asked for repeatedly by residents, by taxpayers, by voters, uh that we we demonstrate those things. I think that the an appointed um committee that is uh hold to held to open meeting law is a tremendously important piece. But here's
here's an example of how would this decision process go. Working group versus committee. So the value engineering is underway. There's a decision that this board needs to make. Are we going to go 10x 5x? Are we going
to put it at a 354 5560 million project? We will be given that that decision to make as a board. We know we're not at the end. Uh in fact, we're at the beginning of what we're bringing to town meeting to for in terms of debt and the cost of this project. Having a
recommendation from a from a standing committee goes a long way for us to say that we're we're making a decision. We're making a recommendation to town meeting uh that that people can have trust and and um uh that there's some
accountability behind it. If it's a working group, it's not that it's not there. I just don't see it as strong, if that makes sense. So, if a working group has made a recommend, we have done that in the past too. We did that with the Norfork uh Central Street and Ging
Street sidewalk and water mane and road surface debt exclusion decision if you you were on the board at the time. We had a working group between the finance committee and the select board and they came that working group put forward a recommendation. So, I've we've seen that
work, but I I just wonder if the when the time comes for this board to bring to town meeting a vote on the debt that we're going to um acquire for the project, if having a working group is enough. If we're looking for the highest
level of accountability and transparency and public trust, I don't have a concern that we aren't going to go through a process one way or the other. But that's that's my touch point is how does that look? Working groups making a recommendation to the select board.
Select board's voting on what to bring to town meeting or a committee that's following open meeting law is making a recommendation to the select board and we're bringing that to town meeting. question. How might you how how might the difference between those two change
what you would recommend in terms of the charge for that group? Like the you know the confines and scope of what you'd want them to do. >> Scope not so much at all but the appointment and the open meeting law component go for me with they they don't
go with the working group. A working group isn't appointed and they aren't required. >> Well, they can be appointed. We could certainly appoint a working group. It's my concern here is um I I think they could function in a similar fashion.
I think my concern here is is that I don't necessarily think engineering decisions should be subject to open meeting law because I just think that >> I agree with you. The project management should not be >> because and I see doing that and I want them to be able to do that. And I mean I've heard some comments
>> previously where people were getting into the weeds about the size of rooms and things like that from the resident perspective. And I'm not trying to dismiss those concerns, but I don't want to sidetrack the ability of this group to be able to make a reasonable recommendation because we're getting
public input too early in the process. I'd like them to be able to give us an engineering perspective that's sort of impartial and then when they give it to us, we can ask for the public input at that point and and create that transparency. That's kind of the way I I was envisioning it. >> Okay. I I don't think I answered Damon's
question. Can I just pose another scenario? there are timelines for project milestones. Um is the accountability held? So the benefit of a building committee here would be that the building committee is tracking those and the the project manager is
accountable to the building committee and if the building committee has a concern, they're bringing that to the select board. We're having a conversation. Where does that go? If there's if it's a working group, >> it could go to it would I to me it would go the same way. I think the difference is the open meeting. To me, that's the
that's the principal difference here. I think how we make the charge could have function identically. It's just the question is is whether or not they're putting it I have to put an agenda. They have to go through the clerk. They have to put put two days ahead. And sometimes I think some of these decisions need to be made quickly. And I'd love them to be
able to have the flexibility to make those decisions without having to be subject to open meeting to to function in that capacity. >> I'm just going to pull up this the charge just to look at it. Yeah, that's that's my concern there is that you know like hey we got to talk on Friday it's Thursday. Well, we can't because we're
>> No, I understand. >> I'm gonna layer another question. Oh, sorry. >> Yeah, just just to interject. Um >> the challenge with this particular project especially uh with the deadline that's looming in the spring uh for town meeting is timing. Right.
>> Right. Uh and so you know we are making decisions and these these bimonthly meetings um um that are impacting the project. Uh there is a project manager albeit employed through Weston and Samson, >> right?
>> Um who's keeping everything uh in in terms of uh timeline and schedule. Yeah. >> Because >> we needed a a a basically a number, >> right? um come what was the date? April 3rd or something like that.
