Bi-weekly Town Administrator Reports

Report Covers Activities Between Select Board Meeting on Nov. 25, 2024 (video available) and the next meeting on Dec. 9, 2024 (agenda location).

Introduction:

With the passage of the Town Manager Act at the October 21, 2024 Fall Town Meeting, the Select Board will be adopting a bi-monthly schedule (2nd and 4th Monday of each month). In weeks when the Board does not meet, a Town Administrator Report will be provided to the public and archived on the Town’s website. The Special Legislation of the Town Manager Act still requires passage by the Legislature, so the Report will become the “Town Manager Report” when appropriate.

Passing of Bob Nemet:

Bob Nemet – long-time Town volunteer, DPW employee, and overall great guy – passed away this week. We’ll miss Bob dearly. Here is a link to a recent event at the Holliston High School honoring Bob’s work and contributions to Holliston, with pictures of Bob with his family and friends: https://hollistonreporter.com/saturdays-bob-nemet-day-ceremony/

Town Events & Town Hall News:

Transgender Day of Remembrance was held at Blair Square on Wednesday, Nov. 20th from 3-4:40pm – thank you to HolliPRIDE and the Impact Acts Collective for an important event to demonstrate that Holliston stands behind the trans community and that Holliston will always strive to be a welcoming and inclusive community!

Holliston’s Holiday Stroll was held Saturday, Nov. 30th from 12-5pm – thank you to Celebrate Holliston and all those that contributed to making this a great event to promote a sense of community and support our local businesses!

Town Hall will be closed for Christmas at noon on Tuesday, December 24th and closed to the public Wednesday, December 25th; otherwise normal hours of operation (link)

Town Hall’s Hanukkah Menorah Lighting ceremony will be scheduled the night of December 26th at 5pm

Human Resources Updates from Assistant Town Administrator / HR Director Kathleen Buckley

Current Postings: https://www.townofholliston.us/human-resources/pages/job-opportunities

New hires:

Manny Leite, the new Library Director has officially started in Holliston! Manny comes with years of success as a Library Director in East Bridgewater and Foxborough, MA, as well as Tennessee!

Jay Downie, the new Assistant Assessor started the week of Thanksgiving and will be seen around Town getting to know Holliston. Jay brings many years of appraisal experience to Holliston!

Outreach Efforts / Communication

Town Administrator Quarterly Newsletter was posted (link below, click here to subscribe)

https://www.townofholliston.us/town-administrator/pages/town-administrator-newsletter

FY2026 Budget Development

Landing page for budget information and schedules for Finance Committee and Select Board budget hearings can be found here, when available: https://www.townofholliston.us/finance-committee

Budget dissemination planned for the week of Dec. 9th to all Boards/Committees/Departments which will include a schedule of Finance Committee meetings (Tuesday nights at 7pm – remote) and the Select Board one-day Budget Hearing (planned for Saturday, March 1, 2025 – hybrid)

Event Permits / Approvals

No event permits were approved between the Select Board’s November 25, 2024 meeting and the Dec. 9, 2024 meeting;

The Town Administrator’s Office, with Public Safety and Public Works, reviewed and approved the placement of a storage container along the Upper Charles Rail Trail in the area of Cross Street for storage of equipment of the Friends of Holliston Trails (FOHT)

Donations

No donations were recorded between the Select Board’s November 25, 2024 meeting and the Dec. 9, 2024 meeting

Grants / Contracts

BRIC Grant (20-0011) for Hazard Mitigation Plan Update with fully executed contract has been extended to 4/1/25 deadline;

Doody Calls started serving four (4) dog waste stations on Rail Trail per previous contract award

Capital Projects & Town Project Updates

Norfolk Street Water Mains set to begin April 15, 2025 and Sidewalks/Roadway/Drainage to be discussed at Dec. 9, 2024 Select Board Meeting: https://www.townofholliston.us/select-board/events/156406

Solar Project on Marshall Street Capped Landfill– November Update posted: https://www.townofholliston.us/select-board/pages/marshall-street-solar-project

Procurement Updates and Links

Current Open Bids (Woodland Street – “Factory Pond Dam Rehabilitation and Woodland Street Bridge Replacement): https://www.townofholliston.us/town-links/pages/procurement-legal-notices

Staff Recognition

Karen Sherman, the Town Planner, supported a Working Group of Board/Committee members and staff to provide an MBTA 3A compliant article to Town Meeting in October 2024, mitigating the State’s threat of denying grant funding to the Town, which would have impacted all areas of Town government. But while the Working Group and Town Meeting voters finished their work on Town Meeting night, Karen continues on, getting the vote certified through a cumbersome state process by the Dec. 31, 2024 deadline. Thank you to Karen Sherman for a herculean effort of ensuring the Town is in compliance.

Upcoming Select Board Dates of Interest