All right, good evening everybody. Um, in accordance with the open meeting law regulations 940 CMR 29.10, uh, all of us are attending this meeting remotely. In addition, because we are
uh, attending remotely, all of our votes taken at this meeting will be by roll call vote. And if any select board members are not clearly audible to any of our members or to any members of the public, please let me know. and um we will do what we can to remedy the
problem and we will inform the public as to the process for the continuence of the meeting. I'm going to forego the pledge of allegiance just because it would be kind of awkward in this uh environment and um we'll move on to
public comments for this meeting. Um board would like to hear public comments and if there's any further action that's required by us, we'll add the matter as appropriate to a forthcoming agenda. And depending on the comment, we may, if we're able, within the confines of the
open meeting law, respond with information as opposed to needing to deliberate on the matter. So, uh I don't know if there would be any public comments here this evening, but if there are, now is your opportunity to speak. I don't see anybody raising their hand.
So we will move on to the consent agenda. There are two items actually. Yeah, there are two items on our consent consent agenda. Actually three now three items on our consent agenda. Uh waiver of a common Vic license requirement for
carrying and vict uh video signals which we have done all of these we've done in the past which is why it's on consent um at 16 Nason Street. Then all of our presumably all of our common Vic, entertainment, automatic amusement, used
auto dealer, carry an alcohol, rooming house, marijuana, billyards licenses, renewals for 2026, and then finally a cemetery deed number 2133. Are there any questions on the matters on the consent agenda? Otherwise, we
will take a motion. Move to approve consent agenda items A through C as presented contingent upon completion of all necessary requirements and adherence to all federal, state, and local public health and safety guidance authorizing use of digital signatures if
approved. >> Second. >> Motion's made and seconded. Any further comments? Hearing none, all in favor by roll call. Chris, >> yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> I am a yes as well. And just for public
u purposes so that it is noted, Jeff is unable to attend this evening's meeting and he had made that clear to us prior to tonight. Um the next item on the agenda was added earlier today uh somewhat similar to be to the early part
of November as an emergency item at the request of open table due to continued issues with um the needs of those who are uh limited in their ability to provide them them themselves and family
with food. Um, so I know there's a representative from Open Table here. Uh, perhaps Alex, if you want to just give us a brief summary of what the new change is that you would like for us to consider this evening going forward,
presumably for at least for the month of December. >> Absolutely. Can everyone hear me? Okay. >> Yep, I can. >> Okay, great. Um, thank you first of all for including this agenda item at such a late notice. I apologize. I hadn't seen that there was a meeting tonight and so
I didn't realize how uh rapidly it would have to be added. So I really appreciate that. Um and yes, I'm happy to be here and to just kind of tell you what's going on briefly so that everyone's on the same page. Um last month you all
approved a short-term um operations plan for our organization that was really in response to a very acute moment when the SNAP benefits were frozen for um for individuals. And that proved to be incredibly
helpful and you know hopefully uh successful from your eyes from the standpoint of us being able to move what became record numbers of clients uh through our drive-thru um operation on Tuesdays and Thursdays. And just to give
you a sense of kind of what that looked like that first week in November after the snap freeze, we usually get between Tuesday and Thursday between 320 330 cars coming through. That first week in November on those two days we totaled
473. So to say it was an increase would would be uh you know would not would not be sufficient. It was huge. And I think the biggest benefit that we saw from the um amended hours was that we were able to
move folks through within those allocated times. So our usual hours are Tuesdays 1:30 to 6:30 and Thursdays 11:30 to 4:30. And what we did for the month of November was we asked for two extended uh time blocks so that on both
days the hours were 11:30 to 6:30. We have seen some settling down since those benefits have been restored and people are starting to see the funds back on their cards. Um at the same time we also are seeing just an elevated volume of people generally and we do expect that
that will last through the end of the calendar year. This is always a very busy time of year for us and um our clients whether you know existing or new folks are just kind of pushing a lot of directions around the holidays because um you know their finances are generally really really stretched this time of
year. So my request tonight is to keep the additional 2hour time block on one of those days. So what we're finding is that people I think especially with it getting dark out so early etc etc are are preferring to come on the earlier
side and so we're requesting that on Tuesday we maintain that 11:30 opening. So it's the 11:30 to 1:30 that we're requesting as the special additional hours. We're not requesting uh those additional
hours on Thursday. We're going to go back to our usual uh time of of 11:30 to 4:30. we seem we feel confident that we can get folks through in that time period and we're not going to run over that 4:30 mark. Um so it's really the
Tuesday that we would we would request to to maintain these hours and it's just so that we can really make sure that our traffic management in that back parking lot is is smooth. Um, we've talked to neighboring businesses and
organizations. Um, and you know, certainly happy. We always have tons of volunteers helping to maneuver cars in and out if needed. Um, it's obviously a challenging situation, but we're just trying to make sure that we can get folks through and get food to
folks in a way that is least disruptive to um to downtown and to to our neighbors and businesses. And we've also added a lot of delivery routes. So, one of the things we have been doing is try to offset the number of cars coming to
our site by adding delivery routes. Um, in some of the local towns, we added a nice route in Mayard that's serving an an additional 20 clients. So, I think that's better for them in many ways. They don't have to come out to us and it's better for us because we take 20 vehicles out of the line, right? So,
we're trying wherever possible to do that where it works for folks. Um, and where we have transportation volunteers who can help with it. Um, but the request is to maintain those extended hours on Tuesday just to try to make sure everything can continue to to flow well.
>> Right. Any questions from members of the board on the proposal? And if there are none, then we can entertain a motion. >> Actually, Mr. Mr. chair, if you will. I I >> in reading this now, and I apologize for not having this straight in my mind ahead of time. And Alex, could you clarify?
>> You're you're asking for um these hours to support operations. Is that I made a couple assumptions as I wrote the recommended action for the board. One assumption was you want it on Main Street, but am I do you actually want it both on Main Street and for the central parking? >> Yeah, it's the back parking lot where
people queue up. >> Oh, so >> that's also critical. >> Okay. So, oh, so, so specifically, are you looking for the board's permission? Just to be clarified, >> both main street and the central parking or just the central park? >> Both. So, that because our drive-through
route in it starts in the back, but it ultimately winds around to the front. So, both of those areas are necessary for the route to flow. >> Okay, that's that was my first question for clarification. Thank you. So, Mr. Chair, if you'd allowed that revision. >> Yes, we can we can amend that with a proposed motion to include what what is
it called? the summer street uh parking >> Naylor Court. You just call it Naylor Court. >> Okay. As long as that is considered part of Naylor Court. There was some confusion the last time that you know the basin and Naylor Court and whatever. >> That's true. You could say off of Summer Street. That's true.
>> So the Summer Street parking area is what was asked the last time by members of the business community specifically. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, the second question I have for clarification is I didn't know how long you needed this for. I think I just heard you say
December, but I I I wrote December and January. What What would you What would you like the board to consider? Just December or December and January? >> You know, I would like to say it's just December. It's so hard to predict what's going to happen right now. Um, and I
guess that's where I would ask the the board to um weigh in on how you'd like to handle this situation. Would you certainly as soon as we can appropriately kind of recondense into our usual hours, we will
um a question of how you handle it. >> What I would suggest, Alex, is that um just to be safe so that you're not back here >> at the first meeting in January with a rush request >> um that we we approve it through January.
>> Okay. And then if there's no need, it's not a violation to pull back the hours. >> Okay? >> And you can do that. You just have to let your your um you know, your clients know what's going on at the time, >> of course. >> And then if you need to extend it, then
you have, you know, if it has to be extended unfortunately through February, we can we can do that >> um just with a meeting in January. Does that make sense? >> That sounds great to me. if if that's >> all right. So, we'll make it inclusive
of the Summer Street parking lot and inclusive of uh January as the motion is proposed as it as it's written. Now, >> just for the >> I'm sorry, just just for the record, have we had any reports of um anybody
inconvenienced by what has been happening? >> Not that I know of. Yeah, I hadn't heard any and I I've been present quite a few afternoons there and and there doesn't seem to be any problem there. So,
>> yeah, I think I would hear uh from some members of the business community if there was some concern. >> Yep. >> And I have not heard any good. So I will look we have a granddaughter.
