Select Board - June 18, 2026

Executive Summary

At its June 18, 2026 meeting, the Dedham Select Board observed a moment of silence for Sergeant James Quigley and presented a Certificate of Achievement to Ryan Doyle for Catholic Memorial's state baseball championship. The Board approved the consent agenda, new signage for the Sawmill Lane pollinator pathway, and authorized the Town Manager to negotiate an updated inter-municipal agreement for animal control services with Westwood. Following debate, the Board voted 4-1 to approve a temporary one-hour extension of on-premises alcohol sales up to 2:00 AM through July 31, 2026. The Board also discussed municipal sustainability initiatives, coordinated with the Police Chief regarding e-bike and e-scooter safety regulations, scheduled a compliance failure hearing for Orchid 7 Fusion Bar and Grill, approved a musket volley request for the Juneteenth celebration, and entered executive session to discuss pending litigation and real property.

Call to Order and Moment of Silence for Sergeant James Quigley

The Select Board was called to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Board recognized the passing of Dedham Police Department Sergeant James Quigley following a battle with cancer.
Quigley joined the Dedham Police Department in 2015 as a patrol officer, was named Officer of the Year in 2017, joined the NORPAC Detective Unit in 2018, and was promoted to Sergeant in 2022, serving as Court Prosecutor at Dedham District Court in coordination with the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office.
The Board recognized his advocacy for domestic violence survivors with DOVE (Domestic Violence Ended), Inc., extended condolences to his family, and observed a moment of silence.

Dedham Citizen Open Discussion

No members of the public addressed the Board during open discussion.

Certificate of Achievement: Ryan Doyle

The Board recognized Ryan Doyle, a junior at Catholic Memorial High School, member of the National Honor Society, and two-sport varsity athlete.
Doyle pitched for the Catholic Memorial baseball team that won the MIAA Division I State Championship at Polar Park in Worcester, marking the school's first baseball title in 53 years.
Doyle highlighted the team's postseason run, including scoring 11 runs in the fourth inning of the championship game, setting an MIAA state championship record.
The Select Board presented Doyle with a Certificate of Achievement commending his athletic and academic accomplishments.

Town Manager's Report

Website URL Transition: The town website will migrate to its new domain URL by dropping the hyphen on June 30 at 12:00 PM to align with town email addresses, with no anticipated service disruption.
Condon Park Splash Pad Grand Opening: A grand opening celebration for the new splash pad at Condon Park, fully funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, is scheduled for June 22 at 5:00 PM.
Planning Board Update: The Planning Board will meet on June 24 to hear an update from the property owner and prospective developer regarding the former Campus at 128 property, which is currently undergoing the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review process.

Consent Agenda

The Board considered the consent agenda and heard remarks from Anne Miranda of Dedham Square Circle and Luis Espinoza of Roundhead Brewing Company regarding reserved parking spaces on Eastern Avenue for beer garden wagon staging during the Summer Stroll.
Items approved included:
1. Acceptance of a $500 gift from Dedham Savings to the Human Rights Committee for Juneteenth.
2. Drain layer license approvals for Buzzy Enterprises and Prime Time Development Inc.
3. Dedham Square Circle request to reserve two parking spaces on Eastern Avenue from July 15–17, 2026 (rain dates July 22–24, 2026) and adjust street closure hours from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM for the Summer Stroll.
4. One-day liquor licenses for Decanted Inc. (June 20, 2026, 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM for Pride Day) and Roundhead Brewing Company (July 16, 2026, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM for Summer Stroll).
5. Block party permit for Paul Street on July 18, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
6. Use of the Town Green by Dedham Performing Arts on the first and third Thursdays of July and August from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Outcome: Passed 4-0.

Sawmill Lane Pollinator Pathway Signage Approval

Town Conservation Agent Meredith Comfrey presented the proposed final signage for the Sawmill Lane pollinator pathway project, fully funded by a grant.
The signage includes one large educational entrance sign illustrating park features and eight aluminum post-and-panel botanical markers placed along the trail.
Motion to approve the signage for 21 Sawmill Lane and the Sawmill Lane pollinator pathway.
Outcome: Passed 4-0.

