Select Board October 27, 2026

• Election and Voting Information: Evening in-person voting was scheduled at Waterstone Senior Living on October 28 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with Town Hall early voting running through the week until 5:00 p.m. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by November 3 or returned to the Town Hall secure drop box by 8:00 p.m. on November 3. Polls are open on Election Day, November 3, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Tax Collection Deadlines and Scam Alert: Second-quarter real estate tax payments are due Monday, November 2. Residents were cautioned against fraudulent calls and texts; the town never contacts taxpayers via text or phone regarding payments.
• Staff Retirement: Executive Director Meghan Jop announced the retirement of Design and Construction Manager Steve Gagosian after more than 10 years of municipal service and prior service on the Permanent Building Committee (PBC). Gagosian contributed to projects including Wellesley High School, Town Hall renovations, Hardy and Hunnewell Elementary Schools, middle school systems, and campus security improvements.

Executive Director Meghan Jop presented three-year ratified tentative agreements for three municipal bargaining units:

• Wellesley Police Patrolmen's Union (34 employees):

  • Cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) of 3.0% in Year 1, 2.5% in Year 2, and 2.5% in Year 3.
  • Deletion of Step 1 (Academy step) following class-action litigation requirements.
  • Detail rate increase of $20 per hour for overnight shifts (7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.), weekends, and holidays (excluding town and school events).
  • Advance 3.0% technology stipend increase contingent upon potential future town or state implementation of body-worn cameras.
  • Reduction of maximum sick leave buyback to 45 days at $100 per day; uniform allowance increase from $1,000 to $1,200; expanded military service buyback up to 4 years for longevity pay; night shift differential increase from 5% to 7%; and special act residency expansion to 35 miles border-to-border within Massachusetts.
  • Total settlement cost: $141,997.

• Wellesley Superior Officers Association (6 sergeants, 4 lieutenants):

  • Sergeants: $10,000 market equity adjustment in Year 1, followed by 2.5% COLA in Years 2 and 3.
  • Lieutenants: Base pay increased by rolling in holiday pay, plus a 1.5% COLA in Year 1, and 2.5% in Years 2 and 3.
  • Night shift differential for sergeants increased from 5.5% to 7%; overnight detail rate increase of $20 per hour; body-worn camera provision aligned at 3.0%; and limitation of tuition reimbursement to one master's degree.
  • Total settlement cost: $126,917.

• IAFF Local 1795 Firefighters (privates, lieutenants, and deputy chiefs):

  • Restructuring of pay step tables, adding steps at 10, 15, 20, and 25 years, with a 15% promotional differential between ranks.
  • Shift differential revised to 2% of weekly pay; technology stipend added at 1% of weekly pay; EMT compensation adjusted to 8% of Step 1 lieutenant pay; education incentive shifted to a percentage calculation.
  • Uniform allowance increase to $800 on July 1, 2026, and $1,175 thereafter, eliminating linen and cleaning stipends; sick leave buyback reduced from 65 to 50 days for new hires; EMS coordinator stipend increased to $100 per week.
  • 15% differential in lieu of overtime for Fire Prevention Lieutenant and Deputy Chief; 10% in lieu of night differential for Deputy Chief.
  • Total settlement cost: $368,777.

• Action Taken: The Board voted on the motion to approve the tentative agreements between the Town of Wellesley and the Wellesley Police Patrolmen's Union, the Wellesley Superior Officers Association, and IAFF Local 1795 as presented.

• Vote: Passed 5-0.

The Board deliberated on the two motions under Article 14 for the upcoming Special Town Meeting concerning air conditioning for Bates and Fisk Elementary Schools:

• Motion 1 (Planned Design Process):

  • Proposes funding standard engineering and design through Free Cash along the Townwide Financial Plan timeline, maintaining the established 12-month design schedule.
  • Board members noted this adheres to the Permanent Building Committee (PBC) and Facilities Management Department (FMD) three-step procurement process with full checks and balances.

• Motion 2 (Accelerated Design Process):

  • Requests $170,000 from Free Cash to compress the design timeline from 12 months to 11.4 weeks (approximately four months) to allow construction funding consideration at the 2027 Annual Town Meeting.
  • Board members opposing the motion cited substantial risks identified by FMD, including compressed procurement, bypassing standard 60% and 90% PBC design reviews, heightened probability of expensive contractor change orders, and disruption to long-term capital stabilization planning.
  • Board members supporting the motion cited health, safety, educational equity for young learners, and trust in the PBC's ability to execute accelerated schedules.

• Public Comment:

  • A member of the public and elementary PTO co-president spoke in favor of accelerating air conditioning across all uncooled schools, stating that classroom conditions in June reached extreme heat levels where children were lethargic and falling asleep on floors, asserting: "The citizens petition is sending a clear message that the original timeline on air conditioning is not adequate. The past 10 years are the hottest 10 years on record, and we've spent you can say eight of them talking this issue in circles."

