The Holliston Select Board, following the Board of Health’s March 1^st advice, came out from behind their masks to conduct the March 7, 2022, meeting.  Chair Tina Hein called the meeting to order precisely at 7:00pm.  The meeting focused largely on the DPW’s proposed FY 23 budget.

COVID-19 Community update / ARPA Programmatic update

A face we haven’t seen in a while, Fire Chief Michael Cassidy, returned to the Board’s meeting to provide a status update on COVID in Holliston.  As of Monday, there were only 6 active cases in town.  Holliston schools moved to masks optional on Monday the 7^th.  Vaccines are still available.  Pharmacies and physicians are administering COVID vaccinations.

Cassidy presented two recommendations to the Board that had been approved by the ARPA Steering Group’s meeting on February 28, 2022.

• Funding for a part-time contract position to provide additional behavioral health support for Holliston youth.
• Designating the Town’s $4.4 million ARPA grant as Revenue Loss.  Designating the grant in this way frees up the Town to allocate ARPA funds to things that don’t fit neatly into one of the programs “buckets.”  The amount of the grant does not change – nor does the Town’s request / approval process.
• The Board approved both requests.

Warrants: The Board approved the weekly warrant totaling – $1,489,611.65.

Public Comment:

• Mr. Cronin:
  • Reminded everyone that the Community Farm Advisory Committee will be attending next Monday’s Select Board meeting.
  • Called on Matt Zettek (below), Holliston’s Sustainability Coordinator, regarding the MA Dept. of Energy Resources proposed changes to its Stretch Code.

Mr. Zettek reported that the public comment period on the proposed changes ends March 18, 2022.  The Board directed Mr. Ahern to share the proposed changes with the Planning, Building, Technology, and Facilities departments to get their input prior to the March 14^th Board meeting.

• Mr. Sparrell: None
• Mrs. Hein: The MAPC (Metropolitan Area Planning Council) increased its membership assessment – Holliston’s share is $8,375.
• Public: None

FY2023 Budget Reviews – Operating & Capital

• DPW Highway: $1,571,470          +6.73%

DPW Director Sean Reese (below right) pointed to two areas that added to his budget request: pruning / removing trees and professional development for DPW personnel.

A working group including DPW, Select Board, Schools, and Parks & Recreation has proposed a separate “Grounds Division” within DPW.  All stakeholders supported the concept and worked for the past several months to develop the concept.  Below is the proposed budget for this new resource that cares for ALL Town fields, parks, Rail Trail, and cemeteries with a dedicated (and trained) staff.  The actual additional cost to put this into effect would be $78,188 (some of the new division’s costs would move from other budgets and be augmented by ARPA and revolving account funds).

Park and Recreation Director Mark Frank (below left) and Park Commissioner Shaw Lively (below right) spoke strongly in favor of the proposal.  Mr. Lively cited that the proposal was data

driven.  Mr. Frank said that this concept is the Parks Department highest priority.

The Board lent its support for the proposal to be included in the final FY 23 Operating Budget.

• DPW Water:  $3,120,029               +24.12%

 Mr. Reese noted that the drivers of the proposed increase are: debt on the new water treatment plant on Central St. and the addition of a licensed water operator.  Mr. Ahern pointed out that the Personnel Services for the Water Dept are covered by the Water Retained Earnings account.

• Snow & Ice:   $250,000   0.0%

Currently the snow and ice budget is overspent in part due to the improved service in this area – including additional material use and snow removal time.

• Motor Vehicle Fuels: $110,000   +4.8% (impact of inflating fuel costs worldwide)

• Town Administrator Recommended Budget, including but not limited to:

Mr. Ahern’s 126-page FY 23 Omnibus Budget as well as projected Revenue and Expenditures for the next five years can be found posted on the Town’s website.  Holliston FY 23 Draft Omnibus Budget Documents. Mr. Ahern cautions that it is not unusual for projections to appear as negative numbers at this early stage.

Below is the proposed balanced FY 23 Budget (far right columns)

During the DPW budget discussion Mr. Reese and Mr. Ahern shared that department’s capital items for consideration at the May and October Town Meetings.  No action was taken by the Board related to this item.

Comments from Town Administrator:

• It is Pothole season in Holliston. To report a pothole, use this link -> Report a Pothole to DPW
• MA Dept of Transportation will be resurfacing the Rt. 16 roadway from Pine St west to Beaver St. in Milford.  The sidewalks between Pine and Oak will be rebuilt/surfaced to be ADA compliant.  This work should start in April (ish?)
• The new quarterly is available.   Sign up for the Town’s Online Newsletter  Signing up ensures the online newsletter will be e-mailed directly to you.  857 people have already signed up!
• Now that the Town owns the streetlights, Eversource is around town replacing the backlog of faulty bulbs that are in the inventory purchased last week.
• State Senate President Spilka will be at the Board’s March 14, 2022 meeting.  If citizens have questions for the Senator, please email them to Mr. Ahern ahernt@holliston.k12.ma.us in enough time so he can forward to the Senator.

Board Business:

• Approved the event permit for the Friends of Trails 5K – 10K May 15, 2022, starting at Blair Square and ending at Summer Street or Hopping Brook; 8:00 – 10:00 am
• Approved the event permit for the Household Hazardous Waste Day on July 9, 2022, at the Middle School 8 to noon
• Approved minutes from the January 31, 2022, and February 7, 2022, meetings
• Accepted a $1,250 gift to the Ambulance fund in memory of Bobby Bowles
• Accepted a $197.97 donation to the Fire Department from a Washington Street resident

Other Business:

• Mrs. Hein: Asked that the Town Meeting start time be discussed prior to finalizing the May Warrant.

The meeting adjourned at 8:59 pm.