Good evening and welcome to the September 9th meeting of the Milton Select Board. Please join me as I stand and recite the pledge of allegiance. I >> alian to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which
it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> Uh coming up we have public comment. Um each speaker is asked to keep their remarks to 3 minutes or shorter uh which
I will uh give a 30-se secondond uh warning when you're approaching that time. Uh and we have a total of 30 minutes of or sorry 20 minute 21 minutes available um which Mr. Milano will will keep track of. I know that we have two names on the list. Um, and I do see two
hands up. Uh, so why don't we do the two in the room and then we'll do the two online. Um, I'm not sure who put their name down first, but I think it was for Pope's uh, pawn party. Yes, please come forward and give us your name and address and I'll start your time when
you start speaking. >> Uh, my name is Jackie Golden of 20 Kevin Road. Um, I'm support of the transfer of a port portion of the Pope's Pond parcel to parks and recreation. Agenda number
agenda item number 12. Um, again, my name is Jackie Golden, co-founder of the Beverly Playground Planners. Um, to give a little background, um, I've been working with the town since 2020 to to develop a new playground structure at
the existing Pepperly Park. Since then, we've raised $500,000, which is over 80% of the total project cost. Um, funding sources include local foundations, inind donations of construction materials in
um, and new trees, and then we've been awarded three funding cycles from the CPC. Um, I want to highlight a few equity and access um, pieces of this project. This would be the first playground west of
Blue Hill Parkway. Um, currently all five town operated playgrounds are located within northeastern third of the town. So more towards the east east Milton. Um, this is not just a convenience issue. Um, it
addresses visibility, visible equity and equality gap for children children in the western part of town. Um, there is no playground within safe walking or biking distance west of the parkway. Currently, families have to travel to either end of the parkway to safely
cross. Um, and the closest playground is Kelly Field. Um, in my opinion, currently, um, the use is very underutilized. Um, I live uh two streets away and it's you see the oa occasional trail walkers
coming in come in coming in and out of the opening of the trail around the pond. You see small groups playing soccer. Um, individuals playing with their dogs. Um, it is not really a community gathering place at the moment.
It's not really activated. Um, but the proposed playground impact is huge. um it would only occupy a third of the parcel. Um so it is preserving space for those existing activities to still continue. Um relative in size to Shields
Park and then proposing same looking feel as other town >> 30 seconds >> playgrounds in Milton for a co cohesive look. Um we've been working with conservation since 2020 to ensure we're in compliance with um environmental requirements um and maintaining distance
from the brook to avoid disruption. Um so just in my opinion this project has you know tremendous positive impact to the town. >> Thank you very much. >> I think that good. >> Thank you. >> Just before she leaves. >> Yeah. >> Could you email could you email that? Is
that was that like a presentation or was just that your notes you were reading up? My >> notes. Okay. All right. >> All right. Um I believe we had one more signed up uh in person. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> My name is Helen Russell and I live at
190 Central Lab in Milton and I'm here to um advocate for the trees uh across the street. Uh I know that uh there's a discussion about clear cutting that lot to create more parking for the library.
Um and uh it's ironic that it's right uh right in front of that lot is the um sign that says Milton is a tree city. Um, I understand and I'm really pleased that the library is getting uh popular and
that parking is important uh and it must be safe. And I don't know what other proposals you have in mind, but I think in some ways it seems like the easiest thing to do is to take those trees down and put a parking lot in. But I think
given the complexity of um the traffic situation in Milton, uh it would actually maybe be worth considering a more detailed plan where parking would be made available here. And there's an opportunity to create a safe and traffic
calming crosswalk um in front of the town hall. So, uh, I'm here, uh, I don't have a whole lot of information about, uh, what the plan is, but I I've received a late notice and, uh, I just hate to see more trees cut down because
replacement trees are just not, uh, the same as a 30 or 40 or 50 year old tree. Um, we see a lot of paper birches around town and um, they just uh, I think they detract from the character of uh, the town of Milton and they should be
considered treasured resources and I think you're approving me for the shade tree committee, too. >> Oh, wonderful. >> Thanks. Thank you. >> All right. Uh, seeing no more folks here, uh, we're going to go online. Uh, our esteemed former colleague, uh, Roxan
Mustau has her hand up. We could go to Roxan or did you see >> Hi, this is I don't know if Roxanne's on here. Is she on here because this is Mary Stenson. >> Uh yeah. Well, I thought that we were
promoting um Miss MTO, but we uh we can go with you first, Miss Stenson. >> Okay. Um I agree with the last speaker. I just wanted to um say that I oppose um the suggestion of the new >> I'm sorry. Would you just quickly identify yourself and give us your address?
>> Oh, sorry. I thought I said my name, Mary Stenson, and I live at 91 SAS Lane. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, I also oppose the suggestion of a new parking lot. I mean, I love the it's it's such a wonderful
helm up there at the library, but I over the years have witnessed many accidents up and around that location. So, I'm hoping that they consider the safety and the traffic reports in the different
things that have gone on at that intersection. And then secondly, um the preservation of the trees. And third, or not even in that order, the historic nature of that area that you know, we're going to be doing a making a lot of
changes in town and some of the the charming little niches of the town need to continue and um and naturally the library needs to thrive, but it is dangerous up there. So I hope considering all those um I hope they do
their research and involve um all the necessary parties in making a decision about what they are proposing >> and that's it. So I do oppose. >> Thank you very Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Um let's try. It does look like Miss
Must got her hand up. >> Thought I had picked her. Sorry. >> That's all right. >> There we go. >> Okay. Thank you. Um Roxanne Mto 101 Milton Street town meeting member precinct 5. I'm here to speak tonight about the Governor Stoton item concerning the affordable housing
proposal. As a former select board member, I was also a member of the town farm subcommittee. The objective was to explore all possibilities for the town farm that would meet the tenants of the will. The governor Stoton will said that it's for the benefits of the poor of the town of Milton and that that interest
generated from the trust is used to fund assistance to those in need through the Milton food pantry, Milton Residence Fund. Um, many residents of all ages are benefiting from the fund. We should be considering the fact that there was never any attempt to broaden the RFP
process to include all possibilities for the land. Food insecurity is the number one identified concern in Milton. The housing proposal before you takes 500,000 from the CPC, which is our Milton residents taxpayer money, and gives it to a private developer. For
those at home, that's the charge that is assessed on your tax bill, uh, designated exclusively for the CPC. That developer, in turn, is paying nothing for land acquisition fees and is going to build 35 units of affordable housing. And that housing does not exclusively go
to Milton residents. The maximum amount of units for Milton residents is 70% of these units. What does the trust get in return for giving this deal to a developer, a private developer? We get $10,000 a year for 50 years. That is a sweet deal. Do you know how many
developers would love that kind of sweet deal? Free land, a half a million taxpayer funds, and the rent from the units, all benefiting a private developer, not the trust. The trust should take the lead on developing the housing necessary for Milton residents and all the rental money would keep the
trust funded for years to come. We could also include farming as well and the restoration of the existing buildings on the land. The current trustees are are selling the Milton residents short. We need to ensure that the trust continues to be um able to help many people that need it. We should look at all
possibilities. And a few final questions that I hope can be clarified tonight is I'd like to know who pays for any legal fees related to litigation with the trust. Who pays for infrastructure for sewer, roads, lighting along Governor Stoton Way that need to be done for a
development? And can you also clarify for the residents um does the town of Milton own this land or does the Governor Stoen Trust own the land? Um that seems to be a common question many people ask. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Miss Mustang.
Um, we have two more hands up. I see a K Randi. How are we doing on our overall time? >> Uh, excuse me. 12 minutes. >> 12 minutes. Okay, great. Let's promote. Uh, hi. If you could take yourself off of mute and uh, introduce yourself and give
us your address, please. Can you hear us? Okay, I can I see the name K R A M O N D I there's a person on the Zoom K Randi maybe. >> Oh, >> can you hear me? >> We can hear you now.
>> Okay, sorry. Um yeah, Kristen Ramandi, 23 Herald Street in Milton. Um, and I agree completely with everything the prior speaker just said. Uh, I received this notice late. I don't have anything prepared, but um, the the impacts on the
town that land seems I have walked up there. Um, you know, the environmental impact, I don't know if any studies have been done or if anything, you know, it just seems like we're giving it away. Um, just and the traffic impact
on the area. um is substantial. It it just seems that no thought really went into this plan. I completely agree with everything the prior speaker said. I wish I had, you know, something prepared, but I just wanted to jump on the call to to say I'm completely
opposed to kind of what what has been presented. >> I I we've had a couple of speakers talking about a couple of land use issues. Could you just let us know which land use issue you're talking about? Yes, it is the
um the mil the Governor Stoen Trust um or remaining acres on the Milton historic town farm. >> Thank you. Did you have anything else to say? I'm sorry to interrupt. You have another >> No, I I wish I had something prepared. I just I completely agree with everything
the prior speaker said. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> And hope hope those questions can be answered. >> Thank you. Thanks. >> Um, and then we do have, uh, Fred with his hand up. >> Fred, if you could take yourself off of mute, uh, introduce yourself and your
address and your time will start when you start speaking. >> Can you hear me up there now? >> Yes, we can. >> Okay. My name is Fred Monroe. I live on 11 Academy Lane, um, which is right across the street from the library. And I want to express my opposition to any
additional parking uh for the library which I believe is already congested enough and any additional parking would also um uh contribute to excessive light pollution which is already a factor on Academy Lane. So uh I am opposed to any
additional construction. Want to make my views known here. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Um, I don't see anyone else with their Fred, you can lower your hand. Oh, there you go. Um, I don't see anyone else online.
Anyone else in person that wishes to speak? Okay, that will conclude then our uh citizen speak comment. Um, or public speak comment. Uh, our next item, item number four is library parking and use of land on Cantav. And I believe we have
a couple of folks here uh trustees of the library and uh a librarian to uh present some ideas. Oh, good. And we have Will online, too. [Music] All right.
The floor is uh over to the trustees and the library. >> Thank you. Um thanks for having us tonight. We appreciate the opportunity to talk a little bit about the work we've been doing as related to parking needs for the Milton Public Library.
I am Will Adams. I'm your library director. I'm joined um online by Christine Hoddlin who is the chair of the trustees building and grounds committee. Um, I'm joined by Jim Potter, our chair of the library trustees, and Cheryl Tayas, who is a member of the
master plan implementation committee. We're going to run through the work we've done since we last visited the select board about a year ago. Um, and we have some uh recommendations for the board. So, the library has needed
parking uh additional parking since we opened in 2009 with our expanded library services. Uh the library trustees began um actually exploring new options in 2015. Uh so this has been a process that's been going on for almost 10 years
now. Uh the town center has changed in recent years. Um and there's been a additional need for both staff and resident parking both here at town hall and at the library. Um so both sides of Canton Canton A are seeing suggest uh congestion. Uh the library trustees have
worked with the town uh and the master planning implementation committee to research many options for parking. Um all throughout this part of Milton, we've looked at different locations. We've looked at different building types. Uh we've tried to uh consider all options for this op. The original
options were presented to the select board in March of 2024 where we received support to further research the development on Canton A. Why does the library need parking? There's a number of reasons. Uh the best reason for me to talk about is we're
very busy. Um we don't have enough seats uh in the library after school for the students. We don't have enough parking spaces for their parents when they pick them up. Um, but there's four major concerns. Uh, safety. Um, we've had safety concerns with library parking
since the addition in 2009. Uh, Jim will talk a little bit about that. Um, and there have been, um, improvements to that. Uh, capacity and convenience. Um, access to the library is challenging at at certain and many times of day and
many days of the week. Um when we looked at parking options uh depending on distance from the building, we have slopes to deal with. We have potential fall weather and a lot of the places um um a lot of the people parking are going
to be uh our seniors and our families with strollers and whatnot. Uh growth, which is what I alluded to at first, uh programming has grown over the years. It's grown excessively since 2009. Room use by community groups and by library programs. um has grown and we're limited
in any additional um things that we could provide for the town and green. We know we don't have any uh EV stations at the library for parking right now. So, this would be an opportunity to introduce uh EV charging stations both in the current parking lot and in any
additional parking lot. So, did I skip? No. Um thank you, Will. Well, if you could turn the mic to J. Thank you. >> Thanks, Will. Um, as um Will previously
mentioned there in the past, there were some safety concerns with uh the parking lot. Uh so based on consultation with the uh traffic commission, uh the library reversed the direction of the traffic flow into the uh parking lot. Um at that same time, the library created a
turnaround within the current lot. So uh if you're already in the parking lot uh and you didn't find a parking, you did not have to go back out on the Canton. you could turn right around. Um, and the library has also worked with the traffic commission to add additional spaces right there on Kant Avenue.
