2026-07-28 - Select Board

01:47Good evening. This is the July 28th,

01:512026 meeting of the Shrewsbury Select

01:53Board. We will start with introducing

01:56board and staff members present. I am

01:58Teresa Flynn,

02:00>> Carlos Garcia,

02:02>> Greg Richards,

02:03>> Michelle Conlin,

02:06>> Kevin Makar, town manager,

02:08>> Keith Baldinger, assistant town manager,

02:10public works.

02:11>> Christina Wardong, assistant town

02:13manager, administration and finance.

02:15>> Uh, Nick Hos, benefits coordinator.

02:18>> Michelle Conlin is participating

02:19remotely this evening, so all of our

02:23votes will require a roll call vote.

02:26First item on our agenda is to approve

02:28the bills, payrolls, and warrants.

02:31>> Move approval.

02:33>> Second.

02:35>> Um, Mr. Garcia,

02:37>> I.

02:38>> Miss Conlin

02:39>> I,

02:40>> Mr. Richards.

02:41>> I,

02:41>> myself, I.

02:44Motion passes. Item number two is to

02:46review and act to approve the minutes of

02:49the June 20 I'm sorry, the July 14th,

02:522026 select board meeting. Move

02:55approval.

02:56>> Second.

02:57>> Mr. Garcia

02:58>> I.

02:59>> Miss Colin.

03:01>> I.

03:01>> Mr. Richards.

03:02>> I.

03:03>> Myself. I. Motion passes. Item number

03:06three is announcements and reports. I

03:08don't believe we have any announcements

03:09or reports this evening.

03:12>> Item number four is the town manager

03:14report. Mr. Mizakar.

03:15>> Good evening board members. Uh first I'm

03:18really excited to announce that after

03:21our recruitment process has concluded

03:23that Kristen Loss uh former assistant

03:26town manager will be returning to the

03:28town as the deputy town manager. Kristen

03:31currently serves as the town manager in

03:34Westford. Um, and we're looking forward

03:37to having her back uh in a leadership

03:40position with the town again, overseeing

03:42community development and human services

03:45aspects in the deputy town manager role

03:47along with providing support and

03:49assistance across the organization. Uh,

03:51no start date yet, but we're working

03:54through that process and we'll announce

03:55that once it's available. Couple other

03:58things um this evening provide an update

04:01on the special legislation that uh was

04:04approved by town meeting. Uh last week I

04:06testified at the joint committee on

04:08municipalities and regional government

04:10regarding the digital print free notice

04:13uh bill. Uh that was um favorably

04:16reported out of committee. um and it

04:18will head to the steering policy and

04:20scheduling um caucus next and then it

04:25will get advanced to the full house for

04:27consideration.

04:30Also very pleased to share that uh

04:32construction on the new Arowwood

04:34playground is nearing completion. The

04:37town playground manufacturer and the

04:38contractor are currently completing the

04:40final inspections and addressing the

04:42remaining punch list items and we

04:44anticipate the opening of the playground

04:45for public within the next few weeks. Um

04:49a grand opening and ribbon cutting

04:51ceremony is also being planned for the

04:52end of August. Additional details will

04:54be shared with the community once that

04:56date is finalized. Uh this project

05:00represents a culmination of a resident's

05:02idea being brought forward and turned

05:04into reality uh through the support of

05:06the community preservation committee

05:08town meeting in Shrewsbury residence and

05:11we look forward to welcoming families uh

05:14to this exciting new space. Uh board

05:17members, finally on a very somber note

05:19um I wanted to acknowledge the passing

05:21of former Shrewberry employee Ellie

05:24Anderson. Um Ellie was uh in the

05:27treasure collector's office and served

05:29the town for approximately two years

05:32before um moving on to a bigger position

05:35uh with the town of Actton uh where she

05:38was most recently the director of budget

05:40for that community. Ellie was young and

05:43bright uh and had a lot of government

05:46service ahead of her which she would

05:47excelled at. Um Ellie is also the

05:50daughter of principal assessor Ruth

05:52Anderson. Our thoughts and prayers are

05:54with the Anderson family in this really

05:55difficult time. Thank you.

06:03Item number five is public comment

06:06pursuant to select board policy 31. We

06:09did not receive any requests for public

06:11comment this evening. And as a reminder,

06:13we just ask residents or other

06:16interested parties to notify the select

06:19board by Monday end of business prior to

06:22our Tuesday meeting.

06:26Item number six is a meeting with Byron

06:28Ker on behalf of Whole Foods Market

06:31193 Boston Turnpike regarding a change

06:34of corporate structure, change of

06:36officers, directors, LLC managers, and

06:38change of corporate name or DBA. Um, and

06:42this is for their section 15 all alcohol

06:44package store license.

06:47And do we have Hi.

06:50>> Hi. Good evening. Um, I'm Margot Gillis,

06:52attorney with McDerm Quilty Miller and

06:55Hanley in Boston. And I am here on

06:57behalf of the Lency Whole Foods Market.

07:00Um, they are here for a change of

07:03corporate structure, meaning they are

07:04changing from a corporation to an LLC.

07:07They're changing their corporate name to

07:09reflect that same change from Whole

07:11Foods Market Group Inc. to Whole Foods

07:13Market Group LLC. And they are updating

07:16their officers and directors. So at the

07:19lency level, they went from having

07:20traditional officer positions to a sole

07:23LLC manager. Um, anytime there is a

07:27change, it is required by law to update

07:30both the board and the ABCC. So that is

07:32why we're here requesting these changes

07:33this evening. There are no changes in

07:36day-to-day operations, no changes in

07:38hours. The manager of record remains the

07:40same. Whole Foods holds seven other

07:43licenses throughout the Commonwealth and

07:45are in the process of updating all

07:46stores. Please let me know if you have

07:48any questions.

07:51Uh, thank you very much. Uh, town staff

07:54has reviewed the application. Everything

07:58appears in order. Board members, any

08:01comments or questions?

08:04Okay. Well, entertain a motion.

08:06>> I move the board approve the change of

08:08corporate structure, change of officers,

08:10directors, LLC managers, and change of

08:12corporate name or DBA of Whole Foods

08:15Market, Inc. to Whole Foods Market LLC.

08:17>> Second,

08:19>> Mr. [snorts] Garcia.

08:20>> I,

08:21>> Miss Conlin,

08:22>> I,

08:23>> Mr. Richards,

08:24>> I,

08:25>> myself, I. Motion passes. Thank you very

08:28much for joining.

08:29>> Thank you so much. Have a good evening.

08:33Item number seven is to review an act to

08:35designate two members of the select

08:36board to serve on the master plan

08:40steering committee. Um so board members

08:45I know that um Anacharma is on vacation

08:51will deserve vacation and is not able to

08:52be here but did send us an email

08:54expressing his interest. Are there any

08:56other board members who are interested

08:58in serving on this committee? Uh, I'd be

09:01interested in serving.

09:04>> Anyone else?

09:05>> Ma, Madam Chair, I'm interested as well.

09:11>> Okay. So, we have

09:14Michelle, Greg, and Anad who are

09:16interested in serving.

09:20Um

09:22why don't we um

09:25Carlos just do a motion for Michelle, a

09:28motion for Greg, and a motion for Ann.

09:31>> I move the board appoint Michelle Conlin

09:33as the select board as one of the select

09:35boards design on the master plan

09:36steering committee.

09:39>> Second.

09:41>> Uh Mr. Garcia

09:43>> I

09:45>> Miss Conlin

09:46>> I

09:47>> Mr. Richards.

09:48>> No.

09:49>> And myself. I motion passes 3 to one.

09:56>> I move the board appoint Greg Richards

09:59as one of the select boards design on

10:00the master planning as the ma on the

10:02master plan steering committee.

10:04>> Second.

10:05>> Second.

10:07>> Mr. Garcia.

10:08>> I

10:10>> Miss Conland.

10:11>> I.

10:12>> Mr. Richards.

10:13>> I.

10:14>> Myself. I. Motion passes and no need for

10:18next. So, thank you to Michelle and Greg

10:21for serving. I'm sure you'll work well

10:24together. Item number eight is to review

10:27an act to appoint five members and two

10:29alternate members to the master plan

10:31steering committee. Board members, we

10:34have 11 applicants um for what is seven

10:38seats, five being regular members and

10:41two being alternate members. So, what

10:44I'd like to propose is that you each

10:48list your five choices. I will tabulate

10:53them here and then read back

10:56um to see if we have any um

11:01>> can I ask one question just

11:03[clears throat] because I it was a

11:04clarification on my assumption is um for

11:08uh Guyatri sits on the SDC. I know that

11:11that they they appointed I think in

11:14their meeting in June, but I'm not is it

11:16assumed that she was not appointed as

11:18the SDC representative

11:21because I don't I wasn't able to see the

11:23minutes. I guess that's my question.

11:24>> I don't know that the SDC has made an

11:26appointment um yet. I don't think the

11:28notification was there in time.

11:30>> Okay. So, it didn't happen at that

11:31point.

11:32>> It hasn't happened yet.

11:33>> Okay. So, I mean that's why I'm a little

11:36bit on that specific individual that I'm

11:40not sure if if they would be also

11:41appointed on the SEC if

11:44>> that one's I guess I'm struggling with

11:46in this

11:46>> Yeah, I I had the same pause in terms of

11:49this person has the opportunity to be

11:53appointed to the committee through the

11:55SDC. Not that they can't be an atlarge

11:59member as well, but it did influence my

12:02>> my selections um because I assumed that

12:06>> that person would would have that that

12:08separate opportunity. Um

12:12so everybody can sort of take that as as

12:15they want. If they still want to

12:17nominate this person, they can do so and

12:20we can always

12:22react if the SDC takes different action.

12:28>> Carlos, can I ask you to go first?

12:31>> Yes, happy to list my five. Um,

12:35my five include Miss Shannon Wall, Miss

12:39Lee Sarapin Moroni, Mr. Dr. Kenna

12:42Griswald, Miss Kathleen Flynn, and Miss

12:45Caroline Mayber.

12:50>> You know what? I think one, two, three,

12:52four, five, six. Oh, sorry, Carlos. I

12:56apologize. I missed one. So, you had

12:58Shannon, Leah,

13:01>> Caroline,

13:02>> Caroline,

13:03>> Ken, and Kathleen.

13:04>> Caroline,

13:07Ken,

13:08and Kathleen. Sorry. Michelle.

13:14I have uh Doug Muzzy,

13:17Ken Griswald,

13:19Lawrence Andovic,

13:21Leah Sarapin, Moroni, and Shannon Wall.

13:31I'm sure I'm really showing I have Doug,

13:34Leah,

13:36>> Shannon,

13:38>> Ken Griswald,

13:41>> sorry,

13:41>> and Lawrence Andovic.

13:43>> Thank you.

13:46Okay, Greg. I had uh Shannon Wall, The

13:51Moroni, Carolyn Mr,

13:55Lawrence Andovich, and Douglas Muzzy.

14:07>> I'm missing Doug, Caroline, Shannon,

14:11Lawrence,

14:12>> and Leah.

14:14>> Leah.

14:16Okay.

14:19I had Doug, Caroline Mcomer, sorry, Doug

14:23Muzzy, Caroline Make Homecomr, Leah

14:26Sarapin, Moroni, Lawrence Andovvic, and

14:30Ken Griswald. So

14:33if I

14:37total

14:39we have uh Leah Sarifan Moroni has four

14:44and then we have

14:47Doug Muzzy with three. We have Caroline

14:49Mayomer with three. We have Shannon Wall

14:52with three. Lawrence Andovic with three.

14:55And Ken Griswald with three. So, we kind

14:57of have one, two, three, four, five

15:00people tied for four positions.

15:08Um,

15:12>> five positions,

15:14>> right? We already have Leah as one.

15:16>> Yes.

15:16>> Right. So,

15:17>> Oh, I see what you're saying.

15:18>> Yeah.

15:19>> Okay.

15:21>> [snorts]

15:22>> Um,

15:26let's see.

15:28[snorts]

15:30I I mean, I this is what I hate. I think

15:32they're all uh amazing and I I

15:35completely appreciate the um the

15:37interests and it's great to have this

15:40many that have um have raised their hand

15:44and I'm happy to adjust mine to sort of

15:48get us but I feel bad sort of

15:50eliminating someone but we also have the

15:52two alternate positions. Um, if anyone

15:55has any any um any recommendations or

16:01why they feel one of these should not be

16:04an alternate. Um,

16:08happy to to entertain that.

16:13Um,

16:29anyone else want to adjust their vote.

16:35>> Okay. Um

16:42I imagine that the alternates will also

16:44be in the room participating.

16:46>> Is that how it usually is with the

16:47alternates? Um

16:49>> and they will ask they'll they'll be

16:51asked to be at all the meetings. um and

16:53provide input and vote in the absence of

16:56one of the five members. So, they will

16:59be engaged throughout the whole process.

17:07>> I like um

17:11I like that Mr. Griswald is a younger

17:13resident and brings an interesting u

17:16perspective. I think that the experience

17:20of others and and their other engagement

17:22in the community is is noteworthy. Um,

17:27so

17:30I think I will um

17:36I think I will um

17:41I will move my vote for Lawrence to

17:45alternate and

17:48um

17:51and place it with um

17:54with Shannon Wall. So that would be

18:00um

18:02Leah Sarifan Moroni, Shannon Wall, Ken

18:06Griswald, Caroline May Comr, and Doug

18:10Muzzy.

18:12Board members, are you

18:15okay with those choices? And if so,

18:18>> yeah, especially if everybody gets to

18:19participate in all the meetings and most

18:21likely

18:22>> there will be

18:23>> the odds of a full quorum are probably

18:25low. I'm just going to guess

18:27>> as Mr. Garcia can attest on the form of

18:29government.

18:30>> That's right.

18:32>> U so I I move that we appoint those five

18:35individuals.

18:37Um do you want to say the list the names

18:39again just so that I

18:40>> Sure. So you can note them and I'm happy

18:42to record them for for town staff for

18:45confirmation. Uh Doug Muzzy, Caroline

18:48Mr, Leah Sarafin Moroni, Shannon Wall,

18:52and Ken Griswald.

18:56>> Great. So I move that we appoint those

18:58five individuals

19:00to the master plan steering committee.

19:04>> Second,

19:05>> Mr. Garcia,

19:06>> I

19:07>> Miss Conlin,

19:09>> I.

19:09>> Mr. Richards,

19:10>> I

19:11>> myself I motion passes. And so for

19:14alternates,

19:17um

19:19maybe fellow board members will support

19:21me and Lawrence and Dovvic as one of our

19:24alternates

19:26and

19:28um there was really no other, but um

19:32Kathleen Flynn did get one vote, so I

19:35don't know if there's any other

19:37recommendations for alternate

19:42If not, I would entertain a motion to

19:45appoint Lawrence Andovic and Kathleen

19:49Flynn as alternate members to the master

19:51plan steering committee.

19:52>> So moved.

19:54>> Second,

19:55>> Mr. Garcia

19:56>> I.

19:57>> Miss Conlin

19:58>> I.

19:59>> Mr. Richards,

20:00>> I

20:00>> myself I motion passes. Thank you.

20:05These ones are next ones are a little

20:07bit easier. Um, agenda item nine is to

20:09review an act to appoint one student

20:11member to the diversity, equity,

20:12inclusion, and belonging committee. And

20:14we had one applicant, Sanjay Papu.

20:20>> I move that we appoint Sanjay Papu as

20:23the student member to the diversity,

20:25equity, inclusion, and belonging

20:26committee.

20:26>> Second.

20:28>> Mr. Garcia,

20:29>> I.

20:29>> Miss Conlin

20:31>> I.

20:31>> Mr. Richards.

20:32>> I.

20:32>> Myself. I. Motion passes. Thank you very

20:35much to Mr.

20:38Agenda item number 10 is to review an

20:40act to appoint one individual to the

20:42community preservation commission and

20:44Shauna Parker Dalton has

20:48um applied. Is she a reappoint? I don't

20:52recall a new appointment. Great. Okay.

20:55>> So I move that we appoint Miss Shauna

20:58Parker Dalton to the community

21:00preservation committee.

21:01>> Second. [snorts]

21:03>> Mr. Garcia I. Miss Conlin

21:06>> I,

21:06>> Mr. Richards,

21:07>> I,

21:08>> myself, I. Motion passes. Thank you.

21:10>> Agenda item number 11 is to review and

21:13act to pay the fiscal 27 Massachusetts

21:16Municipal Association annual dues. The

21:20um

21:22dues are a 1% increase over fiscal 26

21:27for a total of $5,718.

21:35There's no comments or questions. Move

21:37>> approval.

21:39>> Second.

21:40>> Mr. Garcia.

21:41>> I.

21:42>> Miss Conlin.

21:44>> I.

21:44>> Mr. Richards.

21:45>> I.

21:45>> Myself. I. Motion passes.

21:48Agenda item number 12 is to review and

21:50act on the road race request for the

21:52barefoot half marathon on Sunday,

21:54September 6 at 7 a.m.

21:58And

21:59um I'll read it so that you can move the

22:02motion. This is pretty standard and a

22:04recurring event that um town staff,

22:08police, etc. have reviewed and do not

22:11have any concerns or issues with. So

22:14this would be beginning in Sterling and

22:16going through the intersection of

22:17Glendale A and Route 70 in Shrewsbury to

22:21Holden Street and ending at Shrewbury

22:23High School.

22:24>> Move approval.

22:25>> Second.

22:26>> Mr. Garcia

22:27>> I.

22:28>> Miss Conlin

22:29>> I.

22:30>> Mr. Richards.

22:30>> I.

22:31>> Myself. I. Motion passes.

22:35Item number 13 is to review an act to

22:37update the traffic rules and orders

22:38making the intersection of Harrington

22:40Avenue and Old Mill Road a three-way

22:43stop. Um so this is for safety traffic

22:48safety improvements trying to mitigate

22:51the number of accidents at the

22:52intersection. So, it was reviewed by the

22:54police department, Mass DOT conversion

22:58program, and I believe Mass DOT will

23:00fund doubled up LED stop signs and stop

23:04ahead signs at all intersection

23:07approaches. Any other

23:10>> I just have one question just in more in

23:12general. Are there other intersections

23:16or how do those kind of get on the radar

23:18screen if residents are curious? just

23:21just because I see that there is a

23:22program for it. I'm just didn't know if

23:24there was other areas in town that may

23:26at some point in time qualify.

23:29>> Yeah, I could talk to a little bit. I

23:30mean, so this is initiated through the

23:32police department that we have a traffic

23:34advisory committee that meets monthly um

23:36and we review um either um issues that

23:41the police department or DPW identified

23:43or residents have identified um and in

23:46cases like this. So when you have a

23:48intersection that has um uh to to create

23:53multiple stops like or full stops at all

23:56sections it has to go through Mass DOT

23:58for approval. Um we were fortunate that

24:00this program's in place and then we took

24:02advantage of it because we know Old Mill

24:04Road has been Harrington has been a long

24:06time issue. Like we've done mitigation

24:08at that um intersection

24:11probably late 2019 2020. Yeah. In that

24:15in that neighborhood. So in that that

24:17time frame. So I'm always looking for a

24:19better way to improve that one. But to

24:21your point, we have a process through

24:23our traffic advisory committee that um

24:25if we have other ones, like I said, we

24:27look at it monthly and if something

24:29rises to the occasion to go to the state

24:30and bring it to them. [snorts]

24:37>> I just have a question on timeline. When

24:39will residents

24:41see activity there, see the signage?

24:44>> So, this kind of begins our process with

24:46the state. Once if you approve this

24:47evening, then we can move forward. uh

24:50working um with them. We think it's

24:52probably about 90 days, okay, before we

24:55um complete the project. We have there

24:57is a timeline that the state state has

24:59in place for us.

24:59>> That's great.

25:05>> I'm ready to make a motion. I move that

25:07the board amend the traffic rules and

25:09orders requiring all vehicles traveling

25:10west and southeast on Oldmill Road at

25:13the intersection of Harrington Avenue to

25:14stop.

25:15>> Second,

25:16>> Mr. Garcia. I

25:18>> Miss Conlin

25:19>> I

25:19>> Mr. Richards

25:20>> I

25:20>> myself I motion passes. Thank you.

25:24>> Number 14 is to review an act to approve

25:26the town manager's reappointment of

25:28Diane Jones to the conservation

25:29commission for a three-year term that

25:31expires June 30th 2029 pursuant to Mass

25:35General Law Chapter 40 section 8C.

25:39>> Move approval.

25:40>> Second.

25:41>> Mr. Garcia

25:42>> I.

25:43>> Miss Conlin

25:45>> I.

25:45>> Mr. Richards.

25:46>> Hi.

25:46>> Myself. I motion passes.

25:51Oh, we're on to correspondence.

25:55That was fast. Okay. Email dated July

25:5814th, 2026. Representative Hannah Keane

26:01regarding economic development bond pill

26:03pass bill passes the house. Alo noted

26:07email dated July 15, 2026 from Carrie

26:10Sheay. Legislative aid to Representative

26:13Kaine regarding joint testimony from

26:15Representative Kaine and Senator Moore

26:18on House Bill 5512 and 5515.

26:22So noted email dated July 18th, 2026

26:26from Pamela Braverman, 29 Old Colony

26:29Drive regarding condition and

26:32revitalization of Shrewsbury Town

26:35Center.

26:36You know, Ms. Braverman was told that we

26:40received her correspondence. Um she

26:43listed a number of um

26:47concerns about conditions of of of the

26:49town center, m much of them around uh

26:52private property. I will um make sure

26:55that I I get back to her and and see if

26:58there's um anything I can do to um give

27:02her what information we have and to

27:05answer any questions that she has.

27:09Email data July 23rd, 2026 from

27:11Cararissa Ford 14 SAS Avenue regarding

27:15pedestrian accessibility and drainage

27:18concerns at the Maple Avenue and Route 9

27:21crossing. Mr. Baldinger, I believe you.

27:24>> Yep. We I responded to her and we

27:26forward all that information to Mass DOT

27:28District 3 since it's in their

27:30jurisdiction to take care of that.

27:35and you'll let Miss board know if

27:38there's any additional follow-ups. Thank

27:40you.

27:41>> U email data July 23rd, 2026 from Susan

27:45Ley, 61 North Street regarding

27:48>> parks and wreck dedication. So, uh Mr.

27:51Garcia, I'm going to ask you for an

27:53update here because we know that we have

27:57received several um

28:00emails uh regarding this topic since

28:03we've posted the agenda. So, they'll be

28:05on the next uh agenda, but um we know

28:08that this is in requests to

28:12the dedication. So, maybe you can give

28:13us an update on the process.

28:15>> Yeah, happy to share an update. So, I

28:17have been in communication with Miss Don

28:19Shannon's family. Um specifically her

28:22son Rob. And um he sent in an

28:25application to me. I think it was last

28:27week. I forwarded that over to town

28:30staff so that we can get that process

28:32moving with uh perhaps dedicating um the

28:36recreation building in Don Shannon's

28:38honor. And so I know next steps include

28:42um you know our board will have to make

28:44a have a conversation about what assets

28:47we will we would like to um dedicate in

28:50her honor. And then um I know residents

28:54have already started sending us

28:55correspondence in support of doing

28:58something in favor of this but um we

29:00would have a public hearing at one of

29:01our upcoming meetings so that residents

29:03can come in and provide some more

29:05feedback. Did I miss something?

29:09What is the notice requirement for the

29:11public hearing? Is it 14 days?

29:13>> I believe 14 days is

29:15>> I mean that would be the statutory

29:16framework. Um but since there isn't a

29:18statute that requires it. I mean um I

29:22think we'd still meet that. I think the

29:24you know from a staff perspective, we'd

29:26like to see this at the or recommend

29:28this for your second meeting in August

29:29just so we do have an opportunity to

29:32>> let the word out.

29:33>> Yeah. So, in the meantime, if anyone is

29:35listening, and I know that there's a

29:37captive audience on this, rest assured,

29:39there will be a public hearing, and we

29:41hear you and you'll have the opportunity

29:42to speak at the public hearing if you'd

29:44like, but certainly um your your

29:47correspondence is is welcome as well.

29:51So, if there is no other business,

29:55I will entertain a motion to adjurnn.

29:57>> So, moved.

29:58>> Second,

29:59>> Mr. Garcia.

30:00>> I.

30:00>> Miss Conlin,

30:02>> I.

30:02>> Mr. Richards I

30:03>> myself I

30:04>> meeting is adjourned. Thank you and good

30:06evening.