I will move to approve the use of Main Street in vicinity of 33 Main Street and the parking lot off of Summer Street, otherwise known as Naylor Court in the Basin to support Open Table's operations in the months of December 2025 and
January 2026 from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays, contingent upon adherence to all public health and safety guidelines. >> Second. All right. Any further questions or
comments? Hearing none, we'll vote. Roll call. Chris, >> yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> And I am a yes as well. >> Thank you, Alex. >> Thank you very much. Have a great night. >> Continued. Good luck.
>> All right, we have a couple of appointments to make this evening. I see that Lori is here online with us. Uh, at least I thought I saw her earlier. I'm here. >> Oh, okay. Hi. How are you? >> I'm well. How are you?
>> Good, thank you. Welcome. It's my understanding that you are looking to be appointed as an alternate member of the zoning board of appeals. >> That's correct. >> Why don't you give us a little bit about why you are interested and then the board can ask some questions. We do have
some understanding of your background. So, um give us a little background as to why you're interested and uh we'll move on. >> Okay. Yeah. Great. So, my wife and family and I uh recently moved here in June from Belmont. Uh be >> welcome.
>> Thank you very much. We love you here so far. And um yeah, I just I get such a nice warm um vibe, if you will. Like, you know, from from the town and everyone we meet and when we tell people that we came to Maynard, everyone's like they rave about it. Um and so I just I'm
big on giving back and I want to do my part. You know, being part of a what seems to be a welcoming community, I want to give back to it and be a part of it. Um, while we were living in Belmont, I just was dipping my toe into getting involved. I was uh elected as a what do
they call them? A a town meeting member, excuse me. And um did that for a little while, but then we ended up moving out here. So, I just kind of want to do my part and help out wherever I can. I'm very new to town workings and the going on, so I will have questions and I'll
need to learn, but uh I am looking forward to being involved any way possible. Great. Any questions or comments from board members? >> Uh just just one quick comment. Um as somebody who has firsthand experience of being thrown in at the deep end, these
type of things. Um I I think it it's h it's not something to be too scared of. So you I think you'll be all right. >> Oh, thank you. >> Yeah. I just appreciate your enthusiasm to participate and uh to get involved. Yeah, thank you. And I I when I saw the
open position of an alternate, I thought that would be a nice easy way to kind of ease into it. We do have a young family. We have three-year-old twins. Um so, >> uh time time off and free time is kind of hit or miss, but uh I will do my best to help out any way possible.
>> Yeah. Thank you. >> Any other comments or questions? >> No. Just want to say thank you for volunteering. >> Absolutely. Yes. >> All right. We'll take a motion. >> Move to appoint Lori
Kahalain Petar. Did I say that correctly? >> That's close enough. >> Okay. >> To the zoning board of appeals as an alternate member with a term expiring June 30th, 2027, authorizing use of digital signatures if approved. >> Any further comments or questions? There
is a second. Uh hearing none, we'll vote. Chris, >> yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes. Mike, >> yes. >> Name a yes as well. Congratulations, Lori. Uh, you need to get sworn in as a member uh at the clerk's office. So,
anytime that you can have an opportunity and that will make you an official alternate member. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Good luck and keep in touch. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> All right. All right. The next appointment is for
Patrick Green on the housing authority. Is Patrick here with us this evening? There you are. Nice to see you, Patrick. Welcome. >> Thank you. Happy to be here. >> And you saw how the system works here. So, tell us a little bit about your interest in the housing authority. And
uh then if we have any questions, we can uh ask them. >> Yeah, sure. I uh I saw an ad, I think it was actually through Facebook that uh they were looking for someone to volunteer to be uh fill an empty slot on the housing authority. Um, and I happen
to have some relevant experience. I've been a landlord on a property up in Manchester, uh, for since what is it, 2017. Um, so however many years that is. And, um, I've been, so I've, you know, I've
dealt with evictions, unfortunately. Um, I've dealt with repairs and some of the just, uh, you know, financial balancing of, uh, you know, managing a property. So, I have some experience with that. Um, uh, it's also a relatively low income
area. So, you know, I've I've worked with people who are, you know, not necessarily, you know, who who are not in the best financial place. So, I have some experience with that as well. Um, and I've also been a member of the board of
trustees for the Apple Ridge Condominium uh, since 2019. Um, it was supposed to be a very nice, easy gig. Unfortunately, COVID hit the next year. So, um, so you know, in terms of, you know, being part of a board, um, you know, managing
things for a community, you know, a large community, um, repairs, contractors, all that kind of thing, I also have a good few years of experience with that. So, you know, given they were looking for a volunteer, and I I strongly believe that, you know, local government and administration is
undervalued and uh undervolunteered for. Um, yeah, I just put my name out there and uh I'd be happy to serve. >> Well, thank you. And we did get a notice from the uh members of the housing board
apparently voted to endorse your uh candidacy or request to be appointed. So, we've got got that as well. Any members of the board have any questions or comments? >> No, just thank you for volunteering.
Yeah, similarly as I said to Lori, just uh always appreciative of people who are willing to participate and get involved and so I wish you wish you all the best. Look forward to to seeing the progress. >> All right, take a motion.
>> Move to appoint Patrick Green to the housing authority with a term expiring June 30th, 2026, authorizing use of digital signatures if approved. Second. >> Any further comments or questions?
Hearing none, we'll vote. Roll call. Chris, >> yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> And I am a yes as well. Thank you. Congratulations. Same same comment as I made previous uh to Lori.
Make sure you get yourself sworn in at the clerk's office so that you become an official member. Thank you very painless operation. Uh item five on the agenda are contracts. We've got three of them this
evening. Uh the first one is uh the mayor dog park operations or May Dog contract renewal. I believe we have some representatives from Maidog with us this evening. Welcome. and um tell us a little bit about where things are at
with the May Dog Park and you know I think we're familiar enough with it that we don't have all that much that we need to talk about but u is there any changes in this contract that's being proposed going forward that from what we've seen before or anything we need to know
about? >> Um the only change um I'm Kelly Lavari I'm the treasurer. >> Hi Kelly. Um the only change we made was we added to the rules um a statement which was already in the contract saying no alcohol. We've had some incidents at
the park and it's just nice to be able to point to the list of rules. Um we shouldn't have to say this to anyone but apparently we do. Uh no no being drunk in the park. Um and so that's the only change. Nothing else has changed and um
you know it's still humming along. Um it seems pretty popular. people are still there and I people are very happy that um you know you allowed us to you know be open weather permitting in the winter uh because people have nowhere to take their dogs uh in the winter. So uh it's
it it remains popular um and u >> that's good to hear. I was on the board, Kelly, when this when the dog park first opened up and you know, we had some concerns and there had not been any issues related to the concerns that were expressed at the time,
>> namely was liability. We, you know, people weren't dog parks at that point weren't all that well known. As a matter of fact, the one in Mayard was one of a few in our general area and >> Yeah. And now they're popping up everywhere. I was just >> Yeah, they're they're popping up even ACT's copying this
>> ACT. Yep. And then there's one in Northboro just opened. I went there last weekend. Um it's probably three times as big as the Maynard Park, but you know, they there's a foundation that didn't exist when Maynard opened their park. So, they've been able to put in a lot of
fancy stuff that, you know, we we we can't do. Um we don't qualify. They they don't the foundation won't pay for renovations. So, unfortunately, um there's not much we can do about it. But, you know, they're dogs and they're happy to be there and as long as they're
at a fence, um, they all seem happy. Um, so yeah, nothing else has changed. >> Okay, great. Any questions from the board? >> If not, we can make a motion on this one. Move to authorize the town administrator
to approve the renewal of the license to enter and use town owned land for the purpose of a dog park by the Maynard Dog Owners Group, Inc. May Dog for a term of January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028.
