2026-07-14 - Select Board

00:02Good evening. This is the July 14th,

00:052026 meeting of the Shbury Select Board.

00:08We will start with introducing

00:11board and staff members present. I am

00:13Terresa Flynn,

00:14>> Carlos Garcia,

00:15>> Michelle Conlin,

00:16>> Greg Richards, Anma, Kevin Mizakar, town

00:19manager.

00:20>> Keith Baldinger, assistant town manager,

00:21public works.

00:22>> Christine Ordong, assistant talent

00:24manager, administration and finance.

00:27First item on our agenda is to approve

00:29the bill's payrolls and warrants.

00:31>> Move approval.

00:31>> Second.

00:32>> All in favor say I. I. Oppose. So voted.

00:36Item number two is to review an act to

00:38approve the minutes of the June 23rd,

00:402026 meeting.

00:42>> Move approval.

00:43>> Second.

00:43>> All in favor say I.

00:45>> I.

00:46>> Opposed. So voted. Item number three is

00:49announcements and reports. Board

00:50members, any announcements this evening?

00:52>> Um, yes, Madam Chair. I do have two

00:55announcements. Um the first one is

00:57related to the form of government study

00:58committee. Uh the committee has been

01:00working hard over the last few months

01:02gathering information from um different

01:05um officials from across the

01:07Commonwealth representing um different

01:10municipalities just to learn more. And

01:12right now we are uh we have a survey out

01:16to the community for folks in our

01:18community to uh give their feedback

01:20about how well um our government and our

01:23form of government uh works for them.

01:25And so folks can find that on our town

01:27website. If you log into the website um

01:29at all, it'll actually pop up for you um

01:32and also on our uh social media

01:34channels. And then um my second item

01:37here is uh the board um would like to

01:40remind residents of our town bylaws that

01:44state that flyers, posters,

01:46advertisements, etc. on light poles,

01:48street signs and such are prohibited on

01:51town property which has been I think an

01:54ongoing concern.

01:56>> Thank you.

01:57>> Great. Thank you.

01:59Nothing else.

02:01Okay. Item number four is the town

02:04manager report. Mr.

02:05>> Good evening board members. Just a

02:06couple updates from me. Um, I'll save my

02:09comments um as you engage in a

02:12conversation with Senator Moore and

02:13Representative Kaine about the FY27

02:15budget that um the governor signed into

02:18law. So, I'll hold those for now. Um, I

02:21do want to just circle back to um your

02:24February meeting where Mr. Walling, the

02:26communications coordinator, came in and

02:28and talked to the board about um

02:30postmeating engagement and and how to uh

02:33approach and make some changes. Um, and

02:36the reason I'm bringing that up is

02:37because, um, since that time when, uh,

02:40we made the changes you suggested, um,

02:42your social media engagement is up about

02:44292%.

02:46Um, your your your average views for

02:49postmeating updates uh, have increased

02:51from about 1,400 to 5,500 uh, per

02:55installment. So, um, a lot of progress.

02:58I know a lot more work, but as we work

03:00on communications this year um as one of

03:02our key goals, I just wanted to provide

03:04that update to the board and um we'll

03:06continue to work on that uh front for

03:08you. And then just a general update to

03:11everyone. Uh we're probably about at the

03:14midpoint of the selection process for

03:16the deputy town manager position that we

03:18were posted. Um significant amount of

03:20interest in the position and really

03:22competitive interview process that's

03:24ongoing and we'll keep everyone up to

03:26speed on that as well. So that's all I

03:28have this evening.

03:30>> Great. Thank you.

03:32Item number six is a meeting with

03:34Senator Michael Moore and Representative

03:37Hannah Kaine.

03:40[clears throat]

03:41>> Good evening.

03:42>> Good evening.

03:43>> We thought we would start uh with the

03:45presentation of the Declaration of

03:47Independence. Little project we've been

03:48working on together. Um, this was

03:51actually an effort of the revolution

03:54250, the committee that came together to

03:56think about how to celebrate our

03:58semisquentennial

04:00celebration here, uh, in Massachusetts.

04:04And so, uh, this document was produced

04:06by them and it was done, it's an

04:08authentic reproduction of the Ezekiel

04:10Russell Declaration of Independence,

04:12which was reproduced using a

04:13historically accurate press on a linen

04:15cotton paper, which has a similar feel

04:17to the original. um that was printed in

04:20Salem, Massachusetts in 1776.

04:23Um Massachusetts was the only uh colony

04:25at the time that when the Declaration of

04:27Independence was signed, they made a

04:29copy for every community in the

04:30Commonwealth and they asked every

04:32minister in every parish to read the

04:34Declaration of Independence so that

04:36every resident of the colony would

04:39understand what was happening um and to

04:42be supportive of this. And so there were

04:44351 of these produced, one for every

04:47city in town in the Commonwealth. Uh

04:49Senator Moore and I had it framed with

04:51an explanation of what it is. And we're

04:54very much hoping that you will find a

04:56place uh in town hall so that everyone

04:58can see um this great reproduction piece

05:02of the Declaration of Independence.

05:04>> Great. Thank you so much.

05:05>> Yeah.

05:06>> First, I thought you were going to

05:07recite it for us.

05:08>> No, [laughter]

05:10you're not.

05:10>> That's next.

05:12>> Beautiful. You want to accept that on

05:14behalf of the town?

05:20>> How do we do this?

05:24[snorts]

05:24>> Sure, you can take a hold of it.

05:43All right, we got a good one in there

05:45somewhere.

05:46>> Here is the actual hanging piece. So,

05:48don't lose that. [laughter]

05:57>> Do you want to start? You want me to?

05:59>> So, um, thank you for having us here

06:02this evening. We've uh wanted to provide

06:04sort of a brief update um and certainly

06:07answer any questions you might have uh

06:10regarding what we have been up to and

06:12where we're at uh in the budgeting

06:14process for fiscal year 27. Um as you

06:17know uh the July 31st is the end of our

06:20formal session. We operate in two-year

06:22legislative sessions. This is our

06:23[clears throat] second year. So July

06:2531st is the end of formal sessions.

06:27However, we are operating under new

06:29rules this session that says that we can

06:31take up conference committee reports,

06:34any vetos or overrides of the governor

06:36as well as any uh budget matters after

06:39July 31st um and come back into have

06:42roll call votes on those things. So

06:44right now there is um a rush to get um

06:48bills that have been passed by both

06:50chambers to conference committees so

06:52that after July 31st uh the conference

06:55committees can work on those and then

06:56come back and we can have roll call

06:58votes on those. Um as we sort of end

07:01session um I'm very much still focused

07:04on sort of three primary areas that I

07:05spend a lot of time on. health care

07:07financing and public health um as well

07:10as food and security here in the

07:12Commonwealth and also um a vice chair of

07:15the women's caucus. So, a lot of my time

07:17has been spent on those issues outside

07:20of the legislative and and budget

07:22process. Um why don't I start on the

07:25budget and I'll turn it over to you. Um

07:27so, this year, amazingly, we got the

07:30budget done almost on time.

07:32>> [cough]

07:32>> We were not the last state in the nation

07:34to do our budget this year, which has

07:35been uh the last several years. Um on

07:38July 1st, uh both branches enacted the

07:41fiscal year 27 budget. 63.4 billion 42

07:45billion and um of that about 2.7 billion

07:50was in income sir tax resources that go

07:52only to education and transportation uh

07:55related items. The budget is 3.9% over

08:00uh the fiscal year 2026 uh final budget.

08:04Um but it is less growth than we have

08:06seen in the last few years. Um last year

08:09was 5.6 and between fiscal year 23 and

08:12fiscal year 26 it averaged 6.2% in

08:15growth. So the budget did not grow as

08:17much this year as it has in past years.

08:20Um tax collections right now um are up

08:234.2% ahead of fiscal year 25. Um,

08:28however, a lot of that revenue growth is

08:29in non-withheld income, which limits the

08:32amount of surplus that what we will have

08:34at the end of the fiscal year to apply

08:36to any other uses. Um, on the spending

08:40side in the budget, um the the last big

08:43final year of the Student Opportunity

08:45Act, funding is in that as well as uh

08:48more funding to the MBTA to close out

08:51its budget gap. Um, and funding on Mass

08:53Health and other healthcare and support

08:54services. And as you likely know on the

08:57local level, too, uh the results of the

08:59OB3 federal bill that was enacted last

09:02year is going to give us some budget

09:04headaches at the state level,

09:06particularly around the impacts to

09:08spending on healthcare related items.

09:10And so this budget uh reflected our

09:13[laughter] understanding of what we

09:14think is coming, but also some of the

09:16unknown around what the real impacts are

09:19going to be.

09:20Um

09:22why don't I turn over you want to step

09:23through the chapter 17?

09:26>> Okay. Um so as representative Kaine

09:31talked about with the budget um we

09:37provided an extra $51 million to the um

09:42the augur account. Actually hold on for

09:44a minute.

09:47Excuse me. So, we provided an extra um

09:49we funded 1.1 1 bill363

09:54million uh million dollars in

09:56unrestricted general government aid,

09:57which is the ugger, which is $40 million

09:59increase over last year. Um,

10:03one of the issues that the Senate was

10:04looking at when we did the auger funding

10:06is the chapter 70 has a formula that's

10:10used for each community. uh last session

10:14uh last year's budget when you looked at

10:16the the UGG funding the city of Boston

10:19on average got like $320

10:23per resident of the city of Boston and

10:26you had a community like Bolton that was

10:28getting $40 per uh per resident. So when

10:32we did the budget this year, we looked

10:34at trying to develop a formula that we

10:37could um have some fairness in the

10:39distribution of the the UG money. So um

10:43next year going forward hopefully we'll

10:45be having more accountability or more um

10:49equity in the in the distribution of the

10:51UG money. Um we also provided additional

10:5756 million for emergency food

10:59assistance. Um, we did uh RTA funding.

11:04We provided an extra $217 million,

11:08excuse me, $217 million in regional

11:10transit authority, including $40 million

11:13for the fee for the free fair. Uh, for

11:15the circuit breaker funding, we did

11:18654.6

11:21million

11:23um

11:24combined with the the fair share

11:26allocation. Um, that actually brought

11:29that funding. We took $152 million out

11:32of the fair share. So if you take the

11:34152 and the 654 that brings us roughly

11:37up to 86 million $86 million for um the

11:41circuit breaker funder for our

11:43communities. Uh so we hit we hit the 75%

11:46cost of um reimbursement to our

11:48communities for that funding. Um we also

11:52did

11:54$160 per pupil in minimum local school

11:57aid and

12:00both branch well both branches did both

12:02of everything in this but um we also

12:04came together and we did a um we created

12:06a another foundation budget review

12:08commission which is the one that

12:10actually created the uh the funding

12:12formula that we're currently using.

12:14We've had a lot of complaints um from

12:16the various communities on the equity of

12:19that formula. So, um, we've created,

12:21we've reinstituted or revived that, uh,

12:24commission so that we can actually try

12:26to get a better idea of where where

12:28we're not, uh, filling the appropriate

12:30funding gaps.

