Executive Summary
At its October 8, 2026 meeting, the Dedham Select Board held promotional and swearing-in ceremonies for seven Dedham Fire Department members, received a Town Manager update highlighting a $409,248 state grant for Lewis Playground at Memorial Field, and approved consent agenda items. The Board approved a Common Victualler license for Press Cafe at 750 Providence Highway and a change of manager to Jose Serrano for BJ's Wholesale Club at 688 Providence Highway. In municipal infrastructure, the Board voted its intention to reestablish the public way layout for Whiting Avenue and Walnut Street under the Safe Routes to School grant. The Board also received a comprehensive presentation from the Dedham Senior Property Tax Relief Policy Study Committee detailing senior demographic shifts, income gaps, and potential policy pathways for local property tax relief.
Joint Meeting with Planning Board: Candidate Interview for Planning Board Vacancy
- The Select Board convened in a joint session with the Planning Board to conduct an interview with candidate Jonathan Costello to fill a vacancy on the Planning Board.
- The candidate was not present at the scheduled interview time, having previously rescheduled from an earlier meeting date.
- The Planning Board voted to adjourn its meeting, with all members in favor voting "Aye."
- Select Board Chair Jim MacDonald noted that the candidate sent notification of a schedule conflict, and the joint meeting to select a candidate was rescheduled for Wednesday at 6:00 PM.
Official Swearing-In and Promotional Ceremony for Dedham Fire Department Personnel
- The Board and Fire Chief DeVincent conducted promotional swearings-in and pinnings for three department officers:
- Deputy Chief Tim Jenkins (promoted from Captain), pinned by his children.
- Captain Eric Levesque (promoted from Lieutenant), pinned by his son Joshua.
- Lieutenant James Sheehan (promoted from Firefighter), pinned by his wife.
- Four new recruit firefighters who graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy on October 2, 2026, were administered the oath of office and pinned:
- Firefighter Brian Fitzpatrick
- Firefighter William Casey
- Firefighter Patrick Cochran
- Firefighter Jeffrey Hickey
- The newly promoted officers and recruit firefighters addressed the room, expressing gratitude to their families, mentors, colleagues, and the Dedham community.
- Select Board members commended the firefighters for their commitment, highlighted the Town's investment in updated equipment free of toxic PFAS chemicals, and thanked the families for their ongoing support.
Dedham Citizens Open Discussion
- Chair MacDonald opened the floor for citizen comments. No members of the public came forward to speak.
Town Manager's Report
- Town Green Donor Recognition: A donor recognition ceremony is scheduled for October 22, 2026, at 5:30 PM to honor donors and unveil recently installed plaques.
- Lewis Playground PARC Grant: The Town was awarded a state park grant in the amount of $409,248 to offset capital replacement costs for the 20-year-old Lewis Playground at Memorial Field; a funding article will be before the fall Town Meeting.
- 110 Sturgis Groundbreaking: Town Manager Leon Goodwin and Select Board Member Stephen Acosta attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Vantage project at 110 Sturgis, developed by Nordblom Company. The project will construct 154 apartment units near Legacy Place and the commuter rail by spring 2028, supported by a $3,000,000 state commercial conversion tax credit.
Consent Agenda
- The Board voted to approve the consent agenda, which included:
- Block Parties: Stony Lea Road on October 24, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM; Lincoln Street on October 31, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
- Gifts: $250.00 from the Dedham Junior Women's Club (DJWC) to the Endicott Estate for beautification and upkeep; $60.00 from Steven Epstein to the Council on Aging; $25.00 from Sharon Anufram to the Council on Aging.
- Drain Layer License: Approval of Dig It Hardscape and Excavation Services LLC.
- Outcome: Approved, all members voting "Aye."
Public Hearing: Common Victualler License for Press Cafe (750 Providence Highway)
- A representative of Press Cafe presented an application to operate a quick-service restaurant at 750 Providence Highway in the former TGI Fridays space, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner between 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM with no alcohol service.
- Public comment was opened; no members of the public spoke.
- The Board voted to close the public hearing, with all members voting "Aye."
- The Board moved and voted to approve the Common Victualler license for Press Cafe at 750 Providence Highway, with all members voting "Aye."
