Town Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM in the Holliston High School Auditorium (moved from the usual Monday due to scheduling conflicts). This is Holliston voters’ opportunity to directly shape our community’s future — approving budgets, setting priorities, and updating local laws. This year’s Warrant (view in multiple languages) includes 32 articles ranging from tax relief programs to historic preservation, capital projects, and proposals to expand local voting rights.
In this guide, you’ll find a short explanation of each article, along with an honest look at how it connects (or doesn’t) to national trends around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Some articles actively advance DEI, some are neutral, and a few could unintentionally reinforce barriers if equity isn’t prioritized during implementation.
Understanding the motivations behind each article helps all of us make informed choices about the kind of Holliston we want to build — for everyone who lives, works, learns, and participates here.
Articles 1 & 2 — Reports from Select Board and Finance Committee
Summary: Annual updates from town leadership on priorities, budgets, and actions since the last Town Meeting.
DEI Lens: While transparency is neutral, the actual DEI impact depends on whether leadership addresses systemic disparities and ensures marginalized voices are part of the town’s strategic focus.
Article 3 — Authorize Treasurer/Collector to Sell Foreclosed Properties
Summary: Allows the Treasurer/Collector to sell town-owned properties acquired through tax foreclosure after public notice.
DEI Lens: Without proactive affordable housing policies, foreclosure sales can deepen inequity by accelerating displacement of low-wealth residents and reducing community stability.
Article 4 — Expand Tax Workoff Program
Summary: Updates the senior volunteer tax workoff program to allow 125 hours annually, preserving opportunities despite minimum wage increases.
DEI Lens: This supports economic inclusion by ensuring older adults, particularly those on fixed incomes, can continue to access meaningful property tax relief.
Article 5 — Lower Interest Rate on Senior Tax Deferral
Summary: Reduces the interest rate on deferred taxes for seniors from 8% to 6%.
DEI Lens: Lowering the interest rate promotes housing stability for older adults, directly helping seniors with limited wealth age safely in place.
Article 6 — Raise Income Limits for Senior Tax Relief
Summary: Raises income eligibility for senior tax exemptions to reflect inflation, doubling previous limits.
DEI Lens: This change helps ensure that tax relief reaches those who truly need it, particularly lower-income seniors who might otherwise be excluded by outdated thresholds.
Article 7 — Expand Veterans’ Tax Exemptions
Summary: Adds new tax relief provisions for Gold Star families and fiduciary caregivers of veterans.
DEI Lens: Expanding veterans’ exemptions supports equity for families often overlooked in municipal policies, though it remains narrowly focused rather than broadly inclusive.
Article 8 — Raise Personal Property Exemption Threshold
Summary: Increases the minimum taxable value for personal property accounts to $5,000.
DEI Lens: Raising the threshold reduces administrative burden and provides minor relief to small businesses, but the benefits may skew toward businesses already better resourced unless carefully monitored.
Article 9 — Update Revolving Fund Spending Limits
Summary: Adjusts maximum spending limits for town revolving accounts supporting programs like recycling, EV chargers, and the Senior Van.
DEI Lens: Neutral overall; however, equitable outcomes depend on ensuring these programs are accessible and beneficial to diverse and lower-income residents.
Article 10 — Pay Unpaid Bills
Summary: Authorizes payment of any prior-year bills that were missed.
DEI Lens: Neutral, but timely payment supports fair treatment of small or minority-owned vendors who may be disproportionately harmed by payment delays.
Article 11 — Current Year Transfers (Snow/Ice Overruns)
Summary: Covers budget overruns for snow and ice removal during winter storms.
DEI Lens: Neutral in intent, but over-prioritizing infrastructure emergencies without also protecting social service budgets can reinforce inequities.
Article 12 — Amend Consolidated Personnel Bylaw
Summary: Adjusts pay grades with a 2.25% COLA and reclassifies certain town positions.
DEI Lens: While the changes address cost of living, equity gains will depend on whether hiring, promotion, and salary structures actively remove barriers for historically marginalized groups.
Article 13 — Health Insurance for On-Call Public Safety Workers
Summary: Ensures part-time public safety personnel like firefighters remain eligible for town health benefits.
DEI Lens: This expansion of benefits strengthens workforce equity by acknowledging and supporting non-traditional, often lower-paid employees.
Article 14 — Set Town Clerk Salary
Summary: Establishes the elected Town Clerk’s salary for FY26.
DEI Lens: Transparent public salary-setting helps combat hidden pay disparities and ensures elected positions remain accessible to diverse candidates.
Article 15 — Approve FY26 Budget
Summary: Sets the full town budget for the upcoming fiscal year, covering all departments and services.
