Good evening, Hollist. Welcome to the select board meeting on today, July 13, 2026. This evening, it is Ben uh and I Damon is out of town out of town for the the time being. So, uh I will be chair acting as chair tonight. Um we will get
started right away with an update from our sustainability coordinator, Amelia Lando. So, if you would please come join us at the table. We'd love to hear what you what you're working on and uh a few updates on the information on our agenda.
>> Sure. Um I basically have two uh agenda items broken out. The um climate action plan which has just been uh completed. Um we have online um our uh a member of the team from Weston and Samson that has
been uh working consulting with us on building this report. >> You want to just introduce Cassidy? Yeah. Cassidy Yates from Westmin Samson. Nice to see you this evening. Feel free to unmute and and jump in at any point. Uh we won't stand on formality uh through throughout the presentation. So if you have something you want to add,
just go ahead and jump in. Thank you. Nice to see you. >> Nice to see you this evening. >> Um in the um agenda packet is included an executive summary that goes over um some of the background of what a climate action plan is, what the impetus was for
it in Hollist, and what its goals were. And then uh most importantly the actual you know actions that we settled on after a lengthy um public engagement process. Um I don't suppose we could put those up on the screen. >> We could allow Cassidy to have screen
share rights. Cassie I don't know if you just want to give it give it a try. Oh, there we go. Perfect. Thank you. >> Um so in the actual plan itself there is um a much longer segment dedicated to this about the estimated implementation
needs for each of these actions. So, you know, more in-depth about what these actions are actually going to try to accomplish, uh, what their general range of funding should be, whether it doesn't require any, you know, just changes to business as usual or whether it's a new
initiative that requires, you know, grant funding or would require capital investment. Um, it also goes over uh some basic steps whether you know these are going to probably benefit from their own little planning process or if they're just the kind of thing that we can go ahead with either precedent from
other programs or guidance from the state to just try to tackle. And uh obviously some of these are going to be more long-term ongoing than some of them that are just kind of one and done or at the very least something that you can get started pretty quickly and then revisit and you know every year and make
sure it's you know running as it's intended to. So um they fall into the categories of sort of outreach you know education making sure that people are aware of what the town is doing and how they can get involved. um buildings and
energy which is the most directly impacting you know our carbon emissions. Um mobility which is for you know vehicle point source emissions but also for um people's ability to not be reliant on carbased infrastructure.
um natural resources, which is more about um strengthening the ability to um you know prioritize carbon sequestration and preserving uh you know forests and rivers and all that to uh locally cool the climate and then one for waste just
because we do get a small you know portion of our carbon emissions from uh waste disposal. So, um I would be happy to talk about any of these in more detail or about the process itself. And hopefully if you know there's any recommendations that you have about, uh
ways that this should be implemented or desires for which of these actions you think is of the highest priority for us to get started on immediately. You know, I I would be absolutely uh thrilled to have some kind of guidance for this document. >> Sure.
>> Ben, do you want to jump in or >> Sure. Um a couple things. A couple questions here. I guess my first question is is I know education and obviously um people younger than me know more about these things than I do. Um is there any um
anything in your schedule at this point to go to the schools even if it's you know to to work with them? Um we obviously have a new superintendent and you know going to them to sort of see if like you know there's groups I remember one uh one day at outside of Fisks get seeing a bake sale for people who are
interested in saving something I for I think it was Wales but it was you know but there's a lot I think there's a lot of energy in those places. So you have any initiatives to go >> into the schools soon to talk about this? I have um already had some uh great conversations with um uh faculty
and administration at the schools um and I've presented a couple of times to various groups in the school body mainly the um global citizens program and uh I'd like I'd love to continue doing that broadly and then more specifically there's um you know interested students
who you know would love to work essentially as volunteers the way that we always are clamoring for more volunteers. So, I'd like to um formalize that more as part of this initiative, especially action number one. Um you know, not for solely manual labor, but
also just, you know, the general outreach and making sure that >> it's not just adults in our community who are able to contribute >> getting the next Amelia into the world to caring about these things. Yes. Um uh and so more broad picture when we're
looking at these this is how do we how do you think we can work to incorporate this climate action plan into the town >> you know whether it's private sector >> uh with businesses or you know whether
it's zoning changes or you know working with staff department heads or whatnot. Do you what do you what do you think uh uh for next steps to incorporate it um you know from a policy perspective as well as from a an administrative perspective and then certainly as like a
just I guess a personal personnel perspective. What do you think here? Um well there are some uh sort of embedded in these actions that are more elaborated on in the implementation plan where there are concrete documents that the state allows us to access tons of
funding and technical assistance to try to come up with like a standardized best practice sheet for uh decarbonization roadmap or a zero emission vehicles policy or things like that. So uh as much of that as I would like to handle
and I'm I would love to come before you and talk about that more uh I think also uh envisioning future Hollist and that collaboration on the um strategic plan or the master plan is going to be pretty helpful in this case. Um I think that uh some of the less wrote documents are
going to have to come for the um uh mobility based ones especially talking about uh sidewalks, bike lanes, things like that. that is a more master plan type, you know, how are we going to actually doing this on a townwide scale.
Um so for those processes I do think that um there is uh something to be said you know I I would love some advocacy on the part of uh other boards and committees >> to see who is interested who's already
you know volunteering for the town and see if there's anyone who wants to lend not necessarily you know >> volunteer hours but just kind of like democratic goodwill towards some of these longer term projects. So it's not just kind of coming out of the blue of like we're doing an infrastructure plan
and instead it's more of a you know community ground up uh reimagining of what we actually want to want this to yield not just in terms of carbon emissions but in terms of overall community co- benefits. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um
what do you if I'm a resident seeing this what would the impact of a climate action plan B for the average resident >> if any? >> So uh this document is mostly to give us
the you know direct like this is our agenda for things we want to do related to climate action for the next however many years. And you know, the document goes into, you know, we want to get to net zero and contribute to the state's net zero goals for 2050 and all of that,
but more on a day-to-day basis, it's trying to expand resident access to the kinds of ways you can adjust your lifestyle to, you know, not have as big of a carbon footprint. And those are things that the municipality can do.
It's not asking residents to adopt the responsibility of implementing this plan. So for example, action number 10 with waste is, you know, providing people more opportunities to recycle, more opportunities to responsibly dispose of hazardous waste and reusable
materials and all of that. Um, you as an individual resident might see an energy coaching program become available where instead of having to, you know, uh, go out on your own and try to figure out how to get solar and how to get heat pumps in your home, you can instead, you
know, join a cohort of other residents who are going through the process at the same time. And so, um, all of these individual programs will have sort of come from the original imagining of this plan, but it's again much more, um, I
think uh, individualized to depending on like what the specific action is that we're trying to execute. It's not it's not a as brought to you by the climate action plan. Instead, more of a we are trying to further this specific >> behind the scenes kind of an action. Yeah, I got you.
Um, and so what I would suggest, um, through the town manager, if we could, number one, if it's not already, put it on the town website >> and maybe a press release to, um, share it widely in all the right places.
Mhm. >> Uh, it has its own page um from the action development and um just like public comment, but yeah, we could definitely make it like the the real deal. >> Yeah. And I mean even for you know things like that like you know like the
town pages you know are there things that could could we get something out there like finding any ways we can to sort of let people know that this is out there >> and you know include in there you know uh hey if you want to help out if you want to volunteer if you want to participate or if you have anything
you'd like to contribute here please you know reach out to um you know you whoever and or the you know whoever is is appropriate here. So, I think it'd be a good opportunity to get >> get information out there. So, >> that's all good. Thank you. Okay. >> Yeah. I have a couple uh questions,
thoughts, comments. Um where to start? The first would be to Frank. I know that uh Damon at a prior meeting in June had talked about a um goal setting day like a on-site off-site
retreat for the select board. I think that what well I would like to use that day that meeting as an opportunity to have maybe some staff recommendations for the board to consider because I think that's a very uh important step for this board. You asked early what can
you're looking for guidance from the board ideas from the board. But in the end, we're representative. So the outreach for me is where I would go first. But that said, this board can set goals and priorities for the fiscal year for fiscal year 27. And we're going to do that at an upcoming uh retreat or or
meeting. And so that's an opportunity for staff, you and others to present ideas for the board to consider. We can certainly bring this forward, but there's a lot here. >> Yes. Uh and so having staff bring forward some suggestions for how to
enact the climate action plan can become a priority for the select board so that when we list out our goals for the next fiscal year, we're including those. So I would put that up front and center as a next step. Um I would like to include a climate action plan uh item in an FY27
goal or priority for myself and I would benefit from having recommendations. I think that makes a lot of sense. When you talk about the haz uh number 10 here, waste, we just had the hazardous materials day on July 11th. Can you just share do do we have any update on how that went? >> I was there.
>> Yeah. Um so as part of trying to um you know help expand my role to you know places where it's appropriate um you know I went through kind of the the training of seeing how this uh event functions and um it was really quite uh eye opening seeing it especially in
contrast to other towns events I've been to including Sherburn. Um we have uh you know we have this down to a very well-run well organized event. Um and uh a lot of times the anxiety around um like household hazardous waste days or
other you know onetime events like that is like >> isn't it >> let's adopt a really big cost and put together something that maybe not everyone's going to know what's going on and you know we're going to have a ton of people on site. So um it's reassuring to me that I will have the opportunity to maybe you know expand upon programs
like this but we actually have a pretty good foundation for for us to go on and hopefully the uh participation you know the turnout that we've been seeing kind of increasing from year to year uh only further encourages us to lean into those opportunities rather than to see like uh
you know rising cost or you know logistical difficulty as something that would stop us from you know taking full advantage of it. It's about 15,000 to run the hazardous waste day. >> Was were cars turned away? >> No, we didn't run out of capacity and there was no one who rolled up who
shouldn't have, you know, who was outside of the consortium or didn't have, you know, papers or anything like that. >> Okay. In the past, I know we have run uh hit hit the limit within a day. So, that's one one I one question I would have is that something that we replicate twice a year, not once a year. So, like you said, we already have the
foundation, but to further advance to reaching a goal under action item number 10 here, do we repeat that? Do we do it a second time? Um, >> so I'm I'm interested to hear about that, but I understand there's a cost. Uh, the other thing I would say is, you know, we have our goals and priority setting, but then we have town meeting
as the time in which we can do some funding requests. So, recommendations where we're about tonight to open up the October town meeting warrant. Um, that's uh an opportunity for you to be approaching the board through through Frank or directly to a select board member to say, "Here's an here's an a
cost that helps us a funding request that helps us reach one of these goals." >> Um, now's the time I would say before October. >> Yeah. >> Uh, and then again in May. So, the last thing I would say, well, two more things. the roof projects,
>> those are underway. And I we've heard some conversation about adding solar to those. >> That seems like such a a big opportunity ahead of us. Uh I'm sure you're fully well aware of it. But when you asked again like what's the board interested
in seeing, I'm just going to put my hand up and say solar on any roof project that we're doing, but I think we're already doing that. So >> y >> uh and then the last one that I would say is where Sherburn and NATIC I believe are ahead of us in having a climate action plan and taking steps to enact it.
