2026-09-22 - Select Board

01:08Good evening. This is the September

01:1122nd,

01:132026 meeting of the Shbury Select Board.

01:15We will start with introducing board

01:18members and staff present. I am Teresa

01:20Flynn,

01:21>> Carlos Garcia,

01:22>> Michelle Conlin,

01:23>> Silva,

01:24>> Kevin Mizakar, town manager. [snorts]

01:26>> Keith Balding, assistant town manager,

01:28public works.

01:28>> Christina Ordong, assistant town

01:30manager, administration and finance.

01:32>> Uh Nick Oz, assistant HR manager.

01:36>> First item on our agenda is to approve

01:38the bill's payrolls and warrants.

01:41>> Move approval.

01:42>> Second.

01:42>> All in favor say I.

01:44>> I.

01:45>> Motion passes. Item number two is to

01:47review an act to approve the minutes of

01:49the September 8th meeting.

01:52>> Move approval.

01:53>> Second.

01:53>> All in favor say I.

01:55>> I.

01:56>> Motion passes. Item number three is

01:59announcements and reports. Madam chair,

02:01I have two announcements this evening.

02:03Um I'm absolutely thrilled to announce

02:06um that Shrewsbury is bringing a the um

02:09hometown heroes program to Shrewsbury in

02:11collaboration with the burrows cares for

02:13troops. We will be accepting

02:15applications for our Hometown Heroes

02:17banner program at the Spirit of

02:19Shrewsbury Expo on Saturday, September

02:2126, 2026. This program is open to any

02:25Shrewsbury veterans, including current

02:27residents and those who have lived in

02:29Shrewsbury and may now live elsewhere.

02:31Banners will be hung in town for the

02:33month of November to coincide with

02:34Veterans Day. Banners are $250, which

02:38covers the production of the banners. If

02:41you can't make the expo and want to

02:43apply for a banner, you can send your

02:44application in online via the town uh

02:48link that you can find on the town

02:50website. Um as well as more information

02:52that's available there. Um we also

02:55wanted [snorts] to announce uh the

02:57Shrewsbury Trails 5K that is happening

03:00on Saturday, October 3rd, 2026 at 9:00

03:04a.m. at our beautiful Lake Street Park.

03:07Participants will have the opportunity

03:08to run or walk on a variety of surfaces

03:10and trail conditions from wide cart

03:13paths on the Meadow Loop to challenging

03:15single track trails along Meadow Brook.

03:18You'll pop in and out of heavily

03:19forested sections and run past visible

03:22beaver activity along the route.

03:24Shootersbury Park offers ample parking

03:26with a large field for gathering to

03:28watch the runners. In addition to the 5K

03:30[clears throat] trail race and walk,

03:31there will be a kid run for ages 12 and

03:34under on the lacrosse field. You can

03:36find a link on our town website under

03:38news and events um to sign up. Thank

03:41you.

03:42>> Any other announcements or reports?

03:45Agenda item number four is the town

03:47manager report. Mr. Makar,

03:49>> a couple announcements this evening.

03:52I just am also pleased to report that

03:56the town was notified by the state of

03:58Massachusetts that we are officially

04:00deregulated for Asian Longhorn beetles.

04:02So that's nearly a two decade plus

04:05battle to have Asian longhorn beetles

04:09eradicated from the town. The state will

04:12be providing uh more updates over the

04:14next few weeks as to what that means for

04:17Shrewsbury specifically and we'll share

04:18those with the community. Uh but that

04:21was a great partnership between the

04:22federal government, state government,

04:24and [snorts]

04:25um not only the town but all residents

04:27because of the restrictions on firewood

04:29and and other uh material handling. So,

04:31thanks to everyone for their

04:32participation in that. I also wanted to

04:35make everyone aware that Amazon has

04:37scheduled an in-person [snorts]

04:39community briefing for their Prime Air

04:41or drone delivery program. It's tomorrow

04:44evening at 5:00 at the Double Tree by

04:47Hilton and Westboro at 64 Otis Street.

04:51Uh I'm sorry, 64 OD Street is where

04:52they'll be launching from. It's 54

04:54Computer Drive is where the hotel and

04:56the meeting will be held at tomorrow at

04:585 o'clock. And then just a quick update

05:02on the emergency medical services

05:04program.

05:05We have taken delivery of the town's

05:09first ambulance and it is currently at

05:11the headquarters facility and we'll be

05:13starting to showcase that uh to the

05:15community over the coming weeks.

05:17Additionally, we have filed for our

05:19state um license to operate the um

05:24emergency medical services with the

05:26office of emergency medical services at

05:28the state. And we have recently promoted

05:33uh Lieutenant Adam Towner to the rank of

05:36captain to serve as the town's first EMS

05:39coordinator. So things remain on

05:41schedule for us to begin operations

05:43within the first quarter of calendar

05:45year 2021.

05:47That's all I have.

05:49>> Thank you.

05:51>> Item number five is public comment

05:53pursuant to select board policy 31. We

05:56did not receive any requests for public

06:00comment this evening.

06:03Item number eight, I'm sorry. Item

06:06number six is a meeting with Keith

06:08Baldinger, assistant town manager public

06:10works to review and discuss the repairs

06:12to the police station and fiscal 27

06:15roadway paving program.

06:18>> All right. Thank you uh for having me.

06:20As you mentioned, we're going to talk

06:21about FY27 [snorts]

06:22roadway improvements and uh the police

06:25station repair project um as a result of

06:29the incident that occurred to that

06:30building in February. So, we have a few

06:33slides up here, but um we'll start with

06:35the roadway improvements. Uh the main

06:37roadway contract this year is

06:38approximately $1.64 million

06:42uh and includes seven roadways.

06:45Um a combination of milling and paving

06:47work, uh drainage, accessibility

06:50improvements, and full depth reclamation

06:52work on a couple of roadways. Um this

06:55part, this section of the contract is

06:57funded through chapter 90 appropriation.

06:59Um, I do want to acknowledge that we're

07:02starting much later in the construction

07:04season than we normally w would want to.

07:07Uh, the town had concerns about the low

07:09bidder's ability to successfully perform

07:12the work based on some issues we

07:13experienced during the prior uh, paving

07:16season and because of those concerns uh,

07:18the town initially moved to award the

07:19work to a second low bidder. Um that

07:23decision was re reviewed by the attorney

07:25general's office uh which did not agree

07:27with us and with the town's approach and

07:29so as a result the procurement process

07:31took quite a bit longer than expected.

07:34Um at this point the focus is not on

07:36trying to force the entire program into

07:38the remaining weeks of the season. Um

07:40our focus is uh completing the work that

07:43can be done properly. U street and

07:46Prospect Street are our first priorities

07:48for this fall. Um,

07:51and we will continue drainage work on

07:53the other roadways uh through the fall

07:55where it makes sense and where weather

07:56is appropriate. Um, and we will not open

07:59up any streets or mill or um dis

08:04dismantle any roadways before winter

08:06that we can't finish by the time snow

08:08flies. So, um, we have also put initial

08:12measures in place to improve how we

08:13manage roadway construction. Uh the town

08:16engineer has developed a more structured

08:18process for communication uh inspection

08:21and work tracking. So we have better

08:23documentation in the field, clearer

08:25communication with the contractor and

08:27better information going out to uh

08:29residents. Um and because public paving

08:33work has competitively bid, um strong

08:35contract administration and inspection

08:37are especially important. Um you want to

08:40make sure the town is getting the

08:41quality of work that they're paying for.

08:45Um, next slide, please. So, the current

08:49fall construction plan, uh, Oak Street

08:51will be our first major roadway,

08:53beginning with the drainage work

08:54actually this week, uh, followed by

08:56milling, um, accessibility work, and

08:59then the paving. Um because Oak Middle

09:01School is on that road section of

09:03roadway and the traffic volume in the

09:05area is very high. Uh the milling and

09:07paving operation uh will plan primarily

09:10at night um starting about 7 o'clock in

09:13the evening. Um and we'll be notifying

09:15the residents in that area when that

09:17happens. Um then any drainage work that

09:20happens during the daytime will be

09:22coordinated around school arrival and

09:24dismissal because it is very busy during

09:26those times. Um the work on prospect

09:29will um follow within the next couple of

09:33weeks. Um that roadway will be completed

09:36in mid November. Um Keys House Road is a

09:40probably the other largest uh portion of

09:44the road work that it has to be

09:45completed. Um that requires full depth

09:47reclamation.

09:49Um, and so rather than start that work

09:52this fall and not be able to finish

09:53before winter, that most likely will be

09:55moved to spring, uh, we may do some

09:58drainage work on that roadway, but for

10:00the most part, the pavement will stay as

10:02is for until spring. And if we have any

10:05other if we have good weather and

10:08openings, we may be able to get some of

10:09the smaller streets completed this fall,

10:10too. But, um, that's unlikely. But um so

10:16then outside of chapter 90 for this fall

10:20uh we'll also be doing some uh spot

10:23repair work. Um this is funded through

10:25the $500,000 that the community

10:28appropriated at town meeting. Um and

10:31then we will be doing the main street um

10:35repair work

10:37related that's as a result of the water

10:39main breaks that we've had on that road.

10:41Um some of the spot repair works are

10:44projects are um some areas of Oldm Mill

10:48Road, Route Font 140 under the Route 9

10:50Bridge, which is really bad. Um Thomas

10:52Far Farm circle um and a few other

10:55spots. Um and we may add more to that if

10:59weather allows for us this fall, but

11:01this is our target work for right now.

11:03Um, and as I mentioned a little bit

11:06earlier, like one of the other important

11:08changes this year is is the inspection

11:10of the contractor's work. Um, in

11:12addition to our town staff, we'll have a

11:14third party inspector um, working with

11:17us during the milling and paving process

11:19because those are the most critical

11:20times, critical areas. uh just gives us

11:23another set of experienced eyes to uh

11:26look at the service preparation and the

11:28paving operation, making sure the

11:30materials are getting placed correctly

11:31at the right temperature and that sort

11:32of thing. Um and then we're just

11:35generally improving our documentation

11:38for all the work that we're doing so we

11:39have a really good record of what um our

11:42contractors are doing and making sure

11:44that they're meeting the specifications.

11:47Um, the goal of these changes is better

11:49coordination between engineering, the

11:51contractor, DPW staff, and residents,

11:54and to make sure there's clear followup

11:56when issues arise. Um, there will all

11:59there will always be some disruption

12:01disruption during this work for

12:02residents. So, we're going to do our

12:04best to make sure we're communicating so

12:06they understand what we're doing and

12:07when we're doing it.

12:10Next slide.

12:12So, this other part of the project is

12:14Walnut Street. Um, this is really

12:16outside of our roadway improvement work,

12:19but I thought it was important to talk

12:20about tonight. So, as you probably all

12:22know, Walnut Street's been in kind of

12:24rough shape for quite a few years as a

12:26result of some water work. Um,

12:30but this this fall we're um doing a

12:34separate sewer infrastructure project

12:36about 4,400 feet of new sewer force main

12:40on that roadway. and the primary purpose

12:43is to address capacity limitations in

12:44the existing sewer system in that area.

12:47Um the approach that we're taking

12:49provides a significant cost advantage

12:51compared with other alternatives that

12:54we've evaluated such as replacing the

12:56gravity main in that roadway. Um the

12:59bids for this project open on Thursday

13:01and the budget for the sewer work is

13:02about $2 million. Um, our goal is to

13:05complete as much of the underground work

13:06as possible this fall with final paving

13:09of that roadway occurring in the spring.

13:12Um, when the project is finished, uh,

13:15Walnut Street will receive final paving

13:16from Nursery Drive all the way to Main

13:18Circle. Um, and so while the project is

13:22being driven by a sewer infrastructure

13:24need, it also provides a sub substantial

13:26roadway benefit in an area that's needed

13:30some improvement for about 10 years.

13:32Um, I can take questions on the roadway

13:35work now. Um, or I can continue through

13:39to police if you like.

13:40>> I have questions. Thank you. Um, as far

13:42as the roadways that were initially

13:45planned, we've had um, Walnut Street and

13:48Keys House Road along with a few others

13:50that have been on the docket to for

13:52repair this year for for quite a while.

13:55Um, and with them being delayed because

13:57of the delay in the contract, um, can we

14:02put like a special focus on these

14:03roadways during the snow season, plowing

14:06season, um, just to ensure residents,

14:08especially, I know Walnut Street in

14:10particular, is heavily traveled. Um, and

14:12there's, you know, it's it's in rough

14:14shape. So,

14:16>> and all of these roads that are on the

14:17list are in rough shape. So, we'll

14:18definitely take special attention. Okay.

14:20The Key Keys House Road is probably the

14:23worst out of all of them. So that's one

14:24of our biggest concern is make sure that

14:27stays together through the winter.

14:28>> All right. Yeah. I just like to see like

14:29a special focus on those roadways in

14:31particular this winter.

14:35>> Uh I have question on the first like how

14:38much cost will color come when we are

14:40going to do measure the quality control.

14:43>> Um quality control cost we spending less

14:46than $30,000. were only utilizing um a

14:49third party inspector specifically for

14:51the milling and paving work which was

14:54about 10 days worth of work um

14:56throughout the project

14:57>> and the contractor will obligize for

14:59that.

15:00>> Say that again.

15:01>> Contractor will obligize for that in

15:03case anything is not in the proper shape

15:06he will do redo the work or something.

