Needham Select Board, 6/9/26

• The meeting was called to order by the Chair on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
• In Memoriam: The Board honored John "Bucky" Buchanan, a dedicated Department of Public Works (DPW) employee of nearly 40 years who passed away in May. He served as a heavy motor equipment operator in the highway division.

• Tina Burgos (31 Fairview Road): Expressed frustration with the new Human Rights Committee nomination process, citing a lack of transparency and concerns regarding bias during interviews. She requested a pause in the nominations.
• Bert Herlock (100 Edgewater Drive): Supported the town's submission to MEPA regarding the 'Campus at 128' project, highlighting Dedham's own planning board comments about the project's negative impact on Needham.
• Aiden Boney (13 Nichols Road): Representing Safe Streets Needham, he criticized the Board's decision to rebuild Great Plain Avenue without significant safety improvements, citing high crash rates compared to neighboring Wellesley.
• Ken Buckley (221 Warren Street): Urged for a more transparent and democratic subcommittee appointment process, opposing 'secret vetoes' of candidates.
• Gary Ajamian (47 Meeting House Circle): Expressed concern that the proposed appointment policy updates move toward less transparency and subjective criteria like 'demeanor.'
• Ross Donald (25 H Chambers Street): Alleged that the Select Board and Needham Housing Authority (NHA) violated 760 CMR 6.10 by failing to consult with the Local Tenant Organization (LTO) regarding waivers between 2020 and 2021.

• The Board read and approved the 2026 Juneteenth Proclamation.
• Official Action: The Board voted unanimously to declare June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth in the Town of Needham.
• Key Quote: "Now therefore be it resolved that June 19, 2026 be declared Juneteenth in the Town of Needham, and that all residents be encouraged to observe Juneteenth as a celebration of the resilience of Black Americans and an opportunity for education about the true history of this country."
• Vote Outcome: Motion passed (5-0-0).

The Board held public hearings and approved three petitions from Eversource Energy for underground service conduits:

1. 150 Fair Oaks Park: Approximately 55 feet of conduit. (Motion passed 5-0-0).
2. 339 Chestnut Street: Approximately 50 feet of conduit. (Motion passed 5-0-0).
3. 373 High Rock Street: Approximately 17 feet of conduit. (Motion passed 5-0-0).

• Heath Utter was introduced as the new Treasurer and Tax Collector, having started on June 1, 2026. He previously served as the business manager and district treasurer for the Franklin Central School District in New York.

• Kim Donovan (Management Analyst) and Tom Ryder (Town Engineer) presented the draft Stormwater Regulations intended to implement the bylaw passed in October.
• Key Provisions:
  • Establishes a 100 cubic yard threshold for earthwork.
  • Sets a 4,000 square foot threshold for impervious surface studies.
  • Requires recording of stormwater structures at the Registry of Deeds to ensure future maintenance compliance.
• Next Steps: A public hearing is scheduled for June 23, 2026, with a potential vote in July.

• The Water and Sewer Rate Structure Committee presented four options to address structural imbalances and declining billable sewer volume.
• Financial Impact (Option 1): For an average customer (12,000 cubic feet/year), the annual bill would increase by $86.40 (4.2%).
• Discussion Points:
  • The committee is exploring higher fees for units requiring larger pipes.
  • Primary water rates (Steps 1 and 2) remain subsidized by higher-volume users (Steps 3 and 4).
  • Sewer volume has declined due to water-efficient new construction and the loss of large users like Coca-Cola.
• Action: No vote was taken; the Board will revisit the rates at the next meeting.

• Hank Half and the design team provided a schematic design and budget update.
• Project Budget: The total project budget is estimated at $325,400,000, with a construction value of $259,862,000 ($978.50 per square foot).
• Design Highlights:
  • The project utilizes Ground Source Heat Pumps (Geothermal) to achieve an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 22.
  • Phased construction: Phase 1 (7th/8th grade) ready by Summer 2030; Phase 2 (6th grade) ready by Winter 2031-2032.
  • Includes rooftop solar PV (700-800 kW) in the base bid.
• Next Steps: Submission to MSBA on June 25, 2026; Special Town Meeting on October 19, 2026; Ballot vote on November 3, 2026.

• The Board reviewed a draft comment letter to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office regarding the proposed development in Dedham.
• Key Concerns:
  • Transportation: Generation of 14,000 daily vehicle trips and impacts on Needham intersections (e.g., Dedham Ave, South Street).
  • Environment: Impacts on the Charles River watershed and increased impervious surfaces.
  • Public Safety: Mutual aid implications and hazardous materials associated with lab uses.
• Official Action: The Board voted to authorize the Town Manager to submit the comment letter as amended to include specific concerns regarding South Street and the Dedham Avenue bridge. (Motion passed 5-0-0).

• The Board voted to dissolve the following committees whose charges have been fulfilled:
  1. Envision Needham Center Working Group
  2. Needham Branding and Town Seal Committee
  3. Tree Preservation Planning Committee
• Vote Outcome: Motion passed (5-0-0).

• Rosemary Pool: Now open for lap swimming; open swim begins June 13th.
• Parking Meters: A mobile app for meter payments is in beta testing.
• Grants:
  • Submitted a federal grant application for the Quiet Zone (80% federal share requested).
  • Awarded a $1,000,000 Community Climate Leaders grant for solar and heat pumps at the Jack Cogswell Building.
• Needham Power Choice: The program saved residents and businesses $1.8 million in electricity costs over the last year.

• The Board debated proposed updates to the committee appointment policy to address transparency and the role of committee chairs.
• Key Discussion Points:
  • 'Secret Vetoes': Member Levy expressed concern that allowing a single board member to block a nomination privately is inconsistent with state law.
  • Demeanor: Debate over using 'demeanor' as a subjective selection criterion.
  • Committee Chairs: Agreement to consult Town Counsel on how to legally involve committee chairs in the process without violating Open Meeting Law.
• Action: Appointments remain paused while the policy is refined with Town Counsel's input.