Thank you. Um, over the past several years, the trustees have outreached to various organizations within the town. Um, we've worked with town planners and engineers. Uh we worked with the conservation committee, the traffic commission, the master plan implementation committee, uh the select
board at various times, uh B Milton Hospital, the United Congressional Church, the center school, the first parish church in a townwide forum that I believe was held by the trustees last year. Um recently over the last two years the
trustees have been working very closely um with the NPIC to uh uh to uh do a parking study that was undertaken with the planning department um uh engineering work including site plans and models were done. Um we basically have done a very exhaustive search for
all possible locations um and have concluded that the Canton Avenue is the only location that meets the library needs. I'll turn it over to Cheryl. Uh thank you Jim. The U master plan implementation committee was asked um to
assist the library because one of the recommendation in the 2015 master plan was to work with the library to help solve their parking needs. U it was identified then and is only increased that the library serves as a community center. It's one of the highest utilized
public assets that we have in town and it's a shame that not all people who desire to take advantage of those of the programming that's available there is available to them. So, uh Will and Jim mentioned um various locations that were
studied, parking utilization studies, what's the busiest time of day, when is the big the greatest need for this parking, whether there's any other uh options for it. the committee and the library representatives spent two years working on this and uh some of you who
were on the board know that we did come with an update to you and as Will said we're encouraged uh to continue to pursue options. We were al we also at that time discussed uh how would u this be funded if this did go forward and uh
how would this whether it's a parking alone or parking with another structure uh be funded and so we did a little bit of research we did some outreach to um the private sector and the public sector to see what kind of grant funding might
be available for infrastructure projects uh parking being infrastructure for the library um and also what might be available um in a private public private partnership. Uh public private partnerships we've discovered are uh being utilized in other communities. In
fact, it was just announced this week that there's a new library being built in the city of Boston in the Chinatown neighborhood in conjunction with affordable housing. these kinds of partnerships are happening across the country and it's we think a good opportunity for Milton to uh look into
that for this particular site. Uh we also in the committee discussed that it's um perhaps not the best use of uh limited town land to do parking only. That we could look at what other uses could be combined with the parking to
provide additional benefit to the town whether that be affordable housing, municipal space uh if that's needed or other commercial space such as cafe office, medical office, etc. We so we um in looking at this parking
only, parking with structure and parking with housing um came to want to go to the next slide. This location on Cantonav that you can see on the screen. Um this footprint is
about the footprint that would allow for up to 70 parking spaces and that would be with two levels of parking. This site has topographic change. So two levels would take advantage of that topographic change. Those um rectangles going uh
towards the street would be uh access uh and then the footprint of the parking uh and the structure above it would be that larger rectangle. The if this were just parking it could be done in a single level probably about 40 spaces. This slide it shows uh some
numbers. Uh this has been a moving target. with the size of the footprint. This is something that would get evaluated um in a next phase. And so, uh the next phase, I think, is something that Jim's going to talk about. And I'll pass it over to him now. >> Before we leave the slide real quick,
just a question. The numbers that are there. Those are the current parking spaces. >> The only the 58 and the 67 and the 24 the curbside. >> 24 the curbside. Thank you. >> Right. >> I figured as much. I just wanted clarify.
Thank you, Cheryl. Um, at this step, the trustees believe the it's time to take the next steps. Uh, the trustees are uh recommending that the uh select board support a feasibility study/RFP for a parking and building solution
funded jointly by both the town and the trustees. um in that the select board and the trustees form a joint task force to guide the IRP process to make a a formal recommendation to the entire select board and the entire library trustees. Um potential members could be
uh Nick Connors uh Will the library director, Christine Holland, Shelter Gas, a select board member and two residents um with real estate um experience and planning in experience in architectural. That is the recommendation.
Thank you. >> Thank you for coming in. Um questions from the members. I'm not going first. >> Well, I don't want to dominate conversations, but >> lead the way. >> Um, could you speak a little bit um I'll
I'll kick off with one question that I I would love for other folks to ask. um in terms of impacts on um the environment um trees uh wetlands I know that that was a consideration that were you you looked with and you also worked with the
conservation committee so I'm curious to hear what the thoughts were there >> right um the um wetlands were flagged uh by the conservation officer and those were recorded in a survey and the uh
there's a stream between the uh police station and Cantav, but there's a significant slope change there too. And so the proximity of um a new structure, a new lot, I call it a structure because of the slope there there does have to be some structure. So even if it's just a
single level of parking, it it it requires a little bit of structure. Um it would be um uh within the 100 foot setback. So conservation commission would need to have a role in reviewing it. Uh but it's well outside the 25 foot
um boundary of the do not disturb. Um there was another part to that question I believe. >> Uh if the discussion with the conservation committee >> the trees I think the other thing is um Pete Peter Jackson um took a look at the
request of Chris Odlin at the um existing trees on the property. um didn't identify uh for him a concern that a lot of them uh were of the invasive species type like Norway maple. Um a uh obviously tree loss of of any uh
any tree canopy is something that would need to be considered. Um in my experience as an architect um tree replacement is often looked at as a way to um resolve tree loss in one location. uh that tree replacement can happen in
another location. Um and so that would have to be something that's considered in the feasibility study RFP process. >> Other questions >> Mr. Dailyaly go ahead for Mr. Wells. >> Uh in terms of the needs at the library
was in any of the studies that have been done, is there a particular time or time of day? I know after school there was some need uh but those are usually students that are walking so space needed inside the library but for cars is this weekends is this nights what's
the busy time? >> Uh thanks for that question. It's um there's a number of times throughout the week uh we did both with the uh planning department when they did a a count but also um when we've done counts at the library. The busiest times um are
weekday mornings uh when there are story hours in children's programs. We often see people circling the lot, parking on the street, getting strollers out on Camp Nav or or across the street um at the town hall. That's a busy time. Um at at drop off after school, so like
2:30ish is another time where the lot fills up. uh from 2:30 to 5:30 or 6 um it's usually full with drop off pickup, tutoring, and any number of things. And then um on week nights, depending on what the program or event is going on at
the library, um it's full. Usually the busiest is Monday. It gets less busy as the week goes on. Uh we've had a number of um library programs already this year where we've had to uh make use of the Milton Police Department because we knew we'd have a traffic overflow and we're
concerned about the safety of people both parking on Canton and crossing Cantav. Um so police details are something that we've had that we've used to kind of mitigate that. Um but it is it's it's story hours in the morning. Um it's that after afternoon school time.
Um, and then again in the evenings when we have if we have what what happens now is we can only offer one program at night. Whereas we used to rent a room for maybe Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, whatever and have a library program simultaneously. The parking lot doesn't allow for both of those at this point
because we've our programming has reached capacity. >> And have you determined the number of spots that you think you need? So, I thought I saw on the slide 50 to 60 slots would be accommodated on that
site, but is that, you know, is that what you've determined that you need or just what is the potential is for the site? >> Yeah. Um, it's both. Uh I mean we we were looking at um a number of around 50
to 60 spaces that would be a combination of what is needed now and what would be um allowed with the growth if we're having two programs at the same time. Um so we tried to look at a footprint that would accommodate approximately that spa those that number of spaces without
being too large you know going too big. ready. >> So, obviously I was intimately involved as chair of the traffic commission in creating the existing I think we took a tree out, didn't we, to make the turn, didn't we take a big tree out while
>> Yeah, there was a there was a um a tree that was actually taken out beforehand because it was uh the tree was dying, right? >> As it was taken out because of safety concerns. Yeah, >> I do recall that. So number one I mean obviously is
Chevro Mr. Guas will know taking down trees in town is always a huge issue 130 Elliot 131 Elliot in that project probably 15 years ago one tree created a 10-year delay and that that's how important trees trees can be. Um so a
couple things. So first off historical commission there's that historic powder house there. Have you even had convers conversation with them? Cuz that would have to be moved. A lot of people don't even realize it's there, but it's there. >> That little >> Yeah, it's a that's that goes back to like the suffer dissolves times.
>> Yeah, it's anticipated that um that would remain in approximately the same location. It might have to be altered slightly, but the this would be set back behind that current location. So, it's not right at the sidewalk. It's set in
some 15 or 20 feet. >> Do you want to put the slide up that had the map on while we're having this discussion? Might be helpful. >> Okay. So the >> So you can >> So So you're going to go around at the powder, if I'm correct, the powder house sits in front of the largest blue
structure there. Am I correct? >> Correct. Right. Right there. >> That's right. So the the the thought was that the um setting the structure back would allow not only the powder house to remain but also trees to remain and so that you're not looking uh going down Cantonav what
you're uh viewing is not um a parking lot right up against the sidewalk against the stone wall. So the stone wall would remain as well except where the openings would have to be made. And what do you think? I know you have a number in your head. You don't come into these rooms without
having a number. What do you just ballpark on a single floor, single story, just parking? What do you think the cost would be? >> You're looking at about $80,000 of space. >> And how much did you say? 50 >> per space.
>> You get you get 50 on a single. >> You get 50. Okay. And on a twotory the same >> twotory um might be slightly more. So, with regard to the twotory, and we've talked about this before when you were
here, I know you are you talk still thinking like, although I think this is going this would be a big heavy lift to do this, but you're thinking like um some type of public private partnership to get the commercial to
offset the cost of the parking B space bas right and we've had conversations about whether that's doable and that really is going to take some more investigation. Um, you know, it depends on how much is put here. So, if it's housing, how many units, if it's commercial, how much
square footage, whether uh grant funding would be available, like mass works funding. Now that the town's compliant with 3A, we're eligible uh for grant funding. Um, there it would need to be like any project, a creative combination
of sources, but it wouldn't be solely town sources. If you had a public private partnership that's a difference between doing that versus just a parking structure which would solely be uh away funded by town and grant and potential
grant money. >> And my last comment will be with regards to the housing. this very bright colleague friend of mine that I met 10 years ago and always talked to me when first educating me about affordable housing in the community is in the needs
to be spread around >> and as you know if you were to add anything else on Canton Avenue you've currently got the assisted winter valley 648 652 governor stol which is on them and then
it's a lot and then the ice house at the intersection of K having the Parkway. That's an awful lot on one street. I mean, you see I I had a great discussion with some high school kids on Friday. We're trying to get me to understand why traffic cues so much on Canton Avenue during the day and
it's just like it's that's how much traffic it carries now. So that would be my my at least for me and I'm not ready to vote either way but my bigger concern goes to your initial to will's primary concern is
additional parking for the library which is as you know we've been talking about this for many many years like going back to I think you're right to my time as chief my time the traffic commission and my time here like at least for me and so that's the I I get the >> So Richard can I just make one comment
about the traffic. There is currently traffic on Canton Avenue. I live on Canton Avenue, as does Ben, so we're very familiar with the traffic on Canton Avenue. However, some of that traffic does go into the parking lot, >> can't find a parking space, and where do
they go from there, >> right? >> They have to go back out onto Cantonav, cross over the traffic. And so, some of this is really um managing where those cars are going, not adding cars to it. And then part of any due diligence
feasibility RFP process would be a traffic evaluation. You know, there was a traffic study done for the memory care facility that made some recommendations for signalization changes at the intersections that we're talking about, Randolph A and Reedsdale,
Thatcher and Highland and Canton A. and those should be looked at. That traffic analysis has been done and that was a a discussion that I'm familiar with because of course it went through the planning board. Uh but there are parts
of these bottlenecks have to do with how the signals are timed and so whether this it could be accommodated within this stretch is part of an evaluation process. I I think it's wise to do the evaluation
um noting the concerns and having those concerns looked at uh rather than um not proceeding based on an assumption that it can't be handled. >> And my my last question if I can Mr. Chair is where do you think the money comes from?
>> As you anybody who watches our meetings on a weekly basis, we have immense pressure on so many fronts. I mean, we do this. >> I know it's not going to come out a rabbit coming out of a hat. >> Well, I think the first step is that we
were looking to fund the feasibility study of the RFP which uh could cost up to $10,000 and the library trustees are committed to uh funding um some part, you know, part of that along with the the select board. Part of that project
will be, you know, public meetings to talk about all the things we're talking about tonight, but it'll also look into the feasibility of whether there's grants available for certain options, whether it's public private partnership for other options. Um, the library
trustees and library foundation are committed to fundraising a necessary uh piece of this as well. Uh so the funding hasn't been specifically identified but I believe that uh the feasibility study RFP process would would help us center
in on what is actually a realistic and practical um step forward. >> Mr. daily. >> Um, have there been any other forms of mitigation that have been attempted such as coordination around programming
for times when there's lighter traffic, maybe weekends, >> um, coordination around nighttime, or has it just been the parking lot or parking spaces? >> So, over the last couple years, um, what we've done is we've stopped double booking programs, and that's kind of the
mitigation that we've taken. Um the we've added um we've split programs and made them twice in the morning so we can get instead of a bottleneck at one time we try to spread it out between two for the especially for children's programs.
So we've taken some minor steps like that. Uh we've also talked to some of our neighbors about times that we can try to share parking but we all need parking at the same time. So we haven't gotten very far on that. Uh we try to hold our bigger programs on the weekends um as there's more parking available off
and around the library. Um so we yeah we are and we've held some of our larger programs at the Pearson at the high school um just because that's that's what we've needed to do. So this is the planning point. >> Yeah, we we we are thoughtful about when
we are programming uh what time of day it is and trying not to have conflict so it creates a more of a bottleneck. >> And with the structure, do you do you envision this being a structure that closes or at a certain time or having overnight parking?
>> That's a that's a good question. Uh the currently the the library is could be overnight parking um if residents use it as overnight parking. I don't think we've gotten to that scenario. We're mostly concerned with the 9 to5 of the library. >> Okay.
>> I think you better be careful walking down that road. Yeah. Very careful walk like >> um >> right now the the Milton police do um go through the library parking lot at night. So it's part of a their route. So, one one um additional question that
I have and I think um Mr. Guys, you you've sort of hit the nail on the head in terms of people going into the parking lot, they turn they can't find a spot, they turn around, they go back out. How does this solve that problem? Because don't wouldn't the natural instinct of somebody be to go into the
closer lot and then they're still going to have to come back out and and park at the other space. >> Oh, can I start with that? Uh, part of this would also be that library staff would be able to park at the more remote spot, clearing up spaces just initially, so there'd be hopefully less of that
turning around. Um, we'd initially started looking at a spot probably uh when Richard was on the traffic commission, you know, a long time ago on Reedsdale, but that was both highly trafficked and wetland just specifically with only enough spots for for staff.
