The Sandy Pond School project, which embodies both preservation and accessibility, includes upgrades such as an accessible walkway, parking area for handicapped individuals, and widened doorways for wheelchair access. The committee’s discussions also touched on the need for a permanent marker to recognize the funding contributions from the Community Preservation Committee, along with the delay in finalizing the contract and preservation restriction. The search for an individual to draft the restriction was acknowledged, as were potential plans for interpretive panels and educational activities to enhance the historical context of the building and the adjacent pocket forest.

In addition to the school project, the committee discussed the proposed installation of a new message board on the rail trail, set to feature a map of the historic Nashville to Worcester railroad route and photos of downtown Ayer. The board, funded by a grant from the local cultural council, is expected to be installed by the end of May. The suggestion of a mural on a nearby building to depict historical aspects of the area sparked further conversation and interest.

The Conservation Board received funds to continue the pond treatment program, although alternative methods to chemical treatment were considered too costly. Volunteers for trail maintenance and updated trail marker signs were also topics of discussion. Meanwhile, the Planning Board reported on zoning bylaw changes and site plan reviews, including a brief debate concerning a crane incident and the stability of a property under review. The Open Space Committee provided updates on the Pocket Forest project, celebrating the successful planting of trees at a local middle school, and the Housing Authority addressed roof leaks at the Pleasant Street School and the progress of the working group for zoning bylaws.