Anybody on the board should voice their opinion or feelings before we take a vote, right? So, anybody that's watching it on TV will be able to hear the different opinions. I'm not on and I'm starting I'm sorry. No, that's all right. I just want to say I'm formally
starting the meeting. So, because it is 3:00. Okay. So, and we'll be quiet. We can spend a long time. I don't know. I hope he's coming. I didn't call to confirm, but he had said he'd be here. So, Jim had said he'd be here again if the board had questions. So, I'm
expecting him to show up. But I could be wrong. All right. So, you we've been called to order. Yes. At 3 p.m. Yes. And we have one member absent and that's Joe because he's out of the country
visiting his son. Lovely. Which is very nice. I'm happy for him. Good place to be. It is a good place to be. That was great. And um we have staff here, Amy and Liz. Thank you very much for being here. And I understand that um
um I heard that Sandra Cassell from the friends was here last week, Monday, right, for our meeting and we she we had a little confusion. It was two different dates were in the broadcast. You're right. Right. So, and she couldn't be
here today. So, I'm sorry and I apologize for that. Hey, errors happen. It was an era, but we always meet the second Monday of the month unless it's a holiday. So, people, I guess, need to get used to that. So, anyway, so we do have a
quorum. Um, it is an open meeting and it's a recorded meeting. Have to say that every time. So, so now we're down to announcements. Do we have any announcements? Do you want to make the announcement about this article just as a separate thing? I
don't care. Um, not the article but the um on the planning board. Yes, it would be a good time I think to call attention to it where you can find out the presentation. Judy Barrett last let me explain a little. Last Wednesday night,
um the town, that's the town administrator and three select board members and the planning board were all present for an explanation session about the articles 13, 12 and 13 on the town warrant for our town meeting in May. And
this is all about the need for deeply affordable senior housing in town, rental housing. Right. I got to make sure I got all the words in. Yes. And that's what it is about. And people are having a very
difficult time understanding the whole, you know, both of the articles. It's very confusing. It's very complex. And I've been preaching that to all of you anyway. So, you should be, you've heard me say that many times. It is very complex.
One of the things last Wednesday night though, Judy Barrett and the Barrett group is a consulting group that the planning board has worked with ever since I can remember. I don't know for how long, but a long time. They have worked with the Barrett group for get
advice for whatever. They're a professional consulting group. And they presented a um somebody's up coming. Come in. Hi. Welcome. You staying?
Oh, good. You can. Okay. She's got to be LCTV. She's trying to go in there. Yep. So, anyway, um Judy Barrett did a wonderful presentation on the screen about senior housing affordability
needs. And go take it away if you would sue for for this part of the the announcement. Sue just to right before you start. Um Jim cannot come. He has a family thing that happened. Marin Tuhill is coming. Oh great. Well that's
wonderful. Good. Marin is good too because she's got all the information up here. She's amazing. She is amazing. She's amazing. She's our town planner for anybody that doesn't know her. She's fantastic. She is. Go ahead. So because she found this and this is a good source
of information for anybody that's watching and I just want to get it out. It's on It's on this is on the um planning board. No, the planning department's website. If you go to the town website, town website and you go
under departments and you find planning planning, it takes you right to this. And on that web that page is the entire report that the Barrett group did. It's um there's text about it and all the
charts that she showed and she showed all the chart charts and explained what they all meant with number of seniors and um a whole just a whole host of information about senior housing needs
in Littleton. And um I I did not attend the meeting but I did watch the meeting uh live and then I rewatched it in order to copy down the charts because I liked the
information but now I found the complete report that is the charts and uh the supporting text and that's available on um planning department's website and
it's um 10 pages. So, five double-sided pages and it has all the information plus background and explanations. I didn't get it all read today, but well, it's there. It's very complex because there's different levels
of affordability and that people don't even understand. Exactly. Yes. And and that's the other thing I think people get very confused in trying to understand when any boards
talk about AMI which is area media income and the percentages and what does that mean and it's different it's very different for rental and ownership and
the project that the town administrator ator is um proposing is only for rental. It's only for seniors and it's only for deeply affordable or deep
uh a deep need uh and lower income rates. Don't if you start to try to learn all about what AMIs mean for rental and ownership and all the different levels and how they're determined,
you're going to find you're going to feel it's confusing. But if you stick to just what this project is about, it it and this gives lots of supporting information. And I just was notified that Maron's coming. So maybe we're
gonna just do general announcements now. Okay. And once she gets here, we can start because there are many key points I think we need to Yeah. I just Thank you. No, it's all pertinent. I just know that we need to wrap our heads around it. I know that everybody the minute you
start to talk to other people about it and I have found this too, they immediately shut you off because they say it's too confusing. I don't understand and there's too much going on. We can't afford anymore. You just stick to the one. You stick to the one
topic. Okay, I'll stop there. Okay. So, how and there are there any general announcements to make? Only that there were two um little places to put food that people that need food would like to
go visit. And that is one at the Baptist church and one is right outside here. And right outside the patio here. Yep. Right. Yep. Yeah. Thank you. That's very true. It's it's
Yeah. Any more anyone else have any announcements? Okay. I think an announcement should be that everybody should plan on attending town meeting. It is May 6th. I just want to mention that that usually starts at
seven. Correct. Tuesday at seven. But there'd be a there is a six o'clock um presentation on Shaker Lane School, right, for half half to 15 minutes to half hour and then Q&A for until 7
o'clock. And it's most interesting because the Shaker Lane project definitely is not going to be under the levy. It is going to mean an increase in taxes. And this and this other the check articles 12 and 13 are under the levy which makes a big difference. makes a
huge difference. Yes, it does. So, and people need to understand that. And the school, the thing that I saw published somewhere in one of the things I was reading, they're saying at least $1,000 a year increase in your tax, but
just the school, right? That's right. Never mind the two and a half% and all of that. Yeah, I know. And yes, there is a lot going on. I understand that, too. And I understand people's human concern. But
um but that's why I've been trying to get all the facts and figures in my head so that I could feel that I'm making that my own confident competent decision. Anyway, and this meeting today, I hope Marin is coming. I don't
know what time she's coming, but anyway, we are charged with making a decision and taking a vote as to whether we are supporting articles 12 and 13 on the warrant. Do you have a a copy of the actual articles? No, I don't.
