All right. Good evening, Holliston. Welcome to the May 18th meeting of the select board. Uh we're going to get started. We have a public hearing to talk about bicycles, electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and motorized scooters as they pertain to the traffic
rules and regulations. This is a public hearing. So, do we have a motion to open a public hearing for those? >> Would you like me to read the notice or just move to open the public hearing? Uh, >> why don't you read the notice and then make a motion? The Hollston Select Board acting as a traffic authority for the town of Hollist will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to the
town of Hollist traffic rules and orders regarding definitions, operation enforcement, and safety regulations related to traditional bicycles, electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and motorized scooters. Proposed amendments include regulations related to operation on sidewalks, trails, and public ways, speed limits, passenger
safety requirements, and charging of electric vehicles in public spaces. The public hearing will be held uh this evening, May 18th, 2026 at 7 p.m. in town hall. Um I move to open the public hearing at 7:02. >> Seconded.
>> All right. All those in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. The public hearing is now open. So, uh Tina, it sounds like you've done a ton of work um on this uh particular topic here. Um, if we can have Frank
pull up the uh proposals here and Tina, if you could just kind of walk us through what's uh what we're going to talk about for the traffic rules. >> So, some of you may may know that uh a year or two ago the legislature created a u micro micromobility special
commission to study the uh use uh and concerns and best practices around all all different types of microobility devices here in the in the Commonwealth. and they issued their report in January. Um, and they uh had a number of
findings. This actually does not reflect any of that. Uh, I bring that up as a as a comment because the we're going to see a lot of activity from the legislature on micromobility devices and that will
come to bear uh on all municipalities across the Commonwealth. What I've proposed uh through town council and working with the trails committee and um consulting with the Holl Police um department are uh changes that reflect
current law as it stands today. So what we have proposed are things that update the traffic rules and orders to match law today. I do feel like the town of Hollston with a 6.7 mile rail trail um with a strong biking and walking community to our schools with an
emphasis on um sidewalk accessibility throughout the town. This is a very smart thing for us to be doing in general. >> Um it feels proactive to me. Uh but it also keeps uh our focus on something that will over time change as the legislature addresses microobility. So I
I see it um being important on a number of different steps but most importantly it is bringing the traffic rules and orders up to speed to that's not the right term here uh up to match what is currently uh in state law. So first and foremost though our traffic rules and orders refers to the board of selectmen.
>> So I am looking one of our changes to be select board uh to modernize what we've we adopted a number of years ago. >> Indeed. Yes. >> Uh we add some definitions just to explain what a traditional bike is versus an electric bike. We have definitions throughout the traffic rules and order. So this is just adding that
that uh language in there. >> And then where it gets meteor is if you go down. So article one again is um definitions. If you go down Frank I think we jumped to article three, article two rather >> um which is to expand police duties. And so
a lot of uh conversation with the Hollson police about what they were comfortable with, what they saw as a need and so the language reflects um reflects that. >> Okay. So, >> okay. >> Again, complant complying with state law.
>> Okay. All right. >> Uh, article three is amended based on um the fire chief and also council's feedback on charging of electric devices around town. Yep. >> Uh because you can't just charge anything anywhere at any time. You you
have to follow certain regulations. I won't get into the details here, but the traffic rules and orders just reflects um public safety in that regard. Fire safety. I don't know if the chief wants to add anything. I It's pretty simple. Article four, uh this is where we see changes that are not addressed in any
way in the traffic rules and orders, and that's to say that uh you cannot ride tandem. So, you can't put somebody on your handlebars, you can't put somebody standing up on the back of your bike, you can't put posts on your back wheel. This is consistent with state law. Okay? >> Um you have to have a valid seat.
>> Uh and the person riding must wear a helmet if they are under the set age of 17. >> Okay? So, that's article four. Article, what is that now? Doing the math real quick. Seven. Uh, this is where we get, I think, the most important changes. And we have public comment here that I'll read when we're ready for it related to
this. But this is electric bikes in Massachusetts are not allowed on sidewalks. Electric scooters are not allowed on sidewalks. Um, and so we have that bottom line. No electric bikes, scooters, motorcycles on sidewalks.
That's state law. we just didn't have it in our traffic rules and orders. >> And we're saying here too by trails we're implying we're also saying that rail trail should not have those vehicles. >> So it's a little more refined. So on the rail trail the um the state leaves it up
to the municipality. >> Okay. >> Uh so in consultation with the Hollison police and then also the tra the trails committee it did not feel uh reasonable to exclude electric devices of all types on the rail trail. Okay.
>> So, where we draw the line, correct? An emoto. >> Uh, and there's a part two to that, although it's not defined in our traffic rules and orders. Emotives are not allowed to be ridden by anybody under the age of 16. You must have insurance, you must have registration, and you must have a permit or a license,
>> similar to a a gas powered motorcycle. >> Correct. Correct. Um, so this just this really gets to the meat of it. So, we want to match this with education in the schools. So, I believe the policy police SRO's have been in communication with uh
the schools and if not yet, they will be about bike education. Uh the police have flyers created to hand out at school events because there'll be a number of school events that the police will be at over the next couple weeks. Okay. >> To educate families because uh many families wouldn't know this. >> Yes.
>> Uh and so we're just we're just codifying what's already in state law here in the uh traffic rules and orders. And I think Frank, that's it. If you scroll down, I don't think This we talked about. I put I left it up there just to show that there was conversation about this. Um maximum speed for
bicycles, electric uh electric bikes, scooters shall be 15 miles an hour. There was back and forth. Um I was interested in seeing the town consider something like that. The police were not for a very good reason, which is to say, how do you enforce it? Are you creating
a a tension where people are saying that bike's going way too fast? And now you're getting the police called really called off the road from doing other types of enforcement to come now and enforce um speed on the trail. >> So that is that is in this document but we are not putting that into the
>> I put it here for conversation. I didn't know if you two would like to discuss it further. It is a hearing. Um but I I'm not at this point I'm not in favor of adding that um for the concerns raised by the police which really have a lot to do with reasonable enforcement. Uh and also for the trail committee, uh they
feel that that would be cumbersome to sign to post throughout the trail. And how would you how would you show that somebody was going over 50? >> I mean, inevitably, I think we we educate and we make sure that people are going at a reasonable speed and that they're being safe on the rail trail. Um, but we also want to make sure that
if it's enforceable. I mean, we don't want to put in a rule that we can >> there. At this point, technology does not allow you to does there's not good technology to mount a speed uh radar on a trail to capture a bike or scooter. So, you're really limited. And this is
one of the things the legislature will take up over time, right? >> Is how to get that technology into the hands of municipalities like us that really want to have safety on our on our trails. Um, but want to do it in a in again a a reasonable, manageable way. So, I I don't recommend this, but I wanted to let you all know that it was a
part of the conversation that we had with both police and trails. >> In terms of those speed and the concerns that many people have with speed, uh, Frank, you also had the um, trail etiquette changes. So, the the trail committee, they're wonderful, wonderful people. Yes, >> we're blessed to have them doing the
work that they're doing. They've already started to update their etiquette signs. >> Okay. >> Uh and if when Frank pulls that up, you'll see that they talk about speed in um you know, in a common sense kind of way. So, it's being addressed. It's just not being addressed in our traffic rules and orders. >> Sure. Sure.
>> Uh so, this is what they're looking to update uh the signage on the trail to include. >> Okay. Do they want us to vote on this or are they just going to make those? >> Yep. >> All we're voting on tonight is >> are the traffic rules. Right. Correct. That's >> a point of clarification on electric
bicycles. So, it's the capability of the higher speeds that matters, not the actual speed employed. And does that cover mixed modal bicycles as well? So, the >> everything. >> Okay. So, if a unit has the ability to engage an electric motor even if it is not engaging that motor, then the rules
apply. So, for instance, there's electric bikes that essentially have a hub that is added to a normal bike. Correct. Correct. >> It can be engaged, but you needn't. You can just pedal it if you'd like. Right. In that case, it's whatever the max speed is is going to determine. >> It's the fact that it has a motor. So, there's nothing with a motor allowed on
a sidewalk unless it's a mobility device for somebody who's using a powered wheelchair. >> There are no, you know, that and that's been on that's been on the bus for a while. So, we're just modernizing to include that in our traffic rules and orders. >> Thank you. >> Um Okay. Um Damon, do you have any other questions here about that?
>> I think that's the main one. I kind of agree with the enforcement mechanism problem that you mentioned. I think that that gets into not not dangerous grounds, but it seems like we're going to make things very complicated if we go down that road. I think it's if a problem emerges, we can always pivot, which I kind of like >> and we can always Yeah, we can always
change it if we need to. Yeah. Because these are >> policies. There's rules in order set by the select board. They're not um town meeting or something like that. In terms of education, the police will be again handing out flyers. We will also see sandwich boards with um key pieces of
information particularly focused on the helmets and the no electric devices on site >> like in Blair Square and like maybe like Cross Street like a couple different locations. >> He ran down the list I think at the schools Blair Square, Goodwill Park. Okay. >> Uh and there was a fourth location. I apologize I'm blanking on but they're
all easy. You can pick them up and move them around. So the idea is they're going to kind of float around the community. Yeah. um to remind people of of um >> Okay. >> how to be safe on a bike. So, >> sounds good. Sounds good. Um I I Is there any maybe talk about like because I know we have a couple bike shops that
are close to the road. Any talk about maybe like sort of bringing looping them in so that they can kind of >> make sure that people are aware of some of those things as people. >> So, for sure, bike shops are all in on this. You there's a lot of conversation among bike shop owners about how to be responsible and meet the needs of their
communities, which they they they know the the risks here. Um, Milford Bicycle was the bike shop that joined the police on May 1st or 2nd when they did their bike rodeo. Okay. >> My understanding is they'll plan another one. The police will plan another bike rodeo in the fall as kids are coming back to school.
>> Um, but that's the extent to which I'm aware of bike shops being involved. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Many communities after a tragedy will hold a community forum. That feels too heavy-handed where this felt like a proactive step.
>> Yeah. um to be responsible and and try to get ahead of something. >> Yeah, let's start talking about it. Let's put it out there and let's get it get the conversation out there and start educating people about it. >> Yep. >> Uh any other comments before I see if there's any public comments? >> Okay.
>> Um since this is a public hearing for uh changes to the traffic rules and regulations. Um, we're going to now see if there's anybody in the room who'd like to make any comments about these traffic rules and regulations based on the faces here. I think they're here for other reasons, but I just
wanted to make sure that uh made it out. Put it out there if >> I do have one that was emailed in when you're ready. >> Yeah, we'll get that one. One second. All right. I'm not seeing anybody here. Um, anyone on the Zoom who's who wants to make any comments or has any questions about the changes to traffic rules and regulations that we're
discussing this evening about ebikes, uh, bicycles, uh, electronic motorcycles and motorized scooters >> and also changing from board of selectman to select board. >> Yes. Yes, that's an important change too. Um uh and uh if you are on Zoom,
you can uh raise your hand and we can call on you if you'd like to make a comment at this time about those uh those those proposed changes. >> All right, I'm not hearing any. I'll go around the room one more time after the um the if Tina if you could read the email. >> So we have public comment from Claire
Breznahan uh and she writes, "Greetings. We are requesting to keep the rail trail safe with pedaling of traditional bikes bikes only in consideration of the taxpaying Hollist citizens. Responsible citizens walking should not have to wear helmets and joint protectors because of
irresponsible selfish folks speeding by unmotorized bikes or scooters. What is the town liability when citizens are run over by selfish riders? Respectfully, Claire and John Breznahan. And to that I would I would respond if I may that motorized um bikes emotos are
not allowed on the rail trail. >> Okay. >> And if someone sees an emoto they should report it to the police. >> Yes. Similarly if they saw a uh a gas powered vehicle they should they're all uh it's similar conversation. >> All right. Uh one more time. Anyone in
the room or on Zoom have any comments here? Chief, is that an accident there? Um, Chief Stone, did you want to make a comment or you >> No, I was just I was just gonna add um those sandwich boards, depending on the on the board's vote tonight, those
sandwich boards are being made uh currently. So, those should be ready for deployment probably by the end of the week if not early next week. Um and the idea is to like again educate um educate educate educate just like when I you know make new changes whether they be traffic or involving bicycles. Our goal
is to get out there and kind of spread that message. So between the flyers and the sandwich boards and social media, uh that messaging will be consistent. So I think, you know, as the trails get busier, the days are longer, we're hoping to hand a lot of people that are out there, especially when we have about 3 weeks left of school. Um you know,
we'll be handing those flyers out as well. So uh whatever we can do to keep people safe both on and off the trail, uh we'll have extra patrol out there. We have bicycles ourselves. I a lot of new young fit officers who uh who enjoy riding bicycles, so we'll try to get them out there when we can.
>> Excellent. Thank you, Chief. Um, anyone else before we close the public hearing? >> Don't all jump at once. Okay. Um, I will take a motion to close the public hearing. >> Move to close the public hearing at 7:17
p.m. >> All right. All those in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. All right. All right, the public hearing is now closed for the uh traffic rules and regulations change. Um discussion um Damon, any thoughts or concerns about uh going forward with
these uh these changes? >> No, I think education will be kind of key. I think there are a lot of folks who are younger than 16 who are operating these vehicles right now. I see them all around uh in my neighborhood. They're they're not common, but there's definitely a group of kids who use them. And uh I think
getting that information to people who are otherwise well-intentioned will be quite useful. Um hopefully we have a little bit of flexibility when it comes to laying down the law. I'm sure that we won't be uh making people, you know, pay right away, but I think it's going to take a while before the word spreads. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I mean, I think it's uh I think it
makes sense. It's good to get the uh um to move towards educating people on >> being safe in these with these kinds of uh vehicles and uh considering them. And uh as the legislature makes changes, we certainly can make future changes and I'm sure there will be more as
technology uh is is very much in flux. And uh Tina, I want to thank you for uh taking the initiative on this. You brought this forward a couple months ago and now you know bringing these rules uh to us. I think it's a it's it's a good thing and I appreciate you your leadership on uh on these these issues. So,
>> we do lots of things right in Hollist. One of the things we do really well in Hollist is our rail trail. >> Yes. >> Uh and promoting walking and biking uh to school among our children and everybody for that matter. And so this is just such a natural thing. >> Absolutely. Want to make sure it's safe and want to make sure people continue to use it. And especially as the weather
gets nicer, let's uh you know, we want to >> encourage people to use it in a safe and um and productive manner. >> That's okay. All right. So, I will take a motion to make the changes to the traffic rules and regulations as presented. >> Okay. So, moved.
>> Second. >> All right. All those in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. Tina, thank you very much. Thank you, Chief Stone. Appreciate it. >> Thank you, Chief. Thank you, Tina. >> And All right, moving on. Uh, we're going to have a discussion about non- voting residents attendance procedure
for May 2026 town meeting. So, uh, tonight we're just kind of looking to gather some information. We're not looking to solve the problem right here right now because we want to try to understand like you know what happened and then we can basically try to work to make a better uh create better outcomes
for October. So uh a resident came forward with some concerns. uh she's here this evening and I asked her if she'd like to come up and just sort of recount your story and just tell us a little bit about what happened and uh if you don't mind coming on up uh please love to hear from you to sort of understand uh your experience and uh you
know apologies about the the the what what happened. We we weren't there but that's part why it's important for us to hear from you directly so we can understand kind of what was uh what was going on. So, if you just kind of want to tell us a little bit about uh just name and address and then a little bit about what uh what your experience was
at a town meeting on last Monday. >> Sure. Thank you so much for having me here. My name is Puja Gupta and I'm a resident at 105 Overlook Drive. Um so I came into the meeting because we had a topic about the school committee and I totally understand we are a non- voting resident but I do like to be informed
and want to hear the perspective right as I have done in the previous meetings. when I check in um we I'm well aware that we have to sit in an area because we are not voting so you want to make sure when voting happens you know we are excluded because we don't have right to be voting right um when I came in into
the meeting this time I was told I have to sit in an overflow area in the cafeteria and when I asked like where is that coming from and I was told we are expecting more people to come in because you know we have a school committee I mean school topic which a lot of people would chime in um and at that point it
like 6:50. Most of the room was empty. Um, so I know we were trying to be proactive, but I didn't see much people, but I did go into the cafeteria at that point. There was only just one more person at that time in the overflow area who actually was with a lawyer. So, she
was not a resident of Hollist, but she was with a lawyer. And I don't know the name of the gentleman who came in. He checked and he told us, "Oh, you have to sit on these two tables. These are for the overflow area. There's a TV. if you need to speak just let us know and we can facilitate that. Five minutes later
he came back into the room and he's like oh you are with a lawyer you can actually come into the room and I was like wait that person is not even a resident and it's okay for that person to go in and not an actual resident
understanding both of us are non voting but I have a much bigger stick in the discussion happening in the room because it's about school it's about my kid going to the school so that was a bit off and that's when I brought it up to a few people in the room. I messaged
Damon, I messaged Dan Alfred, they went up to James and he they're like, "Hey, are you aware this is happening?" Apparently, looks like not much people were aware. Um, so you know, I think at that point they went up to the moderator, spoke to the moderator that hey, the room is empty. So,
>> yes, >> can we just have her in? And that's when Dan and one of my friend came into the room and they're like, "Yeah, you can come back to the room." Okay. So my concern is I understand what was trying to be done because you know you are trying to be proactive >> but it didn't look like it was needed
and the way it was handled especially >> non voting resident versus a person who's just representing a lawyer >> right >> like the differentiation that was made was probably the thing that you know was frustrating to me the most. >> Sure. Sure. >> And again this is not the first time I'm coming in. I understand the process.
