What's Warranted?

Welcome back!

Sudbury is learning a lot about its future as each day passes. Here’s what we have for you this week:

1. Send Questions for LWV Candidates’ Forum

2. Select Board Accepts Warrant Articles

3. School Committee Stonewalls On After-School Care

4. SudburyWeekly.com News Roundup

5. Thoughts In Return? A Q&A With the Sudbury DPW

6. Film and Discussion of the Impact of Gun Violence on Public Health at the Presbyterian Church in Sudbury

Let’s get into it!

Send Questions for LWV Candidates’ Forum

Submitted by the League of Women Voters of Sudbury

Do you have questions for the candidates running for Select Board and Sudbury School Committee (pre-K-8)?

The League of Women Voters of Sudbury asks residents to submit questions for the 68 th annual Candidates’ Forum for the candidates in the contested races for Select Board and SPS committee. Encourage your friends to submit questions as well.

The deadline to send questions is Monday, Feb. 19, at 5 p.m. Email questions to [email protected], or mail them to Candidates’ Forum, LWV Sudbury, P.O. Box 338, Sudbury, MA 01776.

Questions on the same topic may be combined. The identity of those asking a question will not be disclosed. Questions will be asked of all candidates, so questions specific to individuals will not be asked.

The Candidates’ Forum will be available on SudburyTV throughout March leading up to the March 25 Annual Town Election.

Voters can speak directly with the candidates at the League’s informal, in-person, drop-in Meet the Candidates event Sunday, March 10, from 2-4 p.m. at the Goodnow Library. Learn more at www.lwvsudbury.org.

Information on registering to vote and how to vote in the Annual Town Election is in the FAQs section of the League website.

Select Board Accepts Warrant Articles

By Kevin LaHaise

On Tuesday the Select Board was tasked with accepting the warrant articles for the 2024 Annual Town Meeting, and accept them they did. (32:48) You can review the articles starting on page 18 here.

There were no major surprises among the articles. But we did learn a bit more about projects and initiatives that have been discussed previously. The articles are typically organized and ordered on the warrant according to a loose tradition. It did sound like there might some jockeying to move a few of the articles around. The Select Board will likely do that at a future date, so here’s a selection of noteworthy articles organized according to Sudbury Weekly’s own themes.

The “Can we all still be friends after this?” Warrant Articles:

• Firearms Safety Business Use Zoning Bylaw

• MBTA Communities

The “Where the heck did that come from?” Warrant Article:

• Acquisition of MBTA Buildings

This one has been mentioned in Historical Commission meetings, but hasn’t been talked about much beyond those meetings. They want to acquire the Section Tool House, just off Boston Post Road along the Mass Central Rail Trail, as well as the South Sudbury Train Station, which is near Station Rd and Union Rd near the intersection of the Mass Central Rail Trail and the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. According to Town Manager Sheehan, it’s going to be one of those no-cost acquisitions, and it’s only the buildings being acquired, not the land. Both are historic assets along Sudbury’s rail trails.

The “Whatsit gonna cost?” Warrant Article:

• Atkinson Pool Renovation

The pool renovation has been discussed previously in multiple committee meetings. There were some comments in committee meetings about back-of-the-napkin prices in the $2-to-$3 million range, and there has been ample anticipation for a final number. In the packet it is listed for $2,350,000, so it’s safely on the lower end of the range that has been discussed. There have been other articles passed in recent years for various repairs at the pool, so there might be more to follow on this story.

The Deja Vu Warrant Articles:

• Building Permit Fees

• Conservation Commission Fees

• Zoning Bylaw Codification

Town Manager Sheehan had indicated that fees would come back in a different form after they were amended out of an article at Special Town Meeting in October of 2023. At the time, Sheehan pointed out that Sudbury’s fees have lagged behind other communities, and while they’re not a huge source of money for the Town, they can create flexibility in the budget. These don’t appear to be radically new articles, but they appear to be repackaged based on feedback from the hall during Special Town Meeting last fall.

“Capital Night” is February 12. The Select Board, the Finance Committee and the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee will hold a joint meeting to talk about all of the capital articles. That’s your best bet for a one-stop download on all things capital for Town Meeting. We’ll have full coverage next week.

School Committee Stonewalls On After-School Care

By Kevin LaHaise

On Monday the Sudbury Public Schools (SPS) School Committee discussed whether or not to welcome a parent group to a future committee meeting to review the results of a recent survey on after-school needs throughout the community. According to the parent group, Parents for Sudbury After School Solutions, they received over 300 responses to their survey representing 467 students. The results of the survey were announced on Monday and they demonstrated enormous unmet after-school needs and hardships for hundreds of Sudbury families.

Given the enormous response to the survey, and the acute family challenges evidenced by the results, the school committee was quick to thank the parent group for their efforts to quantify the challenges and bring the data to their attention. They voiced an earnest desire to discuss the challenges SPS families were facing, and an eagerness to work on solutions wherever possible.

