FY25 Annual Town Meeting Warrant - Translate

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT

May 13, 2024 HOLLISTON HIGH SCHOOL TOWN OF HOLLISTON

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex, ss.

Town of Holliston

To any Constable of the Town of Holliston, Greetings:

In the name of the Commonwealth you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Holliston who are qualified to vote in Town affairs to meet in the Holliston High School auditorium on:

Monday,                     May 13, 2024

Tuesday,                     May 14, 2024 (if necessary)

Wednesday,               May 15, 2024 (if necessary)

Thursday,                  May 16, 2024 (if necessary)

at 7:00 p.m. to act on the following Articles, to wit:

ARTICLE 1.                         HEAR REPORT OF THE SELECT BOARD

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board

To hear and act on the report of the Select Board.

COMMENTS: The Select Board will provide a report on activities of the Board since the last Annual Town Meeting. This is a standard article that allows reports commissioned by the Town to be heard.

ARTICLE 2.                         HEAR REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

SPONSORED BY:               Finance Committee

To hear and act on the report of the Finance Committee.

COMMENTS: The Finance Committee will provide a report regarding the Town’s overall financial condition.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FAVORABLE ACTION (7-0)

ARTICLE 3.                         AUTHORIZE TREASURER/COLLECTOR TO SELL

FORECLOSED TAX TITLE PROPERTIES

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer/Collector, subject to the approval of the Select Board, to sell property acquired through foreclosure of tax titles by the Town and other real estate, after first giving notice of the time and place of the sale by posting such notice of sale in some convenient place in the Town, by publishing such notice of such sale in a newspaper having general circulation in the Town and by posting such notice on a Holliston Cable Access Television (Holliston Hub-HCAT) bulletin board and on the Town’s website at least fourteen (14) days before the sale. The Treasurer/Collector shall also give notice of such

sale to the Executive Director of the Holliston Housing Authority, the Chair of the Holliston Housing Trust and the Chair of the Holliston Housing Committee or its subsequent equivalent by first class letter at least forty-five (45) days before the sale. The Treasurer/Collector may hold a public auction and may reject any bid which she/he deems inadequate, and any such advertisement, notice or indication that real property is to be offered for sale by the Town of Holliston, or any department, commission, or other subdivision of the Town shall include the following statement: “Buyers should be aware that the Town of Holliston does not guarantee this property to be in conformity with existing zoning bylaws.”

Whenever the proceeds of the sale or other disposal of real estate, other than that acquired through tax title foreclosure, by the Town of Holliston exceed five hundred dollars, the same shall be applied to the payment of indebtedness incurred in acquiring such real estate or shall be added to the sinking fund, if any, from which said indebtedness is payable, or if no such indebtedness is outstanding will be applied to the Town’s Capital Expenditure Fund as established by Chapter 46 of the Acts of 1993. The proceeds of a sale in excess of five hundred dollars of any park land by the Town shall be used only by the Town for acquisition of land for park purposes or for capital improvements to park land; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: From time to time, the Treasurer/Collector takes personal property (mostly real estate) with the approval of the Land Court due to delinquency to make property tax payments. This article would allow the Treasurer/Collector to dispose of those properties.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FAVORABLE ACTION (7-0)

ARTICLE 4.                         TAX WORKOFF PROGRAM – CH. 59, SEC. 5K & 5N

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board

To see if the Town will vote to amend prior acceptance of Chapter 59, Sections 5K and 5N, by allowing the maximum reduction of the real property tax bill, up to 125 volunteer service hours in a given tax year; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: Currently the Town is allowing the reduction of the real property bill by $1,000 in a tax year, and required to pay minimum wage for the volunteer service hours, meaning the number of hours allowed to be worked decreases if/when minimum wage increases. By amending the Town’s acceptance of Chapter 59, the Town will be able to allow for 125 volunteer hours in a given tax year as minimum wage is set to increase.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FAVORABLE ACTION (7-0)

ARTICLE 5.                         AUTHORIZE THE SELECT BOARD TO SELL

SURPLUS EQUIPMENT

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to hold a public auction for the purpose of disposing of surplus departmental equipment; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: This standard article allows the Town to sell used vehicles, equipment or other personal property.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FAVORABLE ACTION (7-0)

ARTICLE 6.                         AMEND INTEREST RATE PER ANNUM

SPONSORED BY:               Board of Assessors

To see if the Town will vote to amend the interest rate per annum from 8% to 6% under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, clause 41A, which regulates tax deferral for homeowners 65 years or older, pursuant to the authority contained in Chapter 136 of the Acts of 2005, thereby amending said clause 41A; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: Residents who are 65 and older may take advantage of this option at an annual rate of 6%. This Article requires annual approval at Town Meeting. The Board of Assessors unanimously in favor.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FAVORABLE ACTION (7-0)

ARTICLE 7.                         AMEND INCOME REQUIREMENTS

SPONSORED BY:               Board of Assessors

To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Section 51 of Chapter 184 of the Acts of 2002, amending the income requirements under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, clause 41C; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: This would allow the Town to increase the statutory income requirements to

$20,000 for single and $30,000 for married couples from $10,000 to $12,000. The Article was originally adopted by the Town in 2006. This Article requires annual approval at Town Meeting. The Board of Assessors unanimously in favor.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FAVORABLE ACTION (7-0)

ARTICLE 8.                         VETERANS’ TAX EXEMPTIONS

SPONSORED BY:               Board of Assessors

To see if the Town will vote to accept the following statutory provisions affording tax exemptions:

M.G.L. Chapter 59 Section 5 Clause 22G (inserted by Chapter 218 of the Acts of 2018 known as an Act Relative to Veterans’ Benefits, Rights, Appreciation, Validation, and Enforcement (“BRAVE Act”)), signed into law August 28, 2018, which provides for a property tax exemption for any real estate that is the domicile of a person but is owned by a trustee, conservator or other fiduciary for the person’s benefit if the real estate would be eligible for exemption under clause 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, or 22F if the person were the owner of the real estate;