I've been there to the town meetings. So to me it was just a bit surprising. So maybe we could have done communication a bit better because if I have to sit in a room to do it, I can sit in the home and watch it. Like I don't have to spend my time making arrangements for my kid to show up at the town meeting. So I think
it's just a matter of communication and if you're expecting this to happen, just tell us beforehand, right? Not when I'm coming there. >> And it didn't even look like we would have that many people present. I mean, even at the end, like the room was still empty. So, >> right,
>> I understand the proactiveness, but could have been handled a bit better. >> Yeah. And I I think to your point, I think we were um we should just have a protocol for these things and handle it the same way every time. And I think just I think we you know, we haven't had
too many town meetings since I've been on the board um where we've had need for an overflow, but we've been trying to be proactive because you just never know if you're going to get too many people because it has happened in the past. Um uh so I think uh you know at the very
least we just need to basically have like here's how we're going to handle it. Here's what's going to happen and you know if at 7:00 there's enough you know everybody comes in that kind of we can figure out kind of a way a better a better way to handle it that's more clear and to your point communicated
>> effectively and I think we can do that and make a better make better choices um with that. Uh Tina do you have any comments or thoughts here? >> Uh I have two. Yeah. So the town moderator and the town clerk are responsible for the function and the the look and feel and flow of a town
meeting. Uh and so what I would see the select board's role as is relaying the concerns to both the town moderator and the town clerk and liaisoning between the resident >> moderator was on actually. So she's like speaking. >> Oh okay perfect. Uh I don't understand a school committee member being and I
don't James >> I think it was just a communication that happened at that point in time because there surprise it wasn't meant like I wanted them to jump in to do something. it was more hey you know this happened kind of a situation right more than one thing
>> I think perhaps what I would suggest as we look to solutions moving forward because I agree with you uh you should not have had that experience is our intention as a town >> the whole town I'll speak on behalf of all of us is to make it a welcoming space for everybody we work hard on that so I'm I apologize for it not feeling or
being that for you that's that's something we we ought to address as a community um but I think in terms of communication who to reach out to if you have a concern. So in the in the case of town meeting, it would be the town clerk or their staff and the town moderator. >> And this is but I I think the the idea
here too is that because we're a public space that we can we can be a public space for to to talk about those things and then bring those forward to the absolutely >> to the uh moderator and the clerk. Um >> I I see Michelle Zemer who is uh the town moderator. She has her hand raised.
if you want to unmute yourself and if you just uh have any comments about what uh Puja is saying right now, I'd love to hear from you. >> Well, excuse me. First of all, I want to apologize that um you had that experience. Um that shouldn't have
happened, but I I I don't want to speak for Liz, uh the town clerk who's not here. She's the one who made the arrangements for the overflow um anticipating a large crowd based on um her previous experience with things
having to do with school excuse me with school votes where there had to be overflow. So I think it was really prudent of her to have have that set up in advance. I you you never know how many people are going to come to town
meeting and I was actually surprised that more people didn't come um excuse me with something school related on the uh on the warrant but um I I just wanted to apologize if
you know that that happened and I'm sorry I wasn't more involved beforehand. I was, you know, backstage making sure that the the honor guard was ready to go and that the Adele was ready to sing her
national anthem. So I I should have been more aware of what was going on. Um and but no one spoke to me about this. Um no one came to me uh well when I was on
excuse me on stage there. It was um people were reporting to Liz and then Liz and I conferred and we decided that we didn't need the overflow and that people should come back. >> Oh, >> okay. >> I'm sorry that didn't happen earlier. I
>> Yeah, >> you know, you but I think that we've both learned from this experience. As I said, I can't speak for Liz. I can only speak for myself. And maybe it should have happened earlier. I I don't know
what happened with someone with an attorney that >> that I can't speak for, but I know, >> excuse me. I know that um the town values every resident regardless of if you're a voter or a non- voter. And I I
personally would let anyone speak at town meeting who had something to say, regardless of where you're sitting in the auditorium or if you were in the cafeteria. if you had something to say, it wouldn't matter to me. So, I just wanted to put that out there.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Michelle. I think, you know, and I think the uh sort of what I'm hearing, too, is that I think everybody sort of had good intentions here, but I think we just could have had like we can sort of build in protocols to sort of say like, hey, at this time, let's make sure. And then we can have
somebody who's monitoring it, who knows that if somebody's there that they can make sure that like, hey, at at 650 if it's if it looks like there's room, we ask them, you know, something like that. We can have sort of like ways to sort of check-ins to make sure that you can be part of the process that that if that if
that is the way that it needs to be in the first place really. I mean, >> you know, we could make the argument that people who were um non-residents should be in there, not necessarily non- voters. So, you know, that certainly could be the argument as well. So, um, we need to do better and I think that's really the thing. So, Damon, did you
have any comments here before? >> Yeah, I was really concerned when Pujo brought this up and, um, I don't want to second guess the process or the decisions that were made running up to that. I think I can understand the logic of it, but I did want to say, you know, from my point of view, the the meeting has always been a public meeting. People
bring their kids who are not voters. Um, and on days where it's going to be a very expansive meeting with a lot of folks, we don't sit there and kind of like say, well, okay, that's a young person. and they go in this specific room and you meet this criteria, you go in this specific room. So, I I prefer just a queuing system where people first
come first serve with a generic overflow strategy for anyone who comes later. We keep it simple. We keep it equitable and and facilitate it that way. Um, I think that I was expecting a lot more people as well. Um, but when you brought this to our attention, I mean, my blood pressure went up a little bit. I understand it was totally
well-intentioned, but I think we can we can do a better job and it's not that complicated. So, I appreciate that everyone seems like they're going to lock arms and try to figure it out. I don't think anyone had any ill intentions, but the sooner we can figure this out before the next meeting, the better. >> Yes. >> Uh Michelle, did you have another comment here?
>> Yes. Um about where people are sitting. Um I did an informal survey uh today of other town moderators and no one has nonvoters sitting with voters unless they have clickers, which are the
electronic voting. >> Okay. So that's just something to throw out there. You know, I've been an advocate for clicker since I was elected. >> I do remember that. >> Yes. Well, we can we can talk about that as another as another topic. So, another >> but that it, you know, if you want to
have um a voice a voice voting, you know, where people are >> Yes. >> saying I and nay, you really can't do it while people are mixed in. >> Gotcha. It's It's got to be a separation unless you have the clickers.
>> Gotcha. Okay. Okay. Good to know. >> Well, Puja, I we appreciate you uh coming forward to to to bring this to our attention and we'll uh we're going to work to get it get it right next time. >> Thanks for hanging out. >> Thank you. Thank you for bringing and advocating and we appreciate it all you
do. >> All right. Go ahead. >> Um, I'm not going to do public comment right now until we get to public comment because we're not we're not making any decisions about this. We just wanted to hear from Puja about what was going on so we can do um better next time because
we're not we're just listening to the T story at this point. >> Okay. >> And I have >> I had a question from Michelle about that same topic, but is there's another time to ask that question? >> We have public comment. Yeah, we have public comment coming up in a few minutes and I just wanted to like I
apologize but we can we can get to it in a few minutes. >> Um okay. Uh come next we have um a discussion about high school student parking on Mark Tree Road, Robin Hill Road. Um we had a public hearing in the fall and um we had at that time decided
not to go forward with any changes to uh parking. Um, in part, I mean, personally, uh, speaking for myself, I was a little reluctant because it seemed like the people who were coming forward with the advocating for change were divid well residents who were in the
area were divided on it and they were the ones bringing this forward as as an option. And um we were hopeful and clearly incorrect in our assumptions that things would be better this year and they were not and we are here
because they are not better. Um I will say that as of the end of the week the seniors are graduating there will be plenty of parking and that hope that that we expect the high school to get out good um uh information to make sure that students do not park there. they
should be um they should be made aware of that regardless and I think we need to do something make some changes here. Um I'm going to throw out a couple options uh for discussion here. Um the first is um uh the when you look at the
the location where the uh uh the end of Marchery Road where the culde-sac is there's a fence and it's open. So, one of the things I actually spoke to an officer, a police officer, uh, at a f at a something that we were doing the other day and he said, "What about we just put a gate there and then it completely
locks off that kids can't get in there. They can't go into the high school. It's inaccessible." So, that was one particular option. And then it wouldn't require any restrictions to parking for residents whatsoever. Then they could park, they could do what they needed to do. They could have their landscapers, contractors, whatever they needed if
they needed people in the area. Um, but at the uh the other side of that is it could restrict access for people in that area to get to the high school. That's sort of the trade-off. Inevitably, we're going to have to if we're going to do something, there will be a trade-off. So, the other option is obviously
restricting parking during school hours. That has that has consequences as potential as well because then it you know it could be disruptive for residents who wanted again who have somebody's coming in or they're doing work or they needed to do something in there that could be uh restrictive to
the the abilities for those people to do those kinds of things. So um I wanted to sort of throw that out there as like a couple options. Obviously the other option is we do nothing but that clearly didn't work. So, you know, I I'd like to see if we could do something because, you know, we've heard from multiple
residents that there are issues in this space. Um, and I know there's people here who are interested in talking about it. So, before I get to them, I just kind of wanted to hear from, you know, from Tina and Damon, unless you want me to just bring residents up to to talk before we uh before you chime in or
>> I'm personally great with residents. I have I have some ideas, but I think they're more for discussion at a different time. Yeah, >> absolutely. Um did you have any >> I I will say that from the first when we opened the hearing months ago um I feel similarly I would absolutely prioritize those walking and biking and the safety
of access for our emergency um vehicles over any other consideration general lens through which I'll I'm looking at this is uh encouraging walking and biking and uh ensuring that emergency vehicles have access. That to me are the those are the one, two,
three, and no order there. >> Yes. >> Priorities. >> And I and I do recognize that a lot of what happens is, you know, there's students are parking, they're getting their licenses in the spring, and as there's fewer parking spaces in the high school. They're parking on these roads.
So, the problem isn't really persistent. In the fall, it becomes a spring issue, becomes later in the spring issue. So, we recognize that in October, hey, everything looks okay. And then in May, it's not okay. And so we do recognize that that's why we're having this conversation. And um so I will I see
some people here and I wanted to give them an opportunity to come forward if they'd like to say anything to us or if they wanted to make comments about this at this time. Yeah. Come come on. If you want to, you can come on up and and uh give us your uh your your comments here
about this. Sure. Come on up. just give us your name and address and um and uh your comments about what's going on. >> Okay. Uh Jonathan Parker, 290 Mark Tree Road. So um I guess first of all to address the comments that you just made,
I personally hearing that idea about closing off the fence absolutely opposed to that trade-off. >> Okay. >> Because of the >> the number of people, you know, that that walk and and bicycle, you know, into from the neighborhood into the high school. It's just to me
>> like during during the school day or like in general like is I mean is it something where like you could be locked during school hours or >> you know open I I'm just sort of like is it or would you be uh just opposed to it all? >> I'm opposed to opposed to it altogether. I just think that's a non-starter.
>> Okay. Now, in terms of the parking ban um that we've talked about, I think we've been talking about, at least my wife and I have been talking about maybe a few things, a few modifications to it that might make it a little more um palatable to the neighborhood. Um and I know that in the
after the last meetings, we talked we asked about resident permits and any stickers or anything along that line and that that came back as not being feasible, >> right? But what we would like to know first of all is um is are something like
um controlling the times um a little more. So f first of all we were thinking the original proposal uh was 7 a.m. a ban from 7:00 a.m. through uh 300 p.m. Monday through Friday. Um and then a few
of the neighbors talked about well they they would have to move their cars early. >> Sure. So what we were thinking is is 9 9:00 am to 3 p.m. feasible because then the stu because the students come in we can tell you after detailed study um you
know 8 to 8:15 is when the vast majority of the students because school starts around 8:00 a.m. Yeah. So they all come you know streaming in between 8 and 8:15. So if you make it nine, you know, they'll they if they leave the cars
there, they're all going to hit that window and they and they should all get ticketed, >> right? >> So that's that's our first suggestion. >> Yep. >> Um the next suggestion is to fine-tune um the the time like to say something
like during the during the school year. >> I would say when school is in session. Like when like if school is in session, then it would apply. like that is kind of how I >> Yeah, we thought about that too. I'm not sure how if that can be like what the definition of in session is, but you
know, if that's something that everyone agrees is a >> you know, definable entity, then yeah, when school is in session and then >> yeah, >> you know, and then it will um >> Okay. >> I guess I guess that would eliminate the
need for putting the time on it too. Um >> yeah, yeah, it could be something like that. That could be something. >> Just wondering about regulatory signage. Chief Stone probably cannot respond at this point, but I think that's a it's a good question because in order to have enforcement, you'd have to have a
regulatory sign. So, we would just need to make sure that because there areformational signs and then regulatory and the regulatory would be what allows for the ticket. Anformational sign would not, right? >> So, we're in favor of a regulatory sign. >> I figured figured. Oh, whatever it t whatever it takes and if putting an
actual time specific times on there is required in order for it to be regulatory, you know, then our suggestion is 9 9 to three um you know maybe September through >> um June or something like that.
>> So something that frees up the open time for everybody else but narrows it down, you know, to when the students are are likely to be there. >> Okay. Um, so that th those are those are our thoughts. >> Okay. And you said and I I think you you
sent us a couple messages about this. You said it seems like it starts like in >> like March, April time frame. >> It gets a little earlier than that. Um, so you were right in your comment that it, you know, in the fall there there were about three, maybe three cars
parked on Robin Hill Road and it was like that for a little while, but it wasn't as it it wasn't as abrupt a leap as just, you know, >> um, October to May. It was growing all along, right? >> So, it went from three cars to six to
nine. The only time it didn't happen was during the worst of the winter when the snow, right? >> So, I think they got the message, you know, don't park there, right, >> when the snow is there because the school bus can't get by and plows and everything else. >> But you saw I think I I think I I I saw
I'm not sure if it was you or your wife that said it was like I think you said like 36 40 cars at worst. >> Yes, definitely. So, it went for in that progression >> and then by March it was already hitting in the 30s. Yeah. >> Um and so it was um and then we took
made took some statistics and it was over 40 cars among the three streets. Um >> Mark Tree, Robin Hill Road, and what's the third? >> Green View Drive. >> Green View Drive. >> Right. So um yeah. So for the last
>> for the last um since I guess you could say since March, April anyway, it's been in that neighborhood of 40. >> Okay. um since the communication was made which we we were anxious to see how that was going to work but since since that so it did make a and when the new
spaces were put in finally they started being used spaces in the high school not >> most of the time only a handful were being used >> don't know why you'd think they would have been but anyway >> um so it did go down a little bit but then the average the average went from
about 36 to 40 to maybe 26 in the neighborhood >> sure so disrupted not as >> still disruptive not as many. >> So um so that's the numbers part of it. >> Okay. >> Then of course there's our real concern,
>> right? >> Which is the the the speeding. >> Yeah. >> The narrow streets. Um, there was a day that my wife was driving around Robin Hill Road and one of the kids was turning up in his pickup truck and the two cars because of the other cars that
were parked there, two cars can't get by each other at the same time. >> So, the pickup truck had to back up and get out of the way to let my wife through. Um, every time something like that happens. And then there was a thing I mentioned in an email about the garbage truck. One of the kids actually
almost hit a garbage truck who was by the way trying to maneuver around parked cars to collect people's trash and recycling. >> Um, so you know, I see every time I see or hear about that, I think what happens if an ambulance or a firetruck has to
come in and they're messing around with, you know, with kids >> trying trying >> trying to get out of their way >> or maybe even not even trying to get out of their way. Who knows? >> Okay. >> So anyway, um, so that's that's >> okay. the real aspect of our >> Yeah, it's a public safety
>> of our concern. Yeah, it's definitely and um and just the speeding too. Yeah, my wife took some videos and you could see that. >> So, there were days out there I was just standing out there with my phone and when they saw me standing at the tip of the driveway, they were all going very
slowly. Then my wife sat on the porch and do it and they didn't see her and um >> they flew by. >> Yeah. A lot of them were okay. You know, they were they were going all right. But then, you know, man, you they had to be doing um 40 at least, you know, maybe
45, >> right? >> So, so there are enough of those too. People are walking their dogs and just >> it's a neighborhood. It's a it's it's a residential neighborhood. Yeah. Absolutely. >> Their fellow students are trying to get to who are also parking on that road or trying to get to their cars and the
other cars come speeding up behind them and these other students have to, you know, scurry out of the way. >> So, that goes on and on. I I think you get the >> what I'm saying. >> Yeah. >> So um so so those are the >> sure >> those are the reasons why we think at
this point and especially after trying the education and communication in the fall >> after trying education and communication as recently as three weeks ago and putting the extra spaces in it's only gotten marginally >> okay
>> better. So we we think um that it's time >> okay >> to go to go the regulatory route. And I still remember Damon's quote from that first meeting about the iron fist. >> Yeah. >> And I and I hate to see it. I really hate that it's come to that, but >> I think it I think at this point, you
know, I think the only thing we'd have to decide we'd have to determine is >> what we can put on a sign sort of to figure out exactly what the regulatory uh uh uh ask would be to be able to determine that >> to right and to and to be able to to be
able to narrow it down to target the problem but also give the neighborhood as much relief as possible from, you know, from >> any kind of um, you know, impact direct impact of >> Sure. >> of a of a ban. >> Okay. >> So, um >> Okay.
