Weekly Town Manager Newsletter |
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The following information as of November 12, 2020
Local Confirmed Cases in Ashland = 440
Ashland has 440 positive confirmed cases for COVID-19 with 375 cleared cases, 88 probable cases, and 82 cleared probable cases. The Ashland Board of Health team and volunteer nurses are diligently working to keep our community safe at this time.
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If you display symptoms for COVID-19, or have been in close contact with an individual that tested positive, please get tested.
Serology, PCR tests, and Antigen tests are also available.
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Stress & Coping Resources |
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Baker- Polito Administration Announces Targeted Measures to Curb Rising COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations- Learn more
Baker- Polito Administration Announces Comprehensive Eviction Diversion Initiative to keep people safely housed during pandemic- Learn More
Baker- Polito Administration Travel Order- Learn More
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Mark your calendars- Special Town Meeting
Special Town Meeting - December 8, 2020
Discussing Warrant Articles deferred from May including:
- Article 1: Free Cash Transfer
- Article 2: Property Tax Exemption
- Article 3: Acceptance of Brave Act: Property Tax Exemption
- Acceptance of Brave Act: veteran Tax Work off Program
- Amend Zoning Bylaw: Valentine Overlay District
- Authorization to Sell or Lease 133 West Union Street for Adaptive Reuse
- Acceptance land and change boundaries for 433 Chestnut
- Land Tracking: Accept Easement from Independence lane to install Booster pump station
- Amend General Bylaw: Stormwater Lien
- CPC: Fund Construction of Trolley Brook Section of Upper Charles Trail
- CPC: Fund Town Forest Improvements
- Amend Zoning Bylaw: Design Review process
Special Town Meeting- January 9, 2021
Discussing the Warrant Articles specifically for the Public Safety Building and Mindess School Building Projects
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Additional detail on Special Town Meeting Warrant Articles
Several articles are routine matters that are typically handled at the Special Fall Town Meeting each year. This includes allocating certified free cash in accordance with our financial policies, presenting any necessary budget transfers and voting on the senior tax exemption. This year eligible seniors will be able to save approximately $800 on their property taxes.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, there was a decision in May to defer articles that were not time sensitive to the Fall. These include two CPC articles. The first article will recommend $120,000 for the construction of the Trolley Brook Trail section of the Upper Charles Trail. The second CPC article recommends $9,700 to help the Town Forest Committee maintain and enhance the Town Forest. This will include installing boundary markers, deer enclosures, and enhancing the model rain garden. Additionally, the Stormwater Advisory Committee has sponsored an article that will allow the Town to lien properties if stormwater fees goes unpaid.
There are several important new business articles for Town Meeting to take up. There are two articles that will ask the Town to consider to accept the Brave Act, MGL ch. Sections 5 and 5N, which would exempt gold star families from property tax and create a veteran tax work off program. The Town will also be asked to conduct a friendly land taking on Independence Lane. This will allow the Town to install a needed water booster pump station on common land for the neighborhood. Additionally, the Town will be asking for approval to accept the change in lot lines and then subsequently consummate the sale of 433 Chestnut Street. This article will be presented to clean-up the lot lines and complete the sale in which a private investor will restore the home to historical preservation standards.
The Town will also be asked to vote on two articles related to the Valentine Property. This will include creating an overlay zoning district, which will allow the property to be restored in a way that achieves the goals of the Town and the Valentine Committee. The second article will be providing the Select Board with the authorization to sell or lease the property. Over the last year the Valentine Committee has done its due diligence in exploring possible ways to revitalize this property. After considering possible construction, operation and maintenance costs the committee began to explore the possibility of a public private partnership. At this time, partly due to the existing conditions of the barn, the committee has issued a Request for Proposal asking the private sector to submit adaptive reuse proposals that will outline their plan to revitalize this property. Any sale or lease will be required to adhere to several deed restrictions including preserving a portion of the parcel for publicly accessible Open Space, historical preservation of both the home and barn, and limiting any future development on the parcels. The proposals were due November 24, 2020. The committee has begun its review process and it is their hope that they can present a viable proposal that brings the Town’s vision for this property to fruition.
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Election Results
10,499 Ashland Residents voted in this year's State Election.
The Town Clerk's office sent over 6,100 mail- in ballots.
Thank you to Tara, Cindy, Kelly, Jean, Will, and all of the volunteers that helped make the election process successful!