>> Uh what can we what do you see coming for Hollist because you've got experience in NATIC and Sherburn obviously. Uh so is there anything that we should be looking for because I'd hate to miss an opportunity. So, I'm I'm actually asking for a lot of feedback from you on what direction the board
should take because I think you've seen over the years that um the board has consistently uh and repeatedly supported these efforts. >> So, I think I don't want to speak for Ben or Damon, but I think we're wide open to hearing what the next step should be. And I think to the extent
that you're doing outreach, >> you're going to hear from the community what those things are that they're most interested in. And I would say I'm wide open to hearing that. And lastly, to Ben's point, I think the schools have to be a partner here because I look across the goals and, uh, you know, when I think about diverting waste from
landfills, uh, municipal buildings, you know, we've got school, lunch, food, and I don't know where we are on that. >> I can update you right now. Please do. >> Yeah. Um, so first of all, actually it dubtales quite nicely with your point about other towns climate action plans.
Um, a lot of times waste is the kind of thing that gets overlooked in a climate action plan because it's just a very small portion of our, you know, emissions, but it's something that residents encounter on a day-to-day decision-m lifestyle basis. That's something important for us to consider.
So, um, in the schools, uh, most recently, I had a site visit with, um, one of our, um, uh, sort of there there's just kind of a free state funded consulting, um, with the Green Sword program. And, um, we're currently getting a report together to, um, talk
with administration in the fall about, um, you know, piloting some kind of composting program at the high school. and that um you know we have more specific estimates of tonnage you know how much would we be able to you know divert per day versus put towards like a
food pantry versus just simply not procure you know it's it's obviously regulated at a federal level but there's options in terms of like sauce packets and things like that so um I I feel like as part of action number 10 especially there's a lot of different ways that
unique approaches can be taken from other towns, you know, climate action plans or even just other programs that they've done that they didn't directly tie into climate action that um, you know, are well established. They just need to, you know, come around
in a very unique way for the way that Holl's schools or, you know, recycling center or what have you actually work. Um, something else that another town has done that I'd love to see us um, sort of move forward with is um, NATIC. when I was there um you know implemented a
whole um municipal vulnerability preparedness um project that tied into their climate action plan by basically overhauling their um sustainability web page to include a much more resident oriented um basically guide book to
here's how to live life in a more climate resilient and prepared emergency prepared and um you know climate friendly way and uh similarly Sherburn as part of their climate action plan put together a whole residential toolkit which is a individualized packet where
you can kind of walk yourself through the process of planning to go net zero over time and introduce yourself to all the resources that you would need to to do for that. So, um I don't know Cassidy if you want to uh talk a little bit more about this, but uh in so far as we have leftover, you know, funding from the
original climate action plan appropriation, uh since we mostly spent this down through the uh state grant, um you know, there's opportunities for me to um you know, collaborate with, you know, teams like Weston and Samson to develop a more Holliston specific document like that that would make it
easier for residents to approach the climate action plan less as a guideline from the town and more like something that they themselves can they can choose from. >> Yeah. Get into. >> I would just say before Cassidy speaks up about that, I would just say we do want to hear from you Cassidy. Sorry, I didn't mean to take steal your thunder
if I am, but I would just say like you know uh as the board you know we uh we if you think that those things would be impactful like you know let us know you know what you need from us to to do so. even if you know approval of something
if you need us to you know uh we we hope that you know you as a climate uh you know climate action plan leader and you know the sustainability coordinator giving us those kinds of things to Tina's point that you know it's uh helpful for us because we're not you know seeing what other towns are doing.
We don't always know what those things could be. So, if you think that that's the right way to go and that that it's you've seen a positive impact, we we're I'm in favor and I think the board would gladly tell you to go for it. So, you know, whatever whatever you
need from us, we're you know, let us know. So, Chris, >> all right, I'm done. >> Yeah, I'll just add that I think this is a a great opportunity, this time is a great opportunity to make resources that go hand inhand with the climate action plan since we've just done a lot of engagement. We have had conversations
with residents about this over the course of the last year. Um so preparing a document, you know, especially since this is very municipal focused and it's from the the perspective of this is how the town can support these efforts in across these sectors. Um but coming up with those guidance documents that are
resident facing and it's more so geared toward them. um is important, I think, for Amelia's continued work on this as the farmers markets may come up in the fall and other opportunities to continue to have these conversations. Um and and the data really shows that it's a lot of
the permissions in Hollist are coming from residents just the nature of there's many more people um than there are municipal operations and and the scale really there. So, I think it's important to while it's municipal focused and coming from actions that you
all can start to take to advance this, we want to make sure that we're supporting residents in the same way that as they're able to, they have the tools that they need. Whether it's information, whether it's the energy coaching program um with with guidance and learning from their neighbors on,
you know, the person down the street put in a heat pump and they had a great experience. this is what they did or this is the challenge that they faced and what I should look out for when I go to make these decisions. Um so really connecting all the pieces with some supplemental resources that Ameilia can continue to use I think is a great next
step and we've worked with a few other communities um to do the same as they roll out these climate action plans. >> Okay. >> Uh I have two more comments and then I think we can wrap it up. You're not looking for a motion. There's a motion on this particular item. I know you have one more with us.
>> Just your support. >> Right. Exactly. Uh I would be interested too to learn how and when the climate action plan can be referenced as a supporting document for future grant applications. >> Yeah. >> Uh and so when I look at something like number six, number seven, you know, are
those are I know there are grants out there to help us with all of that and many of the other uh the 10 items here, but knowing how and when to reference the climate action plan to strengthen an application for great state or federal funding would be really good. Perhaps there's a best practices out there on
how to do that. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> Uh we did take a lot of that into account while we were writing this just in terms of um you know there's particular like decarbonization commitments that you can put in there that kind of count towards certain eligibility when you're you know
especially interacting with um the state green communities grants. Okay. Um as well as just uh these actions being listed like this means that we can pull them out individually and say well we're doing a sidewalk infrastructure project anyways that's mentioned in here we can
use the climate action plan towards that even if it's not a climate focused grant policy. >> Okay. And then last uh comment before we wrap it up here is on this item is partnerships. So again, when I look at number 10 and number six as examples, I
think of state organizations like the green team, Mass D's green team, >> and I wonder does that partnership exist within the schools and is it strong? Does it need revitalizing? Is there a role that you could play to either bring that partnership or strengthen that partnership because I know they support
uh climate action plan items. And then the other one would be I happen to work for them. So full disclosure, I work for Mass Safe Fruits of School, but Hollist is not my town. Uh but mass safe routs to school is another one on the mobility side of things. And so can that I know the partnership is there but can it be strengthened through through your role
but perhaps there are other examples of partnerships where their work complements the climate action plan? >> Okay. >> I would be happy to make those connections. >> Yeah. Okay. Any wrap-up comments before we move on? >> Yeah. I'd say I'd say like just um from um a general comment which is that as we
are preparing town meeting warrant articles, we should make sure that we're referencing these whenever possible. So when anything that comes forward, we should be looking at, hey, this is the climate action plan number, >> you know, action number four or whatever to be able to sort of reference those kinds of things as we uh as we put those
things together. We'd already do with the strategic plan and I think including this as part of it as well would be important. Okay. >> So, I think just in summary here, um I hear next steps including uh development of a toolkit and other resources for residents specifically. I hear on my
part um a request for staff recommendations as we're setting goals and priorities for the upcoming fiscal year related to the climate action plan. And then I hear outreach particularly with the schools, but outreach through you uh to spread word about the climate action plan. That's what I hear as as next step. Did I miss anything?
>> I I think you've got it. >> Okay. All right, then Frank, anything to add? >> Nope. I think we can move on to the uh the EVs. >> Cheryl, you all set? Okay. All right. Yeah. So, up next we have EV charger update. >> Thank you, Cassidy, for your time. >> Thank you, Cassidy. >> Appreciate it.
>> Thanks, Cassidy. Would you be able to pull up my little presentation? >> You got it. >> Um, >> sorry, my Gmail, my Google. Yeah, while you're working on that, um I do want to contextualize this by saying that um
Sherburn is doing the exact same thing in a week or two. Um they reviewed their uh level two charge um charger performance back in January and this is kind of their six-month update. So, uh anything that we do here will kind of
also influence their thinking and vice versa as I work between both towns. So, >> you're you're a little bit, >> you know, you're cushioned in that comfort that another town is going to do something similar. >> Okay. >> Falling very shortly.
>> At this point in town time time, the town has two publicly available >> charging stations. The one uh at the depot liquor store. >> Yes. >> Uh and I say depot liquor store because I believe they own it, not just that it's next to it. Uh but then the one at
9 Green Street, the one behind behind Town Hall is not public. There are no other public charging stations in town >> to my knowledge. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um I have a little more background on N Green Street, but it's actually it's fortunate that that you bring that up. Um there's uh a lot of state and federal
level incentive being poured into more um you know, commercial ownership of EV chargers rather than municipal ownership. And um you know, you'll you'll be able to kind of see with the numbers why that might be, but um
in so far as we're trying to encourage people to adopt EVs, the fact that we just have the one is appropriate for a town of our size. Um you know, there I've talked with a bunch of other of my equivalents in other towns and cities, and
>> Somerville has a very different perspective on how many EVs their populace really needs. Um so I'll I'll get more into that but we are closer to what Sherburn is doing than what you know Cambridge is going to is going to be up to. >> Okay.
>> Okay. Um so uh just to give a brief overview we're going to talk about um what the um program has been to date. Um then going to put forth some data about what we you'll probably be able to see just visually like what we can maybe
improve. Um and then I'm going to um have some recommendations about um just little program updates so that we can you know move forward in a you know in a in a way. Um and then uh we have some
opportunities to maybe expand the program and getting your feedback on that. So um background on nine green street uh it is a level two EV charger which means that it is not a direct current fast charger. It's the kind that
takes, you know, two to three hours for a hybrid, longer for a full EV. Um, it's a charge point uh hardware as well as software. So, we do own it, but we do pay about um uh for us, we pay an annual $1,500
um operations and maintenance uh and software contract. So the software allows us to um functionally actually own it and set our own prices, look at the, you know, electricity usage, look at all of the data that we would need to make these kinds of decisions, and then the operations and maintenancees, if
someone hits it, you know, they they can help pay for that. Um, Sherburn has a three-year contract, which brings that number down to more like $1,300, but it's not a huge difference. Um, we have two ports on that one station. So um the
number of cars that can be charged at any given time is two, but it's usually only one. Um it is a station such that each port supplies 7 kilowatts of power. Um we've set up a new program that I'll go into soon that sort of changes that
around which therefore also changes how much we're paying for electricity and how much how quickly people are charging and therefore its availability. So I'll get into all that later. Um, but for now, uh, for your reference, we are currently priced at, um, 33 cents per
kilowatt hour. Um, so 7 kilowatts times however many hours that you're there. And then, um, we also charge, um, a $1.50 connection fee. So, whenever you plug in, you're automatically going to pay $1.50. And then um if you are
completely done charging, after the first 30 minutes, it starts to incur $5 per uh every 30 minute afterwards that you don't move your car to incentivize people to make that available for other people. Um other towns price points vary
wildly on this topic. Um, and uh, like I was mentioning with our Somervilles and Camidages, some of them simply don't charge money for them because they have their own, you know, line item operating operations budget. Uh, we, however, you know, run on our um, uh, revolving fund.
So, we use the revenues to pay for it. Um, some other towns have as high as uh, 55 cents per kilowatt hour last I checked. Um, and the average seems to float around uh 31 cents per kilowatt hour, but recently, as you might
imagine, that number has been climbing. So, our 33 is not anything special really. Um, but other towns are also doing this same reevaluation at this moment. Um, in order to remain kind of cost competitive with gasoline, we are
way below that margin. So, the fact that it is, you know, across the street from a gas station is not really problematic. Um we know that it's used uh maybe you know the the actual number for uh fiscal year 25 was um uh 164 days out of the
year and of those days sometimes they were being used only once sometimes multiple times a day sometimes with only one person in each port sometimes they would be both ports at once it varies you know depending on time of year um and the connection fee is a significant
portion of the revenue so um over in Sherburn they have a connection fee and that affects you know what the actual kilowatt hour price looks like. And then um charge point is going to take 10% of our total revenue on top of the operations and maintenance um which is something that we've sort of afforded
for in these calculations. Um, it's also worth noting that, um, I've spoken to a lot of other sustainability coordinators about their charging programs to try to figure out is there a certain, you know, uh, best practice that we should all ascribe to. And, um, the conventional wisdom seems to be that, um, charging is
fairly price inelastic, which means that if we raise prices, people are still going to charge there. It's not going to see a huge demand decrease, especially considering that you're really paying for the convenience of it, even if it's much more expensive than if you were to just charge at home. So um
>> if we look at the data on the next slide >> um you can see that uh we have kind of two genres of net operating costs. On the left you'll see fiscal year 2025. On the right you'll see fiscal year 2026.
Um the uh supply and delivery charges are those lighter colors of blue. Um and the revenue is uh kind of the chunk that would be offsetting that. But this does not include operations of maintenance which is an annual fee. So basically we
have uh pretty good um cost offsets for our electricity but that means that that affords only a certain chunk of the revenue that's actually able to go towards um you know our standing operating costs. So um it's
also worth noting that you can see how there are some months that seem to be slightly more exaggerated in delivery chargers charges than others. Um you know August, November, December um May, June. Um that comes from uh demand
charges. Um basically for um this rate class uh Eversource will uh say if you are using this meter above 10 kilowatts for any 15minute period of your monthly billing window uh we will add an extra
charge on your delivery. And so um in order to combat that we have um tried to institute a um uh what's called power sharing which uh works such that on our software side when it detects that there's a second vehicle being connected
instead of doing 7 kow and 7 kW to bring us to 14 kowatts that goes over the 10 kow limit. Instead it lowers it down so that the total um you know amperage being fed to the station is limited to 10 kow. So that charges the car slightly more slowly slightly more slowly slowly when there are two cars there.
>> But it avoids the demand charges and it's not really perceptible to the person using it. Unless you're using unless you're charging your car at the same station every single day, you're probably not going to know notice a difference. Um that >> and sorry to interrupt, but your data
said that most time most days you don't have two cars >> mostly. Yeah. So, >> okay. >> Uh, but that being said, you only need 15 minutes of one day of the month to get, you know, $120 for your delivery charges as opposed to, you know, 12. >> So, um, it's a pretty it's pretty
massive, um, you know, difference. And, um, sorry that we didn't come to you about it, but we kind of decided, let's let's institute that and see what it does to the numbers. Um the more important thing that I want to discuss is that number down there of an
estimated number for how much money we would be able to uh get from revenue that is you know offset by the electricity you know is hovers around you know $600 at the absolute most conservative estimate towards the uh you
know contract. So that leaves us with approximately $900 that we haven't really um you know accounted for and uh that we would currently be needing to uh spend kind of in a deficit rather than
be directly covered by the revenues from this. >> So in order to solve that there's a couple of different things we can do. Um next slide. I'm going to I'm going to bring you through what my arithmetic was here. And this does not have to be the final number, but this is the number
that I landed on considering alternatives. If we have a total cost of about um $1,950 uh annually when you sum up the um operations and maintenance as well as the um electricity costs uh with the
amount of usage that we currently see and the number of visitors we currently see and if you assume a set number of revenue from idling and I don't have the data exactly on that but we did you know people usually do it in big spats it's not like one you know one person here
and there for over 30 minutes. It's more like you left your car there overnight. >> Sure. >> Um if we tried to just keep the connection fee at $1.50, we would have to raise the per kilowatt hour price to 73 cents per kilowatt hour, which as you
might imagine compared to other towns is crazy. Uh similarly, if we kept the per kilowatt hour price at 33, we would have to raise the connection fee to $7.20. Again, people might find that a little
outrageous. Um, from my perspective, I own a a hybrid and the amount that it currently costs me to charge to full, you know, from empty to full is maybe $7,5 to seven depending on where I am and
who's charging me what. Um if we were to h you know rely on just individual revenue and not you know have you know separate funding um then this number this $5 to $7 number would have to get up to basically $11 for the
amount of electricity that my car needs to fully offset what the town would have to pay for it. So the in my opinion most reasonable ask here is a 55 cents per kilowatt hour fee that gets to that very
top of the range that municipalities are going for. And then that would allow for us to have a connection fee of about $3 um depending on if you're including the 10% that charge point would take off it. $3.40 40 cents is what I had with that
or just $3 flat if we're, you know, lowering our operations and maintenance by getting a three-year contract instead of a one-year contract. >> So, um, that does mean that we're essentially doubling the amount that people have to pay to charge there. >> That being said, the thing that you're
paying for is convenience. People aren't paying a convenience fee at gasoline. You know, they're just paying ridiculous gas prices. You can charge at home. The reason you're charging there is because either you don't have a choice or because you are just out and about and
it doesn't, you know, much, you know, matter to you. If you are going to only be, you know, in town center for 2 to three hours and you're a hybrid like me, that means you can charge the full and you're paying $11. If you are only there
for 2 to three hours and you're a fully electric vehicle, you're still only paying $11, but you're not going to get charged completely to full. So, you know, psychologically, it's not like going to the gas pump and being like, $50, oh my god. But it is definitely going to be a perceptible price hike,
especially um compared to what you might see at a commercially owned charger or um public chargers in other towns. >> Can we pause there because I think >> Sure. >> you're looking for a motion. >> Is there more information that guides the board in that motion or we're moving
on in the presentation? the the next slide of the presentation is going into other state earmark funds that we have, but this is the last for >> why don't we pause here then uh couple I have a couple questions and do you >> um >> I can go first and think and or
>> Yeah, I can I can I can ask my question. M so since installing the charge point chargers we have had good goodwill closed goodwill closed before the chargers went in
so we haven't had goodwill open and operating >> my expectation would be far more traffic in and out of there for Goodwill park activities now that it's open right >> so for example where was tennis camp held over the last couple summers, it would
not have been Goodwill Park, but that's something that's always been at Goodwill Park and I assume would return. And so that guides me to my next question, which is, do we know how long the average person charging is there? The average time that a vehicle is at the charging station. We do. When I was
putting this together, I was going off of data that was provided to me by Chris Mayo, our um IT um director, and um I could get direct access to that portal in order to do a more detailed analysis. Um but from what I know from Sherburn,
who by the way, their char there is more activity at their charger than our charger for whatever reason. Um, uh, there's a pretty firm like limit at about three hours. >> Um, people aren't really staying there
>> for longer than that unless it's like overnight. >> Okay. >> Do we need to vote on pricing changes, the rate, and the connection fee? Do we need to vote on that to make this um, pay for itself? Is that action that you're looking cuz this has been going
on for a number of of years now two >> or three. So we've been making this work. >> Um are so do we need to take action tonight? Because I'm I guess where I'm coming from is I'm I'm really disincclined to see the connection fee go up >> because I think that's the hit that
somebody takes if you're there for tennis camp as an example. If you're just hooking in for an hour, you're paying a $3 connection fee uh to get an hour's worth of charging on a level two charger. >> It your your connection fee is more than
the cost of the electricity and you probably have a charger at home. You were just doing it for convenience and so you will probably not charge your car. Yeah. So, to the extent that we want to incentivize people to use the charging station and add the convenience there for folks, um I don't I I think
the connection fee being $3 is a disincentive. I also think if you're traveling through Hollist, your your car is going to tell you that there's a DC fast >> within a half mile of the level two. So, unless it's convenience, you're going to go to the DC fast.