I don't think it's been printed yet, but like those they're not out yet. No, they would have had them to go over and stuff. Well, yeah, but the actual wording of what it's going to be that's hasn't been they've been well they have been written. Legal council last
Wednesday night said that the articles have been written and they're going to the printer. So, but yeah, but they're not out yet. So, I don't know. I think that would be a big help if we saw the wording. Well, we don't we can't Yeah. here today and we will not be having
another meeting before May 6th. I know. So, that's why we need I'm really concerned about everything. Yeah. Okay. First of all, why don't we get our business if there are no other general announcements to make for the public? I
don't have any. No, nobody else has one. Okay. Why don't we move on then and do the minutes while we're waiting to see if Marin comes before we start our discussion? So, do you have a copy of the minutes of March 10th? And thank you again, Sue.
I make a motion to accept the minutes. I'll accept them. I have a correction. Oh, okay. Number seven A. 7A here. Update. Senior center project. Yep. Okay. It goes um cutting for the
center on Shadic Street will be on Mary the 16th. Oh, yes. Thank you. So glad you caught that. I missed that one. I do. I did, too. All right. I did, too. I thought you'd catch it by now since Wow. No, I don't read them again after. She
she she writes them and she gets them done like two days from now. She'll have them done this week. Sometimes I don't read them for a while. She sends them to me when So, but um yeah, I miss that too. Anyone else with goodbye and have I read
I read them at home and I thought these are fun. All right. Do we want to fast you know it's something like that you don't pick up? No. I'll make a motion to accept the minutes. Um, with the one
uh correction on number seven, I'll I'll second that. Eliminating the R in the word Mary. Right. Correct. Correct. Yeah. Okay. We have Who seconded that? I'm sorry. Marilyn seconded. Thank you, Marilyn.
Okay. Is there any further discussion? No. Going to start over here with John. We don't. Yes. We don't need to do Oh, that's right. We don't I just don't want to give that up. I guess I'm so stubborn about that. Okay. All those in favor? I. Anyone
opposed? It's total silence. I think it's a unanimous vote and we have the minutes approved. So great. Oh, and look at who walked in the door. She probably just got informed she needed to come down here.
Maybe sat down at my desk. The reminder was popped up. It's like Well, I had just said, why don't we take care of the minutes while we're waiting to see if Mera gets here and we might as well get that done and then we can move right into our discussion. It worked out perfectly. Yes. Thank you ever so much.
We just took the vote on the minutes. So So thank you. All right. Do you I just out of kindness to Marin, I think we if you are okay with changing the agenda a little, we can do the And you are Amy
and Liz. You both okay? You've got some time. Okay. Okay. Then we can do the the um director's report and the outreach court and the assistant director's report, excuse me. Um after we're through with our discussion about the articles 12 and 13 at the town meeting
and we have um already talked a little bit about that in the beginning of our meeting, but um and we've decided that we really need to be able to ask questions. People have questions still and try to get the word
out hopefully. So do you want to proceed? Who had a question that they wanted? I Why don't we do you want to start and just we'll chip in if you raise your hand if you want to speak and you'll start with Jean and
the proposed for deeply affordable for the building here. Does that exclude the other levels of low income? Um, so right now the proposal the idea
is for um up to 60% AMI. Um, so up to that the chart, right? Right. Right. Okay. Because on the chart you have three different levels of low income, right? Just as as examples. So Right. So you
would hope to fulfill it with the lowest amount first and then open it up for the other amounts. Um so right now the way we're thinking about it is the maximum income would be at the 60% AMI and um so
those that qualify up to that amount um would would have the units and then those that qualify at up to the 30% would have those units. Um, don't anticipate any trouble filling it with that. Okay. So, you're setting
aside a specific amount of units for 30% and 60%. Correct. Okay. And that's based on the town's need showing that. Yes. Judy Barrett reported, the Barrett group reported that there are 260 households
in Littleton with an income I think of less than $40,000. If I'm not mistaken, $ 35 to $40,000, something like that. There's a lot of people that have a minimum income. Yep. And I'm glad that that um
slide is showing there. Um it's both that slide and then the other one um one of the other slides. how good Liz is with her computer. Trying. He is. Sorry about that. So, the cut off would be at 60%. Yeah. Okay. You want me to go
to a chart? Sure. That that one's regional again. So, and and we before you came um Sue found that whole report that Judy did on your website and we already made that announcement to people that they can go on your website and find that report. It
was great her report that night. So any other questions along that line for Marin I Marin if you're saying if they're talking about Littleton
did but does that mean only Littleton or do we go elsewhere first because when we I asked Jim Dugen last time I said can it be only Littleton and he said no. So that's the same with this deeply
affordable can only be Littleton. No, no, there I mean it cannot be only Littleton. So that would be in violation of federal fair housing state fair. That's what I thought. So my taxes would pay for John Jones that come from East Overshoot, but didn't it's not your
taxes paying for this. Didn't I hear 70%. Um so what the town will do is apply for the maximum local preference which currently is 70%. We were able to get the 70% um for a couple of the most
more recent lotteryies passed earlier than that I don't know those details but but for this proposed would be at 70%. That would be the request. Yeah. reserved. That would be the request, right? Which is and they don't have to accept 70%. Correct.
The state has offered has agreed with the 70% of the the times that we applied. Okay. So, it's a little bit better than it used to be. You know, I think when you think about it,
it has has to do with the racial makeup of those who apply for the units. And if you listen to Judy's proposal that she may be our report that she gave the other night at that last Wednesday night, she talked so much about, you know, how many it's primarily there are
a lot a lot of single females that fall into that category and building anything for senior for a female. you know, you and a single person is a lot different than the highly
affordable homes that are built, you know, type of thing. So, you really people really need to, in my opinion, listen to Judy Barrett's report. It was very revealing, I found. I think at her at that meeting the other night. Um,
now the the um it's all going to be income based, correct? Right. Correct. So even if you have a $600,000 house and you sell it, the only part that's considered for this
is any income generated from that asset that you have like interest or whatever. Under the current regulations, that's how it would work. Correct. So it's not the same as it is buying if
you're buying your right egg at all. Correct. Totally different situation. Yeah. Yeah. And I um I liked your point you just made about the difference between the deeply affordable units 30 and 60% AMI as compared to the 80% AMI.