M.G.L. Chapter 59 Section 5, Clause 22H (inserted by Chapter 218 of the Acts of 2018 known as an Act Relative to Veterans’ Benefits, Rights, Appreciation, Validation, and Enforcement (“BRAVE Act”)), signed into law August 28, 2018, which provides for a property tax exemption for real estate to the full amount of the taxable valuation of the real property of the surviving parents or guardians of soldiers and sailors, members of the National Guard and Veterans who:

(i) during active duty service, suffered an injury or illness documented by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs or a branch of the armed forces that was a proximate cause of their death; or (ii) are missing in action with a presumptive finding of death as a result of active duty service as members of the Armed Forces of the United States; provided, however, that the real estate shall be occupied by the surviving parents or guardians as the surviving parents’ or

guardians’ domicile; and provided further that the surviving parents or guardians shall have been domiciled in the commonwealth for the 5 consecutive years immediately before the date of filing for an exemption pursuant to this clause or the soldier or sailor, member of the National Guard or veteran was domiciled in the commonwealth for not less than 6 months before entering service. Surviving parents or guardians eligible for an exemption pursuant to this clause shall be eligible regardless of when the soldier, sailor, member of the National Guard or veteran died or became missing in action with a presumptive finding of death; provided however, that the exemption shall only apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2019. Such exemption shall be available until such time as the surviving parents or guardians are deceased. No real estate shall be so exempt which has been conveyed to the surviving parents or guardians to evade taxation; and

That Veterans must have (1) been domiciled in Massachusetts for at least 6 consecutive months before entering military service, or (2) lived in Massachusetts for at least 1 consecutive year before the tax year begins; or take any action relative thereto.

BOARD OF ASSESSORS’ COMMENTS: The article would provide three separate impacts for Veterans: (1) the residency definition would allow Veterans less time in Massachusetts to qualify for the exemptions currently offered by the Town, (2) add 22H which allows “Gold Star” parents to be exempted from taxes at a rate of 100%, and (3) add 22G which allows a parent who is a caretaker to a Veteran to receive exemption normally given to the Veteran, so long as they file a fiduciary trust. The Board of Assessors unanimously in favor.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FAVORABLE ACTION (7-0)

ARTICLE 9.                         PERSONAL PROPERTY EXEMPTION

SPONSORED BY:               Board of Assessors

To see if the Town will vote to accept clause 54 of Section 5 of Chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws, and authorize the Town to establish a minimum fair cash value required for a personal property account to be taxed, and further establish such minimum fair cash value at

$5,000, to be effective for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: The personal property exemption was voted for FY2007 at $3,000 and has been in place since this time. The Board of Assessors voted on February 15, 2022 to increase this exemption from $3,000 to $5,000. The Board of Assessors unanimously in favor.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FAVORABLE ACTION (7-0)

ARTICLE 10.                       RELEASE OF OUTDATED LIENS

SPONSORED BY:               Board of Assessors                            Estimated Cost: $2,675

To see if the Town will vote to transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of filing documents at the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds to address outdated liens on Chapter 61, 61A and 61B properties; or take any action relative thereto.

BOARD OF ASSESSORS COMMENTS: There are 25 liens dating back to the early 1980s that should be released to eliminate potential title problems for land owners. This action also will

eliminate a potential issue when the Mass. Department of Revenue (MassDOR) recertifies the Town’s values in Fiscal Year 2026.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN APPROPRIATE

$2,675 FROM THE OVERLAY ACCOUNT FOR THE PURPOSE STATED (6-0, MR. NAUSS ABSENT)

ARTICLE 11.                       REVOLVING FUND SPENDING LIMITS

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the spending limits of the following revolving funds established under the Town Bylaw and General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53E ½:

Revolving Fund                      Spending Limit

COMMENTS: Town Meeting establishes the spending limits of a Revolving Fund and the Town Accountant monitors all other spending in these accounts in addition to approvals from the Select Board or School Committee, as applicable. Pinecrest Revolving limit increases by

$25,000 as electric bills have been moved from General Fund to Revolving Fund for FY25. EV Charging was reduced to $50,000, as only the 9 Green Street parking lot is anticipated to accept credit card payments for EV charging stations in FY25; additional lots and EV charging stations being reviewed for FY26 and beyond.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FAVORABLE ACTION (7-0)

ARTICLE 12.                       GOLF COURSE IMPROVEMENTS

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board                           Estimated Cost: $325,000

To see if the Town will vote to transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of making improvements to the storage of electronic carts (i.e. a cart-port) and for the replacement of the roof of the clubhouse; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: The Golf Course Advisory Committee to make comments at Town Meeting. The Facilities Director has recommended that after the creation of the cart-port and the replacement of the roof that both structures would be ideal for solar panels to reduce the carbon footprint of the facility and drastically reduce the utility bills of Pinecrest. The balance of the fund, with a new revenue model for FY25, can support the normal spending limit with a sizable capital spending authorization for these priority capital projects.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN APPROPRIATE

$325,000 FROM THE PINECREST GOLF COURSE REVOLVING FUND FOR THE PURPOSE STATED (7-0)

ARTICLE 13.                       COMPENSATION FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds for the purposes of fixing the salaries and compensation of all elected officers of the Town effective July 1, 2023, which salaries and compensation are printed below.