>> Yeah, we gave them so everything is back off of that, right? Uh and so uh and we need an accurate number and that that number >> as close as we can get >> as close as we can get, you know, the value engineering and all that will come, right? >> But we need to start at least with a
number and obviously that's the high, right? And work our way down um during the you know construction and and bidding pro process. And I mean and and the the the the point to the charge is we can change the charge. We can have it be you know function materially
similarly regard we can say they they meet with us >> you know every month or you know give a report >> what well they can they can do whatever things like that. I just I have concerns about making it an open meeting. the not to go too far a field here, the ARPA
committee that we had that reviewed >> that was that a working group because you posted >> that the finance committee they posted out of out of the feelings of transparency but in order to have the finance committee on there we had to make it a working group. >> Mhm. And that wouldn't be this case here, but
it >> and I mean I'm not saying like I mean we can we can finalize this decision next time. I mean, you know, like to Jame's point, we're time is ticking. So, we do want to kind of get things, you know, they're doing a lot of these things and if we want to get some of those other people um want to get them involved
sooner so that way they can, you know, get up to speed and be part of that process, >> especially if we're trying to get ready for basically having something in early April, right, >> to be able to to discuss to be able to put on the ballot. >> I'm I'm not on my phone. I'm looking at
the I'm looking at the um charge here with my computer dive. >> That's right. >> I look incredibly rude. I'm sorry. Uh >> okay. When I first read this charge, I thought uh what what I was looking for was that piece about accountability and
transparency. Uh, and I uh didn't necessarily see it written specifically, but >> we can bake it up >> even less so if we're if we're not going to have um public meetings. So, I don't know that I
have answers. We're not You're not looking for a vote tonight? >> I don't I don't think we have a vote tonight. I think we have to have an answer on the 26th. We need to be done. I mean I you know times a ticking and I can reach out to the people who've reached out to me to sort of see if they want to >> what their thoughts are here. um who
>> there a couple of residents that have come forward to me who have some simil had experiences in in other places with similar kinds to sort of >> those individuals could put their names forward for >> and that's part of what I wanted to ask them is to sort of say like hey what do you think about this and would you put your name into the into the
>> to be honest >> that's part of what I wanted to ask >> I would like to avoid the project management piece of a committee I think that would slow down and and make make it cumbersome and put hurdles in place where we don't need them and it will not help the process. I would like to to
think that there's a charge for a working group or a committee that avoids that. >> I would like to see that there is some more accountability to a public process more more tied to a public process that has that transparency piece there. I I think we that could be tied in there
that there's some kind of reporting, there's some kind of um you know, coming to this board and making a presentation, once a month, something like that. We can certainly bake it into it to give that level of transparency without having it necessarily be um meeting
minutes and agendas. I think I'm just concerned about that being a um overly cumbersome to for the for the charge of the work. My concern with that would simply be what we what we went through last year with the I didn't know this decision was being made. So
>> we we're going to get that no matter what because no matter how much we try to get the decision out there, we're going to always get people who are going to say, "I didn't know." >> No, I think the decision was primarily location driven. um and you know whether the building and
what the inside of the building looks like and what's the layout and I mean their big I I'm guessing the resident's biggest concern is going to be the cost >> right have we looked at every possible way to make this the most economical
>> but functional space >> and and I think you know and that would be part of the charge is to make sure that as we go through these processes what is the the thinking here and how does it impact cost >> was the adar Bridge Committee. Was that a committee or a working group? Do you remember that? >> I believe it was a committee.
>> I think it was a committee. >> And and the Woodland Street scenario example that was a state driven process and that was state funding. So I I not sure that's for me that doesn't resonate as a as a good comp like a direct comparison. >> I just what I mean I just like James and I had talked about you know he'd said
like you know we meet with the the the construction company. We're talking about some of these things and making these decisions. I was just thinking about it from a from just sort of a process standpoint, not necessarily >> um source uh of it just from his perspective because he's more in the the details in these things
>> and making sure that you know I know >> you're the guy you're the facilities director. How does this how do this support you in the job that you're trying to do without putting any burden on your shoulders to try to make decisions that are you know maybe reasonable for you to make but
you've got a lot of other things on your plate and I don't want it just to be this is a lot. >> Yeah. No, and I think a lot of it um is driven by having a strong uh engineering firm >> supporting the town uh in this. >> And just something that popped in my
head, this is purely a suggestion. Uh we talk about the forums, we talk about uh engaging the community. >> Um >> it may be beneficial to uh have another forum show the plans, show the layout at the site. This is what we're thinking.
>> This is the location of the various structures within the building, but within time >> that maybe some tweaks could be made, right? >> Um prior to town meeting. Yeah. >> Uh and so >> and that I think that could be an opportunity. Yeah. March, mid-Marchch. Yeah.
>> Maybe we could talk to Weston and Samson about, you know what, we want to have another public forum. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Here's here's >> the proposed plans right here. Uh and uh if there are any significant concerns, >> community bring, you know, bring them up
now. >> Yeah, absolutely. And I I think I don't think that's an unreasonable I think that's a reasonable thought process regardless of how we put this this group together. And I think um this conversation I think is well timed because
excuse me sorry um not to get ahead of ourselves but at the next meeting I think uh we've talked internally and I know Ben you and I have talked about having Samson at our next select board meeting on the 26th >> um just given where things stand uh in terms of the internal conversations that
we've been having with Wesson and Samson um I think we'll be in a pretty good spot to not present by any means a finished product but certainly something um more baked than what we were looking at in say um I don't know September, October of of
2025. >> We've made progress, >> right? Absolutely. Um there's been a lot of thought that's at this table uh and in the field I should say. Um that's gone into the actual design. Um I'd say we're still sort of in like the the blocks are still kind of moving around. Yeah.
>> But it's a much more thoughtful uh movement of blocks. >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we've we've looked at probably half a doz a dozen probably various layouts uh of the of the structure and have narrowed it down to a couple possibilities. >> Okay.
>> Uh combining with Central Street >> um just because of the constraint of the size of the site uh off storage over at Central Street, we have a fire sub fire station there that needs to be contended with >> um those kinds of things.
I would as you work on something to bring back to the board because there'll be a vote at at our next meeting. Okay. I would just point to the third bullet as being for me the drill down point and I think it can be as simp as as simple as this third bullet which is providing
Oh, that's you working. I was like something's happening on my >> No, it's me. Sorry. I'm highlighting it as >> uh the providing advice recommendations to the Slackboard throughout the process uh in response to significant milestones. um change orders and cost implications. That that's really the piece that I'm
looking for. And the rest of it, uh I don't know that we need to have the committee or even a working group getting into the details. I think we have good project management skills and professional um expertise, subject matter expertise, but it's that it's that third bullet to make those recommendations to us to
be able to have some, you know, experts within our scope. I mean, you know, rely heavily on James for these kinds of things, but being able to give him some more uh horsepower to be able to to do things would be good. >> Um, >> some additional technical
>> and we can even make that a little bit even a little bit more specific too in in that. So, think about it and sort of bring something forward on the 26th and make sure we can vote on it. and I'll reach out to the people who have reached out to me to sort of see what their thoughts are on the charge and you know
they want to put their hats in the ring to to be part of it the experiences that they've had. So >> good. >> Any uh last thoughts here before >> if you're appointed you put your hand up and you go through a formal swearing with the clerk to be an appointed member
of anything. >> I believe so. Yeah. >> Yeah. probably want to have we can >> which has has any resident wanting to be a part of this process accountable to >> sure >> um the voters and >> be accountable to us not necessarily the voters because they're not voting on it
voters aren't going to vote on it >> well during the swearing in you you whatever whatever we say we should all remember >> the law bylaws of the town of >> yes yes and that that's an really important thing when you're talking about tens of millions of dollars of a of a project uh so I I like that too and I for me the working group doesn't get
it But I'm gonna drop it for now. We'll look at a revised draft and I'll be ready on the 26th. >> I wouldn't drop it. I join you in wanting that accountability. So, it's >> I want accountability, too. I just don't I want them to be able to do their work without having to without having it to be drawn down by um constraints that
might might preclude them from being successful. >> Accountability plus flexibility. >> That's it. Yep. >> Thank you for the opportunity to talk it through. >> Of course. Of course. James, thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, James. All right. Thanks, James. Awesome.
Okay, wonderful. Moving on. We are on to public comment. Everyone in the room. Does anyone in the room have public comment? >> Quiet. >> Too many voices. >> Too many voices.