Public Way Layout: Whiting Avenue and Walnut Street
- Director of Engineering Jason Mammone presented a request to reestablish the public way layout for a section of Whiting Avenue and Walnut Street, which was originally laid out in the 1800s but lacked official documentation at the Registry of Deeds.
- Reestablishing the legal layout is required to proceed with design, rights-of-way, and property acquisitions associated with an ongoing state Safe Routes to School grant.
- The motion was read into the record: "I move that the Select Board vote our intention to lay out a public way in accordance with the plan entitled Layout Plan as prepared by BSC Group for the date of September 18, 2026 and refer the layout plan to the Planning Board for its report."
- Outcome: Approved, all members voting "Aye."
Public Hearing: Change of License Manager for BJ's Wholesale Club (688 Providence Highway)
- Attorney Neil Mooney represented Mormax Corporation, doing business as BJ's Wholesale Club, presenting an application for a change of alcoholic beverages license manager to Jose Serrano, succeeding Sophonius Gabremariam.
- Attorney Mooney stated Mr. Serrano is TIPS-certified, previously served as licensed manager in Northborough, and has 40 hours per week of on-site presence.
- In response to Board inquiry regarding alcohol sale compliance, Mr. Serrano explained that the point-of-sale system prompts a mandatory ID scan or manual birthdate entry before alcohol can be sold, with calculation checks for age 21 and overrides restricted to salaried club managers and supervisors.
- The public hearing was opened; no members of the public spoke.
- The Board voted to close the public hearing, with all members voting "Aye."
- The Board moved and voted to approve the change of manager to Jose Serrano for Mormax Corporation d/b/a BJ's Wholesale Club at 688 Providence Highway, with all members voting "Aye."
Report of the Dedham Senior Property Tax Relief Policy Study Committee
- Committee leaders Michael Leahy and Jimmy Kotobowski presented the findings and final report generated pursuant to Article 26 of the 2025 Spring Annual Town Meeting.
- Demographic and Financial Trends:
- Dedham's total population has remained flat over the past five years, while the 65+ age demographic grew by 13%.
- The median household income for Dedham seniors sits at approximately $67,000, roughly $60,000 below the townwide median of $130,000 and $112,000 below peak-earning cohorts.
- Essential senior living costs (taxes, utilities, healthcare) have risen by 33% over five years, whereas blended fixed senior income grew by only 15%.
- Evaluation of Relief Options:
- Current state programs (such as Clause 41C and circuit breaker deferrals) have rigid income caps, and the local senior work-off program is capped at 100 participants with mandatory labor requirements.
- The Committee evaluated establishing a local means-tested senior property tax exemption allowing front-end tax reductions and local income criteria, dedicating a percentage of PILOT revenues toward senior relief, and placing donation check-off boxes on quarterly bills (e.g., sewer bills).
- Phased Implementation: Proposed short-term improvements include office hours at the Ames Senior Center for applications and streamlining enrollment across programs; medium-term steps include drafting special home rule legislation; and long-term steps involve implementing local tax relief distributions.
- Board members commended the committee on its thorough report and agreed to present the findings at the upcoming February summit and explore policy options for future Town Meeting action.
Old and New Business
- Facilities Master Plan Steering Committee: Select Board Member Dimitria Sullivan reported on the October 7 community forum attended by 30 in-person participants and 21 remote participants. The forum included presentations by the School Committee and Finance Director Brady Weinstein covering capital planning and tax impacts, along with interactive breakout sessions examining municipal building reuse.
- Development and Financing Climate: The Board discussed commercial real estate construction conditions, noting high interest rates, volatile lending markets, and steep tariff-related increases on building materials that are stalling permitted projects.
- PILOT Program Data: Chair MacDonald requested town staff compile data detailing contact with tax-exempt organizations and received payments under Dedham's PILOT policy for Board review in November.
- Bridge Street Safety Concern: Chair MacDonald reported that safety fencing placed around Moseley's on the Charles at Bridge Street is completely blocking the pedestrian sidewalk ahead of imminent demolition. Town Manager Goodwin committed to investigating sidewalk passage alternatives.