05/06/2024
With the upcoming election next Tuesday, May 14, 2024, I thought I would post the letter included in the annual Mendon Town Report distributed at the Annual Town Meeting last Friday night.
To the Citizens of Mendon
2024 has been a year of continuing expanded efforts at communication and collaboration. As Select Board members, we have worked hard to connect individually and collectively with the many facets of our Town government. We are extremely fortunate to have many talented and dedicated individuals who go above and beyond for our community. This commendable spirit of collaboration and achievement underscores Mendon’s resilience and community dedication. Broadcasting and recording all public meetings on Teams & YouTube continues to increase transparency and communication.
There have been challenges connected to our ongoing search for a permanent Town Administrator; many individuals stepped up and did phenomenal work to keep our Town running smoothly. The synergy between the Select Board and department heads has not only facilitated effective governance but has also reinforced Mendon's foundation for future growth and community well-being, exemplifying a shared commitment to serving and enriching our town.
In addition to the Town’s hard-working employees, our community benefits immensely from the many volunteers who serve on boards and committees. It has been a pleasure to work alongside these volunteers and community members, attending committee / board meetings, participating in community events in addition to regular Select Board meetings, and learning firsthand the goals and projects of each committee.
Since the Town has operated without a capital plan for several years, establishing one was a critical recommendation from both the DLS Study and Master Plan. The Select Board prioritized a Capital Improvement Plan and Process as a primary objective for this past fiscal year. Under the guidance of the Finance team, a working group was established to prioritize FY25 needs, funding sources as well as a framework to embed capital planning within the annual budget process. Moving forward, a formal capital improvement committee (CIC) will be established to collaborate with Department Heads and Town officials to ensure the Town’s capital needs are assessed, prioritized, and funded in a proactive fashion.
In related efforts, the Select Board increased emphasis on long range planning, and formalizing policies and procedures. To this end, the Board held a formalized workshop on long-term goals and objectives, with individual Board members beginning work on projects of interest, including but not limited to:
- Establishment of a 5-year capital planning process (as described above) performed as part of the budget process.
- Creation of an IT working group to establish policies and procedures for virtual meetings and IT resources.
- Creation of a policy manual working group to update and modernize the Selectboard policy manual.
The past twelve months have seen the completion and proposal of several projects of high public interest and high value for the town:
• The Parks Department has completed the renovation of the Mendon Town Beach. The results have surpassed expectations, and the beach is resource that the town can be proud of. The Select Board was proud to compete in the Annual Cardboard Boat Race along with the Mendon Seniors, Fire Fighters, Brothers of the Brush, Library Trustees, and others as a way to acknowledge and showcase the Town Beach.
• The renovation of the Town Hall Campus has been completed. This was only accomplished with the dedication and collaboration of many different town Boards and Committees. We encourage residents to come explore the renovated campus.
• The Historic Records Room Restoration Project on Main St continues.
• The purchase of the Paddock property on Providence St was completed, securing the land for open space and potential affordable housing for residents.
• The Board was proud to support the establishment of a Senior & Community Center Building Committee, with the goal of exploring the needs of the community and making recommendations for the creation of an expanded Senior and Community Center.
The Mendon Select Board looks forward to another successful year for the People of Mendon and wishes everyone well.
Mike Merolli, Chair
Mendon Select Board Jason Kuter Mendon Select Board ; Alejna Brugos for Mendon Select Board; Brendan Chenelle for Select Board; Mike Goddard