12:33So, um, and one other thing, uh, local

12:38local earmarks. Um, we were able to get

12:40the Shoesby police um, excuse me, the

12:42$150,000 for the town for for a vote for

12:46the Shoesby Police. um

12:49Veterans Inc. which is located here in

12:51Choosbury were able to get $500,000

12:53[clears throat] for them to um support

12:55their substance abuse and employment

12:57training. uh $250,000

13:00uh to fund the firefighter cancer

13:03screening uh program and

13:07um an additional $20,000 for the court

13:11appointed special advocates to CASA

13:12program which help which helps um

13:14troubled youth in the in the juvenile

13:16court system. For other local earmarks,

13:19we had 75,000 for our Shoesbury Youth

13:22and Family Services and 30,000 to

13:24upgrade the athletic lights at Dean Park

13:25in the Coolage Pickle Ball Court. Um,

13:28relative to Chapter 70, the amount of

13:30funding to Shrewsbury directly was

13:32$23,420,930,

13:36which is an increase of about $933,000

13:40um over last year, which translates to

13:42about a 4.2%

13:44increase. And in terms of UGGA, as the

13:47senator said, uh the total amount was 3

13:49point uh $3,670,563,

13:53which is an increase of $22,000

13:56uh about 5.8% um and that has been one

13:59that has has lagged tremendously um over

14:03the years and the Senate did good work

14:05to add additional money to that um and

14:08the conference committee agreed to it

14:10largely. Um the councils on aging, we

14:14also did the same as last year, $16 per

14:16elder in the community. Um and as uh the

14:20senator said, uh we are revising the fud

14:22foundation budget review commission. Um

14:25there's also boosted oversight on

14:27special education transportation

14:28spending, which is something that is a

14:31critical driver in uh budget increases.

14:34And um as I had mentioned earlier that

14:39this budget we do not have any increases

14:41uh tax increases included in it. It also

14:44includes uh $51 million in the state's

14:47rainy day fund which is going to bring

14:49us to approximately $ 8.2 billion in the

14:51rainy day fund by the end of fiscal year

14:542027 which is great. Um the one concern

14:58of course is that in order to balance

15:00this budget, we did rely on about $ 1.9

15:03billion in one-time funding. Um which

15:06is, you know, never the the the best

15:08move to have to make, but given uh the

15:10circumstances that we find ourselves in

15:12this year with a lot of uncertainty, uh

15:15that was the way in which we moved

15:16forward. Um we also recently uh passed

15:21chapter 90 money. Um, and as you know

15:24from our communications, about 986

15:27uh,000 of that is from the traditional

15:29formula. And then there's also over

15:32500,000 from a local road mileage uh,

15:34increase that is there. Um,

15:36[clears throat] from fiscal year 2012 to

15:392023, the state capped the money at

15:42about $200 million annually for chapter

15:4590. The last couple of years, we've

15:47increased it to 300 million annually,

15:49200 million under the original formula,

15:51and another hundred million under this

15:53local road mileage formula. Part of that

15:56was an attempt to make it fairer to

15:58rural communities who had very long

16:00stretches of roadway, but not as much um

16:02and the other two indicators to boost

16:04their spending in it. Um, we've also

16:07benefited certainly from the fair share

16:10tax revenue which has also because there

16:13is a transportation or education

16:15requirement on that funding allocated

16:17some additional funding and in the 2026

16:20fair share sub that was recently signed

16:22that also included over $400,000 for

16:25Shbury for winter recovery assistance uh

16:28which I know is very helpful. Um there

16:30was also several earmarks included in

16:32that. Um about uh a hundred uh thousand

16:36for Shrewsbury public schools uh

16:38including for education special

16:40education costs. Uh and then another

16:4282,500 for capital expenses in the

16:45Shoesbury public schools and an

16:47additional 50,000 for road repairs

16:50locally as part of that. Um the

16:53environmental bond bill is something

16:54that we've uh just taken up. it is now

16:57in conference committee that did include

16:59200,000 uh for Shrewsbury for

17:02sustainable pocket parks and public

17:03green spaces. And the economic

17:06development bond bill uh which just went

17:08through the house uh a week ago included

17:11$350,000 for the Shoesbury Development

17:14Corporation to acquire bladed,

17:15underutilized or tax foreclosed

17:17properties and towns. Um bond bills are

17:20kind of funny money in that it's not a

17:23direct dollar coming to the community.

17:25It is a bond authorization. So, the real

17:28work and fight begins to get it included

17:30in a future capital plan. Um, and

17:32certainly when these bond bills are

17:34finalized, the senator and I will

17:35communicate that back um to you uh to

17:39let you know that. One other piece I

17:41would note locally uh in addition to uh

17:44supporting the town's application for

17:45the community onetop for growth um grant

17:48application for the light signalizing

17:50the intersection at Stony Hill Road on

17:52Route 20. Uh the Route 20 project

17:54itself, which started out as a little

17:56$15 million project several years ago

17:59and is now $49.7 million, um that is

18:03going to be advertised the end of

18:05August. Um which is an exciting uh

18:08period of time for us. That's been

18:09something that we've worked collectively

18:11um with the town and the state on for

18:13many years now. So uh looking forward to

18:16seeing that uh finally advertised.

18:19And I don't know, do you want to mention

18:20the two home rules, the status of that?

18:22would you like me to?

18:24>> Um uh well first the in the fair share

18:29amendment um actually going back to the

18:31budget in the budget we did have

18:33language also u dealing with uh

18:36streamlining local permitting. So, and

18:38I'm going to tie this into the fair

18:40share. Um, it supports the development

18:42of non non-conforming properties. U

18:45provides re reasonable timelines for

18:47projects under existing zoning and

18:50modernizes the variance standard um

18:53aimed at boosting housing production

18:55throughout the Commonwealth and driving

18:57down costs. Um, and the reason I

19:00mentioned that is because in the in the

19:02um

19:06see here

19:09In the fair share um budget uh

19:14supplemental budget, we passed language

19:16that actually creates tax exemptions for

19:21building materials used in construction

19:23of affordable housing projects for

19:25moderate and middle inome housing

19:27projects. And it'll be capped at $35

19:29million per year. So hopefully that will

19:31help um generate some interest in more

19:35um building of low-inccome to moderate

19:38to um moderate housing in the

19:41communities. The uh home rule petitions

19:45um

19:48hearing was scheduled July 20th um and

19:51this is to authorizes to the town to

19:53expand eligibility for two local

19:55property tax exemptions. Um,

20:00it allows the town to raise the minimum

20:01estate limit for surviving spouses,

20:03elders, minors exemption to 61,000.

20:06Adjusted in adjusted it annually for

20:08inflation and lower the qualifying age

20:10for um from 70 to 65. also adjust the

20:14qualifying qualifying senior citizens

20:16exemption income limits to 29,874

20:20for single residents, 44,818

20:23for married couples, and raises the

20:25state limits to 61,490

20:27for singles and 84,000

20:30for married couple 84,549

20:33for married couples also with um annual

20:36inflation adjustments. Um, so that's

20:38been in that's had a hearing. Um,

20:41>> it's scheduled it's scheduled for the

20:43July 20th.

20:43>> One of them is scheduled for the 20th.

20:45Um, which uh is before the joint

20:47committee and revenue and that's a

20:48written testimony only. Senator Moore

20:50and I have submitted testimony on that.

20:52And the other home rule petition which

20:54is the digital notice uh has a hearing

20:57on July 22nd in which people can testify

21:00in person, remotely or with written

21:02testimony. and the senator and I have

21:04also submitted written testimony for

21:06that. On the digital print one, I have

21:09been told by the House chair that that

21:11will get pulled out pretty quickly after

21:14the hearing. Uh on the uh the bill that

21:17we have before revenue, that's a

21:18slightly more complicated bill and not

21:21something that we've done a lot of at

21:23the state level. So, I think that one's

21:24going to take a little bit more time.

21:26But certainly are we are sensitive to

21:27the timing um of the end of the year.

21:30Neither of those requires a roll call

21:32vote, so we don't have to do it by July

21:3331st. Um, and as you know, if in the um

21:37off chance that we don't get them done

21:39by the end of the year, we are able to

21:41refile them in the new session, we um

21:43with the timing of when we had our May

21:46annual town [snorts] meeting.

21:48>> Uh we also passed the sales tax um free

21:52weekend. Uh that's coming up August

21:565th and 6th, I think. I don't know. It's

21:58something like that. I believe you're

22:00right.

22:03>> I can never wait to take advantage of

22:05it.

22:16>> Google says August 8th and Sunday August

22:189th. So,

22:19>> okay.

22:19>> August 9th that is coming up.

22:21>> So, that's been passed. Uh both branches

22:23also did pass a social media bill uh

22:25putting bans on um or limits on minors

22:29in their access to social media. Um the

22:31house and the um the senate have two

22:33different versions. The House I believe

22:36goes with more of an age

22:39um and information [clears throat] and

22:41verifying age where the Senate and the

22:43Senate's version we actually go to more

22:46the algorithm um trying to prohibit the

22:49use of certain algorithms which is going

22:52to um entice and allow children under a

22:55certain age to um access the platforms.

22:58So, uh, right now those those two bills

23:00that as Senate Representative Kane have

23:01talked about are going to go to

23:03conference committee.

23:07>> Happy to answer any questions if you

23:09have any.

23:12>> Go ahead, Michelle.

23:13>> Um, thank you both so much for your

23:15advocacy for our community. Um, and in

23:17Boston, it's uh, we are very grateful

23:20for all of the funding that we can get

23:22um, from the state for all of our

23:23initiatives here. Um I'm curious about

23:26you mentioned the OB3 federal bill. Um

23:28there's sort of a lot of unknowns about

23:31impacts that that'll have next year.

23:34>> Um I work on the um CMRPC, the MO um on

23:38the transportation improvement plan and

23:40we've seen a lot of uh changes in

23:43project funding that was originally

23:44coming from the federal government and

23:46has been pulled back and we've had to

23:47convert to state funding. Um, do you

23:49have any idea what some of the impacts

23:51will be with the OB3 bill?

23:54>> Uh, I have not heard anything directly

23:57for the town of Shbury's perspective.

23:59Um, the Route 20 is all set. It's not

24:05impacted by that. Um, it was in prior

24:08bills and the state has that allocated,

24:11although we do have to get it advertised

24:12by August 29th of this year. um in order

24:15to do that. Um I have not heard of

24:18anything locally in terms of that. Most

24:20of what um I have heard about is our

24:24impacts more on the health care side and

24:26what some of the changes are. There's a

24:28lot of things that also [clears throat]

24:30the the actual bill says one thing, but

24:34then it's up to certain agencies at the

24:36federal level to come up with the

24:38regulations around those and those have

24:40changed a lot. So, um, some planning has

24:44been done on certain things and then it

24:46changes and then more planning is done

24:48with that and then it changes again. So,

24:50that's kind of why from a state funding

24:53perspective, we're in a bit of a we're

24:55uncertainty right now about how it's all

24:57going to um get played out. Um, but if

25:01we hear anything in relative to

25:03transportation certainly um we'll let

25:06you know.

25:07>> Thank you. So, so we are in a little

25:09better financial situation as long-term

25:13planning um

25:16not specifically dealing with the um the

25:18federal legislation but more with the

25:20recent court rulings. Now that the court

25:22has ruled that the income tax reduction

25:24from 5% 5% to 4%. the ballot initiative

25:27>> the ballot initiative is not going

25:29through that is going to save us4 to5

25:33billion dollars um that that the voters

25:36would have approved I don't think

25:37there's any doubt that that referendum

25:39would have passed so that would that's

25:41probably going to be put off until the

25:42next election cycle until the

25:44constitutional issue gets addressed so

25:46that g does give us an extra um two

25:49years before that comes back so that

25:52does um combine combining that with the

25:54federal healthcare cuts

25:56U it's going to be pretty devastating to

25:58the state budget. So it [clears throat]

26:01does provide some low security right

26:02now.

