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Natick Historic District Commission to supplement OpenGov with Google Drive to organize application materials
Summary
Commissioners agreed March 26, 2026 to organize application materials in Google Drive alongside OpenGov after staff reported that OpenGov uploads arrive as separate pieces that are difficult to assemble for review; staff will set up shared folders and notification alerts for the Chair and staff.
At its March 26, 2026 meeting, the Natick Historic District Commission agreed to supplement the town’s OpenGov application portal with an organized Google Drive folder system to make application materials easier for commissioners to review.
Chair Chris Milford described administrative difficulties in the current OpenGov workflow: application content is uploaded in separate pieces (form fields, JPEG photos in distinct slots and supplemental documents), requiring commissioners to proactively download and reassemble materials to evaluate an application fully. Ms. Loomis told the commission that this limitation is a known issue raised with OpenGov.
Commission members discussed alternatives. Ms. Loomis said she already uses Google Drive to organize materials for other boards and that Drive folders could be set up so documents remain publicly accessible and in compliance with Town of Natick requirements. Members supported proceeding with a Drive-based organization and requested notification settings that alert both Ms. Loomis and the Chair when an informal submission is made for the Chair’s pre-review before the formal application is logged and the regulatory clock begins.
The commission did not enact rule changes at this meeting; the decision was an administrative direction to staff to implement the Drive organization and notification workflow so that commissioners receive a single, organized set of application materials for review.
