Needham Select Board, 10/13/26

Members of the public addressed the Board on multiple local issues during the open public comment period:

• A representative speaking on behalf of the Needham Human Rights Committee noted a severe obstacle due to a lack of a quorum following four departures in June 2026, leaving seven members when all seven must attend to conduct business. The speaker emphasized: "Our committee has a robust agenda for the upcoming year but our inability to meet has stalled the work. Most frustrating, however, is that we have received a citizens discrimination complaint that should have been addressed immediately."
• A resident commented on the committee appointment process, reviewing recent public interviews and suggesting improvements based on neighboring municipalities, including Dedham's committee attendance policy, Wellesley's recording procedures, and stricter enforcement of state ethics training requirements.
• A resident spoke regarding the Pollard School project tax calculator, arguing that the recent addition of a 35-year average tax impact obscures the peak tax burden: "The average it just doesn't feel as transparent as I would hope that we would be... Good projects don't require this. They don't require this kind of spin that somehow it's less than it is." The Chair clarified that the average figure was added to the calculator in response to resident requests.

The Board opened a public hearing on a petition from Eversource Energy seeking a grant of location to install approximately 44 feet of conduit in Wildwood Drive to upgrade electrical service at 84 Wildwood Drive.

• Motion: "that the select board vote to approve and sign a petition from Eversource Energy to install approximately 44 feet of conduit in Wildwood Drive"
• Outcome: Passed unanimously.

The Board held a public hearing for an Eversource Energy petition to install approximately eight feet of conduit in Robinwood Avenue to provide electric service to a new residence at 47 Robinwood Avenue, following a previous pole relocation hearing.

• Motion: "that the select board vote to approve and sign a petition from Eversource Energy to install approximately eight feet of conduit in Robinwood"
• Outcome: Passed unanimously.

The Board discussed managing appointments for the town's 52 standing boards and committees:

• The Chair stated that due to backlogs, assignments for vetting appointments would be distributed across all Select Board members rather than handled solely by the Vice Chair.
• Vice Chair Joshua Levy noted communications with specific committees and advocated for appointing residents not currently serving on other boards to expand public participation.
• Select Board members observed that for certain committees, such as the Town Finance Community Housing Oversight Committee, existing municipal board experience provides valuable subject-matter expertise.
• Members clarified that Board members may run their appointment vetting in public or through consultation within the policy boundaries.

Director of Finance Dave Davison, Assistant Town Manager Celia Simchak, and audit partner Rebecca Gamsby of CBIZ CPAs presented the completed Fiscal Year 2025 financial audit for the period ending June 30, 2025:

• The auditors issued an unmodified ("clean") opinion on the financial statements.
• One repeat material weakness from FY 2024 was noted regarding delayed cash and accounts receivable reconciliations; the final cash reconciliation was received in September 2026 due to departmental staff vacancies.
• Governmental activities reported a net position of $280.5 million (an increase of $26.7 million), while business-type activities reported a net position of $67.8 million.
• The General Fund balance was $70.6 million at year-end, with an unassigned balance of $31.5 million (inclusive of the $5.1 million General Stabilization Fund), leaving $26.4 million available for appropriation.
• The Community Preservation Fund held a balance of $17.0 million.
• The Net Pension Liability was reported at $63.7 million (funded at 80% as of December 31, 2024), and the Net OPEB Liability was $59.3 million (62% funded).
• Total federal expenditures were approximately $11.1 million, with three major programs representing $8.2 million (74%) undergoing single audit review.
• Davison confirmed that Standard & Poor's had reviewed the audit without raising concerns.

Amy Haelsen, Director of Communications and Community Engagement, presented a proposal to replace ad hoc project mailings with a consolidated print mailer delivered twice annually (fall and spring) to every residential, commercial, and P.O. Box address in Needham (approx. 13,750 addresses):

• The projected cost is approximately $7,500 per mailing, totaling roughly $15,000 annually.
• Format: 11" x 17" paper folded into a self-mailer, featuring updates from the Town Manager, Town Meeting recaps, upcoming hearings, budget overviews, and department highlights.
• Board members supported the initiative, advising larger fonts, QR codes for digital navigation, and inclusion of key election and school information.

The Board considered the consent agenda, including appointments to the Needham Council for Arts and Culture.

• Motion: Move to consent.
• Outcome: Passed unanimously.