>> Second. >> All right. Any further comments or questions? Hearing none, we'll vote. Chris, >> yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. I am a yes as well. >> Thank you. Good luck.
>> Thank you. >> Have a good evening. >> All right. The next item is for the FY26 MBTA Communities Catalyst Fund, uh, the Potmo Road and Pedestrian Plans and Designs. And I guess Bill and
Steve, are you here for that topic? >> Yes, Mr. Chair. >> Go right ahead. Take the road. the uh Steve, do you want to present or we didn't rehearse this one? >> Yeah, that's okay. >> All right. No, no, just my I'll preface
by saying the town has a very good planning department. Take it away, Bill. >> Oh, thanks. Um well, regarding the powder mill grant, we had a $558,000 uh grant awarded for uh final design plans along the Powdermill Road
corridor. Now, this is a bit of a challenge and that's why we asked for such a significant uh amount. Um, but in a nutshell, the goal is to inventory and survey what is available
for the town to work with. Um and then determine where we need uh private uh involvement to create a series of uh paths for either we're not sure if it would end up being a a separate uh
bicycle path or pedestrian path or perhaps a com combined utility path. But in the end uh we want to create a network that will allow for basically non-motorized
uh traffic to transverse our segment of uh Powdermill Road. Uh the last thing I'd say is that um Actton has already uh constructed uh or begin constructing complete streets improvements all the
way up to the new development uh across from Wendy's. which is known as uh the re Rivage or formerly pattern place. So it will be a nice uh complement to it and I think it will improve the quality of life for our pedestrians. But this is
the middle step. So uh this grant uh will um eventually yield a design uh that uh we can go right to construction which will be the next grant hopefully in two years. We'll be asking you to uh sign that. Um the reason for this
particular visit uh and for the uh next grant you're talking about is because uh when arranging the grant contracts um there's a designation for uh uh a CEO
signature. Now typically that is the board of selectmen. However, there are a number of um documents will be going back and forth, and I don't want to speak for the town administrator, but I think it would be
helpful if the town administrator were able to execute on the board's behalf, but I won't overstep and I would leave it at that. And I'll be happy to answer any questions on the powder mill. And I can discuss the housing production grant as well if >> Yeah. Why don't Bill to make life easier
for us and be more efficient, why don't you go right in along with Steve, whoever whoever is prepared to speak on that topic. Uh go right in and give us a summary of the community's catalyst fund for the housing production plan and then we can uh take up each vote separately.
>> In 2016, uh we were awarded our first grant to create a housing production plan. It was the first one the town had. The purpose of the housing production plan is to first conduct a needs assessment. In other words, what does a community actually need and what are we
trying to create? uh in the 2016 plan. Um the the first uh interesting tidbit that we we worked with was that um we were losing the demographics uh group the cohort in between I think it was age
24 to 36 or something like that. Basically uh young starters uh working age. Um, interestingly enough, we we increased our mixeduse housing production. Uh, not
a whole heck of a lot, but a decent amount where downtown became a um a mixeduse residential hub for the town. Uh, and the we conducted um an update which
is required uh by law every 5 years of our 2016 plan in 2021. And that showed us that that cohort had returned and uh seniors were the the the um the area of concern uh as identified by the
demographics. So uh we have tried with um a a couple of strategies um to implement the findings of each of the housing production uh the plan and the updates. Uh but now uh as we have um
some unprecedented postcoid circumstances, we have costs etc. uh water situations, everything. Um our new 5-year update is desperately needed I would say. So luckily we were awarded uh
a grant um to conduct that and we will put that as well out for bid um for consultants and select the most competitive but also the most competent um consultants to assist us with the effort. Um, I think the the housing
production plan in my opinion is um it it it's adopted by reference in the master plan, but it's a critically important document. I think all of you uh because you've had to adopt it each time we update it. I think you're all familiar with it, but it is uh helped
the town immensely in my opinion. So, uh again that the documents and the uh contracts and and um and the associated paperwork, it's the same request. Um and again, I'll go to the uh town administrator, but um I would um
appreciate anything we can do to um expedite all the paperwork and and make it efficient as we go along. Often there's changes have to be made in the middle of it. There's uh reassignments of funds. there are uh sometimes there's
uh new um uh additions to the scope or subtractions to scope that sort of thing. So with that I'll answer any questions and I'll try not to take them any more time. >> Any questions from the board? >> Yeah, I I have a question for um Bill or Steve or maybe there's no one that can
answer the question tonight. the um nonmotorized path that you discussed. When you say non-motorized, does that include electric bikes and electric scooters as are they considered motorized or non-motorized?
>> That's a good question. I don't think that's defined by statute. It may be, but I'm not familiar with that. I think the reason I brought it up was because typically they're an 8 foot wide path and um in areas where there may be an
opportunity to gain additional rightway or areas to build on, it might be a desirable um link, but um that would be something that has not been formally worked out and that would probably be uh um
something that we would eventually adopt or draft. draft a policy and have to adopt by um zoning bylaw and town meeting. But I >> I do believe that electric bikes and electric scooters are defined by state law um in a in a manner that essentially
makes them the equivalent of motor vehicles. Um there's been some concern expressed by some residents lately about those and you know in my industry of uh the auto insurance world. It's significant problem.
>> They're very very dangerous pieces of equipment and people are very seriously injured frequently and you've got kids that are underage. They're not supposed to be underage riding those things. They're supposed to be of of age. They're supposed to have helmets. um supposed to follow the rules of the
road. Um people blow through stop signs, red lights thinking that they have the right away and everything else. It's a very very serious issue that needs to be more regulated by the Commonwealth. But um I think we have the authority within our town to further regulate where,
when, and how those things are ridden. Uh it's something that should be in my opinion addressed. But I do believe there are specific definitions of electric bike and scooter and how they are defined and utilized within the
statutes the MGL as they stand today >> and and I apologize I should have had that answer but um >> that's but the but the the essence of it is that after uh at this point for the design phase it's something that we
would um if that you know was something that would have to be clarified we would take it through the process and everything. If it's already by statute, then it would be uh something that I would think if there are objections or support for it, I'm anticipating a focus
or community groups uh and outreach as part of this effort and I think that would be identified and addressed at that point for sure. But that's a great question, Chris. >> I if I didn't know better, I would suggest I teed that one up for David, but I I didn't. But that's those are the
those are the concerns. The other concern is um a growing concern. I read an article about it this morning. Um the the disposal and um care of the um batteries once
they've um expired, once they've outlived their usefulness, what what are people doing with the batteries and where they ending up? And that's a huge problem. Uh but that's a whole different conversation. But I just along the um along Route 62 all the way
from here to um Burlington and Bedford and beyond there's there's a series of paths that people can use and they're uh I've seen that those communities are um eliminating the use of electric bikes
and scooters on their paths for the same reasons that David just mentioned. >> I would think so. I think that'd be a good policy, but I don't know that we have a formal one at this point. If it may be >> like David said that >> I I know we have no policy. I was just curious if if the um if the state will
will be um tying some sort of policy to the dollars and the grants that they um you know they award us in the future. >> We'll see. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Any further comments or questions from the board on either one
of these uh items? Either >> I I have a question if I may. >> Go ahead, please, Mike. >> So, I am massively in favor of anything that encourages um uh pedestrian use in in a town, especially one such as ours. Um what I'm curious about in the long
run, let's say, uh this kind of plan goes forwards and we have this extra um pathway. presumably that represents an additional cost to the town for taking care of maintenance and so forth and and
if so uh has that yet been included in and I I don't recall seeing it but in the uh you know what we saw two or three weeks ago with the capital planning um group you know just making sure that these kinds of ideas are indeed still
seen in the context of of uh our wider development Sure. No, that that's an excellent question, Mike. Uh, well, remember along Powder Mill Road for the most part, albeit in horrible condition in many places, there is are existing uh
pathways currently there. So, uh I would at the very start say that, you know, we would utilize what's in place already. of course. Um, as for um the actual
configuration of the plan and any challenges that we proposed, um, I think a lot of this is going to be segmented, meaning that we're going to have to make choices at one point where
when we get the final surveys and we see what's available, we may not have the roadway. I mean, we may only have three feet of rideway that we own in certain places. And in that I think the the wise move would be uh during the planning stage to say okay if there can be um a
private um development there how will we utilize that to expand the network from the 3 ft into something that's more desirable. And perhaps in cases like that where it becomes a private property issue, uh
that would be something where we would certainly try to as we have with main crossing uh try to ensure that development uh privately maintains that. But if it's on public rightway, uh at right now uh we do have sidewalk for a
majority of it. So it would be at the least what we have now. Uh that's not to say we couldn't uh we wouldn't want to do more or have more, but at the least that's where we're starting from. So that's the way I see it is sort of a public private
um taking advantage of any opportunities that come our way with private development but planning for the bare minimum which we were even talking about that with if we only had an area where we had let's say 3 ft of rideway to work with that's not
much of a bike and it's certainly not you know maybe a three-foot sidewalk or something that how could we make that safer how can we make it more of an amenity. And uh you know, we were looking at paint designs and things like this, but we're gonna have to be very
flexible with what ultimately is created, and we have to be flexible when we expand it um to make sure that we account for any sort of um increased expenses with maintenance. And I would think that utilizing private agreements,
we've put in we've put incentives in place with all of our um powder mill overlay districts where if somebody comes in, we make it worth their while to go ahead and do this. And as part of that, we would certainly try to get any maintenance we could, but nothing has
been inked to this day. If I could add just briefly, Mike, uh because this is technical assistance, this grant, we'll make sure to include uh perpetual maintenance as part of the cost estimates for construction and then going forward. So, we'll have some some numbers for uh that represent the
maintenance of any proposed bike paths uh included in the scope of work that whichever design uh whichever consultant takes on this uh project will uh will carry out. >> Lindsay, do you have any questions? I do not. I just want to thank um Bill
for securing this grant. Um I it's it's an extraordinary amount of money for our town. So, thank you for the hard work that you did to secure this for us. >> It was a team effort and everybody on MS is shares did every bit as much as I did.
>> Well, we're lucky to have all of you guys. >> I would echo those comments. I would also echo Mike's comments about, you know, seeking any opportunity to make the town more um accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists um although
not necessarily those on electric versions. But uh having said that, is your vision um more so a you know what I hear you describing is more of a bike lane versus a bike path? When I think of
a bike path and a pedestrian pathway, I'm thinking the rail trail, >> um, which is off, it's recreational in nature. What you've described, I think, is more of a bike lane, which is more to help people commute from one spot to
another in town, whether it be on foot or on bike. Um, I would really like to see if there's any way, now I realize you're talking about private land. Um, I think if we were to ever be able to be
in a position to create a recreational traditional bike path slashpedestrian path along the river, which is what we were talking about back when we first started talking about a grand vision for the um the powdermill,
you know, roadway. uh that would get huge not only um usage but I think would have huge support from the residents relative to the use of our natural resource of the river and also
opening up possibilities for commercial endeavors because people would then have reason to put things closer to the river because there's going to be people traveling closer to the river. So is this grant at all talking about bike
trails and bike and you know rail trail type paths or bike lanes. >> That's that's that you're right and it's a great question and and it goes I my opinion is that we have to start with
the minimum that we have that we know we have and to ascertain that we're going to need our survey. So let's assume that there's a segment or a segment of the the the uh corridor where there is no there's minimal right away and there is
no real access to the water or anything like that at this point. Well, we we we we have what we have. Let's do the best we can do with that. On the other hand, uh as you said, the the key to the
having the riverfront access or the riverfront um component is to have people be able to enjoy it and having uh access to it. now and and you know depending on there's a lot of different uh um uh
unknowns with private development but certainly any private development I could see uh trying to work to to incorporate some sort of circulation in that private development that allow that's going to be the key that's why we did these
overlay districts is being in a position where we can negotiate and and saying you know that hey here's a here's a project that potentially opens up a loop where that you could go along and
maybe walk or bike along the water. We want we don't we certainly would take it full advantage of that and and the the um the zoning regulations that we've we've incorporated particularly last batch uh address that. But it it would
be over promising to say that, you know, I'm that this plan is going to give us a way to to, you know, access all these private lands, but I would try to maintain a minimum
that we create with the design. Um and and safety being, you know, you mentioned commuting and and a lot of people have the reason um that I wanted to make sure we had at least a minimum area there that was
planned for was people have contacted my office about bicycling along at Powdermill Water and how extraordinarily unpleasant it is. And um so I'm thinking like a from a safety standpoint and and maybe there's
a way we can incorporate a level of separation that doesn't exist now uh from traffic but in a perfect uh private development which I don't see any reason why our segment won't be
developed privately and I can't understand why anybody wouldn't utilize the bonuses that have been offered. or the incentives that have been offered to development here. I could see uh opening up the riverfront uh where you
know assuming there's conservation you know approval and this sort of thing we can't just plop something in there but I would think that would be at the forefront and I agree with you entirely but I I wouldn't want to overpromise that it it's you know it can be a good business.
>> Okay. Thank you. Uh there's no other comments. We can have motions. Uh we'll do one at a time. First to the uh powder mill pedestrian and then secondly the housing production. >> Anyone want to make a motion or I I
could make the motion. move to authorize the town administrator to approve the contract for the MBTA communities catalyst fund for powdermill road pedestrian plans and designs with the executive office of housing and livable communities of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts in the amount of $558,500. >> Second. >> Any further comments or questions? Hearing none, we'll have a roll call. Chris, >> yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes. Mike and I am a yes as well. Mike, you said
yes. I didn't hear you because you were muted, but I saw your mouth go yes. >> There you go. >> Yeah. Okay. >> All right. Um, >> the next one is move to authorize the town administrator to sign the contract for the MBTA communities catalyst fund
for the housing production plan with the executive office of housing and livable communities of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the amount of $60,000. Second. >> Any further comments? Hearing none. Roll call. Chris, >> yes. >> Lindsay,
>> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> And I am a yes as well. Right. Good luck with those. Keep us informed. >> Thank you everybody. Appreciate it. >> All right. Item six is the Department of Public Works green screen communities
annual report. >> Mr. Sure. We're joined tonight by Rebecca. Oh, I'm going to try. Rebecca Anselah. Close enough. >> Yeah, close enough. An Solivare
>> and Salahare. >> Welcome, Rebecca. >> You again. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Um, I've got some slides, so I'm going to uh share my screen. Can everyone see that? Okay,
>> can y >> excellent. Um, so about a month ago, I submitted the um green community's annual report and wanted to take you all through some highlights of uh of what we
reported on. Um Oh, whoops. Okay, there we go. Sorry about that. So, um, we've been a green community for a long time. We've been in it since 2011. And um just as a reminder I I think many of you are familiar with
the program but um the goal is to bas is to reduce energy use and um and to do this uh uh municipalities adopt a framework um that's like a set of requirements that and policies that they
adopt and then um in return they will qualify for um education benefits um technical guidance and um most importantly funding opportunities for clean energy projects. I'll also add that um that my position was uh funded
because Maynard was a green community. Um so this is a little blurrier than I thought it would be, but um the green on this map is the um are all the designated green communities in in Massachusetts. So I just wanted to highlight that we're we're in good
company. most communities are um part of the program at this point. Um and then there are some uh a few yellow communities popping up and those are certified climate leader communities. So um in addition to all the work you do for green communities, if if you opt
into this program, you would adopt additional framework and uh that centered more around electrification. green communities is more centered around energy efficiency and then um you would qualify to receive additional grants. Um so this is something that uh
I'm looking into or we're looking into um and and evaluating whether it will make sense for for Maynard and and uh how it would affect our community if we opted into this program um to give you
um good advice on it. Uh so to maintain the green community st status we have to do this annual report to demonstrate that we continue to meet um the five criteria that's part of the program. So criteria one adopt as of right sighting
for renewable energy. Criteria two expedite permitting for clean energy projects. Uh criteria three develop an energy use baseline and reduction plan. uh four is uh only purchasing fuel efficient efficient uh vehicles and then
five is a drop adopting the stretch energy code. Um so there were no major changes to criteria one two or five. Um we still have uh as of right sighting for solar and expedited permitting. Um,
we did opt into the specialized stretch code last year which could help us uh qualify for a climate leader community designation um if we choose to to pursue that. Um, where I'd like to spend uh I'd like
to spend most of my time on criteria three uh which is establishing a baseline energy use and then enacting a plan to decrease our usage by 20% after 5 years. Um so as you can see uh in this
table we are we kind of we're kind of stuck around 11 and 12% reduction from 2011 when we joined the program. Um I believe you are you all received um or the report was sent around that we
submitted to green communities and it in that report it does look like we've reached the 20% but um there were some data issues this year. So, uh, Fowler Middle School had was, um, under build for for gas for I think all of fiscal
year 2025 and then we had incomplete vehicle uh, fuel data. Um, so I made some adjustments to get that uh, 2025 uh, number um, based on previous years.
