The 21 Highland Future Use Committee voted to approve an edited interim report for submission to the Town of Southborough Select Board after members discussed how upcoming town votes, historic‑resource reports and public outreach should inform the committee’s final recommendation.

The approved motion, made by Dustin and seconded by Kevin Miller, directed committee staff to submit the draft interim report to the Select Board. A roll call vote recorded five aye votes: Destin, Lisa Braschio, Kristen LaVault, Kevin Miller and Freddie Gillespie.

The committee’s discussion centered on three topics that committee members said affect the committee’s timelines and analysis: (1) the town votes on a separate school project (a May 10 special town meeting and a May 13 ballot question were discussed), (2) the building’s regulatory status and recent investments, and (3) timing and format for public engagement, including tours and a public forum.

Committee Chair Freddie Gillespie opened the meeting and led a page‑by‑page review of the draft report that committee member Kristen LaVault prepared. LaVault explained she used the format from another town committee’s interim report and walked members through background, committee charge text (pulled from the Town of Southborough website), dependencies and assumptions, and data sources.

Members debated whether to call out the May 10 special town meeting or the May 13 ballot question as the relevant deadline for the committee’s work. One member said the May 13 ballot result could still change whether the separate school project moves forward and recommended using that later date; another member cautioned the committee against overreaching its charge by “predicting other dominoes.” The committee ultimately left a reference in the draft that the final report will “take into consideration the town’s vote at the May 10 special town meeting and/or the May 13 ballot question regarding the proposed New York school project.”

Members also asked that the report clarify the building’s regulatory status. The committee confirmed, based on a conversation reported from the town building inspector, that the South Union School building at 21 Highland Street is up to code for its current use under current building regulations. Members asked that wording be added to avoid implying the building is not compliant: LaVault drafted language that the building “is up to code for its current use based on current building regulations.”

The committee reviewed the data sources it intends to rely on. Members noted the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS) survey report and the National Register of Historic Places registration form for the South Union School are now posted on the town website; Hassan (staff) had uploaded them. The draft also lists the town’s space‑needs study, CPA (Community Preservation Act) investments, and other relevant reports as material the committee will consult.

Public outreach plans were discussed: the committee plans public tours in April and May and a public forum to solicit input after the town meeting and/or ballot result, with the timing of the forum to be confirmed. Members emphasized that tours will collect input and that the public forum should come soon after the town’s decisions so the committee can incorporate public feedback into final recommendations.

After a final review of edits and a moment of thanks to LaVault for preparing the draft, Dustin moved to approve the draft as edited “for submission to the select board as our interim report.” Kevin Miller seconded. The committee conducted a roll‑call vote and approved the motion. Freddie Gillespie said he would have LaVault send the approved document for distribution to the Select Board and to committee members.

The committee adjourned and agreed to set the next meeting date by e‑mail.

Ending: The interim report approved by the committee will be submitted to the Select Board; the committee will continue collecting data (including publicly posted MACRIS and National Register documents), hold public tours and a forum after the town votes, and then finalize recommendations with those inputs.