26:05>> Um my [clears throat] question is really

26:07about

26:09looking across the commonwealth you know

26:11with communities in the chapter 70 the

26:12unrestricted government aid. Um I know

26:16the the increases let's say are

26:18[clears throat]

26:19are small and I think there's a long way

26:20to to catch up. I guess is

26:24I think you mentioned it. I don't know

26:25if I is is is the committee when you

26:28talk about relooking at formulas, do you

26:30think there's any chance of

26:31significantly changing or increasing

26:33what some of that local aid is so that

26:36you talk about the you know strain on

26:38the the state budget but on the local

26:40budget it seems like there's a lot more

26:41strain with only limited areas of where

26:44that revenue is coming from. So, so what

26:47is I guess so we have a longer term

26:50solution on ensuring that towns don't

26:53have to continually go out to over for

26:54overrides and that the chapter 70 and

26:56the unrestricted aid is um caught up to

27:00say what I think the towns and cities

27:02across the Commonwealth really need.

27:04Well, the unrestricted um the UGG

27:07[clears throat] the unrestricted

27:07government aid um where there's never

27:09been a formula. Hopefully um over the

27:13[snorts] next several budget cycles, we

27:15will there will be a more fairly um

27:19comprehensive and equitydriven formula

27:21so that um communities are given um an

27:25equitable amount of money per resident.

27:27Um so hopefully this is just a start of

27:30the $41 million extra. um the

27:35foundation budget review commission. Uh

27:38I don't think going into that the one

27:40that just that we're just changing now.

27:43I don't think any one of us knew what

27:44they were going to come out with for

27:46recommendations. So until they look at

27:49instead evaluating I assume they're

27:51going to evaluate every aspect of the um

27:55the factors that were looked at for the

27:57funding of each community. now. So

28:00that's all I can I can't project what

28:02they're going to come up with in person.

28:04[clears throat]

28:04>> I guess my my my my I guess challenge on

28:07this is that you're changing a formula,

28:10but the money that you're breaking down

28:12is still at this certain level. The

28:14ceiling, I think, needs to go up

28:15regardless of what your formula is. If

28:17you're you need to give more money back

28:20to the local town, like just across the

28:22Commonwealth as a percentage of the

28:24total budget, you're talking about 63.4

28:26billion and 1.6 6 billion of

28:28unrestricted government aid. I I can't

28:30remember what the the chapter 70 money

28:32number is, but I guess a larger

28:35percentage of the total budget going

28:36back to the local

28:37>> I guess remember the

28:40chapter 70 funding or school funding is

28:43a partnership between the state and the

28:45towns.

28:46>> Understood.

28:46>> So, well, it's understood, but the the

28:49state distributes money to the local

28:51communities. We have no say and no no no

28:54um oversight on how the money is spent

28:57at the local level. What contracts are

28:59given out if you have if the state gives

29:01you 3% in funding and then the

29:03communities are giving a 4% 5% or pay

29:06raises or benefit packages or there

29:09other um factors on health care that are

29:13being made that are exceeding percentage

29:16increases. No, it's got to be a team.

29:19It's got to be a team approach. There is

29:21no artificial cap on the chapter 70 as

29:24far every every budget cycle.

29:27>> So in terms of chapter 70 money this

29:29year it's 7.66 billion which is um

29:34actually because of the fair share um

29:37tax restrictions to only being used on

29:39education and transportation. Um

29:42education has continued to grow in terms

29:44of what is being spent on that. Uh in

29:47terms of the the AGA, the unrestricted

29:49general government aid, um the amount

29:52this year was 1.363 billion um which is

29:55a 40 million increase over previous

29:58years. Um the Mass Municipal Association

30:01had a branding campaign around 351

30:04million for 351 cities and towns, which

30:07they also say is approximately half of

30:09what it should be to keep pace with uh

30:12inflation and rising costs. The

30:15challenge again is um yes it is a very

30:18large state budget. Um over half of that

30:21uh state budget goes to health and human

30:23services.

30:24>> Um there are some very large pockets um

30:26of spending in that. However, some of

30:29the transportation spending again on the

30:31sort tax side should hopefully offset

30:34some of the local spend um on some of

30:36those issues. So again you saw increases

30:39on transportation coming back to cities

30:41and towns that hasn't been there before.

30:43But um just like chapter 90, the

30:46purchasing power of what is coming back

30:48to cities and towns in local aid is not

30:51uh keeping pace with inflation. It's

30:53something that is very much um

30:55understood

30:57and you know something that uh there's a

31:00lot of advocacy that does happen uh

31:02during the budget. We're giving you a

31:04clean reconciliation of what it ended.

31:08We're not giving you the blowby-blow of

31:10what we were doing and amendments being

31:11filed and and debates about what should

31:13be priorities in terms of spending.

31:16Certainly in the House budget debate, we

31:18had quite a bit of um robust back and

31:20forth regarding um trying to allocate

31:23more money to cities and towns uh to

31:25directly support municipal needs as

31:28opposed to um the state level.

31:34>> So I have two question. Thank you for

31:36joining today and supporting the

31:37community. Now my first question uh

31:40because of the overgrowth and uh

31:42overdevelopment in the town most of the

31:45roads like Route 20, 140, Route 9 or

31:48some major road in the town. The

31:50wildlife is getting like a lot of

31:52accident every day. last three weeks I

31:55can say three deers is killed in the

31:56suicari and I would like to know like

32:00you guys can help or some kind of

32:02funding so we can have some uh wildlife

32:05corridor so where they can have passage

32:07and they can easily cross the road one

32:09side to other [snorts]

32:10>> so that's my first question uh any kind

32:12of funding you can provide us support us

32:15uh we'll be definitely appreciate that

32:17the second I want to go with the Greg

32:19point also Surishwari is located in the

32:22center of the like so many Different

32:24towns, lot of vehicles every day coming

32:26from in the town. Because of that,

32:29because of that our infrastructure in

32:31the under the street and our road, our

32:34water line, everything is like a kind of

32:36like under the pressure. Same time we

32:38are supporting for housing development

32:40for state house project like for TV or

32:44other also. But considering those point

32:47also we need more money like the

32:49whatever we are getting for road

32:51development or road maintenance is not

32:53enough. Could could you consider like

32:56some way or other way like help us to

32:59get have more money other than whatever

33:01we are regularly getting because that

33:03way we are not supporting the system.

33:06>> So in terms of a wildlife corridor there

33:08[clears throat] is no um

33:11there's no pot of money that exists out

33:14there for something like that. I will

33:15tell you that part of it isn't just um

33:18growth that's occurring in communities.

33:20Part of it is growth in the deer

33:22population. Um there should be there's a

33:25statewide target of having 12 to 18 deer

33:27per square mile. And right now what

33:29we're having is 30 to 100 deer per

33:32square mile. So um in some ways it is uh

33:36the deer population is exploding and is

33:39causing a lot of these issues. Um, and

33:42it's particularly severe in eastern

33:44Massachusetts. Um, there isn't, as I

33:47said, a a pot of money for something

33:49like that. Um, but it is certainly true

33:53that as we have further development into

33:56areas where the deer population has

33:58traditionally been, um, we're probably

34:01going to see an increased amount of

34:04incidents between, uh, not just the

34:07deer, but other wildlife. Um,

34:10I don't know of any potential vehicle

34:13that we could use to secure funding like

34:15that. Um, and if if there was something

34:19it would know about via bond bill in

34:21which again you can get earmarks in, but

34:24the potential of getting that funded in

34:27a capital plan is probably next to

34:29nothing. Um, so I wouldn't want to give

34:31you a false promise around anything that

34:33we could secure on the state level. Um

34:37>> so actually I did I actually passed the

34:39legislation several years ago creating

34:42um the legislation for wildlife

34:44corridors and Mass Highway and fishing

34:48game the vision of fishing game actually

34:50have a working group that they did

34:52release a report on wildlife corridors

34:54they did put one on in the western part

34:56of Massachusetts western part of the

34:58state

34:58>> on the pike.

34:59>> Yeah it's just off the pike. So, we

35:02could probably reach out to them to see

35:04what their evaluation process is on

35:06determining where the the corridors uh

35:09are needed. So, we could look at that

35:11and maybe that could be a vehicle that

35:14if they have identified it, they think

35:15it meets whatever prerequisites they've

35:17established that they may be able to

35:19help us with the funding for that. But

35:21other than that, the only other

35:22additional funding we would have um as

35:25Representative Kane talked about would

35:26be an economic development bill um or a

35:29transportation bill where we could try

35:31to get some bonding authorization. But

35:33then as she said, even if we get the

35:35bonding authorization, we then need the

35:37administration then to follow through

35:38and fund it.

35:40>> Okay. So I'm telling like not the deer,

35:42other animal also like getting killed.

35:45It's not deer like so many other animals

35:47also. So we have to think about that.

35:50Maybe you guys can have something or

35:51bring it or

35:53>> so that's when they when they have

35:54>> because that's the development we are

35:55when we are doing the development sim

35:57sim simultaneously we have to think

35:59about there also

36:00>> they have the wildlife crossings they

36:01have the the bridge over over the road

36:04and they also have the tunnels that go

36:05underneath

36:06>> so you'd really have to this is where

36:08fish and fish and wildlife working with

36:10the dot would come in they'll look at

36:13the um the area and I guess the wildlife

36:16that you're trying to um stop the

36:20conflict with with the traffic.

36:23>> Okay. Thank you.

36:24>> In terms of the second part of your

36:26question around um transportation and

36:29water and sewer uh municipal, again, the

36:33senator and I have been very aggressive

36:35in trying to seek out any funding source

36:37to deliver more money back to

36:40Shrewsbury. Um and uh you know, we will

36:44continue to do so. uh there isn't a

36:48vehicle other than a bond bill um where

36:52you can stick an earmark in for

36:54additional funding. The issue is getting

36:56it back out. So chapter 90 is the annual

36:58bond bill that gets funded through that.

37:00As we said, that has increased by 100

37:02million um in the last couple of years

37:05uh as an attempt to catch up. Um but for

37:09the most part any sort of earmark along

37:11those lines, we're looking at it more

37:14across the state in terms of increasing

37:16the pool of funding. So getting a

37:18substantial amount over and above what

37:20we've been able to do with in smaller

37:22local earmarks is again something we

37:25always try for. But I don't want to

37:26create a false expectation that we will

37:29be successful in getting significant

37:32funding outside of the rounds for

37:34transportation specific funding

37:37>> and and actually we're on that line. Um

37:40we will be doing the economic

37:41development bill next week so a week

37:44from Thursday. So if there are any

37:47specific initiatives that you would like

37:49us to try to to try to get bond funding

37:52for if you want to email that to my

37:54office so we can try to include that.

37:57I just want to say like the Swisswari

37:59location is different than any other

38:00town. If you go green field all those

38:02places there are no too many cars people

38:05are not going regularly there but here

38:07like everyone coming from there for

38:09grocery for other purpose for incre

38:11recreation multiple purpose people are

38:14even I can say excellent folks are

38:16coming doing the grocery here they are

38:18coming to YMCA using the Swishwari road

38:20so so many like because of center

38:23location so many different facilities

38:25available here people are traveling from

38:27so many different towns here that

38:29creating the issues

38:32Carlos, you had a question.

38:33>> Um, yes. Um,

38:35Rep. Kane and Senator Moore, thank you

38:37both for your advocacy, for your work on

38:40Beacon Hill. Um, you and your teams are

38:42always on the ground here in Shbury, and

38:44I'm encouraged that your advocacy is

38:46also informed by your municipal service.

38:48Um, and I remember our days on finance

38:50committee together. Um, I had some

38:54questions around, um, MSBA funding. um

38:58because I know that uh across the

39:00Commonwealth um funding for building

39:03projects has been a challenge for many

39:05communities and so I was curious about

39:07any conversations around increasing

39:09funding for MSBA or formulaic changes

39:12that might be more favorable to

39:14communities

39:16if you can speak to that. Um the only

39:19discussion I've heard is that they're

39:20trying some communities are trying

39:22trying to get an increase in the funding

39:25for the square footage of the schools.