>> Rebecca, do you know why they were underbuilt? Was it an error on the part of the energy company or was it an error on the part Yes. >> Yeah, it was an error on the part of the energy company. There was some sort of I I'm not sure exactly. I think they said it was like a meter calibration and it
wasn't a calibration issue. It was like a meter read issue. But um but yeah, if you I I pulled up like a graph and it's like they build like a third of what we usually use with no major changes. >> Separate discussion, but I hope they can absorb that into their uh contingency
budget. >> Mhm. So we've got the top 10 um energy consumers in Maynard, which I just wanted to draw your attention to. Um I think this graph is really powerful
because you can I've got it um divided by different fuels sources. So um the two main ones are the orange is electric and the uh gray is gas. Uh and and this is I think looking at it this way can
really help us see where we want to be focusing our efforts. Um the schools are our bi biggest energy user and use um much more gas proportionally than like the police station or the library. And
that tells me that um we're using a lot of heating in those buildings. Um >> can I ask you a quick question? Um when I was looking at this information before the meeting, I noticed that it was largely the schools. Is that typical for
municipal buildings that schools take a lot of energy or more? >> I believe so. I I think it's they're they're our largest building and they're they've got pretty heavy use. So that that is expected that they would take the most. I think um
you know they'll always be our biggest energy users but um but if we like any energy project we do there will have a bigger impact just because of the size of the buildings. Um but yeah I think that was expected that
they would be our top our top energy users. Um, where was Oh, yeah. So, Fowler has um has especially a big a big gas user and um I know it's it's been a big
discussion around town that that the roof is failing. Um and I would bet that that has a big um that that contributes to the high gas use at Fowler is that um there's probably more cold air getting in and um
it's like building codes require much more insulation now than they did 25 years ago. Um so like when we do replace the roof that will be a big opportunity um to have energy savings
and um as we've se as as I showed in the previous slide it um we need to get to 20% and we're we're kind of stalled at 10. Um, I think we'll need to look at um look at this from a couple different ways, but uh we'll want to look at our
operations and make sure, you know, we're operating what we have efficiently, but we'll also want to uh figure out how to do the larger energy projects. And a great way to do that is to identify um opportunities in the
capital plan and then uh figure out how to um how to close that gap between like the project that's business as usual and um and like the energy efficient option. So there's um there's a good amount of
grants around. So if we can can pair grants with capital planning, a lot of those grants are designed to to reduce that like reduce the incremental cost in in doing um a more ambitious project. So that's
one of my hopes is that uh we can we can make that happen. Um Rebecca, what what building is Great Road Rear HS? I'm thinking high school, but I don't know what the what Great Road Rear HS,
>> you know, I I'm not sure about that one. I'm still kind I'm still getting up to speed on our on our um our building stock. >> Okay, Greg. Do you know what that would refer to? >> Get back to you. >> Oh, I I noticed that right away, too. And I'm surprised I didn't catch this
earlier because I reviewed these slides and I now I feel bad for not asking this question. Sorry about that. No, no, it's on me. Um I don't know. I don't know. It's all >> Is that the the building like across from Boys and Girls Club? It's an
historic building. They just applied for a grant for it. It's >> Oh my god. I hope they're not that much energy in that building. >> It must little like rock building that's across >> Yeah. >> Hope that's not it. >> I don't know. Well, look. I don't know.
>> Yeah. these um I pulled these names directly out of like our um our energy platform. So that might be something to look at is is making sure these names are like representing these buildings. >> I could understand if it's the golf course,
>> but I doubt it. >> I'm not sure. >> Okay. Are there any other questions on this slide? Is it the lights at the high school? >> At the high school that that are driving up the the energy use
>> over the football field. >> Lights are on all the time. >> Oh, at the great road we >> It's like Christmas all all year long. >> Yeah, let we can talk about that, Rebecca, because that that's my now that's now now that's my guess. But um >> that might be something to look at then
if it's just the the lights over a >> Yeah. >> a football field. Yep. Ah. Yeah. And this is this is why we look at at energy data and um I think getting it into a place that that it's digestible
and then getting like as much input as possible will help us really figure out where we need to improve. So this is >> this is great. Oh, and then keep in mind, and I know maybe you're gonna I hope I hope I'm not spoiling something for you people, but
when we build a new elementary school, that that bar is going to change. So, you're going to see >> Well, we'll be most electric on green metal will go way up. >> That's for But it'll be electric. So, won't be >> electric, but the gas will go way down. >> That's right.
>> Yes. >> And so, so it'll offset itself a lot. So, like this is just the energy usage. I'm sorry for Go ahead. Oh, no problem. Actually, this won't represent this energy usage won't represent solar uh because like it's still going to use the
energy even if it's it's solar powered, >> but we've got really efficient systems going in and um it'll have a much um a much tighter envelope than what we have now. So, I think that the electric will go up, but the overall bar will go down.
>> Cool. and and hopefully hopefully the cost bar would go down as well. I'm still sorting through the cost and I wanted to present that, but I think uh next time I bring you data I will hopefully have cost to show you. Um I did also just want to
highlight carbon emissions. Um you can see they're they're pretty much the same as energy but um but the order is a little bit different like like our vehicle fleet is is uh less carbon emissions per energy than some of our other buildings. Um,
one thing I did notice is that right now electric and gas um, based on on what was in on the numbers that Mass Energy Insight was using um, are kind of comparable uh, for carbon emissions, but
um, the grid is projected to only become cleaner as like renewable energy uh, projects are I heard recently they're 95% cheaper to implement than than traditional energy. So, um regardless of
of what happens in the political climate, it's anticipated that that uh electricity will become cleaner and without us doing anything, these carbon emissions will go down, but if we continue to move over to electric, they'll go down even more. And there's
no specific ident identification for the fire station which is a relatively new building that >> that is a great question. Um I'm I did not incl the fire station was not
included in this report because um like the the data is still was still getting updated in mass energy insight. Um, I think for whatever reason, um, when the new fire station was brought online, those accounts weren't brought
in. So, um, unfortunately, we don't have that to compare, but that'll be I I would guess that that would probably be similar to like the li library police town hall. >> I'm still interested. I don't think the great road high school is this is the uh
are the lights because there just there's just too much energy being used. Uh, and if that's the truth of the lights, we move to day games because it's ridiculous that we're spending that much money. Uh, and >> spending that much carbon emissions and
energy on lights, but I don't think it's lights, but we'll find out. >> Yeah, I'll look into what that building is and and uh make sure to get back to you on that. Um, and one other thing I just wanted to
highlight is is that even just looking at this data, even as we're talking, you know, we're we're talking about the the rear high school building and and maybe we'll make some operational changes there if if it does turn out to be the the stadium. But uh one thing that came
up as I was looking through this data was um I was comparing data from this year or from last year to this year to to make sure everything looked like it made sense and I noticed there was a big increase at the at one of the punch pump
stations on Christian Lane. So, I reached out to DPW for an explanation and um they got back to me that they didn't expect an increase and it actually flagged that there was an underlying issue that wasn't necessarily affecting how the pump station was
operating, but it wasn't it it wasn't how it was supposed to be operating. So, um they were able to fix the issue and that'll reduce their energy moving forward and also prevent um equipment from wearing out uh before it it's uh
you know expiration date. Uh so a big takeaway there is that having someone who has the capacity to just regularly look at this data more closely um can help flag underlying equipment issues. So, I'm hoping to to do this exercise more than just once a year so that we
can catch this stuff, you know, before before many months go by and and we have high bills. >> Oh, like a leak in the water bill. >> Exactly. That's a great example. >> You didn't know you had >> Yeah, exactly. >> Thank you.