>> Um there is no one here. Um for public comment. Um anyone on the Zoom would like to make public comment this evening, you can raise your hand using the react reaction button on Zoom.
And if you miss this opportunity, you can always email the town manager's office. You can email Donna Muzzy or the town manager um with uh your public comments and we can read them into the record at a later meeting. All right, it's 8:45.
pretty late. So, I'm sure people have left anyway if they want to have something. All right, moving on to warrants. Okay, we have signed uh two warrants since your excuse me, three warrants since your last meeting.
Um, technically we signed three. There was one that was revised. So the the real warrant that we signed on December the 29th, 2025 was for1,855,337.71. And the second warrant, the first one of 2026 was for $553,2430.
And since your last meeting, we also received a $400 donation from the Holl Superet for the Center Nutrition Fund. So, thanks very much to uh the team over there. >> They're always doing that every few months. It's pretty awesome. Great.
Thank you very much, Mike. What select board member updates. Tina, do you have any updates for us? >> Uh, two things real quick. Attended the first night event, the first night walk on the rail trail. It was phenomenal. Um, also was in was home in Hollist for Christmas and for New Year's, which is
the first in a number of years. But the I bring that up because the day after Christmas was a snowstorm. The day New Year's Day was a snowstorm and first night there was ice all over the trail. So I'm bringing this up because I would really like to sincerely thank our DPW.
They were out the day after Christmas. They were out on December 31st preparing the rail trail with the uh the foresight to put sand down, gravel down so people could walk safely. Uh, I think that saved the event. So, thank you to our
DPW. And then they were out New Year's Day as well. So, um, you know, certain careers, jobs have you working the holidays. I understand that. Um, but these are unsung heroes for the impact that they have on our lives. So, I just wanted to recognize the DPW and thank
them for exceptional service to the residents of Hollist over the holidays. It was really quite remarkable. I also wanted to share that Frank and I have had a conversation that there's a draft out there on some ebike policy language. Um, and I think that it is very timely
that today was our first icefree day I think in a number of of days. It's also uh after the holidays and what we've been anticipating uh I think has come to be that there are a number of ebikes, e- scooters that we're going to see on the roadways in Hollist following the
holidays and I ran into one today. So, there's a huge education component uh around ebike safety and uh I look forward to conversations with our police um the schools and others to roll some
things out here in Hollist to protect our trails and our users. Yeah. >> Anticipate that being something this board would take up. >> Yeah. Because it would be through the traffic rules and and orders. Um there'd be a number of components to that and also some direction from this board for
police particularly uh in terms of education not so much enforcement but um maybe some enforcement too >> starting with the education. >> Yeah. And really look to have some collaborative conversations with the schools >> uh how they could partner with us. Yeah. >> Great question about that. Um as far as
the there's a lot of definition problems in municipally on like ebike versus moped versus e-ad etc etc. Are we using anything off the shelf or are we going to try to define it ourselves? >> So, we'll we'll have MTC. They'll have to review the language to make sure we are we're not in conflict with state
law, but you're right, state law is vague. I think the just to to set the table here in a really loose way. Uh it would be that if it does not have operable pedals, it does not belong on the rail trail. >> Okay. uh if you are on the rail trail,
you are adhering to a speed limit that's safe for others. Uh and that parents and those riding uh ebikes, e- scooters, emotos, whatever it is, you are not on a sidewalk. That is absolutely against state law. There's no benefit in my mind
to Holliston defining the class one, the class 2, the class 3, an e scooter versus an e-oto versus an e- moped. There's really no benefit in us doing it because our goal is safety and safety is how is accomplished through adhering to
speed limits. Uh staying away from vulnerable users on sidewalks and rail trails uh and wearing helmets and having lights on your your like those are the sorts of things that enhance safety and that's all within the law. So, I don't see any policy conversation going in the
direction of defining um because it's not clear in the state legislature. >> I'm I'm excited to read that. I know like I mean I think the problem is that there are classes of these vehicles that are slow enough that you would definitely not want them on a road versus ones that are. And there's a