Sustainability Advisory Committee Update

Committee Chair Michael De Winter and committee members Emily O'Connell, Dave Ward, and Deb Harrison presented an overview of key focus areas:
- Waste Reduction: Partnering with Dedham Square Circle on a pilot "Skip the Stuff" program to reduce single-use utensils and condiments in takeout orders, alongside promoting residential composting and recycling education.
- Decarbonization and Energy Savings: Exploring the Mass Save Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx) program with town facilities staff to optimize municipal building systems; pursuing qualification for the Massachusetts Climate Leader Communities Program, which requires an EV-first policy and adoption of the municipal decarbonization roadmap, qualifying Dedham for grants with a 10% municipal match.
- Communication: Re-evaluating the 2020 Dedham Climate Action and Resilience Plan with town departments to identify implementation priorities.
Board members emphasized business outreach, resident recycling education, and evaluating municipal solar array performance.

Westwood Animal Control Inter-Municipal Agreement Authorization

Town Manager Leon Goodwin presented a proposal to renew the inter-municipal agreement (IMA) with the Town of Westwood for animal control officer (ACO) services for a three-year term.
Westwood's call volume has increased to approximately 10% of total calls. The proposed revised agreement adjusts Westwood's cost contribution from $4,000 annually to $7,000 in FY27 and $10,000 per year in FY28 and FY29 to cover 10% of salary and benefits, along with overtime reimbursement.
Board members requested detailed analyses of call response times, vehicle and equipment expense allocations, and contract escalation clauses prior to final execution.
Motion to authorize the Town Manager to work with the Westwood Town Administrator to update and finalize terms for the IMA to provide animal control services.
Outcome: Passed 5-0.

Discussion on Extension of On-Premises Alcohol Sales Hours

The Board reviewed recent state legislation signed by the Governor authorizing local licensing authorities to grant temporary one-hour extensions for on-premises alcohol sales (up to 2:00 AM) through July 31, 2026.
Discussion addressed economic impacts during major summer regional events, public safety and police staffing impacts, and limitations regarding entertainment licenses (which do not automatically extend live entertainment to 2:00 AM).
Motion to approve the temporary extension for on-premises licensees to sell alcoholic beverages for one additional hour up to 2:00 AM, expiring July 31, 2026.
Outcome: Passed 4-1 (Dissent: Chair MacDonald).

Application for Extension of Alcohol License Hours

An application from an establishment seeking an extension of operating hours to 2:00 AM was held open, as the applicant was not present.

Discussion on E-Bicycles and E-Scooters

Chair MacDonald and Police Chief Michael D'Entremont led a discussion regarding public safety concerns involving electric bicycles and electric scooters, focusing on underage riders, lack of helmet compliance, passengers riding on single-person scooters, and sidewalk use.
Chief D'Entremont outlined existing regulations, noting operators of motorized e-scooters must be at least 16 years of age and that vehicles exceeding 20 mph are categorized as motorized bicycles subject to different legal rules.
The Board discussed increasing public education, coordinating with Dedham Public Schools and School Resource Officers (SROs) ahead of the new school year, utilizing variable messaging boards, and monitoring state legislation (Senate Bill 3077).

Compliance Failure Hearing Scheduling: Orchid 7 Fusion Bar and Grill

Motion to schedule a compliance failure hearing for Orchid 7 Fusion Bar and Grill on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
Outcome: Passed 5-0.

Old and New Business: Juneteenth Musket Volley Request

Motion to take up an item not on the posted agenda.
Outcome: Passed 5-0.
The Board considered an off-agenda request from organizers of the Juneteenth celebration to conduct a ceremonial musket volley on the Town Green on June 20.
Motion to approve the request for the ceremonial musket firing on the Town Green, subject to advance notification to Dedham Square Circle and nearby neighborhood residents.
Outcome: Passed 5-0.

Executive Session

Motion to enter into executive session pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a)(3) to discuss strategy regarding litigation in Gobi v. Town of Dedham, Massachusetts Land Court Case No. 21 MISC 000642, and Gobi v. Town of Dedham et al., Norfolk Superior Court Case No. 1982CV00646; and pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a)(6) to consider the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property, based on the Chair's declaration that an open discussion would be detrimental to the negotiating and litigating position of the Board.
Outcome: Passed 5-0.