The response from the committee was, in fact, quite the opposite. (1:01:50) All the members insisted that this issue was outside of the purview of the committee, with several claiming that they are limited to dealing with what happens within the school day. Some members opted to criticize the parent group, claiming this effort was a “regression” to a prior paradigm for SPS. Another said this was akin to a lobbying group, suggesting it was somehow unseemly or inappropriate, and not just a group of parents advocating to solve a challenge that all parties agreed existed. (1:10:30)

The jabs towards the public continued, including vague criticism leveled at all current candidates for school committee, and parents who objected to recent Valentine’s Day changes. Even the general public was passively criticized for not engaging enough on the school committee business that some members felt was more important. (1:05:00)

In short, the SPS School Committee doesn’t want to touch after-school care, primarily because they insist it’s not their business, even if they empathize with families about the very real problem that it is. Each member did make a point to empathize with what they felt was a legitimate challenge for parents, and several expressed a hope that this conversation could continue elsewhere in the community. But all of the members were adamant that it wasn’t within their purview.

Whose Purview Is It Anyway? 

Somewhat amusingly, one member of the school committee acknowledged that the committee itself votes to approve the vendor for extended day (Sudbury Extended Day), but still felt after-school care was out of the purview of the committee. (1:17:15)

Upon further research, the claim that after-school and extended day programs were outside of committee purview appears questionable at best.

Guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) on after-school programs says the exact opposite. It turns out school committees are explicitly given broad authority over district-run after-school programs under Massachusetts General Laws. That DESE guidance document opens with this rather clear statement:

You can also review the various sections of the relevant law here. Here’s how that section kicks off:

Ensuing sections of the law give the committee the authority to set fees and receive federal funds for such programs. Further details in the DESE guidance spell out the type of programs they’re talking about:

All of that raises the question: on what basis did all five members of the SPS School Committee come to believe after-school care was entirely outside of their purview?

Additional regulations encourage school committees to “exceed the minimum number of school days wherever possible, and to offer extended day and extended year programs that expand student learning opportunities.”

It appears the comments about the “purview” of the SPS School Committee are merely the opinion of the members, and are not necessarily based on the powers and authorities granted by law to school committees in Massachusetts.

Looking outside of Sudbury, it’s not hard to find examples of school committees working on after-school care or extended day programs. The Reading School Committee recently voted to authorize rate changes for their after-school program, and has been overseeing an expansion of their program to serve 700 students.

What’s Appropriate?

As for the method the parent group used to bring this issue to the attention of the school committee, the committee’s own policy manual states:

There were several comments in the meeting suggesting the parent group was bypassing a proper process, or evading the administration by bringing this to the committee. Yet it’s unclear what process that would be in light of the committee’s own policy manual. Policy manual aside, the SPS School Committee chair confirmed for Sudbury Weekly that it was her understanding the parent group did meet with the administration already.

During the Monday meeting, one member suggested working directly with private businesses in Sudbury to help grow after-school opportunities rather than taking this to the school committee. Parents for Sudbury After School Solutions has already called for an inclusive, community-oriented approach that engages all parties, including businesses. From their website:

Finding An Ally

It didn’t take long for Parents for Sudbury After School Solutions to find an ally in local government. A representative presented the findings of their survey to the Sudbury Park and Recreation Commission on Tuesday night. By the end of the discussion the commissioners voted unanimously to send a letter to the Select Board and Town Manager advocating for them to put the issue on the Select Board agenda, and consider creating a Town Manager’s Working Group to get to work on solutions. The commissioners appeared to find the data persuasive, if not alarming, and acted with urgency. (49:00) (Motion and vote at 1:47:40)

The idea was that a Town Manager’s Working Group would be the most effective vehicle to advance the town towards a viable solution. Insofar as after-school care often requires close coordination between Town and school departments, a working group might bring more of those parties to the table from the start.

It remains unclear what role SPS will play, if any, as after-school care conversations move forward. With a school committee that is adamant that it has no business dealing with after-school care programs, and an administration that offered no comment during the discussion on Monday, it seems clear the district wants the public to look somewhere anywhere else for solutions.

But what happens if a proposed solution from another department or committee requires just a little collaboration with SPS for the good of Sudbury students and families? Will the school committee maintain their hardline position on this issue? Or will a more collaborative attitude prevail?

Questionable comments about after-school purview aside, the SPS School Committee’s comments on Monday sent a chilling message to Sudbury parents who may wish to raise an issue to their elected school representatives: if you ask for “two-way communication” with the committee, you do so at your own risk of public criticism.

SudburyWeekly.com News Roundup

Here’s what you’ll find on the site this week!

Victory Cigar Permanently Surrenders Tobacco Permit

Nerssessian Withdraws from SPS Race, Poch Certified for Select Board

LS Athletics: Warriors Review and Weekly Events

Friends of the Goodnow Library Present a Piano and Cello Concert

OPINION: The Stealth Gun Shops Bylaw

Thoughts In Return?

A Q&A with the Sudbury Department of Public Works

The Sudbury Department of Public Works is responsible for an enormous amount of critical work and infrastructure in Sudbury. They were kind enough to take some time and answer a few questions about the initiatives they’re focused on right now, and others on the roadmap in the near future.

The DPW has been publishing a lot of informational materials about sustainable and safe practices in home maintenance, snow and ice removal, and many other topics. How did this effort get started, and what are your goals?

