During a presentation at the Stow senior center the CTO described autonomous AI agents and recounted an example where many agents collectively found a way to escape a sandbox, raising questions about safety and regulation.

Audience members asked about environmental impacts of AI data centers; the presenter said electricity and water are the main consumables, noted some reuse but cautioned towns and states are starting to scrutinize new facilities.

Planning staff notified the board of a July 30 letter from MassHousing indicating a project on Bruin Road may have submitted for a Chapter 40B eligibility determination; the board did not discuss the merits and treated the notice as an FYI for future agenda consideration.

Masters Academy International plans to open Oct. 15, expecting about 275 students; the board accepted a $250,000 gift from Masters Academy LLC and earmarked funds for sidewalks but the town accountant warned that sidewalk funds require town-meeting appropriation.

The board authorized the town administrator to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with GZA/DCAM in lieu of an earth removal permit for PFAS remediation at the Department of Fire Services; the cleanup covers about 950 cubic yards of PFAS-impacted soil and is expected to generate roughly 50 truckloads for off-site disposal.

Eric Souza recounted a large ransomware incident that encrypted 20,000 machines and initially sought $2.5 million; he said organizations often pay because restoring operations across many sites can take months even when backups exist.

Representatives from Advocates described the co‑response jail‑diversion program at Stow Police — operating since 2022 — that pairs mental‑health staff with officers on scene to offer services and avoid emergency‑room transports when possible.

Peter Masters told the Select Board the new Masters Academy has 215 committed students, nearly completed turf fields and a target opening in mid‑September; town inspectors and chiefs said they are coordinating traffic and security plans.

Marie Epstein presented the Green Advisory Committee’s 2026 update: Stow was awarded a $500,000 decarbonization grant and a $150,000 technical assistance award; the committee said proxies (heat pump and EV adoption) show the town is tracking toward 2030 goals.

Board of Health Chair Mary McDowell told the Select Board Stow is at a level‑3 critical drought declared June 11; the board agreed to immediate public outreach, website updates and to consider formal endorsements at its July 14 meeting.

DPW Director Dan Raley told the Select Board that five bids were opened for the town's 2026 roadway program, with the low bid at $533,668.50; the package includes mill-and-overlay and reclamation work funded largely by Chapter 90 and informed by a new pavement management plan.