For town information, community building and pragmatic solutions
This month we’re covering:
– Volunteer opportunities on town boards/committees; Recreation, EDC, Senior Center Committee
– Water resources; A roadmap to reliable and safe water
– Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget planning “high season” is upon us
Links to Newsletter content
- Did You Know?…
- Around Town :
- Business Spotlight – Fine Arts Theatre
- Featured upcoming events in Town:
- Education in Maynard:
- Artist of the Month…Brent Mathison:
- Volunteer Opportunities:
- Maynard Public Library:
- Deeper dives on town challenges and opportunities:
Did You Know?…
Summary: Joint Feb 10 Fiscal Year (FY)25 Operating Budget Development Discussion
Saturday, Feb 10 Joint Budget Review of Finance Committee and Select Board summary highlights:
State Representative Kate Hogan: Gave a brief 2023 overview (see last month’s newsletter) and described good economic indicators but relatively weak revenue growth FY24 and level funding in FY25 overall, with more confidence coming in FY26 and steady Local Aid . State Senator Jamie Eldridge echoed a similar view.
Town Administrator (TA) Greg Johnson presented the current recommended budget and note the guidance for this meeting was shorter presentations to allow for more forward looking discussions. It now goes to review and edits from the Select Board, Budget Sub-committee and Finance Committee by third week of April.
Superintendent of Maynard Public Schools Brian Haas summarized the use of revolving fund balances to augment ~$800,000 shortfall from the TA recommended contribution for FY25 School Budget requests, emphasizing this tactic would not be repeatable for FY26. See slides 24 and 27 in presentation pdf link here
https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/Archive.aspx?AMID=48
Overall summary:
- Town departments’ additional hire requests for Fire department, OMS and DPW are unfunded
- Recent State revenue decreases and Health Benefit and Liability increases still need to be balanced with possible further cuts to other line items
- Town government increase outlier (see slide 5 in link below) is mainly due to consolidating utility costs of all departments here for efficiency plus significant energy cost increases.
- After a number of years of declining debt service expense line item, debt service is going up significantly for Green Meadow building replacement (see slides 4 and 11 in link below), which needs to be allocated versus other traditional operating budget line items and significant capital projects that are now deferred.
- Lindsay McConchie of the Capital Planning committee presented highlights on coming projects for FY25 and are working to complete a longer range capital forecast (see slides 14 to 18 in link to pdf below)
- Operating budget capital line unfunded. Free cash was called a “lifeline” but not a reliable means of dealing with our large unfunded needs list.
- Discussions concluded with commitments of all stakeholders to research and identify other revenue and funding sources that can be added to meet the above challenges. Proposal was made to have an executive summary of this effort as part of Annual Town Meeting (ATM) May 20th.
Don’t miss upcoming chances for your voices to be heard!
This period, between February and Mid-April, offers the chance for citizen input and is the best time for collaborative discussion to review tough budget choices and better understand near and long term plans for sustaining our town’s financial health.
FY25 budget preparation calendar (as outlined in Finance Policy Manual): https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/958/Financial-Policy-Manual-PDF:
Maynard Budget Calendar for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 – Maynard Operating Budget Calendar for SB to propose balanced FY 2025 general fund budget to Annual Town Meeting (ATM) voters. FY25 begins July 1, 2024
- Saturday, Feb 10 Joint Budget Planning Session held at Firehouse
- Third week of March, The Select Board (SB) to adopt a Capital Improvement Plan for the next fiscal year
- Third week of April, The Select Board to approve balanced FY25 operating budget proposal to Annual Town Meeting and authorize its publication in the warrant.
- In early May the Finance Committee (FinCom), representing the Town Meeting voters, holds at least one public hearing to discuss both operating and capital budget proposals and share its recommendations on all warrant articles before the May 20 Annual Town Meeting.
https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/261/Select-Board
Source: Bob McCarthy and Town website:
Around Town :
Economic Development Topics:
New Wayfinding signage coming in February
An effort by the Maynard Economic Development Committee (EDC) is resulting in new and improved wayfinding signage that will lead new visitors -and maybe remind some old ones – to visit Downtown Maynard!
