Select Board Chair John Cronin called the June 5, 2023, meeting to order at 7:00pm and immediately moved to the first item on a busy agenda.

Celebrate Holliston Update for 300th

Left to Right above: Kathy Shore, Lisa Deering, and Theresa Lamkin updated the Board on the plans to date for the Town’s 300^th anniversary celebration. The Celebrate Holliston has been raising funds for the past many years for the tri-centennial events.  The State has earmarked $10,000 for immediate use and Town Meeting has approved an additional $30,000.  The committee wants to partner with entities on ideas, financing, and management of the yearlong celebration.  Actually, the committee sees this year’s Celebrate Holliston in September as the unofficial kickoff of the big shindig(s).  I might not have caught all the events currently known / planned: January – Bonfire; February – Gala / Ball; May 11^th – Parade; July – Fireworks / Laser show, Day at the Lake, Baseball; September – Field Day; December – Cake (large we hope) with 300 candles??

The Board and committee talked about how ideas for events and requests for funding should flow.  All ideas and requests for funds should go to / through Celebrate Holliston.  Celebrate Holliston funding for ideas / events is “seed money” to be paid back from the event proceeds.  The Board offered two ideas: purchasing 300 native tree saplings to plant around town and purchase a Pride Banner to display during June.

Soon there will be link on the Town website to the Celebrate Holliston site to contact the organizers.  If you can’t wait for that link, here is the Celebrate Holliston link -> http://www.celebrateholliston.com/

The Board thanked the committee for the update and approved the use of $5,000 of State earmark for Historical Society events planned during 2024.

Project Completions: Blair Square & Green Street

Above right, Kevin Conley reviewed the status of the newly / nearly renovated Blair Square.  The pavilion will be erected by the end of June.  Cracks between the granite blocks will be filled to prevent injuries.  Nearly 600 people were at the Square on Saturday for the Friends of Holliston Trails run.

The Board thanked Mr. Conley for his vision and perseverance to see it come to life.  The Board went on to say that the Blair Square committee has created a beautiful space.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be scheduled after the pavilion is completed.

A reminder that requests to reserve the Square for group events go through the Parks & Recreation department.

The 9 Green Street construction is set to begin on June 8^th and is expected to be completed before July 4^th.  A separate opening ceremony will be planned for this new public parking area.

Public Safety Updates:

• Blair Square Lighting (& Safety) Discussion

Above left, HPD Chief Matthew Stone presents a safety assessment completed by SGT Ken Belson.  The report contained three areas of focus: perimeter safety, lighting, and after-hours security.  The installation of some barriers to prevent vehicles from accidentally entering the Square from Central Street, ensure adequate street lighting, and post signs about the park closing time – similar to all other Town parks – with no loitering after hours.

The Board approved SGT Belson’s recommendations and requested Mr. Ahern to work with the necessary Town departments to come up with costs to make the necessary improvements.

• Non-compliance with Heavy Commercial Vehicle Exclusions (HCVE), including Lowland Street / Woodland Street
  • A remedy of access, including possible barriers, may be considered and voted upon

The above image shows some – but not all the residents who came in person to speak with the Board about the Lowland problem or the Highland, Prentice, and Hollis intersection.

Lowland Street residents Keefe Bailey, left and Sarah Baroud, right spoke passionately about the continual disruption to their daily lives due to heavy commercial vehicles that continue to transit Woodland to Lowland to access the industrial park.  Residents see HPD enforcing the vehicle exclusion only to see the trucks return.  Conversations with the business owners by residents has not yielded a long-term solution.  There are several young children in the neighborhood and a new sidewalk is planned on Lowland to connect Woodland to the Rail Trail for walking / riding access to the schools – adding to the safety concerns.

Mr. Cronin cited some statistics compiled by HPD. During 2022: 308 traffic enforcement posts were manned; 146 vehicle stops were made – no data on citations issued.  In 2023 to date: 115 traffic enforcement posts and 50 stops have been made.

Below, Karen Apuzzo-Langton and Daniel Langton who live at 100 Woodland St. shared their recent experience when a large truck ripped the communication wires off their home.  This incident was the third time in recent years that caused disruption of their business and damage to their home.  The most recent incident took three days to repair, keeping Mr. Langton from his 24/7 business until he was able to buy a mobile hotspot.  Mrs. Apuzzo-Langton noted that no other Holliston industrial park has more than one entrance.  The Langtons spent some time this weekend taking pictures of barricades currently being used in other industrial areas – barriers that can be moved for emergency access.

Mr. Patrick Hafford who lives on Lowland Street towards Fiske Street expressed concern that any barrier at the other end of Lowland will divert more heavy trucks his way.  He agrees that ultimately, there should be only one entrance to the industrial park.

Mr. Conley returned to address the Board on this topic.  As a Cranberry Lane resident, he hoped that people in his neighborhood would still be able to get to other parts of town through the industrial park.

Dr. Liz Theiler first thanked Chief Stone for his safety update at Blair Square.  Dr. Theiler reported she recently lost internet service and wondered if it was truck related.  As a Norland Street resident, she sees and hears the big trucks on Lowland Street and recounted the tale of one lost big rig driver who recently went down Norland instead of Lowland and had to navigate the narrow streets of the neighborhood.  She pointed to this being a neighborhood (about 60 residences) problem and fully supports the use of a barrier to block trucks from using Lowland Street.