>> And I don't believe they charge a connection fee there. >> Yes. Um many places don't charge a connection fee and it just has to either all be piled on the per kilowatt hour or sometimes um the idling becomes more extreme. >> That's all.
>> I believe they're point I don't want to I don't speak on a private business without having the facts in front of me but um so that's kind of where I am right now. Now, I'm looking for some guidance on whether the board really needs to make this work financially by adjusting both or we have some flexibility, in which case I'd say rate
could go up and the connection fee should stay at $150. That's sort of where I'm leaning. >> I will say this is only under the assumption that you want to fully balance it. If you wanted to put $900 towards it as a operating budget thing under my department, that is also an
option. It's just a matter of whether we want to see it as a program that is being >> offset actively. >> I just think use is going to go up now that Goodwill Park is open. So, I'm kind of interested to make a decision about whether or not the current connection fee gets us there after we see the use
of the charging station fully realized within with an open and functioning Goodwill park. I could be way off the mark. >> Something else to mention, but >> I I I like that idea. Um I do think that the um as as price inelastic as it is
there's obviously the matter of once our usage goes up so do our electricity costs. So the amount that you have to you know offset you know is there is a break even point somewhere in there. It's not like you have to just continue increasing your prices forever but um we'll have to see if even what we set
here will respond to that increased demand. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I'd want to see it break even. I want to make sure that we're we're not but I mean I think we you know we could certainly have a conversation when we get money in the revolving fund from the solar
Marshall Street. You know we talked about using that forwards environmental initiatives. You know that certainly could go to offset some of those connection fees or something like that. But I think for me um knowing that you you've seen in in other communities the
pricing in inelasticity that people basically I mean people do pay attention to what the price is but people generally who if I'm understanding accurately people who have EVs are not necessarily doing it as a cost
>> sure >> um initiative they're doing it as a an environmental initiative. Mhm. >> Um and so, you know, for me, you know, I don't, you know, I want to make sure it breaks even, I don't think the connection fee is as much of a deterrent and if people want to go elsewhere and
we can have another conversation. Um, but because it's been it's priced inelastic and you're saying, I mean, I assume that that's because other places have raised it and have not seen changes in the >> I have a pretty good data sheet from NATIC. >> Yep. And it's it does like take a little
hit as people sort of realize like oh my usual spot is doing this but then it just kind of returns to you're only ever going to get the amount of users you're ever going to get and depending on what's nearby that price you know that price point might be less important than >> I think you know to to Tina's point
about Goodwill Park I think my concern there is that if if it's a $150 and we open Goodwill Park we're kind of stuck there because you will get to a point where people look like why is it $3? requires it $5, we wouldn't be able to change it. If we change it to $3, go to a park open, they'll just know that $3 is the amount.
>> Um, so I I think that, you know, having it not open is sort of creates a little bit of a >> a window of opportunity where you would, you know, if we if we keep it low and then >> and then we and it opens, you know, we
probably see more of a hit because more people >> When is it going to open? >> Just a couple weeks, right? Yeah, it's technically open now, I think, for >> I think the grand opening is really going to be very soon. So, I I'm not I I'm not opposed. I think $3 is reasonable. I mean, you know, telling
somebody they have to pay $10 to get their car charged >> fully. We're pretty close to it, I don't think, is an unreasonable thing for any vehicles. 15 or 20 maybe, but 10 to use. The other thing to mention about the connection fee too is it kind of
functions as like a like metered parking essentially. And in a parking lot of free unmetered spaces or even right unmetered on street parking, it's the >> you will always have individual people who will not appreciate that. Um because
this has existed already and has already had a connection fee. I don't know if people are going to be as to to b as much at the raising of a connection fee as if you know what might happen in Sherburn is introducing a connection fee for the first time and people being like what I used to just be able to charge
here for >> a dollar and now you're automatically making me pay more than that. Things like that. >> Yeah. I I I'm not I'm not opposed to the connection fee. I think uh raising it putting it to $3 I don't think is unreasonable in my opinion. That's just that's just where I'm coming from. Um,
that's where I'm at with it. But, um, so, you know, but basically what we're trying to do here is make sure it breaks even with the with the costs that with the with the money that we're we're we're receiving for it to pay for the electricity >> and the the software costs. Then when we
talk about the O andM costs, we're not necessarily talking about if there's capital investments, but we're talking about that next slide with the ear mark would be potentially if we had to >> they last five years and we have to replace it, that kind of thing. So >> um my other question here is um is there
ties is it you know so it's just basically on the grid there's no tie to solar or battery or anything like that in this? Not at this time, but there are technologies available for that. Creative ones, not ones that are particularly widely adopted, but it has
been, you know, this is a problem that especially small municipalities have run into often enough that I would be able to get together information about that. >> I was just curious. I'm I'm just curious like looking about ways to sort of take it off the grid and to sort of make it something that can be um available and
um for people that's whether it's not necessarily we're just tying it to the grid to to do so but that obviously has >> you know depreciation for a capital investment unless we get a mark or a grant of some kind. >> Um so
that's that's all I have. I appreciate you. Um, Tina, what are you what are you thinking? >> Um, when are you looking for this to be decided upon? Because I'm looking for a bit of a break, a breather to think about this a little bit more. >> Sure. >> Uh, because I think I have some
follow-up questions. We're we're up against an 8:00 hearing. >> Uh, I think there's more to discuss here, but I can do it offline with Frank or you. >> Sure. >> Um, are do you need a vote tonight? >> No, >> tonight is Yeah. Not a not a dealbreaker if it's not taken tonight. And if you'd like, we could present uh maybe we could
work with James and Chris and present some more in-depth financial data that would help guide the board's decision. >> Well, I hear what you're saying, Ben. Uh the thought that's come to mind now is the O andM contract. I mean, generally we pay for that out of a budget line item in a budget uh in general for other
operating and maintenance other subscription costs, other types of costs like that. So, I just want I want to understand that it most likely will end up that I'm full agreement with what you're saying, but I I think that we I would like to understand a little bit more how we treat other on andm type
contracts that we have across other departments and other services and um yeah, departments that we have in town and to make sure that we're approaching it in the same way. uh because I do think that ultimately we we want to incentivize people to use our electric
charging uh stations. Uh I I as a EV new EV driver, this uh is something that was important to me. It still is when I go to a charging station when I see that there's a fee. It's it's it registers. And this is not about me, but I I just would like to sit sit a little bit more
with the decision. So, can we pass we'll pass on a motion tonight on this? Is that okay with you, >> Ben? I mean, I'm I'm prepared tonight, but whatever you what if you want to wait, that's fine. >> Okay. We wouldn't bring you back necessarily. Take the mo make the motion. I think we understand the information. I think this is just bring
Tina up to speed a little bit more to make her comfortable before voting on something that affects 160 users at this point or visit. So, okay. All right. So, move on. I think you have a little bit more. >> Just one more thing. Um, so fortunately, um, >> excellent.
>> Sorry. There it is. Uh fortunately we um did receive a um state earmark that was um you know for an entire you know um district but
functionally uh affords us $65,000 for specifically a uh expansion of our EV charging program. And obviously I can get you more specific language if you want to you know really flex what that actually means. But um in general
between that and a ton of other you know state incentives that I have listed here including a um DOT um grant opportunity that uh is due on August 7th in case you want me to go after it. Um you know there's uh opportunities elsewhere in
town that might benefit from EV chargers. Um, I can say for my part, having seen this work in, you know, Sherburn, we're not having this conversation at all in Sherburn for the level three charger because it's uh being used not only by the public, but
also for the um police cruisers. And so, because it's kind of built into another uh budget, it it doesn't really come up in conversation. People like using a level three charger. We have it. It's mostly being offset by the fact that police are using it. Who cares, you
know? And so, um, uh, two, uh, options aside from just like purely like charging, you know, potentially future EV vehicles for the town fleets that came up were, um, 1750 Washington Street. So, the parks department, youth family services, veteran services. Um, a
lot of summer programs are held there and it also has rail trail access and is, you know, included in the, uh, solar packet um, that we're trying to investigate currently with our solar vendors looking into the schools. And then um another you know contender would be the center because they have their
own um you know uh sort of standard number of people who visit per day as well as um you know a nearby multif family development and um the potential also there for fleet charging not not necessarily because of its proximity to the rest of things in town but you know for you know future you know vans of
their own or you know things that are being you know stored there. So, um, I wanted to get your, um, kind of baseline opinion on how you might want to spend those funds and if you, hearing all of this, would rather us look into alternatives to what we have going on at Nine Green Street or if there's any
other um, you know, considerations that you've been thinking about for EVs and encouraging EV usage in the community that we could use these to kind of leverage. >> Why not Exchange Street? The municipal parking lot on Exchange Street. >> That is a fantastic question. I'll write it down. >> Okay. just that it's a ton of of traffic
for not only downtown events year round, so like the first night trail walk, >> but then also just regular weekend use >> for uh the trail and other downtown. We and we've spent some effort to direct people
to use use that parking lot and then when they're there to direct them out into the community. So it connects with other efforts we've had >> I think >> to promote economic activity down there. >> If I recall correctly in our preliminary discussions it was more about the fact that we kind of already have with nine
green street um you know a town center uh charging but I actually in my talks with um like the trails committee and um people like that. Um there is some appetite for just something more conveniently located next to the rail trail which is where 1750 comes from. But I hear your point about exchange.