It is a different product. Totally different. And people I think are confusing that well because they heard about the other. Mhm. And this is the whole term deeply, you know, affordable is a new term and I keep I was saying before the
meeting started, I keep forgetting that word deeply myself. So, and it makes a big difference. Would they all be just three rooms like bedroom, living room, and kitchen? Um, I don't believe there's any architectural design yet. No. Um, so
one of the um examples that's nearby is Shirley Meadows. Um I don't know if you're familiar. It's on Hospital Road um near the Shirley uh police station and the Shirley Little Shirley Library. Um that's was just built within the last
handful of years. They have somewhere around 60 units there. Um it's my concern with that site in particular. Well, be as a building. It's a lovely building and it looks like it's
well laid out, but there's no access to services. There's there Yeah. Um it's not a good location for it. Not a top location. I mean, yeah, not as good as in my mind as this one would be
with Yeah. with the senior with the shock center nearby. You might not be able to answer this one, but I know that we're proposing two articles, right? One is to have this building become surplus.
If that should pass, if we go forward and we do that, then are we obligated to dispose of it? No. We we'll have to do it then. No, you don't have label surplus. No, no, that gives Okay, so
that one is article 13, right? That one requires a twothird vote, twothirds majority to pass. So, that one would allow the select board to actually issue the RFP to find out what responses come back. Article 12, um the special
legislation, that's that happens first. that would be that would allow the um select board to file this uh request for a special act with the legislature. Um and that I thought Tom did a pretty good job
of explaining what that one would do. Um just allows the town to not have to worry about the procurement um and the construction regulations. Well, not regulations, but construction. Um, complying with those state guidelines on
how you have to proceed on those. Um, two competing sets of laws that are hard to both work with. And so with the special legislation, a lot of several communities have done special legislation to allow the procurement
process to to move forward. So this is just our starting point and that after this then there will be other times for people to make further decisions. Um yes it puts so article 12
um gives the select board the authority to apply for the special legislation. Article 13 um would give the select board to uh draft and actually issue the RFP. Select board has indicated that as they work towards drafting the RFP, they
will be asking for community input on that. I found a lot of people who write or run feel that once they vote for this, if they approve it, it's a done deal, right? And I virtually have been told, I don't know what I'm talking about when I
try to bring this up. Yeah. People I've heard that too. And that's why it's not that's not the case at all. Right. That's why I asked and I was just going to say point blank just if we this article 12 13 declaring this a surplus
building if that's approved that doesn't mean that they can do it still has to go back does not doesn't it have to go back to town meeting for any further action other than just the exploring you know go looking at the RFP it gives them
certain priv privileges the town um but they doesn't give them the author authority total to move forward without coming back to the town about it. Um any funding would have to come back to the town. Right. Right. So it's not like
you're obligating any money at with this vote. Correct. They're only obligating the possibility and the okay to proceed to investigate all of this. That's all that that vote is. Maybe you
could read in read into the minutes what a yes vote would mean for a certain no vote would mean can you want me to go back to 12? Can you make it a little bigger? Some reason I can't. I can't see that well. I don't know if Amber can do it on her side, but
I can't get I can see it over here. Never mind. I can't get rid of that part. That's good. This one. If Amber's listening, can you get rid of that participant bar? If you end your screen share, will it
allow you to do that? So, article 12 is allowing to to do the special legislation for um surplus building and
also to allow for a town hall to be built elsewhere. Correct. Without any funding attached to with no Yeah. no funding attached at that point. Right. Right. And um so what town council has told us that it takes
about a year to work through that special legislation process. See, and I get hung up on I was just going to say I get hung up. I know I do personally that and I even put
this in the barcaster I think in March. you know, the senior build senior center, the center on Shadic Street is done essentially. We've accomplished that. And since what, 2015? Oh, before
that when UMass did their study of the needs of seniors in Littleton. I just found that yesterday. Yeah, it's it's a wonderful study. and they reported then that we had this void in Littleton about rental properties for
seniors and we've done nothing about it all these years and we have all these people that could qualify and that need it and shame on Littleton for not doing anything. So that's kind of where I'm coming from. It's like years have gone by 15 to 20 years since we've known
about this and we've done nothing but we had to wait. We couldn't do everything at once. And it says the the un the school age population is de will decrease dramatically and the senior population is still increasing dramatically and Judy Barrett alluded to
that in her report the other night. So, I don't and and you know, the fact is that I don't know. It's just I can't I just can't fathom that we have nothing in this town for these people and they have to. Even George Sanders admitted the other night. He's known a lot of
people that moved out of town because they couldn't afford to stay here anymore. And that's what would happen if I had to sell my house. I couldn't find a place to rent in this town to live here. Yeah, we we do have a small number of units that but they're in on demand.
I do. Yeah. Yep. I made a mistake when I the other night when I said that there are no units in that range. There are some units. Um we can point to Mil Pond. Yeah. And we can point Isn't that a state place too? Mil Pond? Um federal federal. That's federal. Um is is Shad
Street here. Is that state? State. Those are the those that's what's we have. Yeah. And those are pretty well opened up to more people. I mean this I think the the op the fact that we are going to get
more more um places for Littleton residents you know the percentages are higher if we proceed and Littleton does something you know. So I don't know but that's just I get it befuddles me to think that and if we don't it's going to
take he they made it very clear it's going to take four to five years that was my question in the best possible light everything goes forward when will how when will this be available when when can we do the ribbon cutting yeah
it's going to be probably over four years five years I I would think it won't take that long and so it's like the feasibility study um architectural design, detailed site plan. You need the developer needs all those in hand to apply to the state for
the low-income housing tax credits. That process takes at least 18 months. Um and then and then there's no obligation that says you have to do this just because of this vote that we're going to have to take in May. And that just starts the process, right? That's what I'm
understanding. But mayor and wouldn't that mean they would have if if that goes so doesn't that mean that we have to get the town hall built before they can start working on this? No. Start working on this. The idea is
to um Yeah. Obviously we would need a place to work. That's right. So Right. But any funding for a new building would go back to town meeting for a request. There's more money. No,
there's no money request yet. We can't talk even talk to the developers about how much more money. It's all restart this this process. And we have and this is the other piece I think that wait there's no money yet.