15:07>> Yeah. The whole the whole point of

15:09having the inspectors on scene, both our

15:10own staff and the third party, is to

15:12make sure that we identify any issues or

15:16any problems that the contractor does

15:18not complete to specification so we can

15:20solve them right away or hold them for

15:22warranty or or further repair.

15:24>> Okay. Uh the second question about the

15:27500K when last time I learned the 500

15:30when we added the 500K, it was added for

15:33extra road improvement. But why we are

15:36using for like a man like water seaw

15:39damage happened to the main bricks or

15:41something?

15:42>> So

15:42>> should we use from the other fund? Why

15:44we are using the road fund there?

15:45>> So I apologize if I missed that. So the

15:47water man um repair work on main street

15:50will be covered by the water division

15:52out of their operational funding for

15:54those repairs

15:54>> and we are not going we are not going to

15:56use the 500.

15:56>> So we will not be using a portion of

15:58that $500,000 for that.

16:00>> Okay. Thank you.

16:03>> Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um Keith,

16:07thank you for your uh for this

16:09information and just appreciate you and

16:11the rest of the team for doing your due

16:12diligence and trying to make sure we get

16:14the best product um that we're paying

16:16for. I know um the delays really are not

16:20are not great and um

16:25certainly something that I think we all

16:27are disappointed with and how long that

16:29took to to get through. But, um, just

16:32wanted to express my gratitude for that.

16:34I did have a question about, um, I know

16:37it's unlikely, but you mentioned that if

16:40time permits and if weather allows,

16:41there are some other roads that we might

16:42be able to tackle. Is there already a

16:44priority list from those? I don't want

16:46to say lesser, but from that,

16:49>> so from the um,

16:52so as far as the roadways under the main

16:55contract, are you talking about separate

16:56the separate work that we're doing for

16:58spot repairs? Um I think as if under the

17:01main contract if we can

17:04we will we will make those decisions

17:06based on the timing and the weather. Um

17:09some of those are a little bit longer

17:11than others. So you know if we can only

17:13do a certain section road and then as

17:15far as the spot repair work we have a

17:17significant list around town that we

17:19want to do. We just don't want to bite

17:20off more than we can chew

17:21>> um this fall.

17:23>> That makes sense.

17:25>> I have one more question. Mhm.

17:27>> So the the question regarding the 140 uh

17:30road development uh last time you

17:34mentioned like us going to from library

17:36to the

17:36>> sure

17:37>> what avenue so I don't see it here like

17:40why is that

17:41>> so so I apologize so that's a state

17:43project um and we haven't they have not

17:45identified a timeline for that yet we

17:48don't believe it's going to happen this

17:49fall we think they're going to do that

17:51in the spring they haven't shared with

17:53us when they've put the bidding out for

17:55that project or or the time construction

17:58timeline.

17:59>> So we don't have any role there like

18:00they're going to manage themselves.

18:02>> Correct. They they manage that project

18:04fully

18:04>> but they're going to update us live when

18:06they are doing

18:06>> of of course because there'll be some

18:08there'll be some coordination

18:10um with that work for us that we'll have

18:12to

18:14make sure the community is aware that

18:15it's happening happening and we'll we'll

18:17we'll let residents know what's going on

18:19but we haven't got a schedule from them

18:21yet.

18:22>> Okay. Thank you.

18:25Keith, you you touched upon um the

18:29process and the delay and the attorney

18:31general's involvement with our initial

18:34decision, which was to select

18:37>> um a different uh

18:40>> contractor and I appreciate the extra

18:44steps you're taking to have oversight

18:47over the work to ensure that we do get

18:51in front of any issues. issues in in a

18:54timely

18:56>> manner. I think that we all know that

18:57these public procurement you know rules

19:00are in place

19:01>> um to give integrity to the process but

19:04sometimes they're so rigid that you know

19:07where we're in a situation where we are

19:09basing a decision based off of prior

19:11experience and what we think the lowest

19:12net cost and best outcome is for the

19:15town. Our our hands were kind of tied

19:17which was disappointing. Um, but I'm I'm

19:20glad we're kind of learning from that

19:22experience.

19:23>> Yeah. And that's exactly what is like

19:24through this process, we've we learned,

19:27you know, there were mistakes made by

19:29the contractor, there were mistakes made

19:31by us, and we just have to do a better

19:33job, collaborating and making sure the

19:35work gets done as it's supposed to.

19:39Maybe we can avoid in the future like uh

19:42this happening because that uh our time

19:44like whatever we have to cover in the

19:47summer time we already missed that. So

19:51the contract processing which we were

19:54doing.

19:55So this happened first time or it

19:58happened before also. So this is in my

20:01memory this is the first time that we've

20:04um

20:07decided did not want to take the low

20:08bidder for typically we have some really

20:11good contracts. We had a tough time last

20:13year and um so we struggled with getting

20:16that work complete.

20:18>> Thank you.

20:22>> Um may I ask a question about the bid

20:24process? Um I I don't know if this would

20:26be for you Mr. Baldinger or Mr. Mizakar

20:28but um When do we typically open bids

20:31for paving work for like you know for

20:34for summer 2027 or you know paving

20:38season 2027 when would we typically open

20:41the bids for that?

20:42>> So typically June.

20:43>> Okay.

20:44>> You know shortly after town meeting

20:46>> and does it have to wait for town

20:49meetings budget approval

20:52>> in order to open the bidding process?

20:54not to open the bid, but we have to wait

20:55till July 1 to do any work because the

20:58work's not funded until the next fiscal

21:00year.

21:01>> So, I wonder if that's something could

21:03we potentially start the bidding process

21:05on that earlier next year so that we can

21:09complete what we would have wanted to

21:13pave for this year in addition to what

21:16we have in the pipeline originally for

21:192027.

21:20So, we will still complete the full

21:22scope of services that we were going to

21:25do this summer before June 30th next

21:27year on the current contract. That won't

21:29need to be rebid because we do structure

21:31our contracts so they expire the

21:33following June 30th. So, that won't need

21:36to be rebid. Um,

21:39yeah, I think the the difference is

21:41because of the delay this year, we can't

21:44we we typically would have the work

21:46completed before winter, right? So this

21:49is our challenge this year and our

21:50delay. So [snorts]

21:54>> thank you.

21:57>> Okay.

21:57>> So I want to say thank you because this

22:00time of the potholes you guys did great

22:02job. A lot of people come and send the

22:04messages and say um they did on the time

22:07whenever any request is coming. So thank

22:09you. Thank you so much for doing the

22:11great job.

22:11>> That's good to hear. [clears throat]

22:14>> Okay. Um, the next project I want to

22:17talk about this evening, um, um, I know

22:19that you all recall the incident we had

22:20at the police station back in February

22:22when a car entered the building, um, and

22:25caused significant damage. Um, it's been

22:27a long process, uh, to get to the point

22:31where we are now, but, um, good

22:33opportunity for an update. Um, this

22:36update includes both building repairs

22:38from the damage and then the related

22:39driveway re reconfiguration.

22:42Um and just all the those two pieces are

22:45being procured separately. Um just won't

22:48be able to talk about them both. So the

22:50building repair project architect is the

22:52Galante Architecture Studio. We've been

22:54working with them for a few months. Um

22:56the work that they're responsible for

22:58includes the front end front entrance

23:01repairs and improvements. um new some

23:05the security features and then some

23:08structural planters and impact resistant

23:10ballards directly in front of the

23:12building. Um their scope of work

23:16includes direct replacement for damage

23:18and then some along with some enhanced

23:20security features that uh we included.

23:23Um so this pro the project the building

23:27project itself is moving to public

23:28bidding. Uh general bids are scheduled

23:31for November 25th and assuming the

23:34bidding process goes as expected. Uh we

23:37anticipate answering a notice notice to

23:40proceed in mid December for

23:41construction. So we expect that

23:44construction work to start sometime in

23:45January.

23:47Um, separately, our town engineer

23:49developed a new driveway reconfiguration

23:52in coordination with the police

23:53department and the Glante um, architect

23:58group and we made the decision to bid

24:00that work separately through the town

24:02rather than including in the in the

24:04building contract. Um and the

24:06engineering department will manage that

24:07work directly and that work is funded

24:10through a town meeting appropriation

24:12where the building repair is covered

24:14where the building repair work is

24:15actually covered by insurance.

24:18Um next slide.

24:21So

24:22um this aerial view kind of shows you

24:25gives you a good sense of what we are

24:27proposing for the driveway

24:29[clears throat] reconfiguration. Um the

24:30intent is to improve the geometry and

24:33safety of the driveway. um driveway

24:36connection while also incorporating some

24:37ballards and other site safety features

24:40and it actually increases uh the green

24:42space considerably. Um the like I said

24:45this design was developed internally by

24:47our town engineer and by bidding and

24:50managing this portion separately we have

24:52more direct control over the timing of

24:54the site work while the larger building

24:57project moves through the public

24:58building bidding process and so working

25:01on the bid getting the bid out on the

25:03driveway now. So, we're hopeful um

25:06schedule and the weather will allow us

25:07to get this project get this

25:10reconfiguration substantially complete

25:12by wintertime.

