Town Manager Newsletter

TOWN MANAGER NEWSLETTER

Around Town

Although we are technically still in the summer season, for all intents and purposes we are prepping and thinking about the fall. That means our Special Town Meeting is coming up. Please mark your calendars for November 16th at 7 pm for this important meeting of our legislative body. I anticipate several articles being voted on including an appropriation of free cash and a revision to our historical demo delay bylaw.

Many of you are asking when some of the roads are going to be paved, especially downtown. I drive the same streets multiple times a day and understand how it wears down both peoples' cars and nerves. With downtown, all of the underground infrastructure needed to be completed and the curbing and sidewalks installed before we pave and that is taking some time, mostly due to getting materials on a timely basis. At the very least, I would like to have Front Street paved by the end of the year, and hopefully Main Street.

Our DPW Director, Doug Small, is anticipating paving some of our worst areas across town next spring and summer. I will provide more updates as they become available.

Those of you interested in Cadilac Paint will be happy to learn that we have a preliminary design for a park consisting of walking trails and a pollinator garden area. The next step is to review the project at a future Select Board meeting. I share your interest in the conversion of that area from a dilapidated contaminated site to a clean public space and am glad we are making progress on it. Thanks to Ed Hart, Yolanda Greaves, Evan White, and Beth Reynolds for working on this.

Pond Street/ Route 126 Construction Update

What to expect:

Crews continue installing sidewalks down Rt. 126. They will be working between Boston Paintball and Sewell Street. For the following two weeks, crews will be working between Sewell St. and Eliot Street on curbing and sidewalks, including sidewalk aprons.

Utility work has begun again at the Market Basket Plaza area, including Rodman Road. Crews are working on drainage issues in this area. Crews will be setting up a bypass water system so that residents and businesses are not impacted by water shuts offs.

Driveway apron work will continue throughout the month. 24-hour notice will be given to all those whose driveways will be impacted by this work. Crews require 4 days of construction to prep, complete the work and allow the concrete time to cure.

Please expect lane closures to continue throughout the project. Please bring your patience when traveling through the construction. Give yourself extra time or find alternative routes if you need to.

Downtown Construction

What to expect:

Crews continue sidewalk and curbing work on Main Street. This work includes removing existing curbing, installing new curbing, and building new sidewalks. Driveways may be impacted temporarily each day. Traffic may be minimally impacted by this work. Crews will continue this work until all sidewalks are completed throughout the project.

For more information, visit our website here.

Enroll in Downtown Construction Updates

Enroll in Rt. 126/ Pond St. Construction Updates

Sewer Dye- Testing

Weekdays, Sept. 19th- Sept. 30th between 8 am and 5 pm

The Town of Ashland Water and Sewer Department and Flow Assessment Services, LL C will conduct a sewer study next week to locate sources of stormwater entering the sanitary sewer system. The testing involves putting a non-toxic, non-staining dye into downspouts, area drains, window well drains, stairwell drains, and driveway drains. The field representatives will then monitor the stormwater pipes and sanitary sewers in the street to confirm proper connections to the stormwater system.

This test is important to maximize the efficiency of our sewer and water system.

Learn More

Shaws Plaza Community Forums

EDENS and WinnDevelopment (not the Town of Ashland) are considering a project located at the Shaw's plaza on Pond Street and held two public forums to describe the project and answer questions from residents.

Their project team has established a website where you can find more information: https://www.shawsplazaproject.com/

I have asked their team to upload the recordings from the forums to their website.

Local Information

Ashland Public Library Summer Reading Wrap Up

The Ashland Public Library and Friends of the Ashland Public Library wrapped up another great summer reading program! Children, Teens, and Adults participated in this program to keep track of the minutes they spent reading and earned ten prize books at the end of the summer. The prize books distributed to SRP participants were donations accepted by the Friends at their donation days throughout the year. With all the community donations, the Friends and Library were able to spend on more programs, including Sulinha Trio Brazilian Music, Wild Kat Hoops, the Tumble Bus, and more.

We thank the community for all of their gently used book donations and for participating in this program.

Big thank you to the staff and volunteers that work tirelessly every summer to make this a great experience for our community.

Find a new career opportunity without a long commute!

It is an employees' market, and there are many job opportunities available but wouldn't it be wonderful to find a new position in your own community?

Our local job posting boards were recently updated! Ashland Public Schools Nutrition Services is hiring new staff, Carrier at Kidde Fenwal is hiring a machine maintenance technician, and more! Find a new opportunity around town

The Town of Ashland is hiring too. We seek a Human Resource Director, a Public health Nurse, a Mechanic Assistant, Water Technician, and Police Officer (Civil Service Lateral Transfer). Learn more about these opportunities with the Town of Ashland

Ashland Cultural Council Grant is open

Our local cultural council, under the guidance of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, opens its grant cycle on September 1st. All applications to request funding from the ACC must be filled out through the online system by October 17, 2022, at 11:59:59 pm ET.