>> So, that um and if you can give me >> Yeah. I mean, if anybody Yeah. You know, >> I guess I guess I'm handing it over >> if if Yeah, that's fine if your your wife wants to. >> All right. Thank you all. >> Thank you. Appreciate your >> Thank you. >> So, I'm the wife in question. Lois
Parker, 290 Mark Tree Road. Yes. Unofficially thorn in poor Frank's side, but we've been communicating regularly. Um, I have no doubt that any of those students who park in the neighborhood can talk to you about the crazy woman with the white hair who's constantly um
trying to slow them down. And to me, you know, going like this is very clear, raising your hand in a stop signal, but they think you're waving to them and they wave back. I totally don't get it. Um, but they're turning around in people's driveways. They don't even use
the culde-sac or Robin Hill Road to turn around anymore. They're turning. They're driving all the way into people's driveways. They're making threepoint turns in the middle of the road while their fellow students are walking and multiple people are picking up students at the culde-sac. And we can all agree
that these aren't experienced skilled drivers doing this. Um, just last week I was walking my dog around 2:00 and they come and go at all different times of day and three of them were leaving the neighborhood and so um, it was a risky
move, but I walked my dog in the middle of the street to try to deliberately slow them down and had my hand up to slow them down and all they did was just swerve around me. So, um, it it has become, you know, increasingly difficult
and definitely not improved. Um, and uh, one thing I would say is that, you know, we've talked about, I mean, I'm sure there are people who think, well, you moved into a neighborhood adjacent to the high school. You know, what did you think was going to happen? Well, the reality, as we've said before, is that
we've we're coming up on 34 years next month. And it's never been a problem until this current school administration um, offered up our neighborhood as a parking lot. And our neighborhood is not a parking lot. It's a nice family-friendly residential
neighborhood. Can you can you sort of elaborate like what do you mean that the administration >> Well, that's what we heard from um last year when we suddenly noticed an influx of cars in the neighborhood and we inquired um one of the police officers
who was coming through and ticketing students as to what changed and we heard and I even asked one of the students this year um who was walking to his car and I said, "Did the school tell you to park in this neighborhood?" and he said, "Oh, yeah, cuz there aren't enough
spaces at the high school." >> So, the school the the the school told the students to park in your neighborhood. >> This is what I've been told by more than one source. >> Okay. >> So, um and but the point is that it was
never a problem for 32 of our 34 years um until recently. And then the one bit of precedent that exists for this is that in the early 2000s when the high school was being renovated and the parking lot was temporarily unavailable as a result, all of a sudden we had an
influx of students parking in our neighborhood for that reason. And we contacted the police at that time and other neighbors did and I believe it was Chief George at the time came down assessed the situation immediately said this isn't appropriate for a
neighborhood and move them all to Holl Street. Now, I'm not offering up Paula Street as an alternative, but I'm just sharing that there is some historical precedent that you may not be aware of, and it was quickly um determined at that time that this wasn't appropriate for
our neighborhood. Um, one comment I would make as far as gating off um the culdeac is that um tomorrow before it hits 98 degrees, I'm hoping to use that route to walk to the high school to vote. So, it would be inconvenient, you
know, and I realize there are only a couple of elections a year, but it would be kind of crazy for people in the neighborhood to have to drive to the high school to vote when there aren't parking spaces at the high school already. And then the Green View piece that my husband mentioned um was left
off of that communication, but in order to cut through Green View to get to the high school, it's right behind home plate at the baseball field. And I was told that that's a right of way on somebody's property, but now that this Mark Tree Road thing has been going on
in Robin Hill Road, um there are as many as eight cars parking on Green View. And so you would have to block that access point off as well if you wanted to prevent students from being able to walk through to get to the high school. So um
that's an additional issue. And then as recently as today, you know, we we're not having as many litter problems as we had last year, but um some student apparently didn't think it was cool to have those magnetic stickers that identify them as a student driver. So,
they're now on my neighbor's mailbox today. So, you know, it may seem minor, but when you add it all up, it's not. >> It's disruptive, >> right? >> Understood. Thank you. Did you want to come come on up?
>> Just give us your name and address and you can give us your comment here. >> Uh Adrianiano Apostolic 270 Mark Tree Road. Um last year when we previously discussed this, I was on the fence. >> Okay. >> Uh and now I am firmly not on the fence anymore. >> It has become even more chaotic. I
didn't grow up in this country. I grew up in a place with no sidewalks and I don't feel safe walking my kids on the road when the kids are getting out of high school. >> Sure, >> I understand like they're young kids and you know I was that age as well. Um but
it is becoming more and more chaotic. I haven't seen very much >> okay >> uh benefit to these new spaces opening up. >> Okay. >> Um I think locking down the end of the street is not >> Okay. >> I was I moved to the area hoping my kids could walk to high school. >> Sure. I would like to be able to do
that. And honestly, if I was that age and I would just park my car there and jump the fence. >> I was just trying to think of if there was an option because the concern that we had heard from residents was >> closing the road down might might be too disruptive. That's what I heard in
October. So, I was trying to think of is there another option? That's kind of what I was >> I was one of those residents that was saying that'd be too disruptive and I am granted just one of them, but I'm firmly I would rather the road be shut down. Okay. Um, >> fair enough. >> Yeah, the noise, the speeding, it's just
it's it's insane. >> Okay, >> thank you so much for your time. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> I I appreciate you guys. Thank you. >> No, thank you. Thank you for coming forward. Anyone else in the room have any comments? Yep. Come on up and uh just give us your name and address and you can make your comment about uh about what's about this.
>> Uh my name is uh Sam Simmonian and I live on 116 Robin Hill Road. >> Okay. >> I have some cons uh really big safety concerns. >> Sure. And I'll give you a few examples that have happened to me over the last couple of weeks. >> Uh, one day in the afternoon, it was
about, well, I would say about maybe 3, 3:30, and I was coming up Robin Hill Road down by the culdeac and the school bus was coming down. Now, the cars are still parked there, so I backed all the
way back down Robin Hill onto Mark Tree to let the bus come down and get through. Another concern was one morning my uh neighbor leaves early for work, put his barrels out on the side on the sidewalk. I was leaving to go play golf
and someone parked directly >> in front of the barrels. So I got out of my car, moved his barrels to the uh driveway so they'd be picked up. >> Yep. But my main concern is, and I didn't realize how bad it was until about two weeks ago, at about between
quarter 3 and 3:00 down at the corner of Robin Hill and Mark Tree at the Culdeac. >> Yep. >> It's a traffic jam because uh parents are there to pick up their kids and it's un it's actually unbelievable the
traffic. I couldn't believe it. And and when I sit at my house and I watch and these are not students, these are now parents. And this is a big safety concern. >> They come up Robin Hill and they're flying and now there's still cars parked
on one side of Robin Hill. >> Sure. >> And there's little kids up there playing >> and so now the parents don't care and they're flying through the neighborhood. I think there's got to be at that time at least monitored for a while by the
police department to slow these parents down or or someone's going to get hurt. >> Okay. >> You know. >> Okay. >> So, that's my concern. >> Understood. Understood. Thank you. >> Appreciate you coming forward with that. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else in the room? >> Stacy. >> Hi.
>> Hi. Stacy Rafy, 20 Arthur Street. I do not live in the neighborhood and I apologize for the behavior of entitled people in this town. Not all of them, but it's embarrassing um that people aren't caring about safety. I sit on the
s uh the traffic advisory committee. Speed is something we hear about in every single neighborhood. I do think, and you guys know this, I'm super like on the strict side. I think it's time to have a conversation with the school. Um, everybody has their own car now because
students are not allowed to drive with anyone under the age of >> whatever because they changed the law and once you get your license, you need to wait 6 months. I get it. >> However, I don't necessarily think it's appropriate that every student gets to
drive to school. And so, you know, yes, there are situations where kids have, you know, single family kids might have to go home, take care of whatever. I get there's different situations, but at the end of the day, those students who didn't have their
license for the first three quarters of the year were either taking a bus or getting a ride. I don't think just because automatically it's spring and they get their license that that means license to park. Like I think we need to have a strong conversation, a a hard
conversation with the school. This is really a big deal and I'm concerned like people are not being safe. >> And um you know, I'm happy to brainstorm with you as well, but I just think just because you can doesn't mean you should.
And I'm like a big believer. I honestly think it probably should just be a senior privilege. Like that's, >> you know, I don't know. Times have changed. But but I think we are not doing ourselves any favors by allowing >> families not to be good neighbors.
>> Well, and I think part of this exercise could be, you know, um, you know, obviously that that's the purview of the schools to be able to handle some of those things, but we can certainly say this is a concern about what's happening. This is what we're going to do about it. And, you know, happy to can
continue a conversation um further um to try to facilitate that. that I mean I've certainly been in contact with I want to put her on the spot. School lady chair is right there. I asked her, she's I've talked to her about this quite a few times >> to try to keep her in the loop about what's happening. Um just so that you
know in thinking about those things and you know to your point maybe you know obviously we we don't have jurisdiction to say who can get a light any of those things at a school >> but you know our concern here is the neighborhood and looking at that but certainly working with the schools and sort of telling them about the situation
and making sure that they're a partner in the solution because inevitably if we make these changes and we say you can't park there it's going to come to the schools that as something that's going to be something that they have to to deal with >> next spring particularly >> and you know I have a hard time like you know the other person in my house who
you know has more of a left brain will say it's a public street they should be able to park there and I'm like yes but you know I that argument I was like yes but you don't just >> well not every street has parking on it you can't park on every street there's
there's parking restrictions in many places there's restrictions like you know we've have you know we had people turning into Mudville when the lights came on and people were cutting through we put up restrictions to be able to go through Mudville in certain times of the day so that way the restrictions >> and if the restrictions are necessary sometimes we have to make those
restrictions you know thank you thank you Stacy anyone else in the room >> can I just make one more comment >> can I come back circle back to you I just want to make sure that everybody has who wants to talk has a chance to and then I can come back to you afterwards um there's somebody uh Bill Chason um you've been very patient could
you just give us your name and address and your comments please >> yes uh Bill Chason 310 Markree Road uh I say here to the last speaker. Uh this is a student problem. I've lived here for 35 years and this has not been a problem
until the last three years. And to I I support a parking ban. That's what we need to do. However, I when we discussed this in the fall, uh I believe that the the the statement was it has to be uh there can be no exceptions. And so that
means I can't park in front of my own house. >> Yeah. Because students are partnering on it. We did not create this problem. The people that live in this neighborhood did not create this problem. I've sent you a picture of what this street looks like. >> Yep. >> On a Saturday, there is an car parked
from the circle all the way down to Prospect Street on most Saturdays or any day >> after 4:00. So, the residents did not create this problem. If my landscaper can't park in front of my house or my tree service guy can't park in front I
had tree service done the other day. They had to park in the circle. They had a park 50 60 days. You have to wait. >> Uh so if it's going to be that that's a shame. >> Yeah. >> There are going to be no exceptions that I can't park in front of my own house.
>> Yep. >> Because problems that students have created. That's unfair. But I'll support it. >> Yep. And >> this problem has to go away. >> Absolutely. And I and I to to your point, you know, if this this is sort of what I when I was mentioned early on is
that there's a trade-off here. So that if there's >> if what's necessary is a parking ban, even if it is during certain hours, if that's feasible, um uh if that's the case, then it would it would impact residents too. And that's that's which is just absolutely you're totally right.
It is unfair, but that's we can't >> pick and choose which. Yeah, sure. That's my idea. Put up signs that say no student parking. >> That's more That's not regulatory. That's more >> information. It's regulatory or not. >> Okay. >> Put up signs that say no student parking.
>> Okay. We can >> And if people don't get that message, I mean, you sent a message. I mean, I'm I'm I'm ready to put the message that you sent in the student newsletter. >> Mhm. >> To the, you know, to the parents. I'm ready to put that on every windshield on
my street because some either some parents didn't read it or some parents read it and don't give a hoop of it. >> Okay. >> Because you sent that message out, that's nice, right? >> Yep. >> But and if it's not regulatory, fine. I mean, I would love to see these I'd love
to see these people ticketed. Yeah. >> Right. And if you ticket me >> Yep. >> I mean, I have to go down these days. I live here, right? Here's my here's my registration. But anyway, I I'll support a parking ban. That's the way we have to go. To me, that's draconian and it's a punishment for the residents who have
done nothing. >> It is >> to deserve these restrictions, >> right? >> So, I mean, it would be nice if we to think of a way to get the students only. >> Yep. >> The clear message to not park in this neighborhood. I don't know how we do that, but
>> I think we I I to your to your point, I think we we had hoped that that would could be be taking place and and for whatever reason that message was not >> um heard if if uh by by them. So I I created open spaces over in the high
school. I can see them every day from my from front of my house. They're not they're not being used because these students don't want to go through the hassle of trying to get out of the parking lot. Okay. >> There's there's five to six, seven open spaces every single day over there.
>> Well, and I think >> they don't want they don't want to put up with the with the traffic jam getting out of the parking lot. It's easy to fly down Mari Road to Prospect Street. You're out of here in 2 minutes. Yep. >> As opposed to getting in that parking lot and getting out on Hall Street. Why can't we have parking on Hollow Street?
Cuz it's not safe. >> There's no parking restriction on Hall Street. Don't park in front of the high school. That's a Yeah, we we have to we'll we'll explore every option that we can to try to to to get a better solution. But Bill, thank you for your comments. Appreciate it. >> This is going to go away in five days,
right? And I bet you it doesn't all go away in 5 days for the same reason that people don't want to deal with the hassle of getting out of the box. >> Okay. Yep. >> But we got to have a plan before the fall because >> Yes. >> despite the you know the fact that it wasn't bad in the fall. It was bad
enough for us to have it have it on your on your uh >> it's this this board is prepared to to to take action um that's that's reasonable um to to to to manage it that's >> obviously to be as least disruptive as
possible but at the same time solve the problem. >> Right. And and I don't want you to take my comments as as as I'm trying to roadblock this because I'm on board with Beth Pan if we need to. >> Gotcha. I feel it's really punishing to know the people that live here. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Bill. Appreciate it. >> Um I see is that Walter? Um do you have your hand raised? If you could just give us your name and address and your comments. >> Yes, sir. Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can. >> Uh yes, my name is Walter Rodan. I live at 101 Robin Hill Road.
>> Okay. >> I've been there for 27 years. Um before that, I lived at 330 Mree Road right at the cult. Uh, and that was for five years. So, I've been in the neighborhood for 32 years. Um, every all my neighbors are
correct in that this has not occurred until the past couple years. Um, it's always been a quiet street. >> Mhm. >> The major problem I see is uh Mree Road does not have any sidewalks. Everybody
knows that. It's just a um whatever show you want to call it with cars and people walking dogs and students and it's uh very dangerous. So I think it's absurd that our neighborhood has become a
parking lot for the school. >> Mhm. >> Um the gate idea is very bad. Um okay, >> for all these years I've been walking through that, you know, around the high school uh to get some exercise. Everybody else does that too. Everybody
walks their dogs. It's um it's part of the neighborhood. Um I had a question about um John Parker's um um proposal to restrict parking
during certain hours. Um I don't really understand what those hours are. Are they 9 to3? >> He was suggesting his suggestion was 9 to3. this board hasn't taken anything and I'm not we're not sure what a reasonable what we can do but his what
he had suggested was a 9 to3 restriction that way people who could as I understand it if like somebody was like who got up uh like could get their car moved before it was later and then kids would be there because they're parking
at 8 8:15 they would be there um and leaving their cars between 9:00 and 3 and so it would it would take care of the the window when kids were putting their cars there. That's how I understood it. That >> Yeah, it was um it was B. We're gonna come up.
>> Um well, we like we just wanted to clar I think. >> Yeah, that's mostly >> Yeah. Okay. Go ahead, Walter. >> Um okay. Uh thank you. I was wondering if maybe uh an 8 to 9:00 a.m. or 7 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. might work because what
that would do is it would prevent the u the students from parking in the morning and then all the contractors and whatever our friends and neighbors who >> park and drop by on the street would not be undisrupted.
So instead of having most of the day restrictive, >> just make it an hour or two in the morning. >> Okay. >> Um then the neighbors then the residents would not be inconvenienced either. >> Okay. All right.
>> Okay. My last thing is um >> uh when I was in high school um I went to um a school where only seniors could have parking permits for the uh parking lot. >> Yep. >> And there were no other places to park
in the neighborhood because it was signed that you know the city did put up signs. So um I really suggest that to the school which is not a member who is not participating in this but I understand that the school has now has
assigned parking spots which maybe they didn't have in the past in that that is creating one of the problems uh because if on any given day 20 students aren't there for whatever particular reasons there are 20 spots that are not being
utilized at the high So, um, how they deal with that, I don't know. But I think in the past they probably were not assigned. So, I just want to offer that up as well. There's something maybe you could suggest that the school take a look at.
