The October 26, 2020 meeting of the Select Board started at 6:30 pm with an Executive Session and ended over five hours later.  The agenda listed 13 items – several involving discussion.

EXECUTIVE SESSION – non-union contract discussion with Holliston Police Chief Matthew Stone.  The Board and the Chief agreed on a 3-year contract which was signed (below) by all parties during the public portion of the Board meeting.

Chief Stone thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve Holliston and to “lead one of the finest police departments in MA.”

Building Inspector – Introduction / Q&A

Mark Kaferlein, the Town’s new Building Inspector, was introduced by Mr. Ahern to the Board.  Mr. Kaferlein provided his background, 26 years in the building trade and most recently served as the part-time Building Inspector in the Town of Douglas.  He lives in Uxbridge where he serves on the zoning board.  The Board welcomed Mr. Kaferlein and focused his attention on the importance of service in his new role.  Mr. Kaferlein will start work in Holliston on November 9^th and will partner with Chris Canney as he begins.

Coronavirus Community Update:

Emergency Management Director, Fire Chief Michael Cassidy, provided the following update:

• Holliston’s current total case count is 134, with 21 active.
• The active cases live in 14 different residences – indicating ‘family spread.’
• The level of community spread with the case count increase will likely keep Holliston in the Red for the coming week
• Chief Cassidy will be distributing via BlackBoard Connect and other outlets a reminder about the importance of adhering to the CDC guidelines
• He finds the current increase to be “disheartening and frustrating”
• He asked for citizens to respect the balance of information distribution and personal confidentiality with regard to positive COVID cases
• He is confident that the current early voting and the election day voting are safe and secure
• Cassidy concluded with a plea for low risk Halloween activities and for people gathering for political demonstrations to follow CDC guidelines
• Mr. Cronin asked citizens to ‘scale it back’ to avoid impact on students and staff

Peggy Payne thanked Chief Cassidy and the Board for what has been done to mitigate the pandemic.  She asked about the criteria that would cause the school delivery model would change for the current hybrid model and the lead time for any change.  Cassidy indicated that the school administrators and school committee would make the decision and that this Is a rapidly changing situation.  The lead time could be very short depending on the circumstances.

CARES Act Programmatic Update (including Rent/Mortgage relief): The Board approved three requests presented by Chief Cassidy

• HPD: $1,345 for extended hours for the school crossing guards due to the extended arrival and departure times
• Technology Dept: $1,250 to acquire 10 headsets with microphones and two laptops for Zoom meeting moderation
• Y&FS: $25,000 (plus the approximately $2,000 from the initial installment) for a second installment of Holliston’s rent and mortgage support

Warrant: $1,460,977.67 was approved by the Board.

Comments & Warrant Article Discussion (Town Administrator)

• Mr. Ahern updated on the status of Department Head performance contracts
• The Board discussed and approved Articles 9, 10, and 15.  It is important to point out that 5 breaks have recently occurred on Winter St (article 10).

Hearing Continuation 360 Motor Sports from 10-19-20

Jack (left) and Marty (right) Garvey continued their public hearing with the Board.  They presented a fact sheet to the Board including answers to questions raised last week.  The Garveys have received a certificate of occupancy for the property at 72 Jeffrey Road.  The Board voted to approve the change of address for the automobile sales license for 360 Motor Sports.

Indian Ridge Road South – parking issue discussion

Tracy Cohen (above), a resident on Indian Ridge Road South, asked the Board what could be done to reduce the amount of on-street parking from neighboring properties.  Her road was recently approved at Town Meeting and yet the final legal work has not been completed for the Town to take control of the street.  Therefore, the Town has no authority to place signage at this time.  The Board recommended that Ms. Cohen wait until the Town accepts the road and then petition the Traffic Advisory Committee for the needed signs.

Front Street – progress report

To date 15 comments have been submitted regarding the pilot program that has brought temporary changes to the Front Street area.  As you might expect, the comments are mixed.  Comments can continue to be submitted at the website -> https://www.townofholliston.us/home/news/front-street-changed-to-one-way  The pilot period runs through April 1, 2021.  The Board plans a public forum on the project in late January of next year.

Rail Trail – discussion on encroachments

The Board reviewed a list of 41 properties that abut the Rail Trail in Holliston.  The Holliston Trails Committee, represented by Chair, Robert Weidknecht (below) asked the Board for enforcement support with regard to residential abutters who currently use part of the Town’s property for various personal uses.  The Board asked that the Committee send a second letter to those residences encroaching on Town property (the first was sent in 2019).  The Board stands ready to follow up if the second request is not heeded.

555 Hopping Brook – Discussion (including Traffic)

An extended discussion between the Board, Michael Malinoski (representing First Colony Group), and concerned citizens took well over one hour.  Mr. Malinoski (below) presented a slide show (which will be soon posted on the 555 Hopping Brook webpage -> https://www.townofholliston.us/planning-board/pages/555-hopping-brook-information

At this point there were 72 participants on the Zoom meeting, many from abutting properties in Medway.   Following the presentation Mr. Malinoski responded to questions and comments from the Board and 16 citizens.

Here is a brief summary of the dialogue:

• The Board pointed out that the builder needs to follow the rules.  It took legal action to stop the cutting of trees.
• When pressed by the Board, Mr. Malinoski said the end-user of this warehouse space would NOT be an Amazon fulfillment center.
• He characterized the future user as a regional distribution center.  Tractor-trailers deliver goods from manufacturers, the goods are stored in the warehouse, other tractor-trailers pickup the goods and distribute them throughout the Northeast
• The facilities would operate 24/7.
• His firm recently submitted their traffic plan to MassDOT for approval.  The review is pending.
• Noise from the warehouses was a major citizen concern
• Truck noise (jake brakes) is also a concern
• South Street residents are concerned about large truck traffic
• Mr. Malinoski shared a slide that outlined the builder’s commitment to NO trucks on South Street – a condition of the builder receiving a certificate of occupancy.  Some doubted that this commitment was not enforceable now and for future occupants.
• Several Medway residents doubted Mr. Malinoski’s veracity as they referenced several inconsistencies from the builder in the past.
• The builder will install a traffic signal at Hopping Brook Rd (not disturbing the historic cemetery) at Route 16 as a condition that must be met before the buildings can be occupied.
• There was concern expressed from residents as far away as East Holliston who are concerned about more trucks passing through town.

Mr. Malinoski thanked the Board for the opportunity to present the plan and answer questions.  The Board reiterated its dissatisfaction with the way the project has gone and that it took a legal action to precipitate this meeting.

Board Business: The Board approved the following:

• Select Board Meeting Minutes of September 14, 2020 and September 21, 2020
• Accepted a donation Senior Center Nutrition Fund $160.00, from Bill and Sylvia Stickney

The Board denied the following due to lack of information on numbers and COVID guidelines

• Event permit, October 31, 2020 from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 Block Party

Public Comment:

• Mr. Sparrell:
  • Leaf pickup and parking ban reminder
  • Thanks to Chris Meo for his excellent Zoom moderation
• Mrs. Hein:
  • Thanks to technology department for keeping the meetings happening
• Mr. Cronin:
  • None

Other Business: None!

The meeting adjourned at 11:45 pm.  Good Night (morning?) Holliston!