These grants support a variety of artistic projects and activities in Ashland, including exhibits, festivals, field trips, performances in schools, workshops, and lectures. In recent years, ACC sponsored the Dragonfly Festival, the Mystery Book Festival, events organized by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library, the Ashland High School Robotics Club, and items for the art room at the Warren School and the Ashland Middle School.

Learn more about the ACC or apply for their grant here

Town Meetings, Community Programs, & Events

Upcoming Meetings

Planning Board

September 15th

Select Board

September 21st

Visit the Town of Ashland Website Calendar for all committee meetings and agendas.

Note that all agendas are posted according to Open Meeting Law up to 48 hours in advance.

Movie Night

Friday, September 16th at 6 pm

The Corner Spot | 6 Cherry Street

Celebrate the end of summer with movie night as we watch ENCANTO!

The film begins at dusk, but don’t miss out on the fun beforehand! Before the movie, enjoy activities, live music, grab a bite to eat from Sentie's Kitchen, Uncle Joey’s Cannoli, ice cream from Refreshin’ Concessions, and a beverage from Wine Empire!

Thank you to the Ashland Business Association for sponsoring this event!

Learn More

Pirate Party

Saturday, September 17th at 11 am

Ashland Public Library | 66 Front Street

Ahoy Pirates! Join us for a fun adventure hunting for treasure. Come dressed in your finest pirate clothes. Each pirate will also receive an eye patch, a pirate hat, and a treasure chest to fill with the treasure that you find.

The Friends of the Ashland Public Library

Mini Book Sale & Donation Day

Saturday, September 17th, from 10 am to 1 pm

Ashland Public Library | 66 Front Street

In addition to the Friends' regular Mini Book Sale and Donation Day, we are ALSO selling beautiful Asian brushwork paintings which were donated to the Friends by Don Gordon, owner of Premier Image Gallery.

Learn more

Ashland Town Forest- Native American Stone Structures

Saturday, September 17th from 2:30 - 4:30 pm

Ashland resident, Author, Anthropologist, and Archaeologist, Dr. Curtiss Hoffman will lead us on a fascinating exploration of the native American stone structures in the Town Forest. His carefully researched book Stone Prayers: Native American Stone Constructions of the Eastern Seaboard is a definitive work on this subject. Our walk offers insight into the lives and practices of native tribes that lived in and around what is today our Town Forest.

A.R.E.A Signature Event

Saturday, September 17th from 12- 5 pm

The Corner Spot | 6 Cherry Street

Join Ashland Residents for Equity and Action for their Signature Event celebrating two years of accomplishments.

Celebrate A.R.E.A.’s 2-year anniversary, meet the

organization in person, and just have some fun!

Entertainment Schedule

12:00 - 2:00 pm - Touch and Soul Band

2:00 - 3:00 pm - Kids Cultural Fashion Show

3:00 - 5:00 pm - Panneubean Steel Band

Activities: Book Raffles, Sentie’s Kitchen Apparel Raffle, Face Painting & Temporary Tattoos, Photo Booth, Lawn Games, & More!

Thank you to the Sponsors: Town of Ashland Select Board, Acadian Asset Management, AnneMarie’s Dance Center, Middlesex Savings Bank, Art Remodeling Corp.

Learn about AREA

St. Cecilia's Annual Flea Market

Saturday, September 17th from 9 am - 4 pm and

Sunday, September 18th from 9 am - 1 pm

54 Etsy Street

Learn More

MetroWest K9 5K

Sunday, September 18th at 10 am

MetroWest YMCA | 45 East St. Hopkinton, MA 01748

Join us for a day with your dog featuring the annual Metrowest K95K! The day features a dog-friendly 5K trail run/walk for teams and individuals through the woods at the MetroWest YMCA’s outdoor facility in Ashland/Hopkinton, MA.

This day is for you and your dog. A day to run or walk alone or with your team and enjoy the many planned festivities. Enjoy music, vendors from the human and animal fields, doggy demonstrations, and more!

Learn More

Ashland Town Forest- Quarries Walk

Saturday, September 24th from 9 - 10:30 am

Join us for an interesting walk to the Ashland Town Forest quarries where we will have an on-site discussion about the operation of the quarry and techniques used to remove the stone. You’ll learn about how the stone was used and transported. Also, learn where you may be able to see examples in town.