>> Okay. And that was it. I think to the point about the rail trail, I think when we had our internal discussions, our thought was how many, >> excuse the phrase, but how many birds we can kill with one stone. >> Yeah. >> And the rail the 1750 got the rail trail
access, community access or excuse me, access to a town building, >> not only for residents who might be at the building, but also for our own vehicles that might be there in the future. Um, but yeah, we can certainly talk about exchange treatment. >> Well, and I hear you also presenting a phased approach. Nine Green Street first, then there's a next, but there'll
be another after that. So, if it's on a list, uh, that for consideration, fine. It doesn't have to be the next choice, but I didn't know if it was excluded for a reason. >> And are you asking the board for feedback on level two versus level three? It's here on your list. It is on my list just because we didn't have the
opportunity to talk a lot about the benefits of all three, but you did mention, you know, people do have more of an inclination towards fast charging, which uses more electricity, which is more expensive for the town, but is uh again sees more usage and is kind of
where more incentives are leaning anyways. >> Is it to to uh >> Yeah, just because they know that it's more expensive, so they >> interesting offer more money for it. I mean for me then it's the fleet charging but we don't have an electric fleet other than some land use.
Okay. And then you mentioned a mass dot grant. What is the name of that grant program that's due? The application is due August 7th. >> That's a great question. Okay. >> Okay. Okay. You I mean without having any specifics I don't think the board could weigh in on whether or not that's a grant we think the town should go for. But look if there's math DOT money out
there go get it. I would say >> I don't see any reason why we shouldn't go for any grant. There's a grant out there that we can get money out there >> personally. >> Sure. >> Because I think, you know, there are places that we can do it. How much does a uh a station an EV cost station cost?
>> Um well, the $65,000 number was chosen pretty intentionally. The um unit itself usually costs about $50,000. And then the connection >> uh uh level two, I think, and the uh connection more than that. Um the extra
$15,000 are usually for site preparation and then the >> beyond that you're kind of on your own for whatever source decides is pertinent for interconnection. >> I like the 1750 because you put solar and we could you know tuck you know using that as a as a back for that to help offset the electric
>> foresight. I would add we're too soon to really seriously consider it, but it's cross street. Um because folks who are commuting through and there's a EV charging station, particularly level three right off of Washington Street, Route 16126 there at Cross Street. Uh and then also
future fleet charging. So I would add Cross Street to that. >> Uh and you know, I meant to bring it up earlier. Is there an EV charging? Uh I think it's a blue sign with a white white trim that directs people into Nine Green Street to say there's EV charging. Is that on the street? Have I driven it by it thousand times and have not seen it?
>> It is on Washington Street. >> Okay. >> Well, I'm not sure you're getting from us what you were hoping for because there's no no motion issue. >> Put your feedback on against 8:00. So, uh through Damon, I'll just ask for a future vote, which will probably just be, you know, a quick discussion. Then
we'll vote on the >> our tiebreaker. >> Yeah. When it comes to grants, I say go for it. >> Okay. I I don't see any reason why like unless you know there's a cost associated with it because sometimes there are costs associated with preparing but I'd say go for it. >> Sure. >> The worst we say is we turn it away. I
don't know why we would but and that's that would be the only thing ever. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Thank you for bringing all this to us and >> course. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Enjoy your hearing. Yeah. Thank you. >> Uh we will move on to open the hearing
uh because we got that at 8 o'clock. Thank you. language there. >> I do this one. I'm not sure if I >> Tina has two microphones. >> Just hogging all the microphones over there.
>> All right. Uh, okay. In conformity with the requirements of section 22 of chapter 166 of the general laws, you are hereby notified that a public hearing will be held by the select board in the select board's meeting room 105 at the town hall 703 Washington Street on July 13th,
2026 at 8:00 p.m. upon the petition for NStar Electric Company, DBA, Eversource Energy, and Verizon New England Inc. have petitioned for joint or identical locations for the erection or construction of poles to be owned and used in common by them upon and across
the public way or ways of the town here and after specified. It's on Highland Street, easterly side, approximately 5,580 ft north of Hollis Street. Install one stub pole 3030s. And uh I will make a motion to open the
hearing at 8:02 p.m. >> Okay. I will second that. It is a roll call vote. Ben Sparrow, >> yes. >> Tina Hine, yes. Okay, so the hearing is open. Uh, we have a hand up on the Zoom call. The extension looks like it's 6564 if I'm reading that correctly. If that's
from Eversource or another representative of the request, uh, could you go ahead and identify yourself? If it's public comment, I would ask that you hold. I believe you're also unmuted. So, if
you're here from Eversource or um another representative on this request, could you just identify yourself because otherwise I'm going to move over to the town manager for the details? Okay. >> Hi. Yes, this is this is Christine Cosby
from Eversource. >> Hi, Christine. How are you this evening? >> Hi. How are you? >> Good. Good. Uh yeah. Do you want to present the request? Yes, we're requesting permission for greater location to install one stump
pole 30 over 30 desks. And the purpose of that would be uh presently this presently the pole off 30 over 30 is supported by what we call a push brace. It's a pole that it's anchored against
the back of the pole and that push brace pole is on private property and we it came to our attention that there's no easement for that pole to be on that property. But the pole needs to and the property owners
requested to have that removed. But that pole out there needs support. But the the way that we can continue to support that pole is to install a dump pole across the street to eliminate the push brace.
>> Okay. What? Okay. Um, do we have the private property owner on the call? Were they notified of the hearing? I imagine they were >> as they were Butters. I believe they were. Yes. >> Okay. Have they contacted you directly? >> We have not heard anything. No, nor has
done I believe. >> Okay. So Christine, at this point the private property owner has only reached out to Eversource. >> Actually, I think in the beginning they reached out to Verizon because originally Verizon um always maintain polls in the town of
Hollist and there's been some changes in in uh Eversource now is doing is doing more of the installation of the poles and Verizon's doing the removal of the poles. But on record, Hollist always used to be maintained by Verizon. So
they reached out to Verizon at first and then Verizon reached out to us because we now have to do the you know poll installations to all of this. >> Okay. And that do we know does is that private property owner 377 Highland Street or 365 Highland Street?
>> Um >> should I believe it's 37? It looks like it's 377 according to the plan. Okay. And in and then jump in at any point in time. Uh Christine, in terms of the change, I I
hear what you're saying. A push brace needs to be removed. We don't have an easement for that to be on private property. The private property owner through your reporting, not not to the town's uh acknowledgement, but through Eversource's acknowledgement, that private property owner is requesting
this pole to be removed. And in order to do that, your uh petition here, your request is to place a second pole just I didn't quite catch what you were saying. Adjacent to like abuing the existing pole or did you say the other side of
the street? Could you just clarify that? >> It's going to be across the across the street. See the purpose is because of the the the configuration of the roadway, there's a strain on that pole and the pole have a tendency to lean
towards the street. Oh, that's right. It would it has a tendency to lean towards the private property. So that push brace that's on the pole currently has been providing support to that pole to keep it straight so that it doesn't lean towards the private property. But now
because property own doesn't want us to remove that push brace, we have to put install a pole across the street and install a guide wire like it's on the top of the pole and and capture to that other pole across the street to provide that support to still keep that pole
from leaning. >> Okay. Does that current does that new pole across the street does that uh get placed within the right of way or does that get placed on private property across street because I believe across the street it is Broad Hill which is a mass Ottabbon site.
>> It's actually the the pole will be installed within the rightway. It's going to be off the edge of the pavement but it will be in the public way. >> Okay. And we don't have I'm just looking at what you've shared here. So three
feet from the road is the new pole that's being proposed with an anchor 10 ft from the pole and both of those you have as approximately within the right of way. Have you or another representative of
Eversource been out to survey the site? Yes, our survey our survey department um surveyed it and provided a plan that that's attached to the paperwork. >> Okay. >> The the proposed anchor the pro proposed anchor will fall outside the right of
way on private property and we will approach the the owner across the street for the anchor guy. >> Okay. And I believe that's >> for an ement. >> Uhhuh. >> Okay. So, just to be clear, the the
installation of the next uh of the new proposed anchor requires Ever Source to secure an easement on the property across the street? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thanks. >> And work would not be done without that easement.
>> Yeah. Yeah. We This won't be released out to construction for any kind of work until we have all the necessary rights through this work. >> Okay. Do we have a role in notifying that that property owner that um I don't want to say the word
uncomfortable, but I don't recall being in a position with a poll hearing like this where we don't have the abuters in the room. >> It's a public hearing. >> Um >> so those uh the abuters here all the area abutters including would have been
notified via mail by by the town. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. And you don't see a role for the town in notifying the auter? Well, we certainly can. We can certainly follow up with I guess so I guess that would be >> It says Zero Highland and I'm thinking
I'm thinking that's uh Broad Hill, but I'm not entirely sure, >> but we can certainly follow up with the um with the individual property owner with them on uh sort of note to them that Eversource will be in touch with them about securing the the easement. We
had a similar issue if you recall with the installation of the pole for the uh Marshall Street solar array uh where we had to work individually with the property owner and every source to sort of mediate that. Yeah, I do remember that. >> And Christine, the the current poll
comes down entirely or remains in place and the support is across like what happens to the current poll? >> That will be removed completely as it's >> okay. >> The and the pole the pole is not upright. It doesn't it's not installed
like your typical pole upright. It's it's pulled it's it's the current poll is leaning against the poll in the public way. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, it's a different type of it's a different type of you know and then
Yeah. And then the new pole would be within the public way across the street. You're you're you know your typical upright pole >> and the anchor the proposed anchor goes into the the private property but they'll be notified and you'll seek an easement. Okay. I think I understand the situation. I I feel like I've not sat in
on a poll hearing. Maybe I have, but I don't recall sitting on one where we don't have the actual property owners or abuters in the room. So, I'm I'm just kind of going through the steps here to make sure I fully understand in case it comes back to us. So, Ben, do you have any comments or questions? Um I think my main question I think you got most of it
about this particular thing is that um you know we've talked a little bit you know we don't have a lot of opportunity to talk to folks like yourself um about these kinds of things but um is there plans or um initiatives in place to work
on double polls in Hollist at this time? Uh, I'm not that's not really my like my department, but I could follow up with that and and and find out what the plans are. Um, >> I could try to get what we call um the
double pole report and it will show a list of the polls, the double polls in the town and who is next, you know, to to to transfer. In other words, some of these double poles that are out there, it's because other utilities have not
transferred yet. >> Sure. >> So, they have like a system of how they notify once they have the other source is always on the top. So, we transfer first and once we transfer, it goes into a system. It's called engine system. Okay.
