Advisory Committee Meeting: August 13, 2025

AC members in attendance: Peter Giumette, Jennifer Greene, Forrest Finkler, Gerry Pellegrini, Walter Zawacki, John Zimmatore

Also attending:

The AC meeting commenced at 6:32 p.m. at Senior and Community Center and  via GoToMeeting

Approval of minutes

6/24/2025:

Peter made a motion to approve the minutes;  John Seconded; 5Y/0N/1A

7/15/2025

Peter made a motion to approve the minutes; John Seconded;   5Y/0N/1A

Liaison updates

COA: Jennifer

• Seniors are beginning to be hit by the cuts to public programs including SNAP, heat assistance, Famer’s Market coupons, and others.  The COA expects to continue to receive calls for assistance.
• Jennifer reported that she had shared with the Board that other AC liaisons had not been involved in any Long-Range Business Plans.  The COA Business Plan took a lot of hours to put together and wasn’t well received; the Board is discouraged by a) the conflicting messages in the instructions as to what the SB was looking for, b) the exclusively  negative feedback (especially in the absence of clear and consistent instructions), and c) the fact that the request was apparently not issued with equal force to all town committees.

Housing Implementation Committee: Jennifer

• Detached ADUs will be allowed in accordance with State law as the Planning Board has decided not to appeal the rule.
• Andy Howarth, Director of Worcester Community Housing Resources (who was involved in Wachusett House), will attend the next meeting and touring potential sites before.

Parks and Rec: Walter

• Events being planned for Halloween and between
• They are planning to spend $8-10 k to redo the upper field
  • The committee is working to select the contractor with Walter from Youth Soccer
• No news on finding a Director; the Committee voted to keep Deb Foucher as acting director

WRSD: Gerry and Forrest

• School tour by Beth Anne, acting Principal
  • Biggest issues- ceiling leak and flooring at main entry, ground water under the slab is causing buckling – will have to address it within the next couple of years
  • Working on the HVAC replacement – going out to bid in October; Gerry got to look at the current system and reported it’s utterly antiquated
  • Homeland Security toured the school and issued a report of things that should be done to bring it up to standards for security.  The report will be publicly available at some point.

SB: Peter

• 6/25/25 Select Board Meeting:
• Selectboard approved Vadar Software (accounting) agreement.
• 7/9/25 Select Board Meeting:
• SB placed a hold on the renewal of Josh Tanenbaum to the AC.
• SB approval of FY26 Diesel and Unleaded Gass and PSB Owner’s Project Manager (Vertex) bids approved.
• 7/9/25 Select Board Meeting:
• After discussion, SB approved renewal of Josh Tanenbaum on AC for a one year term.
• Discussion of difficulty in progress on various complaints by residents of neighbor businesses and or property appearances.
• SB approved excavator lease for $392,450 with previous $10,000 down.  Expense previously approved at ATM.

EAC: Gerry

• Dark Skys event to be moved from February to October
• State requiring a Municipal Vulnerability Program (MVP) – there’s a grant of $200 available for planning and implementation

Old Business

New Business

Vote for FY26 AC officers

• Chair
  • Jennifer nominated Peter, John seconded – 6Y/0N/0A
• Vice-Chair
  • Peter nominated Jennifer, Gerry seconded — 6Y/0N/0A
• Secretary
  • Forrest nominated himself, Peter seconded — 6Y/0N/0A

Review and discussion of liaison assignments and coverage

• Jennifer will take the Cemetery Commission
• Gerry will take Fire/Ambulance
• John will take Police

Review of Selectboard FY26 Areas of Focus

Next AC Meeting

The AC will meet on September 10^th at 6:30 p.m.

Peter motioned to adjourn the meeting; John seconded: 6Y/0N/0A

The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m.

Minutes recorded by Jennifer Greene (Secretary).

Attachments: