Executive Summary
The Wellesley Select Board met on January 27, 2026, to address several critical municipal items, including a project of significant impact (PSI) traffic review for 592 Washington Street, a $500,000 winter supplemental appropriation for snow removal, and ongoing FY27 budget deliberations. The Board approved a traffic peer review for a 19-unit residential project at 592 Washington Street despite neighbor concerns regarding delivery logistics. Significant discussion was held regarding the FY27 budget deficit, driven largely by a nearly 10% increase in health insurance costs, leading to proposed reductions in cash capital. Additionally, the Board voted to recommend a salary of $133,773 for the elected Town Clerk for FY27 and approved the launch of a new Citizens Leadership Academy to foster civic engagement.
Call to Order and Announcements
- Meeting Date: January 27, 2026
- Attendees: Marjorie Freiman (Chair), Tom Ulfelder (Vice Chair), Colette Aufranc (Secretary), Beth Sullivan Woods, Kenneth Largess.
- Staff: Meghan Jop (Executive Director).
- Announcements: The Board expressed gratitude to the Department of Public Works (DPW) and Director Dave Cohen for their response to the recent weekend snowstorm, noting the long hours worked to clear roads and ensure safety.
Citizen Speak
- Deed McCollum: Expressed concern over delays in the MassBay project. Emphasized that all parties agree on forest preservation and urged the town to move forward with housing to meet state needs.
- Anne Mara Lanza (Building Better Wellesley, 18 Oakland St): Advocated for a collaborative approach between the town, state, and college. Suggested the Woodland train station project (180 units) as a successful model of community-developer collaboration.
- Laura Robert (10 Greenlawn Ave): Raised concerns about the ecological impact on the 80-acre forest ecosystem, citing risks of artificial light, wind invasives, and the loss of interior forest conditions.
- Leslie (Precinct D): Discussed an opinion piece by Renee Loth regarding inclusionary zoning. Criticized the Affordable Homes Act (AHA) of 2024, stating it eliminates local review and affordable housing requirements: "Serious housing strategies need local input and democratic safeguards."
- Jen Grover (Framingham): Spoke on behalf of local wildlife and the importance of preserving the forest habitat.
- Dennis McKay (Oakland St): Opposed the MassBay project and the AHA, suggesting the town should sue the state to maintain local zoning control.
- Brian King (Precinct D): Shared personal experiences using Centennial Park and urged the Board to preserve the space for future generations.
Executive Director Update
- Snow Operations: Snow removal in commercial areas is scheduled to commence tomorrow night. Another significant storm is forecasted for the upcoming weekend.
- Public Hearings:
- Zoning Hearing: February 9, 6:30 PM (Planning Board).
- Advisory Public Hearing on the Warrant: February 25, 7:30 PM.
- Candidate Nights: Sustainable Wellesley (Feb 11) and League of Women Voters (Feb 12).
- Awards: Wellesley was awarded "Website of the Year" for its population category by the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA).
Consent Agenda
- Item: Approval of increased seating and expanded hours of operation for Trulies at 35 Grove Street.
- Action: The Board voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda.
- Vote: 5-0 (Unanimous).
PSI 2504: Traffic Recommendation for 592 Washington Street
- Project Overview: A proposed 19-unit residential development. The Board reviewed the Municipal Systems Impact Study (PSI) regarding traffic and pedestrian safety.
- Technical Details:
- The project is expected to generate 16–20 peak hour vehicle trips, below the 50-trip PSI threshold.
- The driveway width was reduced from 24 feet to 20 feet to preserve a significant beech tree.
- A "three-stage maneuver" is required for exiting vehicles due to on-street parking sightline obstructions.
- Public Comment:
- Sheila Boyle (594 Washington St): Expressed concern that the lack of above-ground parking would lead to delivery trucks double-parking on Washington Street, creating a "nightmare" for traffic and safety.
- Anne Jakowitz (594 Washington St): Questioned the feasibility of a concierge managing all deliveries and trash removal without on-site turnaround space for large trucks.
- Board Action: The Board voted to approve the traffic peer review prepared by Ty and Bond, with the inclusion of comments regarding concerns over on-site delivery management and potential off-site traffic congestion.
- Vote: 4-1 (Largess opposed).
Winter Supplemental: Department of Public Works
- Request: DPW Director Dave Cohen requested a supplemental authorization of $500,000 from free cash to cover snow and ice removal costs following 15 winter events.
- Action: The Board voted to approve the $500,000 supplemental request.
- Vote: 5-0 (Unanimous).
FY27 Budget Update
- Health Insurance: Preliminary estimates show a 9.98% increase (excluding GLP-1 medications). Including GLP-1s would result in a 15.1% increase.
- Budget Deficit: The current projected deficit is approximately $1,280,339.
- Proposed Reductions: To reach a $1 million deficit target (to be funded by free cash), departments proposed cash capital cuts:
- Schools: ~$300,000
- DPW: $215,000
- NRC: $35,500
- Library: $25,000
- Select Board Operating Budgets: The Board voted to approve the following FY27 budgets:
- General Government (including FMD): $21,576,041
- Public Safety: $17,985,372
- Vote: 5-0 (Unanimous).
Annual Town Meeting Preparation
- Town Clerk Salary: The Board discussed the salary for the elected Town Clerk position relative to the Management Class and Compensation study (Job Group 14).
- Action: The Board voted to recommend an FY27 salary of $133,773, calculated by taking the base of the range and adding COLA, service adjustments, and merit.
- Vote: 5-0 (Unanimous).
- TNC Funds: The Board discussed the use of $8,000 from Transportation Network Company (Uber/Lyft) proceeds for transit education and bicycle safety training.
- Action: Approved the request to authorize $8,000 in TNC funds.
- Vote: 4-1 (Largess opposed).
Citizens Leadership Academy
- Proposal: Assistant Executive Director Corey Testa presented a plan for an 8-week academy starting March 26, 2026, to educate residents on town government operations.
- Details: The program will be capped at 25 participants and funded via the Babson Fund. Sessions will be interactive and led by department heads.
- Action: The Board expressed strong support and authorized staff to proceed with the program launch.
Minutes and Executive Session
- Minutes: The Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of January 6, 2026.
- Executive Session: The Board voted to enter Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining strategy for Fire and Library unions, with no intent to return to open session except to adjourn.