Select Board Holds Public Forum to Preview Fall Town Meeting
The Holliston Select Board held its weekly meeting on Monday, October 3, 2022, in a two-part format. Chair Ben Sparrell called the “business” part of the meeting to order at 7:01pm. Sparrell pointed to a very quick agenda for taking care of business before moving to Upper Town Hall to conduct a public forum, previewing the Fall Town Meeting.
Weekly Warrant: The Board approved the warrant totaling -> $706,383.07
Execute Town Administrator Contract (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026)
The Board unanimously approved an employment contract renewal for three years beginning in July 2023. The Board referenced the two exceptional years of work Mr. Ahern has provided Holliston. Mr. Ahern in turn thanked the Board for the excellent working relationship he enjoys with the members. Ahern also thanked the Town staff and Board / Committee members for their collaboration.
Updates of the Town Administrator:
- The Fall Town Meeting Warrant was posted on September 30, 2022 -> Fall Town Meeting Warrant and Supporting Documents
- The Finance Committee recommendations will be posted no later than Friday, October 7, 2022.
- Town Treasurer / Collector Mary Bousquet plans to retire at the end of this calendar year. She will stay on to provide a smooth transition to the next Treasurer / Collector.
- The Holliston Water is seeking participants to take part in a copper / lead sampling effort. There are NO violations or concerns this a routine exercise. Learn more here ->https://hollistonreporter.com/2022/10/water-department-seeks-water-sampling-participants/
- There will be no Select Board meeting during the week of October 31st. Trick or Treat!
Board Business: The Board took the following actions:
- Deferred the review of Letters of Interest for the at-large citizen member of the Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC) to the next Board meeting.
- Approved the vacation accrual side letter with the DPW Laborers’ which benefits the Town and the union members
The Board recessed the meeting to relocate to Upper Town Hall for the Town Meeting public forum. Several people joined the Board upstairs and about fifteen joined via Zoom. At 7:30pm Mr. Sparrell welcomed all assembled to the forum.
The Board was joined by Town Counsel Jay Talerman and Town Moderator Bill Maher.
Mr. Sparrell quickly reviewed the logistical steps that will make Town Meeting more accessible to voting residents of all ages.
Town Moderator Bill Maher (above) walked through how he manages dialogue and progress at Holliston’s open Town Meetings. His goal is to engender discussion and civil discourse as the Town makes important decisions. He outlined some key parts of our Town Meetings:
- A quorum of 100 registered voters is required to conduct business
- A wide range of Articles can appear on the Meeting Warrant
- People who wish to speak at Town Meeting can bring notes
- Most votes are voice votes; some simple majority, others 2/3 majority and even some are 4/5 majority
- Hand votes are required for some Articles and necessary when voice vote is inconclusive
- There is an 11:00 curfew, which can be overridden by the Town Meeting participants
- If you are unable to attend in person, viewing the discussion on HCAT is an option to stay informed.
- This is direct citizen involvement in action
- The amendment to a motion process was reviewed – forms are available at the meeting to write out the proposed amendment
Town Counsel Jay Talerman seconded Mr. Maher’s overview of Town Meeting purpose and process.
Mr. Ahern shared the twenty-eight Articles on the Fall Town Meeting Warrant. His slides are below. The detail for each Article can be found at -> Fall Town Meeting Warrant and Supporting Documents
Mr. Sparrell invited questions / comments from the audience.
Liz Theiler thanked the Town Administrator, Select Board and Finance Committee all who have endorsed the move to the ALS level of ambulance service / care. She spoke in support of Articles 3 and 7 which set Holliston on the path to getting Advanced Life Support (ALS) licensure. ALS / Paramedic service as described by Fire Chief Michael Cassidy, in response to a question posed by Ms. Theiler, provides several pre-hospital interventions, including but not limited to, establishing airways, IV’s, administering some medications. Ms. Theiler urged everyone to support these articles as the Holliston ambulance service needs to improve.
No other questions / comments were shared. (Mr. Sparrell asked the Moderator to review the amendment process which I included with the earlier Moderator summary.)
After thanking all the participants and members of Town staff that made this hybrid forum possible, Mr. Sparrell called for a motion to adjourn.
The meeting / forum was adjourned at 8:36pm.
1 Comments
To respond to the question posed by a zoom follower more completely the EMT basic life support which Holliston ambulance have is as I understand for patients who have lower extremity fractures, EMTs are not allowed to give injections, medications, start an IV or any necessary medical process including cardiac monitoring.
In contrast ALS advance Life Support ambulances that Ashland, Hopkinton, Medway, Millis and Hopedale have are staffed by paramedics who can use airway support, cardiac life support, cardiac monitors, glucose testing devices, they can start IV’s , administer medication and give injections to stabilize patients on their way to the hospital. ALS ambulances are for patients who require a higher level of monitoring for example those who require cardiac monitoring, on a chronic ventilator or continuous IV drip.
What this means is that a very sick Holliston Resident who requires an ambulance will wait longer because the ambulance must come from outside Holliston.
Holliston residents pay a higher tax rate than Ashland, Hopkinton, Medway or Hopedale we should not be dependent on these towns ambulances and we deserve better ambulance service for our tax dollar and health and safety. Support the transition to ALS service as soon as possible.