COMPENSATION SCHEDULE – ELECTED OFFICIALS    FY2024           FY2025

COMMENTS: Based on advice from Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Town Meeting must approve the annual compensation for all elected Town officials. The Town Clerk’s salary adjustment is consistent with the Department Head salaries, however, because the Town Clerk is an elected official, Town Meeting must set the salary at the Annual Town Meeting. Decreases in stipends for Select Board and Board of Assessors represent the final phasing-out of stipends for these Boards over a three-year period.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FAVORABLE ACTION ON THE AMOUNTS LISTED IN THE FY2025 COLUMN (7-0)

ARTICLE 14.                       PAY UNPAID BILLS

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for unpaid bills from prior years; or take any action relative thereto.

Vendor                                   Fiscal Year                             Amount                      Board

None known at time of print

COMMENTS: Bills from a prior year, after a reasonable amount of time, can no longer be paid without additional Town Meeting approval. The reasons for this to occur may include late submission of an invoice from the vendor.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FAVORABLE ACTION ON THE AMOUNTS LISTED IN THE FY2025 COLUMN (7-0)

ARTICLE 15.                       CURRENT FISCAL YEAR TRANSFERS

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of supplementing various accounts of the Town’s Fiscal Year 2024 annual operating budget, previously voted by the Town under Article 15 of the Warrant for the May 15, 2023 Annual Town Meeting; or take any action relative thereto.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN APPROPRIATE

$192,000 FROM THE RESERVE FUND, $50,062 FROM BENEFITS, $12,700 FROM EDC SALARIES, $1,319 FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE SALARIES, $3,025 FROM HEALTH SALARIES, $10,000 FROM CONSERVATION SALARIES, AND $30,000 FROM FIRE CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR THE PURPOSE STATED (6-0, MR. NAUSS ABSENT)

ARTICLE 16.                       AMEND CONSOLIDATED PERSONNEL BY-LAW

SECTION 29, JOB AND WAGE CLASSIFICATION PLAN

SPONSORED BY:               Town Administrator

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Consolidated Personnel By-law Section 29, Job and Wage Classification Plan, by reflecting those revisions, deletions and/or additions to be effective as of July 1, 2024; or take any action relative thereto.

JOB CLASSIFICATION PLAN - FY2025

(Full and Part-Time Employees)

JOB COMPENSATION PLAN

FISCAL YEAR 2023; Amended Per GovHR Compensation & Classification Study

JOB AND WAGE CLASSIFICATION - ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT - FY2025 FY2025-1.5%

(Temporary, Seasonal, Miscellenous and Per Diem Position)

ART. 16 COMMENTS: These charts incorporate a 1.5% COLA adjustment for FY25, so that all steps are increased by 1.5% from prior year. There are no new positions added to FY25 charts, but FY25 represents the second year for two positions which were developed in FY24 and supported unanimously by the Select Board and Finance Committee: Assistant Fire Chief / EMS Director and Economic Development (Part-Time) Coordinator.

The only structural adjustments to these charts are for Ambulance pay rates which represent the final implementation of proposed changes to the Ambulance model as the Town anticipates achieving Advanced Life Support (ALS) licensure during the FY25 period (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025) for which the Town must recruit an increased number of Paramedics for scheduling.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FAVORABLE ACTION (6-0, MR. NAUSS ABSENT)

ARTICLE 17.                       SPECIAL EDUCATION TEMPORARY FUNDING

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board                                       Estimated Cost: $750,000 To see if the Town will vote to transfer from available funds for the purpose of funding Special Education costs that are normally paid for by federal funding known as Circuit Breaker, namely

(i) Special Education personnel costs, (ii) Special Education programmatic expenses, and (iii) Special Education transportation costs; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: This Article and funding authorization allows the Town to set aside funds to address an immediate concern for FY25 with the timing of federal, state, and town funding for Special Education costs (including, but not limited to, Circuit Breaker funding).

In recent years, the Holliston Public Schools (along with most school districts in the Commonwealth) have seen a significant increase in the need and cost for Special Education services. The state only reimburses a relatively small amount of these costs and does not reimburse until the year after the costs were incurred. This has resulted in large increases in costs where the timing and amount of reimbursements have not kept up with expenditures. This funding authorization will be used to help offset increases that are reasonably expected to be covered by future increases in reimbursements from the state and federal governments. ($750,000 from General Stabilization)

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN APPROPRIATE

$750,000 FROM THE GENERAL STABILIZATION FUND FOR FY2025 SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMATIC EXPENSES & FY2025 SPECIAL EDUCATION TRANSPORTATION COSTS (6-0, MR. NAUSS ABSENT)

ARTICLE 18.                       TRANSFER FROM AVAILABLE FUNDS A SUM OF

MONEY FOR THE PROGRAMMATIC STABILIZATION FUND

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the Programmatic Stabilization Fund; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: The Programmatic Stabilization Fund was established to kick-start initiatives that could demonstrate an ability to generate new non-tax revenue, or lead to future cost savings. At the time of print, there is no anticipated transfer in, and the Board assumes indefinite postponement to October 2024 Fall Town Meeting.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT (6-0, MR. NAUSS ABSENT)

ARTICLE 19.                       TRANSFER FROM AVAILABLE FUNDS A SUM OF

MONEY FOR THE GENERAL STABILIZATION FUND

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the General Stabilization Fund; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: The General Stabilization Fund follows the financial policies of the Town, adopted by the Finance Committee and Select Board. The target balance is 12% of Operating Budget to a maximum of 18% and October 2024 Fall Town Meeting will be used to ensure the balance stays at or above 12% of Operating Budget. If Article 17 passes, setting aside $750,000 from General Stabilization for the purpose of offsetting Special Education costs in FY2025, the Town would be committing to returning approximately $50,000 to the fund in October 2024 to ensure 12% of the Operating Budget is maintained.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT (6-0, MR. NAUSS ABSENT)

ARTICLE 20.                       FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET

SPONSORED BY:               Omnibus Budget

To see what sum of monies the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer

from available funds to meet expenses and outlays to Town departments, salaries of Town Officers, sundry and miscellaneous but regular expenditures, for a Reserve Fund, and to appoint trustees or caretakers or authorize the Select Board to appoint caretakers of the cemeteries of the Town not otherwise provided for, the ensuing year; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: Tracking of budget development process from December 2023 to May 2024 is available on the Town’s website, from (1) Departmental Requests in January 2024, to (2) Town Administrator Recommended budget on March 4, 2024, to (3) Select Board Recommended budget on April 1, 2024, to (4) Finance Committee Recommended budget on April 16, 2024.