39:27So like the city of Worcester has been

39:29complaining about the um they feel there

39:31should be a a large reimbursement per

39:34square footage for the schools. So

39:35there's some conversation there. Um

39:38that's really the only conversation I've

39:40um I've heard really making as far as

39:42the MSBA. I I do think there was a

39:46change in the amount that they were

39:48giving in bond cap to the MSBA in the

39:51last year, year and a half in terms of

39:53adding a little bit more so they could

39:54have

39:56um they could approve a few more

39:58projects within that. But um

40:02>> several years ago,

40:03>> yeah. Um, [snorts]

40:05again, it's a, you know, there's also

40:08been a lot of questions around, um,

40:10potential funding vehicles for, uh,

40:13vocational schools, career technical

40:14schools trying to fit under that as

40:17well. Um there hasn't been anything that

40:19I have heard substantially in terms of

40:21changing um it there's a strong

40:24awareness of the limitations of it

40:26because as costs go up it means you're

40:29limited in terms of the number of

40:30schools that can and communities that

40:32can participate in it. Um so it's a very

40:35well-known problem. I haven't heard an

40:37articulated potential solution.

40:42>> Thank you. And then I think just

40:44similarly um our municipal buildings

40:46need some work as well and I I believe

40:48there was a proposal um

40:52to establish a municipal and public

40:54safety building authority similarly to

40:56MSBA I believe so was curious about

40:59where that is. The governor announced

41:02something today like um I saw in state

41:06house news. It didn't come to us um

41:08around um some sort of I think

41:11>> uh

41:13lending you might have I think she

41:15announced actually the lieutenant

41:16governor at your meeting so perhaps you

41:18know more than we do.

41:19So there's a general authorization of I

41:22think it's 125 million for

41:24municipalities to use as a bonding

41:26mechanism rather than accessing the

41:28private marketplace with low interest

41:30for infrastructure. Um wonderful

41:34opportunity. I assume the 125 million is

41:36going to go pretty quick though. So um I

41:39think there's a separate $25 or $25

41:42million bucket for some other more

41:44specific purpose for borrowing. Um but

41:47that that's what they brought up at our

41:49meeting this afternoon. So, was it prior

41:51to um prior to co I think it was Senator

41:53Downing

41:55um actually had legislation then Senator

41:58Timulty had had it um co-sponsor it this

42:02year um to create a fund but prior to

42:06just before CO hit that the legislation

42:08was actually gaining some traction and

42:10then as we all know then CO hit and

42:12everything just shut down but um the

42:15move that we were looking at at the time

42:17and really the problem was was

42:18identifying the funding source,

42:21>> right?

42:21>> As the MSBA, um, you know, we we get the

42:24funding for that, but we don't have

42:26would have to figure out where we going

42:28to, you know, do we take another penny

42:29from the sales tax or do, you know,

42:32where's the funding going to be that's

42:33going to fund or the initial um funding

42:37vehicle for it?

42:41>> Thank you. I I appreciate that. And um I

42:43think just lastly since you're in front

42:45of us, Senator, um I do want to thank

42:46you for your efforts in trying to curb

42:49um the construction of data centers. I

42:50know that's that's been something that

42:51you've been working really hard for. Uh

42:53it's a concern for many community

42:55members and community leaders across the

42:57country quite frankly. So just want to

42:59thank you for that.

43:00>> So bas um

43:02>> I was just Yeah, I was going to add on

43:03to that. That was a question I had

43:05because I saw New York pass a statewide

43:08or was going to try and pass a statewide

43:10moratorum on data centers and it piqued

43:14my interest as to whether or not

43:15Massachusetts would help us by doing

43:19something similar.

43:20>> So the difficulty in the Senate was that

43:25um so I had two amendments. one was to

43:27establish the moratorum and then a

43:30basically a commission that would

43:31develop the regulatory

43:34um guidance that they would have to get

43:36approval for. Um then the second one was

43:39that any increase in utility costs due

43:42to a data center coming in would have to

43:44be absorbed by the data center.

43:46>> It could not be spread amongst the

43:47community.

43:49>> Um sadly they both went down and

43:51actually it's one of the reasons why I

43:52voted against the energy bill. Um they

43:56um the chair of the committee uh Senator

44:00Barrett is um of the opinion that

44:03there's an energy sighting board and any

44:07project going in that um is going to

44:10generate over 25 megawws um would need

44:14would need sighting approval from that

44:16board. So they're arguing and then and

44:19there's also if you're putting in under

44:21the 25 megawws you would need authority

44:24from the small energy sighting board. So

44:27their argument to me was that they think

44:29that they would be the governing body on

44:32the sighting. But the problem is that

44:34those two sighting boards uh are tied

44:37into uh tax credits. So, if you have

44:40someone putting a data center in that

44:42where there's no tax credits being

44:43authorized, and we just saw that the

44:46governor actually put them uh suspended

44:47the tax credits until something can be

44:50um looked at. Um

44:54who's the regulatory oversight?

44:57And actually, I just had a meeting with

44:58National Grid today. Um they're looking

45:00at they they want to have a um proposal

45:04in next in the in the in the economic

45:07development bill where they want to

45:08create um one set of um prerequisites or

45:11standards that all energy companies

45:13would have to follow uh dealing with the

45:17generation of um power for those

45:20facilities. They want to they want they

45:23also want the department of public

45:25utilities that they would they would

45:27have to come up with a plan to make sure

45:30that the increase in costs are not

45:32passed on to the customers that they

45:34would have to be um absorbed by the data

45:37center. So the discussions are

45:39continuing. Um I am going to file those

45:41two amendments again in the economic

45:42development bill hoping we get get some

45:44better traction uh this time. So

45:47>> I mean ultimately the the issue with

45:51both data centers and um also a lot of

45:54communities don't want battery storage

45:55facilities is everyone wants more

45:57renewables but no one wants a battery

45:59storage. So if you want to have more

46:01solar you need to have a place to keep

46:02it. Um no one wants a data center but

46:06everyone uses data all day long. So

46:09something has to give between all of

46:11these things and I think you know a

46:14moratorum

46:15sounds great like don't bring them here

46:18but ultimately what will that then mean

46:21you know in terms of so I think we have

46:23to all figure out you know how do we

46:26move forward understanding people's

46:27expectations for wanting to access and

46:30use and store data with the fact that no

46:32one wants to have a data center. Yeah, I

46:34don't think

46:34>> understand I don't either. I'm not are

46:36I'm saying like we have a bigger issue

46:37to figure out which is like

46:39>> and that's the moratorum would just be

46:41until we figure out

46:42>> well and actually that's

46:44>> and that's what we should be focus

46:45>> the moratorium that we had in the my

46:47amendment was a one-year moratorum. It

46:49would establish it was for establishing

46:51the regulatory guidance because she is

46:53right data data data centers are coming

46:57um with the amount of data that's that

46:58everyone is using it's it's going it's

47:00part of the infrastructure that we need

47:02to have but it has to be done properly

47:06>> and that's the key um

47:08>> if we don't do something

47:10>> you are going to see communities and I

47:12think it was north one of the north bro

47:15recently one of the communities is

47:16coming out looking at a total ban And

47:18>> Mhm.

47:19>> Hudson. Hudson.

47:21>> What's that?

47:21>> Hardison.

47:22>> Hudson. Was it Hudson? Yeah. So there

47:24was uh so there are communities that

47:26looking that are looking at little bands

47:27of these centers which again it's as Rep

47:31Kane said it's look you can't want the

47:34data the storage and then not have these

47:36centers that are going to help supply it

47:38and power it. So it's finding that

47:40balance and I personally think having

47:42one a one year suspension of it until we

47:44can figure out what's going on. the city

47:46of l actually they've gone in there and

47:49they've actually um the center is

47:52actually trying to expand and they put

47:54they've put a moratorum on the expansion

47:56of it so there are issues that have to

47:58be addressed

48:01>> you've been super generous with your

48:03time um we appreciate it I think that

48:05the one thing I'll say and you don't

48:06really have to respond is you know when

48:08you talked about

48:11um

48:14you know

48:15credits for low-income housing and

48:18discounts on supplies. And I think we're

48:22just, as you know, you know, between

48:2540B, which we had to have really

48:28significant growth to sort of meet our

48:31our threshold for for safe harbor, and

48:34then MBTA zoning initiative, like we're

48:37getting killed. Um, and we are hearing

48:40people loud and clear. So, additional

48:43incentives for additional housing. And

48:45I'm not against affordable housing at

48:47all, but I don't know if it's like

48:49partial affordable housing. We're just

48:52it's um unless we're going to get a lot

48:54more money from the state to kind of

48:56help us out. It it ties into, you know,

48:59the scale of our our schools and just

49:02other investments we we need to make.

49:04And similar to what you just said about

49:05data centers, there's this like we get

49:07growth

49:09in the town is growth and revenue. And

49:11it, you know, sustains our our tax levy

49:15a lot more than if we didn't have

49:17growth. We get the balance. It's just

49:19we've we're coming off some pretty hard

49:21years. And so,

49:22>> as I said, those those what I the

49:24incentives that I talked about do not

49:26affect towns authorities or regulator or

49:28the approval process. This is these are

49:30just with the tariffs that went to

49:32effect, cost of living, excuse me, the

49:35cost of products. The state was trying

49:36to find a way to try to reduce some of

49:38the costs so that developers will have

49:40the incentive to build. I'm not saying

49:41they're going to build in Shoesbury.

49:42This this

49:43>> Well, I mean, it just Yeah, it's it's

49:45almost like a dirty word right now,

49:47incentives for developers. So, um

49:50because they are coming to Shbury and

49:52it's great that it's desirable, but it's

49:55uh it's been a lot. So

49:58>> actually, can I ask one quick question?

49:59How how are the ADUs doing?

50:02>> This is assisted dwelling units.

50:04>> There a lot of interest in them and a

50:06lot of permits being pulled.

50:09>> Okay.

50:10>> Are you interested in one?

50:12>> Oh, no. [laughter]

50:13>> You want to come live in the shrew?

50:17>> I'm just I'm just curious that program

50:19we where we passed it last year. I I

50:20know some of the my some of my other

50:22communities that I represent, there's

50:23been a lot of growth in in those

50:25applications. That's why I was just

50:26curious Yeah. what you're seeing.

50:27>> I would say that we are seeing that

50:29growth and interest.

50:31>> Okay.

50:31>> Yeah.

50:33>> Thank you.

50:34>> Any other comments, questions?

50:37>> Thank you.

50:37>> Thank you very much.

50:38>> Really appreciate it.

50:45Okay.

50:48Agenda item number seven is a 705 public

50:52hearing. want to come forward to review

50:55and act on the new garage and class 2

50:58license applications submitted by Metro

51:00West Moars located at 822 Boston

51:03Turnpike. David Schultz is the applicant

51:06who is here on behalf of Metro West

51:10Motorc Cars. So my understanding and I

51:13apologize for the wait.

51:15>> No worries.

51:16>> Yes, [clears throat] I appreciate you

51:17being here. So Mr. The ZBA voted to

51:21grant two special permits allowing for

51:24the garage and repair shop and the sales

51:26room for automobiles and motorcycles

51:28with no conditions and you're going

51:31before the planning board for the remote

51:33parking in a leased area. So it sounds

51:37like from a town staff perspective

51:39everything is is in order with this

51:42application. Is there anything that you

51:45wanted to add with regard to your

51:47application? just I'm a current license

51:48hold class 2 license holder at um on

51:52Hartford Turnpike. So I've been here

51:54since 2017 and looking to do the same

51:57thing basically as I've done over there

51:59except with more space and add service

52:01capabilities to what we're doing.

52:04>> Okay. Board members, any questions,

52:07comments? No.

52:09Okay. Um this is a public hearing. Are

52:12there any members of the public who wish

52:14to speak on this matter?

52:16And there being none, I will entertain a

52:18motion to close the public hearing.

52:20>> So moved.

52:20>> Second.

52:21>> All in favor say I.

52:22>> I.

52:23>> Opposed. Motion passes. I will now

52:26entertain a motion on the application.

52:28>> I move to approve the garage and class 2

52:31application of Metro West Motorcars 882

52:34Boston Turk.

52:35>> Second. All in favor say I.

52:37>> I. Opposed.

52:39>> Motion passes. I'm sorry for the long

52:40wait.

52:41>> No worries. Thank you very much.

52:42>> Very quick. Thank you so much.

52:43>> Appreciate it.

52:46Agenda item number eight is a meeting

52:48with attorney Richard Bricker to review

52:50and act on the request of Foley Infiniti

52:52to store motor vehicles at 727 Hardford

52:55Turnpike.

52:57Um, and the request is for the storage

53:00of up to [snorts] 50 vehicles. Again, I

53:05apologize for the wait. Thanks for being

53:07here.

53:07>> Certainly not your problem, not your

53:09fault. So,

53:10>> um, [clears throat] thank you uh to

53:11through the chair. Um, just for the

53:13record, my name is Richard Ricker and

53:14I'm here representing R.J. Foley, uh,

53:17who's seated to my my right and uh,

53:19together with us is uh, Matthew Armenti

53:22um, from my office. Um, this, as you

53:25stated, is a request for us to park

53:27vehicles from RJ Foley Motorsports as

53:30well as the Infiniti over at uh, 727 uh,

53:34Hartford Turnpike. We were in front of

53:36the uh zoning board of appeals uh for

53:39the garage license over there um a

53:41couple of weeks ago. Uh that was granted

53:44um and um

53:47I believe that we're all set with the 88

53:50894 Boston Turbike uh with the Infinity

53:53uh lensure um at this stage. So, um, we

53:57we look forward to your, um, discussion

54:01and and hopeful approval of us being

54:04able to park, uh, vehicles over at 727,

54:07um, for repair and for storage for both

54:10the Infiniti and Motorsports.

54:13>> No concerns from town staff. Seems

54:16pretty straightforward request. Board

54:18members, any comments or questions?

54:21Okay, there being none, I will entertain

54:23a motion.

54:24I move to approve the storage of up to

54:2650 motor vehicles at 727 Hartford

54:29turnpike by Foley Infinity which holds a

54:31class one license at 894 Boston

54:33Turnpike.

54:34>> Second. All in favor say I. I.

54:36>> I opposed. Motion passes.

54:38>> Thanks very much. Sorry.

54:41>> Whatever. Thank you.

54:44>> I did um forget about agenda item number

54:47five. So, we'll have the members of the

54:49DEIB committee come on up and get

54:51settled. But, uh,

54:54[snorts]

54:55with regard to public comment under

54:57select board policy 31, we did not get

55:00any requests for, um, public comment

55:02this evening. And just as a reminder,

55:04anyone who is interested, if you could

55:06just let um, the board know through the

55:09chair or through town staff of your

55:11interest before end of business on the

55:14Monday before our Tuesday meetings, it

55:16would be greatly appreciated. We also

55:18hosted office hours. We host office

55:21hours with two select board members on

55:24the second Tuesday of each month from

55:265:30 to 6:30 p.m. here in town hall. And

55:29we encourage anyone who's interested in

55:31speaking with board members to also take

55:34advantage of that.

55:36Okay.

55:38Agenda item number nine is a meeting

55:40with the diversity, equity, inclusion,

55:42and belonging committee. Good evening.

55:45if you wouldn't mind introducing

55:46yourselves.

55:47>> Good evening everyone. Um, we do have a

55:49presentation. I'm not sure if we can

55:51objected.

55:53>> I was told that we were able to.

55:54>> Yeah, we're able to do that. Um, all

55:56board members have it as well, but we

55:58can get the TVs up and rolling and

56:00cannot in

56:03um

56:03>> introduce yourself.

56:05>> So, thank you for having us tonight. My

56:07name is Luis Rodriguez. I'm the vice

56:09chair of the diversity, equity,

56:10inclusion, and belonging committee. Um

56:12alongside I have Samantha Golding and

56:15Martha Learing. Um we will u present to

56:18you today our semianual u board report.

56:21Okay.

56:23>> Um so just to begin um like I say I'm

56:28Lisa Rodriguez from the diversity,

56:29equity, inclusion and belonging

56:30committee. I'm the current vice

56:32chairperson. Um um

56:36we're here today to give you the

56:38semianual report and back in 2022 when

56:41the committee was founded uh we knew

56:43that for this town to thrive we had in

56:46to be intentional about making sure

56:47everyone feels like they belong. Um and

56:50tonight we will chair a few wins, a

56:52couple pilots and where we appreciate

56:54your support. Um as you know the EIB is

56:57not an abstract ideal. It really affects

57:00local services, public safety

57:01participation. um and everyday dignity

57:04for our neighbors. Um when people feel

57:06welcome and respected, they're more

57:08likely to use town services, participate

57:10in civic life, and contribute to the

57:11well-being of the community. So

57:13addressing disparities,

57:18>> sorry about that.

57:20>> Looks like it's coming up.

57:22>> Um so addressing disparities um now will

57:25save resources, reduct conflicts, and

57:27streng resilience

57:30um down the road. We look forward to

57:31your question and to clarify any points

57:34in the report. So with that being said,

57:38um I'm just going to wait for the

57:39presentation to be pulled um so we can

57:41start.

57:43>> You can launch in. We'll catch up.

57:45>> Thank you.

57:46>> Um

57:46>> we have it all in front of us. So

57:48>> Okay, sure. So for the second slide, um

57:51we'll talk about the charge. Um, like I

57:54said, the committee was funded in 2022

57:56by the board of selectmen at the time u

57:58with a public statement committing to

58:00DEIB and applying DIB focus to their

58:03decision- making and including um

58:05specific DIB objectives in their annual

58:07board of selectment goals. Um,

58:11our mission is to support and fostering

58:13an inclusive and equitable sorry

58:16equitable community to enhance

58:18belongings for all residents. Um the

58:20committee acts as an advisory capacity

58:22to the select board and the town manager

58:24and we provide feedback to local

58:25governing bodies, boards, committees and

58:28on related topic. We facilitate

58:30discussions on related topics. We

58:32organize, plan, host community events

58:35across the year. We recommend strategies

58:38to improve access to local resources and

58:40we foster civic enga engagement with the

58:44um increasing diverse participation in

58:47town boards and committees.

58:50So the board has really not this the

58:53committee has really not um reported to

58:55this body in over a year. So we're going

58:58to do a little bit of 2025 and then the

59:022025 2026 report. Um so at the beginning

59:06of 2025 we had five different members on

59:09the board. Um we went um we underwent a

59:12lot of structural changes

59:15um that made it a bit difficult for us

59:18to continue with our work for a couple

59:21of months. Um but then at the end of

59:24July we had new board members. Um in

59:28July I was a I was um I was selected to

59:32be chairperson. Um and Dr. Floen was our

59:36vice uh vice chairperson at the time. We

59:39held 12 um open public meetings, two

59:42public workshops, and we had 36 new

59:46registered volunteers. Um we've also

59:48secured a grant for $2,000 in um from

59:52the Shbury Cultural Council. Um

59:54unfortunately, at the end of the year,

59:56we had to give that money back because

59:59we couldn't use it. Um we had to cancel

1:00:02some of our events due to what was

1:00:04happening at a federal level. Um

1:00:07so

1:00:09we still apply for that grant um for

1:00:12this year. Um so the third um the fourth

1:00:19I'm sorry the four um slide um we

1:00:23restructured the committee again back in

1:00:26February I believe um Dr. Floan became

1:00:29the chairperson. I became the vice

1:00:31chairperson. Um since then we've hosted

1:00:35six public meetings, two public

1:00:36workshops, and we've have 13 new

1:00:38registered volunteers and we secure

1:00:41$1,000 in the cultural grant. Um

1:00:46all righty. So

1:00:49with that being said, we had

1:00:51strengthened the committee throughout

1:00:52this um years. We divided the charge

1:00:55along committee members to make sure

1:00:57that um no areas were being left behind.

1:01:01Um so that improved the communication

1:01:03between us and also um it had some

1:01:07accountability um to our work. Uh we

1:01:09grew a volunteer base. Um

1:01:13well and we have we want to use that

1:01:15volunteer base to send out um monthly

1:01:18updates also inviting people to our

1:01:20meetings or to any open positions that

1:01:23the town boards or anything it's

1:01:25available. Um we've had expanded our

1:01:28public presence. We have increased the

1:01:30amount of of events that we've been and

1:01:32that we've created. And again, we secure

1:01:36funding

1:01:38um to make sure that we can move forward

1:01:41with our initiative because as you may

1:01:43know, our board doesn't have um any type

1:01:45of funding.

1:01:47>> Um do you guys have any questions so

1:01:49far?

1:01:52>> I do not. Thank you. Doing great.

1:01:54>> Um so with that being said, I'm going to

1:01:55pass it over to my colleague Martha

1:01:57Dearing where she'll be speaking about

1:02:00our community engagements. So in 2025

1:02:04um we did a family week in conjunction

1:02:07with the Shbury public schools and we

1:02:09thanked Jennifer Stern Robbins for

1:02:11helping us with that. Um we worked with

1:02:14the mock center, the making

1:02:16opportunities count shelter in town and

1:02:19we set up a a tent and a table with

1:02:23books for children that we were giving

1:02:25to them. Uh those were donated um and

1:02:28those were given away. We had painting

1:02:30rocks, which was incredibly popular.

1:02:33[snorts] Uh we had coloring books and

1:02:35all kinds of other activities like that.

1:02:37We had a cornhole tournament for the

1:02:40adults and they were really loving it a

1:02:42lot. Uh we had a bad mitten set. We had

1:02:46a small table pool thing. Um we had I

1:02:50think we had a Jenga even then. So we

1:02:52had all these different activities and

1:02:54we were working in conjunction with

1:02:57Mach. The police department was also

1:02:59there, the fire department was there and

1:03:01really working to help these children

1:03:03feel comfortable and the adults feel

1:03:05comfortable. And I understand from

1:03:08Jennifer now that a lot of those people

1:03:10that we worked with are now permanent

1:03:12residents in town. So that was a plus

1:03:15for us. Um the spirit of Shisbury, we

1:03:18again we had a tent and a table, some

1:03:20color, excuse me, some coloring um for

1:03:23the children, but mostly we were trying

1:03:25to get community engagement, getting

1:03:27their ideas, their suggestions, things

1:03:30that might be helpful that we could

1:03:33promote and see what we could do there.

1:03:36Uh Junth that year, we again had a tent

1:03:39and a table at the food truck on I

1:03:42believe it was Thursday night. And there

1:03:45we were able to use some of our funding

1:03:47to give out small history books. They

1:03:49were written primarily for children but

1:03:51history about what Junth is and why it

1:03:54is so important. We also passed out

1:03:57these little you rubber bracelets um

1:04:00that the kids loved and we had little

1:04:01flags for them as well.

1:04:04Uh we had the pride in the park which

1:04:06was the second pride in the park at Dean

1:04:08Park uh where again we engaged with the

1:04:10community for information, activities,

1:04:13resources and we did have ice cream

1:04:16there where we gave out 54 completely

1:04:20for free. You want to get to the next

1:04:22slide because this one's better.

1:04:25When we had the third Pride in the Park,

1:04:27I'm going to start at the bottom of that

1:04:28slide. We gave out 163 ice creams

1:04:33completely free of charge. Uh we had a

1:04:35lot more activity and involvement in

1:04:37that Pride in the Park. We also had a um

1:04:41it was a food truck called Borites. Did

1:04:44I pronounce that correctly?

1:04:46>> Okay. Um they offered free snacks and

1:04:48food. Uh very very active. Again, we had

1:04:52all kinds of games and coloring and we

1:04:56had one woman who was painting rocks. We

1:04:59have saved those rocks because she was

1:05:01painting all kinds of comments about

1:05:05it's very important to be together on

1:05:08this to love each other do. So we've

1:05:10saved all those rocks so we we can

1:05:12display them.

1:05:13Um, we did have a panel discussion on

1:05:16current immigration issues uh at the

1:05:18Shrewsbury Public Library and speakers

1:05:21included the immigration attorney

1:05:23Jennifer Moore of Cameron Cameron Moore

1:05:26Law and she is the wife of Senator

1:05:29Michael Moore. So, he was there and he

1:05:31was very participatory.

1:05:33Um, Isabella Lo Lobo Velasquez.

1:05:37Again, I apologize. I did not study

1:05:39Spanish. I studied French. Um, and that

1:05:43was also from Senator Ed Marky's office.

1:05:45She came in virtually for us. And Regina

1:05:48Edmonds from Grassroots Central Mass,

1:05:50which is a community um, organizer

1:05:52organization where we had presentations,

1:05:55discussions, questions, and it was it

1:05:58was there were a lot of activity and

1:06:00questions there. Haitian Heritage Month.

1:06:03At the request again of Jennifer Stern

1:06:05Robbins, members of the DEIB committee

1:06:08provided support um encouraged feedback

1:06:11and uh assisted in welcoming community

1:06:14members into Haitian Heritage Month

1:06:17where there was a film and a number of

1:06:19other things, food and a number of other

1:06:21great things going on. Um our Junth

1:06:24presentation this year at the Shbury

1:06:26Public Library was shaped a little bit

1:06:28differently.

1:06:30Samantha Golding and Roelio Roger uh de

1:06:34la Cruz Olivarez presented information

1:06:37and a film about the meaning of Junth.

1:06:41Uh and the other community members were

1:06:44there assisting, taking questions,

1:06:47gathering information, and trying to put

1:06:50as much positive spin on this as we

1:06:53possibly can.

1:07:00All righty.

1:07:03Thank you. [snorts]

1:07:04>> All right. Hi again, everyone. Um, now

1:07:07we'll move on to talking more about our

1:07:09community partnerships. So, one of the

1:07:12key areas that I personally notice being

1:07:14a member of the committee is the reach

1:07:16that we have as a committee and our

1:07:18efforts that we've strived to partner

1:07:20with a nice mix of uh you know

1:07:24individuals and organizations within

1:07:26town. So, first we have the Shbury

1:07:29Public Library. Um we launched Chapters

1:07:31in Common, the book club. Uh we've read

1:07:33six books so far and we

1:07:35>> nine

1:07:36>> oh nine out there correction. Uh nine

1:07:38books so far. Uh we have a list of some

1:07:40of those books. Uh that would include

1:07:43The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yun. Um

1:07:47A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabelle

1:07:49Alende. Um one I know that we had uh

1:07:52very spirited discussions about was The

1:07:55Sum of Us by Heather McGee. Um so as you

1:07:57can see a nice mix of different books

1:07:59that we've engaged with. Um,

1:08:01additionally, uh, we meet on the second

1:08:04Saturday of every month and that's

1:08:06through, uh, September to June. So,

1:08:10we're currently on our summer break, but

1:08:12we are definitely looking forward to

1:08:13starting again in September. And at that

1:08:15point, we'll be starting with the book

1:08:17entitled Black AF History by Michael

1:08:20Harriet.

1:08:21>> We're actually already reading it.

1:08:22>> Yes, we are already reading it. Uh next

1:08:25we partnered with SYFS an acceptance

1:08:27project uh the first organizations to

1:08:30collaborate for pride at the park in

1:08:322025.

1:08:33Uh we also partnered with SPS and making

1:08:35opportunities count. Martha has uh you

1:08:38know uh outlined our partnerships with

1:08:41making opportunities count. Next we have

1:08:43the Shrewsbury Cultural Council who has

1:08:45awarded us a $2,000 grant in 2025 and a

1:08:49$1,000 grant in 2026. Now, the really

1:08:51cool thing is that we actually, just as

1:08:54Louise said, we were able to truly make

1:08:56the most of what we had afforded to us

1:08:59and we were able to utilize those funds

1:09:01this year uh in a way to kind of spread

1:09:04our reach across the community. Um,

1:09:07additionally, we have partnered with

1:09:09Shrewberry Media Connection. Uh, we

1:09:11produced two neighbor-to neighbor

1:09:12segments in 2024 and obviously they also

1:09:16record our meetings. Additionally, we

1:09:18have the AIDS Project of Worcester. Uh

1:09:21it was a vendor at our third annual

1:09:23Pride at the Park this year. Um

1:09:24additionally, Brenda Siver uh from

1:09:27Empowered Living and Mindfulness. We had

1:09:29a yoga instructor at this year's Pride

1:09:31at the Park. Uh it was one of the uh

1:09:35more popular uh events that we hosted

1:09:37during the event. Then, as Martha

1:09:39mentioned, Borie Bites. It was a food

1:09:41truck. Um delicious pretzel bites. Then

1:09:44we have Shbury Trails Committee. um they

1:09:47led a summer walk at the third annual

1:09:49Pride at the Park event. We did have

1:09:51some residents that specifically came

1:09:53out just to take advantage of that. So

1:09:55again, something really cool to show the

1:09:57reach that we're having within our

1:09:58community and having a nice range of

1:10:01options for everyone. Um and then

1:10:03finally, we would like to collaborate

1:10:05with Clinton Savings Bank at some point

1:10:07in the future.

1:10:10>> All right, gonna hand it back over.

1:10:14Um so as far so as far as advisory work

1:10:18um

1:10:19um the board sorry the committee

1:10:21recently sent out um a recommendation a

1:10:25recommendation letter to the select

1:10:27board and the town manager um with a

1:10:29recommending a welcoming a welcoming

1:10:32communities policy to be adopted by the

1:10:34town. Um, this all started back in

1:10:36December 2024 when a resident um had

1:10:40sent us an email requesting information

1:10:42or considering this type of policy in um

1:10:45in our town. Um, so as you can see,

1:10:48we've had a lot of time approximately 18

1:10:51months of work. Um, from January to

1:10:55August, we gathered some information and

1:10:57we were also going through a lot of

1:11:00structural changes. So there was a lot

1:11:02of work that fell through the cracks at

1:11:04that time

1:11:06but we gain it back in September 25. So

1:11:09we reached out to the NIC select board

1:11:11member um because it's their policy that

1:11:14they have adapted uh adapted a year ago.

1:11:18Um at that time in November 2025 we met

1:11:21with the town manager to discuss current

1:11:23town policies. In February 2026, we

1:11:26requested um public's record request to

1:11:28the Shisbury Police Department and the

1:11:30town manager's office and we request a

1:11:32foyer to ICE as well. Um from March to

1:11:36June of this year, we finalized drafting

1:11:38the recommendation letter and finally in

1:11:40July um 6, we sent the letter to this

1:11:45body for their consideration.

1:11:48Um it's very important to understand

1:11:50that this um recommending policy does

1:11:55only bars collecting or acting on

1:11:57immigration/citizen

1:11:58status, detaining people for suspected

1:12:01immigration violations, or using town

1:12:03resources to assist federal civil

1:12:05immigration enforcements except when

1:12:07required by law or lawful judicial

1:12:11orders. um this does not mean that the

1:12:13town will gain um

1:12:17sanctuary um policies or anything like

1:12:20that.

1:12:22And in fact, much of what was there is

1:12:24actually based on what the police chief

1:12:26sent to us and on stuff that is posted

1:12:30in in room meeting room B on the walls

1:12:34as well as the um many of you may not

1:12:37know this, but the select board actually

1:12:38has a welcoming statement and we have so

1:12:42we were incorporating lots of different

1:12:44pieces.

1:12:50All right. So, next we're going to talk

1:12:52about looking ahead and just kind uh

1:12:54just understanding what our priorities

1:12:56have been uh identified as for the year

1:12:58ahead. So, we would like to host another

1:13:01forum in the fall. Uh we'd like to

1:13:03continue the annual Pride at the park

1:13:05celebration, the Junth event, chapters

1:13:08and common book club. We've also found

1:13:10that the residents and individuals that

1:13:12have engaged with us, they appreciate

1:13:14that we host those events. Uh,

1:13:16additionally build partnerships with

1:13:18local charities to provide resources to

1:13:20residents and just kind of expanding

1:13:22that reach. Uh, we'd like to partner

1:13:24with town committees, boards,

1:13:26commissions, and societies as we do

1:13:28believe um, based on our charge that we

1:13:32will continue to engage with the public

1:13:34in a larger way. Um, additionally,

1:13:38participate in Spirit of Shrewsbury, the

1:13:39300th anniversary, and other townwide

1:13:42events. um roll out monthly email

1:13:45updates to engage with volunteers uh

1:13:47host a multiffaith event and then

1:13:50finally uh the recommendation letter on

1:13:52banning data centers in Shrewsbury. So

1:13:56um we are absolutely also open to any

1:14:00recommendations uh from residents or you

1:14:03know anything such as that uh because

1:14:06these are things that we've engaged with

1:14:08the community with. So we would like to

1:14:11ensure that we're representing things

1:14:14appropriately and exactly as they are.

1:14:18>> Then now we move on to the

1:14:20acknowledgements.

1:14:22>> Here you go.

1:14:23>> You guys want to go?

1:14:24>> I can do it. Whichever.

1:14:25>> Okay.

1:14:26>> All right. So now for the

1:14:28acknowledgements. This is my favorite

1:14:29part.

1:14:29>> I can't read it.

1:14:30>> Uh the committee's work was made

1:14:32possible by many partners and

1:14:34contributors. Um we have the Shrewbury

1:14:37Public Library staff. They've been

1:14:40extremely helpful um and kind of like a

1:14:43beacon whenever we do events at the

1:14:45library. Park and recreation department

1:14:47staff. I know we've partnered with them

1:14:49quite a bit in the past. Uh Shbury Media

1:14:52Connection staff, the Shbury Cultural

1:14:54Council, the Trails Committee. Um

1:14:57additionally, we would like to name

1:14:59Cynthia. I'm likely not going to

1:15:01pronounce this.

1:15:03>> Okay. So, we have Santos Santos. We have

1:15:06Cynthia, um, Adiola, uh, Bindu, uh,

1:15:10Pankage, Taylor, and Anushri. Um, but

1:15:14overall, we really want everyone to

1:15:15understand that without all of your

1:15:17contributions, especially the select

1:15:19board, we would not be able to be the

1:15:21committee that we are today. So, we

1:15:23appreciate all of your input, guidance,

1:15:26as well as just being present for us.

1:15:29So, thank you.

1:15:33Righty.

1:15:36>> Thank you very much for your

1:15:38presentation. I apologize. I take

1:15:40responsibility for the lag and and

1:15:43having you come in and and provide us

1:15:45updates. So, appreciate you giving us

1:15:46sort of the multi-year catchup. Um, I

1:15:49personally recognize how much effort you

1:15:52put in to this committee and how engaged

1:15:56you are with the community and how

1:15:58you're kind of at so many community

1:16:00events and you really do things that try

1:16:03to bring people together and it's

1:16:05recognized. It's appreciated and um I

1:16:08thank you for all that that you do.

