The August 29, 2022, meeting of the Holliston Select Board was called to order by Chair Ben Sparrell at 7:03pm.  Mr. Sparrell promised a “fun-filled” agenda for this meeting.

The fun got started with Youth and Family Services Director Jackie Winer announcing to the Board that Holliston has received a $625,000 Drug-Free Communities grant, payable in five annual installments of $125,000.  This federally funded grant is the culmination of much hard work by Winer, the Holliston Drug and Alcohol Coalition, and other Town departments.

Joining Winer was Karen Adelman-Foster (above) from Senate President Karen Spilka’s office who added the Senator’s congratulations on receiving the grant (official letter coming via USPS).  Also, Ms. Adelman-Foster shared some other updates from the Senator’s office: $11 billion bond bill for transportation projects across the state, $5 billion bond bill for general government for municipalities in the Commonwealth.  Two bond appropriations specifically for Holliston are: $1 million for sidewalk work and $300,000 for the Blair Square project.  She reminded everyone that the legislature authorizes the Governor to spend Bond funds – it’s not quite a guarantee that the money will get to us – yet.

The members of the Board thanked Ms. Adelman-Foster and acknowledged that the Drug-Free and State grants were a “big deal” for our community.

The positive momentum continued as HPD Lieutenant Chad Thompson (below right) introduced Christopher Mustard (below left) to the Board as a candidate for appointment to the Holliston Police Department.

Mr. Mustard lives in Holliston with his wife and two children.  He will graduate from the Police Academy on August 1, 2022.  He ranks in the top ten of his class.  Prior to pursuing a career in law enforcement, Mr. Mustard spent fifteen years in the private security industry with increasing responsibility for valuables transport / storage.  At one point he managed the second largest cash vault in the country!  Mr. Mustard’s wife Mary was in the audience as the Board took action on the recommendation to appoint Mr. Mustard to become Officer Mustard.  The Board voted unanimously to appoint Mr. Mustard to the Holliston Police Department with a start date to be determined by Chief Stone.  Congratulations Officer Mustard.

More good news came in the form of funding requests to aid Holliston residents through grants from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

ARPA Steering Recommendations: Fire Chief / Emergency Management Director Michael Cassidy (above left) presented the following unanimously approved recommendations to the Board:

• Council on Aging Home Repair Program – Partnership with Habitat for Humanity to provide home repairs to allow elderly residents to safely age-in-place.  The first allocation of $75,000 has helped several residents with a waiting list with more candidates.  This request is a second tranche of $75,000. Chief Cassidy also reported that the Senior Safe grant administered through the Fire Dept. has helped several residents with safety bars and smoke detectors. 
• Board of Health Case Management This supplemental request is for case management related to the pandemic $20,000
• The Holliston Pantry Shelf is in need of a new two-door freezer to replace an aging / inefficient model.  The purchase price is $7,590.  Chief Cassidy noted that food insecurity continues to be a problem and Mr. Cronin encouraged all who can, to provide support to the Pantry Shelf -> https://www.hollistonpantryshelf.org/
• Blair Square – To cover cost of the low-bid and lock in the price to be able to complete the project. This amount is to supplement the CPC appropriation.  This is the total amount authorized, fund-raising, grants and other funding will reduce the amount of ARPA funds used. $120,000 (see above State Bond information)

Mrs. Hein asked that the ARPA Steering Group continue to look at the remaining balances in each “bucket” and move funds as necessary to support future priority projects – especially related to Economic Development.

Mr. Ahern shared the information above to show the current balances of each “bucket.”

The Board unanimously approved the ARPA Steering Group’s recommendations.

Warrants: The Board approved the weekly warrant totaling -> $1,523,423.85

Public Comment:

• Mrs. Hein – None
• Mr. Cronin:
  • State Primary Early Voting is now taking place.  Election day is Tuesday, September 6, 2022.  See the Town Clerk’s webpage for details -> Election Information
  • Preliminary discussion on the potential for Holliston to apply for “Tree City USA” status.  More to come.
• Mr. Sparrell:
  • 1,105 responses were received for the Envisioning Future Holliston survey
  • The data sub-committee is assembling the large amount of data
• Public – None

Preparation for the Fall Town Meeting on Oct. 17, 2022, Town Meeting Warrant is open thru Sept. 19, 2022, at 4pm

Mr. Ahern shared a preliminary list of probable articles.  There is still time to submit citizen petitions.

• Free cash certification
• State aid
• Town Reserves
• Capital Budget for all departments
• Supplemental budget (if needed)
• Personnel by-laws
• Sign audit funding
• Envisioning Future Holliston report / presentation
• Water meter replacement
• Water department equipment
• Stormwater management
• DPW Facility (TBD)
• Sidewalks ADA compliance and repair backlog
• Houghton Pond dam next steps
• Wastewater treatment plant instrumentation upgrade
• Assessors – Private solar projects
• New England Appliance Group Tax Incremental Financing

This list and the details behind each will be developing over the next few weeks. 

The Board expressed a desire to hold a public forum during the week of October 3, 2022, for citizens to learn more about the articles on the Warrant before being asked to vote at the Fall Town Meeting.

Comments from Town Administrator:

• The MAPC work with the Town’s Economic Development Committee is ongoing.
• The nest issue of the Holliston’s Hometown Newsletter will be available soon.  Sign up to receive this via e-mail -> Holliston Hometown Newsletter
• HCAT will be running “Just Thinking” segments on key projects / initiatives to be aired before the Fall Town Meeting to help make informed decisions at the meeting.
• Facilities Manager James Keast has prepared an RFP for private land that could be sold to the Town as a site of a new DPW facility.
• Next Select Board meeting: Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, at 7pm (due to Labor Day on Monday and Election Day on Tuesday)

Board Business:

• Waived the annual liquor license fee for the Lion’s Club, monthly meetings at the Senior Center
• Approved the minutes of the July 11, 2022, and July 18, 2022, meetings
• Approved the minutes of the July 27, 2022, Mr. Sparrell abstained.
• Donation to Senior Center in Memory of Charles Cole $150 from Jeffrey Hayden
• Re-appointed Jaclyn Winer – Director of Youth & Family Services. Term to expire June 2023
• Re-appointed John Drohan to the Youth Advisory Committee. Term to expire June 2025
• Retro-actively approved the event permit for the Waushakum* Live Steamers Annual Meeting that was held earlier in August.
• Approved the event permit for the Holliston Bike & Listen Tour – September 18, 2022
• Approved the event permit for the Int’l Basava Center Walkathon/Bikeathon – September 24, 2022
• Approved the event permit for the Cystic Fibrosis Cycle for Life Event – October 1, 2022, 7:00am start
• Approved the event permit for the Senior Support Foundation Yard sale 9-10-22

Other Business:

The Town’s 300^th anniversary funding is $40,000.  How do people / organizations request use of these funds?  The Select Board approves requests for use of the available funds.

Two important reminders were shared before adjourning:  please exercise your democratic right to vote (early voting is now taking place; Tues. Sept 6, 2022, is State Primary Election Day) and next week’s Select Board meeting will take place on WEDNESDAY, September 7, 2022 at 7:00pm

The meeting adjourned at 8:20pm.

Following the adjournment, the Zoom meeting remained active, and it allowed some learning to take place.  Chief Cassidy looked up the word Waushakum.  Some may already know that the word comes from the Nipmuc nation language and means, “eel fishing place.” Aren’t you glad I didn’t log out of the meeting too soon?