The weekly meeting of the Holliston Select Board was called to order at 7:01pm by Chair Ben Sparrell.  Mr. Cronin was absent.

Blair Square Procedures & Policies – General Use Policy & Event / Rental Policy; Fees Schedule

With the renovation of the Blair Square Park nearly complete, the Select Board asked the Park Commission and Parks & Recreation Department to develop a plan for how the new facility would be used by larger groups.

Above, Shaw Lively, Parks Commission Chair and to his left Shannon Cornwell, Parks & Rec Dept. Asst. Director, presented a proposed policies and procedures document to the Board.  The proposed policies were approved by the Parks Commission at its meeting last week.

The policy is designed similarly to existing policies for other Town parks and is intended to work in concert with other permitting required by the Town to use its facilities.

The policies govern the use of the paved, pavilion (when complete), and grassy areas by large groups (>20 people).  A portion of the policy is captured below.

The fee schedule is designed to collect sufficient funds to cover any follow-up work required to restore the park to its original condition.  Mr. Lively noted that the area is in a very delicate condition and needs to be treated as such.

Facilities Manager James Keast updated the Board with the expected opening – in time for Memorial Day.  The site of the pavilion will remain fenced in as the base is raised and a tripping hazard.  Keast also noted that there are two streetlights at the Square that are out and will be replaced soon.  A light will illuminate the flagpole, the tri-panel kiosk, and ultimately, the pavilion.

The Board approved the Policies and Procedures and authorized that they be posted on one of the panels on the kiosk.  The Park Commission and Select Board will review the effectiveness of the policy in the fall of 2023.

May 2023 Annual Town Meeting – Review

• Printed copies of the Town Meeting Warrant are available at: Town Hall, Library, Sr. Ctr., some downtown businesses and at Town Meeting.
• The Holliston Community Action Fund Student Division will provide onsite childcare in the High School cafeteria.
• Senior citizens can request parking passes for “front door” parking – contact the Sr. Ctr. to request a pass – HPD will distribute the passes.
• The Board authorized the use of BlackBoard Connect to send e-mail / text messages reminding connected citizens about the Town Meeting (5/15) and Town Election (5/23)
• All the materials for Town Meeting can be found online at -> https://www.townofholliston.us/home/news/date-change-and-information-for-the-may-annual-town-meeting

And the Holliston Reporter article https://hollistonreporter.com/2023/05/get-ready-for-town-meeting-next-monday-may-15-2023/ has additional content regarding the upcoming Town Meeting.

Public Comment:

• Mrs. Hein:
  • Reported a “fantastic turnout” for last week’s Safe Routes to School spring walk / ride.  Special thanks to all who participated even at 7:05am.  The Holliston PTO provided coffee and treats – some leftovers went to the crew installing the new sod at Blair Square.  Once again, HPD turned out on foot, bike, and motorcycle – thank you.
  • Saturday’s Touch-a-Truck event was a big hit from Mrs. Hein’s vantage point at the Town information table.  “Holliston is blessed to have such dedicated staff to host this great event.”  Mrs. Hein noted that Saturday was the first beautiful day in fourteen and still the Town employees were out in force.  She thanked Dep. DPW Dir. Robert Walker and Asst Town Admin Kathleen Buckley for their efforts to organize the event.

• Mr. Sparrell:  His son really enjoyed climbing on the equipment – especially the school bus!

• Public:  The Clerk read a letter from the Holliston Upper Charles Community Action (UCCA) group.  Below, Joan Levinsohn and Rich Rosenberry, two co-signers of the letter were on hand to answer questions.

Summarizing the letter – the UCCA group supports the siting of the proposed DPW facility at 20 Cross Street to mitigate an environmental hazard into a useful Town resource and further that the facility use only renewable sustainable energy sources.  This approach would alleviate the need to convert from fossil fuel sourced energy in the next few decades.  The Board acknowledged the UCCA advocacy and thanked them for providing this input when it can be most effectively added to the planning.

Weekly Warrant(s): The Board approved the weekly Accounts Payable and Payroll totaling -> $2,774,544.49

Public Hearing – Change of Managers – Bertucci’s Restaurant

The Public Hearing was opened at 7:46pm.  Sonya Dupuis (below) will take over as General Manager for the Holliston Bertucci’s.

Ms. Dupuis comes to Holliston with several years of restaurant management experience and hopes to increase sales at her new location.  The Hearing was closed at 7:49pm.  The Board approved the transfer of Manager on the Bertucci’s license.

Comments from the Town Administrator:

• FY2022 Annual Report Posted – > https://www.townofholliston.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif706/f/uploads/2022_annual_town_report.pdf

Printed copies will be available at Town Meeting.

Board Business:  The Board took the following actions:

• Approved the hanging of two pride flags on Town Hall beginning on June 1^st and to remain up through Pride Month (June 2023) In addition, a flyer of Pride Month activities was approved for posting on the new Blair Square kiosk (when the park opens)
• Appointed Tim Smith to the Golf Course Advisory Committee (GCAC) – term to expire 6/30/24.  Mr. Smith replaces Chrysso Lawless.  The Board thanked Mrs. Lawless for her service.
• Appointed Vladamir Nechev (from Associate to Board Member) and John Love (from Board Member to Associate) on the Zoning Board of Appeals – terms to expire 6/30/23 for reappointment at that time.  The Board thanked Messrs. Nechev and Love for their volunteer service.
• Approved the minutes of the March 13, 2023, and March 20, 2023, meetings.

Other Business:

The Board requested time in the near future with the 300^th Anniversary planners to see how State funds earmarked for the celebration can be used before the spending deadline.

Tonight, marked the end of Mr. Sparrell’s year as Chair of the Select Board.  Mrs. Hein thanked Mr. Sparrell for his service during his first term and is optimistic that she will see him again at the Board table following the upcoming Town Election.

Mr. Sparrell returned the thanks and reminded ALL that Town Meeting is NEXT Monday at 7:00pm and the Town Election is Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:09pm.