This week’s Select Board report will be formatted a little differently. The interviewing and selection of the new Facilities Manager will be the first section and the other Board business will come later in this report.
Facilities Manager Interviews / Selection
As planned following last week’s interview of the five candidates for the Facilities Manager position, the two finalists met with the Board last night. Gregg Lefter and Christopher Pizzi answered questions from each Board member.
Immediately following the interviews, the Board discussed the pros and cons of each candidate. The unanimous decision was to offer the position to Chris Pizzi – pending background and reference checks. Congratulations Chris.
Regular Board Business
The meeting opened promptly at 7:00 pm. Board Clerk Christina Hein read the warrants to be approved – totaling $567,913.93. The warrants were approved.
During Public Comment, Board Chair Mark Ahronian reminded everyone that the Holliston Pantry Shelf’s annual SOUPer Bowl will be held Saturday, February 1, 2020. Come out and enjoy fresh soup from local folks and raise funds for our Pantry Shelf.
Town Administrator Jeff Ritter shared the following updates to the Board:
- Mr. Ritter received an update from Ashland Police Chief Alfano that the revised Animal Control Officer Memorandum of Understanding about the shared resource will taken longer than expected. The Town will use the existing MUO to plan the FY 21 ACO budget.
- Next Tuesday, Labor Negotiations with the DPW employees will take place.
- Next Thursday at 2:30, there will be a meeting to develop a timeline for the solar panel installation project. The timeline will be posted on the Town website.
- The Police Association is ready to begin contract negotiations.
- This Friday at 4:00pm, a School Strategic plan meeting will be held at the High School library.
- The new Sustainability Coordinator will meet with Mr. Ritter today to discuss his contract with the town.
- Also Sustainability related, the Town has received $25,000 – its portion of a shared State grant – from Sherborn
- The School Committee is planning to submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the MSBA this year – it will be on the Board’s February 3, 2020 agenda
Mederi, a marijuana business, has a Host Community Agreement (HCA) with Holliston to operate a growing facility on Boynton Road in the Hopping Brook Industrial Park. The firm now wants to enter into a separate HCA with the Town to operate a medical marijuana dispensary at the same location. The Board listened to Mederi’s proposal, received input from Mederi CEO Christopher Pantano, and solicited counsel from Town Counsel Kate Federov and Town Planner Karen Sherman.
The Board asked that Mederi withdraw their application at this time. When the growing business is fully licensed and operational for a few months, the Board would welcome another discussion on the HCA for a dispensary.
The 9 Green Street Committee and Health Director Scott Noles recommended to the Board to enter into a contract with Lord and Associates. The contract would provide necessary reporting and a Licensed Site Professional to complete the first part of the process as required by MassDEP. The Board approved the contract and noted the funds ($13,500 – the lowest bid) could come from the reserve fund.
Board Business:
- Approved the meeting minutes from January 13, 2020 meeting
- Accepted on behalf of the Fire Department, a $10,000 gift from Middlesex Savings Bank
- Appointed Donald Bates to the OPEB committee
The following proposed budgets were reviewed:
The Board approved the ZBA budget which remains unchanged from the FY 20 allocation.
The Board approved the Building Inspector proposed budget.
The Board approved a 1% increase in the IT budget.
The Solid Waste budget was reduced from its proposed amount to reflect savings from reduced tipping fees with the new system. Also, the Board voted to create a Trash Business District. The idea is that businesses within the District might chose to join the plan offered to all residents. The approved proposed budget is $1,222,851.
The following proposed budgets were approved by the Board:
- Select Board – $316,150
- Public Buildings – $285,426
- Waste Water Treatment Plant – $92,708
- Sealer – $8,647
The meeting adjourned at 9:48 pm. (Did anyone pick up on the number of times that Chris or variation showed up in this article?)
