Needham Select Board, 1/27/26

• Date: January 27, 2026
• Governing Body: Needham Select Board
• Meeting Type: Regular Select Board Meeting
• Attendees:
  • Catherine Reid Dowd, Select Board Member
  • Katie King, Town Manager
  • Joshua Levy, Select Board Member
  • Kevin Keane, Select Board Member
  • Marianne Cooley, Select Board Member
  • Heidi Frail, Select Board Member
  • Police Chief John Schlittler
  • Karis Lustig, DPW Director
  • Gabby Queenan, Sustainability Manager
  • Dave Davison, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director
  • Chris (Legal Counsel)

The Board met with the Board of Assessors to discuss a vacancy resulting from a December resignation. Given the proximity to the April 14, 2026, annual town election and the fact that a qualified candidate has already returned nomination papers, the boards discussed deferring the appointment process.

• Official Action: The Board considered a motion to defer the appointment to preserve the integrity of the election process.
• Direct Quote of Motion: "I move that the Select Board and Board of Assessors defer filling the current vacancy on the Board of Assessors via an appointment process pending confirmation that a candidate is successfully elected at the 2026 annual town election."
• Vote Outcome:
  • Select Board: Motion passed (Unanimous, 5-0).
  • Board of Assessors: Motion passed (Unanimous, 2-0).

Police Chief John Schlittler briefed the Board on the legal constraints regarding immigration enforcement, specifically the 2017 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling in Commonwealth v. Lunn.

• Key Discussion Points:
  • Local police enforce state and local laws, not federal civil immigration law.
  • Under Lunn, Massachusetts law does not authorize police to hold individuals solely on federal civil immigration detainers without a judicial warrant.
  • Officers have a "duty to intervene" under MGL Chapter 6E, Section 15, if they witness excessive force by any officer, including federal agents.
• Select Board Vision Statement: Member Dowd read the vision statement: "Needham is a safe and welcoming town that people are proud to call home, where neighbors care, respect differences, and contribute to the global community."
• Action Taken: The Select Board reached a consensus to ask the Town Manager to conduct a formal review of current police policies and practices regarding interactions with federal immigration authorities.

A presentation was provided by the Envision Needham Center Working Group and consultants from Apex regarding three design alternatives for the downtown corridor (Great Plain Avenue from Linden Street to Warren Street).

• Design Alternatives:
  1. Four-Lane Alternative: Retains existing lane configuration; estimated cost $13.5 million.
  2. Two-Lane with Turn Lanes (Hybrid): Reduces through-lanes to one in each direction with pocket turn lanes; estimated cost $15.2 million.
  3. Two-Lane Minimal Turn Lanes: Maximizes sidewalk and green space; estimated cost $15.2 million.
• Key Metrics:
  • Safety: All alternatives reduce crossing distances (from 57 feet to approximately 30-40 feet).
  • Traffic: Modeling suggests a 6% to 11% diversion of regional through-traffic for the two-lane options, with a 2-3 minute increase in peak travel times.
  • Stormwater: All plans include subsurface drainage upgrades to address flooding issues seen in 2023.
• Next Steps: A public information session is scheduled for February 4, 2026, at 7:00 PM in Powers Hall.

Sustainability Manager Gabby Queenan presented the FY25-FY26 Climate Communication Strategy and a grant update.

• Communication Plan: A 12-month editorial calendar divided into six categories: Clean Energy, Net Zero Buildings, Transportation, Natural Resources/Waste, Resilience, and Public Health.
• Financial Grants Secured (Calendar Year 2025): $479,000 (a 13% increase over 2024).
  • Green Communities Award: $180,000.
  • Cooling Corridors Grant: $92,000 for 46 trees.
• Upcoming Applications: A $600,000 request for solar installation at the Cogswell building via the Climate Leader Communities program.

Town Manager Katie King presented the recommended balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2027.

• Financial Totals:
  • Total Sources/Uses: $264,601,465 (1.8% increase).
  • Operating Budget: $247,101,465 (4.9% increase).
• Key Drivers:
  • Health Insurance: 13% estimated premium increase.
  • Staffing: Recommendation for 1 new Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Field Assessor to manage 5,000 required inspections.
  • Education: Needham Public Schools budget increase of 4.0%; Municipal IT increase of 12.6% (including a new cybersecurity officer).
• Free Cash Allocations: $500,000 to Debt Service Stabilization; $314,000 to Capital Facility Fund.

• Zoning Referrals: The Board voted unanimously to refer two articles to the Planning Board:
  1. Article 1: Amending zoning by-laws for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to align with state law.
  2. Article 2: Amending the A2 Apartments Zoning District for the North Hill property to allow a four-story independent living building.
• Appointment Protocol: Discussion regarding revisions to Section 3 of the Select Board Appointment Policy to comply with Open Meeting Law following an Attorney General ruling. The Board discussed using standardized written input forms from committee chairs to avoid creating illegal subcommittees during the interview process.