The 5^th and final step of the budget process is a Town Meeting approved Omnibus Budget which becomes the official budget for FY2025. Full budget development process illustrated on the Town’s website: https://www.townofholliston.us/finance-committee/pages/fy25-budget- presentation-schedule-data

The standard funding source for the Operating Budget is the Tax Levy (i.e. Raise and Appropriation).

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN RAISE AND APPROPRIATE $70,480,987, APPROPRIATE $30,000 FROM THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT STABILIZATION FUND, AND APPROPRIATE $3,304,799 FROM THE WATER ENTERPRISE FUND TO COVER ALL AMOUNTS LISTED IN THE “LEVEL 4 RECOMMENDED” COLUMN OF THE OMNIBUS BUDGET (7-0), WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PARKS BUDGET WHICH WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL (6-0-1, MR. ROBINSON ABSTAINED)

ARTICLE 21.           TRANSFER FROM AVAILABLE FUNDS A SUM OF MONEY FOR THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FUND

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board                                       Estimated Cost: $1,700,000 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the Capital Expenditure Fund; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: It has been the custom of the Town to annually transfer from reserves a sum of money to the Capital Expenditure Fund to be used at the October Special Town Meeting to fund capital expenditure requests. ($1,700,000 from Raise & Appropriate)

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN RAISE AND APPROPRIATE $1,700,000 FOR THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FUND (7-0)

ARTICLE 22.                       CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board                                       Estimated Cost: $1,153,328 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds, or borrow a sum of money for the purpose of capital expenditures, including replacement and new vehicles and equipment, for the Schools, Select Board, Facilities Maintenance, Fire & Ambulance, and Public Works Departments, and authorize the Select Board to trade or sell used equipment toward part of the purchase price; or take any action relative thereto.

Department                  Item / Activity                                                Estimated Cost

Ambulance                              ALS Equipment                                                            $57,828

Fire                                          Structural Firefighting Gear                                          $33,000

Facilities                                  Town Hall HVAC Systems                                          $12,150

Facilities                                  Central Fire Improvements (incl. windows)               $135,000

Facilities                                  Central Fire – Roof Replacement                               $300,000

Facilities                                  Wastewater Treatment Plant – SCADA Sensors       $24,000

DPW (Hwy)                              Snow Plow with Power Angle                                     $26,000

DPW (Hwy)                              Heavy Duty Flatbed Body                                           $12,400

DPW (Hwy)                              Asphalt Berm Machine & Side Bucket for Skid Steer $17,850

School                                     Curriculum Materials / Licenses                                  $250,70

School                                     Technology – Laptops and Infrastructure                   $231,000

School                                     High School Auditorium Wall Insulation                     $53,400

                                                                                                                   Total:   $1,153,328

COMMENTS: The Town approves capital requests in both May and October, with larger requests generally scheduled for the Fall Town Meeting when Free Cash is certified. The list above are items that have been vetted and represented in the Town’s 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan (FY2024-2028).

The balance of the Capital Expenditure Fund as of March 31, 2024 is $3.9 million and the total impact of capital costs in this Warrant are offset by the funding into the Capital Expenditure Fund in Article 21. ($1,063,328 from Capital Expenditure Fund and $90,000 from previously approved Warrant Article 5 from Dec. 2020 Town Meeting)

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN APPROPRIATE

$1,063,328 FROM THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FUND AND $90,000 FROM THE BALANCE OF ARTICLE 5 FROM THE DECEMBER 2020 TOWN MEETING FOR THE ITEMS LISTED IN THE ARTICLE (6-0, MR. NAUSS ABSENT)

ARTICLE 23.                       HDAAC OPIOID RESPONSE INITIATIVES

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board                                       Estimated Cost: $50,000 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of addressing the Opioid Epidemic as defined by the Opioid Settlement received by the Town; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: HDAAC is dedicated to fostering communication, collaboration, opportunities, and support for the people of Holliston. By addressing the opioid crisis through the following strategic initiatives, HDAAC aims to create a resilient and informed community that actively works towards mitigating the harmful effects of substance abuse:

• Support People in Treatment & Recovery ($15,000) – Engage non-profits, faith-based communities, and community coalitions to support people in treatment and recovery and to support family members in their efforts to support the person with OUD;
• Connections to Care ($2,500) – Support school-based services related to OUD: Handle with Care;
• Harm Reductions ($15,000) – Increase availability of naloxone and other drugs that treat overdoses for first responders, overdose patients, individuals with OUD and their friends and family, schools, community-based organizations, community navigators and outreach workers, persons being released from jail or prison, or the public. Provide training and education regarding naloxone and other drugs that treat overdoses;
• Needs of Criminal-Justice-Involved Persons ($2,500) – Collaborate with Holliston Police Department on post intervention program for residents with SUDs and criminal issues;
• Support for Pregnant or Parenting Women ($1,000) – Collaborate with maternity wards at local hospitals and provide resources and assistance for Holliston mothers and parenting women;
• Prevent Misuse of Opioids & Implement Prevention Education ($14,000) – Support programs, policies, and practices that have demonstrated effectiveness in preventing drug misuse among youth. Implement a comprehensive strategic plan for substance misuse prevention (see: HDAAC DFC Action Plan).

