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Task force sets timeline and outreach approach; consultants to harmonize costs and drafts
Summary
The task force reviewed consultant capacity and near‑term schedule: CBI reported budget extension to facilitate a limited number of remaining meetings, and the group set a public workshop for the week of Feb. 24 with preparatory meetings in late January and early February.
The Warner's Pond Task Force discussed scheduling, outreach and consultant resources and agreed a public workshop will be held in late February.
Rachel Fried (CBI) told members the consulting team’s original budget was effectively exhausted and the town had granted an extension to cover about four to five more task force meetings, including the public meeting. Fried said that limitation makes the remaining meetings “count” and urged members to be concise and to submit written comments so consultants can incorporate edits between meetings.
The task force set a preparatory schedule: a full task force meeting on Jan. 30 (Harvey Wheeler), a draft revision period in mid‑February and a public workshop in the week of Feb. 24; the group planned additional meetings in March and April to complete deliberations. Members emphasized the need for consistent, annualized cost figures across the three alternative proposals and asked the consultants to present costs in current dollars and to note which costs already have been incurred in the task force process (for example, the 30% design and coring work completed earlier).
Funding sources discussed included Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds and town capital funds. Staff and members noted that reallocation of CPA funds or capital funds requires formal town processes: any change in CPA allocation would be handled by the Community Preservation Committee and ultimately by Town Meeting; capital fund requests would come through the appropriate town channels. The consultants were asked to list funding options and to indicate which amounts in the current materials were earmarked or previously appropriated.
The consultants and staff also outlined public‑meeting logistics: the task force prefers a hybrid public meeting (in‑person at the Town House or Harvey Wheeler and live‑streamed/Zoom) so remote participants can view the presentations and submit questions. The group asked for an outreach postcard or short brochure to be mailed with a QR link to the full proposals on the project website; consultants indicated the postcard must be brief for cost reasons and the website will host the full proposals and supporting materials.
Ending: The task force instructed the consultants to harmonize cost and citation lines, prepare a short public mailing and finalize venue and hybrid‑meeting details ahead of the public workshop.