So, that's part of the initial um answer to that. I don't know if Cheryl has more Well, I from what I understand from uh Will now is that some people just leave, you know. So here um I think there could
be this management of the parking where in their when they send out their programming there's a request for certain uh patrons to use certain parts parking. um whether that is going to be uh something that people adhere to. Uh I guess you know there won't be anything
that forces them to do it. Um but in terms of the staff parking it certainly would free up I think we said 12 at least 12 spaces 12 to 15 during the day >> and I imagine to the electric vehicle parking would would incentivize folks to go straight to those spaces that have
those cars. >> Mr. else. >> Just one final point, not to get I I don't like being ahead of my skis here. So, have you been to the planning? Have you been to either the planning? I don't even know this would go planning ZB. I don't know where this would go. We um have you presented this to the planning
board because really is to me is like a planning issue first before it comes to us. >> We're trying. No, we have not. So, we are trying to get to the point where we have a definitive plan to present to a planning board or to the select board. And that's what this RFP feasibility
study will provide us with. >> So, uh the the master plan implementation committee has concluded its work with the library for this. So, this is a a way for the library to proceed with next steps that would advance the feasibility analysis of
this. Um this is select board controlled property. It's not property under the control of the library. Um and so advancing beyond a diagram to something uh that has more community engagement process uh and seeing the viability of
whether this public private partnership would work um is um the next step that u the library would like to take during that public engagement process. Um certainly uh planning board conservation commission and others historical
commission would be engaged. >> Mr. Ch, we're not voting on this. We're just getting this tonight, right? We're not >> Well, they've put a proposal for us, so I think, you know, we could have a motion to vote. It's >> I'd rather think about this for a minute. There's There's a lot. So, I want to think about this >> to move forward with the study. >> No, I want to think about before we move
forward. I want to give it some time to think. There's a lot like I'm not I don't have any. There's a lot. Just the trees alone is going to be You wait two speakers tonight, you'll have 50 next week. Mark my trees is a big issue. Well, so I I I do think that um you know, an RFP
process provides for public input and engagement where you could have a lot of those discussions where it's not limited to three minutes at citizens speak at the start of a meeting, but really more uh of an engaged conversation and dialogue with folks that care about
those issues. Um I the for me the the the two things that kind of stand out are obviously number one this is an issue that's been plaguing the library for more more than a decade. And two if there is if there are grant funds
available and we could get say a coffee shop or a cafe or something like that in that space. um the revenue for the town from commercial would be good uh and the offsetting of the grants you know from
the space would be good. So I think in in absence of grants and and you know private funding for a space like this we just obviously we wouldn't have the money to do it. Um but that's what you have an RFP process for. So that's for me like I think the the big question and
then also obviously looking at some of these other issues as well um light uh and uh and parking in the trees. >> Do we have do we have thoughts on what would go into the feasibility study like how would it be structured? How would it
be? Um I think that you know there's there's the scoping of the feasibility itself. the in preparation um
for this meeting, I offered to the library representatives to reach out to to folks to see if they could provide guidance on how they would proceed with the feasibility study. Uh one of the people that I reached out to was our former planning director, Tim Zwinsky.
uh he put me in touch with um someone and I reached out to several others um in and and heard from some and and not from others heard back from some. So um you have a proposal um through Nick or
through Mr. Milano um that outlines what this approach might be and I can just run through it at a high level. So um so one is just is is to review uh all the work that's been done and to confirm what the goals are in the work. Um and
then some planning scenarios that take beyond uh what was done already. Um and those planning scenarios would include a a robust community engagement process. um it wouldn't necessarily be technical
in nature in terms of um doing let's say a survey or an engineering analysis uh but it would set forward what would be expected uh in an RFP response or and so uh at the uh the request for proposal uh
would be drafted in this process um and all of the things that would need to be uh confirmed or address such as a traffic study, such as a um documentation of the existing trees. Um typically that's documented in terms of
species in terms of uh what their um >> age >> age is um and their um caliber and so it can be calculated on a total basis so that one could see whether how much is lost and whether that could be um
replaced elsewhere. Um there would be two large community public meetings as a part of that process. Um and the um the entire process would be guided by this advisory committee um that would be
composed of um as Jim said uh as suggested planning um I'm sorry um member of the library board of trustees Chris Hodlin uh library director town administrator or assistant town administrator myself for some continuity
a select board member and two members of the public who have some expertise in this sort of work. We identified as real estate development uh planning and architecture. But that uh if there's other suggestions about that um
if we felt as if a uh a small group that would be a touch point for the consultant could help guide. So, uh, the consultants definitely would would be guided um by the town, not come in with any outside
um predetermined ideas. >> So, what are the members thinking about now for um next steps? >> I just go ahead. >> I think I >> Oh, sorry. Go ahead. >> No, no, go ahead. >> You started talking before I did.
Um, I think in terms of the feasibility study, I'd want it to be a larger scope because there's a lot in that area. Um, I'm not sure that >> more money >> that let it get to just library parking that may be a little shortsighted given
that we are town hall, fire department, the green where we have events. to put a parking structure there has a lot bigger impact than just providing the library with um some relief and giving folks um
some extra parking spots. Is it possible that this parking structure goes up and the library still has the issue because folks are using that parking parking lot for other things, right? It makes it more convenient, more people are driving. Uh I think for feasibility, I'm have to find out what the cost would be
from our side. uh this is it's not binding just to find out what the impacts would be. So I'd be okay with that as long as the cost is not too prohibitive. But I think we would have to take into account more than just the library's needs in that space.
>> Missy, >> you've read my mind. No, so I am I am open I am open um to the concept of a feasibility study. I would want to sit with it. Um, I would want to sit with the scope of that
feasibility study a bit longer and ask some more questions before voting on it. Um, and I agree um with member daily uh on the need to take a more I mean
this is kind of and I think this was also um in the master plan like the consideration of like a civic um center or area um at least also just
un understanding the traffic dynamics and impact of that but also So um you know not to so so that was mentioned as a potential concept. I'm not suggesting we do that but given that we do have the
hospital, police, library, town hall, churches, council on aging and all kinds of residential mixed in. Um, you know, there is there is a bit
broader of an area that's impacted that we should evaluate. >> Mr. G, >> yes. I just want to um make you aware of some of the background information. Um as part of the analysis that we did um there when the fire station was
headquarters was first being proposed the master plan implementation committee um asked the that committee the fire station building committee to meet with us because we were concerned that that um they consider the entirety of the let's call town hall campus um in their
planning and so um we engaged uh the metropolitan area planning council >> okay >> uh to do some planning work and we documented uh there were public meetings for that. We documented the existing parking capacity around town hall, traffic patterns. Uh we did speak to them about
the potential use of the old fire station, how that might change the parking demand. Um we did parking utilization of town hall employees. Uh so there's a lot of information about um the capacity around town hall, what the
needs are. we don't have to start from scratch. Uh we didn't go into all of the background because we've pic kind of picked up from where we were be uh the last time before this board understanding that there's new members on the board. Uh but there
is a lot of background information um on um the use even um the churches, the daycare centers, >> the wildcat den. There's a lot of different users here. Even the council on aging u it was con asked whether
there could be capacity here they've increased their programming their capacity during the day which is the same high demand time is also full it's when there's the most use at town hall uh it was the art committee that had really advocated for the crosswalk
that's in yellow on this slide but it's actually in person exists now um so that we could get some uh cross utilization and the planning overall for town center is something that I think the still
should happen continue to happen that will be significantly more than just under 10,000 to do that work. Um but the conversation about what other uses could could be combined with parking is a good conversation. And it was the ma the
master plan itself had suggested uh that potentially a food use would be um a good use here. In that planning work uh youth were engaged. There was one session where youth participated and
they were supportive of having a place to get some food. Uh there's as Will said there's a lot of uh >> that blue garage would have golden arches if you let them decide. But >> my kids would kill me if they graduated Milton High School. And there's a a
coffee shop goes in there, by the way. >> Even town hall um >> staff were very interested in the survey that was done. So I just um I just want to make uh you aware that there is a lot of data that can be brought forth um in
this process already. >> Would you be concerned well with that coffee cups coming in if there was a coffee shop there >> as a librarian? No, not at all. Um I we already have people coming in with coffee cups and maybe they leave some of
them at the coffee shop and not bring them to the library. So it might even be a benefit. But no, it that's um we do see you know 30 40 50 middle schoolers, high schoolers after school every day and it's great that they all feel welcome to come to the library. Um but
like I led with like there's not enough seats in the building sometimes. So having, you know, a place for them near the library that could be a stop on the way and kind of um another place for for people to go um after school while town hall people use it before they get out
of school and after. Um no, I I'm not concerned about that. >> Okay. And so Mr. Malone, you have a draft uh from the trustees for this? >> Yes, I received it. I have not yet distributed >> because it's not on it's just on for a
discussion tonight. So I think yes. So I think maybe um this has been very informative. I want to make sure if everyone's had the opportunity to ask all the questions that they have at the moment. >> Um so if that's the case then I think we'll we need to review that draft RFP.
Um and we'll um we should probably give some thought also to um you know how do we recruit citizens to be members of that um of a process if we decide to go in that direction. Um, but there's no there's uh I don't think any immediate action from us at the
moment other than just um learning more um from those documents and then continuing to get input from from everyone. >> Does that sound right to to folks? >> I just I just want to make one I agree. I make I want to make one final comment is
>> Mr. guys mentioned the fire station building committers. you know, I sat on that committee, especially during that long process here and um the neighbors of this neighborhood were intrical in this whole everything you've talked about every single I don't even know how many meet and they were clearly put
their footprint on fingerprints on what exists in this beautiful space today and as far as transformation of the old fire station which I still can't believe when I look at it today the creation of the new 21st century
current headquarters, the green space beside it, the walking path, the parking, the continuity to the COA, this building, the two churches, which I don't think people really realize unless you come to this building every day, especially the impact of how busy the center school, like this is a
busy, this is busy as a public school. I mean, this is a busy busy place and they push right up against us into >> um in to um your point about pressure on the parking. If people can park, they're going to try and use it. I mean, I'm
sure there are some people that go some the times will use the library parking. I mean, they just what Mr. Daily talked about it's a it's going to happen. And so I this is a big I just for me and I'm not a planner and I have no so I don't want to be ahead of my skis on this and
I just want to I'm fine with like let's give this some >> what do you call this soak yes this guy >> um the June 24 public forum was recorded I believe and I think that would be beneficial background information rather
than reading through documents uh for you all to um get an overview of what brought us to this point. >> June 24 of this year. >> Yeah, >> June 24. Was it June? >> June of 2024. The exact date in June. I'm not sure.
>> Oh, June. I see what you're saying. >> You have should be a link to it on the website, but I'll check. >> Yeah, if you have that, you could always send it to us just sbilmma.gov. Um so I think um unless there's any final comments um obviously this is a
big problem. It's a long-standing um issue and really appreciate um the persistence that you guys have shown um in trying to think about this and think creatively about it. Um, I think the select board will take uh some time to review the material and um and give this
some thought, but I think you can expect us to bring this back on the agenda in the in the future. >> Thank you. I want to leave you with one one last uh parting thought is if this does become a public private partnership, there is an
opportunity for new growth in revenue at a time at which we just passed a large override. >> Oh, we're aware of that. very much. >> You don't have to tell us that. We know all about that. We dream about that at night. >> All right. Thank you very much. And I think we're going to ask you to stay put
for a minute. >> I'm staying. >> Oh, all right. >> You're welcome to stay. >> So, uh, item number five is a departmental update from our library, our librarian, uh, library director. >> Library director. >> Yes.
>> He's a long way from being a librarian. He even comes and speaks at the state house. >> Yeah, that's right. Um I'll get to that probably. Uh >> okay, >> let's see. So, I might just um get for for folks
that are watching, we've had um over the last couple of months um different town departments come in and present on the departments, sort of the state of uh giving the select board and the town an update um and giving us an opportunity to ask some questions and just get to learn more about um the department. So,
we're very delighted to have as as the son of a librarian, which I always point out with Will, I'm always delighted to have the librarians, uh, and, uh, the library directors, uh, here with us. >> Thank you, uh, Mr. Chair. U again, Will Adams, your library director, and Jim
Potter, >> Jim Potter, chair of the trustees. Um, and we're happy to have a few moments because we haven't had enough moments with you tonight to talk a little bit about library services uh in Milton and uh what we've been doing and and where we're headed. Um, so tonight I'm just
going to look at some statewide fiscal 24 numbers because those are the most recent state provided library numbers. a review of fiscal 25 uh library usage, talking about digital and physical circulation of of materials, programming, some of the highlights and
improvements that uh that we've done at the library, and then shift gears into fiscal 26 where we find ourselves today. Um so this is a snapshot of some libraries um from fiscal 24. So, the Mass Board of
Library Commissioners breaks libraries into cohorts based on population size. Um, so you can see that we we're grouped in with towns um from Amherst out in Western Mass to Chelsea right in the Boston area. This is a cohort of about
of 51 libraries. Um so I'm showing you the the according to their uh circulation activity, which is the things that we check out. showing you the best, the worst, the middle, um, and then kind of where Milton fits in. We're we're number 20 when it comes to
circulation activity. So, from this, what I'll point out is while we're 42nd in population in this um, pool of libraries, we're in the top 20 or better for total usage. And, and again, usage
is how many books are checked out. Um, magazines, audio books, videos, DVDs, I should say. um circulation per capita. So the number of items our residents are taking out. Uh circulation but per full-time employee which um when we look
at numbers um we are doing more with less staffing. Um we get a good return on investment for the library staff that we have here uh in Milton. So that's just kind of a snapshot just to show you where we fit in in our cohort. Um,
looking at fiscal 25, which, you know, we finished a couple months back, our total collection usage was over 400,000 items. Again, that's a combination of things people are walking out the door with or they're sitting on their couch and downloading. It was a 14% increase
over the previous year. Um, and a 21% increase over a 5-year time period. Um, that number is a little funny because we were closed part of 5 years ago due to COVID. Um but we had a lot more digital use. So overall it's a 21% increase.
Digital numbers were up um 38% over fiscal 24. That number just keeps climbing. The highest increasing thing is audiobooks. People listening to audiobooks as they commute. Um it it was our highest number ever for digital usage. Um what this also means is
increased spending. Um libraries are able to get hardcover books at discount. we're able to get them for 15, 18 bucks or cheaper. Um, and we can put those on our shelf and we can have them there for 100 years. Uh, ebooks, and this is one of the reasons I was at the state house and I saw Richard
was um, uh, because ebooks cost $50. Digital audiobooks cost $100 for libraries and you can only use them for a year or 12 checkouts and then you got to buy them again and again and again. Um so we're working at the state level
um on trying to increase access, decrease prices. So um we have a bill that came favorably out of the um tourism, arts and culture committee uh on the on the Senate side and we're continuing to work with that.
But it what it means for Milton is it's increased spending. We're spending more on digital stuff than we are on print copies, but we still need both. Uh we also in uh introduced new platforms like Mango which is a language learning um um service in the past year. So physical
usage is is staying about steady. Um people are still checking out books and I'll talk a little bit more about um who is checking out those books. Um I just wanted to show you kind of a five-year picture. Again the top line there shows total usage is is increasing. uh digital
use peaked in 21 when we had COVID and now it it went down, normalized, and is coming back up. And you can see print circulation is right there in the middle kind of holding a solid line. This is just a a look at what people are
checking out. 46% are still physical print books. 45% is digital, some kind of digital thing, whether it's a magazine article, a book, an audio book. Uh, believe it or not, 5% is still DVDs. Um, that hasn't gone away. So, print is
dropping, digital is increasing. Um, what kinds of digital things are people using? More than half of it are ebooks or audio books. But there's also library offers streaming video, streaming music, magazines. And the other category kind
of catches whether it's language learning, uh databases with uh journal articles, uh we have um videos that help people learn how to use software, we have LinkedIn learning. So there's different things that fall into the other category.
And it's about a 50/50 split between children and families using library materials and adults using library materials with teens kind of making up that little splinter of 4%. However, 62% of our print usage is children's books.
62% it's families coming to those story times in the morning. Um digital, 80% adult. So there's more on offer digitally for adult. That makes sense. Um, we also offer programming. Uh, we
talked about that uh earlier. We are we're kind of plateauing a little bit around 20,000 21,000. And part of this is a capacity issue. Um, we we're we're limiting the number of people in programs, especially children's programs, because we can only fit so
many in the room. We can only fit so many cars in the parking lot. Um I wanted to point out um that while we see this number jump really high uh for the children's is is high above everything else. Most of our
programming is children's the teen line looks at the bottom kind of level but it's gone up 33% over last year. Um a two budgets ago we added a part-time position to our teen room to deal with um adding programming for the teens who were there after school and it's been
successful. We've offered more programs, more teens uh and tween have attended those. The adult programming, um we've had some turnover in the library over the last year with retirements and we're starting a brand new adult programming team. So, we'll see changes to adult programming coming in fiscal 26, new
types of programming. We're going to work on different times for the programming. So, you'll see some changes in those numbers. Um, and there's a couple of highlights of things that the library has accomplished over the last year and a half. Uh, we
hosted Calvin Henik as our third writer and residence. Uh, we've had three really successful writer and residence programs. Uh, we have a lot of um, really good writers in Milton and we've been able to build this program over the last three years. Uh we made
improvements to the story, our room and the children's room, both with technology, furniture, um painting, all from, you know, from the floor to the ceiling. We've installed two Nook study pods, which look like phone booths. If people remember what phone booths are,
they're individual study pods. They are somewhat sound dampening. Um they're used almost all day, especially in the afternoons. It blocks out the noise uh from the room around you. We're looking to add more of those to have provide quiet spaces. Uh we just had our fourth
annual openhouse last week. We had over 300 people attend that. That was one of the instances where we needed to get police detail. Um and we upgraded our online calendar and museum pass system. Again, programs. We have 20,000 people attending our programs. We're trying to
make it as easy as possible to register um and to make it as clear as possible how to do so. It also upgraded our museum pass system. The friends of the library provide museum passes. Um, and hundreds of people a year go at discounted rates to local museums.
Um, money. Can't get away without talking a little bit about money. Um, so the fiscal 26 library budget's approximately $1.9 million. Um, but we can't do everything we do just with that. Uh, we rely on approximately
200,000. and it goes higher than that, lower than that depending on projects from a combination of the library trustees trust funds um from the friends of the library who pay for all of the programming. They pay for the performers and the materials needed. Uh they pay
for the museum passes. The foundation pays for pilot projects. They pay for ebooks. Um but they all together cover staff development, programming, digital content, speakers, and so on. Again, the the fiscal 26 budget is
status quo for the library. We have one and a half positions that remain unfunded that were previously um approved. Our books and materials are funded to the state minimum requirement. I'll emphasize the word minimum requirement. That's why we rely on the friends, the foundation, and the
trustees to boost it above that. Uh just of noted, this is the same with many departments. We're in the final year of our union contract. Um, other than that, the budget increased due to inflation for for utilities. Um, I just want to point out our
strategic priorities. I'm not going to, um, read them all to you, but the library does a lot of its work based on our strategic plan. We're in the fourth year of a five-year strategic plan that identified the library as a community hub, a place that should provide excellent customer service that should
offer access to all kinds of collections and services and to provide program uh programming for all ages for our residents. This year, we're going to continue working on our speaker series. Last year, we had Dennis Lehane, which was a really well attended program up at the
high school. We're looking at 24-hour book lockers where people can pick up books on hold um after hours from the library. That'd be outside the the main branch. Um we're going to continue our open house events. Uh we are expanding our patron point system. What this is is
it's a email system that it's a welcoming package to new library users. It's something we started this year. Uh we've had staffing changes like I referenced. Uh we we've had retirements, but we've also had promotions. Uh so we've done some restructuring within um
the library and we've taken more of a team approach um so we can use more of everybody's talents and we've already talked about parking. Um we're also have initiatives around staff training and development conference attendance um certifi
certification opportunities uh for our uh library assistants. I referenced the ebook bill that I've been working on with the Mass Library Association. We also have a freedom to read bill which is an anti-censorship bill uh that also came out of that same um uh joint
committee in the state house. Uh we're optimistic that could be signed um ban books week in October. Uh we're working with um the ACLU among others on that bill. Um and I'm sure you all know the state budget looks grand so we're not
expecting any increases in state funding for um library use. I don't know if I use that word. >> I know. I'm sorry. Um, we I was on a call with the Mass Board of Library Commissioners this week. Um, state aid the public libraries is something that
we rely on. It's been about $60 to $70,000 uh in funding that we get on an annual basis based on how well used the Milton Public Library is. Um, and this is usually to pay for things outside of the budget, whether a computer dies, a
printer dies, or something like that. We're not expecting increases uh from the state this year. Um that was fairly quick, but I hope I covered a lot of things. Um I just take the opportunity to thank all of the library staff who are great and they're the welcoming
faces that people see. They don't um always see me at the front door, but they see our circulation staff, our children staff, our adult services and teen staff every day. Um and they're what uh makes us work. So, uh, thank you to the to the library staff and the support of, uh, Jim and the trustees.
And >> if I could just if I could just add, uh, Milton has one of the best libraries in the Commonwealth, and that's because of Will and Sarah and the team. So, I want to recognize their efforts and their service to the community. >> Thank you, >> thank you. Uh, questions from the members.
>> Should we make a motion, give them a raise? >> Yeah. >> Could I move that? No. >> You have a lot. Go ahead. you go first. >> I don't think the chair goes first. I think the chair usually I'll start. I'll start. I I do I do I
want to um you know e echo all the thanks that's going around. I I liked seeing your um your your goals and I do I believe that um you do very well at being a community hub um and trying to
find ways to offer um opportunities and services for all um for all of our residents. Um, and my kids really have always enjoyed the library and we probably have a lot of
books in in bookcases that are due back. So, >> we're fine free now. So, bring them back anytime. >> So, um Oh, >> you said you needed money. >> I know. >> Um, but so, um, the book Dropbox, that seems
like an interesting project. Can you speak a little bit more to that? like what efficiencies does that achieve or is that an efficiency measure or just a a service? >> Yeah, it it's it's a it's more of a service. It's an efficiency for our
users, a service from the library. It's something that we've heard in focus groups that we did during the strategic planning and kind of continue to do on a regular basis. >> There are we have we're open a lot of hours um but we're not open always the best hours for all our residents. So
what this would do is it would provide um access to people whether it's before they go to work after you know after work shift later in the evening where they can pick up books that they've put on hold. >> Um so it's just it's more of a convenience uh for people who can't get
to us when when we're currently open. >> Uh and if it's something that's successful uh because we've we're expecting it to be because we've had call for it. It's something that the library could consider putting in other places throughout the community. >> Mhm.
>> Do you have like nighttime or off hours drop off? >> We have 24-hour drop off. Yeah. This is more pickup than drop off. We have 24-hour uh drop off. Yeah. >> So, if you're feeling bad about the books to like knock at the books back, >> you can do it. You can do it in the
middle of the night. No one will see it. Just put them right in. >> I'm still reading that. No, thank you. >> No, thank you very much, >> Mr. Staley. >> Um Yeah. Thank you for being here. I'm at the library a fair amount, whether donating a lot of books, which I've been doing recently, or just to get out of my
house when I'm working from home. So, I think the only question I would have is uh do you aside parking, are there any needs or struggles that the library is having right now? >> Yeah, I I I'd say I mentioned we're kind
of at we're at capacity. Um we to do anything else, uh we need people. So that one and a half positions that we identified a few years ago um would help with being able to add more programming at different times of day. You know, we'd be able to spread it out among more
children's librarians. We've been working harder on outreach. So anytime the teen librarian might go off site to a school late in the day or do something afterwards, it leaves a blank. You know, we're we're fairly tight ship. So our need is
staffing. Um, that's our primary need. I will say keep donating books. The library book shop um makes close to $18,000 a year selling used books and that goes directly into library programming. So that's great. So thank you.
>> That's amazing, Mr. W. >> Thank you. So a couple things. Um, clearly I have in my personal life I have a relationship with a foundation through another foundation and you've done some pretty good work there and I think we've done a lot to support that
over the years. Um, >> I just a a true story. Um, two weeks ago I traveled with 30 legislators to Ireland in Northern Ireland on a trade mission and it was my 19th trip in my life. But it was the first kind of
amazing that I'm walking the streets of both Northern Ireland Parliament and the two days later the uh Parliament of Dublin. But uh several years ago, the speaker at
the Cloud Ref Galla Foundation was a gentleman by the name of Patrick Keefe. And I believe Patrick went to Mel Academy. Am I correct? Mil Academy. Grew up in >> D. Yeah. >> And the review he gave was on a book called Say Nothing.
>> And there's a story of the the Northern Ireland troubles in a murder investigation that happened many many years ago. Bestselling book. and he provided a riveting I think he read a little bit from it that night and uh I bought it the next day and read it and I've I've given it to many others to read because it it's
it's a very riveting >> but I did speak of about this book last week when I walked the Shankill road in the north of Ireland one of the most violent streets ever existed in all of North America all of Europe and uh I made reference to his book and actually
referred it to some of my colleagues that they should buy it and read it and I would have never met him or read that book had I not attended that series. So my last point is a point of severe disappointment and I feel heartbroken for your
colleague and my friend library trustee John Folkarelli who for the past eight years fought so diligently on the capital committee which I happen to chair to get a generator for your facility
>> to allow in the event of a power failure in the world and you talked us about how much you rely on electronic devices for so many things today. >> And John was able to get we were able to get that passage through town meeting this year. And I just want you all to
know without John's advocacy, it probably wouldn't have happened. And and he sat through a lot of nos, at least five years of nos like, "Sorry, John, we can't fund it. Sorry John, we can't fund it." And this year, we were able to finally fund it. And I say this with a bit of humor because it's an
important thing and it's an important aspect for your facility, the infrastructure of your facility moving forward in the 21st century. So, congrats to all of you on that and thank you all. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Appreciate that. Thank you. >> I'm sure John will get a kick out of those comments.
>> So, u I add my thanks. Uh I think the library is is one of the the jewels of Milton. It's just such a fantastic resource for really everyone in town. Uh regardless of of your background, of your age. Um the library has something
for you. Um the one thing I I you know, from your presentation, I we we just talked about parking for for ages, so I I don't want to, you know, make you stay up here for too much longer, but one thing really jumped out at me was uh discussion around banned books and and censorship.
Um this is something and I you know we don't often talk about what's going on on the national stage in in our meetings here but it's something that's very concerning to me uh that we're seeing an uptick in this uh at at the state level uh in different parts of the country and
I worry very strongly that it may end up happening at the national level as well. Could you speak a little bit about what that uh what those activities look like and what the sort of general um scuttlebutt is in the library community on this issue?
>> Yes. Uh thanks for the question. Um I'm always hesitant to talk about it because we always feel like we're inviting it when we speak of it. Um, but I will say this, you know, about two months ago, I sat through um three hours of testimony at the state house on on a on a freedom
to read bill and listen to stories of librarians throughout the Commonwealth uh both public school librarians, public librarians, um telling stories of um books being banned, but also leading to harassment
of staff. um widespread um congregations of people trying to stop whether it's a program or get books out of libraries. I will say this, Massachusetts um has been in the top five of states for banned um not banned
books but challenged books. Um the predominantly from outside actors uh actors from outside of our commonwealth. Um it is more of a the bookbanning groups are more national. Uh they're
from um the states you would expect them to be from. Uh and they um give kind of a this this is what you read this or they give lists of up to a 100 books to residents in all the states and say go
to your school committee and have these removed from your school library or go to your public library. So usually it comes in the form of a blanket list that we all kind of see the same books on this list. Um but the the the bannings
predominantly um are challenging books by um uh especially the black community uh any people of color. Uh they uh go after the queer community, the LGBTQ plus community. uh it's it's those
communities that are being hit the hardest because those are voices that are being silenced. Um so while the librarians might be facing the person who's angry that the book's there, it's these voices that are being silenced and it's it's children or adults or whoever
who might want to come in and read a book that is by someone who looks like them or by somebody who feels like them. And those books are could not be in those libraries eventually. I'm not overly concerned in Massachusetts. I
think that um our legislature um and most of our communities are strongly support uh the freedom to read. Um and it's an anti-ensorship community that we generally live in. But but there are communities around us especially in the public schools um that
are facing challenges on a regular basis. Um the Mass Library Association and the Mass Board of Library Commissioners offer as much assistance and help as possible. Uh we've worked with the ACLU and the Mass ACLU. We've worked with a number of other nonprofits
um as the challenges are are coming at different groups. Um so we've worked with them. Um Mil the Milton Public Library has not um had to deal with any kind of real formal challenges. Um and I'm really grateful
for that. we have a very good community when it comes to that. Um, but you never know when it's going to happen. Um, so the library tries to be prepared. The trustees, uh, we have a policy for challenging books and what the what we would go through and the review process
for that. Um, but it would be nice to have, um, some support from some sort of statewide bill that could come down into the communities as well. Um, I don't want to be doom and gloom. Like the state's great. We're celebrating diversity. we're celebrating all these different voices. Um, and it's because
we're celebrating those voices and trying to make them um, accessible to all that we're getting push back. Um, but again, it's mostly small groups and usually not in the community where the challenges are being faced. >> So, I don't I overdid that answer, but
>> no, you did not. You you did it justice, I think. And um I think the you know one of the first rules for resisting authoritarianism is do not voluntarily give in >> right >> and you know that that we're putting these uh methods in place that we're
thinking actively about what we would do in these circumstances. I think you're to be commended on that. Great. >> So thank you for your advocacy on that and for your planning on that. >> Thank you. >> Any further questions from the board? >> 8:30. Let's let them go home. >> Let's let them go home. Thank you for your time tonight.
Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> So, we have our on our agenda. Our next item is town council services. Uh Mr. Milano, do you want to kick us off on this one? Are are you recusing yourself, Mr. Just using Okay.
>> Okay. I didn't think so. Different kind of recusal. You want us to wait for you on this? >> Uh Mr. Milan, do you want to kick us off? as I don't know if you have anything to add from our last conversation. >> I don't think so. Um happy to answer any questions. I I do want to note that we
did get a um an email from attorney Jay Talon from me Talman Costa with some additional um background on their um roster of attorneys and their experience. Uh I distributed that to the select board um today. Um, other than
that, uh, the me the board received attorney Goldberg's, um, email last week, um, with additional information as well. Um, so available for any questions, but I don't have anything else to add unless there's something specific. >> No. Um, and I I want to thank you also. You gave me the names of three individuals. One of the numbers what
didn't work, but the other two did. Um and I spoke with um the select board chair of uh in Manson, Josh Lavine, uh and also the the chair of the city council in Haveril, Tom Sullivan, today. Um they're both uh both towns have uh
switched to MTC. Uh and they both towns have been extremely happy with the services that they've been receiving through them. Uh I I think Tom in particular has known um members from that firm for for a long time. But uh both of them um had nothing but good
things to say and said that uh MTC was a firm that they they would recommend highly. Um they found that they would get quick concise answers uh on uh any number of topics. And um while uh you know I asked about the depth at MTC um
they said that they didn't doubt that they had that depth but really they always felt like the the the attorneys that they were working with and I think in Manson it was Jay um were able to usually give them answers so quickly that they were they they felt like you know if they were relying on the the
depth they they didn't even know about it because it was the turnaround was so fast on uh on their their questions. So I was suitably impressed. um with that. So, I don't know if we want to discuss uh any further. We we had a conversation. We've had a couple of
conversations about this. There's four firms that have um put applications in. Um I'm happy to, you know, have more discussion or I you know, I can also take a motion. Well, I um you know, I took the opportunity with more time to speak to
some folks who um who participated in the the screening committee. Um a lot of them really um had had good thing. I mean, these are
all good firms first and foremost. every single one of them um is really good and really qualified. Um the when I spoke to folks, KP was um far and away the um
the the best um the best firm, you know, just just talking with everybody. Um, and the the more the more I've reflected and considered, I think that, you know, given that this is a shift,
um, for me, as I mentioned at our last meeting, it was really between KP and me Talman, I really like them both. Um, I think, you know, being slightly more riskaverse just given their their size,
um, their their bench. Um, I'm I'm now slightly more inclined toward KP. Um, >> okay. >> That's just my thought. >> Mr. W.
>> So, I think I want to take a minute here to reflect on because I think We're going to make a decision here tonight. That's regardless of what decision we make. So, I want to talk first about because it looks like we're going to make a change in direction. I think that's what
>> even if I voted not to. I I think that the three of you and and I really want to talk for a minute because sorry, I've said this previously. you know, Murphy Hessie has been entrenched here for all my almost all my
professional career, which is now almost four decades. And and in talking, I did the same as um Miss Haggedy did. I talked to Chair Con, Chair ZBA, town moderator, former colleagues, colleagues
in Denim who who used K because I wanted to find out a little bit about more K about KP. Um, and I don't I think it's appropriate that if if it is going to make I think it's important to make note of just how much
Murphy Hessie Tuman has shaped so many projects um in this town. We wouldn't I mean I've been on this board for 9 years and those nine years we've approved over 500 affordable you know projects see you know projects that are across the town some of them were tough 7-Eleven rand
was a really tough we went all the way to the SJC we w up going to outside council and that was but they've been in contracts and disasters and co and so many things um John Flynn and Michael Hayne especially um intricate parts
Michael Hayne on his time on the labor many years as labor council um have really done yman's work for this community and and um I just want to thank them for everything they've done. Um I know many of them
personally. Um I was impressed with Miss is it Miss Connley though who um who came in? I I've not met her. I was on Zoom when she came with Caris and Katherine. I've heard many good things about her, but
um it appears this is going to happen. And so given that um and especially I was very impressed with attorney Goldberg. I really was. and in in and I give great weight. Some people tease me because histo Katie Conn
and I ran against each other but became close colleagues for eight years and um I give great weight to what she thinks particularly on legal things because that has been her baby for as long as I've known her from her time of the
warrant committee to on the select board to everything is been about and she meant she said to me like she said if you're going to go second KP is the way to go. And um Kathleen O'Donnell called me right away as soon as she got home.
She'd been on vac. She was texting me from I think she was in Iceland. And then you know these are people who and John Cannon who's probably our most senior chair was happy with Murphy Hessie but felt KP Law and know know the
depth the bench their history their involvement because even when you see the things and I think about you know we get you guys are new you've just started getting you get those um emails from Murphy Hessie on on updates those are things that are really
important and I with regard to KP P on a big broad spectrum. They have that they have that bench. They have a bullpin. They have that record. And just look at the issues that you two are dealing with. And you've been here what? Five month. Is it even 5 months? And I
don't even know. But I mean, you deal with this. This is I said, you know, we're going to make a decision tonight is going to affect every board and committee we've talked about and boards that are going to be here. Definitely beyond me and probably all of us. And so
in in that tone, I agree with Miss Hagerty. I I do think that um KP Law would be the best fit given their breath of experience and the bench and their their work ethic. I mean, I was kid Dam had great things to say and that was um
I wanted to be really sure because this I had to really think about this even though we all know there have been hiccups here that have caused us some conststonation recently. Murphy Hessie has been in so many battles here that I can't even, you know, they helped shape
the town into what it is today. >> Thank you, M. Mr. Daily, do you have thoughts? >> Uh, I'll be brief. I think we should move to vote, but um at our last meeting said we'd have some conversations and I had those with uh town employees as well as just residents and folks with some
history in the town. And I think all four firms are great. Uh Murphy Hessie, I appreciate um obviously I've not been in town for 40 years, but I appreciate the history and member Wells, what you've said, um always resonates with me about what this means to the town and
the folks that have been here and have put a lot of work in um in building the town as well. So, not a decision that we take lightly. um replacing uh a firm that has been so integral in Milton and made so many
decisions, but uh you know sometimes the time comes for change and I think three firms have been really impressive and I think I don't think there's a there's a wrong way to go. Uh but I think perhaps it's time for us to take this vote.
>> You want a motion? >> I will take a motion. >> I'll make a motion. Is this in here? This is the motion here. Yeah. >> So, I'll make a motion to approve town council service. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, yeah. I should have looked down for that. >> We have to vote.
>> I'll move to appoint the law firm of KP Law PC for town council services and Milton Mass subject to fee negotiation the approval of a letter of engagement by the select board. >> Do we have to vote on who each are? We all >> we all vote. Well, unless somebody wants
to make a motion on this. I mean, this there's a motion. Well, I'll make it with the point of discussion and then if someone wants to second and it won't we can >> I'll second. >> I hope so >> for the sake of discuss >> the point of discussion. >> You want to go in a different direction? >> No. Okay. >> I I don't want to. I mean I I'm fine with this. I, you know, I talked with
attorney Goldberg uh at length after one of our meetings and was I think you know she uh had paid close attention to our discussion and debate and had some very thoughtful comments and I had encouraged her to >> uh circulate them to uh to everyone which I think she's done.
>> Um and uh so I I I very fine with this. I think as uh both all members have said this is a a big decision not one that we take lightly. something that I think all of the firms know that we've we've spent a lot of time thinking about this. Um, but I think, you know, I think for the
town's sake, we it would it will be uh positive to to make a change and to move in this direction. So, I've seconded the motion. Any further discussion on this? >> No, my question was only for process. My vote would have been for KP as well. >> Okay. Uh well, so all uh those in favor
of appointing KP for town council services um I I >> I opposed. >> Okay. So that's unanimous, which is I think the way that it should be. So we'll go ahead. Mr. Milano, you'll go ahead um and start with a negoti the uh
approval of a letter of engagement um for the select board. >> Yes, I can um I can follow up attorney Goldberg and request that they submit a letter of um engagement. Um, and I do think we should push on the fee. Um, as there's, as this board has discussed,
there was a close second that had a lower fee. So, I think we should really push on that fee and um, I'll report back to the board and hopefully we can get that >> engagement wrapped up. >> I would agree with that and I they have given us indication that they would consider that. Yeah. So, I think that's >> Wouldn't you? >> I would. Yeah.
>> Uh, Mr. Chair, if I could I just want to just second all the comments about the relationship with Murphy Hessie. I think if I have the same rapport and relationship with the with Darren Klein who will be the primary contact and Lauren who's the secondary contact at KP Law as we have that I have with Peter
Melo will be in in really good shape and um one of the other firms um spoke about I I liked how they characterize being part of the team and I feel like Peter has been that for us um and for myself in particular and I think um that's um
if we can get that out of them we'll be in really good shape. ape and I appreciate um the comments around MHTL and and the process that this board uh undertook. So just wanted to add that. Thank you. And I I would say also a note of thanks to Mr. Melo specifically. I worked closely with him for a couple of
years. Um I find him to be um extraordinarily smart um very uh knowledgeable in in all fields. um I ultimately correct uh in all of the advice that he had given us around the MBTA communities which was quite a
fraught um discussion as we all know um and um I am really grateful for the time that he has spent on working for this town and I've appreciated him uh as a person as well as as a colleague. So I I
would second all those uh those thoughts. So, with that, um, I'm going to move, uh, to put the select board at recess so that we can, uh, convene a meeting of the Governor Soten Trustees. Can I get a second? I'll second. I'll second. Thank you. All in favor of being at recess or
do we need a We don't need a vote in recess, do we? >> The chair can declare. >> I'll just recess. Thank you. >> I'll just declare it. Um, so we are going to uh now uh call to order uh the meeting of the Governor Stoen trustees uh for September 9th. Um we are going to
discuss uh discuss update approve report from the town farm review committee. Um and then um we have uh also the RFP process to discuss. So Mr. Milano is there uh the town farm review committee's report. Is there are there
actions for from us needed on that? >> No, I've just left it on the agenda as it's all tied together. So um we had been providing the report and the review comments. We received also some individual comments from members who served on that committee. So we had distributed those at at this in prior meetings. Um so no action needed for the
trust. I just had um left it on there just to refer to those reports. >> Okay. So I we're at a a point here I think where we'll be discussing the RFPs that that were ultimately submitted I believe uh in the fall of 2023.
Uh and uh here we are uh almost 2 years later. Um the um this is obviously a a process that has gotten a lot of people interested and involved, a lot of conversations.
Um we had some uh uh citizen speak comments which we can uh address uh shortly. I think um this is uh this is a story that goes back o over 300 years uh
to the death of of Governor Stoton. Um, and the will in which he left this property to the town. A will that I've noted previously also included uh the a slave uh as well as other uh property to give you an idea of how long ago but
also not how long ago. Uh this uh this issue has gone back uh it's a land whose history we've discussed in detail. um for many years uh functioned as a poor farm for the town. Uh functioned as housing uh for poor residents of the
town um and until recently was almost well we should say questionably used for an animal shelter which we now have a beautiful new animal shelter in a in a different location. Um, but we are at a point here, I think, where we're um going to discuss uh the approval or
possible approval uh from the Milton Partnership for Community Reinvestment LLC. So, with that, I'll uh open up the floor to comments or thoughts from the members. I'll go last. I'll wait.