The Opioid Stabilization Fund received $73,940 in FY23 and $65,639 in FY24 (through March 31, 2024), for a total available balance of $139,579. The FY2025 Operating Budget assumes the use of $30,000 for a position within Youth & Family Services and this Article requests an additional $50,000 be approved for the expenses listed above. The remaining balance if these proposed costs are approved would be $59,579 in the Fund, with additional settlement funds to be received over the next 10-15 years unless the settlement are converted to a lump sum.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN APPROPRIATE

$50,000 FROM THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT STABILIZATION FUND FOR THE PURPOSE STATED (6-0, MR. NAUSS ABSENT)

ARTICLE 24.                       WATER DIVISION – LEAD & COPPER RULE REVISION

COMPLIANCE

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board                                    Estimated Cost: $300,000 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds or borrow a sum of money for the purpose of authorizing the procurement of consulting services and capital

improvements to comply with Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) from MassDEP; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: In the category of unfunded mandates, the Town was given a directive from MassDEP on Dec. 4, 2023 regarding Lead & Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). The Town must hire 3^rd party consulting services to perform various duties to remain in compliance as a public water system (PWS), including but not limited to, submitting a service line inventory (SLI) by October 16, 2024. ($300,000 from a previously approved Warrant Article balance – Article 31 of the May 2022 Town Meeting)

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN APPROPRIATE

$300,000 FROM THE BALANCE OF ARTICLE 31 FROM THE MAY 2022 TOWN MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE STATED (6-0, MR. NAUSS ABSENT)

ARTICLE 25.                       WATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENTS

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board                                       Estimated Cost: $500,000 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds or borrow a sum of money for the purpose of upgrading filter media and making other facility improvements to existing Water Treatment Plants; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: The Town’s newest Water Treatment Plant (Well No. 5) has achieved its intended purpose of improving water quality throughout the public water system. The Town continues to operate a number of Water Treatment Plants (including Dopping Brook and Well No. 4) and all of the operating Plants require consistent maintenance and occasional replacement of filter media to provide optimum water quality. The Town is also monitoring further changes to regulations from MassDEP and EPA on emerging contaminants (such as PFAS) and must continue to upgrade technologies accordingly.

($500,000 from previously approved Warrant Article balances:

• $80,000 from Article 31 of the May 2022 Town Meeting;
• $250,000 from Article 17 of the October 2018 Town Meeting;
• $24,000 from Article 9 of December 2020 Town Meeting, and
• $146,000 from Article 4 of the October 2019 Town Meeting)

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN APPROPRIATE

$500,000 FROM THE BALANCES OF THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES: $80,000 FROM ARTICLE 31 OF THE MAY 2022 TOWN MEETING, $250,000 FROM ARTICLE 17 OF THE OCTOBER 2018 TOWN MEETING, $24,000 FROM ARTICLE 9 OF THE DECEMBER 2020 TOWN MEETING, AND $146,000 FROM ARTICLE 4 OF THE OCTOBER 2019 TOWN MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE STATED IN THE ARTICLE (6-0, MR. NAUSS ABSENT)

ARTICLE 26.                       SPECIAL LEGISLATION – TOWN MANAGER ACT

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to petition the General Court for special legislation creating a Town Manager position and prescribing the duties and responsibilities thereof, and further, to authorize the Select Board to accept any non-material revisions to said legislation, as may be required by the General Court

AN ACT CREATING SELECT BOARD-TOWN MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE TOWN OF HOLLISTON.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 94 of the acts of 1994, entitled AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SELECT BOARD-ADMINISTRATOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE TOWN OF

HOLLISTON, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 2. (a) The Town Manager shall be the chief administrative and operating officer of the town, with the following authority and duties, provided however that the Holliston School Committee shall retain any and all authority conferred on it under Massachusetts General Law.

1. The Town Manager shall be responsible for managing, supervising and executing all of the activities under this act, in the Town Manager’s job description and any other duties assigned to the Town Manager by the Select Board or in compliance with federal and state law and the town code and town policies.

1. The Town Manager shall not set town policy, but shall work with the Select Board to implement its policy directives, and ensure there is appropriate coordination in the implementation of town policy working across all town departments in conjunction with all elected and appointed boards, commissions and committees.
2. The Town Manager shall ensure that all town employees, boards, commissions and committees comply with the town's financial, personnel and legal policies and procedures, as well as all town meeting votes, town code, federal and state law and all regulations.
3. The Town Manager shall be responsible for the management of all financial, administrative and operational affairs of the town and town departments and all boards, commissions and committees but excluding the school department; provided, however, that all boards, commissions and committees shall continue to exercise permitting or policy-making authority as provided by state law.
4. The Town Manager shall be responsible for overseeing, coordinating and making recommendations that may impact town boards, commissions and committees, broadly or in detail, regarding town financial, personnel and legal activities, including but not limited to: executing the weekly accounts payable and payroll warrants and reporting bi-monthly to the Select Board on spending, approving event permits with the exception of those permits that require permission to serve or sell alcohol as may be required under G.L. c. 138. The Town Manager shall also be afforded the authority to accept allowable donations and gifts on behalf of the Town, as may be required pursuant to G.L. c. 44, s. 53A, excepting gifts to the School Department.
5. The Town Manager shall understand and have a working knowledge of the statutory and regulatory authority and responsibility held by department heads and elected and appointed boards, commissions and committees so the town manager can effectively support these officers in the execution of their duties. Unless expressly stated in this act, nothing in this act shall reassign policy-making or permit granting statutory authority of any department head or any elected or appointed board, commission or committee to the Town Manager.
6. With respect to town policies and programs that impact multiple areas of town government, the Town Manager shall work with all elected and appointed boards, commissions and committees and town department heads and shall be responsible for ensuring there is appropriate administration and coordination in the: (i) implementation and on-going adherence to town policies; and (ii) development and execution of such policies and programs.
7. With respect to the development, implementation and execution of policies and programs affecting various town departments, the Town Manager shall:
   1. coordinate the setting of priorities with the rest of the town government;
   2. communicate activities, including projects, plans and studies, so that necessary input is received from all areas of town government that should be involved in those initiatives; and
   3. coordinate efforts so that cross-functional services to residents and others are effectively and consistently delivered.
8. With the exception of the school department, to streamline services, the Town Manager may create new departments, reorganize, eliminate or consolidate town departments or functions,

in whole or in part, and assign functions of a department to another department, subject to the approval of the Select Board.

