Good Morning, Neighbor!

Now that we’re all out of our heat coma, we can actually enjoy the warmer weather. I hope you can build in some time this week to have lunch outside, take a walk, or play at the park with the pups or the littles in your life.

Select Board Recap

After 14 hours of Town Meeting, Select Board was a Breeze last night. Let’s check out what happened.

(8:00) There was discussion at the beginning that the town needs to standardize the process for making appointments to vacant seats.
(11:30) Planning Board – Toni Ann Natola has been appointed. Also, Chair Rappaport has approved the final part of the Master Plan we’ve been talking about, so it will be coming forward to the SB soon.
(16:00) Special Police Officers – 5 special police officers were appointed. They bring decades of service to the department and will ensure we are fully staffed.
(23:00) Police Motorcycle Program – approved! It’ll be a bit before we have bikes on the road, but the board was pretty enthusiastic about this.
(35:00) Proposed Outdoor Water Restrictions – we are going to stick with every other day watering and get the word out, and per Chair Nick Priest, “Stop watering your lawns every day!” The Board also voted to allow the Town Administrator to make decisions on an emergency basis until the following SB meeting.
(40:00) Library Trustees – Janice Cohen has been appointed to the Board.
(43:00) Disability Access Commission funds (from handicap parking fines) will be used to fund some therapeutic recreation programs.
(46:30) Affordable Housing – a homeowner in a Town affordable housing unit is requesting to refinance and has to go through the Select Board to do so. Request is approved.
(48:00) Transportation – Proposal to investigate adding a little jog to the LRTA bus route between Lahey and Northwest Park to connect more of the businesses behind Middlessex Turnpike.
(59:00) There is also a “Better Bus” proposal for next spring from MBTA which involves cutting off service to Van de Graff Drive (and possibly other changes), which would be a big change and could inconvenience some Burlington workers. There will be a forum discussing this proposal on 6/19!
(1:08:00) There will be more discussion at the 6/13 meeting about the 128 Business Council, which I think seeks to streamline transportation in our area.
(1:13:00) HELPIS – May was officially proclaimed the Month of Kindness. It’s the law! Joyce and HELPIS have donated $9m in goods and services to people in need.

Today in Burlington

Lots of school-related meetings today, and the Sculpture Park begins to plan how they’ll be spending the funds appropriated by Town Meeting.

4:00 PM – Planning Board Sculpture Park Subcommittee will select sculptures for installation this summer and review other items they can undertake thanks in part to funding from Town Meeting. They’ll also discuss the Select Board’s stance on whether or not the Park should remain in its current location.
6:30 PM – Shawsheen Budget Subcommittee meets for a presentation of the Financial Statement & Auditor’s Report.
7:00 PM – Board of Health will discuss some applications and permits, mostly for life science buildings, as well as a plumbing variance recommendation at 25 Network Drive. (Join via Webex)
7:00 PM – School Committee will review some handbooks, get some updates, learn about Restorative Justice Circles, discuss Safe Routes to school, and more. (Join via Webex)
7:30 PM – Shawsheen School Committee will vote on the financial statement/auditor’s report discussed in subcommittee earlier, as well as the candidate for the Business Manager position. They’ll also discuss the professional development plan and assign subcommittees for the upcoming school year. (Watch via YouTube)