A $7417.50 grant from the Cultural District Enhancement Fund will add or repair directional wayfinding signage highlighting Downtown and the Cultural District. All work is expected to be completed in February.
This effort is part of a broad, phased effort by the EDC to continually promote Downtown and the Cultural District as an activity destination for a variety of activities. A key component of this initiative is to locate wayfinding signage in areas outside of Downtown: particularly where there is a concentrated population of visitors or residents.
Economic development Committee (EDC) vision and 2024 priority initiatives/goals
The EDC Working group presented a list of Objectives and Goals for 2024 to the EDC which was endorsed and approved at the meeting in November.
Looking for a chance to help with economic development? Click here:
https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=164
The main objectives are:
- Understand and improve Maynard’s position vis-à-vis economic competitiveness
- Foster economic growth and strengthen the local economy in a manner consistent with the goals of the Master Plan
- Capitalize on Maynard’s Cultural District Designation
In 2024, EDC goals include the following:
- Help finalize the Downtown Parking Plan
- Host an Annual Business Awards and Recognition Event (See March 10th business awards brunch at Sanctuary in this month’s Featured Events section below)
- Develop strategies to address issues and concerns identified by our local businesses
- Help shepherd and guide new businesses and housing developments through town committees, boards, and permitting/licensing processes; Understand, review, receive feedback, revise, and streamline current processes
- Help conduct educational workshops on “how to do business” in Maynard
- Collaborate with Town Departments, Boards, Committees, and other stakeholders to ensure comprehensive approaches to community and economic development
- Work cooperatively with Town officials to aggressively solicit support for various initiatives from federal, state, and local leaders (Lobbying)
- In conjunction with the Marketing Task Force, help develop and implement a cohesive, consistent and sustainable marketing and promotional strategy that communicates Maynard’s value proposition and advantage to a defined target audience
Source: Armand Diabekirian
Business Spotlight – Fine Arts Theatre
Maynard Fine Arts Theatre at Summer Street is a destination in downtown Maynard.
“A town which can boast cultural offerings such as this movie theatre and local ice cream shop as destination places for entertainment enhances the desirability and therefore economic value of any community. “
Operating the Maynard Fine Arts Theatre (MFAT) and Creamery was a passion project for Dafna Krouk-Gordon and Les Gordon. “We were excited about the possibility of bringing the classic movie house and creamery back to life in Maynard. What appealed to us two years ago when we seriously began to consider the possibility was the opportunity to use this iconic venue as a way to connect the community and re-establish ties and friendships after two years of the pandemic which caused isolation and distance when direct personal contact was avoided by many. “
During its first full year of operation, they implemented their plan to bring first run, arthouse, family and children’s movies to the theatre, offering a combination of films including themed subject topics such as food, sports, and history to appeal to different ages and interests.
The MFAT will continue to bring live offerings such as comedy, musical performances, and simultaneous theatrical enactments of movies shown on the screen. International and national film festivals featuring different specialty themes and historically significant events will be featured throughout the year.
“The theatre and creamery continues to be an excellent venue for birthday parties, family celebrations and corporate events. Pre show advertising is yet another avenue for connecting with other businesses in the community and offering wide ranging visibility for businesses. We are interested in forging partnerships with local businesses which expand customer use of both.
Unique to MFAT is its connection in working with individuals on the autism spectrum and intellectual disabilities. Its close ties with human service agency, TILL, Inc. offers vocational training opportunities in the operation of a theatre and creamery. The partnership with the high school has been a wonderful tie for student internships and community service projects. It is heartwarming to hear of the memories of students in the past who had their first job at the theatre and then return to enjoy it with their own families.”
“Classic venues such as this will survive with the support of local residents. The Maynard community and surrounding towns have been extremely supportive and we are most appreciative of that. We welcome everyone to sign up for our weekly newsletter, tell your friends, and share your ideas with us. Be a part of MFAT and the Creamery’s transformation into a vibrant, exciting place where there is no need for expensive parking lots, no traffic and congestion in getting there, great popcorn, concessions and wine and beer and ice cream.”