25:14Um this ob I'm not sure if it's obvious,

25:18but the change here is really to promote

25:21safety. Will this will allow for um no

25:27straight on shots from any vehicles in

25:30the future. It also um is is configured

25:34in a way that fire trucks, ladder truck,

25:37delivery trucks can get through the

25:38parking lot with no problem. Um and we

25:42worked really closely with the police

25:44chief and his team um to come up with

25:47this final plan.

25:50So happy to take any questions on this

25:53one.

25:55Can you just clarify the green the green

25:59>> portion and you said that's expanding

26:01the green space like how does that like

26:04what is there that prevents the straight

26:06line to the front?

26:08>> So there's a few things and it's

26:09obviously not easy to see on the plan or

26:11not shown on the plan but um that will

26:13be graded in such a way that um they're

26:16actually they're going to create some

26:17drainage in there. So like no vehicle

26:20would ever be able to go completely

26:22through it. Uh we're also looking at

26:24adding trees and potentially um some

26:28other uh ballards in a couple areas to

26:31make sure that we're safe.

26:32>> Okay, great. Thank you.

26:33>> And then on the left side, you see that

26:36little island um that little pink

26:39triangle there that also has three

26:41ballards in it too uh to prevent any

26:44vehicle from jumping that island or or

26:47such and going through the front of the

26:48building.

26:51And you're saying it's still all wide

26:52enough for our fire truck to get there?

26:54>> It is. We've done the full ladder truck.

26:56>> Take your word for it.

26:57>> process. So

27:00>> board members, any questions?

27:03>> At this point, we don't know how much

27:05the cost is then, right?

27:06>> So the the building project

27:09um the architect estimate comes in just

27:11under $800,000

27:13at this point, which is significantly

27:15less than our initial estimate that we

27:17had in the spring, which is about 1.1.

27:20um only the bidding process will

27:22actually tell us the truth and then the

27:24appropriation that we received at town

27:26meeting was $120,000

27:29um which we feel is sufficient for the

27:31driveway work.

27:33>> So previous damage is already covered by

27:35the insurance or the town has to put

27:37some money.

27:38>> Um the bu all the building work as far

27:42to this point as far as we know will be

27:43covered under insurance. We've we've

27:46spent a lot of time with the insurance

27:47company making sure that we have the

27:49right paperwork and have the right

27:50information for them. Um and they have

27:52not

27:54given us any indication that they won't

27:55cover anything.

27:58Um the question I have one more question

28:01why we have to go this expensive like we

28:03can't have some like

28:06smaller amount of money we can spend and

28:08then we can use some kind of barrier or

28:11something to like divert the traffic or

28:14why we have to go spend the 100k just

28:16making the one barrier to protect that

28:19front only

28:20>> well I I I'm not sure if I can answer

28:23your

28:24>> no if you go to Washington DC all those

28:26places they put the metal like poles all

28:29those all the area why we can't use that

28:32kind of and save the money in place like

28:34making that this kind of road to divert

28:36this way other way

28:37>> well so we do have some of those

28:40ballards types those security features

28:41in the front of the building and in that

28:43island like I talked about um but really

28:46it's about

28:48essentially a runway speed um this does

28:50not allow vehicles to um reach a speed

28:55fast high enough to go through ballard

28:58or go through the building. Um, if you

29:00re may recall, the vehicle that went

29:03into the building made it up to 72 miles

29:05an hour, which is quite excessive. Um,

29:09so the whole point of this is just more

29:11secure for our people in the building,

29:13more secure for um, residents or

29:16visitors and that sort of thing. So, and

29:19just hopefully this never happens again.

29:21>> Okay,

29:26>> thank you very much.

29:27Great updates.

29:28>> Thank you.

29:30>> Agenda item number seven is to review

29:32and act to set the date and time for the

29:34special town meeting, which is Monday,

29:37December 7th, 2026 at 700 p.m. We also

29:41want to note uh key dates related to

29:45this special town meeting on Tuesday,

29:47October 20th. That is the deadline for

29:51citizens to submit petitions to the town

29:54clerk. Uh, Tuesday, October 22nd is when

29:58we will review and sign the special town

30:01meeting warrant.

30:04Tuesday, November 10th is when we will

30:06hear warrant article presentations and

30:09make recommendations.

