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At a glance: Select Board approves town planning, contracts and routine items at Oct. 20 meeting
Summary
The Millis Select Board on Oct. 20 approved the capital planning report, several contracts, labor agreements and routine procurement items, and set the special election and warrant language for the proposed school borrowing.
The Millis Select Board conducted a series of routine but administratively important votes on Oct. 20. The board voted unanimously on each item listed below. Where the board took a formal vote, motions were made, seconded and recorded as carried.
Key approvals and administrative actions (motions carried unanimously unless noted): - Accept fall Capital Planning Committee report for the annual town meeting (committee outlined the school as the top capital priority and listed other near-term requests including a gas meter for the fire department and a DPW pickup/dump truck). - Adopt the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) and adopt the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (both reviewed by MEMA and FEMA). - Adopt the Millis Climate Action Plan and the Millis Municipal Decarbonization Roadmap. - Approve ratification of three Fire Department personnel appointments (Brian Palimento, Cam Wenzel, Ryan Smith) and swearing-in ceremony. - Approve a contract with GCG Associates for infiltration and inflow (I&I) investigation work, not to exceed $137,630, and authorize the town administrator to sign. - Approve a contract with Community Impact Inc. for social services using marijuana impact funds, not to exceed $35,000. - Ratify labor agreements/MOAs: ratify MOA with MCOP Local 171 and ratify consolidated agreement with AFSCME Council 93. - Approve snow-and-ice contractor rates for FY26 as presented and approve rock-salt procurement from Eastern Minerals Inc. at $63 per ton (solar and treated salt at $83 per ton), authorizing the town administrator to sign the contract. - Accept and sign the FY25 Green Communities annual report (filed with the state Department of Energy Resources); staff reported a 14.9% reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions compared with the 2015 base year. - Open and then close and sign the fall Annual Town Meeting warrant with minor edits recommended by bond counsel (including amended wording for the school borrowing article) and approve switching the order of two articles; the board also voted to call a special election on Dec. 8, 2025, and to insert the exact ballot question language for the school borrowing item. - Approve water and sewer department commitment to the collector for September 2025 in the amount of $8,794.35.
A handful of informational items were presented without required action: a feasibility study for a district management organization (a less formal alternative to a business improvement district) funded by a Chapter 268 earmark; an update on the Lansing Millis Memorial Train Station restoration (presenter reported exterior work complete and interior fundraising planned); and liaison assignments for board members.
Several of the items above (the CEMP, hazard mitigation plan and climate plans) were covered in standalone presentations earlier in the meeting. Officials said that some contracts and procurement decisions were tied to appropriations previously approved by town meeting or paid for from existing free cash. Where further follow-up is needed, staff will schedule implementation steps and report back to the Select Board.