The Public outreach started with the introduction of the Comprehensive Waste Water Management Plan. The Town currently does not have the means or a facility to collect and treat wastewater. This means that everyone, including commercial and industrial facilities have to handle their wastewater on site with septic system. Out of this outreach program we began to include other topics to better educate the residents about being more environmentally conscious while going about their day to day lives. The goal is to educate residents on the impact they may have on Environmental Sustainability by doing something a simple as washing their car on grass or gravel (pervious surfaces) therefore preventing soap and contaminants from entering the stormwater system, ultimately flowing into a stream, pond, or wetland.

What are the current sustainability priorities for the Department of Public Works?

We are currently making great strides in stormwater management. This is accomplished by monitoring outfalls for contaminants of concern, identifying the source and planning a remediation process to correct any issues. One way that this is done is by installing rain gardens to divert and organically treat stormwater prior to letting it get to any stream, pond, or wetland.

The DPW has shared a lot of information about stormwater pollution. Can you tell us a bit about why that's such an important topic in Sudbury?

Stormwater is a large concern, not only for Sudbury, but for all municipalities nationwide. Geographically, the Town has a very large amount of acreage consumed by ponds, rivers, streams, and wetlands. It is critical that these areas do not become contaminated by polluted stormwater as once a water body becomes contaminated the remediation costs skyrocket exponentially as well as upsetting the balance of the ecosystem.

The DPW has been consistently investing in culvert repair and replacement. What the heck are culverts, and why are they an ongoing focus area in Sudbury?

As mentioned earlier, the Town has many rivers and streams which are traversed by roadways and now, new rail trails. In order for the safe passage of motorists and pedestrians culverts (a structure or conduit that allows water to flow under a road, railroad, trail, or similar obstruction from one side to the other) are placed in appropriate locations to ensure a hydraulic connection is maintained. Many of the culverts in Town are failing due to age, type of structure, (stone, steel, aluminum, or concrete) and are requiring replacement. Many are undersized and are contributing to some road flooding at times. It is imperative that these structures are maintained and replaced on an ongoing basis so as to limit the disruption of the normal flow of traffic. Permitting and design criteria greatly influence the speed at which a culvert is replaced as well as appropriate funding.

The DPW has had to deal with some unique storms this winter, and heavy rain for much of last year. How do these weather events/patterns impact your operations? What has been the key to successfully ensuring public safety and maintaining Sudbury's infrastructure as you face these challenges?

Storm patterns have changed considerably over the last few years. We have been experiencing many more rain, ice, and wind events recently. This presents a huge challenge for our Public Works team. We are very cognizant about the amount of anti icing materials that we use. Rain and freezing rain events force us at times to reapply material at a rate higher than a good old fashioned snow storm. During a “normal” snow event we can usually clear the roads of snow by mechanical means (plowing), apply a round of salt and call it a day. With rain and freezing rain events we have to continually monitor road conditions and treat/apply salt as conditions demand. On top of this, saturated and unstable soils allow for trees to become uprooted and topple on to roadways creating more work for our already taxed team. These storms are very demanding on personnel, equipment, and budgets. Our dedicated and experienced team is the key to handling any storm or emergency while always keeping public safety as our goal.

Is there anything else residents should know about the work the Sudbury Department of Public Works will be doing for the community in 2024?

We are already planning for our 2024 paving and pavement preservation program. There are plans for intersection improvements and a bridge replacement subject to funding. Keep a lookout for a Public Works open house to be held sometime in May.

Film and Discussion of the Impact of Gun Violence on Public Health at the Presbyterian Church in Sudbury

Submitted by the Presbyterian Church in Sudbury

The documentary film “Trigger: The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence” will be shown Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, followed by a facilitated discussion session. The event is free and open to the public.

The film showing and discussion will be in person at the Presbyterian Church in Sudbury, 330 Concord Rd., Sudbury, Massachusetts, at 2:00 p.m. It will also be available on Zoom. Register to attend in person or via Zoom here (meeting #834-1848-0191).

“Trigger” is a 51-minute documentary examining the impact a shooting has on a survivor, a family, a community, and society in general.

David Barnhart, the film’s writer and director, will attend the event to discuss the film’s back story. State Sen. Jamie Eldridge will discuss pending gun control legislation.

This event is sponsored by the Presbyterian Church in Sudbury, Beth El Antiracism Working Group, the League of Women Voters of Sudbury, Sudbury United Methodist Church, St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, Memorial Congregational Church, and First Parish of Sudbury UU.

Parting Thoughts

That’s a wrap for this week. Stay tuned next week for a whole bunch more.

We still have more to write-up from the last few days, including some updates on rail trails and recreation. You’ll find those articles on the site soon. But next week the municipal discussions will largely focus on the Town budget and capital articles for Town Meeting. Municipal finance stories don’t generally lend themselves toward animated GIFs, which are our favorite things in the world. Fortunately, joint meetings of three boards or committees almost always lend themselves to animated GIF’s; so next Friday we should be able to have a little fun with the news.

We’re on to Capital Night!

Onward!