>> And the next the next uh utility below is notified and they have to go out and do their thing. Yep. >> And then each utility. So, I could try I I can get a try to get a copy of the double floor report if that's something that would be helpful. >> Yeah, I think that would be good. I I would uh request through the town
manager that when we get these future um uh calls um to make sure that we get updates to that double pole report. Um, we've heard that there's a number out there and um, you know, um, we need to know that they're being I and I understand there's a lot of logistics.
There's a lot of companies here. So, you know, I'm putting you on the spot here um, about this, but I also want to make sure that we're um, that there are efforts in place to work on removing fixing these double polls. Um, and that's what I'd like to see. So, yes, if
you can get that double poll report and um I'm going to request the town manager um moving forward anytime we have a poll um request that there should be an update to the double the double pole report um uh requested and um I'd like
to see it before voting to just I just want to make sure there's progress being made and that there's initiatives out there to try to to to address these things because uh um it feels like you know everybody talks about we I got to do something about double polls and then nothing happens. So, I'd like to just
see stuff happening. So, uh yeah, that'd be great to get that report. >> Thank you. I I appreciate it. I know it's not I'm not I'm not trying to make, you know, I don't often get to talk to somebody who's at sources about it. So, um I'm otherwise I'm I'm okay as long, you know, we we notify the abutters. Obviously, we'll hear if there's anybody
here who has a comments to make about it, but otherwise I'm uh I'm fine with everything else. So, thank you, >> Christine. One last question. Does the work require a police detail? Uh what will happen is when the time comes to do the work, we will go to the
DPW and apply for a street opening permit and whatever conditions the DPW places on this. That's what we will follow. So >> okay, >> if they say it needs a police detail, there'll be a police detail,
>> right? Okay. It's pretty high volume and certainly high speed out there. So, uh not something we see every day either. Okay. Um, any other? >> Yes. Yes, I agree. Uh, I I went out there and I was on the road. It is kind of a >> Y. >> So, more than likely there'll be a
police detail, but that will that will come from the construction group once this job is approved and um, you know, this petition and everything is approved and it goes to construction. They'll be the ones that we'll reach out to for street opening permit and then whatever conditions DPW places on this that will
be. >> Okay. All right, one last question here and I I I realize we're getting into some detail and I apologize. However, this is also a stretch that is known to have some a crash history to it because of the speed. Uh does is there a value
to police reviewing the location of the pole? Um I I I think the answer is probably no. There's a pole across the street that the just what we're looking at on the map here, assuming the survey map is accurate for curvature and so on and
sight lines doesn't look problematic from the the survey, but I think I just wonder about that. >> So, we um with our ahead of poll hearings, we distribute these to our department heads as well. >> The police have passed eyes over it. Okay. >> But I can just double check with you.
>> If that's our normal process and it's been followed, that's great. uh that satisfies my concern there. Okay. So, what we would do then is turn to public comment here where it's a public hearing. Uh so, if you are on the call uh and you are um looking to make public
comment, you can raise your hand using the Zoom feature. If you are on a cell phone, a mobile phone or another phone, you can hit star9 to be recognized. Okay, I see one hand up. >> Just make sure that the public comments are gerine to the uh uh the poll hearing. Yeah, we're still we have not
closed the the public hearing and we will have public comment in general after. I see one hand up here. Uh Dr. Tyler, please. >> Oh, hands down. Uh Frank, I can only see a few uh people on the Zoom. >> Maybe we could drop the notice and make sure that
>> Sorry, I'm scrolling. I don't see any others. I'll drop Miss Crosby, I think. >> Okay, >> I'm not seeing any hands up on the Zoom call and our room is empty, Christine. So, there's nobody here in the room uh
for me to turn to. So, I I think we're ready then to close the public hearing. Any last comments, Frank or Christine, before we move on to close this? >> Right. >> Not for me. >> Thank you. Uh >> move to close the public hearing at 8:16
p.m. >> Okay, I'll second that with a roll call vote. Ben Sparrow, yes. >> Gina Hine, yes. Okay. So 8:16 the public hearing is closed and I will accept a motion to grant the request for the pole to be installed uh and the necessary work to be done uh as presented.
>> Move to approve the request by Eversource for placement of a support pole and removal of a push brace for pole uh number 3030 on Highland Street. >> Okay. I will second that motion. All in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. That carries. Thank you very much, Christine. >> Thank you, Christine. Have a wonderful
evening. >> Thank you. You too very much. >> Thanks in advance for sending the double poll report. Much appreciated. >> Oh yes. Yes. I will try to get actually um who should I send it to? >> Frank. Yep. The town manager.
>> Okay. I'll do that. Thank you. >> All right. Take care. >> Moving on. We're going to go back to number Bye-bye. Go back to number two with a vote to open the October 2026 town meeting warrant. Frank, anything to present? Uh this is standard uh uh uh
agenda item for us unless there's something about the town meeting warrant that you might like to highlight before we open it. >> Not at this time. No, we are uh planning on town meeting for October 19th. >> October 19th. >> Um in the past we have closed it uh or at least last year we closed the fall
town meeting warrant the second Monday in November. >> Excuse me. Um September, excuse me. Um, so that would have been the uh the time by which folks if they wanted to submit citizens petitions, they would have had get those in. Um, so I don't know if you want to set an official date now to close it or we can
just leave it open and see how >> we can tentatively say what you say September 14th. I hear you correctly. So, uh, we're looking for a motion to open the October 2026 town meeting warrant. Tentatively planning to close that on September 14th, although I don't think we need that in the motion. >> I think we should put it in the motion
though. Generally, we generally put the uh the clo the time we would close it on the motion um at this time >> and putting it on my calendar as we speak. >> Yes. >> Okay. I will accept a motion, please, to open the October >> to open the town meeting warrant for the October 19th, 2026 town meeting to be
closed on September 14th at 4 p.m. We usually do. Is that Yep. Okay. >> So, I'll make that motion. >> I will second that. All in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. That carries. Okay. Moving on to fiscal year 2026 appropriation. uh transfers. Frank, could you please present this for the board?
>> Yes, I'll pull those up right now. So, these have been previously approved by the finance committee. Uh the statutory deadline for these to be completed is July 15th. So, we are just in the nick of time here. Um I have uh eight for you
to review uh totaling $148,600. Just as a reminder, these are separate from reserve fund transfers. the finance committee uh did exhaust the balance of the reserve fund uh primarily to address our snow deficit among other things. Um but I can review those as well if if the
board would like. Um but just to dive into these appropriation transfers. The first one is uh $3,300 for the board of health. Uh we had uh two things that compound
compounded uh for this need. The first uh we had a coverage issue uh long-term coverage. I shouldn't say it was an issue. It was a a well thoughtout plan uh for board of health staff to assist uh with coverage in the building department while we had uh staff member on leave. Um so that led to some uh a
little bit of overage on the board of health side. We also had um higher than anticipated inspector costs. Um and so uh the request here is for $3,300 to be taken from the health insurance line item. >> Okay.
uh ambulance uh the personnel line item uh due to a um I guess we would call a a surge or needed surge in uh staffing given the new model in place uh within EMS. Um the chief needs a $65,000
appropriation transfer again from the health insurance line item to um the personnel line item in in ambulance. Um I think the >> 67 >> Oh, >> it's listed here as 65,000. >> I'm sorry. On the documents 67.
>> Okay, so we we'll go by the formal documents. >> That's I think that's police. >> I apologize. >> No worries. >> Police, fire. >> Got it. Okay, you're combining number 12 and 13 there. Got it. >> All good. >> Ignore me. >> No, I would never I would never do that.
It's fine. >> I think we're we're at a time where we want to be double checking triple checking numbers. Absolutely. >> Uh, real quick there on that one, did we correct that $65,000 gap for FY26 in FY27? We took steps to do that. >> Yes, we did. Yes, we did. We increased
that line item uh by or excuse me, that the the staffing line item by 15%. And that was across um stipens, overtime, and um off-site uh off-site stipens as well. >> Okay. >> And training. Um for uh uh police um we
had two things um uh unexpected building maintenance needs. We had a lot of HVAC issues at the police station um that were have been subsequently repaired uh thanks to town meeting support. Uh but that caused um some remediation issues
that were needed, mold and similar types of issues that had to be addressed. um and also uh uniforms and training um given the number of new officers that we onboarded. Um and so for these two operational line items, we're requesting
to move savings on the salary line items uh just given the attrition that we had. We had a number of open vacancies that again had to be filled which led to the overage in needs for new uniforms, new equipment, training for these officers. We also had a number of promotions. So
there were um new professional development opportunities available to those new uh sergeants and lieutenants >> that we you know felt were worthwhile investments. Um and uh so the total here as Cheryl alluded to is a uh a uh
$67,000 request uh moving from police salaries down to operations. >> We we are not paying $32,000 for a K9 outfit. >> We are not. Okay. No. Although I'd love to see what one will look like now that you brought that up. you know, be smoother. >> Well, and actually in in terms of new
officers, we also have a new K9, which is another good point. Um, which again comes with, >> you know, you have to outfit the cruiser, the training for the do for both the K9 and the officer. >> Um, so lots of good transition at HPD, but that comes, you know, with a uh financial cost at times.
>> Okay. >> Uh, planning uh operations request uh excuse me, operating budget request. We have had both the um town planner position and the um administrative clerk for the town planner. Both those roles
have turned over and we've gone out a couple times for um the advertising costs, MMA and a couple of professional organizations. Um those were not anticipated in the operating budget and so we are requesting to uh transfer those cost or to accommodate those costs
from the health insurance budget. uh library I will say uh we have two personnel and operations uh library director the new our new well he's not new anymore he actually celebrated his uh one year anniversary on July 1st so congrats to Jeff Smith uh shortly after
taking the helm over there he recognized that there had been sort of a built-in deficit to the personnel budget where the the proper amount of hours were not previously built into the um the operating budget for fiscal year 26 that has been corrected for fiscal year 27
they have also had a little bit of attrition over at the library. So that sort of masked the true effect of the uh the budget issue. Um so the actual need that by the end of the fiscal year was only $1,700. >> Okay. >> Uh in terms of operations, a $6,000
transfer is needed for costs related to the transition to the library's new website, which is fantastic by the way. If you have not checked it out, I would highly recommend you do so. um but also uh due to uh online material um uh
subscription costs. So services like Hoopla, Libby, things where you can go on and and rent books or other digital media. Um those costs have gone through uh gone through the roof. um for the fiscal year 2027 budget, what we've decided to do or what Jeff has proposed.
