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21 Highland Street committee work paused after Select Board declines extension
Summary
A volunteer committee researching options for the town-owned 21 Highland Street property sought an extension to present more public-facing work aligned with the K–8 building committee; the Select Board voted 3–2 not to extend and the commission reported the committee will continue its work informally.
The Parks and Recreation Commission received an update on the 21 Highland Street committee, which sought an extension to finish analysis and host a public forum on possible uses of the town-owned property. The committee reported it had requested more time to align its work with the K–8 building committee and to refine options it had been researching; the Select Board, however, voted 3–2 against granting the one-month extension request.
Committee members said their interim report provided a status update rather than the full research the committee had conducted, and that the scheduled Select Board meeting to receive the committee's presentation was canceled when the town website failed that day. The committee chair then asked to be invited back and was told by the board they would respond; the committee did not receive that invitation and therefore requested the extension.
After the Select Board declined the extension, the recreation committee met once more (June 30, per the committee update) and closed the formal committee while saying the research would continue in another form. The commission report noted that the Select Board will be pursuing its own review under Select Board member Cathy Cook, who plans to bring people in as needed rather than form a new standing committee.
Why this matters: The disposition of 21 Highland Street could affect town recreation planning and potential facility siting. The recreation committee indicated that any future warrant articles or special town meeting items involving the property could require the commission to prepare formal input once the town's schedule and the K–8 decision are clearer.
Next steps: The committee intends to monitor the warrant for any article related to 21 Highland Street, prepare materials to present if requested, and continue informal research and option refinement until the town clarifies a path forward.