whole theory there that I think is probably beyond what we're trying to address, but >> Well, uh sure. And if a parent chooses to purchase one of those devices for their child, the, you know, that's a decision that we don't have any control over. The least we can do is educate and inform >> so folks know what decisions they're
making. Uh because there's a lot of misleading marketing out there as well. And there so there there are many uh avenues by which you can address this. But education first, but there are some updates to um our traffic rules and orders and there's some coordination with again schools and police and uh
look forward to getting MTC's. This is our town council's feedback uh as well as police uh our SRO's and the schools and some others get their feedback. >> I'm excited for this. My So I'm selfidentifying as a parent who has purchased an electric scooter for one of his children and we've been waiting off
to give it to him and be like we need to talk about where it's appropriate to use, etc. So I'm looking forward to that. >> As a parent, I'm going to tell you this. Number one, go on social media and learn how you can modify >> uh the free downloadable app that you
can down you can use to override every single safety setting on that ecooter >> and your kid can do it like that. >> I have chosen one that does not have an app interface. >> We'll talk. >> There are other ways that you can So, social media is very helpful for the
dark side of all of this. >> You don't say. >> Yeah. The conversation at our at our family table was, "Don't you want to put in traffic rules and orders the social media sites where you can go to learn how to do this?" I think that's beyond our scope. I don't think we can do that
because it's ever changing. No, >> that would be us. >> No, no, no. >> Cool. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Well, thanks for your leadership on that. Absolutely. >> Appreciate it. >> Uh Damon, >> uh I don't have anything functional. I do have a an interesting tidbit, some research I've been doing about the town I'm happy to share. >> Sure. >> I'll give you the less than five minutes
version. So, what if I told you that in 1773, Hollist changed the course of United States history. Um, there I I think I've mentioned it to a few of you before. 1773, there were four African-American gentlemen who had the
very first abolition petition that was sent to Governor Hutchkins three years before the Declaration of Independence, before the colonial uh rebellions really began. And in it they petitioned based on the natural right of man that slavery
ought to end. And they were so successful that within six years 40 towns in Massachusetts signed uh laws into effect to abolish slavery um along with patriots also supporting this cause including Samuel Adams. And one of those
individuals was a gentleman named Freriedman who lived here in Hollist. And of the the four people who signed, he was probably the only free African-American who had purchased his freedom 20 years before. Lived here, was married here, had four children here,
died here, had no reason to stick out his neck because he was quite prosperous, probably as a local weaver. There was a loom in his uh in his his accordance when he died. Um, and this little piece of information is not really recorded anywhere or
taught anywhere. And it's a remarkable little piece of info that puts Holliston at the epicenter of abolition and no one talks about it. And I intend to do something about that. And I'm not sure what that is yet. >> I like it. >> Um, but in other places in this fine
country, there are monuments to people such as this. And Hollistan has an enormous footprint that no one knows about. >> We should maybe talk about changing that. >> Excellent. >> That's all I got. >> Where did you Where did you learn that uh information? began with the Holl historical society. Found a little note
about what were called the freedom petitioners. Saw that there was a guy from Hollist started to go down National Archives. There's not a ton of info, but the letters exist. >> The signitories exist. We know a little bit about the folks who signed. It's unclear if the others were slaves, but
the language of the letter indicates that they were >> except for Freeman, who we know was not. Yeah. >> So, more to come. Gonna work with historical society. >> Yeah, I was going to say talk to the people who were here at the beginning. in uh Joanne. >> I will absolutely >> his home or homestead. Is it still in existence today? >> I do not believe that it is. And it's
kind of we we think that he may have been very prosperous. He might have had like a couple of things going on, but I believe he is buried about here. I'll just have to find that. So, this is just like the beginning of my research. >> It's very very cool. >> Interesting. Yeah. Tell the uh tell the librarian already eyeing places to what could be
put up. Be really interesting. >> I like it. >> Yeah. >> Excellent. Anything else? >> That's it. >> Okay. Um I got a couple uh comments here. Um I mentioned it uh earlier. Um envision a future H hall is meeting tomorrow and part of the agenda is to talk about a bylaw with process for
regularly updating the master plan. >> Um there is consideration um and maybe a potential push for envisioning future hallson to sponsor that article. I don't know if that's going to happen. I don't know how people are going to feel about that, but I just kind of wanted to put it out there. Um and we can certainly
have um based on sort of how things go tomorrow, we can figure out, you know, how the language is sort of disseminated to you to sort of review and uh have your eyes on and things like that. I want to sort of let that play out a little bit first um and see what the
next steps are before we get involved in it. It might be further down the line. It might go to the planning board first. I want to let sort of things play out a little bit beforehand, but I just kind of want to keep you apprised of that. Um, second thing is is that um I was thinking about um town meeting as as I
always do. Um I was thinking about um inviting the school committee to present something at town meeting for you know even just a few minutes. Um we're talking about a new superintendent. We're talking about an MSBA process and they're obviously at the largest um
budget in the budget line in the uh the town budget for the omnibus on May and I think it would be appropriate and I think it'd be a good idea for them to have somebody um I brought it up to the school committee chair and she seemed open to the idea. I said it doesn't have to be you doesn't matter. I just wanted
to throw it out there that this might be I think it might be a good idea. you know, we have select board, we have finance committee, we have a few minutes from the school committee as well. Given all the things that are changing, I think it'd be a nice opportunity for them to speak to the community. So, I just wanted to let you folks know about that. And then the third thing is is
that um the superintendent um search is heating up and uh I was invited to be part of the um uh the review the resume review committee and the the the sort of the first sta stage of it and that's going
to be taking place >> next weekend. Not this coming weekend but the following weekend. So, um they it sounds like the school committee is being very aggressive in their their timeline. Um so they want um us to meet
uh Saturday and Sunday, vet the people that are uh resumes and things like that, do interviews, and then have uh some names by Monday. It sounds like they really want to wow push. Yeah, they're they're moving they want to move in a pretty breakneck speed to to have things going. So, um I'll be involved in
that and I'll be able to give a little bit more of a um recap at my uh at the next meeting and such, but just keeping you apprised of that. So, that's all I have. A couple a couple other things, but they're more appropriate for other business. So, I'll uh leave it to that. Okay. >> Um but I'm all set.
Next, we have comments from the town manager. I will before you start, I just wanted to mention to people um and I told the school committee about this as well, just to make sure that they didn't go, wait, what's going on here? I asked um for us to just make sure we have a line for the um any updates from the
MSBA. There might not be, but just, you know, sometimes things happen so quickly. I just wanted to make sure I just said, "Hey, let's just have something for for the for a while, you know, until the school building committee is getting their feet off the ground and things like that that we have something that if there's any updates,
we have a place on our agenda for that. Frank may have some, he may not. It's not anything in particular. Um I just wanted to make sure that that space was there." Similarly, in a couple weeks, we'll have like town meeting, budget will be basically on every one of our agendas. Even if there's no particular
updates, I like having it there so that way we have a little bit of space if we need to make comments or have a little bit of a discussion, we have the opportunity to do so. So, Frank, >> no MSBA updates tonight, but um >> a few other things to cover. I will try
to be brief. Um, so this is our first meeting as I about to read off a bunch of statistics to you that hopefully you'll find interesting, but uh it's good stuff, I promise. So this is our first meeting of calendar year 2026. So happy new year to all. Uh, and to close
out 2025, I wanted to highlight the efforts some of our departments made last year. Uh, so the fire and ambulance departments responded to 2401 calls for service, a 12% increase compared to 2024. Uh the police department responded
to 18,176 calls for service. Parks and recreation hosted 481 campers and camp counselors in training, had 526 beach stickers sold, and registered 1,479
non-amp program attendees. The center served 2,310 meals, provided 3,783 van rides to its 1,195 active members. The Hollston Library had
one thou, excuse me, 197,187 total items checked out, which I actually found this part most interesting, including 77,000 over 77,000 children's books. So, of the 197,000, 77 were children's books. Very interesting. My daughter's about half of
those >> there all the time. >> And 8,225 library patrons attended 1,079 programs. Youth and family services served 117 families and dispersed over $18,000 in funding assistance via the community
action fund. Um, and actually to go back to parks and wreck, they said uh over a,000 freeze pops were consumed, which I found fascinating. Uh, speaking of town departments, uh, I want to offer my sincere appreciation to Melanie Hamblin,
who recently left us here in Hollston for an exciting new adventure. Melanie certainly made her mark here as economic development coordinator. She will be very sorely missed. Uh, another bit of recognition for Kevin Rudden, our assessor. He's been named to the International Association of Assessing
Officers to a five member marijuana valuation task force which will work on guidance for assessors across the country on assessing uh property values for both retail and cultivation operations. So we have one guy going to the CCC. Now we have >> this thing
making its mark. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Uh so just wanted to mention that. But on in all seriousness kudos to Kevin. So, it's a good professional accomplishment. Um, an update on our uh development of our town climate action plan. Uh, the draft list of actions is
now available for the public to review. These 24 actions will set specific achievable goals for our town's fight against climate change. We need residents input to make them effective. You can find the full list on the town website on the sustainability department web page. Uh, you can also find the
online survey to provide feedback there as well. You can also fill out the survey at town hall, the center, or the library. An official mailer with excuse me, mailer with the survey uh will actually go out um to each resident and business owner in the coming weeks in
your mailbox. So, please contact the sustainability department if you have any feedback or questions on that. Uh I think we also put a copy of the survey. You can fill it out online, too, but uh we put a copy of that in your packets as well. A couple of updates from the town clerk. Uh, the annual census has been
mailed out. Please respond promptly. Dog licenses for 2026 are now due, so please have your applications in by April 30th uh to avoid the $50 late fee. And lastly, nomination papers for town offices will be available on February 20, excuse me, February 2nd, 2026. I
believe the town clerk also recently posted the uh the full list of positions that are uh up for election in 2026 as well. So, uh, feel free to review that. Um, a few billing things to discuss. Uh, property tax bills have hit mailboxes,
so please feel free to contact the assessor's office at 508-429 0604 with any questions. Quarterly water bills will be mailed out next week and our fiscical year 27 water rate hearing will be held at the February 9th select
board meeting. A reminder that the Marshall Street Recycling Center is open on Sundays through January 25th, 2026. And new 2026 2027 decals to access the recycling center are now available at the treasur's office.
Speaking of trash, trash and recycling will be delayed one day starting uh this upcoming Monday, January 19th for Martin Luther King Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Town offices will also be closed that day. That is the town manor up town manager update for January 12th. The
select board meets next on January the 26th. Great. Any questions for >> just next of the 26th will be budget prelim preliminary budget information. Is that what we're planning? >> Uh ideally yes along with a a DPW update. So it would be a pretty fun one
to ch add to that but we'll get to that other business. >> Y anything else? board business. >> Would you like me to make a motion to uh approve the consent agenda? Is there any >> people comfortable moving forward?
>> Most comfortable. >> Okay, let's do it. >> So, I'll start with the thanks to Jessica Omen for >> volunteering for the policy advisory committee and move to accept to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Seconded. >> Um I will before I take a vote, just a
quick question. Uh the the PAC um term ends June 30th this year. Uh yes, I believe they are all >> they're all one year terms appointment. Okay. So I would just add that the uh appointment for Jessica Omen will be through uh June 30th, 2026.
>> Okay. So move to approve the consent agenda as amended to as presented here um this evening. >> Seconded. All right. All those in favor? >> I I >> All right, that's all set. Other business? Tina, any other business?