Will there be money two or three years down the line? If the select board and finance committee, you know how town meeting works, doesn't get to town meeting floor unless the select board and finance committee both see that it can work. It
fits into our, you know, overall bonding um process. Yeah. Yeah. But isn't the town hall supposed to be built by the developer? We would love to be able to start talking about that. No, I know you can't
do it until you these things happen, but isn't that a promise that's been made of some sort? Um, I don't think it's a promise, but it's see there is a possibility. Yes, there's a possibility. Possibility. Right now, I can think of one developer
that it would make a lot of sense for that developer to um you know build a a town hall in exchange for the ability to do 40 or so deeply affordable senior units at this site because the benefits
to that and that developer would be pretty significant and four to five years down the road that could be gone. That option could not be as readily readily available. So it just I struggle with it all myself because I think yeah
you're talking about time is of the essence in a way because originally the h of deeply affordable housing was going to be the type of thing that was going to be addressed at the end of the construction that that's
going on 550 King Street. Originally, it was going to be toward the end of that whole process and now they're saying no. Hoping hoping to draw it forward and Yeah. No questions. No. I I attended the
meeting last week and you got you got it all figured out. I wish I know. I already there just seems to be a some some people have a mistrust. Oh,
well a mistrust of the history all developers the history of lowinccome in Littleton there seems to be a mistrust factor here that if we go forward how can the town guarantee that this will be
what you're telling us it will truly be? There's there's a bit of distrust about that. And that's where it's up to individuals, residents to say stay involved in the process as the select board drafts and issues the RFP. This is
what we want. This is what we're asking for. Have that in the RFP so that so that can be in the in a contract um should a contract move forward. Hope so. they would have the power to
ensure that that's what you want. You know, when when it's talk about development, when it's talking about real estate, there is a lot of mistrust, there's so much money involved. It's you got to we have to get the details right. Right.
There's also a lot of uncertainty right now in the market. I would hate to lose the current market um where funding is available for construction um you know get you know two four more
years behind this. So to to to us you know article 12 is the 50% vote needed and extremely important. Um article 13 it's a majority. It is majority. Yes.
And the key I mean in this case for these articles everything is within the levy. I mean that's no no funding attached to these. Right. Right. And that's been clearly said publicly. Right. I've heard that said. that Jim is
asking has has stated that if it moves forward, if funding is needed for um town hall space, whatever you want to call it, the fit up of a new building, um then the goal is to have that within the levy. Yeah. So, it's of course taxpayer
dollars for that. blew me away too when he was talking at one point Wednesday night. I forget who was at the mo, you know, asking questions, but the comment was made, Jim made it, that right now 55 King Street
is valued at 38 million, but when everything is all completed, the, you know, when it's fully built up in the 10 years or whatever it's going to take, it's going to be worth a quarter of a billion
dollars to the town of Littleton as well. I mean, it's a tax, you know, revenue thing for us. So, and this is just maybe part of it because s the owner of 550 King Street cannot he doesn't have the experience
and he has to have a contractor as Mary even said that has the experience of building something like this. Right. Of and and the contractor Lou Sali has admitted I don't have that experience. Right. Right. The state will require not
only an experienced low-income housing developer, but a management plan for that property that extends over a long period of time. So, we won't see happen what has happened at other places with with the rents not being able to um
support long-term maintenance at at the at a site. Yeah. Any other questions? Marin, any questions for anybody in the audience? Mary Picard's a gift guest here and I'm just listening. You're listening. No comments. You don't
want to ask a question, you're welcome to. No, I'm all I'm just listening. Okay. Well, I just want to make sure. I wish we had a phone. People could call in if there's anybody watching that had a question. I so many I people don't understand this at all and I I still
struggle with it. It is complex and I've said this time and time again to this board and that's why I wanted somebody here again to help us understand it. Yeah. And wrap our heads around it so that we can make an intelligent vote,
you know, come to a conclusion. Anyway, that's fair. Nobody has any other questions for her for Marin. Just a comment that I've been hearing. I've been asking people my age and people younger than me what's the right thing to do and I've been getting basically
the same thing as Jean said in the very beginning. It's too much right now. It's just too much and too uncertainty. I didn't get a lot of positive feedback on it when I was talking over the weekend to, you know, 10 or 12 different people
my age and and some a lot younger than me just to see which way you're going. And um and I honestly being at that meeting the other night, I didn't think that meeting was came out to be very positive. Um you're absolutely right.
Um, one thing I liked about having um, the consultants there was Tony, the very quiet one, um, you know, turned to me afterward and said, "You realize that was either three or four people out of everybody present that stood up and spoke against the proposal. Everybody was else was there just to gather
information information, right?" Um, so that was on us for not setting it up very well. So, apologize for that, but I'm not blaming you. No, my my feeling of that meeting was very informative. I'm not saying that at all. All the
people that spoke had had good things to say and I just don't think that the audience was on your side. No, unfortunately. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And that's and that scares me for going to
town meeting because that was a group of what 25 maybe 30 people total and then you get 300 say 400 people at town meeting who are interested in Chamberlain. That's it. And they're not even thinking about this. And I really
worry that this is not going to not going to go anywhere. If if it doesn't go anywhere in May, can we will it be revisited? Um, if the residents do a good job enough job of keeping it lifted up and and in in the limelight. See,
that's my concern. What happens in how many years does it get postponed again? If it doesn't get started, if if we can't even come to a point where it gets just off the ground enough to be able to start the process. Yeah. To me, one of the most important things we get out of
town meeting or the discussions that lead up to and on town meeting floor, you know, we hear from the the town meeting voters, you know, their concerns, their questions. Hopefully, we've answered a lot of the questions beforehand and we get to reiterate, you
know, what what we know and where we are and what we're trying to do. So, will you be doing a presentation at town meeting? There will be a presentation at town meeting. Yeah. Yeah. Is is this Wednesday candidates night? It's something Well, there's something
tonight at the st room, but I don't remember what it was. Yes, it's the apple orchard. They've torn out they've chopped down all the trees in Maryland. They were they were taking out the trees that were But I went by it yesterday. I said the
trees are gone. It is very visually stunning, but that's all part of the the process. I know. It's just You're right. It's, you know, change is difficult and just because they were so beautiful at this time of year when they start to bloom, we're not going to have that
beauty on that one portion. Right. Yeah. Right. But it was just a shock. Yeah. Yeah. They weren't healthy trees, so no. Yeah. Thank you so much. All right. Thank Thank you very much. Ask as question
come come up. Let us know what they are. We're have developed the FAQ frequently asked questions um off the planning board page um for this site and we're trying to trying to you know get the information have make the information
available. So thank you. Okay. Any other discussion? Nope. I move the CLA board support articles 12 and 13 at the town meeting
on May 6th. Any further discussion? I second that. I'll second that. Thank you. Okay. Sue made the motion and Maryannne seconded it that we support
articles 12 and 13 at town meeting. No further discussion. No. All right. All those in favor? I I opposed.