>> Okay. Yep. And that's their that's their place to to to make those kinds of decisions, but I think uh, you know, I I we have someone from the school committee here who's uh, who's listening intently um, and hearing hearing these suggestions. So, we appreciate you coming forward. Thank you, board. I
really appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thank you, Walter. Um, so I'm gonna The gentleman behind you actually ask if he mind if I >> Okay. Okay. Come on up. We're We're going back around. >> I'm responding directly to >> Yeah. Yeah. It's just like, you know.
Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. We, you know, he had suggested seven to nine. I was just sort of relaying what you had suggested as a as an option because it seemed like what Walter was asking about. >> So, yeah. As you said, nothing's carved in stone. We're here to figure out. >> We're here to try talk about what options. So, the first thing that I wanted to say, we've heard the argument,
it's a public road. Yeah. And I know you addressed it very well, but I just want to reiterate, yeah, it's a public road, but it doesn't mean that it's safe or appropriate for for thing these things to happen. So, public road is a just a >> bad argument. >> Um, the other thing I just wanted in
case Bill didn't hear what you said, Tina, about regulatory versusformational, >> regulatory means that they can ticket it. Mhm. >> I'm in favor of that. Informational is good. Put put up as much information as we think might help the situation. >> Yeah.
>> But regulatory I feel is necessary so they can get ticketed as often as they need to to get the message. >> Cuz because maybe that's what'll give them the message. Mhm. >> Um and then the um the third thing was um
the um I forget the third thing to >> the 7 to9 his suggestion. >> Yes. So Walter actually just gave me an idea. >> Yeah. >> So first the 7 to9 I can tell you now we haven't we have we've been trying to give everybody here the big picture.
Yeah. But part of the smaller picture is that this same phenomenon of speeding in and out of the neighborhood occurs at lunchtime because the students can leave to go to lunch >> and a awful lot of them >> okay that come back >> in my opinion do. So they they're just
so they come back in the afternoon. If they can't park there in the morning they're going to they're going to go they're going to go to lunch and just come back. So maybe a second window, maybe one 7 to nine and then one. >> It's probably going to be easier to have a single window, but you know, signs are big. >> That's what that's what I'm thinking is. And now it's starting to get
complicated. But I can I'm pretty confident that if there was only a small window in the morning that, you know, they're going to come speeding in at lunch, uh, after lunch and just, you know, park there the way they do today. I mean, the whole the neighborhood, maybe half of them clear out to go to
lunch. And yes, on top of that, >> what we've heard and what we've witnessed, they speed even more at lunchtime because they try to they don't have much time. Sure. >> So they fly out of the neighborhood, they go eat, and then they fly back so that they can get back in time for their next class. Right.
>> So that that's that's doubly bad. >> Gotcha. >> Okay. >> So um >> Okay. >> Thank you for for clarifying. I appreciate it. Thank you. >> And uh >> can I say can I add one thing, please? >> Uh yeah, go ahead, Walter. Okay, thank
you. Um uh I like John's idea. Um I also feel that um if we just restricted 7 to9 um the kids um you know aren't going to be coming back to the neighborhood in the afternoon because
they didn't parked there initially in the morning. So, wherever they parked in the morning, they might be apt to just go back to that location. And that location would not be M Tree Road or Robin Hill or Green View. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> And then one more comment here and then I'd like to hear from the board. >> You just give your name and address again. >> Uh Simmonian 116 Robin Hill. >> Thank you, Sam. >> I remembered last fall when we had the meeting. Mhm. >> I can't recall who brought it up, but
the question was asked, "Who told you you could park on these streets?" >> And the answer was the principal. >> Okay. >> Okay. Now, the board was uh I don't know who on the board was going to look into talking to the principal to let the students know that they shouldn't be
parking there, >> but I just remembered that. So, that's that's where that came from. >> Gotcha. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Sam. Appreciate it. >> All right. Take one quick. >> Sure, Lois. >> I promise. >> What the heck? >> It's okay. >> But >> just make sure you come to the
microphone because people on the at home can't always hear you. >> Lois Parker, 290 Mark Tree Road. Just um tacking on to what my neighbor Sam just said. Um this is what I've asked when I've reached out to Frank is that the neighborhood should be told the same
thing that the school is telling the students. And it doesn't feel like we're getting that information ever because we can see a visible change. And as my husband mentioned, there was nothing going on over the winter for the most part. It was gradually increasing over
the fall. And I did email Frank when we had our first snowstorm forecast and he said he would pass that on because obviously we don't want cars parked in the neighborhood when there's snow. Well, we didn't. I mean, granted, there was snow all winter long, and we didn't
see any cars parked in the neighborhood all winter long, and it was great. Exactly. Where were they? >> All of a sudden, the middle of March, like right after that St. Patrick's Day weekend, we got up one morning and there were 15 cars on our street where there
hadn't been cars there for months. So, clearly something someone said something to someone. And that was what I asked Frank at the time is, can you find out what the school is telling these students that's bringing them to the neighborhood? And we never really found
out that information, but clearly there's somebody at the schools sending them to this neighborhood to park. And that's what you're hearing that so many people are frustrated about. >> Gotcha. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um Okay. I'm going to um
we've heard from a number of people um a number of frustrations. So I'm interested to hear uh comments from the board. Um Tina, what is your what are your thoughts hearing the uh from the residents? >> Yeah, I mean when we when we talk about public ways, we talk about all road users. Everybody pays taxes to maintain
public ways and and that isn't determined based on whether you drive a car, ride a bike or walk. So I agree with those who feel public ways should be safe for all. I think that's an understanding that um this board has had for for some time and and uh I don't really feel that that's a part of the
conversation. So I'll put that out on the table. I think that what we have here is a lack of separation of use. We have residents who are living their residential lives. We have students who are commuting to school by car. We have um we have people who are walking and
and as a part of their exercise, as a part of their walking their dogs, as a part of their own commuting, whatever. We have no separation on Mark Tree Road on Robin Hill Road and and Green View, Green Lane, Green View, Green View. >> We we have no separation. And so there's conflict because we have too much use.
So for me, it's it feels fairly straightforward uh in terms of defining the problem. the solutions may be harder, but it's policy, education, enforcement. Those are always our options when it comes to conflict on on roads. Always uh policy, education,
enforcement. It sounds like education has failed. >> Uh I think that's fair to say that was what we led with in the fall. Let's try education. And it sounds like that has been completely unsuccessful. Uh so I'm going to remove education from a part of the solution at this point in time. And and we're left with policy and
enforcement. Um, I am concerned that if it's a policy decision that the town can't make, right, we we can't adopt or implement policy that affects the behaviors and choices of the public school students. That's not our purview.
Um, we don't really have policy choices that as a town. We can make it on behalf of the select board. Um, but I think we can ask for partners on the school side and also set expectations that we have policy change. Yeah. Because the flip is if we don't have policy, we're left only with enforcement now. And enforcement
puts the burden entirely on the town. It puts the burden entirely on the police. Uh and and maybe that's where we end up. But it doesn't seem to be a a well-rounded solution if we're not addressing policy. Policy like we've heard from folks who are familiar with
the way parking has changed on Mark Tree uh and Robinville Robin Hill and and Green View over the years. Three years ago, we did not have this issue. Uh, and so something has changed policy-wise. So, is it the assigned parking spots? I don't know. That's not our role. It sounds plausible, but that's not our
role to determine that. Um, is it the senior privilege question whe juniors have the ability to drive? I don't know. Uh, that's not our not our purview to figure out. Uh, is it the leaving at lunch, you know, contributing to the safety concerns and the conflict on road users? Maybe. But again, we need the
partner on the school side. So, what I would suggest is that we commit to a ask for a commitment from the schools to address some of what a lot of what we're hearing through policy and that we match it with the necessary enforcement. There are regulatory signs. You could have a regulatory sign that says one hour
parking only Monday through Friday, period. >> Yeah. that allows people, you know, to uh or one, you know, you could have some regulatory sign addressing a parking or no parking um restriction on uh these
roads. Uh I think again that puts the burden on the police to enforce something that could be addressed pretty well perhaps by policy. So that's what I would propose that we make a commitment to um partnering with the schools with an expectation of policy change uh and
that we match the policy changes with enforcement where it needs to be. Okay. >> I I'm concerned that the school year is bad and that uh it's not over yet. I know Chief Stone said three weeks, but I think it's actually more like five Sarah for the last day of school, >> but the seniors are done this week, so
then their spaces are open. >> Yeah. So if that's how if that's how they use it or they they you know >> we hope but I think but I think one of the the points that's been made is that some a lot of it sounds like a lot of people are using Mark tree because it's a fast way to avoid the parking lot
>> whether parents are picking up or whether students might be doing that just simply because it's easier. So there's a breakdown on that side as well. So I mean you know even if those spots open up and for for senior parking that doesn't necessarily mean people are going to are going to use it. So, you
know, it might be less. It might not be 40 cars. It might be 15, but that doesn't mean I I based on some of the behavior I'm hearing, it doesn't sound like it would it's going to go away. >> Yeah, I I I would like to offer immediate relief. I don't think that there's immediate relief here, particularly if we're talking about
policy and enforcement, and enforcement would would need to have that regulatory piece behind it, signed behind it. Um, I will just end by saying, you know, we're about to hear from the climate action plan about an update on the climate action plan. And so I'll put all my cards on the table and say that, you know, anything that we do to
disincentivize driving to school and encourage other modes of transportation is for the benefit of the future of Hollist. Uh, and so I'm I'm not looking to make it easier in any way for for parking to happen on Mark Tree, uh, Robin Hill and Green View. Uh I think we
absolutely should be um disincentivizing that. Um okay so policy and enforcement. >> Okay. >> Tina that was very well articulated. Um I I agree with you on several of your points. I will say I tend towards more parsimmonious solutions. Um so I am
>> what does that mean? >> U smaller more succinct >> less complicated. >> Yep. >> The the easier the better. Um, I do think that enforcement is part of the equation if we can't get to it. I know the chair of the school committee is here. I agree with the idea of partnering with the school committee on
this. I think that is a really good place where we can find a good solution. >> For my bit, um, almost every school area I've lived in, parking has been a privilege that has been attributed to the seniors only. I think it's a supply side demand problem. Um, if something is available, people avail themselves of
it. And so if you decrease the supply, sometimes you can make things a little bit better. But that is definitely not my perview. uh something to talk about I think in conjunction with the with the school committee um definitely their area of expertise. Uh when it comes to the enforcement bit I do think that safety is a real a very real concern. I
have children. I have been in places where cars speed by very quickly also driven by other older children. Uh and I think that this is something that we shouldn't overlook. So I'm I'm quite happy to engage in both of those facets that you mentioned. Although I do hope again for a more a simple answer is probably the better one here.
>> Okay. Yep. >> Um I think um you know I'm I'm kind of you know I I think we tried education. I'm kind of in the in the in the frame that you know we tried education. I was hopeful that education would work and it did not seem to work. So um I think you
know education is still going to have to be a component of any solution because there still needs to be information that's passed out whether it's signage whatever but there also needs to be you know uh that commitment from the school. So I think my proposal here is is that you know we need to have like for for
our next meeting we should have a what you know does it make sense like 9 to3 is it a you know 2hour or 1 hour parking only something like that um hearing from the having the police like what is enforceable that's reasonable because I mean you know obviously one hour is
there but you basically have to have almost a police officer like in that neighborhood for the whole time and I don't I want to be fair to them here when there's other things going on we don't want um lose sight of that as well. Um and then um so I you know what is a proposal that they can come up with
that they that they is enforceable and you know it might have to be like 9 to3 that's probably a more reasonable thing if after 9:00 someone's there they get ticketed that's it but you know what is what what is reasonable for them and then on the other side of it too is that you know um I'll throw out there to you
know for May 28 I know the school committee has a meeting on May 28th um you know I'm willing to come to that meeting and talk about it um and and sort of say like, "Hey, this is an issue. We want to partner with you. We want a solution and you need to be part of this solution here because, you know,
if we restrict parking, it's going to fall on the schools to fix it or to to have some if it's policy, you know, whatever it is. I don't know what that looks like. It's going to wind up being pushed into their on their plate regardless. So, we want to make sure
that we're, you know, working with them and and trying to understand what that problem looks like and things like that so that they they can um we can partner with them on any long-term solution. >> I'll introduce two words, moratorum and pilot. I think that a moratorum is something
that can be short acting and can go into effect immediately. >> Sure. A moratorium can be something that um helps you bridge to get to a permanent solution and a pilot can be a trying out of something uh to see if it works. So I think when when we have the conversations hopefully with the schools
certainly with the police that we are >> considering things like also a moratorum y >> uh I think that gets us perhaps immediate relief. Yep. um or give builds the bridge uh and then piloting that we can be open to trying out some solutions that perhaps don't
end up being permanent but they're attempts to address the problem. So I'll just introduce those two words. >> No, I think those are good. So I would expect that on you know on our at our next meeting we would have a proposal from the police that's enforceable because I think enforcement is kind of the road we have to go. What is a something that they can enforce? What is
reasonable? And I don't want to put them on the spot here because but I would, you know, we talked about a a gate. It doesn't seem like people are interested in that. I I recognize there's trade-offs no matter what we propose here. But I also want to make sure that we're fair. We don't want to put something in place that can't be enforced. I mean, we talked about that
with speeds on the trails earlier. It doesn't make sense to do say the whole point is to put some teeth behind the uh the pol the uh the change. We need to make sure that we can do that and that it's it's actionable. So that's my expectations. That's what I'm calling I
and if the board is in agreement, we could for the next meeting, we expect the the something from the police on what is reasonable what they can they can do and then we can take action at that. >> Ben, if you're not able to make if you're if uh this item is able to be
added to the school's agenda for the 28th, it may not be, but if it is, um I'm available as well to go. I'm going to confirm that right now, but uh select board representation to speak to this. Sure. Um, so yeah, I will I'll work with to to be reasonable because I know the school committee meetings can be jam-packed, but I um throw it out there
that as an option because I'd love to be able to no other purpose than to get something out. But I see Chief Stone, the police chief's hand is raised and since we're putting we want to put him on the spot at some point, I didn't want to put you on the spot to ask you, but if you have something to chime in with, we'd love to hear from you.
>> No problem. No problem at all. I just want to be clear because I think we had made the police made recommendations last fall. Okay. to make no parking and that was not adopted by the board based on feedback from the residents. >> Uh so my my my recommendation would be the same. Okay. >> You know I think no parking so I don't
want to push it back onto the board or push it onto the schools but whatever is implemented by the board or what the school votes on. Yep. >> We can enforce. We just need the teeth to enforce whatever's out there. Gotcha. >> You know what I mean? So I my my recommendation would be the same. Just make it no parking. I just don't want to push the problem onto another
neighborhood which I think by doing that you you may open the door for that >> like the students would park somewhere else. >> Yeah. But then that's that would get to >> parking and they're receiving tickets every day. You know now that becomes a problem on you know Paul Street or Highland Street or you know adjacent
neighborhoods and I wouldn't want to see that. >> Yes. And that's why I think what that's why the the importance of the partnership with the schools to try to develop solutions and we could make sure that it's enforcable on the other side that that it won't be a problem anymore and then the schools can help us with
figuring out is there some what solutions are available to them. you know, when people talk about Holl Street, I think like I was looking on a map, you know, it's there's granite curbing at least on one side is, you know, so there's certainly I don't know if that was the case 25 years ago, so there might have been a little bit more
flexibility in that space, but we can talk about other options and see what what's available to to all of us to try to come up with a solution. So, um, so yeah. All right. Um, you know, I know that uh the police are going to say no parking, but I'd like to see if there's a way a restricted time frame is is is
feasible or is it have to be a blanket no parking? That's kind of what I want to get to. But we can do that. Do you want to speak to that or chief or you stand still? >> Yeah, I mean like whatever whatever brings relief um obviously to neighborhood and gets us through kind of the school year. I think that I think
the major solution of this comes over the summertime. Um, like you said to to Tina's point and to the board's point, I think partnering with the schools and working together. Um, I do think, you know, you have >> I said 3 weeks early. I think that's my my kids school figured out quite early. Um, you know,
for the five weeks remaining, um, >> yeah, >> I I don't know if I mean a time thing would be fine, 9 to three. I just I don't know, you know, implementing that, changing the rules and ranks, getting the signs installed, and then actually enforcing them, how long that process would take realistically is is probably going to bring us to the end of the
school year. >> Okay. >> Okay. I think >> we're happy to help. I mean, I our SRO is up there almost daily. Okay. You know, trying to address the issues and trying to, you know, work with the schools. So, we are uh fully supportive of trying to find a solution. >> Excellent. Okay. >> Okay.
>> Want to continue the hearing? Yeah, I think we'll continue the hearing and then we will make a firm decision on the uh the next at our next meeting which is I think the 8th I believe. >> And uh in the meantime, I'll work with the schools to see if there's a time
that we can either do it in a public meeting or we can have a side meeting of some kind. Um we could do either one, whatever works for for people to to do. So um we appreciate everybody coming. We want to get a solution for you and we want to make sure that it's workable for everybody and also enforceable at the
same time. So, thank you. We appreciate your patience and there will be there we'll get a solution coming. >> All right. Take care. >> Thank you. Thank you all. >> We appreciate being heard. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Thank you for coming forward. >> All right. Um, pardon me. I just want to
open my drink because my throat is a little dry. Um, okay. Uh so next um we wanted to just have a brief discussion about the school committee vacancy. Um there's a we according to our bylaws there is a um when there is an open seat
on an elected board the school comm the uh the elected board and the select board together make the appointment and um the uh the school committee chair who's here uh again uh had informed uh
us that there was a vacancy um to be filled and um in um in light of the election it's we've waiting until uh election time, the election is tomorrow, to work towards appointing that seat. And I um couple things, a couple
proposals that I'd like to sort of throw out there. Um um again, because the school committee is meeting on the 28th, they certainly have not opined on this issue. However, you know, would be interested to hear sort of their their any any feedback that they have at this time. But uh a couple things to I would
I'd like to sort have a press release for Wednesday that says there is an open seat in the school committee. Please submit uh letters of interest and a resume. I would and ask if this is okay with you Sarah that to be submitted to the town manager and he can collect the
um those uh those letters of interests and the um uh resumes um to be looked at at a given time. I think um I would have probably say that we should have it at least open until May 29th, which is the day after your meeting, which is a
Friday. So like May 29th at like 4 p.m. or something like that is that's my proposal here. And if somebody wants something different, that's fine. Certainly, if we don't get a lot of resumes, we can extend it. Like if nobody applies, we could extend the time. That's not, you know, that doesn't
mean we can't do that. But at least giving a a window to to to have a discussion. Um, one of the things like so we had um last year we had an appointment to a li for a library trustee and um there were I
think five or six candidates and um the libraries looked at their candidates and then um brought one candidate forward to the select board and um I think there's you know I think one of the things that I think was we we had not agreed or talked about a process
there and I think that was a um a mistake um we should have had more of a conversation between the boards to sort of say like hey what's reasonable what makes sense because on the one hand I think it's very difficult for nine eight or nine people to get in a room and vet
multiple candidates so that I think there needs to be some kind of a process to sort of get a larger pool to a smaller pool that you know a bunch uh several people can can discuss but making sure that that's a fair process um whether it's um you know a couple
members from each board get together, go through, see what makes sense, what works, and um but then also being able to bring several candidates um as appropriate to um the full group because I think there should be some discussion and I don't think it should be
completely decided before we walk in the door. So that's kind of my two cents. I'll stop talking. I wanted to hear from you guys here and if Sarah, if you have any comments, you're welcome to come join us after we start comments. Tina would comments here. >> Everything you you flesh out there makes
sense to me. The working group for the school building committee is it mirrors this in a way in a way uh you've got a small group of people who are doing uh a lot of screening and uh vetting and so not vetting but a lot of screening and prep and will present to each board. So
the idea of a a smaller group so we are three plus six is nine. I having all nine members would be cumbersome and probably slow the process down for the better of nothing. >> Yeah. >> Um we know the school committee is anxious to have that vacancy filled so
they can get on with their work. We're anxious to move it off of our plate for the similar similar reasons. So I agree with it um what's the word I'm looking for? Streamlined or abbreviated interview process. I do like the idea of more than one candidate being presented for
consideration. >> Yeah. um whether the school committee wants to have all six members interview or they want to do something similar where they they get presented with a a few and we get presented with the same few. I'm not sure how that looks, but um >> and I think we can give them a chance to
you know we can sort of say like this is where we're coming from and then when they get to their May 28th meeting they can have that discussion as a committee to sort of decide what makes sense for them to >> Yeah. Okay. with that, you know, but yeah, >> the the timeline works the 20th through the 29th to keep it open for appointment
for uh letters of interest. That that works perfectly well. Um and >> yeah, so >> and I mean I would say you know I mean I'm I'm saying it probably you know we've done this in the past coming to the select board meeting. We have a meeting I think our next meeting would be in the 8th of June. Is that correct?
>> Yes. So the the goal would try to be some having something around um on that meeting if not another time if necessary if we have to move things around to make sure that we can get everybody in the same room to be able to to to act on that. But that's kind of the
>> rough timeline that I'm thinking. >> One variation that we we sort of saw with the library board of trustees which could apply here is if the school committee wants to do the interviewing um and it's cumbersome to get select board representation or we feel that that's not the direction that we we looking to go in. Uh the ability to
watch the videos gives us the same um access to the candidate. Sure. So >> they didn't record library didn't record their >> Well, they did, but they came to us with their recommendation before they were posted. There was a delay. It wasn't It wasn't possible. >> Okay, I got you. They voted on. >> I thought they didn't record.
>> No, they voted on the recommendation before we'd had a chance to view um the videos and uh give our feedback. But I think that's a variation that works. Okay. >> If being in the room for the actual interviews is cumbersome. >> Yeah. Okay. Um Damon, anything? >> Uh yeah, I like the basic idea of the
streamlining. I personally would like to see the letters of interest of everyone, etc. Even if there's a streamlined process that I can, we'll figure out some way to provide input that is not a consultative process. Yeah. If we see any candidates that we think, oh, this is a remarkable person or they have a skill that maybe is being undervalued or
underrepresented. Um >> I think that I agree with Tina that I would like if if we're not going to be at the interviews, I'd like to see the interviews for certain. I think there's a lot in presentation style. Um, as far as the dates go, I'm I'm okay with that level of speed as long as we dot all the
eyes and we have all the information. >> Yeah. And as long as we get we give enough time for people to be able to um apply. I mean, we want to make sure I mean, I'm I assume usually school committee has um um relative interest. You know, there is a contested race here for um in um the election tomorrow. So,
um I I my expectation would be that people would be interested and apply for it for such a position. >> Uh Sarah, did you want to say anything? I don't want to put you on the spot. You don't have to if you don't want to, but um >> No, I'll just take this back. Okay. >> Talk about it on our next meeting
>> and we can and you can, you know, if you need me to reflect or be a part of uh the 28th meeting to talk about it, I'm happy to do so. >> But I think the timeline is okay. >> Okay. Um, >> is it too tight or >> Well, we reorg we have a >> you reorg
>> on June 11th. Okay. So, we could build a seat >> before then. Great. >> Yeah. So, we could I mean with the the goal would be um the select board meeting would be on June 8th. So, we would look to try to do it at that time if the you know if the if we can get everything together.
Okay. >> All right. I think we're good. So, Frank, if we can put out a press release that says, you know, on Wednesday after the election that says, you know, this is open, please send letters of interest and um uh um a uh a resume to the town manager that you're interested in this
seat. It's a one-year seat. Making sure that we we indicate that and that we'd want to have those applications before um the 29th, like the end of close of business on May 29th. And then make sure that everybody on both committees has a chance to see all of the candidates. and
then we can um you know see what how we want to go forward with uh sort of a a winnowing down process of of some kind. If it's an open meeting with you know you doing it and one of us goes to your meeting then something like that could be a process but we can you can talk about that with your your committee on
on the 28th. Okay. Okay. Great. Okay. Uh moving on. We're on to public comments. I know there's a few. Um, no. Barb, did you want to come up and uh make your public comment at this time? >> Yes. >> I have one related to the town meeting
and then I have a question about >> Sure. Come on up. Yeah, come on up and uh just name an address for those of you who don't know you and then you can uh go ahead. >> My name is Barb Worby and my address is 83 Rolling Meadow Drive. Um, so I had a question for the town moderator Michelle if she's still on the call.
>> Yep, she is. She is. >> Okay. So, um, Puja knew that, um, you know, as a non voting resident, um, she was able to come up and speak and that's because I think that she had, you know, partnered
with the select board on making that clear and making sure that that was something that was available and that's um, and then that, you know, the town I think um, kind of made that really clear um, last year or something like that. So anyway, she knew um but how would other
um non voting residents know that? Um and is there a way to be more explicit about that? Um especially for people that are new to the town or aren't quite sure how that works. Um, I just want to make sure that it's like it's like really, you know, clear and available
and not just like, well, they can because I mean, um, you know, you had said like people can definitely walk up just like anybody else. Um, but people may not know that they can. So, I was wondering if we could be more explicit about it or put that somewhere. We could
have a talk about that. So, that's one >> Okay. >> thing. I think um I would say um if if Michelle can speak to this as well, but one of the things that goes into the warrant packet is sort of like rules and things that go into uh how town meeting
works and we can work with the moderator to make sure there's language. um if that's where you know that's what she's saying that there's language in there that says that specifically that you know anyone can speak at the you know discretion of the moderator including
non voting residents something like something to that effect or so I I don't know exactly what the language is so I know I'm not but we can work with the moderator on that Michelle does that seem >> it is true and also um with the consent of town meetings so town meeting could
also vote to let a non voter speak. It's not just the moderator. But I had a question. Are you talking about people who come to town meeting and when they're there, they don't know they can speak or
residents who don't come to town meeting because they think they won't be able to speak? >> It's both. Yeah. just because like I I do think that it's challenge this is a broader issue
but like it's kind of challenging in town to sort of know all the things and like know what town meeting is and I meet new people all the time who are new to the town and they're like what's town meeting and what's the election and so if it's hard if it's hard to do that if you speak English if you grew up in this
country then it's like extra hard to do it if those things aren't available to you or that's not it's not familiar to you. So, I think I just want to make sure that it's like we're we're not only like making it a thing that we say we
will do, but that we make it really that we make sure that it's known explicit that we're reaching out that we're being Yeah. like as just >> Yeah. I don't know. And I don't And so this may be a bigger issue for not just non voters but people in general, but
especially for them. I I I I would argue too that I was >> asking >> I I I would argue too that we have work to do just to educate people on what tow meeting is and how it works. >> Um you know, as someone who's involved in it, I'm I'm always finding out new things in about it. And I think that we
have work to do for people who um are not me sitting at the front of the the room that to make sure that they have they understand what it's about. And I can only imagine how it must feel for someone who also has a language barrier as well. And so your to your your it's your point is a good one and I think we have work to do
>> specifically to who can speak but also I think in general on educating people on what town meeting is and how it works. >> Yeah. It's super intimidating to speak at town meeting especially as it gets later and people and the crowd gets more >> because they don't like that people are
talking about things when they just want to go home. >> Understood. And then your second comment. >> Yes. So my and there was just a question about um the appointment for the school committee. So >> I know that that's typically an elected position, right? And this is an appointment just because it's like part
of a term. Yes. >> Um so can I be clear on like are people who are not voters but residents such as Fuja be able to apply for that? >> No. >> No. Okay. because it the the our the law
says that you have to be a um a vote registered voter to serve on these on an elected board. >> Got it. >> The appointment process wouldn't you serve even if it's an appointment because it's a special appointment. It's not like a typical appointment. Correct. >> Got it. Okay. Like the typical
appointment would be like the uh the zoning board of appeals where it's an appointment process and that is the only means by where somebody's on put on that versus this which is normally an elected position and we're just filling it until the termination of the term. >> Got it. Okay. Thank you for >> Thank you for your question. >> Yep.
>> Anyone else in the room have uh public comment? >> All right. I see two hands raised. Um three, excuse me. Sorry, Dr. Tyler, your background blocked your your hand. Uh CG, I believe that's Chin Maya if I
remember correctly. If you want to give us your name and address and your comment. >> Um 425 Underwood Street and I need to come up with a new nickname. >> I happen to know you so that's how I know that
was just a joke. I am going to talk about the same two topics that Barb touched on but but with a with a different perspective. um not necessarily against but like uh with a different perspective. Um so uh let's
start with the term meeting. Um two aspects to that. One I think you all of the folks that spoke about it spoke very informally and eloquently about how u it's u issue of knowledge and information for people. Um I think
there's also a bigger problem that we are ignoring u which is the intimidation or or being intimidated aspect. Um the town meeting has a very um challenging effect on people's mental uh comfort in
that room. There is a very adversarial kind of situation that's created in the town which is unfortunate but like I think it happens. Um, and I think it it is upon the town uh to create a welcoming and safe space for all people
that want to participate in the discussion because come on, let's be real. Everything that's happening in that room has a daily impact on all of these people. So I think it it is upon the town and its representatives to make sure it's very obvious and visibly clear
front and center that anybody that wants to be in the room and speak about issues that are going to impact their day-to-day life, their children and their family safety and comfort need to be able to feel welcome to speak. Not
afraid that there will be like we we are we have to announce our names and addresses. Um there's a safety issue uh that that that's present there as well. It's not unknown in this town for people to be intimidated uh when there is a
very um uh controversial opinion or disagree diverse opinion. Um so I think it's upon the town to make sure we create that safe space for speaking. Okay. Um I understand there's a information and knowledge aspect that needs to be addressed as well as far as
like how the town meeting proceedings happen, what's legal, what's not, what's allowed, what's not. There there is definitely a space that needs to be addressed but this I think is even more critical and important to be addressed because it affects a lot more people um
than just the absence of knowledge. People who are interested and will participate in the town proceedings will figure it out. >> Okay. >> Talking to people, right? Like I think uh and and yes that doesn't mean we shouldn't make that information easily accessible and available. Uh but that's a that's also a problem that needs to be
addressed. But like this I think is a bigger problem that needs to be addressed. >> Okay. >> Um so that's all I have to say about that. U the second topic was about the um school committee um appointment. Um I'm just curious um there are there are
three people participating in the election. >> Yes. going to be voted for or against in the election. >> There are two fullterm positions and one left leftover term position. >> Yes.
>> Why wouldn't we just save time, energy, and effort from everybody? We already talked about how getting all these nine important people in the same room and getting to look at the candidates is a is a hard challenge. Why are we just not listening to the town people if we set a
minimum bar for the third candidate and say if they get at least these many votes? I mean that is how many people in the town think that they belong on the school committee. Now, shouldn't that speak louder than nine elected people uh sitting in a room listening to election
listening to um um you know uh whatever the their talking points are brought up like it's a it's a more performative approach whereas these people have all three of them have um demonstrated an interest um have come out with what they
have as plans for um if they're on the school committee. all of their actions are already advertised and published um and for everyone to v visibly see. So why wouldn't we just save time, energy, and effort from everybody and whoever
ends up being the third person gets the one year one-year term? Um why wouldn't we look at that? That seems like a very easily available solution instead of waiting till like the next few meetings of May and June and then appointing them. uh we've heard the school committee talk about uh there being a
stacked agenda and a very um critical uh set of decisions that need to be made and time is of essence. So why wouldn't we just choose the third person that's that's the second point I wanted to uh make and uh put forth to you folks to think about. >> Okay. >> Thank you.
>> Uh thank you. And uh just to sort of address that point, you know, if we were having this conversation in, you know, if that person had resigned, say in January, then that there would be a third person on another term put on the
ballot for a one-year term. There would be a third position put on that on the ballot, and that would have been the uh the solution there. Um, but I would also point out that if you know this, if we were having this conversation in October, you know, we certainly could
use some of those kinds of uh precedents of people being voted or not voted. But the reality is is that um we're talking about this in this context because of the proximity to the election. And you know, further every other appointment that this board has made since I've been
on the board has undergone this process. And we've talked to the clerk and this is we need to have it open for a period of time. we need to solicit um uh people who are are available for um appointment to the position because that's what that that's the precedent that we've set and that's what the law also tells us we
have to do. So um I hear your point and I you know that certainly wind might wind up being the solution and I think you know the the timeline we're talking about is pretty tight regardless to to be able to to fill it uh that position. So, I think we're, you know, we're talking about at our next meeting, which
is June 8th, of of having that appointment. So, you know, that's that's the reality of it that we're we're trying to get to that point and it might wind up being that third person. I mean, that might wind up being the solution that takes place. >> Thank you for inving my >> No, no, I appreciate the question. Thank you. Thank you very much for asking,
Chimai. I appreciate it. Uh, Puja, you have your uh your hand up. You can uh just give us your name and address and if you could just give us your uh your comments. >> Yeah. Hi, this is Puja 105 overlook tribe. I think I just wanted to chime in where Bob made a comment right about
people able to speak. So when I was working with Damon about the whole home birth petition during that we did learn that non voting residents can actually come and talk and I think at that time David keep me honest we did say that it will be added when moderator is just
introducing the meeting that hey guys if moderator acknowledges people can come and talk I think we just need to find that because it's already in the laws right they were >> yeah correct that that's right Puja and then part of that also you're brushing up against I think a larger thing we
probably need to work Michelle is on the line obviously but it'd probably be a good idea for us to have basically a a preamble for people who are just new to town meeting about hey what it's like who can talk what's the process something really quick but there are enough new faces and and new people in that meeting who honestly even folks who
have been there a few times who might not know what the process are and I believe that you're absolutely right we should just give folks a heads up at the beginning of the meeting to make them feel comfortable and make them aware what their privileges are during the Yeah, I think that's what Thank you.