1. The Town Manager shall oversee crisis intervention in emergency situations, working with other key town department heads, and shall address any systemic problems impacting multiple areas of the town as they arise. The Town Manager shall ensure priority items are properly attended to and bring concerns about problem resolution to related boards, commissions and committees and, ultimately, to the Select Board for assistance in resolution, if necessary.

SECTION 3. (a) The Town Manager shall be the chief financial officer of the town of Holliston provided however that the Holliston School Committee shall continue to enjoy the authority and responsibilities over educational financial issues, as may be conferred under the General Laws of the Commonwealth.

1. The town manager shall initiate, draft and have general oversight of the process of preparing the town’s annual operating and capital budgets for submission to the Select Board and Finance Committee. To assist the Town Manager in preparing the proposed annual operating and capital budgets, all department heads, boards, commissions and committees of the town, including the school department, shall furnish all relevant information and submit to the Town Manager, in writing and in such form as the town manager shall prescribe, a detailed estimate of the appropriations required and available funds.
2. The Town Manager shall draft and update a 5-year capital improvement plan for all town departments for submission to the finance committee.
3. The Town Manager shall consult with the finance staff and Finance Committee in the development of operating and capital budgets in order to:
   1. develop long-term financial strategies addressing operational and capital financial needs of the town;
   2. establish set budgetary guidelines to be used in the development of annual budgets;
   3. review all operating and capital budgets of all town departments and make recommendations to the affected boards, commissions and committees and to the finance committee about priorities important to budget development; and
   4. evaluate actual expenditures and receipts against budgets and coordinate with affected department heads, boards, commissions and committees the development of plans to manage to the budget or obtain finance committee approval for reserve fund transfers, in advance of spending, when possible.
4. The Town Manager shall serve as the town’s chief procurement officer pursuant to state and federal law and shall ensure that all town departments comply with applicable procurement laws. The Town Manager may, in the Town Manager’s discretion, delegate any procurement responsibilities to a qualified designee.
5. Unless any general or special law provides to the contrary, the Town Manager may execute all grant applications and shall award and execute all contracts binding the town up to a set amount to be established by policy set by the Select Board, provided however that the Holliston

School Committee shall retain any and all authority to seek or accept grants and accept gifts, as such authority may be conferred under the General Laws of the Commonwealth.

SECTION 4. (a) Except as expressly provided in this act, the Town Manager shall appoint or hire, on the basis of merit and fitness alone, all department heads or similar positions, in consultation with the respective boards, commissions and committees that the department heads or similar positions support and in compliance with any applicable provision of a collective bargaining agreement, with the exception of the school department. This provision shall supersede any contrary provision of the General Bylaws of Holliston, for which appointment or hiring for such positions may be specified.

1. The Town Manager shall ultimately be responsible for appointing or hiring subordinates to department heads or similar positions. Unless otherwise provided by the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement, the department head or similar position may, with the consent of the Town Manager or their designee, appoint on the basis of merit and fitness alone, all subordinate employees of each town department, with the exception of the school department.
2. Unless otherwise provided under this act, the Town Manager shall be responsible for appointing or hiring of all other employees for whom no other method of appointment or hiring is provided by the town code or other special act.
3. The Town Manager may, for cause, discipline or remove any department head or similar position, with the exception of the school department, and shall, in consultation with the applicable department head or similar position, discipline or remove all subordinate employees of each town department, with the exception of the school department.
4. The Town Manager shall appoint, on the basis of merit and fitness alone, with ratification by a vote of a majority of the Select Board, and evaluate, discipline and, for cause, remove, without the ratification of the Select Board:
   1. a police chief;
   2. a fire chief;
   3. a public works director; and
   4. an Assistant Town Manager.
5. In the event of a vacancy, disability or absence anticipated to be greater than 30 days of any department head or any position appointed by the Town Manager, the Town Manager may appoint another person to serve in an acting or interim capacity for the period of such vacancy, disability or absence.
6. Working with the town’s human resource department, the Town Manager shall be responsible for the daily administration of the town-wide personnel system, including the maintenance of personnel records and the enforcement of personnel policies, rules and regulations and managing personnel costs to ensure maximum efficiency and fairness across town departments, provided however that the School Committee shall continue to have any and all authority over educational personnel, as such authority may be conferred under the General Laws of the Commonwealth.

1. The Town Manager shall develop a performance evaluation process and establish performance standards not inconsistent with any terms of any collective bargaining agreement.
2. The Town Manager shall be responsible for the annual evaluation of job performance of all town department heads, excluding the school department, and shall incorporate any input or recommendations received from any elected or appointed board, commission or committee served by such department heads. The Town Manager shall be responsible for ensuring the completion of annual evaluations of the job performance of all subordinate town employees, excluding those of the school department. The evaluation of the Town Manager shall be performed annually by the Select Board.
3. The Town Manager shall serve as the agent of the Select Board and negotiate collective bargaining agreements on behalf of the Select Board in accordance with chapter 150E of the General Laws; provided, however, that such agreements shall be subject to ratification by the Select Board and subject to funding by town meeting. The Town Manager may utilize the services of counsel and designate appropriate employees to assist with collective bargaining.