Mr. Ahern showed the map below.  The focus of the Board’s deliberations was on installing a barrier (that allows emergency access) at the point marked 2 on the map.

Each member of the Board expressed their points:

• Mr. Sparrell is disappointed that the business owners have not cooperated.  That better permanent signage is needed on Route 16 BEFORE trucks turn onto Woodland Street.  He doesn’t want to install a solution that just moves the problem around to a different road / neighborhood.
• Mrs. Hein wanted the Board to be “very bold” to solve this decades-long problem.  Many reasonable steps to date have not improved the situation.  There should be only one entrance to the industrial park.  A barrier at location 2 should be piloted.  Long-range, the intersection of Washington and Whitney Streets should have a traffic signal.
• Mr. Cronin heard the residents’ voice and sees an urgent need for action which includes communication with and cooperation from the industrial park business owners.

The Board unanimously approved a motion that requests a written report from the Town’s Public Safety departments (HPD, HFD, DPW) as to the recommended type of barrier to install and what better signage should be installed and where they should be located.  The report is due in two weeks.  Also, the Board directed Mr. Ahern to send a letter to the industrial park business owners alerting them to the impending change.

Temporary electronic signs may also be used to educate all drivers about the new traffic pattern.  Ultimately all the navigation apps need to be updated to reflect the change.

• Highland Street Safety Zone Application (24/7) vs. School Zone Application (School Hours) Discussion

The above aerial view shows the area studied by Traffic Engineers McMahon and Associates that led to the installation of stop signs to improve the safety at the Prentice, Highland, and Hollis Streets intersections.  Highland Street residents who live closest to the intersections spoke to the Board about what has changed and what has not.

Below are the recommendations from the McMahon report:

Some improvements have been noted by the residents.  As one person noted, “now drivers slow down and roll through the stop signs instead of just speeding through.”

Below, Valentino and Carrie Russo who live at 781 Highland Street (upper left home on the aerial map above) spoke about the continuing safety issues: mailbox hit twice, car hit tree in front of house, there are more cars now, more distracted drivers, and speed is still too fast.  The Russos asked for additional speed limit signs in the area, sidewalks are needed, and a wall to prevent cars from entering their front lawn.  Their 8-year-old son Nicholas can’t play in their front yard.

Below Kelly Lockwood, left and Stuart Primus, right live at 811 Highland Street (directly across from Hollis St in the aerial map above).  Ms. Lockwood and Mr. Primus have long pushed for improvements that will make it safer for them and their property and echoed many of the points raised by the Russo’s.  Mr. Primus noted that in conversations with Senator Spilka’s office he has been assured that the Senator would support Holliston’s requests for state funds to improve the intersection.  As it is, even on the way to the Board meeting, their car was nearly hit exiting their driveway.  Mr. Primus asked for better and faster solutions from the Town.

The Board members voiced their support for making improvements that increase safety for the Russos and the Lockwood/Primus family and for the pedestrians and drivers that traverse the intersections.

The Board approved the addition of sidewalks and retaining walls to the Capital Improvement Plan as a priority item and that Mr. Ahern should file the necessary paperwork to request a 24/7 Safety Zone within a 1000-foot radius of the intersections.  Such a designation may also expedite state funding support for the needed changes.

Public Comment:  None from the Board or Public

Warrants:  The Board approved the weekly accounts payable and payroll warrants totaling – $1,756,934.52

Comments from the Town Administrator:

• The new Town Accountant Gita Patel starts work next week.
• The Town has asked Land Court for access to 20 Cross St to begin testing – no response yet.
• Design engineering for the Norfolk Street infrastructure projects will begin soon and will take several months.
• The special legislation regarding extending Deputy Mark Dellicker’s service to HFD is being filed.
• Discussion has begun on revising the proposed Tree Ordinance for consideration at the October Town Meeting.
• The construction at HFD headquarters should be completed in the next couple of weeks.
• LED streetlight conversion begins this week.  A schedule will be posted on the Town website soon.

Board Business:  The Board took the following actions:

• Approved Common Victualler’s License for the Lion’s Club Carnival on July 12, 13th, 14th and 15th at the High School
• Approved the event permit for the Lion’s Club carnival.
• Approved waiving the Lion’s Club Common Victualler’s License fee.
• Approved the one-day All Alcoholic Beverage permit for Bon Fete catering at the Hayes Anniversary in Upper Town Hall July 30, 2023, 5 to 11:00 p.m.
• Approved a Contract with Murry Paving and Reclamation Various Roads for an amount not to exceed $154,375
• Approved the July 2023 to December 2023 meeting schedule as presented.
• Approved the one-day Alcoholic Beverage Permit 326 Woodland Street, June 15, 2023, 6:00pm-8:00pm.
• Approved the event permit 326 Woodland Street Quilling Card & Gallery, June 15, 2023, 6:00pm-8:00pm.
• Approved the Lion’s Club Proclamation for the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award as presented (it’s a secret)

Other Business:

Mr. Cronin:

• He will miss the June 12^th Board meeting.
• The next Board meeting will be held TUESDAY, June 20, 2023. 
• The Board members should prepare goals and liaison assignments prior to the June 20 meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:27pm