30:11Thursday, November 19th is the finance

30:14committee public hearings on the warrant

30:16articles. And Friday, November 20th, um,

30:20is when town staff will issue packets to

30:24town meeting members. So, as always,

30:27there is a process. The town clerk is

30:30great about updating the town meeting

30:33uh, website web page, if you will, with

30:35those details. So, more to come.

30:39Um, there's no other comments or

30:42questions. We'll take a motion. I move

30:44the board set the date for the special

30:46time meeting for Monday, December 7th,

30:482026 to be held at 7 p.m. at the Oak

30:51Middle School Auditorium.

30:52>> Second. All in favor say I.

30:55>> I.

30:56>> Motion passes.

30:58Agenda item number eight is to review an

31:00act to appoint one high school student

31:02to the sustainability committee for a

31:04one-year term. We did have one

31:07applicant. Uh Sanjay Papu is currently a

31:10junior at Shbury High School and has a

31:14resume that is already far more

31:16impressive than mine. [laughter] Um so

31:18despite having one applicant, he seems

31:21like an amazing um candidate for this

31:24position.

31:28>> Any comments?

31:29>> Um [clears throat] excuse me, Madam

31:31Chair. Um I agree Mr. Papu has a great

31:35resume. Um, we did already appoint

31:37Sanjay to the DEIB committee and so I

31:40think that we um will have to hold off

31:44on appointing this student member.

31:48>> Is this uh are we not allowed to have

31:50the same student for two?

31:53>> You're not prohibited from it. The board

31:55tries to avoid multiple appointments. We

31:57haven't received any other applicants.

31:59Um, I think the board's familiar that a

32:03couple boards and committees aren't able

32:04to serve on more than one, like the

32:06select board and finance committee and

32:07the school committee, but it doesn't go

32:09to necessarily prohibit others. So, it's

32:12it's the board's discretion.

32:14>> Okay.

32:14>> Okay.

32:14>> It's a good catch. Um, thank you for

32:17catching that. I

32:20um I don't have any objection

32:23um given that it's a one-year term, but

32:26if other board members would prefer to

32:29do one more outreach to the community to

32:32see if um we can diversify our student

32:35representation, I'm also happy to to do

32:38that.

32:42Um may I ask Mr. Mizakar, how we

32:45advertise these openings to the high

32:47school students? Are they just, you

32:49know, general are general news alerts or

32:52are they advertised at the high school

32:55with students?

32:56>> Um, normally we do the outreach through

32:59and with the schools to the extent that

33:01we can. I I can't speak specifically for

33:04this in this response on when it was

33:06last posted and updated,

33:08>> but if

33:09>> yes, this one I didn't see that like

33:11this posting like it didn't come in the

33:14any I need letter anywhere. I didn't see

33:16that this time.

33:17>> Yeah, it's just been advertised since

33:19the original posting in the spring

33:21because this is a a July 1 appointment.

33:25>> But we can if you want us to

33:26readvertise, we're happy to do that.

33:30Does anyone have strong opinions?

33:33>> Um I don't know. Should we do some

33:35outreach to Mr. Papu to see if he is

33:38interested in serving on both? Like did

33:40he apply for both of these

33:41simultaneously or did he apply to this

33:44after he was appointed to DIB

33:46>> the latter that?

33:48>> Okay.

33:48>> Yeah.

33:50because he's junior senior also

33:54maybe not not sure like he able to

33:56complete work with the two committee

33:58member

34:00he not sure we have to check with him

34:02like oh he's able to do the two

34:04committee together because he's the

34:07senior this time

34:08>> right

34:10>> I mean if he was already appointed to

34:13>> DBI

34:14>> DIB and then applied for this I think

34:16>> and then he's the the last year of the

34:18college he's going to goal is next year.

34:20>> I believe he's a junior.

34:23>> I could be wrong. I thought that

34:25>> good for him like he can stay with the

34:27one and then we can find the other.

34:32>> Yeah, I think my my preference I I had

34:34misunderstood. I thought that um he

34:36wouldn't be able to serve on both. Um so

34:38appreciate the information. Um I I think

34:42when we thought about creating a high

34:44school student member for both of these

34:46committees, we thought about giving more

34:48young people opportunities to be

34:50involved in our local government. So my

34:51preference would be I think to try to

34:53see maybe extend it by a month to see if

34:56another student would be willing to step

34:58up. Um I've worked with Mr. Papu on some

35:02policy research in the town. So know

35:04that he's a great student and I've

35:05already seen him contribute on DEIB in

35:08their meetings. So, um I I would have no

35:10concerns either which way, but my

35:12preference would be to try to find

35:14another young person.