Um I mentioned briefly before but there was um we I couldn't really look in too much into criteria 4 which is the the more uh efficient vehicles because uh there was a uh leak or no there wasn't a
leak there was a um a failure at the petroleum tank located at Highway Yard on Winter Street and um and the fuel ta was tied to the computer system that was on the tank. So, we lost some data and also during this time um the town's
fleet had to use like private gas stations. So, we weren't really able to track it. Uh so, not much to tell you on on uh criteria 4 this year, but um the key things I wanted you to take away from from this uh overview is
that uh we should be looking into energy cons efficiency as part of the capital plan. Um, and then also if we're looking just at like reducing the energy by 20%, the schools and the vehicles are the top energy users and should be the focus of
uh of our energy efficiency measures. Although we want to be looking at um opportunities across our our buildings. Um, and then also you just you can't manage what you don't measure. So, if we're not looking at the data and seeing where there's opportunities and also
seeing where there's irregularities, we won't be able to to make as informed decisions. Um, so that's all I'd uh put together for you, but I'm happy to answer any questions.
>> Rebecca, that's great work. Thank you so much for uh the presentation and the information. It's helpful. Um my mind is already spinning with various topics of of conversation but but thank you so much. Anybody else have any
comments? >> No. Thank you. >> I'm here if you ever want to talk through anything. >> Yeah, just uh appreciation. I know you and I spoke last week. It was uh intriguing to hear your take on this and
and uh very appreciative to have your your services uh for main it. Thank you. >> Thank you. I'm happy to happy to be here. >> All right. >> No action required by the board. Greg, >> actually, I I I'm recommending you just
accept it. >> Just accept >> in case there's any questions later from the state or just for >> Oh, is there a motion to accept the green communities annual report? >> Uh move to accept the green communities annual report for FY25 as presented.
Authorizing use of digital signatures if approved. >> Second. >> Any further comments on the pres presentation. >> Okay, we'll vote. Lindsay, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> Chris, >> yes. >> I have a yes as well. Thanks again,
Rebecca. >> Thank you, Rebecca. >> Hi, Greg. Any devel in uh updates on where we are with the budget? >> Right, Mr. It's our last meeting which was >> No, not really. But this I like this as
a placeholder for these meetings just in case I I have something to update you. The the most of the department heads have submitted their requests. There's a couple that I need to work with a little bit more to get their operational requests in and I have seen the preliminary um draft of the capital improvement plan
recommendation from the capital planning committee. So I'll and then so what how it works is I take that information and I incorporate it into my proposed budget but they're they're not finally I well they might be done but I I uh they did inform me where they are the other day.
So, um, progress, um, and any and every I feel like every other day I get a little bit more information and then I try to put it all together in the next two weeks. Um, so that so that I can have something I feel I try to shoot for about 75 to 90% completion before I go
take off for Christmas. So, we're in we're in the we're in the process. I think there's a budget subcommittee meeting next Wednesday. And so, um, that's a good that's a good sort of mile marker for me in the development of the budget. So, I'll probably have more for that group.
>> All right. Any comments on or questions on the budget as it stands at this point? >> All right. Uh the next item is the senior center, which given that we didn't have an executive session tonight, there's nothing to talk about
yet about the finalization of the issues with the uh landlord. Um, I'm sure you're still working on that >> Go ahead. >> I was going to say I appreciate the board's patience. So, I am I am working with the landlord and I'm working with
town council. >> Yep. >> Just continue to trudge along. >> Yep. >> Um, golf course advisory task force. Greg, why don't you take it from here for this sort of summary as to what your thoughts are because you wanted to
change some of the uh or have us consider a change I think in in the approach. One I said was one small it made sense to make one small adjustment that you wanted us to consider. >> Yeah. So, thank you, Mr. Chair. So, um I believe it was um the guy who's not here
so we can all blame anything that happens between now and then on Jeff. Uh, no. So, um, Jeff and and a number of the board sort of thought it was a good idea to have a a group concentrated on on the golf course. You know, like we're if you know if the if and when the seniors move out and the contract is
coming to a close, like the initial term of the contract, what's the future of the golf course? So, um, I because it was Jeff who thought it was a good idea, I went back and forth with him to revise the draft charge, which you see in front of you now. So um his his recommendation
so I provided him sort of my draft overview which you can see attached but then his recommendation was to add the line about um educating the public. So so it's kind of a two-part draft uh it's a two-part charge which is advise the select board on the future of the golf
course and then the second part is um you know do some public education along the way. So otherwise um uh for my recommendation is to for the board to consider a four at large
membership um one member and and one leison on from uh the community preservation committee um uh and just do a initial three-year term but not to do staggered like we do because this may only be a three-year body. So, um, it's
meant to be ad hoc, meaning a temporary and very focused mission. Um, right. So, that's >> any thoughts or questions on that from the board? >> No, just I think it's a good idea for sure. Hope we can get the good people to
be part of it. uh presumably uh I don't know when however many years ago when when this was up for uh discussion in a big way there must have been surveys and uh studies done at that time. So presumably even though they
they might be out of date in some respects there there would still be some some thinking is relevant. Right. So that's still available. >> Are you talking about when we first purchased the golf course? >> Correct. Yes. I'm not really process but >> quite frankly the the only discussion at
that point was whether or not the town wanted to take over the golf course and turn and you know the discussion was going with a private management firm or having the town run it and at the time and I think it was a wise decision the
uh uh the decision of the the board and the town administration at the time was we're not in the business of running a golf course. Um, so if we were going to purchase it, we were going to then there was uh we were then going to have a private management team on it, but there
was never any real discussion at that time about potential uses of the golf course. the later on there was some open space discussion under the I think it was as part of the housing uh if I remember correctly the um when we did
the housing production plan issue where people talked about ways to use open space and and what have you and it did come up then with various other options letting it go dormant grow out or uh turning it over for development which
was all had various issues of uh of concern. But Mike, in answer to your question, no, I don't think there was ever really study. >> There were surveys done >> at the time surveys >> on on potential uses other >> absolutely. >> I don't I don't remember that so much. I
>> Well, I could probably I could probably tick off four or five of them for you, but they were there were definitely conversations and um surveys done and you know, the overwhelming majority of people that responded wanted it to stay
as a golf course back then. That may change now, but there was definitely some uh conversations about soccer fields, public gardens, you know, um like they have over in um Lincoln along the rail tracks there. And
then there was some conversation about a butterfly garden. I mean, I can go on and on about what the survey said, but >> I've seen something like that. >> Absolutely. There was a survey that had those type of suggestions as the responses and but the overwhelming majority of respondents
suggested that they would like to see it stay as a golf course. And then the other discussion was a town discussion, you know, more of a town business end discussion. Do we want to run it or do we want to find somebody? And if you remember, we had a hard time finding
anybody to um bid on it. And the only company that came and bid on it was Sterling. And they've been the only company that had bid. The municipal golf course management is about as tied up and tight as um waste management.
>> Yeah, that part I remember. Um I don't remember there being any outreach because, you know, I think it was just so overwhelming that people were in favor of keeping it as a golf course that I don't remember there being any outreach. I thought there was some survey. This came up recently and somebody wanted
>> Yeah, there was there was at one point they sat around they put things up on the wall and people gave ideas for how to use it and because I remember one of them was a zoo. >> Yeah, I was going to say you said zoo. Well, so either way it sounds like there's some there was conversation there was
conversation about what it should what it should be and what it should become before it, you know, remained what it is. There was a lot of conversation and >> I'm going to look it up and I'll and I'll try to link to it in the if it's not already on the website I'll I'll put it on the website and I and we'll have
and I'll I'll provide that as context like you can see on this little draft thing I just try to give a little bit of like because I'm also trying to get people who are interested to kind of what what are they what are we even talking about? So um that'd be a great link too just to give them I think it was 2014. I mean, I might have that wrong, but for some reason, I have that
in my head. And so, whatever whatever it was, um, we'll we'll provide that. >> Um, Greg, can I ask you a quick question on that? I think you were >> you had to do some work asking like you like land surveying and there were some
questions around like legality and and that kind of thing. >> What is the timeline look like? like is there should we hold off on assembling a group to think about other uses until we have all that information sorted out? >> Uh no, I think it'd be helpful to do it
simultaneously. So having having a group is because I do want this group to sort of own the own the the development of a recommendation and that and that as I wrote in the draft charge it's the it's the properties like I try to be plural
because as you said it's it's kind of a convoluted little piece together there you know I think we talked about this at a board meeting recently how like even the little sliver of it goes into actton so so there's it's I kind of wanted to if it's happening simultaneously that's
fine but also um it's probably helpful that we not delay in this particular body because the contract with sterling the initial term of the contract we could extend it but this this expires at the end of 2026. So like we would want to give enough runway for this body to
develop something if there was going to be uh um you know like a recommendation and it might influence that contract. Although I do think there may be based on the way it was purchased there may be some limitations as to what can be done with that land. But I think that's part
of the uh perhaps part of the charge here is to tell us >> what legality what legal barriers there may be should there be a decision to go in a different direction. >> That's right. So the hard part folks is just like that just like that uh
facilities committee we just started is to get people. So what if if the board approves this charge we'll post this we'll advertise it on the website. Um but we we got recruitment. That's tough. Tough. >> Yeah.
Yeah. Being that um being that Jeff is the for lack of a better term sponsor of this idea, are we should we wait until he is in a vote on this to make sure this is what he envisioned or are you comfortable that we have captured what
he wanted? the the latter what you just said because I I updated him every time I change the draft. So I'm I'm real besides you can change the draft. You can change the charge tomorrow if you want. It's your charge. So if if he comes back and he says he wants it changed, you can do that.
>> Okay. >> All right. Is there a motion? >> Move to approve the charge for the golf course advisory task force as presented. any further comments? Lindsay, we're voting. >> Uh, yes. >> Mike,
>> yes. >> Chris, >> yes. >> That'll be a yes as well. >> Thank you everyone. Um, >> Green Meadow School Building Project, >> I think. Um, we'll probably have an update at the next meeting because we have a meeting scheduled for Monday the
8th. Correct, Greg? >> Yep. Yep. And I have a I have a sub committee about finance on Thursday, but it's just the standard kind of change order stuff right now. >> All right. So, really nothing? >> No. >> No. >> All right. We have um several
correspondents. Seven if I'm adding up correctly. seven correspondents um including an invitation for Reese Across America Day um which is being held not
this weekend but next weekend I believe not this coming but the weekend after uh over at the cemetery. Um and a report from this from the golf course, ironically, and then a resignation from is it Denise Walsh that
was resigning from >> y >> the uh the rec commission as a CPC or from the CPC rather as the rec commission's designate. Um
she's done a lot of good volunteer work over time and um she should be thanked for her uh for her help along the way. She's been involved in a lot of things over time.
>> Uh so is there a motion to accept correspondence? Move to accept correspondences A through G as shown. >> Seconded. >> All in favor? Lindsay? >> Yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> Chris, >> yes.
>> Naomi, yes. As well. Yep. And there is one set of minutes. October 7th. Move to approve the meeting minutes of October 7th, 2025 as shown and authorizing the use of digital
signatures if approved. >> Second. >> All right. Roll call vote. Lindsay, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> Chris, >> yes. >> I have a yes as well on administrative report. Greg, >> thank you, Mr. Chair. So, uh, I'll keep
it quick. Um, thank you to Stephanie Dugen and the rest of the staff, Kyle Brainer, um, everyone that helped put on the Thanksgiving. Like, we had a we had our sort of semianual annual Thanksgiving staff breakfast, uh, in
town hall and it was great. Um, I had a really good time and I appreciate a couple of the select board members for attending and saying some very kind things about the staff. So, thank you so much. Um but but mostly to Stephanie for for wrangling the troops and getting us all in there and uh and it's wonderful.
Um we are doing a couple of holiday closures. It's that time of year and then so just as a reminder to um the public uh uh we're doing another again sort of annual semianual holiday little staff party on Sounds like we do a lot
of parties but we don't do that many. So, we're doing another one on uh December 16th. Um, and so we'll just close for a couple hours just so that people don't feel like they have to man the windows. And then, um, and then Christmas time. Christmas times, uh, we're going to close town hall starting
at noon on Wednesday. It's kind of like the same trick we just did for Thanksgiving. So, we close at noon on Wednesday. We just closed for the rest of the week. And then, and then, uh, New Year's the following week, January, which is Thursday, January 1st, and Friday, January 2nd. Um
it is that time of year. So I feel like there's joint meetings and and conferences and holiday parties and all that stuff. So um I think I'm going I maybe Stephanie Dugen is going as well to the MMA's MMHR
joint meeting um in West Boilston next. She says yes. So next Thursday. Um so she and I will be over there in West Boilston on Thursday the 11th. And then on Friday the 12th, I'm headed over to Marboro for the 495 Metro West Partnership Conference, I think it's
called. Um, so I don't know if any of you plan on going, but it's good. And uh, and I I really appreciate their partnership in lobbying for the town and all that they do. Um, I also plan on swinging by that same day, uh, the Catholic Aging's annual holiday brunch.
Uh, I try to make an appearance every year, mostly just to commend Amy Loveless and Pat Kosk for all the work they do. And then um our conservation agent assistant talent planner Zoe Peele got recognized by the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissioners Commissions
for their s completed eight units of the fundamentals of Massachusetts Conservation Commissioners training program. So that's that's a mouthful. Um but it just shows how professional she is and she's trying to keep up with her credentials and and uh and development and so we're really proud of her. She's
come a long ways taken a big role. So, that's great. Um, I think that's all I have, Mr. Chair, unless there's questions. >> No. Any questions for Greg on the town administrator report? >> Hope everyone was safe today, by the way. Uh, it was kind of weird weather.
It was hard to make the call about about when to close town offices. Um, so I appreciate everyone's flexibility and patience. Um, it was tough. I was I was bugging Justin DeMarco, the public works director, many times about what the weather forecast could be, and uh, it
was tough. So, we closed town hall today at 11:00 um just to get people home. Um it was well, here we are. So, I appreciate everyone's flexibility and patience. >> Thank you. And that's actually a good transition into first item on my report
is just I hope everybody appreciates the decision to make this a remote meeting rather than have people questioning whether they're going to have to shovel and get out there and drive in the roads that we don't know what they're going to be like. So, I think the better decision was just to make it remote and have us
here safe and be able to attend, not having to worry about traveling and being off the roads causing problems for our DPW if they were going to be out sanding and plowing and whatever. So, um thank you for your indulgence. I hope everybody appreciates that uh we were
able to do it. one of the beauties I guess for uh uh for remote meetings. Uh so anyway, I I also wanted to uh comment on the Thanksgiving breakfast that Mike and I were able to attend uh last week.
