Jonathan Douglas Ford

The meeting covered project updates including the Stoughton Motel Conversion, which is nearing completion pending final electrical connection, and the Hansen School Playground, delayed until spring due to weather impacting surface installation. The committee reviewed the update on Town Hall Pocket Parks, which will be redesigned due to an abutting property purchase. Progress on the Town Vital Records Preservation project was discussed, noting the installation of new shelving and the need to retrieve lost electronic records. A key action was the recommendation to move the Community Center Exterior Project forward as a Fiscal Year 2026 expense to meet the timeline for the town's 300th Anniversary. New Business also included a review of draft warrant articles for the Annual Town Meeting, involving significant recommendations for Stoughton Housing Authority, Denison Athletic Complex renovation, restoration of an antique fire truck, funding for Stoughton Youth Soccer fields, and a 'hedge' request for Hebrew SeniorLife concerning a previously approved project, as well as historic preservation funding for 810 Washington Street. The committee also reviewed and approved the draft Fiscal Year 2027 budget and discussed several administrative matters, including finalizing the closeout for the Elm Street Complex project.

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance and an executive session to discuss strategy concerning threatened and imminent litigation related to 576 Pleasant Street. Following the executive session, the Board deliberated on the Site Plan Review and Special Permit request for 576 Pleasant Street. The proposal involves constructing a 3-story, 52,515 SF mixed-use building with 43 apartments and retail space. The Board reviewed six criteria for the Special Permit, covering social/economic needs, traffic flow, utilities, neighborhood character, environmental impacts, and fiscal impact. Despite some opposition centered on traffic concerns, the Board determined the application met the criteria, largely because the existing traffic issues would persist regardless of the project. The Board ultimately approved the criteria findings, the Site Plan Review, and the Special Permit application for the project.

The meeting included public hearings and discussions on several agenda items. For Case File SPP24-001 regarding Turnpike Street, the Board agreed to postpone the required sidewalk construction until April 2026. Regarding SP25-004 for 501 Technology Center Drive, the Board discussed modifications to interior landscaping, requesting the applicant return with a revised plan adding more frontage plantings, while allowing occupancy based on a $25,000 bond. A continued public hearing for a Sign Special Permit (SPP25-006) at 614 Park Street, concerning a setback variance for a freestanding sign, was postponed until March 12, 2026, with requests for more detailed landscape plans and sign specifications, including night dimming controls. A new public hearing was held for proposed amendments to the Town of Stoughton Zoning Bylaw concerning rezoning several properties between RC, GB, and I districts; this hearing was continued until February 12, 2026, due to board discussion and a property owner's request. A new public hearing was also held regarding a proposed amendment to establish regulations for Senior Housing Development (Section 7.6), involving discussions on applicable zones and potential locations adjacent to the Senior Center.

The committee reviewed and approved the minutes from the November 17, 2025, and December 1, 2025, meetings. Key discussions centered on defining quorum, specifically addressing the discrepancy between charter language that suggests basing quorum on all possible seats versus the recommendation to use the number of currently serving members plus one, to avoid issues with vacant seats. Suggestions for revised quorum language were proposed, including defining it as 50% plus 1 of currently serving members, with specific rounding rules, and deciding to place this definition in a new section of Chapter 14 of the Charter. The committee also discussed preliminary elections, including the rationale for the current threshold that triggers them and the associated costs. Follow-up actions include contacting Town Counsel regarding the scope of the committee's authority to propose changes like Rank Choice Voting and obtaining information on such transitions. Finally, the committee agreed to schedule a meeting on March 30, 2026, before the general municipal election on April 7, 2026, to address potential voter questions regarding charter changes.

The meeting included a staff update from the Outreach Coordinator, which detailed contact methods and reasons for assistance sought by COA members in 2025, noting a high volume of inquiries related to SHINE services and the ongoing challenge in meeting this demand. The Director's update noted that no voting would occur due to a procedural issue with agenda distribution, reviewed December activities, and outlined upcoming events, including a Veteran's coffee, a photo opportunity, and a presentation to the Finance Committee regarding the COA budget. The Board also briefly discussed Stoughton's 300th Anniversary celebration and the potential for a procedural change to permanently move the staff updates earlier in the agenda. A new activity, gin rummy, was introduced.