Select Board January 13, 2026

• Date: January 13, 2026
• Governing Body: Select Board
• Meeting Type: Hybrid (In-person at Town Hall, Giuliani Room, and via Zoom)
• Attendees: Marjorie Freiman (Chair), Colette Aufranc, Kenneth Largess, Beth Sullivan Woods, Tom Ulfelder, Meghan Jop (Executive Director), Corey Testa (Assistant Executive Director).

• Nick Rindt (16 Garden Road): Expressed disappointment regarding communication from the town concerning the MassBay forest development. He noted that residents are worried about Centennial Park being developed despite assurances to the contrary.
  • Direct Quote: "Threatening to sue the Commonwealth and using that as an excuse to limit information to the citizens of the town does not seem to me to be the most productive way to pursue that due diligence."

Chair Marjorie Freiman provided an update on the December 16, 2025, meeting with state officials regarding the Oakland Street development:

• Development Scope: The Commonwealth intends to build no more than 180 units on approximately five acres (the current parking lot), preserving 39 to 40 acres of forest.
• Town Concerns: The Board raised issues regarding traffic on Oakland Street and Route 9, density, student parking, and the interpretation of the Affordable Homes Act.
• Legal Action: The town has engaged outside counsel and sent a formal letter of questions to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) on January 9, 2026.
• Next Steps: The town requested a four-month delay before a Request for Proposals (RFP) is issued to allow for community visioning once parameters are clarified.

• Skip the Stuff: As of January 1, 2026, patrons at local restaurants must specifically request single-use items (utensils, napkins, etc.).
• Wellesley Cultural Council: Announced $16,000 in awards for 18 projects across arts, education, and community initiatives.
• Town Election: The deadline to pull papers for Town Meeting is January 23, 2026, at 4:00 PM. Candidates need 10 signatures from registered voters in their precinct.

Fire Department Update (Chief Mortorelli)

• Personnel: Ben Gilkey graduated from the Mass Fire Academy (Class President). The department is currently performing background checks on four potential new hires from a pool of 60 applicants.
• Technology: A new automated alerting system went live six weeks ago. The department is the first in Metro Fire to transition to the national reporting system.
• Equipment: A new Engine 1 is scheduled for delivery on January 14, 2026.

Police Department Update (Chief Whittemore)

• E-Bikes: The e-bike task force led to a significant reduction in complaints through education and community buy-in.
• World Cup 2026: The department is preparing for a significant regional role during the tournament in June and July 2026.
• Donations/Grants: Received a $50,000 anonymous donation and a $16,000 state grant for tactical equipment.
• Sustainability: The department's third fully electric cruiser (Chevy Blazer) is arriving shortly.

Mobility Manager Sheila Page presented regulatory changes for Board approval:

1. Halsey Avenue and Turner Road Parking Prohibition

• Issue: Chronic parking congestion near the Morse's Pond access road.
• Public Comment: Residents Joe Schott, Pete Jones, Jamison Barr, and Terry Bonet spoke regarding speeding, inconsistent gate hours, and safety hazards at the intersection.
• Action: The Board voted to amend traffic regulations to prohibit parking on portions of Halsey Avenue and Turner Road.
• Vote: 5-0 (Unanimous).

2. Ivy Road and Poplar Road Stop Signs

• Issue: Lack of right-of-way clarity at a plus-intersection.
• Action: The Board voted to install stop signs on Ivy Road facing both northbound and southbound drivers.
• Vote: 5-0 (Unanimous).

Executive Director Meghan Jop and Finance Director Rachel Heller presented the current budget status:

• Deficit: Currently projected at $2,077,000.
• Health Insurance: Rates are projected to increase by 12.5%, contributing to a $2.4 million rise in group insurance costs.
• Proposed Strategies:
  • Reduce Cash Capital by $1,000,000 (delaying non-essential projects).
  • Apply $1,300,000 in Free Cash to offset operational costs related to health insurance.
• Board Feedback: Members expressed concern over the long-term sustainability of using Free Cash for operations. Suggestions were made to defer specific capital projects, such as field irrigation ($1.5M) or playground reconstruction, to preserve reserves.

The Board discussed the final structure of the General By-law Review Committee.

• Membership: 5 voting members (2 Select Board members, 3 Town Meeting members). The Moderator, Town Clerk, and Executive Director/Assistant Executive Director will serve as ex officio (non-voting) members.
• Action: The Board voted to approve the committee charge as amended.
• Vote: 5-0 (Unanimous).

• Minutes: The Board approved the minutes of the December 16, 2025, meeting as amended.
• School Budget: The School Committee is reviewing a budget with a ~3% increase.
• AC Project: The School Committee voted to proceed with window units for Bates, Fiske, Schofield, and the Middle School at an estimated cost of $17-20 million. This approach avoids triggering mandatory ADA building-wide upgrades as construction costs remain below the 30% valuation threshold.