Needham Select Board, 3/24/26

• Date: March 24, 2026
• Governing Body: Needham Select Board
• Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
• Attendees: Heidi Frail (Chair), Catherine Reid Dowd (Vice Chair), Marianne Cooley, Kevin Keane, Joshua Levy, and Katie King (Town Manager).

• Jody Rooney (617 Central Ave): Expressed support for the draft immigration policy. She requested specific provisions including prohibiting police assistance without judicial warrants and declaring polling places as 'ice-free zones.' She stated: "We witnessed this winter... the tragic outcomes of ICE agents violating the constitutional rights of Americans."
• Anna Geraldo Kerr (42 Mosley Ave): Thanked the Board for the immigration policy effort but urged more proactive support for mental health and legal services for residents feeling unsafe due to federal activity.

The Board recognized Marianne Cooley for her 12 years on the Select Board and over two decades of public service.

• Official Citations: Senator Rebecca Rausch presented a State Senate citation, and Representative Josh Charsky presented a House of Representatives citation.
• Testimonials: Former Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick and former Board member Matt Borelli spoke to Cooley's leadership on projects such as the Senior Center, public safety infrastructure, and the 'Needham Unites Against Racism' initiative.
• Cooley's Remarks: Cooley shared her 'I Believe' statements, emphasizing that "the best government is boring government" and advocating for continued focus on climate change, housing affordability, and civil discourse.

The Board discussed the annual scholarships provided by Babson College to Needham residents based on financial need.

• Recipients: Isabella Farisi, Rebecca Huang, and Mark Kudesman.
• Action: The Board voted to award the scholarships.
• Vote: 5-0. (Moved by Dowd, Seconded by Cooley).

Hank Haff and Tina Stanislavski provided an update on the schematic design and zoning requirements for the Pollard Middle School project.

• Zoning Bylaw Changes: The proposed amendment for the Single Residence B District includes:
  • Allowing four stories and up to 60 feet in height (increased from 3 stories/45 feet).
  • A Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.42 and site coverage of 20%.
  • Doubling setbacks from 25 feet to 50 feet for buildings exceeding 45 feet in height.
  • Parking requirements set at 1.0 per FTE staff plus 20% for visitors (260 total spaces).
• Financials: The current budget target is $311,000,000.
• Timeline: Schematic design submission to MSBA is due June 24, 2026. A special town meeting is planned for October, followed by a debt exclusion override vote in November.
• Construction Management: Bond Building Construction Inc. has been appointed as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMR).

The Board reviewed a draft policy defining the Needham Police Department's (NPD) interactions with federal immigration authorities.

• Key Policy Provisions:
  • "The Needham Police Department shall not enforce federal civil immigration law."
  • "The Needham Police Department shall not detain any person for any length of time based exclusively on an immigration detainer or administrative warrant."
  • Prohibits entering into Section 287(g) agreements with the federal government.
  • Requires NPD to notify individuals in custody if a civil immigration detainer has been lodged against them.
  • Restricts the use of town property for federal civil immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant.
• Discussion: Chief John Schlittler noted that while the policy codifies current practices under the Lund decision, it provides clear prohibitions against future voluntary cooperation with ICE. No vote was taken as the item was for discussion.

Deputy Town Manager Dave Davison presented updates following the certification of free cash.

• Funding Shifts:
  • $1,780,000 for Center for the Heights improvements will now be funded via free cash instead of debt.
  • $1,665,000 for High School HVAC and roof repairs will be funded through a mix of closed-out capital articles and free cash.
  • $346,718 (2% of certified free cash) will be appropriated to the Capital Facility Fund.
• Action: The Board voted to approve the final 2026 Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
• Vote: 5-0. (Moved by Keane, Seconded by Dowd).

The Board considered appointments for the Registrar of Voters based on recommendations from the Republican Town Committee.

• Appointee: Dennis Onigro.
• Action: The Board voted to appoint Dennis Onigro for a three-year term expiring March 31, 2029.
• Vote: 5-0. (Moved by Keane, Seconded by Dowd).

• Action: The Board voted to approve the consent agenda.
• Vote: 4-0. (Kevin Keane recused himself).