I'll abstain. One abstension. Is that all set? And everyone else um it's in favor is in favor is correct. Am I correct in that?
All right. Yes. So be it. Moving on. Moving on. Thank you very much. Pass that word along. Okay, reports. We had our staff sitting waiting patiently. So, right. What's all the good news, Liz? It's
getting very close to May 16th. Yeah. Um I know the friends aren't here for their meeting, but they did send in 50 leaves to be engraved for their tree. Oh, wow. They've got 50 50. Yes, I thought we were shooting for the first 25. Y there,
it sounds like their um appeal, their letter that went out, their annual appeal was pretty successful. Um and a lot of leaf donations came in from that. So, I believe they've paid for the cost of the tree and the engraving and are now generating. Exciting. I'm so happy
for them. I really am. They've really Yes. That is really nice. Um Andy sent in the first 50 names um on Saturday. Wow. So if you've sent in a leaf after Friday of last week, you will probably not see it
at the ribbon cutting, but we'll send them in 25 at a time on a rolling basis. Great. Wonderful. That's great. Great news. Congratulations, friends. Yes. Yes. They Yeah, they've worked hard on that. Have. All right. We going to the
director's report. Mhm. Me share my screen. Record breaking. My gosh. All right. Baby's hustling out of here. Hurry. Okay. Let's see. Here are our
stats. I wish I could make this bigger. That is not what my screen looks like when I'm sharing my screen. Amber, are you in there? Can you help me? Um, I'd love for that participant bar to go away so we can fill up more screen. But anyh who,
we have Thank you. Thank you, Amber. Um, I'm going to zoom in a little more just so everyone can see this number. It's the highest number we have ever Oh my gosh. ever had. They're anticipating
that new building. That's exactly it. Oh my gosh. And Megan's working very hard. Megan Murphy is our new program coordinator is just blowing it out of the water. She is incredible. Not only is she planning the programs, setting them up, organizing them,
submitting for payment, she's attending them. Yep. Getting the excitement going. Um. Yep. And you know what? She welcomes cuz I called I found heard about a a group I thought would be fun to have here and I called her and told her about it and who to contact and she welcomes
that kind of absolutely she loves it. She loves to hear about new things from um people who are participating. Yes. Um from January to March that's a 50% increase. And of course it's just amazing. We didn't capture every single person who walked in the door either. So
I'm sure it's just a smidge higher than that. But how are we going to train people to sign in too when they come into the new building? That's going to be a challenge to remind them. They got to go to that little computer or whatever is check the door. I'm sure for at least first year we're going to be
right walking around with our paper list still just making sure. Um that's all right. It'll come. Yeah, it it's it's going to be a learning curve. Um, I was going to ask my senior center who does the kiosk and the sign in to actually be there on the ribbon cutting day um to
help people sign up for their key tags. The owner of that company actually lives in Actton and he's a local friend. Um, look at that. Everything went up. Every single thing. Uh, yeah. Increased for this fiscal year. Our highest under 60
outreach. Um, unreal. highest unduplicated number for under 60 outreach over 60 or well second highest but yeah it it's busy my craft class I've got at least three people that the last two times have come that had never
come before. Mhm. Yeah. And one lady said she just moved in and um just wanted to be there. I mean it we're gaining people. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I I it's going to be hard to run a 20 limit Mhm. class, but
we a lot of our programs filled up on April 1st. They did that one registration day. And I think we've actually we had so many people calling in and all staff were signing people up on the computer. I think we ended up with some glitches because we're all in
the same database at the same time. Might have might have maxed it out. Um but yeah, April 1st we filled up on a lot of things right away. Yeah, I was late. Yeah, because I was late.
Incredible though. It is incredible. My staff is incredible for handling this. This is just And the last program that Megan did last week on April 19th, that was the best of that type that
we've had. Wasn't she great? Which one? It hasn't happened yet. We had um it was Abigail, but I don't remember. It was fantastic. And I did tell her good yesterday. I said that was the best one I've seen yet. We did. Even the exercise
classes before I came here. I was at chair yoga and we literally don't think we could have put another chair in there today. We had, you know, people just keep coming and coming. No, we are um
So, our Taichi class has reached critical mass. So, we're dividing it into beginner and advanced, one at 9:00 a.m., one at 10:00 a.m. to try to alleviate the space in the room. So, we haven't set a start date for that. We're
still talking about it. Same with chair yoga. Looking into setting up a second um either a second chair yoga class or another type of yoga just to add to our uh repertoire of things that we're offering. But it's amazing. It is
amazing. Exciting. Just amazing. Yeah. And we all love it. That's good. Keep you busy. Keep you out of trouble. Yeah. That's it. Um our ribbon cutting ceremony. We all know by now it's the 16th at
1. May 16th at 1. Just put in the order for the tent in the parking lot and chairs. gonna have a company do that for us so we're not out there scrambling and running around I'm trying to do that um podium I have the extra-l large scissors
in my office ready to go to make sure they're sharpened um but it it will be a very busy day and we have a couple different things planned between having little showcases throughout the rooms and
having a COA ambassador in each room to explain what's going on or what are the features of this room. So, I would like if anyone if everyone who is attending would like to be a COA ambassador of the building on that date to send me an
email CC Amy on it. Um, I'll assign you a room kind of based on what I know your interests are. Um, give you a list of bullet points about that room that I want you to point out to people as they come in. So, say
March, you would be right there in the entryway greeting people saying this way is multi-purpose room. This is um the reception area. Mary and Peachy, you could be upstairs in program room two and you would have your bullet points. I'll be in the gym. You'll be in the
gym. Everyone's just going to watch you sweating it out. That room with all that equipment. Yeah. We want to see you in your tights. Yeah, I'm actually so for the gym I'm going to see if the um the fitness equipment
vendor will be there and if he cannot um Carol Wing was Oh yeah, that would be his offer to help. She'd be great in Carol for the kitchen. Gail Dalton from Meals on Wheels will be there with her supervisor from Minute Man describing Meals on Wheels, benefits of the
program, and um all the features of our new kitchen. So, I'd like to have somebody assigned to each room. Um, I would love to do that. Yeah, I think staff are going to be kind of like running around troubleshooting things and if I could rely on the board to have spots. Um, and I spoke. Sign us up.
Thank you. Yeah, you can sign me up now. Okay. Um, the room you want me in. I will put you on the list. Yeah. And catch Joe. Yes, I'll make sure Joe has a room as well. Yeah. Um, I've asked Andy and Charlie from the friends to stand by the
tree with some extra donation forms and kind of explain how the tree came to be. If you want your name on, here's the donation form. Yeah, they talked about that at their meeting that they thought that that was a good idea. Good. Yeah. Good. Good. Um, yeah, I'd love to have everyone involved.
Um, and we'll showcase the building. Yeah, it's going to be How Who's going to be there for all the big wigs and um politicians? Senator Eldridge. Yep. Representative Riiero. um the CEO of Commodore Builders, um CEO Vertex,
um Marge Pays, the uh the chairman of the COA board will be giving a speech, I'm sure. Well, the fun thing about me, as I get older, I talk more. I used to be quiet and shy, but I'm not so quiet and shy
anymore. Great. Came out of your show, Mark. Oh, hey. Hey, time is footing by. to catch everything. Okay. So, is everybody in this room going to be there and doesn't mind? All right, then. All right, sign me in. I'm just gonna go
ahead. I wasn't sure if everyone was going to be here on that date or if anyone was traveling. I'm planning to be there. I would miss. We have a planning meeting with staff um just a logistical planning meeting this week. So, we'll start. You guys, you've
done a great job. We have question. Yes. When we if if we clean out our closets and the stuff is waiting to be moved. Oh, Anita, where can we put it? Nowhere yet. Leave it in the closets. You talking about your craft closet?
Yeah, we'll clean it out this week. And we need a place to just keep it in there. I I think I have plenty to I'm just passing around something that's the last on my list for today. Um, oh yeah, I don't know if I want to
see this. So, what's going on around right now? So, moving on from urban cutting. Um, the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, formerly known as EOEA, Elder Affairs, um, sent out some
information and fact sheets to all COA directors about federal funding cuts and how that's going to be impacting us potentially. Um, so far COAs are okay. Uh there hasn't been any discussion about reducing our formula grant
funding. Uh we're still waiting on the second half of our formula grant funding, but they said we should receive that in May. That's about $17,000 for us. It if we didn't get it, we would still be able to function.
We'd be okay. But we do rely on formula grant funding every year to pay for all of our fitness instructors. Um we do have a little bit of a reserve in case we don't. So, we're going to be okay if it ever did lessen, but they're actually
advocating for more formula grant funding. So, but where the actual impacts are hitting hard is the state home care programs. Um, and that's what Minute Man Senior Services uh provides to our community. So, unfortunately, um,
beginning on March 1st, one of the programs that they offer, it's called the Enhanced Community Options Program. um got frozen with a weight list and the instruction to cut back 20%. So those folks receiving services are nursing
home eligible living in the community, not eligible for Mass Health. Um Oh. So for example, someone living on like a teacher's pension who's just over the monthly income for Mass Health and has
some assets saved in the bank could be like, you know, 15,000 emergency fund. they would not qualify. Um but they would qualify for enhanced community care options program. Um so that is unfortunately frozen at the moment with reductions happening. This fact sheet
that um aging and independent sent around kind of outlines other things that would be potentially impacted if more federal cuts come through. Um meals on wheels is a big one. nursing home and budsman
program, money management program, um protective services, our shine counselor training and leadership a lot of things unfortunately. Is that all state or federal funds? Uh so these are federal
cuts. Yeah. Um kind of state run but receive federal funds. Okay. So, I just wanted you to have the impact sheet from Elder Affairs. Um, and the second handout is just the benefits of Meals on Wheels
because we know how important that is to our community. We serve over 7,000 out of our kitchen every year. Um, pretty high. Yeah, it's more than just a meal. It's a check-in. It's socialization. It's so important. Um, but I know the
governor has um put in 60 million for the supplemental budget to keep Meals on Wheels running and fingers crossed everything will be fine. But there is a meeting tomorrow uh with the executive director from Minute Man Senior Services
with our legislators. Um she's she put together a town hall meeting with the stakeholders um to give some more updates. So, I don't know if she has additional information or what will happen, but I will keep you all informed of what comes from that meeting,
it's a funding impact update. Any questions about that? It's kind of a lot of information, but kind of everything is at risk. Well, it is true and that that contributes to everything. People are on edge. I mean, and there's no question.
One of the comments I have from them is that 20,000 employees were reduced at health and human services with delays in funding. That was something I got from the uh minute man board meeting. They also said that sha shine is federally
funded and Medicare eligible and that still is okay, but they're not sure for how long. And they talked about meals on wheels. Yeah. and how much it costs them and what people are paying. And that that could also be a major problem because
they said it costs $12 per meal to prepare the meal and the donation is $2 and they don't for many reasons they don't receive the $2 from many many people. No, really. It's a suggested
donation. Donation. Yeah. It's It's considered a donation rather than anything else. It's not a a charge. Well, some people couldn't afford it, right? Right. Couldn't I mean, you figure that could be $10 a week and maybe they don't have that $10 a week.