I'm I two things. First, I would uh like to hear from Nick on a couple of the questions that were asked uh by Roxan MTO just so we could have some clarity because I think there's some questions that have been asked today about our process and if member Wells would
indulge us, I would love to hear his thoughts in terms of the history of the land and where we are with this RFP. So, the question was asked, who owns the land and who would pay for the infrastructure and the legal? Would you mind taking us through kind of the process just for the folks who are listening right now where we are as to
how we got here? Who owns the land? >> Yes. The land was gifted to the town of Milton to be used by um the selectman um for the >> poor of Milton. So it's it's in a it's considered to be in a charitable trust and the governor Stoen trustees are the
selectman. Um so it's a charitable trust. So owned by the town but managed by the trustees um around this table. Um, in terms of infrastructure, we spoke a bit about this at the prior meeting, but um, it's not the town's
responsibility to um, connect any private development. Um, so it would be on the applicant or any developer or any any use really going in there to connect to the existing um, water and sewer um, infrastructure to adhere to storm water
regulations on um, drainage um, and storm water. Um, and that goes beyond just tying in, they have to validate that their additional flows or or consumption wouldn't negatively impact the rest of the system. And if the system can't handle it, that applicant and developer is expected to um pay for
the cost of the upgrades. And that is how projects are handled wherever they are in Milton today. Um, in terms of street infrastructure, obviously that's a public way, Governor Stoton Lane, that goes up to the town farm. Um if improvements are uh requested as
through the land dispos any any land disposition agreement um that is negotiated that may be on the applicant it might be on through a grant program. So different options in order once you get start talking about public infrastructure in terms of the public ways that surround the project. Um again
that's that could have any number of funding sources and also could be negotiated as part of um an ultimate lease or land disposition agreement. Um she had also asked about legal um town council has always managed and responded
on legal matters um um as part of their purview and and their work for the town. >> Yes. Um my view on this um and having had a discussion with this at the affordable housing trust is that this RFP has been out going on almost three
years without us making a decision. Um what is proposed is 35 units all rentals affordable which is in line with the charge of the land. And I think since we've gone through the RFP
process, it does behoove us to finally make this decision. >> Okay. Go ahead. Go ahead. >> Well, this is why I wanted to hear from Gohead. This is why I wanted to hear from you, Richard, >> as to what would be our reason to not
make this decision tonight. >> Three words. So, a little bit history. >> Oh, there's more than three words. >> Poor Milton. So um for most of my at least since the animal shelter went up there in the 80 for most of my this it was his wood lot and he
left it to the selectman of Milton for the poor Milton be honest in the 50 years maybe more than that I don't even know how old those structures are. It was just rental for town employees. It was never and the amount of money in the trust was minimal. and prior select
boards, they just weren't in the we didn't have the money and they weren't really in the philanthropic business. Um, in 20 full disclosure, in 2009, they the town of Suck long before I ever even dreamt of being here, um, put out
two two RFPs for no a big RFP for 34 acres. I believe it was 34 acres of of the land. The biggest part, >> I think. Yeah. >> Yes. 38 total, I think. And they put out 34 whatever. whatever it left for. >> Mhm. >> Um the high bidder was PY Holmes at $5
million. >> The S would pick that and I get that it was the the the other one was a three something million, but it preserved the land. It wouldn't have it was it was it gave you X like $3 million or 2.75, but the the land would
be untouched. It would remain um pristine. So supple picked it and um the AG approved it. The AG came in the because this is anything that this this is not our decision. This is going to go to the attorney general's office. >> The AG approved it and part of the
reason that they approved it was because the bulk of the money which I think PY and the select board and the AG had to agree. Murphy Hessie negotiated that and I kind of agree with it. instead of throwing the five m million in a pot and
let you know a board come in and spend all five million that sucks spend the interest and it was at that point and that I saw that finally the two main benefactors that we fund in the annual and you guys haven't been
here yet but you're going to see it cuz as Mr. Zos and M they're going to come here which are the Milt food pantry and Milton residence fund and I believe we give them almost all of it. I don't think we keep any of the I think we spend almost the entire interest in co we doubled down triple down we gave you
every every poor person we could fund we did in 2017 I was a brand new select man member of the select board and I was on affordable housing trust and I went to my first meeting and there was a letter for me to sign the other members of the
affordable housing had a letter asking this board for $2.5 million of the five million And I almost signed it. And I think I called Dan Marie who was a
John Flynn called the AG and within 24 hours the attorney general who was I believe Mara Haley. It was Mar Hilly. Um absolutely not. And determined that affordable housing was not the poor of Milton. And that led and we didn't do
that. Um, I'm a I'll be very honest with you, Mr. Z already knows this. I'm a strong advocate for the poor of this community. I'd spent every nickel that I had to put into these houses. These there are
people in this town who barely get by. Heat, food, I mean, food insecurity are real, real things. And when Normie Dolan and Pat come into this room and you listen to them, um, it's compelling. And in this town, when
you ride around all day long, you won't see it. And you won't know it. And you can't see through front doors, and you won't know it. But they, I'm sure, you know, the way I'm talking right now that it exists. This proposal doesn't do anything for that. It doesn't. It's how you afford it. 50,000 a year for 10 years. They'll
be screaming us worse than the Quarry Hills development that we did. I mean, what's value of $10,000 50 years from now? What is it? 500,000 to the devel and and then another request from the affordable housing trust in my mind in everything I've ever known
about the poor of this community and the intention and every select board member I've ever sat with and probably one of the ones who was so articulate and lived this so daytoday was Melinda Collins cuz that
was her life and if you know her she's very softspoken very but very bright and very hardworking and she got it and she would make sure that we live by this and as much as you may need and I've supported every affordable housing project with vote on since I got here
except this one this this and I sat all day today listening on housing issues on on on the hill and just this Mr. the daily does not meet that requirement because I know and what the way you've been told oh yeah it's affordable
housing is and I I've heard the comment and they're right because that is our mission our mission is to use every available dollar of the governor stand whatever we can take in I mean I said this to you a long time ago when we had $5 million on the table
you're 2.5 million for one foundation 2.5 million for another and that was part of the delay Mr. and we went to the AG's office that would have put $2 million infused 2 million in cash into the trust and 3 million built a brand new element shelter and refurbish those three homes
with with three affordable uh five affordable units. We didn't go for it. So now we're faced with 10,000 a year for 50 years. I just there's a saying I learned when I was a young cop.
If it doesn't look good and it doesn't taste good and it doesn't feel good, it's probably not right. >> No, I'm not just I'm sorry. I'm just talking myself. I'm just talking >> Well, you're talking town. >> Yeah, but I I'm like I think you know why I'm speaking the way I am and where
I'm at. But I'm I'm not deni I'm not I'm not my nine years into this thing I've learned the most as a governor stone trustee is fight for the poor Milton and that's how I believe.
>> So I'm going to take um a couple of points of issue with your contentions there Mr. Wells. Um, so first, um, the $5 million, no one doubts that that money is goes to extremely good purposes. Nobody's arguing that point.
Um, when that development was made, no thought was given to putting an affordable housing element into that. >> It was was part of the RFP. We have for years said no to projects and to our utter I
would say in some cases just look at what's happening in East Milton with the Falcone development >> but it's being built >> a planning board shot down a 50 plus unit uh with parking because they didn't like the way that it looks. They thought it destroys the character of the town.
developer goes out, comes back with 90 units, no parking. That's what you get when you say no. When we talk about looking out for the poor of Milton, we don't just mean writing checks to the people who can't afford food. We're talking about a lot of people who are getting stretched to the limit in town
and in their ability to live here and their ability to stay here. I a friend of mine just had to leave Milton because she was not able to afford to stay here anymore. Uh, and that is is a situation that we see time and time again. And
we're only going to continue to see that if we keep holding up these banners. If this is the way that it worked for 50 years, this is the way that it's good. When this will was written, the poor of Milton meant something entirely different than it means today. Entirely different. It meant people who did not
own land, who would not be considered residents. Uh, it meant like indigence, transients, people that were passing through. uh it meant all manner of people and that we would now try to draw a line and say when we say the poor Milton the only people that we're talking about are is this subsection
here I think is folly and I absolutely object to the false disinformation that's been spread on Facebook and other places about this process if we sold that how many how many units are in the PY development about 20 >> I think there's 30
>> 30 units in the in the PY development So, 30 units in the PY development. I'm just going to break out my calculator because I I I'm sorry. >> 23. >> 23. Okay. Sorry. We have somebody in the audience who knows. 23 units. Uh, so we got $5 million
>> for 23 units. Best case scenario of that existing land. Maybe you get another two, three units on it. Um, let's call it three. But $5 million divided by 23 is about $217,000 per unit. A little over. I'll call it
218 just to be generous. >> $218,000 in if it was put, you know, let's say there's three of those and it's put into an endowment that spit which is how the current one functions and spins off about 5% which who knows how that's
going to be. It's a it's about $30,000 a year. Okay. So, we're we're screaming here about getting $10,000 a year where we would be getting $30,000 a year if this was put into an endowment. So, we're still getting affordable housing. We're benefiting a
number of Milton residents with that affordable housing. Yes. Can somebody who can afford that? Would we, you think of them as a poor shoeless popper from the 18th century? No. But they certainly could use the help and they could certainly with this housing market use
the place to live. So who's not going to make a ton of money on this? Who's building affordable housing so that that we control rather than have 40 bees foisted on us by outside development? And to turn this into some kind of a crusade or to say that we're out here destroying the character of Milton that
this is exactly what the land was given for was for affordable housing. The Boston Globe did a story about this. It's outrageous how this has been dragged and dragged and dragged for years under your leadership too, Mr. Wells. And so to say to sit here and say
that we don't care about the poor of Milton because we're thinking about building affordable housing on a poor farm, I don't know how you get those words out of your mouth without with a straight face cuz I think that is ludicrous. And I think you should be ashamed of yourself for making those allegations. And to say that it doesn't smell right to to suggest that we're
involved in some sort of duplicitous activity here. it's going to hurt the town. I think you should be ashamed of yourself. That is not it's not what we're up to here. And I think if anybody is going to sit here and make those charges, they better have some facts
behind them. It can't just be old stories about how you've been here for 40 years and this is what the poor people in Milton deal with. I appreciate everything you do for the poor. You know that you drove my son my son around in your van and he helped you out in Dorchester with or in Roxbury with feed my kids. I I better not feed my kids
with My Brother's Keeper. I appreciate what you do, but when you turn around and you malign this board and you suggest that we're engaged in some You said that it doesn't smell right and we're going to do it. >> I'm sorry that you don't think it smells right. To me,
>> to me that suggests impropriy and it suggests that we're somehow working a deal here. And I strongly strongly condemn those remarks. Does anybody else have anything they'd like to say about this? >> I have a question about process.
>> Yeah, >> Mr. Milano. Um, if we are to vote in approval of this RFP tonight, what are our next
steps? There are probably more hurdles for negotiation, etc. to get to like a final like there has to be like a financing package put together. There needs to be final
agreement on number of units etc. Can you walk the rest of us through like what we have uh in terms of initiation of a project? Like what do we a what are we voting to approve just for
you know to get that out on the table to make it clear to everyone and b what are the next steps before like this is a real thing? It's almost similar to the vote that was taken around town council where it's
it's to um select um a proposal and to enter into negotiations. The RFP contemplates basically two-step process which is first a land disposition agreement that binds the two parties to say >> this is the broad strokes of what we're going to agree to do as we work out the
details of a lease agreement. So the first would be working towards a land disposition agreement that would touch on number of units. Um address some of the questions around infrastructure. Um clarify information around funding and financing and feasibility um financial
feasibility of the applicant >> prior to an any lease agreement between the trust and any applicant. So there is the RFP contemplates two steps, two separate agreements um and a negotiation throughout on that.
>> So there are still terms that we have to agree upon with the developer. >> That's correct. >> And it >> Yeah. So we >> like this theoretically I mean it's been two years
>> we we don't even know if the numbers necessarily work out at this point. >> That's correct. >> So we have we still have a little bit of a road to travel on this. We would be selecting our candidate to develop the site. >> I think you have to go to the AG first
with it. >> Okay. Yeah. >> You leave that. That is that is a good point and I should have mentioned that you have to go to the agent where >> it's what they have we have gone previously on multiple occasions different members of the board um going back a number of years and overarching
comment is come to us when you have a proposal to move forward to the next step in a serious way for the them to actually render their opinion on whether >> they can approve it as a matter of course through public charities or whether they would think it would need to go through the court system to get
relief from the restrictions of the trust. Um and that that is where the discussion around um poor Milton um will will focus >> which is a major hurdle. >> That's the only picture I was painting
>> is how hard this has been. If I think it would just would be helpful also to clarify and I >> typically when we talk about affordable housing projects in Milton, we're we're in the 40B mindset where they're predominantly market rate and 25% affordable and typically that affordability is at 80% of AMI.
>> This project was put out to bid or the RFP was crafted to explicitly um change those terms. So 50% anybody that wanted to propose and respond to the RFP had to have 50% of the units be affordable. So, not 25% under a normal 4B by 50%. Both
proposals um I believe were both 100% affordable. The one from Milton Partnership for Community Reinvestment proposes 100% affordable units at 60% of AMI for the most part and several units at 30% of AMI. So, I
>> think it's it's five at 30. So, I I think typically we are thinking in the 40B world. This is a little bit different. So, I just wanted to make sure um we that was um a reminder. >> And just if I may, as long as you're
going through the statistics, we it's illegal for the town to request something to be 100% for current residents of the town. And we've maxed out, I believe, on the percentage that we can request for um preference for Milton residents. >> Correct.
So, >> so to suggest that we we could somehow provide more residents with homes through this is false. >> Go ahead, Mr. Daly. >> So, I think um connection and context important for this.
So there is a space where if we go to DAG and say this is is our next step for providing services and access to the poor is affordable units at the town farm with five at 30% and 30 at 60% they may say
AG could say no. Um the other piece and I think um is a context of what affordable means in Milton cuz right now we have the units at the ice house and they have not
released their affordable um lottery. We have numerous people that are reaching out either to the affordable housing trust or people individually Milton residents who are waiting for that lottery to be released
to member wells. >> Always is every time. >> So to say that the units would not go to Milton residents I think is a wrong framing. There is a large chance that it will go to mostly people in Milton if it's available.
>> 30% by law cannot, >> right? But 70% can't, right? It's 24 units. >> 24 units at at the town farm, more units at the ice house. I think we are providing a great service to the folks that are currently here, even if it's in
a rental space. given what rents are in Boston, where rents are in our surrounding areas. Um the number of people that have asked for their returning students and young families that need a space, uh the folks that can't find that second floor of the two
family to rent as they begin their lives with their families. So in that context I think it is important that we move forward with the project that we go to the AG and if we're rejected then you know perhaps we're back in another
process but we do in my opinion we are dragging our feet and moving forward with something where I think the intention and the RFP we set out was for the benefit of the poor and we received those RFPs in the same spirit that we
asked and for this to have come back at 100% affordable in a rental space which is not something that Milton has. I think this would be the first or only of its kind in the town.
I think in our charge as the trustees that this is the space that we should be comfortable. Um I will say a little bit to our discussion here to lower the temperature a little bit. This is how heated things
get when we speak about housing and the availability for folks in that we all want to help and serve, but decisions have to be made. >> Any further discussion on this? >> Oh, yeah. >> Go ahead, Mr. Walls.