“We wish you a great 2024 and thank you for being a part of making MFAT and Creamery a cultural locale where…. Everybody knows your name.”
Source: Armand Diabekirian
Featured upcoming events in Town:
March 1 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Myanna’s All-Star Band
Sanctuary 82 Main Street,
Doors open: 7pm • Performance: 8pm
Full bar. You’re welcome to bring snacks and/or take-out. For a list of Maynard’s many fine restaurants, click here.
Tickets: $20/Advance • $25/door
March 9 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers
Sanctuary 82 Main Street, Maynard, MA
Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers Get ready for another night of foot-stomping, soulful blues as we welcome back Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers to the Sanctuary stage!
For more on events, shopping, things to do, and dining, go to: http://discovermaynard.com
Albert Einstein: Relatively Speaking
https://maynardpubliclibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/albert-einstein-relatively-speaking/
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22 7:00—8:00 PM
Roosevelt Room Maynard Public Library 77 Nason St, Maynard, MA
George Capaccio as Albert Einstein
In this one-hour interactive performance, George invites you to enter the boundary-breaking universe that is the mind of Albert Einstein.
Business Awards brunch March 10th – 10am to 1pm at Sanctuary
The Economic Development Committee (EDC) will hold its first Annual Business Awards and Recognition at the Sanctuary from 10am-1pm. Brunch will be served
Sponsored by: Summer Street Properties, LLC.
Education in Maynard:
Did You Know?…
Advanced Placement (AP) College level course credits and dual college course enrollments
Every year Maynard High School surveys our alumni after their first semester in college and asks what high school experiences prepared them most to be successful in college. AP classes are mentioned every year. Some allow juniors and seniors to earn credits for UMass, Lowell or Amherst campus.
At Maynard High School (MHS) students are able not only to earn their high school diploma but also to take college-level courses. This year we are offering 17 different Advanced Placement, or AP courses in person. There are even more offerings available through Virtual High School.
These classes are designed to mimic the demands of college-level courses and to help students improve their time management, test taking skills, and study skills. Some allow juniors and seniors to earn credits for UMass, Lowell or Amherst campus.
https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/ap-a-glance/discover-benefits
Maynard High School also offers Dual Enrollment (DE) courses. Juniors and Seniors who qualify can take classes at Middlesex Community College either on site or online for a reduced tuition. Juniors and Seniors get credit towards their high school diploma as well as a head start on college credits! The average cost of a three credit course at UMass Amherst is around $1500, and Dual Enrollment courses cost just over $300 this year, so the savings are truly significant. And if a student does well, they can get a dual enrollment grant for a free class. Many students choose to take online courses, so they can work independently during any period. This allows more flexibility when choosing other courses at MHS. By the time students graduate, they can earn an Associate Degree and then transfer to a state school (like UMass) as juniors!
Finally, next year we are piloting a new partnership with UMass Lowell. For a fee of $350 per semester students will be able to take a course with one of our star teachers, Jen Adams, and twice a week professors from UMass Lowell will come to work with our students. As a result, students will be awarded 6 credits in intermediate Spanish to use at UMASS Lowell! Students from the Spanish Immersion Program who have qualifying AP Spanish scores, and who complete both semesters of the new UMass Lowell/MHS course, will be awarded 18 college credits, from UMass Lowell, if they attend. Additionally, UMass Lowell will grant these students a Minor in Spanish after they complete two Spanish courses on site. Add on any other qualifying AP scores and/or Dual Enrollment credits, and these students will have a significant jump start on a Bachelor’s Degrees from UMass Lowell.