>> Thank you, Puja. Uh I see uh Liz Liz Tyler, I see your hand raised. If you can unmute yourself and if you can give us your comment, >> Dr. Liz Tyler, um 17 New Orleans Street, I'm going to change the topic completely. >> Yep. Um, first of all, I want to
apologize to all to all of you for my lack of computer skills with my iPhone. Um, I want to thank you for putting on the agenda the uh review of um and about communication with the zoning board and
um the review and approved communication to the department of environmental protection regarding wastewater treatment. Um, thank you very much for putting those on the agenda. >> Sure. >> Um, since you are both um,
since you are all the elected officials that oversee the water department, I think it's important to stress this fact about the water department and the um, you have seen some emails, but um, the
head of the water department responded. I um indicated that the Hollist water department um would be the um department that should know more about our drinking water wells in the D and he's expected to have local knowledge and um the
zoning board should have access to his expertise. Um I was very surprised in response to this request that the water department have input with the D. Um because I had
sent you a situation, a document from the town of Stowe where the um 40B or I should say and this okay it was a 40B apartment was um denied because of a drinking water problem and I think that
there are issues with the drinking with the drinking water um with regard to this. This is a huge This is a huge project. Um I think everybody will admit that it's a huge project. And so um I
want to make some recommend recommendations with regard to the um the oversight of the um effluent or the gray water that is coming from the um
from this complex. and we're talking about 46,000 gallons a day. I think we need to think about that 46,000 gallons a day that's going to be pushed into our aquifer and our zone 2. And so I'd like
you to consider perhaps that you might ask the D to look at our sodium levels coming out of the gray water. Mhm. >> Um I think that our range has been above the um office of research and standards
guideline. Um if they're going to chlorinate the water, then I would recommend that you look at hallow acetic acids. We've been above that. um and above the um O office of research and
standards stand and then also nitrates where um in this situation we're going to be looking at the importance of nitrates is because they come from fertilizer. They're probably going to have a lot of green areas there. It also
comes from sewage and leeching from septic um septic tanks. Um I think that um it's very important for us to protect protect our drinking water >> and um as I said to you in an email, I
think it's appalling. Um that's the only reaction I could have that when I um asked the head of the water department to consider looking at issues from this uh huge complex uh looking at the
discharge um that his response was that there were 50 towns uh 50 homes, excuse me, in the neighborhood that discharged graywater. I I think that um there have been past mistakes, but that doesn't
give us the right Lord to think that someone who is in charge of safety of drinking water that um that it's okay to put out five times that amount of discharge and put out 48,000 gallons a
day and um not not give it some consideration. And so, um, I'm hoping, of course, that you look at, um, PAS, as I indicated in my email. We have PAS in our water. Um,
this complex is definitely going to be putting out more PAS. And um there is no reason there is no reason why Hopkington could put in a treatment plant so that they have no um they have zero PAS in
their water when we know that we have had PAS in our water from 2021 and all that we're looking at at this point is a pilot program and for the um superintendent of the the he's
superintendent of unfortunately of the DPW. Um for him to indicate that we're doing a pilot program and that there's concern about the millions it's going to cost this town. I am sure if you brought
an issue that dealt with everybody's drinking water that the money would come just as it has come for other projects in this in this town. >> Liz, can I ask you a question? Can I ask you a question about PAS? What does the
mass D say as the uh uh level that we should be below for PAS? >> 20. It's 20 parts per trillion. I think I put that's what M Oh, I should have indicated that in my chart. And MCL is
what the level should be. But the problem with PAS, these forever chemicals, it's a whole group of chemicals. And now we have POS also, but it's a whole group of chemicals. And one of the big issues with PAS is that
people have filters on their um in their homes. They might have like I have an a one in my under my kitchen sink that um filters all the cold water, but I have checked with the manufacturer that
filter to see if I could get a better filter. And right now there are not home filters that remove PAS. except one of the exceptional systems is if you have reverse osmosis and that is
a very expensive system and um so I think it's I think people are um ignorant of the fact that um we have all these we have this PAS in our water and the PAS is not being removed by our
filters. So we certainly don't want 48,000 gallons of water a day that have PAS in them moving into our zone 2 and our aquapore. And I think that yes, D is making a decision on this, but certainly
we need to consider our situation. For instance, if this complex was being built in Hopington, they wouldn't have to worry about PAS. But we're in Hollist and we should worry about PAS. And the longer that the water department puts off this issue of putting in a treatment
plant, the more expensive it's going to be and the more issues we're going to have with contamination. >> Liz, do I hear you? >> Liz, I'm sorry. I don't mean to interrupt you, but I you you shared a number of comments and I just want to make sure I capture the intent of them,
which is you're asking the board to consider in our letter to DP uh that we are requesting test results on contaminants. >> Yes. Okay. Yes. that you request D to test the effluent of the septic system
>> and test the effluent of the septic system for PAS for nitrates for um sodium. >> Okay. Do you mind? for if if they're going to chlorinate their water as a way
of purifying the water before it comes um out before it's um becomes an before it's gray water or I should say after it's gray water. If they treat it with chlorine then they should look at looking at um hallow acetic acids
because we've had levels above um the um office of research and standards. So, can I >> That's >> Can I suggest to my Can I suggest to my board that we take up your comments when we get to 7B on our agenda? >> Sure. Yeah, we can take those up. >> Sure. That's fine.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Anything Anything else, Liz? >> No, that's it. Thank you so much for listening. >> Thank you, Liz. Um, uh, Chimaya, just before I get to you, because you already spoke, if you don't
mind, I'm just going to ask one more time if there's anyone else, um, who hasn't spoken yet for public comment, if they have a public comment first. Is anyone else um, have public comment on the Zoom? Okay. Thank you, Chimai. I just I want
to make sure that I give everybody an opportunity to speak before coming back to someone who's already spoken. Uh do you have do you have an additional comment that you'd like to make? >> Um just quickly uh I was going to mention this completely forgot about it. Uh when Pu just spoke and reminded me um I thought she would actually talk about
it as well. Um I think uh the select board and the town manager and everybody else needs to evaluate the the process overall and figure out how we can uh prevent um such slips from happening. this past town meeting, um, somebody
made the decision to ask her to go sit in the cafeteria because she was a non voting um, member of the community um, instead of just letting her go into the usual already secluded reserve space for
non- voting members. Um, and obviously it see it sounded like when I talked to I talked to some of you um, and you told me it was not a decision that was made. there was no uh thinking put behind this but somebody felt the need to uh make this an action um at at the town hall
meeting and I think that is actually a complete disservice um and going back to the whole uh creating a safe space and environment that that's welcoming for people um this is something that can cause u serious damage that will take a
lot of time to heal um okay getting people to town hall meeting is a challenge for the town. Uh we shouldn't turn away people or um have a second rate treatment of people who actively want to participate um in the town proceedings and and actually bring
meaningful um dialogue and representation to the conversations. I think uh I think we're doing ourselves a big disservice if we if we kind of let these kind of things slip through the cracks. Um somebody made the choice. Um it might be worth discussing and
figuring out how that precipitated because we absolutely have to prevent this one is one more time than it should happen because it does a long-term permanent damage to the psyche of people that want to participate in the Tom meeting. >> Understood. And I I I we can't go back
in time and fix it and we hear you and that's why we're talking about it tonight because we want to get it right next time. So we appreciate your comments, Jamai. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. Um, any other public comments before we move on to in our agenda?
All right, moving on. Number five. Um, so, uh, we're going to talk about the, um, uh, B Social had applied for a liquor license a few months back and we had held it in escrow based on, um, some outstanding, uh, zoning, uh, challenges.
And um we've kind of had back and forth with the uh the business owner on a couple occasions to try to sort of iron out and uh handle some of those those things and as I understand it we are good. We don't have any of those issues
and he's we can release the uh license for my scar. >> Correct. >> Okay. Any questions from the board on that? >> Nope. We've been waiting for this. >> I know. >> Good. >> Very happy that we're here. I I will say from personal experience, I've sat in the room with the gentleman on two
separate occasions in the past couple of months to try to um figure out what we can do. And I'm just u glad that we could get to this point so we could release the license and uh allow him to start surveying uh liquor uh according to his his plan. So um I will take a
motion to release the license the liquor license for B Social LLC from escrow. Is there any specific language that needs to go in? >> Okay. >> I think we already did that when we >> made the original >> subjected it to the land use uh
>> we're just releasing that part of it. >> So move to release uh the liquor license for B Social LLC effective today. >> Enthusiastically seconded. >> All right. All those in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. Let him know and uh >> get him his license uh tomorrow. Thank
you. All right. sustainable coordinator update. Hey, you have been so patient, Ameilia. Thank you very much for coming. >> See >> all the things we're doing. So, we have our sustainability coordinator, Ameilia Lando. Wonderful to see you.
>> Nice to see you, too. >> What did we uh what do we have to talk about this evening? >> Um I see that on the agenda it's in one order, so I'll do it in that order. Um, so to start, um, back in the '9s, uh, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protections
had, uh, towns adopt a buy recycled policy that, uh, was meant to sort of create a market within municipal procurement for, uh, postconumer recyclables and, uh, also to incorporate
some other policies to just uh, reduce uh, like paper waste as more digital technologies and computer usage was coming on the market. Uh it's been 30 years. Um and uh D is now calling for us to uh update those policies to an
environmentally preferable procurement policy uh EP for short. Um basically these policies are not um you know restricting anything that we do but it is um holding us to kind of a certain standard for what we already do in our
business as usual procurement which includes using um products that are listed in the operational services division. um state contracts and uh you know doing uh certain things that we kind of already do but making them a matter of uh policy rather than just um
you know best practice. And um the uh EP is uh to be signed uh by you and then enacted by the chief procurement officer like the town manager in our case also James um just as like a annual memo
everyone all the town departments you know get >> uh re-educated on you know what the standards are. >> Sure. Um the D would like us to uh sign this by um the end of May because uh that is when the next um recycling
dividends program uh grant application is due. Okay. >> And so it is a um eligibility criterion for um that program. >> Uh as a reminder, we get about uh a little under $3,000 a year from that program. Um, just as a matter of course
for the various um, recycling and waste reduction programs we run, I am uh, seeking to maybe increase that to over $7,000. Yes, please. >> Sounds great. >> Uh, >> but we need to do this. >> But we need to do this in order for that to count.
>> Um, so do you have any questions? >> Yes. >> Yes, a couple of questions. Um, I'll I'll jump the line uh, quickly. Um, is the language that you're proposing this is the language that the DP is requesting? It's modeled after um a standard policy that they put out that
towns were um free to change. Okay. >> Sherburn already went through this with their recycling committee. And so after they were done with their part of the process, I basically like took that checked with um Frank to see if anything needed to be more hall stimnified and you know this is the
>> this can be changed. D isn't requiring us to keep it like this. >> Okay. And then um and you've talked to I assume James and Frank and they're both comfortable as the chief procurement officer, the main procurement people in the >> Okay, great. Tina, any questions? >> Uh it was sort of related so I'll just
double down. Is this a D requirement? They're they're requiring us to comp comply or we're complying in order to have greater access to the dividend program and other benefits. >> Technically the latter it's a carrot, not a stick. So like we won't be like
officially >> penalized. Yes. So stick >> it's not like 3A. >> Exactly. We're not losing a permit by doing that. >> But we gain access to some two more things. >> Yeah, we do. We got >> Then the second question would be whether department heads because I read through and it does look like it might
have operational impact on departments potentially. Did department heads review it or is you and James? >> James and I both reviewed it. I don't think we this the climate action plan has been reviewed by department heads. This is the this procurement policy. This is technically on there from an
earlier draft but not anymore. So it didn't go through this most recent round of internal review. >> So department heads have not as a whole have not reviewed this policy. >> I agree with what you were saying in reading it. I was like a lot of this seems like things that we are already doing. Um but that would be my only question but uh I defer to you Frank. So
if you don't feel that that's a necessary step then um I agree that it is a not a light lift but it is modernizing something that's been in practice. What did you say? it's no longer best practice, but it becomes policy. >> Um, so I don't I don't think it has
operational changes that are impactful, but it looked like um it it might if we weren't already doing these things. >> It's a lot of shoulds, not shalls. So, it's a lot of in we Sherburn was actually pretty specific on this verbiage because all of
our waste from the town already gets hauled like through the transfer station. We're in a slightly different position here in Hollist where it's not as it's not as crucial to to directly tie like our operations with our waste output and the cost associated with that. But um I I I still think the point
stands especially related to like for example the schools which generate a lot more waste than like anything our office buildings could. >> Um it's basically just making sure that anything that goes into anything that's procured into our system we know how to dispose of properly. um according to
what the D recommends. >> Okay. And does it cover the school's operations? >> It does. >> Okay. Okay. There's something about a half ton of food waste and I >> saw it and I was like, hm, I don't know how you I don't know how much a half ton of food waste is, but that sounds like an awful lot. Maybe not applicable here
in town, but maybe it is. >> Uh that the fact that you brought it up um D uh has already had that as a um waste ban from the solid waist stream for a while now, and it usually doesn't apply to even us or commercial. Um, but what it does do is, um, for, uh, schools
in particular, um, they're looking at a more comprehensive food waste ban, uh, in the future, which is why I'm currently, um, working with a, um, uh, consultant and, um, administration at the high school to see if we can pilot a composting program there to maybe get
ahead of that. >> Okay, great. All right. Not required, but we're thinking about it. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Uh, that answered one of my two questions. uh for the procurement policy. My reading on that is that like you said it's a lot of there's some flexibility involved. It sounds like my
interpretation is that essentially where products are readily available >> where they meet the same standards and where they represent the best value >> essentially means that if you have two different products that are about the same the same cost then you just >> genulect more to the one that's environmentally friendly. And that's
basically the the encapsulation of that. Correct. >> Pretty much. Um, I think the emphasis that D wants us to put on it is like there would have been a great outcry if it was like we're requiring towns to spend more money on it. So, I think that's the spirit of the thing. >> Okay, great. So, it's basically lean towards the better choice when all
things are equal. >> Got it. I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Sure. >> Okay. Um, are you both comfortable? >> Yes. >> Adopting this. Yes. Okay. >> All right. I'll take a motion to uh approve. Well, actually, you you specifically said this board signs it
and then >> he sends out the memo every year that >> Okay, we're not voting on that, right? That's follow. Okay. So, move to accept and sign the >> environmentally >> environmentally preferable procurement. >> Did I see that it was just me? Uh, it
was just the chair. >> I think technically only the chair needs. Okay. So, >> vote and then sign it. >> Okay, that's fine. >> Sure then. >> Uh, yes. Second. All right. All right. All those in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. All right. >> Thank you. >> Good. And uh climate action plan update.
We have some information there. >> So, um as you are probably aware, you know, the climate action plan has been um in the process of actually being drafted um over the past year or so. Um and uh the most recent thing that we uh
did to really advance that was uh we had a uh large uh public engagement push with a survey, a flyer, a um in-person and virtual um workshop so that uh residents could give their in input on the draft uh list of 24 actions and we
could probably narrow that down. We were right. Um, and in that process, uh, we were able to get it down to 10 actions that are still draft actions and we're now basically checking back in with everyone who left us their contact
information, everyone who felt very strongly about it and also just doing more general public outreach to make sure that those still reflect what feedback we got from the previous round of engagement. So, um, I don't know if you have those 10 actions in front of you. Yes, they are posted to the town
website. Um, you can still see the previous 24 actions that that full list on the sustainability web page as well, just so that you know people can see like, wait, no, you got rid of that. Why? Um, and I'm willing to obviously answer any of those questions now. Um, but, you know, the the deciding factor wasn't just that 10 is a nice number.
Um, it was also that um in order for this plan to truly be uh actionable, getting it down to um the actions that people most cared about so that it didn't seem like we were, you know, picking and choosing which to start with just because they were easy when really
no one wanted it. Um there's also some actions that got kind of folded together. um ones related to uh mobility, ones related to um waste, ones related to natural resources. Um and that was because rather than during the public engagement process, we found that
people wanted to consolidate those is actually um during the process of developing what is basically our implementation table, which is categorizing all of these actions in the form of who's responsible for carrying them out, what should the sort of basic procedure be for continuing to incorporate this into our business as
usual. Um, we found that there were several actions that basically fell under that same pattern of enforcement. Um, and it would be kind of more advantageous to fold them in together as one action of the plan because it would just it wouldn't be a oneanddone thing.
