Needham Select Board, 4/15/26

• Date: April 15, 2026
• Governing Body: Needham Select Board
• Attendees: Heidi Frail, Joshua Levy, Kevin Keane, Catherine Reid Dowd, and Bill Dermody. Also present: Town Manager Katie King and Town Clerk Louise Miller.
• Official Action: Town Clerk Louise Miller swore in returning member Catherine Reid Dowd and new member Bill Dermody.
• Direct Quote: "I, [Name], do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me as a member of the select board according to the best of my abilities and understanding agreeably to the rules and regulations of the Constitution and the laws of this Commonwealth."

• Speaker: Irene Francesconi (George Agate, Precinct E).
• Summary: Ms. Francesconi urged the Board to prioritize the Alderbrook culvert replacement, noting it is over 70 years old and deteriorated. She requested the item be included in the fall warrant to avoid further emergency situations following the August 2023 flooding.
• Direct Quote: "The Alderbrook Colvert replacement poses an imminent risk and should not be viewed as a long-term planning issue."

• Chair: Heidi Frail (Nominated by Catherine Reid Dowd).
• Vice Chair: Joshua Levy.
• Clerk: Kevin Keane.
• Committee Secretary: Miles Tucker.
• Recording Secretary: Susan Metropole.
• Vote Outcome: Approved unanimously (5-0).

• Presenter: Ed Olson, Tree Warden.
• Summary: The Board proclaimed Friday, April 24, 2026, as Arbor Day in Needham. Celebrations are planned for May 1st at the Newman School, involving the planting of five trees with second-grade classes.
• Official Action: The Board voted unanimously to sign the 2026 Arbor Day Proclamation.

1. 10 Tower Avenue: Eversource petition to install approximately 12 feet of conduit for underground service.
   • Public Comment: Jerry Connolly (14 Tower Ave) requested assurance that the sidewalk would be replaced with concrete. Eversource confirmed repairs would match existing standards.
   • Vote: Approved unanimously (5-0).
2. 26 Lawton Road: Eversource petition to install approximately 36 feet of conduit.
   • Vote: Approved unanimously (5-0).

• Action: Approval of the sale of a short-term Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) to cover costs for the Sewer I&I (Infiltration and Inflow) project.
• Financial Details: $290,000 at an interest rate of 7.375%.
• Vote: Approved unanimously (5-0).

• Policy Number: SB Admin 012 (Town practices applicable to federal immigration law and town engagement with federal immigration officials and enforcement).
• Summary: The policy codifies existing town practices regarding interactions with federal immigration authorities.
• Vote: Approved unanimously (5-0).

• Envision Redesign (Wells Blanchard): A non-binding petition requesting that Envision funds be used solely for four-lane plan options. Blanchard cited survey results showing 63% support for a four-lane plan.
• 888 Great Plain Avenue Zoning (Jay DiRenzo): A petition to rezone the property from Single Residence B to Center Business District for a mixed-use development (26 units, 4 affordable).
• Contracting Procedures (Rob Dangle): A petition to lower the threshold for Select Board and Finance Committee notification of contracts from $1,000,000 to $500,000, including all change orders.

• Summary: An MOA regarding a payment in lieu of affordable housing units for the North Hill expansion.
• Financial Terms: $400,000 per unit for 10% of the "new FAR units" (units allowed beyond the current baseline of 22).
• Vote: Approved 4-1 (Joshua Levy opposed).

The Board approved the following Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs):

1. Needham Fire Union (FY27-29): 2% annual base wage increases; sunsetting of sick leave buyback for new hires. (Approved 5-0).
2. Needham Police Union (FY27-29): 2.5% (FY27), 2% (FY28), 2% (FY29) increases; sunsetting of sick leave buyback. (Approved 5-0).
3. Needham Police Superior Officers (FY27-29): 2.5% (FY27), 2% (FY28), 2% (FY29) increases. (Approved 5-0).
4. Building Custodian Trades Independent Association (FY27): One-year contract with a 3% base wage increase. (Approved 5-0).

• Status: The project is at 30% design. Estimated costs have increased to approximately $7,000,000, primarily due to labor contingencies and MBTA requirements for Positive Train Control (PTC) and signal replacements.
• MBTA Cooperation Agreement: A draft agreement is under review. The MBTA has agreed in principle to maintain the assets to the standard required for the quiet zone designation once the town completes construction.

• Article 17 (Pollard Zoning): Recommended (5-0).
• Article 18 (ADU Zoning): Recommended (5-0).
• Article 19 (North Hill Zoning): Recommended (4-1, Levy opposed).
• Article 20 (Elliott School Grounds): Supported (5-0).
• Article 23 (Cartwright Road Open Space): Recommended (4-0, Keane recused).
• Article 26 (NPDES Stormwater): Supported (5-0).
• Article 28 (High School HVAC): Recommended (5-0).
• Deferred Articles: Article 7 (Swale Rain Garden), Article 11 (Opioid Programming), Article 21 (Disc Golf), Article 22 (Seabed's Way Solar).

• Articles 1-4 (Union Contracts): Recommended (5-0).
• Article 10 (Zoning Height): Recommended (3-2, Frail and Levy opposed).
• Article 11 (Zoning Setbacks): Recommended (3-2, Frail and Levy opposed).
• Article 12 (Quiet Zone Funding): Supported (5-0).