Hey, if we get that 265 people in this town that have an income of Think about that, that's pretty and that's not that's really pretty low. Oh, yeah. to get along. I just I can't imagine trying to
live on that. Yeah. I just can't. So, you can see why, you know, there are people that can't afford that $2. And people don't realize that there's that many people in this town because the town looks so affluent. Really try to go to the market basket. Oh, yeah. Or
wherever you choose to shop. Yeah. Yeah. So, my last comment on this, um, we had a staff meeting this morning and we were talking about, um, how the COAs are secure at this moment, but we were there was a lot of traffic on 495 last week and we all had to drive home back roads
um to get to our various towns and just the amount of signs in people's yards like save the senior center, save the library, save the parks and wreck. Uh, it's really hard out there for a lot of towns. um having to cut cut
back COAs, senior services. And I think we're really fortunate in this town that I think the town knows the value of our department and knows that we're an essential service and not just COA. You service the whole town. True. And it
that makes a big difference. I think I think Well, I noticed there was an increase. Is that No, they're not up. But there was an increase in the under Yeah. Under 60. to 60 population they reached out to you people. Yeah. I don't think every town
values or appreciates. No, they're No, they don't. As much as this one does. No, I mean we are so fortunate in this town to have you. Yes. Okay, that's all for me. That's a lot. That is a lot. It's always exciting and
good except we I mean I'm not surprised. I guess we have to, you know, because of everything that's going on and it is scary. I don't even like to listen to the news, you know, it's like wiz besides the ribbon comes day. Do you
need help with anything else before the 16th moving stuff that day when you're moving things? You don't want help at the moment? No, we're all set. We're all good. Oh, good. Really? where we are if you need something. Yes, you have all of our phone numbers, don't you? I have
your phone numbers. I see most of you. Okay. Weekly. Weekly, daily, whatever. Yes. Yeah. Absolutely. Honestly, Amy and I last week were going through the room seeing what's going. There's nothing really. No big things are coming over. Most of it is our files and a lot of it
is program supplies. Um yeah because and I don't want anyone everything new I mean you don't have desks and you everything is new that's going I would imagine even computers must be all of that everything is
yeah which we can't wait for because we have the oldest um computers in the building children's room does oh it does they keep putting us off as oh you're going to get some new ones when you move that all good And the word is out that
it is an, you know, quite lovely building and high-end building was the word for it. Yeah, that's I think the word is out. That's why people all that. Yes. Oh, Brian Fors thinks the building is absolutely phenomenal.
He mentioned it the other night. Oh, he thinks the building's phenomenal. Yeah. Yeah. Gary Wilson, the one of the select board members, walked through with Amy and I last week. Um, kind of an impromptu walkthrough and he was quite impressed. George loves it. George says it's the
best building in town. He does all every time you see him, he says, "It's the best building in town." He loves it. Yeah. Well, I I I you know had services of the um the nurse that now does toenails, you
know, for care nurse. Yeah. What's her first name? Christine. Christine. She's lovely. So nice. I'm telling you, I I must say to every anybody, it is a wonderful thing. I came out I spent an half an hour with her. Yeah. I used to pay a podiatrist and you go in and
you're in and out in 10 minutes, you know, and they nothing. Yeah. Zip zip. Oh my goodness. It was just so wonderful. Not only cutting your nails and trimming them and all of that, but she washes them your foot and massages it and puts lotion on. It's just so
wonderful. Really treat yourself. I'm telling you, this is something better and better. Oh my gosh. And she's so nice. I'll second that. I've known her for a long time. Oh my gosh. She even participates in activities here. She was
telling me that today. She's wonderful. So, we're lucky to have her. Yes. But for anybody out there, you know, and people just don't I was shocked at Mon Wednesday night's presentation when people said, you know, oh, there's nothing in the
broadcast. Oh, boy. That got to me. I saw your faces. Oh, oh, did I speak up quickly? Oh, I did. I could I could not resist. I spoke up. We all looked at but I had to
I had to Sue and say weapons and take it off the mailings. So I talked to Sue I said for three months and someone else was longer than that. So if I said I got it early enough that I got it at the congregational church. What the what?
The broadcaster. Yeah. Cuz some people got dropped off the list so they didn't know. Yeah. If it wasn't for the Liz's note that says it's there. and I hate reading it. Oh, so and that brings me to the town's newsletter. Oh, it's after 4
already, but the that town's newsletter, please. It there's good information. Yes, a lot of information. So, and I hope everyone people that are watching know that um you know, you can access that on the town website and it's
it's like pretty long too if you yourself. Yeah, there are some copies. They do some hand printable. Yeah. Sound copies. You should let Amy talk. She's going to have to leave. She's got Oh, I got I got report. I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to get you up here fast and I just looked at the clock so I should have known then. Wow. You got Oh my I apologize. That's okay. It's all right. No, it's not okay. Good. Anyway, um so I just wanted to um just let a few folks know or we'll let everybody know
that on April 30 apply for fuel assistance for the 20 24 season. So um April 30th if you need help with applying you need to contact Alicia and myself to come in and we'll help you through that process. But April 30th is that the last day. Um the other thing I
want to mention is that the small grant program is still going on. We are actively accepting applications for that. We've had three go through the process and be approved by the Affordable Housing Trust. So, if um you are interested in in looking into that program, please contact me directly and
I'm happy to walk you through the steps and talk to you about the eligibility criteria. Um, again, this is a program that is um meant to help folks with um critical home repair or adaptations to maintain safe living in their
um in in assistance towards those types of um projects. So, contact me directly and I'm happy to walk you through the process and explore eligibility. Um the other thing that I wanted to um bring up uh in the same email when Liz got the
information about some of the other federal funding cuts, there was an um announcement about the SNAP being or SNAP benefits or your EBT card um being that that the the vendors changing and that
the the card may not work on um April 26th beginning at 11 p.m. So, don't freak out if you use it on that day and it doesn't work because it's just cuz they're in the process of switching vendors. So, you want to go the day
before or you want to wait until later in the day on the 27th, which is when um the benefits will be reactivated with the other provider through that EBT card. So, just wanted to no cause for alarms. Um it will be back up and
running shortly after. Okay, those are my my big ones. That's great. Thank you, Amy. Thank you, Amy. I feel so bad again. I'm so sorry. No, it isn't really. But anyway, I know, but I move that we accept the directors
and the assistant director's reports as read. Thank you. Any second? Mary seconded. Any second, Mary? Thank you. You're welcome.