35:20>> Okay. Why don't we um not take action on

35:23this and Mr. Makar of town staff could

35:27maybe reach out to um

35:30Shoesbury High and St.

35:32to see if there are

35:34any others and uh

35:39let Mr. Paphoo know that we appreciate

35:41the interest and that the decision is

35:43pending.

35:43>> Okay.

35:44>> Okay.

35:46Agenda item item number nine is to

35:47review and act to sign the warrant for

35:49the November 3rd, 2026 state election.

35:52includes,

35:53I believe, 12 elected positions for

35:55state and federal offices, including

35:57governor, attorney general, and

35:58secretary of state, as well as nine

36:00statewide ballot questions.

36:06>> I move uh move the board sign the

36:08warrant for the November 3rd, 2026 state

36:10election.

36:12>> Second. All in favor say I.

36:14>> I. Motion passes.

36:17Agenda item number 10 is to review an

36:19act to name town property in honor of

36:22former town employee Don Shannon. So I

36:25was it at our last meeting? It was at

36:27our last meeting. We discussed naming

36:29the program hall within the Raystone

36:31post after Mrs. Shannon and a fixing

36:35signage outside the building. So we

36:37asked town staff to review that. Town

36:39staff has reviewed. They agree. Um, but

36:42they noted that the building does not

36:44contain exterior signage honoring

36:46Raymond Stone. So, they recommended that

36:49this signage be added concurrently with

36:51signage for Mrs. Shannon. Um, I did want

36:55to note that we discussed a scholarship

36:57in honor of of Mrs. Shannon as well, but

37:00ultimately decided that that falls

37:02outside the municipal property naming

37:04policy. Um, so we would defer any

37:08consideration of that to to town staff

37:10if it's applicable. Um, so based on

37:14conversations with board members, I

37:15think we're all in agreement that we

37:17would support town staff moving forward

37:20with um with this, you know, getting the

37:23sign and and the dedication and then

37:25letting us know so we can um have a

37:28community dedication

37:31uh ceremony.

37:35Understand motion.

37:36>> Perfect. I am thrilled to move that the

37:40board honor the wonderful Don Shannon's

37:43exceptional service to the town of

37:44Shrewsbury by naming the program hall at

37:47835 Main Street in her honor.

37:49>> Second.

37:50>> All in favor say I.

37:51>> I.

37:53>> Motion passes. Agenda item number 11 is

37:56to review an act to authorize the chair

37:58to sign the local initiative program

37:59regulatory agreement with Pday Homes of

38:02New England LLC for Emerald Run. This

38:05agreement creates an affordable housing

38:07restriction on 15% of the new

38:09condominium homes and allows Shbury to

38:12count them on the town's official state

38:14subsidized housing inventory list. Mr.

38:18Mizar, anything additional we need to

38:22>> No, I don't think so. This is just the

38:23agreement that governs everything and

38:25you know the board does note from time

38:26to time or once a year it normally

38:29adjusts rent um approves the adjustment

38:32of rent and this is what governs that

38:34whole process.

38:36>> Make a motion.

38:37>> Move approval.

38:39>> Second.

38:39>> All in favor say I.

38:41>> I.

38:42>> Motion passes.

38:43>> Agenda item number 12 is to review and

38:45act on the proclamation request for

38:47Arbor Day and the Arbor Day event. So

38:49apparently due to administrative

38:51oversight, the official proclamation was

38:53missed prior to the event which was on

38:55Saturday, April 25th, 2026. So we are

38:58playing catchup.

39:00>> Move approval.

39:01>> Second.

39:01>> All in favor say I.

39:03>> I.

39:04>> Motion passes.

39:06And agenda item number 13 is to review

39:09and act on a rain date for the lo the

39:12road closure request from the spirit of

39:14Shbury

39:16committee for portions of municipal

39:17drive, Wesley and Terrace, Maple Avenue

39:20and Oak Street for the parade which is

39:24to be this Saturday. And if it is uh

39:28rained out, it would be rescheduled for

39:30Sunday, October 4th, 2026

39:34um from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

39:38Apparently, there is a

39:41noraster coming our way. High-pressure

39:43storm system. Uh so this would give them

39:46a uh contingency plan if needed.

39:51>> Move approval.

39:52>> Second.

39:53>> All in favor say I. I

39:56>> motion passes and we apparently do not

39:59have any correspondence. So if there is

40:02no other business to come before the

40:04board, I will entertain a motion to

40:06adjurnn.

40:06>> So moved.

40:07>> Second.

40:07>> All in favor say I.

40:09>> I.

40:09>> I.

40:11>> Thank you and good evening.