SECTION 5. (a) The Town Manager shall be responsible for the construction, reconstruction, restoration, rehabilitation, repair and maintenance of all town buildings and all town real and personal property, and information technology and infrastructure, excepting such real and personal property as may be subject to the custody and control of another town entity, pursuant to state law, including, without limitation, the School Committee. Nothing in this section shall confer any authority upon the Town Manager to have access to information that is otherwise unauthorized under state law.

(b) The Town Manager shall, directly or through the town’s various departments, boards, commissions and committees, maintain an inventory of all town-owned real and personal property.

SECTION 6. (a) Upon the effective date of this act, the position of Town Administrator shall be abolished and the incumbent thereof shall serve as the acting Town Manager, or if there is no incumbent, the Select Board shall appoint an acting Town Manager. The acting Town Manager shall serve until the Select Board appoints a permanent Town Manager.

1. Following the effective date of this act, the Select Board shall appoint a Town Manager, and if the Select Board so chooses, the incumbent Town Administrator may be appointed town manager on a permanent basis.
2. Following the effective date of this act, any reference to the Town Administrator existing in any provision of the town code or any other special act shall be construed as referring to the Town Manager. All powers and duties conferred upon the Town Administrator by the town code or other special act shall be vested in the Town manager, unless otherwise provided in this act.
3. Following the effective date of this act, the provisions of this act shall supersede any inconsistent provisions of the town code.
4. Following the effective date of this act, all town officers, boards, commissions and employees shall continue to perform their duties in the same manner and to the same extent as they have performed the same prior to the enactment of this act, except that, upon the appointment of a Town Manager, the powers and duties outlined in this act shall be vested in the Town Manager.

SECTION 7. The Town Manager may be removed by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Select Board, in accordance with the Town Manager’s contract, if applicable.

SECTION 8. If the Town Manager shall be absent from their office for not more than 14 days, the Town Manager may designate a qualified person to serve as the acting Town Manager and to perform the duties of the office of the Town Manager during this period of absence, subject to the ratification of the Select Board, and the Town Manager fails or is unable to do so or if the Select Board chose not to ratify the Town Manager’s designee, the Select Board may appoint a qualified person to serve as the acting town manager and to perform the duties of the office of the town manager during the period of any vacancy caused by the Town Manager’s absence. The appointment by the Select Board shall be for a period of not more than 6 months, but such appointment may be extended by majority vote of the Select Board.

SECTION 9. If there is a conflict between any provision of this act and any provision of the town code, rules, regulations, orders, special acts, acceptances of laws or other special acts pertaining to the town of Holliston, this act shall prevail. All other provisions of town code, resolutions, rules, regulations and votes of the town meeting that are in force at the time this act is enacted, not inconsistent with or superseded by the provisions of this act, shall continue in full force and effect until amended or repealed. Boards, Committees and officials that have authority derived under State law shall continue to enjoy such authority, provided that such authority is not directly abridged by the terms thereof.

SECTION 10. This form of government shall take effect upon its passage. SECTION 11. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

ART. 26 COMMENTS: Additional supplemental materials are available that summarize this changes of this Special Act in relation to status quo (the Acts of 1994). The Act is intended to streamline the day-to-day operations of the Town, shifting responsibility of certain daily operations to the Town Manager from the Select Board to avoid requiring meetings for approval – examples include: applying for and accepting grants, signing contracts that have been procured under Attorney General guidelines, signing weekly A/P and payroll warrants for timely vendor payments and reporting on the finances to the Board periodically.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AT TOWN MEETING (4-2, MR. ROBINSON & MR. WHITTAKER OPPOSED, MR. NAUSS ABSENT)

ARTICLE 27.                       GENERAL BY-LAW: REGULATION OF INDUSTRIAL

VEHICLES

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town’s General Bylaws by adding a new Article   , regulating Industrial Vehicles on public ways

ARTICLE    - REGULATION OF INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES

1. Purpose: Large Industrial Vehicles, as defined below, travelling on certain public ways endanger public health, safety, welfare, and quality of life. In order to limit such risks in the Town of Holliston (the “Town”), the following requirements and restrictions are hereby enacted.

1. Prohibitions:

The Select Board of the Town (the “Select Board”) may, by adoption of a regulation, designate certain public ways (“Prohibited Ways”) in the Town as being unsafe for Large Industrial Vehicles and prohibit such vehicles from travelling on the designated ways, pursuant to G.L. c. 90, § 18. For the purposes of this Bylaw, “Large Industrial Vehicles” are motor vehicles with a gross weight of 5,000 pounds or greater and which are registered for commercial use. “Large Industrial Vehicles” shall not include vehicles whose primary purpose is related to providing healthcare services directly to humans.

The Select Board may prohibit such vehicles at all times and days, or for certain periods as the Select Board may determine.

1. Exemptions:

Large Industrial Vehicles shall be exempted from the provisions of this Bylaw in the following circumstances:

1. Large Industrial Vehicles may enter Prohibited Ways in the event that such vehicle is making a delivery, or travelling for service, directly to a property on the Prohibited Way.
2. In the event of a detour closing other ways and directing traffic through a Prohibited Way within the Town.
3. In the event of an emergency, whereby there would be imminent danger to human health or property without the Large Industrial Vehicle travelling through the Prohibited Way.
4. Any activity to the extent regulation thereof has been preempted by state or federal law.

1. Enforcement:

This Bylaw shall be enforced by the Holliston Police Department.

1. Violations and Penalties:

Violations under this Bylaw, in the discretion of the enforcing person, may be enforced in equity under the police powers of the Town and by fines issued pursuant to noncriminal disposition as provided in M.G.L. c. 40 § 21D.

The fines for violations of this Bylaw shall be $300.00 per offense, without limit, for each succeeding offense. Each day or part thereof shall constitute a separate offense.