It was uh a good opportunity to go over and just have a relaxed opportunity to speak with some of the town employees and see some laughing laughing and uh and enjoyment of one another. uh we don't get to see that that often where I'm sure it goes on all the time, but we
just don't see it in our role um as as selectmen, but uh to see them u enjoying one another as colleagues was was wonderful. And um I I took the opportunity to tell the town employees how proud we are of them and the fact
that uh you know they are really the face of this community and make things work and uh that we appreciate their efforts. So, u that was good reminder that um Saturday is the sip and stroll downtown.
Uh weather weather doesn't look all that warm for that occasion. I think it's going to be sub freezing. Um but maybe that makes it more uh Christmassy. And uh then the parade of course on Sunday which will be a great community event as
always. I'm certain and I'm looking forward to that. Um, and I think that is it for me. Uh, before we meet again, there's also going to be um
the community band is meeting is having their annual Christmas or holiday uh concert on the 14th of December at Sanctuary at 5:30 in the evening uh on the 14th. And the manora lighting is
scheduled for the 15th of December uh at Veterans Park at 5:30. Um another event for the community. And then of course we meet again on on the 16th. And the wreaths across America that I mentioned
earlier is scheduled for the 13th um a Saturday at noon at St. Bridget Cemetery is what my notes say. So, um, all good stuff, all community related and look forward to it. So, that's it
for me. Lindsay, >> I went to the Barrels and Vines um sneak peek this this morning afternoonish. Uh, and it looks great. Um, they gave us a little mini tour of the place and they're opening tomorrow, their grand
opening. Um, so I encourage everyone to swing by if you are out and about maybe this weekend. Um, it looks fantastic. I think they're going to be great for Maynard. Um, also I think tomorrow evening, Amy's Tomb, their new indoor
space has their grand opening. Um, and if you haven't been there, Alden Hollow is the new small store on Mason Street. Um, so they've opened as well. So, lots of places to Christmas shop uh, if you're doing that in Maynard. and I'm looking forward to this weekend, the sip
and stroll in the parade. >> Thank you, Mike. >> Uh well, most of you have uh already taken what I was going to say, but I will add um just acknowledgement for Orian Green. I'm guessing many of you know Orian who has been serving on the
sustainability committee and indeed was even instrumental in in getting it going. So, she's stepping down and um I just wanted to acknowledge her service. I know the sustainability committee uh maybe thinking about doing some sort of
recognition. So, I may be stealing some of the surprise here, but uh anyway, just just felt it was important to acknowledge her contribution to uh what what what she has made for the town. So, yeah, other than that, um no, just stay
safe. Yeah. Yes, >> Lindsay. Where is Alden Hollow? >> It is on Nathan Street. Um, next to where Maynard Nutrition was.
Um, so like that side of the street across from Magnolia is >> there a I was there and I was looking. I didn't I didn't see a sign or anything. >> It popped up real fast. >> Yeah, >> it came up quickly. I don't know if they have like a big outside sign. I was
there today. Like I was there today on my walking over towards um the barrels and vines. I was walking that way and I I was looking for it. I couldn't see. I said, "Oh, there's supposed to be a new store here, but I couldn't I couldn't >> really It's They might not be open on Mondays."
>> Yeah, they may not be open on Mondays and Tuesdays. They're definitely there because I did go inside unless I was having some kind of >> I did go in there, though. >> All right. I I just I just couldn't find it. I I don't I don't know. But anyway,
>> across from like if you come out of Magnolia across the way and down. >> Yeah, I didn't I didn't see it. But anyway, um I too was at Barrels and Barrels and Vines and um it looks fantastic. I can't wait to go in there
and and um actually buy something, drink something. Um but while I was there, I was leaving. I was in there and um I ran into Jackie McDonald and she was leaving the building and I was talking to her about their building and their occupancy
and everything else and she left and then she came back in and and and um I don't I told her she would should probably talk to Greg and Steve and whatever but um I asked her, you know, they the prominade piece probably won't be done till the spring because of weather and
stuff that they're going to start to face. So that's probably understandable that she said they have everything that they have to have in the ground in the ground and ready to go as far as the river is concerned. But she said they have a problem with their parking and that a bunch of their
um residents tenants got um you know warning tickets the last couple nights because they were parked in town spaces. and she says that that could potentially create a problem for them. And she said
they had a similar situation in the past and the town um offered them some sort of parking sticker which they you know their their residences used for a winter or a short period of time and I don't
know I told her I said I you know send me an email which she she didn't but um >> we can look into that >> just look in if we can look into it. I I don't know what >> what it is, but I would think, you know, maybe if they need a few spaces, we could we could um just designate the
spaces in the corner there to them for a little bit while they need them. But the odd thing was she said, "But when it snows, we won't have them parked there." Well, why wouldn't you have them parked there when it doesn't snow if you can have them not park there when it snows? It didn't make sense, which is typical,
but you know, if you if you ask me for 10 spaces for parking because you don't have parking, but when it snows, those 10 cars are going to suddenly have parking. Well, why don't you just give them the parking every day? So, I I don't know what that means, but
>> she's going to reach out. I just want to let you know she's going to >> They have parking under their building for their residents. >> Yep. >> Yeah. And there was also a lot of >> I'm on board with that, Lindsay. planning. >> That's kind of the That's kind of the um I don't know. It's like it's more their conundrum than mine, but it's their
problem because they've they're saying they, you know, they need some spots from the town to satisfy their customers. And I'm saying, but if you if it's going to snow like today, you won't have anybody in those spots. Put them in those spots every day. So I I was I
think that all of their their their parking uh was all debated and litigated with the planning board. Yeah. The numbers of sparking parking spaces that they needed and everything else >> and they were happy with the with the decisions that were made by the planning
board at the time. >> And they still and they still are. They just they just have a situation where the their parking and their stuff for their tenants is on the other side of the building closest to the river and near where the prominade is going to be.
They're not going to have those spaces available to them >> until the spring. So, she's looking to, you know, close that close that time gap and find some alternative parking and she's asking the town's help >> because it's customary. They kind of
consider the yeah that they don't have access to that part the pro part the town's problem and part their problem. So at least >> hey it's it's a new thing. They at least at least bit 50% of the apples. So I'm happy with that. >> We'll see where it goes. But anyway, I just figured I would uh
>> y >> throw that in the radar in case it comes up. I don't know. >> The stickers that I remember Chris was when we g they gave them stickers to use the River Street parking area. >> Exactly what I that's exactly what I said. She didn't recall that, but I know we gave him some stickers for River
Street at one time. >> Yeah, the River Street one is used every every year because of all the people that live. >> Yeah, because it's a municipal lot and there's people that need because the people that live in the White Houses along the way need a place to park. >> Yep. But Lindsay, you weren't here early. So when I went into Barrels and
Vines, we met with, you know, talking to her for a little bit and I said, "Oh," I said, "I really just came so I'll know where to find my wife when she goes missing. She won't be alone. I can tell you that. But I was excited to be in there. The place looks beautiful.
>> I'll be there. She won't be alone. I'll be there with her. >> Oh, I know. They have some um they have some fantastic wines and then wait to see what they have for the um shakureri and stuff. So, I'm excited to see that go. But yeah, it was nice. That's all I have. And >> all right, great. >> Got a couple full weekends of events
coming. >> Yeah, that's it for us for the evening. Um is we'll see you all at least on Friday. um Saturday rather for the uh sip and or some of you anyway for the sip and stroll and then Sunday for the
uh parade. So yeah >> there a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor roll call. Lindsay >> yes. >> Mike >> yes. >> Chris >> yes sir. >> Na yes as well. Greg, before uh you had
left me a message earlier, email regarding um uh a Kate Hogan issue that I will get in touch with you on. >> I was going to say you we we could talk about this offline. So >> yeah, offline.
>> I appreciate Yeah, let me know. It's not Yeah, I understand. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. >> Bye, guys. >> Good night, everybody. >> Thanks, Greg. >> Good night. or good night.