Town Manager Katie King and Director of Public Works Carys Lustig provided updates on the railroad quiet zone initiatives:

• Seasonal Closure at Needham Golf Club Crossing: The Golf Club agreed to provide required indemnification to the MBTA. A gate will be installed by the town in early November, with flaggers provided by the MBTA, targeting seasonal horn silencing between December 1 and March 1.
• Culvert Feasibility Study: Tighe & Bond identified three potential sites on the golf course for an eight-foot culvert. Recommendations are expected in early 2027. A placeholder for design funding will be entered into the Capital Improvement Plan for FY 2029 to align with the golf course lease expiration.
• Five Roadway Crossings Quiet Zone: The design is near 75% completion. The town is awaiting cost estimates from Keolis and MBTA for project initiation, design review, flagging, and signal cutover. Sidewalk and signal alignments will require small property acquisition articles at the May 2027 Annual Town Meeting for locations along Oak Street, Great Plain Avenue, and May Street.

Town Manager Katie King and Director of Streets and Transportation Tyler Gabrielski presented a revised allocation process for Chapter 90 funds and a project proposal:

• Chapter 90 updates will now be brought before the Board on a rolling basis, tracking allocations and encumbrances similarly to the town's ARPA funds tracking model.
• Staff presented a request for Chapter 90 funding to conduct an updated sidewalk condition and compliance inventory using vehicle-mounted and mobile video analysis (through subcontractor DeepWalk), creating a unified GIS interface and a weighted scoring formula to prioritize repairs across the town's maintenance backlog.
• Motion: "that the Board approve the request of Chapter 90 funds for a sidewalk inventory condition assessment and analysis"
• Outcome: Passed unanimously.

Deputy Town Manager Liz LaRosee presented proposed comment letters endorsing the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) recommended $1.29 billion regional plan to eliminate combined sewer overflows into Alewife Brook, the Upper Mystic River, and the Charles River, including letters urging legislators to secure state and federal funding to protect local ratepayers.

• Motion: "that the board vote to approve the public comment letters regarding the MWRA Draft Combined Sewer Overflow Control Plan"
• Outcome: Passed unanimously.

Support Services Manager Miles Tucker presented policy SB-LIC-017 regarding the regulation and permitting of businesses dealing in the purchase and sale of secondhand merchandise, developed with the Police Department.

• Motion: "that the board vote to approve SB-LIC-017 dealing in secondhand merchandise"
• Outcome: Passed unanimously.

The Board discussed articles on the upcoming Special Town Meeting warrant:

• Article 3 (Warner Field Article 97 Home Rule Petition): Town Manager Katie King reported that the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs verbally indicated an Article 97 disposition is no longer required due to recent Supreme Judicial Court precedent. The town is awaiting confirmation in writing before conferring with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).
• Article 11 (Tree By-law): Vice Chair Joshua Levy moved to withdraw the article without prejudice to the May Annual Town Meeting; the motion died for lack of a second. The Board then discussed an amendment to clarify Section 8.3(C) to ensure the Tree By-law applies to addition or alteration permits only when resulting in an impervious surface increase of 25% or more.
• Motion: "vote to offer the motion as amended, presented in Article 11, amend general bylaw tree protection and preservation... narrowing the scope of C, making the tree bylaw only apply to the opening of an addition or alteration building permit for a project that results in the increase in impervious surface by 25% or more."
• Outcome: Passed unanimously.

Town Manager Katie King provided administrative updates:

• Upcoming goals include reconvening the Affordable Housing Trust in November, reviewing the Highland Avenue TIP infrastructure project, and examining the town's Complete Streets framework.
• Key community dates: Early voting begins October 17 and runs through October 30 for the November 3 election; the Pollard School open house takes place October 17 at 9:00 AM, and the Public Safety Open House runs from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM on October 17.
• Finance Director Dave Davison clarified that debt stabilization trigger policies and revenue assumptions for FY 2028 will be formulated with the Finance Committee throughout the winter and spring rather than impacted by the December tax classification hearing.

Select Board members reported on recent community meetings and regional events:

• Attendance at the Needham History Center & Museum annual meeting, Wingate ribbon cutting, Olin College presidential inauguration, Claxton Field and High School tennis court ribbon cuttings, and volunteer orientation sessions.
• Update on the Needham Housing Authority's state funding awards for the Seabeds Way and Linden Street redevelopment projects, and the Charles River Center's upcoming state funding application.
• Attendance at the 375th anniversary event of the Natick Praying Indians and the Great Plain Avenue walk audit conducted with Safe Streets Needham and WalkBoston.