Here is a complete list of of AP courses, available to MHS students as early as 10th grade in person
- AP Computer Science A
- AP Computer Science Principles
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP English Literature and Composition
- AP World History: Modern
- AP United States History
- AP US Government and Politics
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Statistics
- AP Biology
- AP Chemistry
- AP Physics I
- AP Drawing
- AP French Language and Culture
- AP Spanish Language and Culture
- AP Spanish Literature and Culture
Source: Elizabeth York, MHS Principal and Olga Doktorov, MHS Assistant Principal
MHS Student Newspaper:
Check out our MHS student newspaper, The Tiger Times! A paper edition will be printed soon, but the newest stories are up online at:
https://maynardhighnewspaper.com/
Info on Bleachers/Green Meadow School Building plans:
Planning Board Site Plan Review Public Hearing: Bleachers/Press Box February 27th:
https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=172
https://www.maynard.k12.ma.us/o/green-meadow-school/page/gm-building-project-information
The estimated construction start is December 2024. The current plan is to have the new building constructed while the existing building is occupied. Once the new building is deemed occupiable by the local officials, which is tentatively scheduled to be winter break of the 26/27 school year, students and staff will move into the new building, and the abatement and demolition of the existing building will occur along with the final sitework. This will bring construction completion to be around Spring / Summer of 2027 and project closeout going through mid-2028.
Related Capital Planning Context:
Maynard Advantage will publish Capital Project Plans as they are finalized in the coming months.
Approach
- Prioritize Projects based on scores, discussion, available funding, and Department Heads priorities
- Highest Prioritized projects to recommended list. For current spend, we use approximately $1M as the cut off per year to plan and adjust when we get numbers from TA.
- Build the 5 year plan
- Defer non-recommended projects in order of priority to future years targeting approximately $1M/Year
- Review Town asset list to add in projected replacement of obsolete equipment (in progress)
- Review debt service levels projected 5 years out and identify timing opportunities of debt funded projects
Source: Bob McCarthy and Jon Larkin
Artist of the Month…Brent Mathison:
Brent Mathison is a lens-based artist residing in Maynard, Massachusetts. His images have been exhibited throughout New England and primarily focus on the natural and human-made landscape. He uses a variety of photographic methods and alternative printing processes to bring attention to the details of our everyday world. To view Brent’s work visit his website at:
I call myself a lens-based artist. While some of my work is traditional photography, both film and digital, a lot of what I do is alternative/historical process printing. I capture the images using a camera and print them using methods that were invented in the 19th century.
These processes include cyanotype, the Prussian blue prints that you have likely seen; platinum printing, which uses a solution of the noble metal platinum to create a black and white print; and gum printing, which uses watercolor pigments suspended in gum arabic to create either a single or multi-color print.
Much of my work is inspired by the charm and beauty in and around Maynard. Maynard, like any place, has its shortcomings, but if you look around there are far more things to appreciate about this little town than to complain about.
In 2015 my job moved us from North Carolina to Massachusetts. During the house hunting trip we found houses we liked in Marlborough, Framingham, Hudson, and other nearby towns, but in Maynard we instantly felt at home and this is where we decided to settle. This was the first place I ever lived where I wanted to be actively involved, so I joined the Planning Board and later the Cultural Council, which helped us integrate into our new community even faster.
A different job moved us back to North Carolina in 2018. It should have been an easy transition back, as that is where I had lived since 1998, but it was anything but easy. After 11 months I couldn’t be away any longer, so we moved back to Maynard. There were so many things about this place that I missed – the vibrant arts community, the walkable downtown, the access to nature, and most of all the people.
Never have I felt such a connection to place, and that is why I consider Maynard to be my true hometown.
Source: Armand Diabekirian
Volunteer Opportunities:
https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/
Scroll down on Home Page to ‘Latest News’ for current openings on the Senior Center Committee and Recreation Commission
Maynard Public Library:
Museum Passes: Beat the mid-winter cabin fever blues with museum passes:
https://maynardpubliclibrary.assabetinteractive.com/museum-passes/by-museum/
Free Tax Assistance and Preparation: The Maynard Public Library is again hosting the AARP Tax-Aide program for the upcoming tax season. The Tax-Aide program provides tax preparation for anyone, free of charge, with a focus on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low to moderate income. IRS-certified volunteers can prepare and e-file your Federal and Massachusetts tax returns.