So let's if we're going to make stable, let's be factual. So we go to the Falcone project. The planning board did not reject it. The the developer decided to walk away from the and they were very close. And you're right, it would have been a 58 unit with commercial and still
people still say they want the commercial, but it is what it is. And I'm not going to show anger here. I'm not going to I could easily I don't think you want to see it. I've seen it. >> You don't want to see it tonight.
>> You're pushing it, but you're not going to see it. >> I know I talk about 41 years and it's kind of hard to believe I do. Um, you say I should be ashamed. First off, I don't go on Facebook and write anything. Number one. Number two, I'm
going to tell you this and listen to me very carefully. Since the day I was a rookie cop, since the day I first went to work for this community, everything I've ever done in my life has been for the protection of the residents. And you talk about your son, he saw it personally on Friday. I don't talk about
it. I wouldn't even mention, but I want to tell you about it. Every single thing I know about doing is protecting those in this community. I've lived through tragedies that you can't imagine. I've seen things happen in this town that most people could never imagine. I've watched cops that work for me walk
around today and carry traumas with them that you couldn't imagine. I've gone in people's houses and listened to stories of that you don't even know about. And you think I should be ashamed? I can tell you this, Mr. Z. Every day of my
life, whether I wake up representing this town, whether representing this this town on the hill where I never expected, or being a veteran in this police department and the son of a policeman and the husband of a police officer and the father of a police officer and a friend to so many
colleagues in this community, I am proud of that. And it doesn't make me happy to have to speak against something. But when I say I understand for the poor Milton, that's what I mean. And that's who I will continue to fight for. And I will never be ashamed. I'm not perfect.
I make mistakes. I am not the smartest person in this room. Believe me. But I pay attention to the stories of each and every person that calls us, emails us, and walks through this door. And you know who I'm talking about when I talk about the poor Milton. This isn't about
I've been in every when I got here, there was no ice house. No. And it wasn't me. I'm just one of the five traditionally three and then no ice house. No 7-Eleven, no AMO road, no brush road, no Falcone project, no I none of those existed. They do today and
I'm happy for that because the history that you talk about is because of the work of so many is being erased. Life is faking hard. But I am never going to be ashamed. I'm proud of this community and I'm proud of the people who live here
and the people who work here who try to make this community including your son who came with me on Friday and went through a tough tough delivery in a tough spot and as I told you and your wife on Friday night which I didn't expect to see you. He's one of a cadre
of young women men and women that come through this town that go on to be great leaders. So, if you think I should be ashamed, I'm not and I never will be. >> So, if I may >> Thank you. >> specify what you said was that this deal doesn't smell right. It doesn't
>> It doesn't. To me, it doesn't cuz I know. >> So, that to me is the problem. I No one is doubting your service to this town. No one is doubting. >> You say I should be ashamed. >> I said you should be ashamed of your I said you should be ashamed of your implication that there was something nefarious about this process.
>> I didn't use the word nefarious. >> You did not. But you said it didn't smell right. >> I didn't. I said that. >> Maybe I'm pulling out the thesaurus when I shouldn't pull out the thesaurus, but >> let it go. Let's vote. >> All right. Any other comments on this?
>> I'll uh Yes. >> Just, you know, >> to to go through the timeline. >> Well, yeah. So, so that question was was answered, but I you know, listening to our our group dialogue
here, I think, you know, what's what's standing out for me is um you know that there's a lot of understanding that there are a lot of folks in our town who
are facing tough times, who are in need and we are um you know I think we're facing this as a society too. I think everybody agrees that we need to be doing more um as government to
help people and to um you know just making systemic um challenges less systemic, right? Um, and you know, I'm I'm just hearing folks
debate about, you know, a disagreement of what are the best ways to help people, right? And I think that I think that that's fine. I think that that's healthy. >> I think we can just agree to disagree,
right? For me, I see the housing issue as um the systemic driver of a lot of the inequality and the pain and what is
constraining people's budgets. For me, putting my thumb on the scale to help on that piece is going to do more. Not to say that, you know, other aid isn't needed or isn't important or isn't
as effective, but I think that a lot of people really need this right now. And I'm I'm going to support moving along with the process to see what comes of it. It may or it may the AG may say no.
Um the deal may fall apart. We may not get what we need out of it. But for me, this is this is the housing piece really is important in town. And if and if we don't try this, then we don't,
you know, we we lose the opportunity to try on this site. And I really don't know like what else higher and best better. I almost said best. It's getting late. I don't I don't really know what what
higher and better can be done. Um so that's just that's just my thinking on it. >> Thank you. I think that's very very well said. Um so just to clarify what we're doing is if someone decides to make a motion to approve the uh RFP. Uh the
first step would be and Mr. money, correct me if I'm wrong here, to send the RFP to the attorney general's office to see if it would meet their uh qualifications in terms of benefiting the poor of Milton. Uh and then after that, we would be free to if they agree
to it sort of in principle generally, we would be able to enter into negotiation with um Milton Partnership for Community Reinvestment LLC. Um, if we wanted to discuss number of units, infrastructure,
anything like that, >> I think the conversation with the attorney general's office would likely be fluid because if unit composition changes and affordability mix then changes. I think those are all factors that they'll need to keep in mind. So, I
would suggest um >> that letting them know that >> they happen kind of on the same simultaneous path as the land disposition agreement is worked on. negotiations commence for a land disposition agreement and um connect with the public charities division for a check-in and an update on where things
stand. >> Okay. Thank you. Um so do I have a motion on this? >> Yes. Move to approve the town farm request for proposals by the Milton Partnership for Community Reinvestment LLC. >> I second. >> Seconded by Miss Hagerty. Any further
discussion? >> Okay. All in favor? I >> I >> I >> opposed. >> No. >> Okay. Uh that is approved then. Um moving on to the uh discussion approval of meeting minutes. Um
uh Mr. Milano um for the March 11th Governor Stoton Trust. I don't think we can reach a quorum on that as we don't have anybody beyond uh Mr. Wells and myself uh who participated in >> the trust may the trustees may still
accept the minutes as being accurate reflection of the of the meeting. They don't have to have necessarily attended. So um they can either agree that uh Lynn captured the minutes correctly or or choose to watch the meeting in the next few weeks and we can um approve it at
the next agenda. Do you guys want to agree that Lynn correctly um got the got the minutes right for March 11th or watch a meeting from March 11th and then vote on it? >> I can attest the minutes are accurate. >> Okay. >> Um and then Mr. Wells wasn't here for
the 30th meeting. Um so um I will for the sake of uh expediency uh move to approve the meeting made minutes dated March 11th, 2025. >> Second. >> Seconded by Mr. Wells. Um any further discussion? All in favor? I
>> I >> I >> Are you and I and Mr. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. >> Sorry. >> Uh and then uh for the um meeting minutes dated June 30th. Uh Mr. Wells was not uh present. Um but I will make a
motion to approve the meeting minutes dated June 30th, 2025. >> Seconded by Mr. Dailyaly. Um all in favor? I I >> abstain. >> Mr. Wells is abstaining. Okay. Um without further business for the trustees, I adjourn the meeting of the Governor Stoen Trustees.
>> You still need a motion for that. >> Oh, I will I would uh sorry, I'll make a motion to adjourn the meeting of the Governor Stoen Trustees and return to the select board. Seconded by Mr. Wells. All in favor? I >> And uh now I return us from uh recess uh on the select board. We are now back to
the select board. Uh discussion approval water and sewer rates for fiscal year 2026. Yes. >> Um Mr. Milano. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um we do have on
the on Zoom both DPW director Marina Fernandez and Todd Pro from Wooden Karin who's our consultant that assisted us. Um, in the interest of time, I'll provide um an overview and if any questions or additional information is needed, we can call on them if necessary. Um,
for fiscal 26, uh, the water budget increased by about 6%. Some of that increase was offset by the use of some retained earnings. Um, and in the enterprise fund world, retained earnings are akin to free cash in the general fund budget um, world. Um our water our
recommended water rate increase is a 2% rate increase over the prior year. Um based on our forecasted increase slight increase in consumption um over last year um based on current year so far and the continued dry weather that we're
seeing through um irrigation season. Um so we're expecting a slight increase in consumption that will lend us to a 2% water rate increase. Um for a sewer enterprise fund um the budget is is pretty flat. It went up a half a percent over the year. Um however, we have seen
continued declining um consumption on the sewer side. It's gone down each of the past couple of years. Um and as a result, even though the budget stayed um only up a half%, we're recommending a 2 and a half% increase on the sewer rates. Um, so combined that's a if you have
both water and sewer, which most Milton residents do, it's about a four and a half percent increase on um the combined bill. Um, and I'll just also just point out that I mentioned the water retained earnings. So, we are the water retained earnings,
which is free cash, is about 40% of our budget. Um, recommended best practice is for it to be about 20%. So, water has um brought in more revenue than anticipated in recent years, and that has driven that. um free cash number, for lack of a better description, high and well over
where we need to be. So, we're willing to take on a little bit higher risk on the water side, knowing that we have significant reserves and more reserves than we probably um than we than we need to have. The opposite is true on the sewer side. Last year, we had only 7% of the budget in retained earnings. That
has increased now at the end of fiscal 25 to 15%. So, sewer has been a little bit more um riskier. And if um we have a very wet um irrigation season, consumption plummets, our revenue will plummet, but our costs really don't
change much year-over-year. Um so the risk is that we would um draw down those retained earnings if we see a a funky weather pattern. That's why that um reserve ratio is so high at 20% in terms of a best practice. So, um that's kind of the cliffnotes version where um the
water increases of 2% um expecting um a strong collection year on the water rates. Um sewer expecting consumption to continue to slightly decline um a sewer rate increase of 2 and a half% and a combined about a 4 and a half% increase over the prior year.
>> Questions from the members or discussion? >> You want a motion and we'll wait till Mr. Dailyy comes in? >> Think we can. >> I thought he had questions. Was he asking? He was asking. >> He did have a question earlier, I believe. >> Do you maybe in the absence of Mr. Dailyaly? Um >> I make a motion on the purpose of discussion.
>> We'll make a motion on the purpose of discussion to approve the water and sewer rates fiscal year 2026. >> Okay. The motion's been made by Mr. Wells. You >> second. >> Seconded by Missagerty um for the purposes of discussion. And I know that Mr. um Daly has indicated had questions.
Um >> you want to keep going? We'll keep we'll come back to it. I mean, you want to get through >> right on the town meeting stuff. >> Uh, I can there's no just a quick update and then there'd be a motion and a vote on item nine for the election warrant. >> Item nine.
>> Okay. Well, there's so but there's no update on the bylaws. I know that um well, here's Mr. Daily. So, let's go back to water and sewer rates. I think Mr. Daly, you had a question about the water and sewer rates. I made a motion and seconded it, but I know you had questions, so we don't want to vote till you were here.
>> No, my only question was answered. I just asked uh I wanted to see the the expected growth of uh consumption over time, but during our break that it's uh this wasn't on the graph that we got. >> Okay. So, we have a motion made and
seconded. Any further discussion? All in favor? I >> I >> Okay, approved unanimously. Uh Mr. Milano, uh any updates for us on the warrant? Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. Warren Committee continues to do their work. Um they're on night two of a warrant
committee summit tonight. I was there last night with um select board chair was with us as well as the the time moderator talking about the warrant committee responsibilities and process. Um the just couple quick updates. Um the master plan implementation committee is
um discussing the warrant article they submitted tomorrow night um with some suggestions and feedback from the warrant committee. So there might be some tweaks as to what that final look version looks like and likewise the climate action planning committee is working with the warrant committee to um
maybe a couple tweaks to the article as well as the recommendation. So um no immediate updates this evening um but we'll have final versions of all those um that will go that will be approved by the select board for the printing of the warrant at our next meeting on September
24th. And I ex I I'm anticipating that there may be a change or two to the light trespass. I've been informed that the warrant committee wants to chat with me about that article. Um and I'm waiting to find the time for them. Um so those were but those I think other than
those three I think everything else is pretty much in stone at this point >> and they have already voted to recommend a yes vote on article six which is related to the lance swap for the school potential school project. >> Great. Um, okay. So, no action needed
then from us. Uh, item number nine, I think we just need a motion here. Uh, the November 4th special town election warrant. >> Move to move to approve the special town meeting election warrant dated November 4th, 2025.
>> Motion by Mr. Wells and seconded by Miss Hagerty. Any further discussion? >> All in favor? I. >> Okay. Um discussion approval award bond anticipated notes dated September 4th, 2025 and authorize the select board and treasur collector to execute required
sale documentation. >> Mr. Milano, >> I did uh just uh promote treasur collector Joanna McCarthy so she can give a brief rundown if she's able to. Otherwise, I can. And this is a lengthy vote, so 9:15. As usual, it'll be quick.
As usual, I'll display the vote on the screen uh when it comes time to take the motion. Um Joanna, if you want to give a quick overview of the results of this sale. >> Hi, can you hear me? >> We can. >> Okay, awesome. Um good evening all. Uh
we're just here to um to get your approval on a issuance of 1 or sorry 8.7 million of um bond anticipation notes with a one-year term. We got we got a
general generally a quite favorable rate um with the winning bid coming in with a um lowest NIC of 2.567. Um what that just means is that our overall interest um to or the I I should
say the interest due um upon completion would be about $350,000. So generally a a a good rate um favorable because of our um you know recent uh affirmation of our S&P rating.
Um and just to kind of hit the high level about what what this 8.7 will fund um or the reason why the uses of this about 69% would be for fire station construction.
Um I guess the other the next big bucket would be for roads at about another million dollars. Um, and then there's a a bunch of kind of smaller capital items that are included in this issuance. And what this will do is bring us um to to
kind of bridge the the um the financing until we do a larger issuance more long-term next year at this time. Any specific questions? >> No. Is there a motion here? Is there is
a page 11 the motion? We're gonna have uh >> that big vote. >> Nick's gonna display it and then the motion I think is uh >> that's what I'm holding. Page 11. Okay. >> Yes. Um but that's the whole motion >> and the motion can be to um that the board will vote in accordance with the vote as it appears on the screen.