Okay. Any other questions for any discussion? No. Thank you, Amy. Yes, Amy. Poor Amy. All those in favor? Accepting both reports. Okay. I think that was unanimous, but just in case anybody
opposing or abstaining and I was a yes, too. So, that was a unanimous vote. Thank you. So, all right. Any other board member updates? You've given some from your I did from Yes, you have. I
noticed. Do you have any from for affordable housing? Um very excuse me very briefly. Yes. Um Oh, I had notes somewhere. But anyway,
um Amy mentioned the uh small grant program and that there's been three approved. Um, also the um, affordable housing trust has signed now has a signed agreement with Habitat for
Humanity for the property at 87 to Hadawan and that will be a duplex unit that one a duplex building. One unit is a family unit and the other unit is a uh
will be for a senior and it will be um universal design and all of that. Um so that has gotten to the starting page. Thank heavens. Then the other major project for affordable housing trust is
the Derky farmhouse and property and we have had a consultant from u mass housing partnership work with the trust to develop an RFP. We've had uh three
meetings I believe with her and the project is extremely confusing. There's right now at least four different options available and we're do we need to do some more study on it to decide
what's going to be done. I won't run through all the options because we haven't chosen one. And I guess that's about it. Well, that was quick. I tried it. And I have something that just popped into my head
um because I was thinking about today and for some reason I missed it myself and I'm going to ask the board to reconsider the March 10th minutes because we did not put Jim Dugen down as being our guest and I think it should be in the minutes from that meeting. What
was that? I'm sorry. The March 10th minutes. I just thought to look and I I I missed it myself until now. We did not know note that Jim Dund Douglas was present at that meeting and Marin was here too actually that day. So both of
them should be listed as guests for our meeting that day. And um so I we have another change and I'm going to ask you to um accept that and vote for that making that change and make sure that we get Marin in the minutes for today.
Marin for the day. Yes. Yes. That's good. Yeah. I don't know how we all missed it. So you make that motion and Yeah. And I missed it because when I followed the agenda, right? There's no Yeah. Guess we should have maybe stick this thing in there. Guess I can stick
that back. All right. We have a motion on the floor to accept the March 10th a motion from Anita and seconded by Marilyn to um modify the March 10th minutes to add Tim Dougen and Marin's
guests. Yes. Um every all those in favor I I opposed extensions just in case. Okay. All right, that's done. Thank you. I I'm sorry that I missed it, too, cuz I I read the minutes before I send them out
to you, but and I read them at home. Well, that's we all did. Yeah, we just weren't thinking. Okay. So much going on. All right. So, we've covered everything, I think. Any other updates from board
members? And um I think I just wanted to echo your comments about Megan and make sure she she's has not been here what, three months, four months now? Not long. She start I don't know October I think. Oh, was it October? But
she's done a great job. Late in October. She's super. Yeah, she has so much energy. Yeah. So, let her know. We appreciate her. Yes. Okay. Um, and we know we're going to get
called upon for new tasks to help as things come up whenever you need us. Even if it's just one or two of us or whatever, um, help out. And I'm sure there are other seniors that would like to volunteer to be helpful that day. Yes. Yes. So, if you have anything, you
know, put it out there for people. Okay. Any other business? Anybody? I can't wait till the 16th. You can't wait till the 16th. I haven't I know because even when I was first moving to
Littleton, this was in 98. It's been an issue. The broker was telling me how they wanted a senior center and that there was going to be something coming up that fall at town meeting which of course what year was
that? 98. 98. So you know so think about 30 years that's 27 years that I know of. Well, that's why I I am so passionate about the um affordable deeply affordable housing because that's it's been a long time since you mastered that
study and identified that need, you know. So, anyway, we're getting there, folks. You know it. We know it. We know it and it is exciting and that senior center is a huge huge step and it's so beautiful and so well done too. And
George says, and I kind of grown, that the next best one is going to be Indian Hill. Oh, that's what George says. Yeah. That'll be Reckon Park in the school school department.
When are they going to move? Do you know school? Do you know? Well, they're not sure exactly. the school um the school can move over the summer. Hack and wreck that is their busy season
there. So they're they're trying to work on their program for the summer. They both can get moved so that you know the moving. They're not doing anything with the Easter eggs or this year. Are they doing a breakfast? I don't I Well, it started out there was some talk about
the library was going to do one. Yeah, the library is going to have a bunny. So that's why they Yeah. Tim told me when I called I said, "How come I'm not doing eggs?" And he said, "Because the library is doing a bunny, we can't have two bunnies." So he said, "We're not doing a
bunny." Yeah. But he didn't have any information about whether there was a breakfast with a bunny anywhere. No. Last year with the park and wreck, there's been no mention of it. They're not doing one. No. But there's that big
celebration at Fay Park that day. Ahu. Yeah. So maybe they're all going over. I don't know. What's the celebration at Fay Park? For the um 250th anniversary. Yeah. A trientennial. Oh, that's right. That's this weekend.
Yeah. Saturday. Yeah. All right. Is that okie do? Yep. Everybody set? Yes. Yeah. I'm good. I will. that we we adjourn at 4:22 p.m. That's what it looks like from
here to 417. H 417. Oh, I was looking at that one. Okay, I'll second. Take your pick. We have a motion on the floor. Made by Marilyn and seconded by Anita to adjourn the meeting at this
moment. All those in favor? I I I think that's unanimous. Anybody opposed to that? Abstaining? No. Okay, good. We're good to go. Thank you.