really quick. Uh not to make uh I think I said it as a light comment, but I actually mean it a little heavier than than than that. Uh the programmatic stabilization fund as a potential funding source for the plaque program if it came to that arts and culture is
absolutely an area of local government. Uh and the dollars in in my mind from a programmatic stabilization fund should be applied to all areas of government in terms of initiatives that would pay back the fund which this would. So I would not want there to be a hurdle for the
historical commission in pursuing a plaque program that was financial where we have the programat programmatic stabilization fund as seed money. So just wanted to raise that up as a very good use of those stabilization funds for a very significant and important
area of local government. >> Okay. Nothing further on my hand. >> Um okay I got a couple things. Uh the first thing is is that um I uh put together a town manager evaluation form and um I got it approved through labor council >> and uh Frank has also had eyes on it and
he's comfortable with it. So uh I'm going to send it to get it to you all tomorrow. >> Um uh and what we've done in the past just to sort of reiterate is get it to the town clerk. Um she will collect it. Um I'd ask that so you'll get it um ask
to be sent out tomorrow which is the 13th. I'd ask that you get it back to the town clerk by the 26th. So, it's about two weeks. Um, and then, uh, give her a couple of days to turn around to me on the 2nd, uh, February 2nd. And then, um, I will give the formal review
from the board to Frank. Um, and, um, that being said, if the two of you want to meet with Frank individually to talk about your reviews, you are certainly welcome to, but that's, you know, up to you. But I will schedule something that week after I get the evaluations back and collected to
>> sit down with Frank to to go through it as the chair. Um second thing is um for the next meeting um we had talked a little bit about um the schedule for budgets and summit and things like that um for um the end of February. Um, I
want to finalize that and I really think it's important especially for most of the smaller budgets that the finance committee is able to participate in some capacity. It might honestly like a lot of those meetings that I've seen watch them from them there might be no questions very few questions and I want to give sort of
I want to respect the time of the department heads and being able to present things that if they don't have to give the same presentation multiple times with no feedback whatsoever. It's not a good use of their time. So, I want to make sure I mean I understand probably the bigger ones like you know police, fire EMS, DPW, they're going to
want to talk to the finance committee individually. There's a lot of complicated things going on but for a lot of the smaller budgets I want to make sure that we can do as much as we can to um streamline the process so we review it and get an opportunity for the finance committee to participate at the
summit in some capacity for those for those budgets. They can certainly listen to the other ones but maybe not participate for them. But we can I want to sort of iron out exactly what that looks like so we can set expectations to the department heads and to the finance committee. >> Um and then um the final thing is um the
town hall update that we've been sending out. Um I um >> I think it's been going pretty well. I mean I don't know what you guys think. >> I don't need you to talk about it right now, but I do want to um start pushing forward to having other boards and committees participating in it. >> Um and I'd like to be a little bit more
formal in that. So, what I'd like to see us doing is drafting a letter from the select board, inviting other boards and committees that are duly elected, the ones that report to us, we can tell them this is what's going to happen. You need to we want you to participate. Please participate. Um unless there's a real
compelling reason not to. I've honestly like as I review the um exports from AI, they haven't I've had to do light editing. Name here, change here, word here. I think there was one that weren't became especially salient. I'm like
they're not that important. We can delete that. But that's I think about the the the biggest part. I don't think you've had to do too much. There there have been, you know, um if as you guys guys go through it, there hasn't been a ton that I've had to really do because these aren't minutes. It's not a
transcription. It's just here's what the board did in the in the meeting and trying to get others to participate and to be part of the process to understand what's going on. So, I'd like us to draft a letter to other boards to say, "Hey, this is available. We'd like you to participate. Here's the process."
Something like that. So, if we could kind of put something together for the 26th to be able to send it out to the other boards and committees, I've certainly talked to some of them, but I'd like to sort of formalize that a little bit more and we can certainly talk to Chris Mayo about what that looks like and, you know, how that how that would work from his end to I don't want
to add administrative burden. That's why we're using AI as this. But finding ways to make sure that we can get more information to the public faster, I think would be beneficial. So, I'd like to do that. Yes. >> Have you chatted with any of the leadership of the other boards who a few
>> and have some a few and they've sort of been like, "Yeah, this sounds interesting." And it's just like I wanted to sort of I want to sort of kick it up and just sort of make it >> go a little bit more. Yeah. I wanted to I want to do a little bit more to it. put a little more teeth to it so that way we can get um get more buy in
because I think having us on it is nice but I think if we start getting more boards and committees there's a few in mind that would be very nice to have on there agree >> that I think people would really start to be able to use it as something that would be helpful to sort of keep up with what's happening in the government to your point earlier like I didn't know this was happening you can if you
>> read these you'll be able to see what's happening >> and you there's not a lot of surprises so >> sweet >> so that's all I have for other business do you have Anything else? >> Uh, no. That is it for me. >> All right. >> Fantastic. >> All right. I will take a motion to adjurnn at 9:11 p.m.
>> I'll move to adjourn tonight's meeting. >> Seconded. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I I >> I. >> All right. Thank you very much, Hollist. We are adjourned. We will see you again on January 26th. Have a warm and happy next couple weeks.