At 7:00pm on Monday, September 12, 2022, Select Board Chair Ben Sparrell called the weekly meeting to order.  He suggested that the Board would be handling a “fun-filled” agenda dealing largely with the Fall Town Meeting warrant.

Preparation for Oct. 17, 2022, Fall Town Meeting

Mr. Ahern gave a slightly deeper review of the Warrant Articles listed below.  A complete review of the Articles and their supporting details / financials will be presented at next Monday’s meeting (after the Warrant closes that day at 4:00pm)

Mr. Cronin asked Mr. Ahern if the stabilization funds and debt service meet the standards set by the Town’s Financial Policies.  Mr. Ahern didn’t have the exact figures and offered to look it up on the Town website -> Financial Policies – Approved Nov. 2021

Discussion of the DRAFT Articles lasted for about one hour.  It was made clear that DRAFT Article 17 is NOT a vote to select a site for a new DPW site.  Mr. Ahern explained that a partial design / engineering report would inform the Select Board and town regarding the best (not perfect) DPW facility location – which would voted at a FUTURE Town Meeting.

The Board voted to send the Citizens’ petition article to the Planning Board so that a Public Hearing can be held, as required by Mass General Law, prior to a vote at Town Meeting.  Related to the DPW site search, Facilities Manager James Keast has issued an RFP for private land that might be suitable -> DPW Site Private Land RFP

Please note that the Fall Town Meeting start time will be 7:00pm.  Childcare may be available at the High School that evening.

COVID-19 Community update / ARPA Programmatic update

Chief Cassidy was attending a different meeting Monday evening, so Mr. Ahern shared the updated accounting for Holliston’s allocation / expenditures of its $4.5 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant.

Warrants: The Board approved the weekly warrants totaling -> $2,789,715.43

Public Comment

• Mrs. Hein: Reminded everyone that the Bike and Listening tour will take place this coming Sunday.  It is a three-mile bike ride starting and ending at Blair Square.  HPD Bike officers will escort the riders to Patoma and Stoddard Parks.

• Mr. Cronin: Asked that HPD Chief Matthew Stone be invited to a future meeting to provide updates from his Department
• Mr. Sparrell: Reminded everyone that Envision Future Holliston will hold a Public Forum THIS Wednesday, September 14^th at 7:00pm -> https://www.townofholliston.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif706/f/agendas/agenda_clrpc_sept_14_2022_-_google_docs.pdf  This meeting will be available via Zoom.  Hear preliminary results / ideas from the recently completed survey.
• Public: Mr. William Rainsford asked the Board to clarify that any action taken at the Fall Town Meeting will NOT be selecting a site for a new DPW facility.  He was assured that no decision on a site will be made at the upcoming meeting.

Comments from Town Administrator – Mr. Ahern provided the following updates to the Board:

• Asked for the Board’s guidance regarding how to fill the last vacant seat on the Traffic Advisory Committee.  The Board voted to authorize Mrs. Hein and Mr. Ahern to interview the two interested parties before making the appointment.
• The MassDOT work on Route 16 is progressing.  The sidewalk phase of the work should be done by the end of the year.  The project has been expanded to include better drainage.  The Board asked Mr. Ahern to ask MassDOT if better traffic control signs could be placed at the Summer and Washington Street intersection.

Board Business:

• Approved minutes from the August 8, 2022, meeting.

Other Business:

Mr. Sparrell asked that the Sustainability Coordinator be invited to a future Board meeting to give an update.

Mrs. Hein asked if Holliston will be applying for a grant from the “Safe Streets 4 All” federal program.  This could be a regional grant request in the future.

The meeting adjourned at 8:24pm.  Next week’s meeting will feature a very detailed review of the complete Fall Town Meeting Warrant.