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Select Board refers battery/data‑center zoning amendments to planning board and approves shared public‑health nurse agreement with Medway
Summary
The board unanimously referred proposed amendments addressing battery energy storage and data centers to the Planning Board for public hearing and approved an intermunicipal agreement with Medway to share a 30‑hour/week town nurse (15 hours for Millis) beginning July 1, 2026.
The Millis Select Board voted on two procedural but policy‑relevant items at its March 2 meeting: referral of zoning amendments and approval of an intermunicipal public‑health nursing agreement.
Town staff presented a letter from the Planning Board requesting referral of proposed zoning bylaw amendments (definitions and use regulations) to address battery energy storage systems (BESS) and data‑center uses. The Select Board voted to refer the proposed amendments to the Planning Board for public hearings, noting the Planning Board intends to hold a hearing on April 7, 2026.
On public‑health staffing, the board approved an intermunicipal agreement with the Town of Medway to share a 30‑hour/week public‑health nurse (15 hours/week for Millis), with costs to be split between the towns. John McVay, Millis director of public health, supported the IMA and explained the range of duties a public‑health nurse will provide (disease control, vaccine clinics, inspections, home visits and confidential recordkeeping). The agreement term was recorded as July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. The motion to approve was moved, seconded and passed unanimously.
Board members said the agreement provides continuity, backup and a more stable staffing model than the town’s recent attempts to fill a full‑time nurse position. Staff noted the town will continue outreach to other neighboring towns to explore expanding the arrangement in future.