1:16:11Sincerely. Um board members, are there

1:16:13any questions um for

1:16:17our friends from the DEIB committee

1:16:19while they're here?

1:16:21>> Have a few questions.

1:16:23>> Thank you. Um I thank you all for all

1:16:25the work that you do. Um I think it's

1:16:27really important to make sure that every

1:16:29every member of our community feels

1:16:31included and welcomed and important. And

1:16:34um we are we are really only as strong

1:16:36as our as our weakest resident, right?

1:16:39And so it's um it's important that that

1:16:42we're inclusive and and that everybody

1:16:44feels like they belong here. Um I have a

1:16:47few questions. So I was able to attend

1:16:49uh the Pride in the Park event I think

1:16:51last year with my youngest son. Uh it

1:16:53was a really nice event, very joyful,

1:16:55and I was so sad to miss it this year.

1:16:56It sound like you guys had some

1:16:57wonderful partnerships. Um and I would

1:16:59love to see some of those continue. Um

1:17:02especially like the trails walk and the

1:17:04yoga and all of those things I think are

1:17:05really nice. and um I love the

1:17:09partnerships that you're developing

1:17:10within the community. Uh I was just

1:17:12curious if residents are interested in

1:17:16um joining your volunteer list or um

1:17:19joining your book club or even if you

1:17:21know residents can't attend the book

1:17:23club on Saturdays, is there a place

1:17:25where we can sort of follow along and

1:17:27see what books you're reading um and you

1:17:30know kind of read alongside the book

1:17:31club even if we can't attend the

1:17:33Saturday book club meetings. We are

1:17:35listed in the um library calendar every

1:17:40month. Um in addition to which when I

1:17:44can get myself together on time, I get a

1:17:46notice into Tanner for the for the uh

1:17:49weekly report. Um

1:17:52the book is listed right there in the

1:17:55calendar website. We also do it

1:17:58virtually because there are some some

1:18:01members of the group that for a variety

1:18:03of different reasons can't necessarily

1:18:05get there but do want to participate so

1:18:08that we can do it both in the library as

1:18:11well as virtually. So we have now I

1:18:15don't know

1:18:17six or seven members

1:18:20um and several of them are from other

1:18:22countries. So it and totally different

1:18:25cultures and it's a it's a lovely mix

1:18:28and we are we really are engaging in

1:18:31some books that generally are

1:18:33challenging to us once or twice. There

1:18:36have been some that are less so

1:18:38[laughter] but we didn't know that

1:18:40before we read them. um we do tend to go

1:18:43uh with suggestions from the group or

1:18:46from the librarian Julie Cellularo who

1:18:49helps us on that and she is a member of

1:18:51that of the book club as well. Um so

1:18:54yes, it is very open and accessible at

1:18:57the moment with the video. We can still

1:19:00be in one of the little upstairs meeting

1:19:02rooms. Um we can we can cram five or six

1:19:06people in there plus people on the

1:19:08video. if we get too much larger, we'll

1:19:10have to find a larger space, but that

1:19:12won't that won't break my heart at all.

1:19:14[laughter]

1:19:16>> That's great. And um and just as far as,

1:19:18you know, other events that not

1:19:20necessarily that are in conjunction with

1:19:21the library, where would residents be

1:19:24able to sign up for your emails or um

1:19:26find out about those events?

1:19:27>> So, at every event, we have a volunteer

1:19:30signup sheet. When we talk to people, we

1:19:32ask them if they want to be on the

1:19:34volunteer list or if they just want to

1:19:36receive any type of updates from us. So

1:19:39yeah,

1:19:39>> and we have had volunteers show up and

1:19:41help us out.

1:19:42>> Um, at Pride in the Park, there were two

1:19:44or three volunteers who just showed up

1:19:46and were enormously helpful. As the rest

1:19:49of the committee was out helping with X,

1:19:51Y, or Z, there were other people there

1:19:53who were helping me out, keeping things

1:19:55rolling. I think we have what almost 40

1:19:58people on that list now.

1:20:00>> 36

1:20:01>> 36. So

1:20:02>> yeah, around around 40 40 50 people on

1:20:05the volunteer list.

1:20:07Additionally, we'd also like to add um

1:20:10we are looking to roll out monthly email

1:20:13updates uh to engage with volunteers. I

1:20:16know in the past we also did newsletters

1:20:18with the um with the senior center. Um

1:20:22so now we're looking for a way to do

1:20:25this more consistently um so that we can

1:20:27continue to keep our list of volunteers

1:20:30engaged.

1:20:31>> Thank you.

1:20:33Oh, one of the other things we didn't

1:20:35mention was we are looking to try to do

1:20:39some kind of um a

1:20:42a clothing donation, food donation,

1:20:45something like that, a central location

1:20:46perhaps. We've been working with a

1:20:48couple of different groups, but we

1:20:49haven't got that solid yet.

1:20:53>> Just one quick question. Uh because

1:20:55there's a lot of good things that you

1:20:58guys are looking to do. The one part I'm

1:21:00just help me tie back to kind of like

1:21:03the charge you guys were talking about

1:21:05with a lot of the community events and

1:21:06everything is is is the data center

1:21:08piece.

1:21:09How does that I guess how do you guys

1:21:11see that tying in to your committee?

1:21:13>> You want to address it?

1:21:15>> You want to?

1:21:16>> Okay. Um so we all have a wide range of

1:21:22um perspectives in terms of uh why this

1:21:24is important at this particular time. I

1:21:28can speak for my own interests and why I

1:21:30believe this is important. As a

1:21:31committee, we plan to explore this

1:21:33further because I never want to express

1:21:35my own opinions and we also want to

1:21:37ensure that we are truly reflecting why

1:21:39it would be beneficial. However, at this

1:21:42time based on the data that we have seen

1:21:45come out of different areas where data

1:21:47centers have been set up, it is found

1:21:50that when individuals may potentially

1:21:53lose privacy or access to certain

1:21:56resources, that can dramatically impact

1:21:58their ability to have a fair and

1:22:00accessible experience just as a resident

1:22:02in any given town. So we find that it's

1:22:05incredibly

1:22:06we all kind of feel charged to ensure

1:22:10that at least the appropriate amount of

1:22:12attention is paid to this because we

1:22:14want to ensure that all residents in

1:22:16Shrewsbury regardless of whether they're

1:22:18on the end closer to Worcester or on

1:22:20another end. everyone will have fair and

1:22:23equitable access to the resources that

1:22:24we all enjoy, including privacy.

1:22:27>> Because part of that also, and one of

1:22:29the points that we raised was that we

1:22:32have one of the few townowned

1:22:35electric companies. Um, and we have

1:22:38wellwater. And having grown up in this

1:22:42community and spent most of my life

1:22:44here,

1:22:46I remember all the times we've had

1:22:48problems with our water and with our

1:22:51wellwater and what the droughts do to

1:22:53that. And so that that is also a concern

1:22:57of mine is the water and the electric

1:23:01charge. though what we have is

1:23:04wonderful, but I would hate to see us

1:23:05start approaching other communities just

1:23:08because we have a nice we have a nice

1:23:10low rate.

1:23:12>> Yeah. I think I'm my only question on it

1:23:15because you you're all residents of the

1:23:16community as well and and all those

1:23:19concerns are very valid that can be

1:23:21brought to whether it's the planning

1:23:22department or throughout any kind of

1:23:24process or even if this board would

1:23:26opine on data centers at some point. So

1:23:29I guess my only point is is your time

1:23:33spent on the other activities you're

1:23:36doing versus that on the specific data

1:23:39center. It's not like saying you can't

1:23:40participate in any discussion with that

1:23:41data center. I'm just saying as a

1:23:43committee at large.

1:23:44>> So what basically what my colleagues are

1:23:45trying to say is that we're not speaking

1:23:48because of on behalf of the committee at

1:23:50this time. We're it's just been

1:23:52conversations that we've been having um

1:23:54about sending a recommending letter to

1:23:57this body. Um

1:24:00we can't speak if we don't have [snorts]

1:24:02the data. Um but since like my colleague

1:24:07said a lot of data has come out um

1:24:11about why data centers are bad for

1:24:14environment issues, health issues, any

1:24:17other issues

1:24:19um that may arise. um we think it falls

1:24:22into the EIB and we would like to just

1:24:25send a recommending letter to this body

1:24:27so you guys can take it from us.

1:24:30>> So it it's very much what Representative

1:24:33Kaine and Senator Moore said. It it has

1:24:35to be done reasonably, responsibly, and

1:24:40with the best possible outcomes for

1:24:42everybody in town, especially the the

1:24:45people who can't necessarily afford to

1:24:48have a major jack in their b in their

1:24:50water rates or in their electricity

1:24:52rates. The other part we'd like to add

1:24:55is we have discussed at length uh

1:24:57different as we mentioned different

1:24:59committees, boards, commissions,

1:25:01individuals in in within the greater

1:25:03society that we would like to engage

1:25:04with while we are exploring this topic

1:25:07further. So again, we want to be

1:25:09reflective of the truth of the matter

1:25:12but then be grounded in reality. So we

1:25:14want to ensure that we engage with the

1:25:16larger public because it could

1:25:18potentially be something of interest not

1:25:20just to individuals on our committee but

1:25:23by also engaging with the proper uh

1:25:26bodies we'll have a more realistic

1:25:28depiction of whether this is something

1:25:30we should recommend and how we should

1:25:32potentially put it forward to the board.

1:25:36If

1:25:36>> I may um just add to that really

1:25:39quickly. I think from I understand that

1:25:41a lot of um things like this sort of

1:25:44disproportionately impact um

1:25:47lower income neighborhoods, communities

1:25:50of color um and environmental justice

1:25:53communities. So I think that kind of

1:25:55factors into um you know the DEIB

1:25:58committee

1:25:58>> that was part of our coming in on this.

1:26:00So

1:26:03>> go ahead.

1:26:04>> Sorry. [laughter]

1:26:05Um, I just want to thank the committee

1:26:06for all your work that you've done over

1:26:08the last uh few years. Um, as a person

1:26:11of color myself, as a member of the

1:26:13LGBTQ plus community, I'm just

1:26:16personally appreciative of all the

1:26:17inclusive spaces that you've created

1:26:19over the years and also for the

1:26:21difficult conversations that you've

1:26:23helped facilitate in our community. I

1:26:25think

1:26:44long list. Um, I believe this was raised

1:26:46during one meeting, uh, a conversation

1:26:49around I voted stickers that are

1:26:51personalized for Shrewsbury. I think

1:26:52that'd be a cool opportunity to engage

1:26:54with artists in our community to um and

1:26:57also hopefully um drive up some voter

1:26:59engagement which I is fits within your

1:27:02charge. So um that's something that if

1:27:04we're successful with that, I look

1:27:06forward to wearing one of those on

1:27:07election night.

1:27:09>> So thank you. If

1:27:10>> I remember correctly, that is something

1:27:11[snorts] that we've had on a previous

1:27:13agenda and we do plan on continuing with

1:27:16that once we have our next meeting.

1:27:22So, thank you for the recommendation.

1:27:26>> Again, thank you for your time. Thank

1:27:28you for all your efforts. Sorry you're

1:27:29here so late,

1:27:31>> but we really appreciate it.

1:27:32>> All righty.

1:27:33>> Thank you.

1:27:33>> Thank you so much, everyone.

1:27:37>> Okay. Okay. Agenda item number 10 is to

1:27:39review and act on the one-day beer and

1:27:41wine license rescheduled from June 18th

1:27:44for Clover Road Brewing for the summer

1:27:48concert series to be held at Dean Park,

1:27:50805 Main Street on August 27th, 2026

1:27:53from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. I'm trying

1:27:56to set you up for just a move.

