The Select Board convened their meeting at 6:30 on December 14, 2020.  First on the agenda was an update from the Stipend Committee which the Board had appointed to study and recommend if and how stipends should be used by Holliston.

Stipend Committee Update

Joan Shaughnessy, Stipend Committee Chair, spoke on behalf of committee members: Shelley Bochner, Erica Plunkett, Daniel Whynot, and Tom Dumas.  Shaughnessy presented the committee’s work to date.  The group has collected data from Towns similar to Holliston regarding the use of stipends and the amounts of those stipends.  The data are stored in a spreadsheet (sample page below) created by Mr. Whynot.

Of the sixteen Towns researched, 50% have stipends.  Of those with stipends, 75% have them for Board of Assessor members.  The research does indicate that Board of Assessors commit significant time to certification and continuing education for their role.  No clear patterns have emerged from the data yet.

The Board members made some suggestions regarding what additional data and potential data sources might aid in arriving at recommendations.  The original target date for those recommendations was set by the Board as January 4, 2021.  The Board requested that the Committee request an extension if needed.  The Stipend Committee thanked the Board for their input and broke off to continue its meeting to discuss next steps.

Blair Square Trash Discussion

Mr. Ahern introduced three Holliston High School Sophmores who are in the service learning class, “Pick It Up Project.”  Students Sydney Cohen, Casey Wing, and Abigail Roche have offered to remove trash from a soon to be installed trash receptacle that will be placed in Blair Square near one of the dog waste stations (that are voluntarily maintained by R&R Landscaping).  They will provide this service through the end of the 2020-2021 academic year.  The Board asked that the students gather some data about how much trash is removed, how often they pick up and that the receptacle is being used properly (no animal waste).   This information will be used by the Board and Mr. Ahern to determine how trash removal can be sustained after June 2021.  The Board offered its “huge thanks” for stepping forward with a solution to a longstanding problem.

Public Hearing:  At 7:30 pm, the Board convened a Public Hearing regarding the relocation of a Class II Car Dealer License for “Car Vault”.  The used car dealer moving locations from 161 Kuniholm Drive Unit #4 to 72 Jeffrey Ave.  The business is owned by Martin J. Garvey III (shown below)

Mr. Garvey responded to the Board’s questions about the type of business and the volume of traffic created by this on-line car dealership.  No questions were posed by residents attending the meeting via Zoom.

The Board approved the request and closed the Public Hearing.

Coronavirus Community Update

Fire Chief Michael Cassidy presented his weekly update to the Board. 

• Holliston has a total of 295 COVID cases as of December 14, 2020
• 46 cases are active (the same number as a week ago – about 10 higher than weeks in November)
• The active cases are at 39 different addresses
• The positivity rate dropped below 4% last – largely due to more tests being administered
• Holliston remains Yellow on the State’s infection map
• The current public service announcement focus is “please celebrate the upcoming holidays with those with whom you live.”  A similar sacrifice to the Thanksgiving message – so that our schools can remain in session as they are
• There have been no new cases related to the recent Town Meeting
• Cassidy sees no reason for Holliston to tighten up any more than it currently has to slow the spread
• Vaccinations will begin for MA health care personnel by week’s end

CARES Act Programmatic update: Chief Cassidy presented one request for CARES Act funding approval by the Board:

• $695.84 for additional social distancing barriers for use at the Library to be ready for the future return to in-person Library service.  The Board approved the request.
• Cassidy will present the final CARES Act spending report to the Board next week

Warrants: The Board approved the weekly warrant of $429,220.68.

Public Comment:

• Mr. Sparrell: None
• Mrs. Hein: Congratulations to Dr. Susan Kustka for her appointment as Holliston’s Superintendent of Schools through June 2023
• Mr. Cronin: None
• Public: None

Comments from Town Administrator:

• Work continues through MassDOT on a Heavy Commercial Vehicle Exclusion
• Several projects approved at the recent Town Meeting are getting underway
• The crossing lights on Prentice St. for golfer safety are being installed
• The Town’s natural gas rates are being examined for possible savings
• The Town received a $10,000 grant from its liability insurer to pay part of the cost for our new asset management software
• Mr. Ahern shared some very preliminary information regarding the FY 22 budget preparation that gets underway soon

Board Business:

• The Board accepted a $28,827.77 grant to HPD from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program
• The Board accepted a $400 donation to the Senior Center Nutrition program collected by the Holliston Superette
• The Board renewed several business Annual Licenses for food, liquor, entertainment, and automobile dealers – with the condition that pass building inspection by January 31, 2021.

Other Business:

• Mr. Sparrell: – None
• Mrs. Hein: Asked Town Administrator Ahern to collect updated information on the Host Community Agreement funds that are due the Town in the coming year
• Mr. Cronin: – None
• Mr. Ahern:  Asked the Board’s authorization to apply for a Rapid Recovery Grant from the State.  The Board approved this request.  The application is due by week’s end.
• Chief Cassidy: Reminded citizens that a plowable snow is on the way.  The winter parking ban is in effect and please clear hydrants in your vicinity.

The meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm