2026-08-11 - Select Board

00:14Good evening. I'd like to call this

00:15meeting to order. This is the Tuesday,

00:19August 11th meeting of the select board.

00:25>> Just

00:26one moment. Technical difficulties.

00:29Okay.

00:46>> All good. Um, I'm vice chair Carlos

00:48Garcia and I'll be serving as chair this

00:50evening. Before we continue with the

00:51agenda, I will go around the table to

00:53introduce and ask my colleagues to

00:55introduce themselves. Greg Richards.

00:59Kevin Mizikart, town manager.

01:00>> Keith Baldinger assistant, town manager,

01:02public works.

01:03>> Board members, I'm pleased to introduce

01:05uh to you Tracy Vitz. She is the new

01:08executive assistant within the office of

01:10the select board and town manager.

01:11Welcome Tracy. Look forward to having

01:13you on board.

01:15>> Thank you everyone. Tracy, welcome to

01:16Shbury. Looking forward to working with

01:18you. Uh the first item on our agenda is

01:21to approve bills, payrolls, and

01:23warrants.

01:23>> So moved.

01:25>> Can I get a second?

01:27All those in favor, please signify by

01:29saying I.

01:30>> I.

01:30>> I.

01:32>> Agenda item two is to review and act to

01:34approve the minutes of the select board

01:35meeting of July 28th, 2026 and the

01:38workshop on August 4th, 2026.

01:41>> So moved.

01:42>> Second.

01:43>> All those in favor signify by saying I.

01:45>> I.

01:46>> I. Motion passes unanimously. Item three

01:49is announcements and reports.

01:50Colleagues, any announcements?

01:52>> No. [clears throat]

01:54Item four is town manager report.

01:58Anything to report?

01:59>> I do. Good evening board members. A

02:00couple things for me this evening. Did

02:03want to inform you in the community that

02:05um as many have heard and seen there's

02:08been an outpouring of interest from the

02:10community and family members of Don

02:12Shannon to consider naming of town

02:14property in her memory. And um we will

02:18be uh requesting that the board uh hold

02:21a public hearing on this matter. uh in

02:23accordance with your policy on naming of

02:26properties in the community at your next

02:28meeting August 25th, 2026. We'll be

02:31doing the appropriate notifications

02:33through social media and uh newspaper

02:35publications, but that will be on your

02:37next agenda and we invite community

02:39members to attend to provide comment on

02:41that topic.

02:44Update on the major Route 20

02:46reconstruction project from South Street

02:49to the North town line. Um, it will be

02:52published on August 29th, which keeps

02:54the project on schedule for an award

02:56later this fall and construction soon

02:58thereafter.

03:00I wanted to take the opportunity to um

03:03recognize the incredible services that

03:06were provided by the Shrewsbury Police

03:08Department, Shrewsbury Fire Department,

03:10District 14 dive team, the Worcester

03:13dive team, the state police dive team,

03:15and other uh departments providing

03:17mutual aid o over the the past few days.

03:20tragic event happened on Lake Quinn

03:22Sigmen. Unfortunately, an individual

03:24lost their life, but the service of

03:26those uh teams from the region um

03:29brought the uh conclusion to the matter

03:31uh to an end as quickly as possible, and

03:33we're grateful for their support during

03:35this challenging time.

03:37I also wanted to just note and provide

03:40the community with uh an update. We

03:44folks may have seen in the community

03:46there's been a lot of cyber security

03:48attacks on public water and sewer

03:51infrastructure across the country. Uh

03:53many speculate and even the government

03:56has reported that possibly it is another

03:59state um including Iran that may be uh

04:02launching these attacks on local

04:03government infrastructure in Shrewsbury.

04:05We've been improving our cyber security

04:07posture over the last uh 3 to 5 years uh

04:11with a particular um hardening of our

04:14water and sewer infrastructure. Um that

04:17process is ongoing, but we are uh in a

04:20very good spot. Very secure facilities.

04:23Doesn't mean we're not susceptible, but

04:24we're doing everything that we can to

04:26monitor and secure the uh cyber space

04:29around and uh related to our water and

04:32sewer infrastructure. And we'll keep the

04:33board updated on that. That's all I

04:36have.

04:38Thank you, Mr. Makar.

04:42>> Item number five is public comment

04:44pursuant to select board policy 31 to

04:46offer citizens the opportunity to

04:48provide public comments during select

04:50board meetings on matters within the

04:51board's authority. This evening, we did

04:53not receive any requests to speak before

04:55this body, but if a community member is

04:58interested in doing so, please submit

04:59your request to the select board or the

05:01town manager's office the Monday before

05:03our meeting to ensure we include you

05:05onto the agenda. It is now 7:05, so I

05:09will move to item six, which is a public

05:12hearing to review and act on the grant

05:14of location request by Eversource for

05:17the installation and maintenance of a

05:18natural gas transmission main within

05:21Lake Street. And I'd welcome up um

05:24Eversource representatives to the table.

05:28I don't need a motion to open.

05:33>> Just close.

05:34>> Thank [clears throat] you.

05:37>> Justin, are you going to start?

05:39>> Excuse me.

05:40>> Justin, are you going to start or

05:42Eversource make the presentation? Um, I

05:44think Eversource can start and then we

05:45can kind of discuss what the town went

05:47through to prepare our recommendations

05:50and comments. Great.

05:51>> Awesome. So, happy to turn it over to

05:53you.

05:54>> Thank you. Uh, thank you for, um,

05:55including us on the agenda tonight. We

05:57appreciate the time. U, my name is Molly

05:58Cullen. I'm the community relations

06:00specialist um, supporting Shersberry

06:01from Eversource. Um, so, as you

06:04mentioned, we are here for approval of a

06:06grant of location for upgrades to the

06:08Lake Street Regulator Station. I'm

06:10joined by my colleague Robert Kraton who

06:11is the uh project engineer and will be

06:14walking us through the project. So I'll

06:16go ahead and turn it over to Robert and

06:18feel free to ask any questions.

06:21>> Okay. Thank you, Molly. Um yeah, so this

06:23project is to um bring this the current

06:26existing station at 651 uh Lake Street

06:30into compliance with the recent uh DPU

06:34standards. Um so this project will

06:37install a new uh third vault, a new

06:41telemetry cabinet, um and then also the

06:46um piping piping across the street to

06:48the far side of Lake Street. So

06:54>> awesome. And I know that DBW staff

06:56>> Yeah. So um DBW staff, we um coordinated

07:00with uh other departments related to

07:02this cuz the gas man does cross some

07:05water and sewer infrastructure. Um we

07:08also required um them to you know

07:13coordinate with um um emergency

07:15services, schools um related to any

07:18closures of the road and stuff like

07:20that. They're also required to uh

07:22provide a traffic management plan. That

07:24those are the mostly the notable ones. A

07:26lot of the other ones are more

07:27technical. Um but um if you have any

07:30questions related to that, basically we

07:33prepared a memo that we would wish that

07:36the se if the select board approves this

07:38would make that part of the um the

07:41decision and grant of location. So

07:46>> great. And I I would assume that DPW

07:49staff have worked with Ever Source so

07:50you're familiar with the terms that are

07:52in and the conditions that are within

07:53that memo.

07:54>> Correct.

07:54>> Yeah. So we try to coordinate beforehand

07:56just so that there's you know no, you

07:59know issues during the meetings.

08:01>> Perfect.

08:02>> Um

08:04colleagues if any questions. Yeah, I I I

08:06do have a question and it's really

08:08related to I think you mentioned it

08:09about [clears throat] I noticed it is

08:11crossing this new gas line force main

08:13vein sewer line water line and another

08:15sewer line and recently we've had a lot

08:18of water mane breaks and I know some of

08:20the discussion around that was um maybe

08:23that if we're disrupting let's say the

08:26ground around the actual water manes and

08:28I believe some of it was due to was it

08:31vibration or something over on the other

08:33side on the similar gas line am I

08:35correct on that or

08:36>> I don't know about a gas

08:37>> or a line. So, so I guess my question on

08:40this is how do you I guess mitigate or

08:43try to ensure that there isn't like a

08:45secondary damage or break to one of

08:48those just because I know in the

08:49community we've had a lot of them lately

08:50it seems like and I just want to make

08:52sure we're maybe the community can

08:54understand the how you kind of prepare

08:56for this to ensure that doesn't happen.

08:58>> Yeah. So, one of the conditions we are

09:00requesting them to do is where any

09:02crossings occur is that they perform

09:04vacuum excavation um to so basically

09:07it's not like they're like digging and

09:09disturbing. It's it they basically put a

09:11tube over the the ground and suck up the

09:15material essentially. So, it's a lot

09:17less of a disturbance um for all utility

09:20crossings. So, we're trying to mitigate

09:23that as much as possible by requesting

09:25that Eversource do that um for the

09:28construction.

09:33>> Is that

09:34um I have question like if you see in

09:36the past when we are doing any utility

09:38work our roads are like damaging and

09:41it's always damaged never fix it. So

09:44this time we want like whenever you're

09:46doing the any kind of like m maintenance

09:48or digging anything the road should be

09:51uniformly as it is like it was there

09:53before and make sure after the six

09:55months also like that we want to avoid

09:57that one is happening in the future

09:59because this happened in the past lot of

10:01our road like in the bad shape because

10:02of that and we have to like keep special

10:05attention on that.

10:07>> Yeah. Um we will definitely make sure to

10:09for the road crossing make sure we

10:11restore

10:12>> making the small hole not patch the

10:13small hole you have to spread wider so

10:15it should be more uniform.

10:17>> Yeah and I think there's a condition in

10:18the memo that

10:19>> yeah there's a condition related to that

10:21um the I believe it's I think it's 10 ft

10:23on either side of the trench so that it

10:25it's a smooth transition and and that

10:28occurs late later. So like if there's

10:30any any settlement during the like over

10:33the course of the the time it'll have

10:38time to settle and then the new pavement

10:39will will take and it there shouldn't be

10:41any major disturbances.

10:43>> Okay. Thank you.

10:47>> Um I have a few and thank you all for

10:50being here.

10:52>> Um was curious about just the schedule.

10:54I don't know if that was discussed like

10:56timeline of when the work will begin.

10:58Yeah, I can answer that. Um, so we are

11:00aiming to start this in the beginning of

11:03September. Um, and then we would be

11:05wrapping up sometime in October. Um, the

11:09road crossing would be probably a a week

11:13and then the rest of the time we kind of

11:16be off the road and not impacting

11:17traffic.

11:22And then I think just for my

11:25uh knowledge um three years the go will

11:29expire in three years. I'm wondering

11:30what what is the rationale for a

11:32three-year um go.

11:36>> So that that we put in just so that if

11:39the if ever um doesn't do the work

11:42within three years then they have to

11:44come back in front of the board. It's

11:46essentially so that like

11:49they don't stack up the goos, they do it

11:51one in different times.

11:54>> And then if there's ever um a breach of

11:56the of any of the conditions in this

11:58memo, is that your team, your staff that

12:01would revoke?

12:02>> Yes, we we'll attach this to their um

12:05street opening permit.

12:06>> Um so when they receive that, this will

12:08be an attachment to it, the the the

12:11conditions if they're approved by the by

12:13the board. That's helpful. And then I

12:16think just for residents at home who may

12:17be watching this um how will how will

12:20notification to those residents be

12:22completed?

12:24>> We have a um gas um communications team

12:28that we can send a butter notices to

12:31make them aware that a um construction

12:33project is starting with anticipated

12:36timelines

12:38>> and that will list a phone number that

12:40if they have any questions they can call

12:41that number and they'll get

12:42>> there's a project line. Exactly. and

12:44there's a project code that they can um

12:46call, share the project code, share

12:47their concerns, and then the um

12:50questions get reverted back to,

12:52>> right?

12:53>> Um usually Robert's team to answer.

12:55>> Okay.

12:56>> I do have another question around

12:58traffic, just because of where this is

13:00and if you're closing a lane down there

13:02and just looking at the time of day and

13:05potential backup.

13:07I know that it mentions in here this

13:09traffic control plan.

13:12um that's probably one of my biggest

13:14concerns is how that is going to be

13:16affected even for that short period of

13:18time because

13:18>> Yep.

13:20>> they it's going to be painful.

13:24>> Yeah. And I think when we'll work with

13:25Eversource on that timing of that uh

13:27they may not be able to start early

13:29mornings. They may have to start work

13:30mid day midday for some of that crossing

13:32time. But um we have really good

13:34communication with them. So we'll make

13:35sure that we're especially discussing

13:37that time

13:37>> if you're going to have buses and stuff

13:38starting because you have AAA right

13:40there.

13:41>> The bus company is right there. So

13:43they'll they would they would have to be

13:44acknowledge that um that they wouldn't

13:47be able to work during

13:49preschool or after school when the buses

13:51are running.

13:57>> Also questions.

13:59>> This is a public hearing. So um if any

14:01members of the public wish to speak may

14:04come up to the mic. I I don't see

14:05anyone. So I think we can move to close

14:09the public hearing.

14:10>> I move to close the public hearing.

14:11>> Second.

14:12>> All those in favor, please signify by

14:14saying I.

14:15>> I.

14:16>> Motion is approved unanimously. Um what

14:19is the pleasure of the board?

14:20>> I move the board approve the grant of

14:22location request from Eversource Energy

14:24to install and maintain approximately

14:27150 ft of 8 in intermediate pressure

14:29natural gas main within Lake Street in

14:31front of 651 Lake Street. subject to the

14:34conditions and requirements outlined in

14:36the Department of Public Works

14:37memorandum dated July 20th, 2026.

14:41>> Second.

14:44>> All those in favor, please signify by

14:46saying I.

14:46>> I.

14:47>> I.

14:49All those opposed, please signify by

14:51saying no. The motion passes

14:53unanimously.

14:55Thank you so much.

14:56>> Thank you very much for your time. We

14:57appreciate it.

14:57>> Thank you.

14:58>> Have a good night.

14:59>> Have a good one.

15:00>> Thank you.

15:02Agenda item seven under new business is

15:04to review an act to adopt the 2026

15:06hazard mitigation plan. I would welcome

15:09up um Chris McGold.

15:13>> Good evening.

15:15>> Thank you. Walk us through this.

15:17>> Yep. Um thank you board members. Uh

15:18Chris McGold, director of planning

15:20economic development. Um I know the

15:22board is familiar with this plan. I

15:24believe you've seen it in draft form,

15:26but I just kind of for the benefit of

15:27the viewers just want to walk through a

15:28little bit of, you know, how we got here

15:30and um uh the ask for you this evening.

15:33So, um a hazard mitigation plan is a

15:36strategic planning process designed to

15:38reduce or eliminate uh the loss of life

15:40injuries and property damage resulting

15:43from natural hazards like floods, high

15:45winds, and severe storms. Proactive

15:47mitigation planning helps reduce uh the

15:50cost of disaster response and recovery

15:52to the community uh and its property

15:55owners by pro protecting critical

15:57community facilities, reducing liability

15:59exposure, and minimizing overall

16:01community impacts and disruption.

16:04Over the past year, our consultants

16:06Gabriella Spitzer, Craig Pereira, and

16:08Nate Kelly of Horsesley Whitten in

16:10coordination with town staff and

16:12residents have engaged in this planning

16:14process to identify critical areas of

16:16concern, assess community risks, and

16:18develop a mitigation strategy the town

16:20can use to be better prepared in light

16:22of increasing frequency and severity of

16:24such hazards. Key benefits of the plan

16:27include helping to protect critical

16:29community facilities and reduce

16:31liability exposure, minimizing community

16:34disruption during and reducing during

16:36and reducing recovery costs after hazard

16:39events, enhancing community resilience

16:41to climate change, and it secures

16:44eligibility for FEMA non-emergency

16:46disaster assistance and mitigation

16:48funding.

16:49FEMA requires state, local, uh, tribal,

16:52and territorial governments to have

16:54approved and adopted hazard mitigation

16:56plans to be eligible for certain types

16:58of non-emergency disaster assistance,

17:01including funding for mitigation

17:02projects. Jurisdictions must update

17:05their hazard mitigation plans and

17:07resubmit them for FEMA approval every 5

17:10years to remain eligible. This plan

17:12update has been submitted to FEMA and

17:15has received approval pending adoption

17:17status. Uh we now ask the select board

17:19to formally adopt the plan, execute the

17:22included resolution to complete the FEMA

17:25approval process, and demonstrate the

17:26town's commitment to integrate uh these

17:29mitigation strategies into other local

17:31efforts such as land use, capital

17:33improvements, infrastructure protection,

17:35and economic development.

17:38The town will be responsible for

17:39monitoring progress and executing the

17:41specific risk reduction actions outlined

17:44in the plan in order to remain eligible

17:46for federal assistance. Mitigation is an

17:49investment in future safety and

17:50sustainability by taking action before a

17:53disaster occurs in order to reduce loss.

17:56I thank the board for their continued

17:57support and involvement in this process

17:59and I'm happy to answer any questions

18:00the board may have.

18:02>> Thank you, Mr. McGold. I know there was

18:04a lot of work that was put into this and

18:05over a lot of time. So, I appreciate

18:07that. Uh, colleagues, any questions on

18:10this?

18:11>> Yeah, I just a couple questions. Um, one

18:14of the thing I went back and I looked at

18:16when you kind of have listed, you know,

18:182019 priorities for some of these areas

18:20and

18:21there's, you know, one high priority

18:24area that's that's incomplete. And I

18:26know there's like a lot of things on

18:28here. So I guess when we're when we're

18:30putting this together, I guess how are

18:32we ensuring that these are especially

18:35things that are high priority are

18:36actually executed upon um I guess moving

18:40forward. I don't I think the one item

18:42here I see is talking about storm water

18:44drain damage, sorry, storm water

18:46drainage, dam repairs, debris

18:48management. Um I think that's all

18:52related to probably potentially some

18:54flooding and other things. So how do we

18:57make sure we get the things done that we

18:59say that are imperative and high high

19:01priority?

19:02>> Yeah. So I mean I think part of the

19:04implementation of this we do identify

19:06responsible parties um that should be

19:08executing these tasks. Um the plan does

19:11acknowledge that these priorities can

19:12shift as we um work through them or as

19:15the town's priority priorities shift as

19:18the realities of of funding and

19:20infrastructure

19:21um are kind of change. Um, so these

19:25aren't necessarily set in stone. Um, but

19:28part of that process when we evaluate

19:30these is to look through each of those

19:31tasks and say what have we accomplished.

19:35Um, what has changed from that those

19:37accomplishments or from those original

19:39uh outline priorities and um are they

19:42still relevant? So um the process does

19:45review those past uh mitigation

19:47strategies and looks to update them with

19:49the new realities each five every five

19:51years. So um that sets a 5-year

19:54framework of what we will try to

19:55achieve. Um and then we would review

19:58that um for um how the outcomes were in

20:02the next five years as well.

20:03>> So is there separate or specific say

20:06grant funding available? I don't know at

20:08state or federal level because you're

20:09talking about this is essentially done

20:11to meet

20:12>> FEMA standards that says hey we want to

20:14make sure that you're doing to to

20:16mitigate disasters even though we can't

20:18prevent them

20:19>> but should one happen that it's not it's

20:22it's minimized in a community fair is

20:24like the point so is are there dollars

20:26available and some things where we say

20:28hey you know we either a we didn't have

20:30the budget for it or whatn not where we

20:32can at least say well you're asking us

20:34to do a plan we've rated these as high

20:36priority can you help us out funding and

20:38trying to get these things completed.

20:40>> Yeah. So, these primarily provide access

20:42for federal dollars uh through FEMA um

20:45traditionally coordinated through uh the

20:48state through a MIMA agency. So, uh the

20:51the MIMA, which is, you know, similar to

20:53FEMA but at the state level. So, um

20:56those non-emergency funding

20:58availabilities do require this plan to

21:00be adopted. Um, beyond that, I think the

21:03town still remains eligible for

21:04emergency dollars regardless, but um, we

21:06do see this again as a important

21:08planning process as well as the access

21:11to the additional funding opportunities.

21:14>> I don't know how aggressively we've

21:15pursued those funds in the past though

21:17and I I think maybe to your first

21:20question too that this is another layer

21:22of lens that we really need to consider

21:23in the capital improvement planning

21:24process to make sure that

21:26>> we don't have that top priority not met

21:28five years from now.

21:29>> Yeah. Yeah. because and this is my last

21:32point. Um the one area that I know it's

21:35based off how it's classified, you know,

21:37that I always somewhat kind of concerned

21:39is is about the whole the dams

21:42>> because you have some townowned dams and

21:44then you have like a Northboro dam

21:46that's that's like rated low that

21:48essentially could flood Shrewbury and

21:50Boilston. So I I don't know what the

21:53status of that is because I know it was

21:55indicated that there was work going on

21:57or that was replaced. I don't know if

21:58that has been completed, but those are

22:00the things that I look at when you rate

22:01them high risk and yet that's kind of

22:04low on the how important is this kind of

22:08like well says people could die if we

22:10have these floods like potential loss of

22:11life. So it's super important that those

22:13dams are maintained and and inaccurate.

22:16So I don't know maybe can you comment a

22:18little bit about like that like how is

22:21that our damn strategy shall I say? No

22:24pun intended.

22:24>> Yeah. [laughter]

22:26Well, I mean, I think there's there's a

22:28a number of obligations that we have

22:30through the office of dam safety at the

22:31state for all the town owned dams. I do

22:34know I believe that that North Dam that

22:37is between Boilston and and uh

22:39Shrewsbury is being removed.

22:42>> So, its risk will be eliminated

22:43essentially. But for all dams, they get

22:47rated by the state every few years and

22:49then if it's a high hazard dam or

22:51whatever hazard, we are obligated to

22:53make repairs. We budget I think about

22:56$10,000 Keith correct me if I'm wrong

22:58for annual DM maintenance within the

23:00budget which you know has normally

23:02satisfied those requirements. So um they

23:05are looked at through conservation and

23:08and planning and and the engineering

23:10department each and every year and

23:11they're inspected.

23:13>> Okay. Thank you.

23:15>> So um I have question like you mentioned

23:17like every five year we do the plan for

23:19that one. So what is the new item or new

23:22things you add this year like what will

23:24be the the next fiveyear plan you have

23:27new item which we have to add it you

23:30added it.

23:31>> Yeah. So uh the mitigation plan it

23:33outlines that there's a a whole kind of

23:35matrix. Um so it doesn't necessarily

23:38compare them from last year. Um we did

23:41the exercise with uh town staff where we

23:44went through each of the the previous uh

23:46mitigation actions and you know updated

23:48the state the status of those um it

23:51doesn't have a onetoone comparison. Um

23:54but uh the new updated ones there's a

23:56whole kind of list of mitigation actions

23:58which we're committed to uh pursuing

24:01>> because like so many things are changing

24:04in the environment or like no and that

24:07time is we have to consider something

24:08new like happening in the maybe the

24:11future which we are not considering in

24:12this plan. Oh, sorry. Yeah. So, I mean,

24:16um, that'll be something that in five

24:17years we can look at again, um, if

24:20something arises, you know, as we talk

24:22about, you know, cyber security around,

24:24um, dams and things like that, uh, and,

24:26you know, water infrastructure, um, that

24:28could be something that we could include

24:30in this, we could up do updates in the,

24:32uh, in the meantime or again, as as we

24:35kind of mentioned, you know, if that's a

24:37higher priority, it doesn't mean that we

24:39can't pursue it because it's not in the

24:40plan. This provides that framework a

24:42snapshot in time um but we can still

24:45deviate from it um as reality.

24:47>> One more question where did we get the

24:49funding for that we have to do ourself

24:52or you have to get from the state of a

24:54>> uh so this was all it was state funding

24:56uh through MIA

24:57>> okay thank you

25:00>> uh thank you Mr. Moldendrick. Again,

25:02like I said, there was there's been a

25:03lot of work uh in this um and my

25:06colleagues really have covered the

25:07questions mostly um that I had. I was

25:10curious though if you could just speak

25:12to since again residents are are

25:14watching um to how you all will continue

25:17to evaluate uh the mitigation strategies

25:19that we may implement and um how that

25:22will be reported back to us and also to

25:25the community at large.

25:26>> Yeah. So um largely our office will um

25:30kind of track the um implementation of

25:33these. Again it identifies the

25:35responsible parties um to actually

25:38conduct the work. Um but our office does

25:40track that uh progress um and can

25:42provide you know updates to this board

25:44if uh they would like. Again, the

25:46resolution does ask that we commit to

25:48those actions um as a town. Um and those

25:52responsible parties have been a part of

25:54this process are aware of um those

25:57actions. Um a lot of them are actions,

26:01you know, a lot of work that we're

26:03already anticipating doing or have been

26:05doing um as proactive approach. Um but

26:07this memorializes that uh again through

26:10that process uh discussing with with uh

26:13staff and with uh those other uh

26:15partners of what's feasible. So

26:18>> great.

26:20Anything else? Anything?

26:24>> Awesome.

26:26>> Thank you again. Um can I colleagues can

26:29I get a motion to adopt the 2026 hazard

26:32mitigation plan? I move the board adopt

26:34the 2026 hazard mitigation plan as

26:37presented.

26:37>> Second.

26:39>> All those in favor, please signify by

26:40saying I.

26:41>> I.

26:42>> I.

26:43>> We are unanimous. Thank you again.

26:45>> Thank you.

26:47>> Agenda item eight is to review and

26:50discuss emerging land use matters

26:52including unmanned aerial systems,

26:54otherwise known as drones, data centers,

26:56and battery storage facilities. I know

26:58we had um a workshop last week where we

27:01talked about a lot of these things. So

27:03I'll pass it over to Mr. Mizakar for a

27:05presentation.

27:06>> Great. So Tracy's going to load some

27:09slides up there so we can and walk

27:11through and I'll just talk about the

27:13slides. Tracy, if you want to head

27:16forward one slide, as um Mr. Garcia

27:20mentioned, we will talk about three

27:22emerging items.

27:24Um they receive a lot of kind of

27:27interest across the Commonwealth and

27:29across the country. Some we've addressed

27:32in one way or another through our

27:34current regulatory framework in zoning

27:36and then others are uh completely new.

27:39So we'll start with drones. Tracy, if

27:41you want to go ahead one side. So um the

27:44emergence of this issue has come over

27:46the last few weeks where we've been made

27:48aware um not directly from Amazon but

27:51indirectly through their communications

27:53with uh regional law enforcement

27:55entities that they are anticipating

27:58initiating um Amazon Prime Air from

28:02their Westboro facility which would

28:05bring uh drone delivery services to

28:08customers in Shrewsbury.

28:11Um so when we think about that um

28:15there's not a lot that we have authority

28:17to do as a local government when it

28:20comes to um air traffic and drones are

28:24really fall under the federal aviation

28:27rules and uh we don't have the ability

28:30to influence a lot of things once

28:31they're airborne. Um we can't control

28:34flight altitude or delivery corridors

28:38uh the routes that they take. Um but we

28:41do have authority and I think it would

28:43be good for this board to think about um

28:47regulating some specific areas of this

28:51type of activity. Um that's mainly

28:53everything that's associated with the

28:55ground components of it, the

28:56infrastructure that it needs to be able

28:59to organize and orchestrate such a

29:02delivery system. Uh again, if we're

29:04thinking about what may be coming from

29:06Amazon air from Westboro, we don't have

29:08the ability to regulate land use in

29:10Westboro, but we do have a number of

29:12facilities and industrial areas within

29:16the town that if drone technology

29:18continues to move forward, as we all

29:21likely anticipate it would, that we'd

29:23want to get ahead of uh how we regulate

29:26uh land use activities related to um

29:30landings, takeoffs, how it interacts

29:32with municipal property and then where

29:35and when it can happen from a zoning

29:37standpoint within various business

29:41zoning districts and and other uh zoning

29:43districts within our community. So, um,

29:46this is really something that we're just

29:48starting to look into over the last few

29:50weeks. And, um, beyond the zoning, we'd

29:54also really want to think about the town

29:56as a customer um, and receiving

29:59deliveries if this becomes a prominent

30:01commercial activity uh, for delivery and

30:03the supplies that we receive at our

30:05municipal buildings. So, um, I see a

30:08town meeting component to this through

30:09the zoning bylaw and then an

30:11administrative component um, to this as

30:13well. um as we think about this

30:15technology and emerging needs. So

30:18tonight's goal is to you know have a

30:20preliminary conversation with the board

30:22and think about what we need um if

30:25anything to uh consider for a future

30:28town meeting and and how we may want to

30:30adjust our bylaws at this time

30:33to have a discussion on this one and

30:36>> before we move forward.

30:37>> Yeah, I think u since each of these are

30:39so distinct breaking makes sense to me.

30:42Um I just first I appreciate you

30:45flagging this for us when you

30:47immediately when you learned about um

30:49Amazon starting this um I think it kind

30:52of maybe took some of us by it took me

30:54by surprise.

30:55>> So um

30:57colleagues I sure there's discussion

31:00that you'd like to have. Yeah, I think I

31:02just want to make a general comment and

31:04then I'll talk specifically about the

31:05drones. But, you know, I I think, you

31:07know, when we look at kind of

31:10Shrewsbury's evolution over the last few

31:12years, I think one of the areas that,

31:14you know, a lot of residents have been

31:15asking for or maybe don't fully

31:18understand is, you know, how important

31:20zoning is or where the the limits and

31:22controls that the town have. And I feel

31:24my own opinion on this was that we may

31:26have been let's say you we're always

31:29kind of chasing it like like we're

31:31things occur and then we're reactionary

31:33when it comes to how we're doing zoning.

31:34And I think these are some things that

31:36I'm glad we're talking about now

31:38because, you know, we need you, I feel,

31:40to get ahead of it and maintain as much

31:42control over what goes on in Shrewsbury

31:44as possible. That's legally allowed in

31:46our purview to do so. And I think that's

31:48our responsibility to the residents to

31:50ensure that we are able to control what

31:55happens with the land in the in the

31:57town, you know, what the impact of

31:58certain things are and try to minimize

32:00that to residents. Um, you know, this

32:03this first one with drones is kind of

32:04unfortunate because there are, you know,

32:06I'll be honest, there's going to be

32:07unlucky people who are going to have a

32:09flight path of drones over their house

32:11that we as a town are not able to say

32:14that they can't do it, which really

32:16stinks. Um, because to me, I mean, I

32:20don't this is, you know, my own personal

32:21opinion. It's like what what is so

32:23important that you need to fly it to

32:25your home that you can't get there

32:27another way? either you leave or you

32:29drive it there without having to fly

32:31over people's houses. Um, so that's kind

32:34of my general statement. I'm glad we're

32:36doing this. I think we should always be

32:37trying to be proactive, maintain as much

32:39control as possible, allow us to make

32:41the decisions for the community, um, not

32:43some outside party. So, this is I really

32:46am glad we're going to try to hopefully

32:48move some of these things forward and

32:49and get some things in place. Um,

32:51specific to the drones, the one thing I

32:53know it's not the land use part, but I

32:55wanted to clarify with Mr. Mizakar on

32:58that there could also be a sidecar bylaw

33:01for drones as well that's not directly

33:04related to zoning which could also

33:06because I think people are not only

33:08concerned about oh yeah the takeoff and

33:10landings but you know from a privacy

33:12standpoint when they don't have cameras

33:14is looking into their homes looking into

33:16their property and that I believe would

33:18have to be done through a bylaw is that

33:20correct

33:20>> general bylaw. Yeah, general bylaw. So,

33:22I think my recommendation at least maybe

33:25my ask is yes, I know these are specific

33:26land use matters, but I think when it

33:28comes to drones, there may be some

33:31ancillary pieces just of where they need

33:33to fall, whether it's what's zoning and

33:35what's a general bylaw that I think

33:37needs to be addressed simultaneously

33:40um to kind of get everything in place at

33:42once. Um

33:44my opinion on this is I think we should

33:46prohibit, you know, the landing uh of

33:48these on municipal property. we should

33:50have it as a specific use in in our

33:53zoning. So in define, you know,

33:55collectively where do we think that

33:57should be from a which which uh zones

34:00should we allow it for and make it, you

34:02know, a special permit with as high a

34:04bar as we can make it to allow the use.

34:07Um because it doesn't I mean correct me

34:11if I'm wrong. I mean we don't have any

34:12economic benefit from this type of

34:15business if it was already here. this is

34:17just um that business potentially

34:20expanding their own u you know benefit

34:24from a profit standpoint but from a from

34:26a town we're not really benefiting from

34:29from this at all I don't believe

34:32so that's my comment

34:33>> thank you

34:36>> yeah so I want to like add here like we

34:39have to we definitely have to control

34:41the we can't control the air but ground

34:43level any movement or any landing Or we

34:46have to create the journing or by law.

34:49So that can protect the the privacy and

34:51noise also going to affect the a lot of

34:53residents when there's going to cross is

34:55going to affect the noise different

34:57level of the noise of the drone and uh

34:59so definitely we need the bylaw in the

35:02future maybe we need the public comment

35:05also on that. So we can invite the

35:07people they can come and talk about that

35:09and they can give more feedback also

35:11whatever we are thinking not maybe the

35:13limited

35:13>> but other opinion also can matter to us.

35:18>> Yes I certainly agree um being proactive

35:20on this is is a great thing and I um

35:25like I like I said Mr. customers car

35:27appreciated that you flagged it for us

35:28right away because I think um you know

35:31one of the things that will be surprised

35:33to people is when they once they once

35:35and if they start seeing these uh in

35:37their neighborhoods or flying overhead

35:40they're they're pretty large. They're

35:415x5

35:42um which is um to me very large. uh and

35:47so for us to be proactive with putting

35:51together a proposal for how we can

35:53regulate as best as we can um is a good

35:56thing and I think I I appreciate my

35:58colleagues um for their comments and

36:00[clears throat] for the good discussion

36:02we had at the workshop. I um look

36:04forward to engaging with members of the

36:06public and with town meeting members as

36:08we move forward um not just with drones

36:10but with the other matters that we'll be

36:12discussing. But we just real quick too,

36:14but we we are going to try correct me

36:16wrong is is have Amazon a representative

36:18at least come here because even though

36:21we you know they could say no, we should

36:23I think believe have them articulate and

36:26walk through what would a flight path

36:27look like. How do we help minimize what

36:29the impact to residents would be? And if

36:32they are a good steward and a good

36:34neighbor, I'm hoping that they'll try to

36:36work with the town

36:38>> um to to minimize the impact of those

36:40especially who are going to be most

36:42impacted close as close as possible to

36:44that Otis Street location in Westboro.

36:49>> Yeah. [clears throat and cough] And I

36:51look forward to hopefully having that

36:52conversation with them once once they're

36:54here. I know that that was something we

36:56um was a takeaway from our our workshop

36:58as well was to make sure that we can

37:00bring them in, ask questions to them,

37:02and then have them really explain to the

37:05community what it is that they're going

37:07to be doing. Um, and I think it would

37:10just be interesting for us to also see

37:12what other communities, not just in the

37:14Commonwealth, but across the country,

37:16are doing on this matter as well, since

37:17this, like I said, is emerging and

37:19Amazon's a huge

37:22company. So, they're

37:24they're moving forward with this. So, we

37:26need to do what we can to protect our

37:27our residents and our assets as possible

37:29as much as possible. Uh do you want to

37:32move on to the next?

37:32>> Sure. We'll move on to battery energy

37:34storage systems.

37:36So uh with with regards to the battery

37:39energy storage systems, this is

37:41something that we have a jump start on,

37:43but there is some updated state uh

37:46legislation that's in place that um we

37:49have to uh consider and make some

37:52adjustments for. Um staff is working

37:56through updated administrative process

37:58requirements for energy sighting

38:01programs, which is under those new

38:03regulations. Um, and essentially what it

38:07does without, you know, trying to scare

38:10anyone, uh, I'll use 40B as an example.

38:14It basically takes the 40B process, a

38:16comprehensive process where an

38:18application comes in and is seen through

38:21one board and that board is responsible

38:23for uh, ensuring other boards. Let's say

38:27for instance, if the planning board was

38:29selected to be um the the lead um

38:33regulatory entity in Shrewsbury, the

38:36planning board would have to ensure that

38:37the conservation commission and other

38:39related entities um

38:43processes were um included within their

38:46single process and considering the the

38:48sighting of battery energy storage

38:50systems. There's two different size

38:52systems that the state regulates. if it

38:55gets so large, we actually uh it's out

38:57of our purview for the for the most part

38:59and it's considered by a state sighting

39:02entity. But um as I said, we we had

39:06worked on this um within the last few

39:09years and and updating our zoning bylaws

39:11and those current standards include

39:14safety standards uh with the National

39:17Fire Protection uh administration or uh

39:21associations uh compliance for these

39:23smallcale installations. Uh we have some

39:26setbacks in place uh operational

39:29requirements that uh define the process

39:32for the sighting um and um environmental

39:36factors as well.

39:38The state law does provide us

39:40opportunities uh to further enhance uh

39:43safety um when it comes to um specific

39:47things like fluid containment for liquid

39:51controlled units uh noise control and um

39:56other regulatory alignment um within the

39:59capacity tiers. There are some things

40:01that may be in conflict within our

40:04existing bylaws,

40:06including uh a tight requirement for the

40:09agreement to be in partnership with

40:11Celco.

40:12>> So, I'm not saying that's, you know,

40:14necessarily eliminated, but I think that

40:16we need specific legal review to see if

40:18that can be maintained within our

40:20bylaws. So, again, this is um an

40:24emerging area within the overall energy

40:27system. We have a little bit of a head

40:28start on it. good uh protections in

40:31place. Anything that's in conflict

40:34between our existing bylaw and the and

40:36the state law would be preempted by the

40:38state as of October 1st. We'll have to

40:41have all of administrative processes and

40:43including the comprehensive process set

40:45by October 1st so we can be in

40:48compliance. But this may be an area

40:50especially in those future opportunities

40:52where we look at what we have in place.

40:54Do we want to make any changes to those

40:56within the new guidelines?

40:58Do we want to exploit any other of these

41:00areas of opportunity that the state has

41:02provided us with?

41:08>> Thank you, Mr. Mr.

41:11Colleagues. I was looking at you first.

41:13>> That's fine. Um, yeah. So, just just to

41:16kind of clarify, um, we we currently

41:18define uh

41:21a battery storage system in our zoning

41:24explicitly.

41:25>> Yes, we do. And currently they're

41:27allowed in

41:30which

41:31uh zoning districts? Is it commercial

41:34industrial?

41:35>> Yeah, it's it's they're not allowed in

41:37residential districts. I can I can say

41:39that. So I'm not sure if they're allowed

41:40in every businessoriented district, but

41:42they're not allowed in residential

41:44districts.

41:44>> Okay. And do you know, you know, because

41:46one of the things that's came up and I I

41:48don't know, maybe some some of the

41:50community probably is aware, but

41:51probably a lot of people aren't, but

41:52there was an approved battery storage

41:54project on Cherry Street that is yet to

41:57go into construction, um, but is still

42:00approved and could at any time, correct?

42:03So, one of the things is is like that

42:06impact, you know, to the neighborhood.

42:08And I get what you're talking about of

42:09the actual use, but is there any ability

42:13just from, let's say, aesthetics or um

42:17screening things like that when you look

42:19at um

42:22or is it because it's not even a special

42:24permit because it has to be almost a as

42:27of right use that you don't have the

42:28ability to put any

42:30provisions. It says if you're going to

42:32do it, you have to make sure that sight

42:34lines and all that kind of stuff are

42:35met.

42:37>> I don't know the answer. I don't know if

42:38Chris if you know the answer with

42:40regards to this new set of parameters if

42:43we'd be able to do screening um or

42:46Carlos if you're comfortable with him.

42:48>> Yeah, of course. Welcome to

42:50>> Thank you. Chris McGovic, director of

42:51planning economic economic development.

42:53Um so I'm still reviewing and kind of

42:55going through some of these. Um but I I

42:57do believe that we'd be able to have at

42:58least some limiting limited screening um

43:01requirements as part of um site plan

43:05approval. So we do do that with with

43:07normal site plan approval um would

43:09probably be limited in terms of like

43:11aesthetics. So it may not be as robust

43:13um but

43:14>> things like dimensional uh setbacks

43:17typically are in sight site plan as

43:19well.

43:20>> Yeah. So, it's just another thing

43:21essentially just to be clear here that

43:23the state is set up and saying too bad

43:26what you want. We've decided that you're

43:29going to do this whether you like it or

43:30not and we're just kind of at the mercy

43:32of the state. Is that clear?

43:33>> Yeah. I mean, this is definitely another

43:34area of state, you know, preeemption of

43:37of local rights.

43:40So what about like one is coming on the

43:43cherry state if they going to complete

43:44it before the our joining is coming

43:47whatever we are providing uh extra how

43:50can we apply on that

43:52because it is already under the

43:54construction is going on.

43:56>> Yes. So they have their permits in

43:57place. We wouldn't be able to claw

43:59anything back. they came in under the

44:01rules um that were in place at that time

44:04and they have the ability to construct

44:05under those rules even if we were to

44:07make changes as soon as this fall

44:10related to this. So they have they have

44:11their rules that they have to follow and

44:13we don't have any ability to preempt

44:15that at this

44:16>> prevent putting the new bylaw then we

44:17can control up to that

44:19>> not that project specifically they

44:21already have the approvals to move

44:22forward.

44:28So, is the recommendation then, just to

44:30be clear, sorry. Y

44:31>> um that after the review essentially

44:34come back and say here from a planning

44:37department standpoint, here's how we're

44:38reading this. Here's how we think we

44:39should modify and it would be something

44:41potentially we would put forth at a town

44:43meeting in the future. Okay,

44:46>> good.

44:47Yeah, I think Oh, sorry. I was just

44:49going to say I think similar to what um

44:51I had said on the previous one, I'm sure

44:53there every uh community in the

44:56Commonwealth is is under similar

44:59circumstances. So, just seeing what what

45:02they're doing to make it more favorable

45:04for the town.

45:06>> Yeah, the CMRPC, our regional planning

45:08agency is um tracking this as well.

45:10They're having a webinar. staff will be

45:13attending that to see what resources are

45:15available, technical assistance to

45:17further support this effort.

45:21>> Were you gonna add something?

45:23>> Thank you.

45:25>> Okay. And more to come on that, but um

45:27thank you. Thank you, Chris.

45:30And then the last one, data centers.

45:32>> Yeah. So, data centers. Um,

45:35our zoning bylaw has regulated electron

45:38quote electronic data storage centers

45:40since 2012. Um, obviously that's a very

45:44different

45:45>> context and um thought process than what

45:49a data center is in 2026.

45:52But we have some bones in place that we

45:54can work from and um make further

45:57refinements um as to where um data

46:01centers

46:02can be located within the community. Um

46:06we obviously have controls in place and

46:09we have the ability to regulate this

46:10through the land use process as well.

46:12Mandatory site plan approval, set

46:15setbacks, buffers, operational

46:17standards. Uh we have some protections

46:19in place with the aquifer protection

46:21overlay district as to where they could

46:23be located and um we have the unique

46:27ability in this uh instance having more

46:31control and partnership with Celco um

46:34where if a request came in from a data

46:38center that essentially couldn't be

46:40served with the current infrastructure

46:42that was in place by Celco, Celco is not

46:45compelled to construct that

46:47infrastructure. just to enable the

46:49project to move forward. So as we look

46:52forward at this um you know we have the

46:55ability to really tighten these things

46:56up again data storage centers in 2026 is

47:00not what we were really conceiving in in

47:022012 or those folks that were here at

47:03the time. So, do we want to tighten

47:06things up and move from a buy right

47:09consideration to a special permit,

47:12add additional performance criteria

47:15that is available to us under um our

47:19authorities and andor consider

47:23a moratorum if we really think that

47:25future analysis is needed before we'd

47:28allow one of these. Now I will remind

47:30the board just like we went through last

47:32fall um we can't implement a moratorum

47:36without cause and without specific

47:38process in place for what we need to

47:40study what harms there could be for the

47:42community. Not saying that it's not

47:43possible. It's just we'd have to go

47:45through that analysis with

47:47>> planning staff and and council to really

47:49consider what our best approach is and

47:51what our needs are as a community. Can

47:53we just update things immediately or or

47:55do we need future study that would

47:57enable a moratorum to go in place? So

48:00again, this is an area where we have

48:02some structure and framework in place,

48:04but it's probably not as tight as we

48:07would like it to be under this new

48:10concept of what a data center is.

48:12>> So um I want to add here like whatever I

48:15learn it uh data center is totally

48:17different than whatever we have. We need

48:19a separate

48:21va john va for that because it's going

48:24to affect our power our water water

48:27resources it going to affect our

48:29environment also because it's going to

48:30the heat going to generate it uh couple

48:33of town I can give the reference of

48:35men's field they already have joining va

48:38their capacity should not go more than

48:40uh 2 megawatt uh uh hudson uh a lady put

48:44the moratorum uh for one year so they

48:47can analyze what they have to do

48:48Grafton is working on that. Uh North

48:51Burough has some kind of provision and

48:54South Bureau is working on that. So we

48:56definitely need a joining by for that to

49:00control our way whatever we can good for

49:02town the as the capacity wise as the

49:06resources wise which we can handle. So

49:09we definitely need that.

49:12>> Yeah. I'm uh I'm I'm also in favor

49:15anytime we can have a a special permit.

49:17I say we go special permit because it

49:19gives us another ability to make sure

49:21that it meets criteria. But even on that

49:23special permit, um it's not like that we

49:27can there has to be some [snorts] uh

49:30documented parameters, right, that says

49:33if you meet A, B, and C D that thou

49:35shalt essentially enter the permit. It's

49:37rare, I believe, correct me if I'm

49:39wrong, that you can effectively just say

49:41no, even if somebody meets what you

49:43define as criteria, unless you can

49:44define criteria that are extremely

49:46difficult to meet. Correct. So, I think

49:49we definitely want to look at doing that

49:51and make, you know, some of those

49:53criteria um pretty pretty stringent if

49:56that would ever happen. Now, I do have a

49:57question followup, Kevin, on on the

49:59Celco section of it. I know it says

50:01they're not obligated to build an

50:03extension. say a a developer decided,

50:06hey, I'm I'm going to pay for that. I

50:08will fund that from a Celco standpoint.

50:11Does that go to the Selco board for

50:15approval so that the public would be

50:17able to like in a public hearing, you

50:19know, voice concerns and say, "Hey, I

50:20don't want to do it." Can they can they

50:22specifically say no? Because that would

50:23be one of the cons in my mind thinking

50:26of it is okay, great. We we believe that

50:29because Selco has this ability, we don't

50:31have enough capacity, let's say, to

50:33source a 10 megawatt data center. And

50:36somebody comes in and said, "Well,

50:37that's okay. I'll pay for it because I'm

50:39going to make this, you know, making so

50:40much money on the data and renting of

50:43servers and everything else goes to

50:46Celco. Does the public get to weigh in?"

50:48>> Yeah, that's a great question. Um,

50:51knowing the the commission, I know they

50:53would want to have a discussion on this,

50:55but let let me take that as an action.

50:58we'll have the conversation and and see.

51:00We definitely need to engage with Celco

51:01on battery energy storage and data

51:03centers as you know um just to have

51:06their opinion on it since we have this

51:08unique uh opportunity since they're in

51:10house. So, but that's a good question

51:12and I don't want to I don't know either

51:15way if it'd be required to go to the

51:17commission or not.

51:20>> And then I guess the last piece would

51:22just be in terms of moratorum or just

51:24kind of moving forward with something. I

51:26I think

51:27moving forward in my mind is putting

51:30something in play because I even if you

51:33study it, I I don't know how many levers

51:35we really have to pull. So

51:37while while I know it'd be great to be

51:40able to say, "Okay, we'll at least be

51:41buying ourselves buffer of time to to

51:42make the changes,

51:44I I almost fear that a similar thing

51:46might happen where you may have the

51:48state step in and say, well, because we

51:51have so many towns who are pushing back

51:52and we want to be in this business,

51:54let's say, is a, you know, from a

51:57Massachusetts standpoint, they just want

51:58to be on the map for whatever reason."

52:00Um, that they'll say, "We're actually

52:02going to have 40 C and data centers for

52:04all and we're just in a Oprah, you get a

52:06data center. You get a data center.

52:09>> So, I'd like to see us at least try to

52:12do something um and if nothing else

52:15address what we currently have because

52:18if you do a moratorum, would it affect

52:20the language of effectively putting a

52:23sentence in that zoning kind of like we

52:25did and said the following is subject to

52:27a moratorum and not allowed as a use for

52:31a period of time. Is that what how that

52:33would work mechanically?

52:35I think so. I mean, we'd have to discuss

52:37it with with council to see if we could

52:41>> Does does this definition sufficiently

52:44cover us for what a 2026 data center is?

52:48>> Yeah.

52:52>> Um and I I know that this has had a lot

52:54of coverage nationwide, right? Um and so

52:57I think some in the community including

52:59myself might ask the question of well

53:01why can't is there an opportunity for us

53:03to just ban them altogether. Is there

53:06there's no room for that? Would you say

53:08>> you cannot outright ban like that?

53:12>> That's helpful I think for community

53:13members to know because I think um some

53:16will like I said inquire about that and

53:18I already have um and again just

53:22appreciate um you all for doing the work

53:25on this. Um, I think what's helpful is

53:27that we do have Soo to I think, you

53:30know, there's a barrier there. There's

53:32some sort of way to mitigate or um maybe

53:36fend off a bit, but um I know more to

53:39come. So,

53:41>> we look forward to that.

53:43So, board members, as we as we think

53:45about these items and look towards, you

53:47know, any other town

53:51meeting actions, it it looks like we

53:53don't have a pressing need for financial

53:55adjustments uh for an early town

53:57meeting. So, um, you know, maybe

54:00something later in the fall or the early

54:01winter would give us an opportunity to

54:03really work with you and get a framework

54:05in place for what we want to address and

54:07then allow the planning board and the

54:09planning department to go through their

54:11formal processes of public hearings and

54:13things like that.

54:15>> Okay. Thank you.

54:17Yeah, I think just lastly since since

54:18we're talking about land use matters um

54:20I know it's not explicitly listed here

54:22but um in our workshop we did also

54:24discuss the tree preservation correct

54:26bylaw which um will I think also be

54:30taken up at whatever whenever we hold um

54:33a special town meeting. So appreciate

54:35staff further work on all of those.

54:39Agenda item number nine is to review an

54:43act to amend the memorandum of agreement

54:46with pro lodges for improvements to the

54:48intersection of scent boulevard and

54:50route 20.

54:51>> I believe Mr. Binger you have

54:53>> sure

54:53>> some information. So, um, as you may be

54:55aware, in January of 2025, uh, the town

54:58entered into an agreement with, uh,

55:00Prolis and UPS, uh, to complete

55:02improvements to fund, uh, improvements,

55:06um, to the intersection of Route 20 and

55:08Sent Boulevard as a result of their

55:10project. Um, so the town is currently

55:12working with Masdat and our consulting

55:14engineer, MDM Transportation, uh, to

55:17advance a project design, which is

55:18approximately 75% complete. Um so this

55:22amendment provides an additional $76,000

55:25in funding from Prolis

55:27uh including $65,000 for additional

55:30design work that um needs to be

55:31completed as a result of working with

55:33Mass DOT and then um $11,000 for

55:37property appraisals associated with

55:39rightway easements needed for from

55:41properties abing the intersection. Um,

55:44the amendment also provides for

55:46continued discussions with MASDOT

55:47regarding potential modifications for

55:49the to the proposed multi-use paths

55:51along Route 20 that are part of this pro

55:53plan um in an effort to reduce utility

55:56relocation and overall pro project

55:58costs. Um, so we're asking the board to

56:01approve this amendment so we continue

56:03moving the project forward uh with a

56:05hopeful goal of beginning construction

56:07mid 2027 to complete the improvements

56:10for that intersection.

56:15I have question that this money is going

56:17to be a take out from the same 4 million

56:20something that amount or is it the

56:22additional

56:23>> additional to that the funds that we

56:25have

56:26>> they're providing that

56:27>> y

56:29>> I do have a few questions on this just

56:33because I I want to fully understand

56:35this because I I think I understand

56:36this.

56:36>> Sure. So

56:39because we're

56:42uh doing work on Route 20, we have to

56:44then meet what the standard design

56:46guidelines are for Mass DOT.

56:48>> That is correct.

56:49>> That is where this multi-use pass with

56:52I'm assuming is pedestrian and like bike

56:54traffic.

56:55>> Correct.

56:56>> And so they're rec that's their

56:58requirement that they're trying to put

56:59on us. What we're asking for is we can't

57:02essentially saying

57:04>> to put that there. we can't really

57:05afford under the current budget.

57:07>> Correct.

57:08>> And since there are future route 20

57:11improvements

57:12that can you just do with it then?

57:14>> That that's that's

57:15>> is that how read that's correct.

57:17>> Okay,

57:17>> that's the cliff notes.

57:18>> However, yeah, the cliff. However, since

57:22we we have no ability uh to make

57:25decisions for

57:25>> masdot,

57:27>> so my biggest fear on this is what if

57:29masdot comes back and says nope, you got

57:32to do the multi-use paths. So we'll go

57:33back to the table with Pearl logistics

57:35and UPS to fund those improvements as

57:38required by Masdot.

57:39>> Okay. So we are we are not suggesting

57:41that the town take on if that would

57:43happen.

57:44>> That is correct.

57:44>> That expense or allow them to exit

57:46because my take on this is that has to

57:50that intersection has to be updated

57:52correct for them to operate.

57:54>> That's correct.

57:54>> And we do have the ability to force that

57:57based off the conditions of the plant.

57:59Okay. That's my biggest fear is and I'm

58:01sure it's yours too. Yes.

58:03>> Yeah. That I don't want them to have an

58:04escape clause and go, "Well, it's over

58:06budget, so I guess we just won't do it

58:07now."

58:08>> Yeah. Right. Right.

58:09>> And that's the nature of construction

58:11and that's why we went through the

58:12design process and budgeting to

58:14understand what all those costs are and

58:16have been communicating with them

58:17regularly along with Mass Dot to

58:19>> ensure we're all on the same page.

58:20>> And historically, is Mass fairly

58:22flexible on this type of deal or they

58:23try to stick to the design guidelines?

58:26>> So, I don't know the historic part of

58:27it. Um, you know, we have really good

58:30relationship with district 3 who we're

58:32working with on this. Um, so we've had

58:35discussions already. Um, and they're,

58:38you know, some of some of the part of

58:39this design is run by their Boston

58:41office. So they're working with us, um,

58:44and working with the Boston office to

58:46try and reduce our scope so that we can,

58:49um, afford, you know, fund the entire

58:51project.

58:52>> Okay.

58:53And one more question like I read like

58:55Selco has some kind of like

58:57infrastructure there like polar or how

58:59those are going to affect with that and

59:01how mitigation plan we have for that.

59:03>> So that's a significant piece the budget

59:06impact to this project um is if we

59:08install the shared use pass and the um

59:13sidewalks we'll have to do some Selco

59:15will have to do some significant

59:16infrastructure uh improvement

59:18essentially moving poles uh throughout

59:20the intersection. Um the interesting the

59:23thing about that intersection is that is

59:26um one main trunk trunk line from their

59:28substation that um does about a third of

59:31the community. Um so if we can avoid

59:34that cost um for the time being and

59:38potentially as you suggested put it on a

59:40project further down the road um that

59:43will um help us get this intersection

59:45improved quicker.

59:47>> Okay. Because it's it's a non-ontiguous

59:49path. Like why would we need to build a

59:51n unconiguous bike lane that goes to

59:53nothing on either side temporarily.

59:55>> Are you in the meeting with me?

59:57>> No. Makes no sense. [laughter] But I

1:00:00will say this, right? If they do try to

1:00:01push it, I I think we should put in the

1:00:03conditions. They have a sign that says

1:00:05your another example of your tax dollars

1:00:07wasted by mass.

1:00:10>> All right, we'll move on.

1:00:13>> Well, can I get can I get a motion? I I

1:00:15um appreciate the discussion.

1:00:16>> So,

1:00:17>> we'll get more information on this. I

1:00:18move the board approve and sign the

1:00:20first amendment to the memorandum of

1:00:21agreement with Prolologics concerning

1:00:23the route 20 roadway improvement

1:00:24project.

1:00:26>> Second.

1:00:27>> All those in favor, please signify by

1:00:29saying I.

1:00:29>> I.

1:00:30>> I.

1:00:32>> Motion approved unanimously. Thank you.

1:00:36Item number 10 is to review an act on

1:00:38the road closure request from Schmita

1:00:40Cena 74 Colonial Drive for Ramsgate

1:00:43Place on September 12th, 2026 from 2

1:00:46p.m. to 6 p.m. for a neighborhood party.

1:00:48Um, I believe the police department has

1:00:51no concerns. So, pretty straightforward.

