Select Board Hears Committee Updates and Budget Proposals

The Select Board met on Monday, February 8, 2021 to conduct a wide range of the Town’s business.  The Board had also met on Thursday, February 4, 2021 to conduct FY 22 departmental budget reviews.  The results of that session are included with this Monday’s meeting.

The weekly COVID update was delivered by Fire Chief Michael Cassidy.

  • The Town’s COVID data continues to trend downward
  • Last week’s positivity rate was down to 3.58%
  • Holliston remains in the Yellow (Moderate) category
  • The State’s new COVID phone line opened on Monday. It operates M – F, from 8:30am to 5:00pm.
  • Vaccine sites are now open in Milford and Hopkinton
This phone service became available on Monday, February 8th.
Sites marked with green stars are public sites open to all State residents.

Linda Marshall was asked by the Select Board for an update on how the Town’s Senior Center is supporting vaccine enrollment.  Marshall reported that on Tuesday, February 9th, volunteers will be trained to assist Holliston seniors who have requested assistance to sign up for the vaccine.  Seniors have also requested help with transportation to and from vaccine appointments – more on that below.

Separately, Council on Aging Vice-chair Bob Hopkins reported that he used the new State 2-1-1 feature on Monday and reported it was a very positive experience that yielded he and his wife appointments later this week.

Linda Marshall updates the Board and later reviews the Sr. Ctr. FY 22 Budget.

CARES Act Programmatic update

The Board had asked Chief Cassidy to provide an update on how much of the Town’s $1.3 million has been spent and how it has been spent.  He provided the two exhibits below.

These figures do not include funds received from the State for schools.

Cassidy presented two requests for CARES Act funds – both related to the Sr. Ctr. and the vaccine initiative:

  • $717 to upgrade the Senior Center’s phone capacity to aid more seniors looking for vaccine appointments
  • Not to exceed $15,000 to hire a reliable livery service to transport seniors to and from appointments (this firm has been successfully used by the Sr. Ctr. in the past)

The Board approved both expenses for CARES Act reimbursement

Warrants – The Board approved the weekly warrant = $549,024.02

Public Comment:

  • No Board Members or Citizens had comments at the Monday meeting
  • On February 4th, Mrs. Hein thanked HPD Lieutenant George Leurini for his presentation at the Safe Routes to School forum held by MassDOT

Update from Stipend Committee

Stipend Committee Chair Joan Shaughnessy (above) presented the Committee’s finding to the Select Board.

After several weeks of data gathering, one of the conclusions was that stipends, when used by Towns, are often based on history.  The Committee acknowledged that those who serve on all Boards / Committees care deeply about our Town.  The Committee learned that to be an assessor REQUIRES annual training that lasts one week.  The best way that the Committee could put a value to the value of this required training was to use median income in Town and divide by 52 to get a weekly amount – that turned out to be just about $2,500 – the current Assessor stipend.  The Board accepted the Committee report, thanked them for their work, and asked that they remain intact as any Town Meeting articles related to stipends are prepared / presented.

Update from Blair Square Committee

Blair Square Chair Kevin Conley (above) began by revisiting the Committee’s charge which was to envision how the space could / should be used.  Conley presented the rendering (below), prepared by Inge Daniels, that completes the Committee’s charge.  More information about the Square can be found here -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/10Gvg_kV5TYICvawL6VqEVnE3hbF3lAR1/view

The Board thanked the Committee for its work and asked that any additional input collected by Feb 24th be shared with the Board.  Meanwhile, Mr. Ahern will draft an expanded charge for the Board’s action in the near future – with hopes for an Article to fund the next phase of planning at the upcoming Town Meeting.

FY22 Budget & Revenue Review

  • Conservation Commission – $54,509 (0.13% inc)
  • Youth & Family Services (YFS) Moved to March 1, 2021
  • MetroWest Veterans’ – $94,433 (0.67% inc)
  • Council on Aging (COA) – $255,190 (Includes a new Admin Asst with back-up shown below. The increase in services in the past 15 years are displayed.)
  • Information Technology – $292,293 (10.18% inc) Includes the items highlighted in green below – formerly in the Public Buildings budget. FYI, to date the IT department has hosted Zoom meetings with a total of over 5,000 participants.

February 4th Select Board Budget reviews:

  • Town Account – $177,280 (2.24% inc)
  • Treasurer / Collector – $420,080 (-0.19% dec)
  • Debt – $2,405,138 (-20.28% dec)
  • Facilities – $307,531 (9.12% inc) The graphic below illustrates how this budget comes from the move from the previously named Public Budget (highlighted in blue)
  • Wastewater – $104,700 (14.06% inc)
  • Select Board – $427,966 (11.06% inc) now includes the Solar Project highlighted in orange (above)

Comments from the Town Administrator:

  • Mr. Ahern updated the Board on the status of several DPW related projects
  • On Feb 4th, Ahern shared that the Town Hall Front Door project is due to begin on February 22nd.
  • Also, on the 4th, Ahern presented a bid from JC Floors to refinish the stairs, floor, and stage in the Upper Town Hall.  The bid is $70,490, nearly $30,000 LESS than the amount approved at Town Meeting.

Discuss Future Use of Emergency (Snow & Ice) Parking Bans

Mr. Ahern discussed with the Board supplementing the existing Winter overnight on road parking ban with an emergency parking ban authorization.  This emergency ban would be used rarely, at any time, when a significant storm is forecast.  The Board authorized Mr. Ahern to make such declarations (in conjunction with DPW and HPD) when the need arises.

Board Business:  The Board took the following actions:

  • Approved the Land donation off Adams Street from Karen and Steven Paul
  • Approved the Highway Department request to overspend the snow and ice budget
  • Accepted a $400 donation to HPD from Vincent Trunfio.
  • Read the Board’s Proclamation Holliston Oldest Veteran Charles Nickerson

Steve Bradford (above) outlined Mr. Nickerson’s service record and stated that he will update the Town Hall plaque with the 95-year-old’s name with suitable proclamations from State dignitaries to come at a later date.  He let slip that Bobby Blair will be posting a story about Charlie in the Holliston Reporter in the very near future.

  • Appointed: Ron Turcotte, Charles Jacobs, and Keith Umlauf as VFW reps on the Annual Memorial Day Committee

Other Business: Mr. Cronin will be on vacation next week. Nest Monday is Presidents’ Day so the Board will meet on Tuesday the 16th.

The meeting adjourned at 9:20pm.

Chris Cain

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