Attending: Chair John Cronin, Vice Chair Tina Hein, Town Administrator Travis Ahern

Continuation of HCA Transfer/Assignment Request for 72 Jeffrey Avenue from Good Feels to Dirigo Cannabis LLC

Addressing questions from last week’s meeting:

1. Extensive experience (more than 7 years). Works closely with town offices for approvals. Has both medical and recreational licenses in Maine. Extracts products using ethanol and butane; uses for in-house and other finished products.
2. They have had no prior complaints (or issues) with odor because they are using extraction in closed areas. No change in the noise levels based on what is existing at the location currently. No signage will be added and deliveries are out of sight because of a garage bay area.
3. Production anticipated 09/24

Tina: Appreciate the information we appreciate your efforts to make sure that we’re comfortable with the process. I’m satisfied with the answers you have provided.

For Information: What is being done to the building to get to a point where you are operational – Answer: We’re making some changes to the layout of the facility because it is currently set up as office space. The building owner is upgrading to about $70K in HVAC and other improvements.

John: Workers on site? Six is that correct? Answer: Yes. 7am to 5pm mostly. Most employees will be on site 8am to 5pm.

Travis: Other issues will be discussed by Fire Dept. for additional hazards (propane, ethanol)

Tina made motion to approve the transfer of the special license and to approve the transfer. Motion carried.

Deliberation of May 2024 Annual Town Meeting Warrant

Update from Parks Commission on Community Preservation Fund Request at Flagg Field – Shaw Lively indicates this is a collaborative project with the school district. This request is a CPC request, and the concept has been voted through. We have been dealing with issues like trash and vandalism. There’s a lot of issues that we have to address, and we are hoping to be able to find a better location for the courts. Includes a walking path. We won’t know about the cost until such a time as the engineering costs are complete. We have been working with the school committee on this. This will be a good location for multiple activities to be used multiple times by multiple people. Question regarding whether this would be limited to off-school hours or if it was accessible to residents during school hours: Estimated to be available ONLY after school hours for public use. School use when school is in session and public use when school is not in session. There may be options going forward but those are in the early stages of discussion.

Update from Library Trustees on Warrant Article Request for MPLCP Grant Match – in order to get the grant approved, funds which are from the town must be approved beforehand. The funds have to be appropriated by June 16^th which is why this is coming before the SB now. Discussed the application for a grant to support the library’s needs, which had not been pursued for almost a decade. The grant application process was described as highly competitive, with 17 potential applicants vying for three awards. The construction portion of the grant could cover up to 70% of the total project costs. There were questions raised about the public outreach regarding the grant application, to which Holliston responded that detailed information had been made available on the library’s website and through various forums.

Concerns about the proposed expansion of the local library, questioning the need for the doubling of usable space and the potential future maintenance costs. Various comments also highlighted the library’s role as a cultural anchor in the downtown area and suggested the town should consider creating a cultural district. There were also questions about the rationale for applying for a new library when the existing one does not need replacement and raised concerns about the lack of public discussion surrounding the selection of a secondary site for the potential new building.

The current state and future plans for the town’s library building was also discussed. The Trustees expressed concern about its deficiencies and the need for improvements. It was agreed the building is in good shape but needs some upgrades, particularly regarding traffic flow and space utilization due to increased community group usage. Before moving forward with the proposed project which could potentially relocate the library, there should be more public discussion and a vote by the trustees. SB members suggested that the Library could wait until next year to implement any changes.

Any other items of interest – discussed the ongoing schedule and highlighted specific matters, including the application for Congressional funding for the town’s downtown Sewer Project and the Woodland Street Bridge and dam project. 

Public Hearing

Wine & Malt On-Premises License Application for Bee Social LLC, located at 45 Chestnut Street – There is/was overwhelming support for this to move forward by the SB as well as numerous public comments which were received via email and letters by SB members as well as a couple during this hearing. This will provide a friendly venue for events, provide an opportunity to expand agri-tourism, and keep more people in town for events. The board approved this application unanimously and asked Travis to move forward.

FY2025 Budget – Select Board Recommendation (Level 3) TA Budget published on 3/5. Some funds were moved around to make budget balance. Level 2 is balanced; we’d anticipate that any adjustments may be made by SB and one thing we do not have is financial policies (which have not been scheduled. Without financial policies in place which may impact our budget, we are on track.

Chair John wants to make it clear that the SB is in regular contact with both State and Federal legislators regarding funding needs, in particular for our wastewater treatment plant and other public infrastructure.

April 1 meeting will be attended by our legislators.

Weekly Warrants (A/P & Payroll) – Vice Chair Tina made a motion to approve the warrant – motion passed.

Comments from the Town Administrator

Travis mentioned that he is working on the sewer and sustainability project to secure additional funding.  Multiple applications have been submitted related to storm water, solar, etc.

The required filings for the Woodland Street dam project has been filed.  You can learn more about this project and timelines by following this link.  

Board Business

• Park & Recreation donation from Middlesex Savings Bank $1,000 for Summer Concert – Motion made to accept and 2^nd – passed.
• Meeting Minutes February 12, 2024, and February 26, 2024 – Motion made to accept and 2nd – passed.
• Event permit Friends of Holliston Trails road race at Blair Square June 8, 2024, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m..
• Event Permit Household Hazardous Waste Day August 3, 2024, 8:00 a.m. to noon staging at Placentino School
• Event Permit 50th birthday party Summit Pointe Drive April 4, 2024 starting at 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
• Event Permit Holliston Youth Baseball/Softball Parade, May 5, 2024 starting 1:00 p.m. Placentino School onto Woodland Street, right onto Church Street, through St. Mary’s parking lot, then right onto Elm Street, then left onto Grove Street to Linden Street to Damigella Field
• Event Permit Three Squares New England Ride for Food. October 6, 2024, starting at 8:00 a.m.to 10:30 a.m.

Motion to approve all event permits – 2^nd – All passed

One Day Beer & Wine License, Memorial Day Event May 27, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Holliston Lions Club/American Legion

Motion made to approve – passed

Request to waive the fee for the One Day beer and wine license for May 27, 2024, at the Historical Society – motion made and passed.

Other Business

Per Travis: We have licenses for “off premises” – we have 5 Beer and Wine which are all issued, we have 15 allowed for beer and wine, we have 11 more available.