DEI Lens: The ultimate impact on equity depends entirely on what the budget funds — for example, whether public health, affordable housing, and equitable education initiatives are prioritized.
Article 16 — Transfer to Capital Expenditure Fund
Summary: Moves $1.8 million into a fund for future capital projects.
DEI Lens: Neutral unless future spending choices prioritize projects that address long-standing disparities in access to quality facilities and infrastructure.
Article 17 — Lease-to-Own Street Sweeper
Summary: Funds the first year of a three-year lease-to-own agreement for a street sweeper.
DEI Lens: Neutral, but improved public maintenance can indirectly advance equity by ensuring all neighborhoods — not just downtown — are kept clean and accessible.
Article 18 — Fund Equipment and School Upgrades
Summary: Approves capital investments for new vehicles, HVAC upgrades, and school building repairs.
DEI Lens: Infrastructure investments must intentionally serve all students and residents, including those in historically underfunded areas, to advance equity.
Article 19 — Repurpose $7M for DPW Facilities
Summary: Redirects previously approved funds for temporary DPW facilities and critical infrastructure planning.
DEI Lens: Neutral; process equity matters — town should ensure planning does not unintentionally sideline vulnerable communities’ needs.
Article 20 — Arch Street Culvert Replacement
Summary: Funds emergency replacement of a failing culvert critical for DPW site access.
DEI Lens: Neutral infrastructure project, but safe, resilient infrastructure supports community-wide health and safety.
Article 21 — Continue ADA-Compliant Sidewalk and Ramp Repairs
Summary: Continues investment in sidewalk accessibility improvements as part of a long-term plan.
DEI Lens: Strongly positive — directly supports disability rights and inclusive public space access.
Article 22 — Fund HDAAC Opioid Response Initiatives
Summary: Allocates funds for opioid response programs, focusing on treatment access and support services.
DEI Lens: Strongly positive — addresses substance use disorder as a public health and equity issue, supporting often-stigmatized populations.
Article 23 — Create Town Engineer Position
Summary: Funds hiring of an in-house Town Engineer to improve project oversight.
DEI Lens: Positive potential — internal capacity can better ensure that infrastructure decisions serve all residents fairly, if equity is a guiding principle.
Article 24 — Approve Community Preservation Committee Projects
Summary: Funds various historic, housing, and recreation projects recommended by the CPC.
DEI Lens: Mixed — while recreational investment is valuable, care must be taken that funded projects (like pickleball courts) serve diverse demographics equitably.
Article 25 — Update Open Space and Recreation Plan
Summary: Funds consultant support to update Holliston’s Open Space and Recreation Plan for grant eligibility.
DEI Lens: Positive if the updated plan prioritizes accessible, inclusive public spaces that serve historically underrepresented groups.
Article 26 — Acquire Easement for Water Main
Summary: Secures a water easement to improve service reliability across residential areas.
DEI Lens: Neutral to positive — equitable infrastructure investment benefits all residents when planned inclusively.
Article 27 — Home Rule Petition to Allow Permanent Legal Resident Voting
Summary: Seeks state approval to allow lawful permanent residents to vote in local elections.
DEI Lens: Strongly positive — directly expands democratic participation to residents often excluded from civic life despite contributing economically and socially.
Article 28 — Update Bylaws to Reflect Town Manager Title
Summary: Updates bylaws to replace “Town Administrator” with “Town Manager.”
DEI Lens: Neutral, housekeeping change.
Article 29 — Overhaul Demolition Delay Bylaw
Summary: Expands protections for historically significant buildings through a stronger demolition delay process.
DEI Lens: Mixed — historic preservation is valuable, but equity requires intentional inclusion of marginalized histories, not just dominant cultural narratives.
Article 30 — Establish Historic Preservation Revolving Fund
Summary: Creates a fund for historic documentation and preservation projects.
DEI Lens: Positive if used inclusively — the town should prioritize recording and preserving diverse stories, not just those traditionally celebrated.
Article 31 — Update Floodplain Zoning for FEMA Compliance
Summary: Updates Holliston’s floodplain zoning to maintain eligibility for federal flood insurance.
DEI Lens: Mixed — while protecting against disaster is essential, floodplain management can inadvertently increase costs for low-income homeowners if not implemented equitably.
Article 32 — Citizen Petition to Restrict Firearm Discharge by Minors
Summary: Bans firearm discharge by individuals under 18 except in designated areas or with permission.
DEI Lens: Positive — firearm safety regulations can protect vulnerable groups, but equitable enforcement will be key to ensuring that marginalized youth are not disproportionately penalized.