And ultimately what we decided to do was uh cap the annual uh number of subscriptions or basically borrowings that were allowed for under uh those types of programs, Hoopla and Libby. Um so that has also been addressed in fiscal 27.
uh under conservation a $5,000 request uh for a reassignment of responsibilities to the um sustain or excuse me to the conservation agent regarding the sustainability coordinator. So when uh Kathleen Buckley left, one of the things that her and I talked about was reassigning some of her
responsibilities, one of which was oversight of the sustainability coordinator. Um so um I have now direct oversight over Amelia. Um, but Tyler, given his background, he has a degree in sustainability planning and urban planning. Um, and so he works more
closely with Amelia on a day-to-day basis. And in order to compensate for that, um, we wanted to shift $5,000, uh, into his salary line item. So that was adjusted probably August of last year. >> Okay. So that 5,000 is a salary adjustment for the conservation agent. >> Correct.
>> Thank you. And that'll uh, persist. >> Yes. And that's also Yeah. And that's also been built into fiscal 27. So for these um we don't foresee uh no no structural problems like we we've addressed these in the fiscal 27 so far as we know. >> Um so that's what we're asking for
today. >> Okay. And all these are covered with internal transfers from another department. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um Ben, any questions or comments? >> Yeah, I think um I always love these these forms that we have are not great. I wish we could reduce. Not a fan either. >> They're not. They're they're really hard
to they're really hard to work with. Um, uh, what I would request, um, you know, the the questions that I wind up having are, um, is anything ongoing? Is it going to be, you know, in 2027? You know, Tina just asked that. Um, and
then, um, also, are there other things that were not approved? Was anything not approved by the finance committee in these cases? And then uh the last thing is um it sounds like most of them are are kind of the same thing which is we had something that we needed to do so we
we we did it. Um versus something like hey we've got a little bit of favorability so let's you know engage in an initiative because most of these are pretty straightforward you know either emergency or you know personnel uh shifts and things like that. So, those are the kind of the things that I'm kind
of I I you know, yes, I would like to know, but also like I think just making sure that when we report them that that's part of the uh the reporting of the uh the transfers to to understand if they're ongoing, if it's, you know, a one-time thing. Hey, we got a little
favorability here. Let's do something. And, uh, is anything not been approved? >> Sure. Yeah. So, um, all the requests were approved by the finance committee, which we really appreciate. And one other thing that I did talk about with the finance committee chair was um you know a lot of these need to be
especially with the appropriation transfers they can only be uh approved towards the end of the fiscal year. Um but in many cases you know we might know about them ahead of time >> we can we can let people know that this is coming down the pipe. >> Yeah. So let you know at the last you know we're down to the last two days here. Um not that any of this was like
urgent or critical or you know all that. >> We can approve it anytime. We don't have to wait for the finance committee. We can approve we can say and then the finance committee only has the power to do it outside of town meeting >> in June and July. >> Right. >> Um but yeah. >> Okay.
>> All right. >> So that's it >> where these have been reviewed and approved by the finance committee and reviewed by the select board. Uh I will take a motion to approve these appropriation transfers in the amount of 148600. >> Uh move to approve the appropriation transfers as presented by the town
manager and as approved by the finance committee. >> Okay. We I second that. Uh, all in favor? Yes. Yes. That carries. All right. We've done our public hearing. Moving on to public comment. Again, there's nobody in the room, so we're a little lonely here, but >> you want to do that or do you want to do select member updates before that?
>> Oh, I'm sorry. I jumped the gun. Excuse me. I'm going to back up. >> It's up to you. Like, I mean, Liz has already raised her hand, so you might want to just go with that, but I just >> go out of sequence just because I there. So, please, uh, Dr. Tyler, your hand is up. If you'd like to unmute >> and if you're able to show your I think
we saw you earlier. If you're able to put your camera on, that'd be great. If not, no worries. >> Okay. >> Good evening. >> Um, good evening. Um, Dr. Liz Tyler, 17 Norland Street. Um, the select boards.
>> I'll just wait until I have people's attention. >> Go ahead. Um the select board this evening spent 30 minutes, one half hour discussing a $1,500
um cost if I understand it. But more importantly, the the question of whether it would be a $1.50 charge for a um charge unit.
We spent 30 minutes listening to this and I just question who is protecting the town's interest in regard to this 250 unit apartment complex. We have never had time from the select
board to discuss the water issues of this proposal. Yet, the water department, the water department drinking water quality report clearly says that topics
and concerns are addressed at the select board meeting. I'm just I'm just really I I can't say it enough. I'm just really concerned. I went listened to the zooming board meeting the I'm sorry the ZBA meeting
and the applicant in the traffic in the traffic report indicated it was presented as a study. the traffic report, they had one person who qued
from um at the crosswalk from Woodland and Fawn. That is that is not a study and it is only because one of the residents said it was a rainy day that this was brought
up and in further investigation it was determined that it was a snowy rainy day. Is the town really going to accept that as a traffic quote study? one person on a snowy, rainy day between
7 and 9 a.m. in the morning. I mean, no one asked any questions about it. I I'm just really really concerned about this. And as you know, I attempted to ask a
question of one of the select board members because I thought that member dealt with sidewalks. And how many emails did I have to write? It was a very simple question. No, I do
not think that the town should provide grants for the 250 unit apartment complex. No. The Yes. But I wanted to know did the town say no to the applicant? It was very simple.
It was very simple. And the applicant at the ZBA meeting said that putting in sidewalks would cost about $2 million. No, I do not think that the town should invest $2 million so that this apartment
complex can be built and the town is going to have many many impacts because of this. And thirdly, but most importantly, why has the select board not had any
meetings with regard to the effect of this complex on our water supply? You have seen my email. It it's just it's just incredible that the director
of the public um DPW could not answer the question as to whether the 194 Land Street project would put an unacceptable strain upon Hollist's water supply that should have been calculated
as soon as the projected daily water usage of 48,000 gallons per day was determined. The effect of the projected usage should have been communicated to the select board and the zoning board long ago and the resident should have
this information. It's perplexing that at this point in the review, the water department does not have a clear answer to this critical question and he that Sean Reese is saying he's going to check past studies.
I just and I am looking forward to the response. I provided you I all of you with all the calculations which show according to the usage that he clearly indicated at one of these board meetings
that the town had in their permit per day and that calculations clearly show that next year we will we will be above our limit. I just would like I'd like a response
from someone. Will will the select board at some point put on their agenda this 250 unit apartment complex is going to be affecting our traffic. Uh water.
Yes, I'd like to focus on water. What about the usage of the 48,000 gallons a day? But also what about the effluent 48,000 gallons a day? So will the select board as a select
board planning you spent 30 minutes talking about whether we should have a $150 cash for for electric vehicles. I mean Dr. Tyler, I I you are you've been a
consistent advocate for the town of Hollison's best interests uh with this 40B project. We've received your emails. We're uh familiar with your concerns as you've expressed them tonight during public comment. I hear you expressing concern over the select board's
oversight on traffic concerns, on water concerns, and I hear a request from you for the select board to make the 40B project an agenda item at an upcoming public meeting. Uh, if I've missed anything, please correct me. >> No, I really would like I'd like the
select board. You are the only you are the elected officials that oversee the water department. We have no one else that we can go to. >> Understood. And there really is a
problem that the director could not say that there is a gonna be a problem with our water. >> Thank you. >> If you don't have >> Yes, Dr. Tyler, if you don't have any more public comment, I'm I'm going to
just turn to the town manager. Um, so I'm just going to pause and make sure I've captured and heard all of your concerns. I don't want to move on if you're not ready for me to move on. >> I'm fine. Thank you very much. >> So I the request for the select board to
take up an agenda item related to the 40B uh is not one for us to make here at this table tonight. Um we have taken steps in the past. We've brought Brian Wy in to update the board on the 40B process through the ZBA. We have written
letters to the ZBA to the the um Department of Environmental Protection in the state of Massachusetts on water concerns and again to the ZBA directly on traffic concerns. I would ask that you explore with the chair and perhaps with council as well the feasibility the
appropriateness of the select board having as an agenda item for uh a future meeting this 40B development on Molden Street. Dr. Mr. Tyler, I cannot commit the board to a future decision on whether that's appropriate. I can only ask the town manager to look into it. I
hope you can accept that. We hear your concerns and uh Frank, if you could work with the chair because I'm acting as chair tonight. It'll be uh Damon as soon as he returns. If you could just work with the chair to explore that. >> Okay. >> And and if we can get an answer from the D from the letter that we sent them with
the questions that we had. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh I'm going to move on in public comment. I don't see any other hands on. No one in the room. So, Dr. Tyler, I assume you're all set because you were a moment ago. So, I'm going to move on on
our agenda to board updates. >> Ben? >> Yep. Uh just two. Uh the first is um uh we've been talking vision future Hollistston about um uh master plan bylaw and potential master plan. and uh
through the town manager. I'd like to request that the select board discuss it at some particular point. It could be with the town meeting, summit, retreat, whatever we're calling that uh experience. Um that's fine. Um but I'd
like to request that as an agenda item that we can have a discussion about that uh in some particular level. Um, and then the second thing is is that I know the financial policies are not due to be updated this year, but I think given the situation with capital, I think it might
be appropriate for us to review that particular policy >> to ensure once we have all of the information to see if there are changes that should be made to that policy um, at that time. I think given the circumstances, I think that's appropriate. I understand we don't do it necessarily in this year, but I don't
think there's anything wrong with us having that conversation if the recommendations from the uh the third party um auditor include operational or potential policy changes that that may be required. So,
>> um I would push that back to the finance committee to to indicate that. I understand not going through everything, but I think that one I think we should >> understood. So, that's it. >> Okay. Uh I would just like to recognize the Fourth of July celebrations that happened a week and a bit ago. Uh I was
not able to be present, but I was certainly hearing from from where I was in the world that it was a hugely successful event that the Declaration of Independence was read in at town hall on the steps by a number of post and present uh town officials, town staff
and uh notable individuals from our community. So many thanks to all those who participated uh and uh by all accounts it was a fantastic event and Holliston uh did us all proud by celebrating the 250th in the way in which we did on the 4th of July. So
again deepest gratitude to those who uh organized and then participated and then also celebrated in what was held here in Hollist. Uh I have two updates. Number one, Frank and I have had some conversations related to the housing trust um and looking to re-energize the
work that the housing trust does uh and pick up the speed a little bit. I think the housing trust is anxious to go on some affordable housing conversations and hope to have some updates over the summer um on that topic. Although I can't get into specifics because we don't have a meeting agenda in which I
can talk about uh what we're actually >> uh one question about that is uh is the CPC involved in that because they do have a housing uh aspect to their uh uh funding allocations. >> Right. And so one of the housing trust members is appointed to the CPC and she is one of those individuals who's ready
to go with these conversations. So, hope to have some really positive updates. And this also ties back to conversations that Frank and I had had when we went to the state house and met with the under secretary for um livable communities and housing as well as the Senate President.