1. Notice:

No regulation by the Select Board, designating prohibitions of Large Industrial Vehicles on Prohibited Ways shall be effective until notice of the regulation is published in one or more newspapers serving the Town of Holliston and until signs that indicate the prohibition and conform to the standards adopted by the Massachusetts Division of Highways are erected on the Prohibited Ways.

1. Severability:

If any provision of this Bylaw shall be determined invalid or unenforceable by final judgement or order of a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions of this Bylaw shall continue in effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

ART. 27 COMMENTS: The Town has various side streets that have been classified by MassDOT as having Heavy Commercial Vehicle Exclusions (HCVE) meaning that vehicles over

2.5 tons are restricted access – though a 2.5 ton vehicle is exempt from the HCVE if it requires the roadway to do business, per statute. When MassDOT approved these HCVE the Town was required to prove that heavy commercial vehicles have an “alternate route” meaning that trucks are using these residential side streets to avoid traffic, not out of necessity. One issue with enforcing the HCVEs is that the fine for such infractions is considered by some large companies to be worth the price of the violation and this General By-Law allows the Town to address the issue with greater fines for better enforcement.

ARTICLE 28.                       LIBRARY GRANT MATCH (MPLCP)

SPONSORED BY:               Library Trustees                               Estimated Cost: $150,000 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of providing matching grant funding required for an application to the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) to consider rehabilitation of the existing public library or reconstruction of a public library, to be determined by feasibility study if selected for the grant program; or take any other action relative thereto.

LIBRARY TRUSTEE COMMENTS: The purpose of this article is to ask the Town to vote to appropriate $150,000 towards a feasibility/building study should the Town be selected by the MPCLP, which would then match the funds up to an additional $100,000 for the study. The Town cannot apply to the grant without setting aside funds prior the application deadline of May 31, 2024. The last time this grant cycle opened was 2016-2017 with payout through 2019 for waitlisted libraries. There is currently no future cycle being discussed or announced, it may be another 6-8 years before this grant opens again. The grant is not prescriptive to an outcome of rehabilitation or reconstruction, but it does require that the Town consider both, similar to the MSBA’s process for reviewing school building projects. Our facility is going to need a large debt exclusion for updates within the next decade. Many of our existing utilities are reaching the end of their useful life, and our current facility limits the library’s ability to provide services commensurate with the community’s evolving needs. To not enter this grant cycle is to pass up the opportunity to have a significant amount of the overall costs covered by the State.

SELECT BOARD COMMENTS: The Board does not take a stance for or against this article, but voted 2-1 to include the article for Town Meeting to decide the merits of the request. ($150,000 from Free Cash)

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN APPROPRIATE

$150,000 FROM FREE CASH FOR THE PURPOSE STATED IN THE ARTICLE SHOULD THE TOWN CHOOSE TO ENTER THE GRANT PROGRAM (6-0, MR. NAUSS ABSENT)

ARTICLE 29.                       REPORT OF THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION

COMMITTEE

SPONSORED BY:               Community Preservation Committee

To see if the Town will vote to act on the report of the Community Preservation Committee for the fiscal year 2025 community preservation budget and to appropriate or reserve for later appropriation monies from Community Preservation Fund annual revenues or available funds for the administrative expenses of the Community Preservation Committee, the payment of debt service, the undertaking of community preservation projects and all other necessary and proper expenses for the year:

Reserves

Community Housing Reserve                                                                         $ 95,618

Open Space Reserve                                                                                       $ 95,618

Historic Resources Reserve                                                                            $ 95,618

Appropriations

Administrative Functions to support the Committee                                         $5,000 Holliston Historical Society – ADA compliant restrooms Asa Whiting  $54,300 Parks Engineering/Design of Basketball Courts at Flagg Field                                 $50,000 Holliston Community Farm Engineering/Materials for Pavilion                                      $21,750 Conservation Commission Trail Markers at Miller Hill (Gold Award)                 $551 Total: $131,601

And to extend the sunset provision on the previous $1,100,000 appropriation for Goodwill Park renovations to June 30, 2025

or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: Total balance of Community Preservation Fund as of May 2024 Annual Town Meeting is approximately $4.85 million, prior to approvals for the above requests. Comments to be made at Town Meeting by Community Preservation Committee. ($77,301 from Community Preservation Fund General Balance; $54,300 from the Community Preservation Fund Historic Preservation Reserve; $1,100,000 sunset extension on previous approval)

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN APPROPRIATE

$77,301 FROM THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION FUND GENERAL BALANCE AND

$54,300 FROM THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION FUND HISTORIC PRESERVATION RESERVE FOR THE ITEMS LISTED IN THE ARTICLE, AND WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE GOODWILL PARK SUNSET PROVISION AT TOWN MEETING (6-0, MR. NAUSS ABSENT)

ARTICLE 30.                       ROAD ACCEPTANCE – REBECA LANE

SPONSORED BY:               Select Board

To see if the Town will vote to accept as a public way Rebeca Lane (Station 0+00 to 5+00.06) and the associated drainage easement in the Triangle Farm Subdivision as shown on the plan entitled “Acceptance Plan ‘Triangle Farms’ Rebeca Lane Sta. 0+00 to 5+00.06” dated November 11, 2023, prepared by GLM Engineering Consultants, such way having been laid out as Town Ways by the Select Board; and to authorize the Select Board to acquire deeds or easements to effectuate such acceptance; or take any action relative thereto.

COMMENTS: The Planning Board voted in February 2024 to send Rebeca Lane to the Select Board for consideration of acceptance under c. 82, s. 17-32, for which the Select Board held a public hearing in April 2024. Final punch list items for the developer are considered minimal and subdivision performance surety was reduced to meet the potential cost of the punch list.