After a week off, the Holliston Select Board got back to business with Chair John Cronin calling the July 31, 2023, meeting to order at 7:00pm.  He promised a “modest agenda.”

Year 3 Review of Sustainability Coordinator Request for Proposals (RFP)

Town Administrator Ahern presented a draft copy of the RFP calling for contractors to serve as Holliston’s Sustainability Coordinator.

Joan Levinsohn (below left) and Rich Rosenberg (below right) supported the value of having a coordinator who can provide more hours of service within the approved FY 24 budget of $51,500.  They also thanked the Board and Mr. Ahern for giving this the appropriate attention. 

The Board members noted that Matt Zettek, the incumbent, has been successful in the role and would expect him to reapply through this process.

The Board unanimously approved the revised RFP for contracted Sustainability Coordinator work that prepares Holliston for necessary Climate Action Plans, and that Mr. Ahern should post the RFP as soon as possible.  The position will report to the Assistant Town Administrator / HR Director.

Review Draft Job Description & Work Plan for Part-Time Economic Development Coordinator (approved at May 2023

Annual Town Meeting)

Mr. Ahern shared the draft Job Description as developed by ATA/HR Dir Kathleen Buckley as shown in part below.  Included with the Job Description was a proposed 12-month work plan for the new part-time employee.

Below, local resident and potential Holliston business owner, Brian Goodman, supported the description as presented.  He feels that this role would help set expectations for potential business owners regarding Holliston’s processes.

Above, Fin Com liaison Julie Winston questioned the precise language in one part of the proposed work plan.

The Board and Mr. Ahern affirmed that the Job Description is the official work evaluation tool and that the workplan is subject to refinement.

Below, Keefe Bailey asked how this new role works with the Town Planner and do the two positions share common goals.  Mr. Ahern highlighted that the EDC Coordinator will be a liaison between the Town’s four land use departments: Planning, Building, Health, and Conservation.  Mr. Cronin noted that this new role will have a different focus than the Planner and that is one goal of the new position.

Members of the Board were unanimously supportive of this new position.  The Board voted unanimously to approve the proposed part-time job description for posting as soon as possible.

Warrants:  The Board unanimously approved two warrants: FY 23 – $685,022.56 and FY 24 – $1,529,895.01

Public Comment:

• Public:

Below Ann Chipman presents data from a 2021 HCVE request for Lowland Street that was denied by the MassDOT citing that only 8.3 – 13% of the traffic counted were commercial the remainder were passenger vehicles using Lowland as a commuter route.  Mrs. Chipman is not in favor of closing Lowland Street to all traffic and noted that she and her husband found out about the possible closure “through the grapevine.”

At a previous Select Board meeting, Tom Chipman (below) mentioned that he had some historical information about the site of the industrial park.  He presented his research in written form to Mr. Ahern for the Board’s edification.

• Mr. Sparrell: He will be holding his monthly Select Chat at the Sr. Ctr. this Friday at 9:30am. He encouraged all to attend.
• Mrs. Hein: None
• Mr. Cronin: None

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

• Holliston’s Farms Day will be on Sunday, September 10^th.  Publicity to be released soon.
• A RFQ for a traffic study at Norfolk and Franklin Streets calls for quotes to be submitted by August 3, 2023.
• A soon to be released MA Water Resources Authority (MWRA) report includes data that could be useful to Holliston in the future.
• The last Downtown Sewer District Public Forum will be held, Monday, August 14, 2023, at 9:30 am in the Upper Town Hall.
• The MetroWest YMCA received $5 million in federal funding for a pool and early learning service.

Board Business: The Board took the following actions:

• Approved the Inter-Municipal Agreement (IMA) between the Towns of Holliston, Hopkinton, and Sherborn for Social Work Services Clinicians under Police Departments
• Approved the One-day Beer & Wine License for Arcadian Farms 3 to 7 P.M. (Bartending by Brian Goodman, Rushford & Sons Brewhouse)
• Approved the Letter continues Holliston’s participation in the Metro West Veterans District.  Mr. Ahern is the Town’s representative.
• Approved the One-day Beer/Wine for the 26th Cystic Fibrosis Cycle for life Bartender Bon Fete Inc September 30, 2023, 11 am to 4 pm.
• Approved the request to waiver the fees for the One-day Beer/Wine License for Cycle for Life September 30, 2023.
• Approved the minutes of the June 5, and June 12, 2023, meetings.
• Reappointed Tina Hein: to the Holliston Trust Fund Board of Trustees, as Holliston’s MAPC Representative, and to the MetroWest Regional Collaborative to expire June 2024
• Appointed Joanne Hulbert to the Historical Commission

Other Business:

Mrs. Hein asked that Mr. Ahern find the letter to Lowland Industrial Park businesses that was sent by HPD’s Chief Stone when the HCVE was approved for Woodland Street.

The meeting adjourned at 8:07pm.