It would instead have to continually be worked at. So, um, that's how we got down to these 10. If there's anything that you saw on the 24 list that is missing from the 10 list that you really really miss, please let me know because I really value that feedback. But um otherwise, yeah, that this is uh
probably going to be the the final list going into the drafting text in June. >> Okay. Um I think um thank you. I we appreciate all this the hard work you put into this. It's you know, it's it's coming along very nicely. I think um two
points I'd want to make here. um in the first is is that um I you know whenever it's ready I'd love to bring make sure we bring in this to envision a future hall to talk to >> them there it's obviously you know there's certainly a sustainability c uh component here but there's other pieces
like if we're talking about mobility we're talking about waste we're talking about different kinds of things I think there's a lot of overlap with some of the things that are already in our strategic plan and making sure that we're sort of putting pulling this into that lens of the you know thinking about these things
holistically I think is valuable. And then um and uh the second thing I already forgot. So >> it's after 9:00. That's that's not surprising. >> Um so uh but uh again, thank you so much for all that you're doing with this. I
think it would be, you know, it's a >> a valuable thing uh exercise and I think it's Oh, I now remember what it was. Um so we're working with a consultant to do this. Is that's correct. >> Weston and Samson. >> Okay. Weston and Samson. We we talk to them a lot about a lot of different things. separate team. >> I know. I know because they were they
were actually doing your job kind of for a while >> contract. Um um but u I guess my my question here is is that given this information, given this sort of product that we have, is this the kind of thing that we're >> we can kind of keep updated, you know, every like three years, whatever, kind
of kind of keeping it fresh and and alive, or is it the kind of thing where we have to sort of re-engage with a consultant to sort of go through that process? Is it is it an a workable document to to for something for Hollison for the for the future? >> I certainly think that if we wanted it to be as um beautiful and elaborate with
with all the inesign graphics, then yes, we should go with a consultant. In terms of making it a functional living document, we have uh a lot of the kind of procedure in place already because uh the >> the nature of most of these actions,
some of them are just like one and done, but most of them are making long-term recommendations for when the opportunity is available, this is what we should do. And so, um, between the actions that didn't make the cut this time and, um,
what we are kind of infolding into those more long-term ones that are bound to change as we check certain things off the list or as certain other climate, you know, priorities become, you know, are made aware, um, we're made aware of.
Um it's uh probably going to be easier to just have, you know, essentially similar to the strategic plan, more of like a like a 5year or 10-year time like roadmap um revision rather than to look
back at it as like a we've checked these off, now what else are we going to do? um just because it's it's so it there will always be more stuff that we would like to do to make our our um town more sustainable. So, >> sure, >> I think um
>> we don't need to go with a consultant for that because, you know, these are pricey contracts, but um right, you know, as long as I'm here working on it, it is a living document to me that I think would be helpful to do the similar public engagement process to revise. Do you um uh last thing um do uh there's
sort of an A and a B to this is like do you feel that this would be ready by the fall that we'd have some you know this would be ready and actionable >> and then do you think that there's any action that we should be taking in October like with uh a town meeting for bylaw changes or anything like that that
might be necessary? >> Um not that it currently exists on the um 10 action list. anything that uh involves something that would need, you know, its own appropriated funding or anything where having like, you know,
setting aside $20,000 for a separate plan that goes into more detail about a certain action. Um it's not, you know, things like the um one related to add more sidewalks, you know, that's that's a very large undertaking. It's going to require a lot of funding. Um, so
specific articles like that, but not for the overall efficacy of the plan in order for it to get started. >> Okay. And I I think one thing that you know might be valuable too is as we start looking at um as we you know we prepare for town meeting making sure
that we're look we're going through this through the climate action plan lens to sort of say like you know um when we get to say a sidewalk article or something like that we can have make sure that we have language that includes like hey that this is according to our climate action plan making sure that that is included in that process. So I'll stop
talking because I want to let my other board members >> some communities do a climate action but proclamation did in 2022 >> and we don't we don't have one. We don't. Um, and by adopting this plan, we
have certain like the reason I'm thinking of this now is just today I had to dig up Sherburns because uh the climate leaders program which is like a step up from green communities requires that your municipality is committed to a 2050 decarbonization or something similar.
And um we actually as part of our engagement for the climate action plan asked that question of people of like you know raise your hand if you would support going along with the state's you know decarbonization goals versus not >> and um so that would basically count as
this document by being you know formally adopted by the town. But um we could also do something else that would enable us to in the eyes of the state but also just like for the purposes of enacting um this you know in in terms of like you
and whose army like you know being being allowed to enact climate action plan because the town as a whole has voted to acknowledge climate change isn't you know isn't so bad. >> Okay. All right. Just a thought that's brewing, but I'm not going to talk about that anymore tonight because it is
getting late on our agenda. Uh, two questions. One, well, one is a comment, one's a two both comments. We will Well, Frank, you'll draft the forward and then have us review it. So, at the top here, it says this uh forward in the climate act plan is written by the Slack board. So, I might ask if you would write that
on behalf or ask one of us to do it. But, um, >> sorry to volunte. >> Well, will you just ask? >> No, that's fine. That's fine. just let us know. >> My greenest pen. >> There you go. Actually, pencil, I think, is what they say. But >> get a typewriter.
>> Uh, and then my other question is number six. And number eight, community farm >> is called out here as its own action. We have not had an update from the community farm in quite some time. >> You should change that. Uh well that or I I just dig a little deeper on number
eight here because that's to me that pops out of nowhere where we haven't had any update or any uh activity that the board's been aware of from the community a community farm and yet here it is as one of 10 climate action items. So I think we just need to connect those two
a little stronger for >> I can tell you kind of where that came from. Um whether or not you think that it's prudent to include in the final plan after that is another thing. Um, I think the initial idea, if I remember correctly, came from when we were doing
our review of other communities, um, climate action plans and trying to base some of those actions on things that we hadn't yet done in Hollist. >> Okay. >> Um, so other communities that have community farms often do list them in their climate action plan simply because it's a pretty obvious like climate
resilience um, uh, resource. you know, climate action often has to do with carbon mitigation. You know, just preventing us from emitting more emissions. But, um, the thing that, you know, people often uh, you know, advocate for more strongly on the
day-to-day basis in their own communities is, uh, making us more resilient to the effects of climate change through climate adaptation. And so, the state has, um, pretty much come around the idea that people are going to include climate resilience ideas in their climate action plan. Mhm.
>> Um and uh if that's not the direction that we want to take our climate action plan in, I I understand that. But >> you know, it's it is a definitely counts as one of the natural or at the very least agricultural resources that we can use as part of that adaptation. >> I understand. No, that makes a lot of
sense. I think it's just, you know, do they have the programming in place or what would it take for them to get the programming in place? Um at some point they were on our agenda fairly often, fairly often, like once a year, maybe twice a year. And I feel like >> the leadership I think also the
leadership has changed and I think and I uh my um I would make two points to that and I'd say the first is is that I think we heard this with the golf course too when we had some of the conversations. I think there's sort of an obligation some of the some of those kinds of uh bodies
that report to us. We should get um more frequent updates. um you know certainly and I I but I think we should hear like hey it doesn't have to be like every month but like you know once a year like just kind of like how are things going what's going on what's the what's the status of these >> to be one of 10 action items in the
climate action plan should I I would think connect you to a structure in place to to be able to leverage to be able to um actually make change it whether it be in five years or immediately it doesn't it's not really the point I guess and so that's really
my question is is the structure there and active at the community farm to support it being an action item in the climate action plan. I think they the point should be just I mean really um to take home that point a little further is just you know have we talked to the community farm about their inclusion and
what's their >> so I've talked to the community farm >> that's did you answer the question >> um not specifically about this but just when I was making my rounds meeting people in town um one of the things the community farm has um you know expressed
is a desire to definitely have more capacity for programming things like that So, I I don't think it's a a lack of interest necessarily to be included in a planning process that would that would, you know, funnel um time, attention, resources in that direction.
Um whether or not we actually as a town will collectively want to invest in that specific kind of climate resilience measure is another question. Um but during all of our engagement did no one really brought it up as like a you know
why are we investing in the community farm or anything like that and there were certainly other actions that we struck from the list simply because only one or two people really expressed a strong interest in them. So um it didn't receive uh huge outcries of support but it also didn't receive much like
>> I take your point about being a very obvious thing to put in a climate action plan. I'm not not opposed at all to the idea. I'm just interested to know um how how much we'll get out of that action item with the structure leadership and activity of the community farm. Uh and
and if it's not there today, you know, what kind of resources does it take to get us there? Uh I I think I just solar panels and then we can get some of that money. >> What's that? >> The net metering on the solar panels and we can use some of that money towards that from that revolving fund towards that end. >> Yeah, >> that's where my brain went. And also,
you know, part of part of the reason it's advantageous to include it on this plan is to then use that as the justification for why applying for climate resilience grants includes capital improvements to that site. So, um I know that there's a community
biodiversity grant that um I can, you know, I prepared an application for last year that didn't go through that I can prepare another application for this year. Same thing with the municipal vulnerability preparedness action grants. Um, you know, there is funding available for these kinds of things, but we as a town need to demonstrate that
it's directly tied to our climate resilience efforts. >> I have one last question, then I'm done, I promise. Uh, in other communities, does the community act community farm coordinate with the sustainability coordinator? >> Sometimes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Like for example, in NATIC, it's
such a like longstanding Yeah. like entity of its own that it doesn't need to lean on that as much. But um I know that like in the Medway Community Farm like uh drawing upon that group of volunteers to uh help with the town's um you know sustainability efforts more
generally kind of in the same way that you know I might call upon the garden club if I'm doing you know invasive species management things like that. It's it's it's more of that uh episodic interaction. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> I'm good. >> Yeah. Yeah. Excellent. I think the uh
one quick thing um uh question here is um is there a role or that there um opportunities for things like uh the CPC to participate in some of these things? I mean we certainly have >> you know are there opportunities to to use because I mean because what I think
of when we think of the community farm it was seated by CPC funding. Mhm. >> So, and I know they've gone to them for assistance with um upgrading that and that's just a particular case, but I mean we could certainly expand that further. There are opportunities to use some of those kinds of funds and some of
those kinds of resources towards, you know, uh climate action of some kind, whether it's, you know, buying open space or Yeah., >> you know, there's like definitely there's like definitely roles and things like that. Like we've done that in the past. >> It has like four spending categories. >> Yeah. There's like one's housing, one's
like um >> resources >> historic resources. I think there's an open space one and then I think >> the general >> there's like a general but I know the community farm as an example because I know that that was originally that house was purchased through CPC >> and they've done some upgrades and
things like that and I'm just wondering if there's you know some ways to do partnerships with the CPC on some of those kinds of things. They do a lot of stuff with parks and things like that and obviously open space, but there could be other communities. And I think uh you know to be to to put all my cards on the table, I feel like we
underutilize our CPC funding. There's a lot of money there that I don't think we're doing enough with. And I'd love to see if we can find more opportunities to to do things. >> If you want me to spend money, I'm your girl. Uh yeah, in general um I'm I'm glad that you bring it up um just because uh as
we've been moving from um this to filling in this sort of implementation table I alluded to one of the things that um one of the considerations in that is how much would it cost ballpark not like exact you know numbers but like are we talking >> it's just me existing is enough to get
it done or do we need millions of dollars to put sidewalks everywhere you know and so for this particular action um CPC funding is one of the primary ways that any of these improvements could be funded more reliably without having to rely on, you know, sporadic
grants and things. Um, ideally, community farms are the kind of resource that can eventually >> self- sustain, you know, generate enough revenue not to maybe have staff members, but to, you know, do the capital upkeep and improvements that it needs in order to maintain the capacity for more
revenue generating programs. So, >> I just think I I think maybe there could be an opportunity to partner with the CPC for even on a small scale to see if there's ways that we can do things to help protect, you know, some of the some of the community um in in some ways, you know, as appropriate. I mean, obviously,
there's certain there there's certain avenues and things like that. But just just throwing that out there as a possibility that we I would like to explore. >> Great. >> Uh any last thoughts before we let Ameilia go home? >> There's a survey. do the survey.
>> Yes. So, uh, where can we find the survey? >> Survey is on the sustainability department web page on town of hollston. us. >> Excellent. Well, okay. And if you've heard that, please go on to the uh the town website and go to that sustainability page and fill out that
survey. And uh we thank you for all your leadership and your patience this evening. And uh we look forward to seeing you again soon. >> Thank you very much. >> Have a wonderful evening. >> You too. >> Thank you. All right, moving on to the discussion of the
proposed 40B development at 194 Lland Street. So, we have two as two things to consider here. Uh, the first is a communication to the zoning board of appeals regarding pedestrian safety and infrastructure. Um, has everybody had a chance to review the letter? Are there any comments or
thoughts about that letter? We can just chime in. You don't have to wait for me to call on anybody. >> I I have two thoughts. One is >> uh to Amelia's point, it's could reference the climate action plan. >> Okay. >> Because
mobility is absolutely true of the 10 and this is what we're talking about in terms of >> um >> you could we could reference the master plan. Oh, wait. because complete streets are ref is referenced in there and uh I think the
climate action plan is exactly what we're talking about here in terms of fewer cars on the road driving kids to school because kids can walk to school. >> Yes, but they need a safe way to get there. >> Correct. So that was one question is is it can we reference the planning process or the plan preemptively? I know it's
not completed yet. The second was uh can we reference as well the ongoing use of state grant programs to fund many of our sidewalk bicycle infrastructure projects. So the trails
grants, mass trails grants, you know, we use those to improve the rail trail. We use shared streets and spaces. We use complete streets. So we're using state grant funding to advance our goals of promoting uh walking and biking in the town. um to not do that through this
project means we will retrofit in future, right? Like the town will always be looking to expand access for people who are walking and biking. So if we're not doing it through the development of the project itself, the the sole responsibility of doing that will come to the town later.
>> Yeah. >> As those residents move in there and they put start putting their hands up to say why can't we walk anywhere? Why can't we bike anywhere? And then we'll be retrofitting infrastructure. Um so this feels timing very important proactive uh but very important otherwise it becomes the responsibility
of the town solely later. >> I would um I totally agree with you. I don't want to put that in the I don't necessarily I want to be careful of putting that in the letter because I know that the developer was trying to get the grant trying to apply for us get us to apply for grants for this >> particular we're busy doing our long
list of >> exly and I but I I would rather I I I want to put it on them to do it. I don't want to give them any outs to say that we would have that option. I'd say it's their responsibility and they need to do it. And that's I don't I wouldn't even want to >> I think we're in lock step >> because I I I think I'm saying the same
thing, but I don't I don't even want to put the idea into the heads. I just want to say nope, you need to do this. >> Okay. >> Because I I I totally agree with you. I don't think it should be the town's responsibility. If you want to build a massive project, you should make sure the infrastructure is there to ensure that people can get around to it.
>> All right. We agree. We're in violent agreement. agreement. >> So, uh, as far as the, um, uh, reference to the climate action plan, uh, towards the end, we could throw a sentence in something to the effect of public safety measures aside. The development of the
town's uh, the development of the town of Hollston's climate action plan has shed light on the importance of providing pedestrian infrastructure uh, to all residents of the town of Hollston. or uh to providing uh providing ped providing pedestrian infrastructure
um as an alterate means of >> I'm totally sorry I have not had dinner so I'm completely I Okay, one more. >> The nice thing about Google documents is I can watch Frank actually write it. >> Got it. Got it. Got it. Okay. >> He's putting it down towards the bottom.
Mhm. I get there one second. So, >> it's uh Yeah, you can see you can see his cursor, the purple cursor there. >> Public safety measures aside. >> Put the notes in the paragraph. >> I just highlighted it just in case.
>> Yeah, sure. I would actually change alternate and say something to the effect of as a as a an important means of transport or an um a vital something like that as opposed to an alternative >> or preferred even preferred >> something >> something that sort of um that sort of
uh emphasizes the importance of it as opposed to uh giving it as a >> while you're typing that just kind of an open question about this. So, obviously we're trying to keep this narrow to pedestrian concerns. Is there any tie in here where we should flag that um study
about the available parking spots? I know that that's not a pedestrian concern, but it speaks to some safety issues. It's the gap between the 425 proposed and the 500 that were required. I don't think we need it in here. I'm just asking for conversation because it's kind of adjacent, but it might
muddy the waters. >> I think my I mean I I certainly not opposed to it. I I just want to be I like I you know personally I just want to be careful that we don't try to like stock it with everything. Um but you know I I Dina what do you think about um including
>> so 500 is what they're >> is what we would technically need 425 >> so that puts 75 cars on the street >> potentially >> on neighborhood streets and parking on >> potentially it's not you know >> I mean you know maybe we should you know have some language that uh concerns
about the uh the impact of um parking to the neighborhood. Yeah, it's not I mean I'm not galvanized by it. It's just a thing. >> Well, I mean we talked I mean we just heard from people um earlier tonight and Mark Tree talking about the impact of
having people parking on the streets and you know what does that look like >> and um making sure that it's not um that they're not moving an issue uh around. So maybe we could have some kind of >> You're looking to get this signed and
sent >> Yeah. by >> there's no urg there's no real I mean there is urgency about it in that the process >> meeting >> uh I believe I actually don't know that they're next >> no they have one last week so I guess they have another one coming up >> most of the hearings they've actually
had to date have just been a continuence and they've actually been taking up other matters I'd expect that this public hearing process would probably at this point stretch into July >> okay but maybe what we could do is maybe we just like rather than we could just table it so we can just move ahead and we can just say like hey can we add some language about parking
and then you know um I can come back and sign it like we can just like you can just sort of circulate it internally between everybody and everybody's comfortable with with the language um because I think it's it's hard to edit >> in a meeting I think it's I I I think uh Tim you know we we brought up the
climate action plan and if we could just you know even include a sentence or two about the the lack of parking and kind of what does that do to the the community just something like that and we can think about it when we're all more levelheads Because if they're going to have not enough parking in this in this location,
are they just basically pushing a parking issue into the streets, which is kind of getting, you know, gonna >> back to the beginning of our meeting. >> Back to the beginning of the meeting where you're going to have where you now you've created, you know, public safety issues. You've created other other kinds of problems with people parking on the street.
>> It's a big nut to crack. It is. But I think, you know, we can have a letter that's that can address something with those things. >> Also, the brain literally just shut down. >> Yeah. Let's let's Frank let's, you know, don't don't worry about editing it right now. >> No, it'll it'll reboot.
>> Well, I'm I'm I'm losing I'm losing steam, too. So, I'm not not as uh >> we can take >> acute as I as I should be. So, I' I'd rather just like let's let's >> you know, those issues. Is everything else is there anything else people want to talk about with the the language here?
>> So why don't we have like Frank if you can just kind of tweak it, edit it, circulate it, you know, with the BCC so that way we can just kind of like chime in and then when everybody's kind of said, "Yep, we're all good to go." >> Um I'll sign it. >> Um >> you know, Tuesday, Wednesday, something
like that. I can certainly come in. I can just come in and sign it. >> Is that everybody comfortable with that? >> Is that good? >> Yep. >> Okay, cool. Uh second part, the uh uh letter to the D. >> Um two points before we get into the the
brass tax here. I'd like to uh I think I'd like to make sure that this also uh this letter goes to the ZBA that they get a copy of it that we're sending this to the DP and then also um is it appropriate or should it go to the concom >> I think that that's appropriate given
that they will be um >> ultimately they will be hearing directly from the applicant. >> Yeah. Um, I would also suggest possibly the board of health. >> Sure. I I I just want like we don't necessarily have to like they don't have to be the just like a CC them on that so that they can get a copy of the letter as well tip to be aware of.
>> Um, and I think to you know I think it's not unreasonable to uh Dr. Tyler's point that we uh request some level of testing to be taking place. >> Well, if I may ask a question. Well, let me just finish one point and then absolutely um and because I think you know she raised a good point which is
basically if additional contaminants might be placed in the water is this is the after they are passed through the treatment plant do we have the capacity or even the ability to treat the additional contaminants you know is additional
media need to be required and you know out retrofitting and things like that I mean I think you know our PAS levels you know if 20 is the level we've only tested over 20 in 2023 and I believe at that point it was actually a 50 was the uh and I think they've reduced it but I
just heard the EPA might be changing those their regulations. So obviously we're kind of in a different place when it comes to the state, but I think um to that point, we just don't, you know, they're low, but we want to keep them there and we want to make sure that, you know, uh that they're um if there's
additional contaminants that are being potentially placed into our water system that we have the the ability and they to treat said >> things. And um I think that's you know okay if you want to put these things in there and you're going to approve them
we need to make sure that they're you know outfitting our treatment plant like the well five treatment plant to be able to handle those those contaminants. >> That's that's my two cents. Okay. Sorry I I >> Well, so my question about the letter is is the intent to um provide information
from D for the benefit of residents or is it for the benefit of residents and staff and boards and committees? Because when I read the sentence here, the select board recognizes and respects their regulatory role, technical expertise in evaluating such systems. The purpose of this request is to help
provide transparency and public understanding regarding the permitting process and the protections in place to safeguard drinking water resources. Is that to share with the community so that the community understands how D would permit this? because if that's the case,
I don't necessarily see that we're making requests for them to provide test data on on um water samples and and testing results >> because I had the I had that the different I didn't have it as that that we I had it as the that we're sending to
them. It was what we wanted them to do. That's kind of how I was interpreting it. >> Or am I misinterpreting it? Well, I think um I wonder if this needs to morph a little bit and maybe this maybe this becomes a two-part letter to the ZBA. One on
sidewalks and the second on wastewater treatment and water cons. >> I think regardless, we need to make sure that they we we've made our um our point clear about this to the ZBA that they need to keep this under under consideration um as they they move
forward. Um and additionally D because they're going to be part of that process and making sure the Cong is also aware and board of health. >> You have four bullet points in here. >> Uh so I I thought that was really the gist of the letter was to get this
information back. I I I thought it was for the benefit of residents so they could understand the D permitting process uh as opposed to informing staff and boards and committees that would then work with D on this project. I
might have that wrong, but just those four bullets gave me that impression that this was more communityf facing. Sorry. Uh >> no I yeah I think that the uh I think one of the um objectives here was to >> answer some of the questions that have
been asked about the you know even just the the scope of jurisdictions the varying jurisdictions what the D permitting process looks like >> um perhaps even a few examples of similar types of plants that have been permitted in similar types of areas
right >> um >> well what we can you know we could do there is we could actually ask them >> to At that point, we could put it as another bullet. You know, are you know what is the, you know, that we expect that the D will test and make sure that they're aware of, you know, the impact
on given it's a zone 2 whalehead protection district. What is that impact going to be on this? And could you know give guidance on how that influences your decision-m process or something to that effect to ensure that you know the that number one those things can not be
included in the in the water or you know or if you know we're saying that they are going to be included in the water based on the way that this is constructed that that they either they should have it in their treatment plant or we should make sure that they're outfitting ours to to handle it. You know, either way, I mean, you know, it's
it's, >> you know, we have to make sure that they're >> aware of that and including that >> cuz wouldn't we then be writing a letter to the peerreview consultant with these concerns, right? Like, so the letter to the D is, hey, we've got we're getting questions and we want to provide good
information, give us this good information that we can provide to the public. That's great. This letter is well written if that's the intent. But then we also have that the the comment here that we're going to reta is going to retain a peerre consultant. And so is that the letter that the select board
then writes to say to the peer review consultant as you're as you're working on behalf of the ZBA these are some some questions that we're we're receiving related to this project and we would like you to incorporate that into your review. Are there two letters here? One again peerreview consultant and the
other is as written to the D for information. Yeah. And and just to clarify this, the peer reviewer is um I don't want to say they're being brought on to audit or check the work of the D, but I think that they're just sort of an extra an extra set of eyes. >> Sure. Sure.
>> Um so that that's also a um that's also a possible avenue. I could also I could talk to attorney Winter about this. I'm not sure if the condition uh on the permit um for additional testing or retrofitting of our plants if that would
best come from the D or the ZBA. Um so I I >> yeah maybe comes from both. >> Maybe we get a little bit of clarification on what that looks like and making sure that we >> um we're not we're not trying to overdo one letter. If it needs to be two letters that's fine. We just want to
make sure that we get that to the right >> in the right hands. I think is really the the point here. >> Well, again, I see our role here as liaisoning between what we're hearing from residents and and the feedback we're getting with the the involved parties. We're just passing along. Not
not just, but we are acting as a liaison to pass on >> questions and concerns that we as a board want to make sure are being addressed on behalf of the people bringing them forward. Frank, is is it publicly available information how often mast
has denied or declined a groundwater discharge permit in zone 2 and under what situations? >> Uh, >> or is that something? If not, would we ask them for that information? >> I believe that on their website they have basically a GIS layer uh that
provides that level of detail. Okay. to uh the extent that it's like readily understandable and accessible, I would have to look. But I would also think that they would be able to provide that information. >> Yeah, I don't know if it's right to put it in there, but if if it's not accessible, that would be Yeah, >> I think something that people would want
to know. >> Yeah, I think um you know, it does sound this might be two letters. I think regardless, you know, we want to make sure that we're informing the D, but we're also informing um the town bodies as well uh of uh the realities here so
we can make sure that we uh get that information forward and um and address it. And I think similarly, let's review the the text and get these um and and what you know if after you consult with attorney Winter, you can
let us know if you know you want to >> extend this letter or write two letters. What makes what makes the most sense here? >> Yep. >> To make sure that we get these things. >> Excuse me. Can I say something? I was asked during my comment period to wait until I got to 7B. I just
>> I I I wasn't when what we we were looking for um I don't remember saying that to wait till 7B. We were saying that we were going to take up your comments and address those comments about testing at 7B. That was what I had that that's what we had intended
what what we said to you. And what we're trying to do here, Liz, what we're trying to do here, Liz, is trying to address some of the things you had talked about when it came to testing and ensuring that and talking about some of those concerns and making sure that we're talk because we're we're trying to figure out uh talking to several different entities here because we want
to make sure that the ZBA understands our concerns about how this impacts the water supply, but we also want to make sure the D is giving enough information on their role and what they're doing here because I think there's a little bit of confusion on what ZBA can do and what D can do. And we want to make sure that we get better guidance on each's
role in this particular case because it's a because it's a nature of a 40B. You know, we we want to make sure that they are addressed and we're talking to the right people to address them because your concerns about water are valid and we want to make sure that we get it to the right people to address them. Does that make sense?
>> Can I say Can I say just two things? >> Yes. Quickly. We're not Yep. Go ahead. >> I will very quickly. Number one, you should know that the ZBA is has traffic on their next at their next meeting. I can't remember if it's the 8th, 15th, or 22nd of June. Sure. But so I would just
think that that's a better letter to go separate. The other thing I want to say is the testing is testing that you're looking that's specific to the problems we have in Hollister. And so it's important to simply request this
testing. I I've done a lot of research. Do request this testing of DP of the gray water or the effluent and the contaminants are ke nitrites
acetic acid if they're chlorinated. >> Okay. So, yeah, got it. Yep. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, okay. Um so yeah, so we have that first letter that we're going to address with the with the with the uh parking
and um um sidewalks and traffic and then um with this if we can get some guidance on we want to make sure that we understand who >> needs to hear what >> you know I don't mind telling both the same things but I also want to make sure
that we get in the right hands what needs to happen so that way and we can also the community can understand the role of the ZBA and the role of the D in this process >> and then also uh the information that needs to be sent to them can also be sent to the right entities as well.
>> Understood. >> Okay. Does that everybody go with that? >> Yeah. Thank you for great >> being clear of mine to state it like that. >> Um I'm doing my best. All right. Okay. All right. We're going to move on from uh the the uh number seven here. We're going to go on to the discussion of the
municipal building committee. Um, I think, um, I'm very much in favor of a municipal building committee and I think I would be interested to sort of think about what that looks like for the town. What do other towns do? What makes sense? Um, from my perspective, I think
we have a lot of buildings that are sort of everybody's siloed. You know, the library has their building. We have 1750 that has their certain some of the things that are there. We have town hall. We have schools. We have the center. And everybody's, you know, trying to do the best they can with the buildings they have, you know, but
having some sort of a means to sort of get people together to think about other places that we can um work together to find ways to to utilize space better. You know, we had like the example of the nine green street that committee and thinking about what to do with that. You
know, as we move forward with, you know, potential uh changes to the DPW, we have two sites now. Is there a third site that's potentially going to come into play? and these these first two sites are going to become open. So, being able to um you know think about those kinds
of things and having a sort of a body that can sort of advise the town on on different options and have a forum that that that's available I think is kind of what I'm looking for and thinking about with this. But >> if there's consensus here, I might suggest then that we ask Frank to come back with an example of a chart like a
sample of a charge and makeup. Uh I I wonder if we might want to consider useful building and land committee. uh or if if building doesn't isn't so literal that people will only think structure or will they also think process but um >> yeah we can I yeah maybe that might be
that might be a good idea because I think looking at also >> helping you know we did we've had the working group with sidewalks and thinking about some of these things are there are there like >> could there be sort of a standing committee that can advise it's not to say they're making any decision but they can sort of make those those kind of
advice decisions on those larger projects okay >> I think would be great >> yeah well Frank could we ask Frank to bring it back. >> I'm kidding. Yes, it's late. I'm getting I'm getting punchy. >> It's okay. >> Um yeah, I think we defin I think uh team's got a great point. >> It's not punchy. That is not punchy.
Seem punchy and that's not it. Um >> yeah, so >> get punchy. >> I'm getting I'm getting like I'm like, you know, I'm like >> um but I think yeah, maybe we look to that like sometime like later in June >> because I think June 8th is shaping up to be a lot of appointments. So maybe we move that to like late like the second
of June. >> Sure. I have uh only one update for the school building committee. >> Okay. Are you are you good with I mean we >> as long as it's clear that the policy is we should have one gigantic mega building that houses all municipal uh features. >> Well, that's what we're going to do.
We're going to buy the Highland Farm, right? We're just going to put a giant municipal complex and it becomes all schools, all public safety, everything, right? It's the it's the answer to all our dreams. >> Sewage treatment plant, public farm, all of it. One spot. One spot. next to the airport.
>> Fertilizer straight into the ground. We're good. >> Okay. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. >> We're kidding. >> I I'm not. No, I'm just kidding. I am. >> We're all kidding. Um Okay. Uh did you have a update for the MSBA um high school project?
>> We're going to meet briefly on Thursday to just make sure we're down. We're we're clear on the process to start screening the candidates. Okay. Uh the window closes on the 23rd to accept new ones, but we may decide on the Thursday. I'll ask for an update from Frank on the number that we have but we may decide we want to expand that a little bit just a
little more time. I don't think so because I think we have a robust number okay of uh interested parties but we will just streamline describe rather and be clear on the process um >> for when the window closes. So quick meeting on
>> Thursday. We did get that letter from from the MSBA and we do not have to finalize this until July 31st. We will not wait until July 31st because we also need to have the chair of the school building committee chosen when we
finalize. So, this committee will need to meet >> before June 31st, July 31st, excuse me. >> Uh, but we have two and a half months. We've got plenty of time. >> Yes. All right. Do you do you expect to have um um recommendations for um people
by June 8? Is that too ambitious or >> No, I don't think it is at all because again closes this Friday. Uh then the working group will meet at some point between then and and June 8th >> through the through the town manager. If you can just keep us surprised and then make sure like if you know if that because I think we'll pencil it in now
that June 8th we can start making appointments and if you're you know you need more time for whatever reason you can let us know and we can put that off. >> And if I heard correctly the schools meet on the 28th and then the 11th. >> Yes, that is correct. >> Okay. All righty. Thank you. That's it on number nine.
>> Great. >> Member updates. >> I will not be here on the 16th or the 22nd >> of June. >> Okay. >> So, uh just plan accordingly. >> Okay. >> Do the right thing. You know, that's all I'm saying. >> Do the right thing.
>> The 15th and the 22nd. >> 15th and 22nd. Okay. Uh considering the hour, uh no updates. >> Okay. Um I just have one that I just want to bring up. I went to the uh um the police memorial day on the 15th of
of May and uh I had previously I'd won gone once before. I think it was my first year on the board. Um and it's a somber occasion to honor officer Johnson who was uh shot in the line of duty 45 years ago. Um and um it was uh his it's
remarkable to stand there and he has grandchildren >> and they uh his family was there and um you know we had a great good turnout. We had a nice was the weather was good too which was nice. Um and it was a somber occasion but it was good to be able to
say thank you to our police officers. Um granted it was you know under under those kinds of circumstances but um saying publicly you know thank you to them for inviting me and I appreciate every day the sacrifices and the work that they do uh running into danger. Um
and um I we we call them and it's our hardest day and for them it's just another day of the week and we're very grateful for all the things that they do. Um obviously for all of public safety um but on that particular occasion was for police. So um thank you
to them for inviting me and we're grateful for all the the service that they give to us in Hollist and making our community better every day. So thank you and that's all I got. >> Do we we fly the flag? Um, >> yep. >> The police memorial week is
>> this week. >> This week? >> Yeah. >> Do we have the flag? We >> do. >> Yeah, it should be. It's on there. >> Yep. >> It should be. >> Yep. >> I'll double check with James. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Uh, we'll do this quick. Lawrence to you. Uh,
one to report. Uh, May 11th, 2026, 2,330,7965. Okay, >> I will keep this very brief. Uh, the town election is tomorrow from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the high school gymnasium. Um, and as was just referenced, uh, Hollist School Building
Committee page is now live. Uh, you can visit the page to learn more about the project and learn more about the seats available if you are interested in participating as a member of the committee. Currently, application window closes this coming Friday, the 22nd. >> Great, that's all I got. Okay.
>> I move to We have a consent agenda for 13. Move to um approve the consent agenda as posted. >> Seconded. All those in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. Yes. All right. Um we don't have any other business. So >> Frank Kathy Lang, >> do we need to
>> Oh, yes. Uh we had a request from our uh veterans uh agent Kathy Lang about uh displaying uh American flags >> the week of Memorial Day. Okay. Um, so I think the select board technically needs to approve that given that it is a display of flags in the town hall.
>> Um, >> these are American flags. >> The Sorry, crucial. Yes. Yes, these are all American flags. >> Okay. Okay. >> Um, so I don't know if the board wants to uh vote on that. >> Add it to the consent agenda >> to approve the >> Sure. That works too. >> Yeah, because we don't technically have
other business as a line item. >> Oh, okay. So >> that's all right. But we can we'll we'll we'll do that. I mean, we're just it's sort of it's a more formality, but um any questions, thoughts? >> None. Nope. >> Okay. I'll take a motion to >> move to approve the flying of American
flags here in town hall for the Memorial Day um recognition >> for the police or fire station. >> Town Hall, police and fire station. >> Seconded. All right. All those in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. >> We can also uh add it to our agenda on
June 8th. formalize if we need to. >> Yeah, if we need to. I don't I'm not overly worried about >> that one. >> Flying the American flag. >> Yeah, flag Memorial Day. >> I don't think that's a a big ask. So, um I will take a motion to adjurnn at 10:02 p.m. >> So moved. >> Seconded. >> All right. All those in favor?
>> Yes. >> Yes. Yes. >> All right. Thank you very much, Hollison. Make sure you go vote. And our next meeting will be on June 8th. Thank you. Have a good night.