1:27:59[laughter]

1:28:00>> Move approval.

1:28:02>> Second.

1:28:02>> All in favor say I.

1:28:04>> I opposed. So voted.

1:28:07Item number 11 is to review and act

1:28:09again on a oneday beer and wine license

1:28:12that had to be rescheduled from June

1:28:1318th for Broken Creek Vineyard for the

1:28:16summer concert series to be held at Dean

1:28:18Park, 805 Main Street on August 27th

1:28:20from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

1:28:23>> Move approval.

1:28:23>> Second.

1:28:24>> All in favor say I.

1:28:25>> I opposed. Motion passes. Item number 12

1:28:29is to review and act on the request for

1:28:32affordable rent increase for Edgemere

1:28:34Crossing, 100 Flint Pond Circle. Um, as

1:28:38board members know, each property that

1:28:39has units within affordability

1:28:41restrictions submits a request before

1:28:43increasing rent on these units. This

1:28:45occurs annually, requires a vote from

1:28:47the select board and then approval by

1:28:49the Executive Office of Housing and

1:28:51Livable Communities. And these

1:28:53adjustments are formuliabased decisions.

1:28:59Questions? Motion.

1:29:01>> I move the board approve the 2026

1:29:03affordable housing rent increase for

1:29:05Edgeir Crossing 100 Flint Pond Circle.

1:29:08>> Second. All in favor say I.

1:29:10>> I. Oppos. Motion passes. Item number 13

1:29:13is to review and act on the road closure

1:29:16request of Chhatal Perk and Raj

1:29:20Kakert. I apologize if I'm not

1:29:22pronouncing the last name correctly. for

1:29:24Cherry Street on July 21st

1:29:28and July 22nd 2, 26 to install utility

1:29:33connections.

1:29:34>> That's correct.

1:29:34>> Hi.

1:29:35>> Hi.

1:29:35>> Are these

1:29:37>> the residents?

1:29:38>> They are.

1:29:38>> Oh, didn't know you were coming in to

1:29:40present.

1:29:41>> All right.

1:29:41>> Asked. We said we were supposed to.

1:29:43>> All right. Well, I'm so glad you're here

1:29:45and I apologize.

1:29:50>> Raj Kakar.

1:29:51>> Raj Kakar. And that's my name, Paul

1:29:54Valente.

1:29:55>> Paul,

1:29:55>> dream here in the town.

1:29:57>> Hi, thanks for being here. So,

1:30:01I do understand that this is a um sort

1:30:05of a major closure for for two days.

1:30:10It's been reviewed

1:30:12>> by town. Yep. DPW staff and public

1:30:14safety have all reviewed this.

1:30:16>> Okay. And what are we going to do about

1:30:18notifying um impacted residents? So,

1:30:21[snorts]

1:30:22um we will send out news flash or code

1:30:24red uh the evening before to make um

1:30:27residents aware and also with that um

1:30:30Mr. Valente um will be notifying the

1:30:34fire department each morning um before

1:30:36they start uh when they do start to make

1:30:38sure that they're the fire department's

1:30:40aware. Um and Mr. Valent has been in the

1:30:43community for a while. he understands

1:30:45our process and both him and the

1:30:47applicant have been working with um DPW

1:30:50this week to make sure they understand

1:30:52everything that's needed.

1:30:54>> Okay, board members, any questions?

1:30:58>> I just had a quick question. Um as far

1:31:01as signage for and notifications for

1:31:04residents, um I know Cherry Street is

1:31:07kind of a the detours around it can take

1:31:09you a couple miles out of your way. Um,

1:31:12and it is a road that some folks use to

1:31:15get to either route 20 or the MBTA

1:31:18station in Grafton. Um, so if we could

1:31:21use digital signage, um, preferably

1:31:24before the turn for 140. Um, because the

1:31:28going down 140 to Gold Street is one

1:31:30option. Um, instead of sending them all

1:31:32the way

1:31:33>> get to Cherry Street and then you have

1:31:35to go to South Street. Um I think just

1:31:37the signage in that area would be

1:31:38helpful um a few days before the work

1:31:42starts.

1:31:42>> Yep. We can work on that with DBW.

1:31:44>> Okay.

1:31:48>> Okay. No other comments, questions. I'll

1:31:50entertain a motion. I move the board

1:31:52approve the road closure request from

1:31:54Shita Parak and Raj Kakar for a portion

1:31:57of Cherry Street for the installation of

1:31:59utility connections from July 21st to

1:32:02July 22nd, 2026 from 7 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

1:32:06>> Second. All in favor say I.

1:32:09>> I opposed. Motion passes. I'm really

1:32:11sorry you had to be here this late.

1:32:13>> That's okay. No worries.

1:32:14>> Sorry, but we appreciate it. Thank you

1:32:16so much.

1:32:16>> Thank you.

1:32:16>> Thank you.

1:32:17>> Thank you.

1:32:18Item number 14 is to review an act to

1:32:20appoint two members to the diversity,

1:32:22equity, inclusion, and belonging

1:32:24committee for a term of three years

1:32:26expiring June 30th. We had two

1:32:28applicants, John Shenier, which is a

1:32:32reappoint, and Melissa Sher,

1:32:36board members, any concerns, questions,

1:32:39disagreement with these two applicants?

1:32:41And if not, I will entertain a motion. I

1:32:44move that we appoint John Chennier and

1:32:46Melissa Sharer to the diversity, equity,

1:32:48inclusion, and belonging committee for a

1:32:50term of three years expiring June 30th,

1:32:512029.

1:32:52>> Second.

1:32:53>> All in favor say I.

1:32:55>> Opposed? Motion passes. Item number 15

1:32:58is to review an act to appoint two

1:33:00members to the sustainability committee

1:33:02for a term of three years expiring June

1:33:0530th, 2029. Um, we have two applicants

1:33:08both uh seeking reappointment. Andrew

1:33:11Croxford and Romesh Rosdan.

1:33:17>> I move.

1:33:18>> Sorry. I move that we appoint Andrew

1:33:20Croxford and Romesh Rosdon to the

1:33:22sustainability committee for terms of

1:33:24three years expiring June 30th, 2029.

1:33:27>> Second. All in favor say I.

1:33:29>> I.

1:33:30>> Opposed. Motion passes. Item number 16

1:33:33is to review an act to appoint one

1:33:35member to the historic district

1:33:36commission for a term of one year

1:33:38expiring June 30th, 2027. We have one

1:33:42applicant, Lauren Oliv Olivier Brock.

1:33:46If there's no discussion mentioned the

1:33:50motion,

1:33:51>> I move that we appoint Lauren Olivier

1:33:53Brock to the historic district

1:33:56commission for a term of one year

1:33:57expiring June 30th, 2027.

1:33:59>> Second. All in favor say I. [snorts]

1:34:01>> I opposed. Motion passes. Item number 17

1:34:05is to review an act to designate the

1:34:07police chief the authority to assign

1:34:09specific police officers to polling

1:34:11places pursuant to the votes act for the

1:34:14September 1st and November 3rd, 2026

1:34:17elections. Standard practice for this

1:34:20board. Any

1:34:23discussion? If not, take a motion.

1:34:26I move that the board designate the

1:34:28police chief as the authority to assign

1:34:30specific police officers to polling

1:34:33places for the September 1st and

1:34:34November 3rd, 2026 elections.

1:34:36>> Second. All in favor say I.

1:34:38>> I.

1:34:39>> Opposed. Motion passes.

1:34:41Agenda item number 18 is to review an

1:34:44act to sign the warrant for the 2026

1:34:46state primary election.

1:34:48>> Move approval.

1:34:49>> Second.

1:34:49>> All in favor say I.

1:34:51>> I.

1:34:52>> Motion passes.

1:34:54Item number 19 is to review an act to

1:34:56extend the intermunicipal agreement for

1:34:58animal control services with the towns

1:35:00of Westboro and Grafton through June

1:35:0230th, 2027.

1:35:04This agreement provides backup services

1:35:06for vacations and allows the animal

1:35:09control officers for these three towns

1:35:11to alternate weekend coverage. Mr.

1:35:13Mizakar, anything additional?

1:35:15>> Okay, sure.

1:35:16>> I sorry, my last question of the

1:35:18evening. [laughter]

1:35:19Um, do we have I'm curious about the

1:35:22status of hiring a new acco.

1:35:26>> So, the background investigations are

1:35:28underway by the police department.

1:35:30>> Okay. So, do we expect to have, if all

1:35:32goes well, expect to have somebody in

1:35:35soon?

1:35:35>> Yes, we do. So, we've completed the

1:35:38interview process and the background

1:35:40investigations are the last piece

1:35:41pending.

1:35:42>> Okay. And, um, just one more last

1:35:44question. um the possibility of

1:35:46expanding the intermunicipal agreement

1:35:48to other uh abuing communities,

1:35:51Northboro, West Boilston, anything like

1:35:53that. Um just to provide

1:35:56um I know there's a lot of strain on our

1:35:58acco being the only person on town staff

1:36:01who does that work. Um if there if we

1:36:04expand our intermunicipal agreement,

1:36:06would that provide more support for our

1:36:08acco?

1:36:11We can I'm not sure of the status of

1:36:14animal control officers in those

1:36:15communities, but we can certainly look

1:36:16into that and see if they're interested

1:36:18in joining in a similar agreement with

1:36:20us.

1:36:29>> Any other?

1:36:32I move the board approve the renewal of

1:36:35the intermunicipal agreement of animal

1:36:37control animal inspector services with

1:36:39the towns of Westboro and Grafton for a

1:36:41one-year period through June 30th, 2027.

1:36:44>> Second. All in favor say I.

1:36:47>> I oppos. Motion passes.

1:36:50>> Move on to correspondence. Item number

1:36:5220 is an email dated June 22nd from

1:36:54Danielle Fontaine for Stony Brook Lane

1:36:57regarding speed bumps on Stony Brook

1:36:59Lane. Town staff has responded. Email

1:37:02dated I'm sorry. Item number 21 is an

1:37:05email dated 20 June 23rd 26 from Naomi

1:37:08Halpern 131 Stony Hill Road regarding

1:37:11requests for zoning discussion data

1:37:13centers and battery storage. That is

1:37:16definitely something that the select

1:37:18board will be discussing um in the

1:37:21future.

1:37:23Item number 22 is an email dated June

1:37:2529th, 2026 from Representative Hannah

1:37:28Kane regarding Declaration of

1:37:29Independence copies for your city and

1:37:31town which was delivered this evening.

1:37:34Item number 23 is an email dated July 6

1:37:37from Louise Rodriguez on behalf of the

1:37:39DEIB committee regarding a welcoming

1:37:42community policy recommending letter and

1:37:45the board will take that under

1:37:46consideration.

1:37:48Item number 24 is an email dated July

1:37:509th, 2026 from Janai

1:37:54Aru A Chalam regarding volunteering

1:37:58opportunities. Uh Mr. Makar, I don't

1:38:00know if there's any volunteer

1:38:01opportunities, but if someone from town

1:38:03staff could please respond to this uh

1:38:06young person and I appreciate the

1:38:09outreach. Item number 25 is an email

1:38:11dated July 9th from Allison Branovvic

1:38:16Fuss and O'Neal one financial plaza

1:38:18Harford Connecticut

1:38:20regarding 525 Hartford turnpike

1:38:22Shrewsbury Meepa ENF submission so noted

1:38:27board members if there's no other

1:38:30business to discuss I will entertain a

1:38:32motion to adjurnn

1:38:33>> so moved

1:38:34>> second

1:38:34>> all in favor say I

1:38:38>> we are adjourned good evening