The service covers most personal tax returns, but not business returns or returns for those who own rental property. The service begins the first week of February. Appointments are required and can be made by calling (978) 760-9146 starting January 15.
The local group of volunteers covers six towns. Last year they did returns for 122 Maynard residents and the average refund, from both Federal and Massachusetts returns, was about $1,150.
Source: Jean Maguire and Jack MacKeen
Deeper dives on town challenges and opportunities:
#1 Exploring our Strategy for Sustainable Water and Sewer Resources
First in a quarterly series on status of Maynard water system resources and planned steps to establish a medium and long term sustainable supply.
This month we start with current status on capacity and federal/state regulations on water quality standards
The Maynard DPW has formulated a clear pathway to invest in medium range plans for the town’s three well site locations, each with a water treatment facility, as well as long range plans to work with the state and Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) to maintain and enhance our water supply infrastructure as summarized here:
Current 4-phase plan…with contingencies
Phase 1: Increase capacity at Well 4 water treatment plant (WTP behind Fowler School and Maynard Crossing) by adding a new well supply (Well 4A) and adding backwash waste recycling at the WTP. Completion estimated Spring 2024
Phase 2: Rockland Ave – Increase capacity at Rockland Avenue WTP by adding a new well supply (to replace a failed well source) and adding backwash waste recycling. plan to complete 3-7 years.
Phase 3a: Old Marlboro Road (OMR): Increase capacity at OMR water treatment facility by upgrading the treatment process, which will allow for Well 3 to be brought back online.
Phase 3b: Connect to MWRA; blends with well distribution system. 20-40 years for completion. Cost TBD. Some community hookups possible earlier, and Maynard is relatively close to a main distribution shaft.
Current implementation plan comments and details:
- We are proactively planning to increase water capacity and improve quality from our town operated well system for new (beyond Maynard Crossing) development opportunities for housing, businesses or industry. In this regard, Maynard is ahead of some surrounding communities in planning for these future issues.
- New challenges derive from rules on PFAS and other contaminant levels
- On October 2, 2020, MassDEP published its public drinking water standard1 for Massachusetts Maximum Contaminant Level (MMCL) of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L), or parts per trillion (ppt) for a group of six Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)2.
- The MWRA is planning to make available a potential alternative source3 to our town wells, to connect Maynard and other MetroWest municipalities to Eastern MA communities already receiving water from Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs. Timeline covers the next 20 to 40 years , with some community hookups possible earlier.
- A potential scenario presented in the report below in footnote 3 includes a water transmission main connecting Maynard from Shaft L to Concord… Service would be provided to Bedford, Concord, Hudson, Lincoln, Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, and Wayland on this distribution line, a subset of the larger project
- According to the MWRA, its water quality is significantly better than the water Maynard draws from its three groundwater sources and PFAS levels already meet coming new standards. MWRA is willing to provide Maynard 1.7 Million Gallons per Day (MGD), exceeding the 1.13 MGD amount Maynard is currently permitted to draw from our wells. This also represents an amount that can meet our water demands based on future growth estimates from population and business development according to our consultant engineering firm Stantec.
1 https://www.mass.gov/lists/massachusetts-pfas-drinking-water-standard-mcl
2 https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-10/final-virtual-pfas-explainer-508.pdf
3 https://www.mwra.com/02org/html/expansion/073123-metrowest-1.pdf
Coming in May. More detail on Phase 2 costs and fee impact, timeline and capacity improvements… and positive effects on development opportunities
General DPW information on Water Resources:
https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/213/Public-Works-DPW
And from previous newsletters, A Must Read…
https://www.townwidemall.com/news/the-hidden-story-of-water
Sources: Bob McCarthy and Mark Alston-Follansbee with Justin DeMarco, DPW Director, Glenn Koenig and , Vicki Brown Stevens/townwidemall.com
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Some links for more town information:
Email: MaynardAdvantage@townofmaynard.net
Website: maynardadvantage.org
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https://www.maynardpubliclibrary.org/
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