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Riverwalk and Mill Pond
Open from dawn to dusk
The Riverwalk is a beautiful space for our community to enjoy and the love others have shown have exceeded our expectations. We could never have anticipated the amount of cars that would be parking there and have since added temporary no parking signs along both sides of Pine Hill Road. If the parking lot at Mill Pond is full please utilize the municipal parking lot behind town hall, just a few blocks away from Mill Pond. (You could even pop into the Bagel Table for a coffee or snack on your way). Parking is also available on Ponderosa Road. Please enjoy the park, respect the neighbors along the way and carry out what you carry in.
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Plastic bag ban back in effect
Under the Bylaw, thin-film single-use plastic bags with handles and a thickness less than 4.0 mils, are prohibited from being distributed at checkout. Product bags, trash bags and thin-film plastic bags used to contain dry cleaning, newspapers, produce, meat or fish, typically without handles, are still permissible.
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Take a look at our website for new job opportunities!
The Town of Ashland seeks an Activity & Volunteer Coordinator, Police Officer, Dispatcher, Assistant Animal Control Officer, and Remote Learning Assistant.
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Borrow Puzzles and Board Games from the library!
Looking for fun things to do at home with your family this winter?
Checkout the library's amazing new collection of board games and puzzles in their Library of Things Collection! Borrow the item for 2 weeks, with one renewal. Reserve them online with your library card, and pick them up curbside!
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Practically fit with MaryEllen on WACA!
Move your body and follow along with MaryEllen as she walks through variations of her exercise routines, so all levels can participate.
WACA local channel:
Tuesdays- 9am, 2:30pm and 8pm
Thursdays- 10:30am, 8:30pm
Saturdays- 2pm and 5:30pm
Verizon Channel - Public 39, Education 40, Government 45
Comcast Channel- Public 8, Education 96, Government 11
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Decisions at Every Turn Presents
Mindful Parenting Presentation with Linda Price
Watch DAET's presentation Mindful Parenting of K-12 Youth with Linda Price, M.Ed., CAGS, for strategies to cultivate mindful parenting. Her tips and resources are highly relevant as we parent through the pandemic, but are useful for supporting our kids and teens throughout their lives.
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Congratulations on your Retirement!
Thank you for your service!
The Town of Ashland Police Department Congratulates:
- Barbara Thoresen for her 49 years of service
- David Beaudoin for 36 years of service
- Bill Foster for 32 years of service
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Thank you!
Thank you to Sgt Ed Burman, Amy Childs, our Health Department, and our Board of Health, for all of your extra efforts keeping our community safe during this pandemic!
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Upcoming Meetings & Events |
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for virtual committee meetings and agendas
for upcoming events
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Virtual Community Narcan Training Available
Wednesday, November 18th from 12 - 1 pm
Join Framingham and Natick Public Health Departments for a virtual community overdose prevention training opportunity.
At this training, participants will learn:
- How opioids work and what causes an overdose
- How to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose
- Learn where to access naloxone (Narcan), the overdose reversal medication
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Virtual Senior Health & Wellness Fair
Presented by Senate President Karen E. Spilka
Friday, November 20, 2020 at 10 am.
Check local public access TV listings if you live in MetroWest!
Designed to help seniors maintain their mental and physical health during the Pandemic, this event will feature expertise and resources from local and state experts, including: strategies to beat social isolation with AARP Massachusetts President Sandra Harris; short workshops on at-home fitness, fraud prevention, and finding the right care; and overviews of community organizations and services that can help with transportation, fighting scams, and lifelong learning, as well as helplines and other resources-by-phone. There will be fun and entertainment too!
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Decisions at Every Turn Coalition Presents
What Every Parent Needs to Know About Youth Vaping
Monday, November 23rd at 7 pm
Can vaping impact youth mental health? Is there a link between vaping & COVID? Can I get addicted after one-time use? How does vaping affect the teen brain?
Join us for a live 30-Minute Zoom Interview with Dr. Safdar Medina. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to watch this presentation with their tweens and teens. Dr. Medina will provide answers to these and other questions about youth vaping
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Local Business Information |
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Highlights
- Baker-Polito Administration Announces Targeted Measures to Curb Rising COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations Learn More
- Town of Ashland's Plastic Bag Ban is Back in Effect Learn More
- NEW Grant Opportunities
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The Economic Development Department put together resources to help business owners establish a location in Ashland, maintain their business, and help reopen their establishment in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Read the latest newsletter from Beth Reynolds,
Ashland's Economic Development Director's newsletter here.
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Stay informed with the Town of Ashland |
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