1:00:55>> Okay. I I move to

1:00:58uh approve the road closure request for

1:01:00Smithina of 74 Colony Drive for Ramsgate

1:01:04Place on September 12, 2026 from 2:00

1:01:06p.m. to 6 p.m. for a neighborhood party.

1:01:09>> Second.

1:01:10>> All those in favor, please signify by

1:01:12saying I.

1:01:12>> I.

1:01:12>> I.

1:01:14>> We are unanimous. Item 11 is to review

1:01:16and act on the address change request

1:01:18for 1 through 7 Maple A. I believe this

1:01:21is uh in line with what we've been doing

1:01:23with some other hyphenated addresses to

1:01:26um just make it easier for um town town

1:01:30hall staff and also um public safety.

1:01:35>> Are these just done ad hoc or like when

1:01:38there there's going to be some type of

1:01:41new work on it? Are we like just

1:01:43proactively actually making the changes

1:01:45>> as we go? Yeah, this one we're

1:01:47proactively making before we get into

1:01:49the permitting process because as you

1:01:51can imagine with the number of units

1:01:53that go in there, it'd be really

1:01:54complicated to change it in the future.

1:01:56So, we're trying to get ahead of the

1:01:57project for this one particular.

1:01:58>> Yeah. Yeah. Because you would have like

1:01:591 to 7 Maple Lab unit something. Yeah.

1:02:02>> Okay. Understood.

1:02:05>> Can I get a motion?

1:02:06>> Yep. I moved the board change the

1:02:07address of 1 to 7 Maple Avenue to one

1:02:09Maple Avenue.

1:02:11>> Second.

1:02:12>> All those in favor? I

1:02:14>> I

1:02:15>> we are unanimous. Thank you again. And

1:02:18item number 12 is to review an act to

1:02:20adopt the provisions of Mass General Law

1:02:22Chapter 32 subsection

1:02:2632G and place into group four uniformed

1:02:29employees of the town of Shrewsbury who

1:02:30are certified at any levels at any level

1:02:33as an emergency medical technician. So

1:02:36Mr. customer.

1:02:37>> So this relates to the group uh in this

1:02:40case requesting to place members of who

1:02:43will be emergency medical technicians at

1:02:45all levels, basics or paramedics uh into

1:02:48group four of the retirement system. Um

1:02:52there are four groups within the

1:02:53retirement system. Every position title

1:02:56defaults to group one. Um and then over

1:02:59time um laws have changed and additional

1:03:02groups have been created. Now, group

1:03:03four is where all uniform service public

1:03:05safety officers lie along with some

1:03:08other high hazard jobs. Uh key

1:03:11differences between group one and group

1:03:12four is um the vesting time period and

1:03:17minimum age of retirement for a full

1:03:19pension. Uh within group four, that is

1:03:21age 55 with 30 years of service. Um, so

1:03:27this actually would only be a, you know,

1:03:30needed in Shrewsbury if we use any

1:03:34single role positions because, um, well,

1:03:37we intend to use the position title

1:03:39firefighter paramedic. So that means

1:03:41everyone that we would hire would be

1:03:43certified as a firefighter um, and a

1:03:46paramedic or an emergency medical

1:03:47technician. But in the event, especially

1:03:49in the early years as we get our program

1:03:51up and running, if we needed to hire

1:03:53single role employees who would only be

1:03:56an EMT basic or a EMT paramedic, this

1:03:59would cover them. So, um it's going to

1:04:02be a very limited group. Um it would

1:04:04place them into group four, which means

1:04:07those that they're serving alongside on

1:04:09a day-to-day basis, they would be on

1:04:10equal standing with when it came to the

1:04:12pension system. So not something that uh

1:04:14the board deals with very often but you

1:04:16have the authority to um place uh the

1:04:20categories of employees into the various

1:04:21groups unless it's already governed by

1:04:23state law.

1:04:24>> Great just to provide a

1:04:26>> okay so how this change going to affect

1:04:28the town like

1:04:31what will the change will come in the

1:04:32town like financially any impact on the

1:04:34town budget or anything? Um, no. Um, so

1:04:38employees pensions are largely funded

1:04:42through uh payroll tax deductions and

1:04:44the town's normal cost is a very small

1:04:47part of it. Um, we um take in 11% of the

1:04:52annual uh wages of an employee now,

1:04:54which today's terms that means that

1:04:57we're funding an adequate amount to be

1:04:59able to cover their pension. What we're

1:05:01still doing is catching up from years

1:05:02past when those uh percentages were much

1:05:05lower. So, as we look at this and moving

1:05:06forward, um it will have a limited

1:05:09impact. Anyone that would transfer into

1:05:11the community that's already in the

1:05:13pension system, we receive those funds

1:05:15that they already contributed. So, it

1:05:16goes into our pool of funds. Um but

1:05:19again, if I had to guess, there could be

1:05:22anywhere from zero to a maximum of three

1:05:25employees that may need this, but we

1:05:27just want it to be fair for those

1:05:29employees if we do need to hire them.

1:05:31>> Okay.

1:05:32>> Yeah. Just one clarification on that

1:05:34too. I I think I think correct me if I'm

1:05:37wrong. The intent even if you hired

1:05:39those types of resources is that that we

1:05:41would be looking to train them

1:05:44>> even after they were hired correct to

1:05:46become firefighters as well so that we

1:05:47could be both of you. So like you said

1:05:49it's it's probably only from limited

1:05:50duration even that they'd be in this

1:05:52category.

1:05:52>> Yeah.

1:05:53>> Okay. Makes sense.

1:05:55>> All right.

1:05:56>> Awesome. Thank you.

1:05:58>> What is the pleasure of the board? Well,

1:06:00I move the board adopt the provisions of

1:06:01Mass General Law Chapter 32, section

1:06:0432G, to place uniformed employees of the

1:06:07town of Shrewsbury who are certified at

1:06:09any level as an emergency medical

1:06:11technician into group four of the

1:06:13Shrewsbury contributo retirement system.

1:06:17>> Second.

1:06:18>> All those in favor?

1:06:20>> I

1:06:20>> I

1:06:20>> I.

1:06:21>> We are unanimous. Thank you. We are now

1:06:23on to correspondence. Item number 13 is

1:06:27an email dated July 28th, 2026 from

1:06:30Emily Jurosk 40 of 42 Plimpmpton Street

1:06:34regarding caterers license and liquor

1:06:36liability above and beyond catering for

1:06:39a Charles River Laboratory event that

1:06:42already passed. So noted items 14

1:06:47through 18.

1:06:50I believe

1:06:5214 through 18 are in regards to the Don

1:06:56Shannon request that Mr. Mikar noted at

1:06:58the top. Um, and I'll just reiterate uh

1:07:01if any members of the public wish to

1:07:03either speak in favor or send us

1:07:05supportive um

1:07:09um comments on that, they can either

1:07:11email the board or attend the board's

1:07:13meeting on August 25th.

1:07:17Agenda, I'm sorry. Um item 19 is an

1:07:20email dated July 31st, 2026 from Trong

1:07:22May of 6 Craftton Street regarding

1:07:25steady blue cruise lights on police

1:07:27cruisers. Uh Mr. May had a question

1:07:29about um whether or not the the police

1:07:31department had a policy on cruisers

1:07:33having steady blue lights. I believe

1:07:35there is no such policy unless they're

1:07:38um on detail or in different circum

1:07:41circumstances. Um and I believe Mr.

1:07:44May's question was already responded to.

1:07:46And then the last item is an email dated

1:07:48July 29th, 2026 from Jess Zorge 27

1:07:52General A regarding town pest management

1:07:54plan. Uh, Miss Zorg inquired about the

1:07:57town's use of certain rodenticides and

1:07:59asked this board to consider further

1:08:01action to restrict or eliminate the use

1:08:03of harmful rodenticides.

1:08:06Um, I believe staff have engaged with

1:08:08Miss Sorge on this and to answer her

1:08:11immediate questions um regarding the

1:08:13town's current pest management plan. And

1:08:15I believe that this board will further

1:08:17discuss um any next steps and we'll make

1:08:20sure that Miss Zorajen um interested

1:08:23parties are are notified.

1:08:27All righty, that is it. So, can I get a

1:08:29motion to adjurnn?

1:08:31>> So, moved. Second.

1:08:33>> All those in favor?

1:08:34>> I we are unanimous. Thank you. Good

1:08:36evening.