So, uh there's a lot of untapped potential here and and anxious to get that going. So, that's on the horizon. And then the other one is I just wanted to share if you may recall a number of weeks ago back in May, April, we had a walk Massachusetts, a state organization, come to Hollston and
conduct a uh walk audit demonstration. So we had a very successful walk down Washington Street towards uh Cole Court. And out of that walk audit demonstration, we have a report that will be issued to the town that we can then use to go after grant dollars. And
we also received a letter of support for a application that just went in for complete streets funding which is for $500,000. So it's a huge amount of money. Uh and again that walk Massachusetts walk audit demonstration generated a letter of support. I thought it was a very strong letter of support.
So I feel very optimistic that Mass DOT will uh view our application favorably. So, just wanted to come full circle on that uh act event that happened back in April with a good outcome for Hollist today and hopefully an even better one when we hear the complete streets
funding award amount. I have no other comments. So, we'll move on to uh warrants because we already did public comment. So, Frank, could you please present those? >> Yes, we have several to report. Uh so, bear with me. Um June the 22nd
uh 20261,488,8848. June 29th 1,113,88.50. Switching over to fiscal year 27, happy fiscal new year, $277,4389. And then two on July 6th, one for 1,91,919.90 and4,572
or excuse me, $4,572,8681. >> Thank you. Okay. Comments from the town manager. >> Uh first, uh I will echo your comments, Tina. the July 4th uh event uh both the breakfast at the lodge up the up the road and then out front in here in town
hall was fantastic. I think it was an excellent celebration. It was 99° and I think everyone was thoroughly still enjoying themselves. Um it was just the right the right tone, the right amount of time. Uh it was a great gathering. There was a great crowd. Um, so thank
you to Bobby Blair and Steve Bradford and and the rest of the crew uh for organizing it and also to HCAT for broadcasting it so that others maybe who didn't want to stand outside could enjoy it. Um, speaking of being outside for long periods of time, I also want to thank Donna Muzzy, Amelia Lando, and
Chief Cassidy for hosting our household hazardous waste day at the Woodland Street campus this past weekend. If you missed it and still have uh stuff to dispose of, you can contact the town manager's office. you can always get a voucher to participate in a neighboring community's um h household hazardous
waste day or similar programs. Uh so give us a call 5084290608 if you are interested. Uh a really exciting update uh a couple school related things. The school building committee will meet for the first time a week from tomorrow, July 21st at 7 p.m.
here at town hall. Uh it will also be available via Zoom. Um, the MSBA requires the the school building committee to be fully formed, including the election of a chair by July 31st. So, we will be doing that and I'm sure we'll be discussing some similar
deadlines. We have a couple more in August. Uh, so I'm at the end of August, excuse me. Um, so I'm sure we'll be uh doc Dr. Kimmo uh excuse me, Dr. Carter will be providing updates on those as well. Um, and speaking of which, I also just want to formally welcome Dr. Carter
uh into his new role as superintendent. We've already spoken a couple times. Um, and really looking forward to working with him in the months and years to come. And also a welcome to Howie Barber who is the new assistant superintendent of finance and operations. He will be starting on Wednesday, so he'll be
jumping right in. Um, we also have uh with this evening's consent agenda, we should be wrapping up uh I guess what you can call our reappoint season for boards and committees. Uh so once uh tonight's appointments are official, we will be posting an updated list of those
vacancies and pushing bless you and uh pushing those out. So if you are interested, please check that list once it is published and we will uh get you appointed as soon as as soon as we can fill those spots. I don't think I can emphasize enough obviously uh Hollist is
is not unique from other small towns in Massachusetts in that uh we uh we run on volunteers and we rely on volunteers for so much um but it can also be a very rewarding experience as I think hopefully the two of you can attest to um and so you're just the only problem
>> so uh again please stay tuned for the town's website uh onto the town's website rather um if you are interested and that is my town manager update. >> Okay, thank you very much. Any comments or questions? >> Um, I would just add that um when we do get the the list, not just the website,
I think about finding ways to push it out there press release, anything y information like here's the here's how to apply, here's how to contact, anything we can do to get that information further out there. I'd love to um push as much as we pull in people. >> We should have the full list of
vacancies available in the August edition of the local town pages print version as well. So we'll do we'll do we'll do print >> if it's like quarterly or you know frequently we don't have to do it constantly but every few months just making sure that we can let people know that there's openings and
>> please you know put their names in and participate where they uh feel that they can uh contribute or to contact you to join the talent bank where the um >> right >> and you can help them guide them towards something that might work for them. >> Great. One other quick update just because uh another project um reminded
me of this during the course of the meeting tonight. Um the in case you haven't been over the schools or the Woodland Street schools rather this uh this this summer uh the flag street or excuse me the flag school project is well underway hoping to be wrapped up uh for the most part before the start of
the school year. So, that's an exciting uh >> big investment that the town has made >> um with support of the community preservation committee and we will uh hopefully see it come to fruition in just >> I don't know four to six weeks or so. >> Great. >> Frank, related to the town manager
update, uh you have no updates on the from the meeting that we had related to um the capital expenditure fund. No updates tonight. The work is ongoing and no anticipated next update as the work
is ongoing. Am I correct in saying that? >> Uh correct. No update to share tonight. We will have um I think I can say that we have someone coming in next Wednesday uh to sort of start their review of the the past and and uh you know the the
situation as we understand it right now. >> Okay. And the folks coming in next Wednesday are auditors coming to review financial documents and policies. So, they are a um a recently retired uh town accountant, finance director uh with a
very long tenur and uh experienced career. >> I mean, we we sat down with them and and reviewed the situation with them. >> Okay. >> Um and they were happy to take it on. >> Okay. And no anticipated uh upcoming agenda item that folks who are listening might want to mark their calendars if they're interested in terms of when it
might come back to the select board. I know that we have to let this process play out >> and so it is probably premature. I'm simply asking if the information is available. If not, I'm not looking to uh push on that. >> I think it's possible at your next meeting um we might cover everything that we're sort of handed off to this third party.
>> Um just so that we're all on the same page on you know what, you know, what they're going to be looking at and what we think might be the root cause here. >> Um >> and expectations for like timelines and things like that. >> Right. Perfect. Right. And so by by the time you meet next because that'll be the 20
>> uh 27th, right? Yes. Um, so that person will have will have had, you know, a few days to at least get an idea of, oh, this is probably what you're looking at here in terms of a timeline. >> Okay. Okay. Great. >> I can't speak for uh Ben or Damon. Never would. I think though uh from my point
of view, the select board's committed to a fully transparent process. So, to the extent that we include it in you include it in the town manager update or not, I think we'll address it at every meeting uh moving forward just to say where are we and what's next. >> Sounds good. Um, and no update is okay.
I think we should just be making a commitment to the people watching and viewing this that we are, it is top of mind all the time, even in the absence of new or important information. Okay. All righty. So, town manager update. I think we're all set. Moving on then to board business. We have a consent
agenda. Anything you'd like to call out, Frank, before we go ahead and do that? >> Nope. Just that uh the statewide primary is on September 1st, 2026. >> Entertain a motion. >> Okay. Move to approve the consent agenda as presented in the tonight's agenda.
>> I will second that. All in favor? I. >> Yes, that carries. Okay. Then we have Well, that's a funny way to list that. Uh we have meeting minutes. Is that's under the board business? >> That's a that's a under that's under the consent agenda. >> Yeah. Sorry. That's under
>> Yeah, that's part of the consent agenda. It's just that the annual appointments just sort of preempt the meeting minutes. That's all. >> All righty. Then we have other business. Ben, any other business? >> Nope. >> Okay. My only one is to circle back around goals and priorities retreat. What did you call it? A summit
>> something. Whatever. Whatever we want to call it. Just like a >> not a regular meeting. Uh getting that on the calendar. Uh >> well, it would have to be a regular meeting because if the three of us are going to be there, we have to have a has to be in a public place and we have to um uh announce it. >> Misspoke there, but >> No, no, no. I But I get what you're
saying. It's not it would it's not necessarily our regular schedule of business meeting. >> Monday meeting. Yeah. So yeah, we can put something out there and I think we talked about like a potential Friday afternoon or something like that. >> That was Yeah, I think I I was um Damon had to sort of exit unexpectedly. So we
uh when he gets back, we will we'll get that >> finalize that. Perfect. And then um I will reach out to you directly about um the $1,500 on the EV charging station, the operating operation management. Yep. >> Uh charge there. Just to wrap that up
before it comes back to the board since I was the one with questions. And finally, our next meeting is Monday, July 27th, 2026, at which time uh Damon should be back as chair. We'll have a full board. So, if folks could mute, that would be great. >> Otherwise, we'll take a motion to end
the meeting this evening. >> All right. I will take a I will uh make a motion to adjurnn at 8:53 p.m. >> Second. All in favor? I. >> Yes. Have a great evening week and we will see you in two weeks.