>> I'll make the motion that uh we approve >> as >> this vote is displayed on the screen and published on page 11 of our notes tonight. >> I second. >> Agenda notes. >> Okay. Motion's made and seconded. Uh any further discussion?
All in favor? >> I. >> Our thanks uh Miss McCarthy for staying up late for a very short uh meeting for you. >> That was nice and easy. Thank you guys. Have a nice night. >> Uh item 11, Milton Budget Coordination Committee report. I guess I might turn
to Miss Hagerty. Yes. >> Yeah. Very quickly, um Mr. Daily and I um attended the first Milton budget coordination committee meeting last Friday morning. Um it was a good first
meeting of the committee we have >> as a complement to their existing policy packet um rather than to be in in lie of or to replace a policy packet. So it touches on a lot of similar themes that are touched on elsewhere in the select board policies, but um kind of puts
everything in a in one central location in terms of how um board members will interact with each other, with the public, with staff um and administration. Um so it's just about four pages. So it is lengthy. It probably could benefit from some editing
and tweaking, but as a first iteration, I felt um more was probably better. Um but that is what I have drafted and put together um in terms of a first step for feedback on a potential code of conduct. >> So I might suggest uh given the hour and
given that we are going to be adding another member to this body uh in a couple of months that um we take this take thank Mr. Milano for his draft. Um everyone can have a look at it. Um we may want to revisit it at some point.
I'm guessing in October um with with some suggestions and revisions, but I would like us to uh approve it once we have a new member on the board. I think that um giving giving uh whoever that uh new person is the opportunity to at least weigh in and and hear the
discussion on that would be uh appropriate. But I'm willing to take uh suggestions the alter two alternatives to that. just defer it. Let's just defer it until there's an additional member. >> Well, I think, you know, given that it's a four-page document, we may want to
take a look at it and take a pass at maybe some initial thoughts on it and then we can come back to it after the new member. Does that sound okay to folks? >> Fine, Miss Hagerty. >> Yeah, that's fine with me. >> Okay.
Uh, all right. So, then um number 19, Mr. Milano, training for elected board members. I don't have an update at this time. I'm waiting on a proposal to to share with the board to review and um hopefully keep moving that forward. No update at this time.
>> Uh number 20. Do we have the proclamation? >> Childhood cancel awareness month proclamation. >> Uh oh, yep. One probably has a hard copy. >> If Yeah, we have a hard copy to read. That would be great. Does anybody um who
hasn't read a proclamation recently that would like to >> just always thinking of >> Thank you. >> I do I try to be kind, >> Mr. Wells.
>> So, um this is a proclamation. Uh and I'll begin on behalf of the board. I'll begin. Uh whereas childhood cancer remains an urgent health crisis and the most common cause of death by disease among children in the United States and whereas the causes of
childhood cancer are still largely unknown and the rates of common cancer differ by age and ethnic ethnicity, excuse me. underscoring the importance of furthering research to better understand and determine how to adjust treatment to the unique needs of children as well as the long-term health
issues often faced by childhood cancer survivors. And whereas according to the center for disease control and prevention, approximately 15,000 kids under the age of 20 are diagnosed with cancer United States each year. And
whereas Massachusetts is home to the renowned cancer care, doctors, nurses, and researchers work every day to advance treatment options and offer hope to families while organizations across the Commonwealth provide vital support and advocacy on behalf of children
fighting cancer. And whereas symbolized by the color gold, childhood cancer awareness month provides our community with the opportunity to stand united with the young heroes who face the disease with incredible courage to celebrate survivors to
support families currently in the fight to honor those who have lost too soon, especially Michael C. Mchugh and Emily Ibat. Now therefore, we the Milton Select Board do hereby come
proclaim September 2025. This is Milton Gold in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Given this day, Tuesday, September 9th, 2025, signed by the chair on behalf of the Milton Select Board. Benjamin Diesel,
chair Winston A. Daily, Vice Chair, Megan F. E. Hagerty. Sorry, my eyes are going. It's GL Ahagetty, Secretary Richard G. Well, Junior member. Thank you, Mr. Z. >> Thank you. Can I get a uh motion? >> That was a motion. That was a motion, >> but that was a whole motion. Would
anybody like to second? >> Second. >> Okay. Uh I'll say Miss Hagerty second seconded that. Um I would only add that if this is an important subject to you, please contact your federal representatives and senators and ask them to restore the funding that has
been cut viciously by the White House to childhood cancer and other diseases. Any other discussion? All in favor? >> I I >> uh then we have um uh 21 application from Bao of the Milton AsianAmerican
Pacific Islanders AAPI. I'm going to make a mo I'm going to make a motion to approve the application from Bal Q of the Milton Asian American Pacific Islanders, I'm sorry, excuse me, AAPI Neighbors Group to use the Town Green and Baron Hugo Gazebo on Sunday, October
4th, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 700 p.m. for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. >> Second second, I will say happy Mid-Autumn Moon Festival to everyone. Um, I should say. Um, all in favor?
>> I >> uh we want to run through these appointments. Mr. Wells, >> where are we? Okay. So, I'll make a motion to approve the following boards and committee reappointments. Open space and recreation committee. Mark Bole, Kristen Downey, Becky Simmons,
>> and Meredith Hall. >> Where's her? Her name's on on mine. >> No, the planning board is meeting on Thursday. >> Oh, okay. She her name was on mine. Okay. Sorry. >> That's okay. No. >> Sorry. >> Um uh do I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I
>> I move to appoint the following individuals to open space and recreation planning committee for a one year one-year term. Mark Bole, Christian Downey, Becky Simmons, and Meredith Hall. Nope, missed that one. Skip it. >> Oh, that's about Okay. Sorry. >> Oh, that's the Okay. All right. That's
where I was. Okay. So, all right. So, I'll move to appoint Carolyn Cahill to the Open Space and Recreation Planning Committee >> for one-year term. >> Second. >> Seconded. Uh, any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Uh, I'll move to appoint
>> Mosa to the Milton Cultural Council for a three-year term. >> Did we just did that? Did we just do that one? >> No. Second. >> Seconded by Mr. Daly. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. I move to appoint Colleen Olsen to the payment in le of taxes committee for a one-year term.
>> Second. >> Seconded by Mr. Dailyaly. Any discussion? All in favor? >> 67. Okay. I move to appoint Anna. Oh, did I get the I'll move to appoint Anna Morgan Baramian to the climate action planning
committee for as an associate member for a one-year term. >> Second. >> Seconded by Mr. Daly. Any discussion? All in favor? I >> move to appoint Jay Hail Smith to the climate action committee planning committee as an associate member for one-year term. >> Second.
>> Seconded by Mr. Daly. All in favor? >> Move. Oh, I don't know who this is going to be. >> This is one of us. >> Uh the OPE Trust is um per our OPED trust agreement. We do have an OPED trust board. Uh the trustees have not
met in some number of years. So now that we have an OPED valuation, we'd like to have the trustees meet. The select board chair serves on the trustee unless the board points a designate in their place. So the chair is currently on it unless the select board like to put somebody else in. >> Anybody else?
>> Anybody else want the job? >> The chair it is. >> All right. And u um just miss uh Miss Russell I think thought she was being appointed to the tree shade committee. >> She did. Yeah, she said that tonight. She did say that.
>> It was done already, right? Oh, she's already on it. >> Okay. Well, there there we go. Just wanted to make sure we weren't missing anybody. >> Russell, if you're still watching, you were appointed at a prior meeting. >> You're already there. You're there. Um then I will take uh motions on the um
meeting minutes. Uh I'll I'll make these for sake of expediency. Move to approve the meeting minutes dated July 8th, 2025. Mr. Wells was absent. Second. >> All in favor? I >> abstain. Uh move to approve the meeting minutes dated July 22nd, 2025 interview
with Harrington Heap LLP. >> Second. >> Mr. Ding is absent. Uh all in favor. >> Um move to approve the meeting minutes dated July 22nd, 2025. >> Second. >> Uh seconded by by Mr. Wells. All in favor? >> I move to approve the meeting minutes
dated July 30th, 2025. Miss Hagerty absent. >> Second. >> Uh all in favor? >> I >> abstain. Didn't you end up coming to that late? Was that the >> I don't think that was the one. That was a different one. >> That was Murphy Hessie.
>> Uh town administrators report. Mr. Milano. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh just a couple quick items. Um our uh fall paving is underway um on Thompson, Windsor, and Lantern Lane. Um Elliot
Street will be in Curtis Road. Um so Laruso is the contractor doing that work. Um they'll be out. They were milling um this week. Expect to be back to pave starting Thursday and probably uh go into next week. Um
East Milton 40B is approaching the time where they're going to need to tie into infrastructure located on in and under Franklin Street and in and under Basset Street. So, we're working um to work with the contractors to mitigate what will be inevitably some road closures
and impacts um because there's no way to avoid them needing to connect to uh water and sewer and other infrastructure located um on those streets. Um so, we have an initial plan from them and we'll uh be working with DPW and others to uh
work that out and um keep uh folks informed of those impacts. uh working on some dates for the East Milton Fire Station RFP discussion in East Milton um in mid-occtober. The select board retreat is confirmed for October 5th at noon. Um I did
confirm um with Jeff Nutting who will be available to help facilitate that meeting. Um he'll be requesting or I'll be distributing on his behalf um a questionnaire to the members to help um get some work done ahead of that so he can come in and uh just dive right in.
Um I was unable to attend the chamber event on Friday. Um just want to appre just just note with appreciation those who helped pull that together. Porchfest is coming up in a couple of weeks. Uh and lastly um on the staffing front uh we're excited to announce that Liz
Manning will be beginning on October 1st as uh the new planning director uh for the town. Um after um a lengthy absence in that role. Um she comes to us from Brinkree where she's currently the community preservation manager.
Previously worked uh for a long time for the city of Quinsey um in their planning department as a senior planner among other roles. So deep experience in the planning front um and her most recent and current professional experiences on community preservation and as we've gotten that underway um both sides of
that experience are going to be helpful to us. So excited to have her on board. Um, and I know the planning board chair will make a similar announcement at the planning board meeting on Thursday night. Um, but um, we have the assistant director position posted. We have applications in and we're coordinating
some interviews with with her uh, with Liz rather um, in the intervening time period. So trying to keep things moving um, to get that office back up to full staffing. So that is my report, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Uh, just to add >> Okay, you go first. I just want to give
him two things. Go ahead. Um was it a question for Mr. Milo? >> Two points for the East Milton. One is with regard to uh East Milton project Abby and Navaro looking to reinstitute valet. We need to get them before the traffic commission. He grabbed me today.
He's very concerned cuz this is really is if if you're going by this project's like in full swing. And the second thing is on the with regard to I'll leave I'm not going to get into the event for Thursday, but the security bullets that we've talked about, we got to get them permanently installed on that deck.
We've got to do that. >> We used temporary ones for Friday cuz they're not they were supposed to be here, but they were in they're coming in >> on one side. >> They should on both. Oh, >> one side. >> They were moving trucks onto um the the deck to >> and then the truck had to leave and so
it was you got to put them like >> the planters will be on all sides. the permanent ones and they'll be here. So, I apologize for that oversight, but they are coming. We believe delivery is scheduled for this week and then we'll have them installed um thereafter and those will be permanent fixtures, not event by event.
>> Okay. Any any other questions for Mr. Milano? Um on the chair's report um just to echo Mr. Milano's thanks to those who uh helped the MAC uh and the Chamber of Commerce in particular for the great event on the deck. Uh I believe Mr. Wells had his hand in having some
aderond chairs out there. That's an easy thing. >> Which was uh which were appreciated very much. It was a great event and thanks to everybody who came out for it. Um and to echo again, Mr. Milano, the 20th is Porchfest uh starting at noon. Uh and I
believe the band assignments just went out today because I got mine. So, um stay tuned to figure out where uh where to catch Milton's finest music. Uh and then also people like me. Uh we have I I I do want to say I've gotten a number of um questions about the recent uh ICE
activity in the greater Boston area. Uh and I'm asking uh Loose, which is an organization that coordinates responses to ICE uh to come and present to the select board uh at a future date. Uh I think we should all be extremely concerned um with the activity that's
taking place uh nationally and locally uh in that space. Um, and I don't have anything else I don't believe on uh on for my report. Um, public comment response. I think we pretty much got everybody.
Uh, we either talked about their questions or we talked about the issues specifically. Um, anything else that anyone had on public comment response? Okay. Uh, so uh future meeting dates, please note uh our next meeting is Wednesday, September 20
September 24th. uh because of the Russashana holiday on the 23rd. Um tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, October 7th, I believe. Um I don't believe that the 14th worked for folks, so I think that one was off. And
um tentatively October 21st. And then uh our special town meeting dates uh are scheduled. Monday, October 27th, 2025, Tuesday, October 28th, 2025, and Wednesday, October 29th, 2025. We will take betting odds on how many days we
will be meeting. Uh future agenda items, Mr. Wells just mentioned a couple. Anybody else have and I mentioned the loose uh introduction other um agenda items that folks want to bring forward. >> Okay. Um so I am going to uh then move
to >> Mr. Chair, I I don't have any updates for 29 and I we don't have um still working on finalizing items for 31. So, I would suggest we can skip those two purposes and just the Quarry Hills one. >> Okay. Thank you very much. That makes it
uh makes my job easier. Uh I'm going to move uh that we adjourn from open session and enter into executive session to consider the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property, Cory Hills. Based on my belief that discussion of this matter in open session detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the select
board, the select board will not return to open session. Can I have a second? Seconded by Mr. Wells. Uh this is a roll call vote. Um, Miss Hagerty, >> yes. >> Mr. Dailyaly, >> yes. >> Mr. Wells, yes. And myself, yes. >> Uh, I believe that is all of it then.
So, we are adjourned. Thank you everyone for joining us.