• Financial Modeling Presentation:

  • Finance Director Rachel and Executive Director Jop outlined the reserve trend and capital financing impacts. Total certified Free Cash was $38.4 million as of June 30, 2026. Town financial advisors (Hilltop Securities) advise working toward 20% reserves and maintaining at least $29 million in Free Cash.
  • Modeling showed that funding construction inside the levy borrowing would displace $1.2 million in FY28 cash capital for standard infrastructure repairs across departments.
  • Select Board Member Kenneth Largess presented alternative reserve models factoring in the $4.2 million General Stabilization Fund and historical six-year turnbacks averaging $12.8 million annually, arguing the town possesses sufficient reserves well above policy floors to self-fund the projects.

• Action on Motion 2: A motion was offered to support Article 14 Motion 2 to fund $170,000 from Free Cash for accelerated air conditioning design.

• Vote on Motion 2: Failed 2-3 (In favor: Beth Sullivan Woods, Kenneth Largess; Opposed: Marjorie Freiman, Colette Aufranc, Tom Ulfelder).

• Action on Motion 1: A motion was offered to support the appropriation for Article 14 Motion 1.

• Vote on Motion 1: Passed 5-0.

The Board considered citizen petition motions seeking direct appropriations from Free Cash for air conditioning construction at elementary schools and the middle school:

• Article 15 Motion 1 (Elementary School Construction Appropriation):

  • Proposed funding construction for elementary schools out of Free Cash without requiring a debt exclusion ballot vote.
  • Action Taken: Motion to support the appropriation under Article 15.1.
  • Vote: Failed 2-3 (In favor: Beth Sullivan Woods, Kenneth Largess; Opposed: Marjorie Freiman, Colette Aufranc, Tom Ulfelder).

• Article 15 Motion 2 (Middle School Construction Appropriation):

  • Proposed funding air conditioning construction for Wellesley Middle School.
  • Action Taken: Motion to support the appropriation under Article 15.2.
  • Vote: Failed 2-3 (In favor: Beth Sullivan Woods, Kenneth Largess; Opposed: Marjorie Freiman, Colette Aufranc, Tom Ulfelder).

• Article 15 Motion 3 (Reporting Requirement):

  • Board Member Beth Sullivan Woods moved to support Motion 15.3 regarding progress reporting back to Town Meeting.
  • Procedural Ruling: Chair Marjorie Freiman ruled the motion out of order, reaffirming Board policy not to take positions on citizen petitions that do not contain an appropriation.

The Board discussed a citizen petition requesting up to $100,000 from town funds to conduct legal and title due diligence regarding the potential acquisition of the White Pond property:

• Proponent Presentations:

  • Michael Tobin (President, Wellesley Conservation Land Trust) and Dawn Davis (Board Member, Wellesley Conservation Land Trust) stated the motion follows the 2025 Town Meeting appropriation of $72,000 ($44,000 expended) for ecological and structural studies. They noted deed records for beneficiary properties dating back to 1931 have been compiled on a drive for town counsel review, urging completion of title work under M.G.L. c. 79.
  • Trustee Linda Siemenson noted she is the sole remaining trustee of the 1953 trust and that neighbors are reluctant to take on trustee liability.

• Board Discussion and Natural Resources Commission (NRC) Position:

  • Board members raised concerns that Town Counsel cannot perform private legal or probate cures for an existing trust using public funds, potential future capital liabilities (culvert repairs and dredging estimated at $500,000 to $1,000,000, plus possible PFAS remediation), and the absence of clear public access guarantees due to beneficiary deed restrictions.
  • A written statement from the NRC Chair indicated the NRC recognizes the conservation value of White Pond but lacked consensus regarding spending tax dollars to resolve title defects of a private trust, noting the NRC will discuss updated motion language on October 29.

• Action Taken: By board consensus, the Board deferred taking an official vote or position on Article 16 until the following meeting to allow the Natural Resources Commission to review the revised motion.

• Action Taken: Motion to approve the minutes of October 6, 2026, October 13, 2026, and October 20, 2026, as amended.
• Vote: Passed 5-0.

• Presentation: Executive Director Meghan Jop announced that an anonymous donor contributed $16,000 to the Wellesley Police Department to cover the acquisition and specialized training of a second community comfort dog to assist current comfort dog Winnie, who is six years old.
• Action Taken: Motion to approve the anonymous gift of $16,000 for the purchase and training of a new community comfort dog.
• Vote: Passed 5-0.

• School Facilities Task Force: Colette Aufranc reported on receipt of a memo from the School Committee concerning the School Facilities Task Force. Aufranc and Freiman scheduled a coordination meeting with staff and School Committee representatives for Thursday to clarify deliverables and ensure alignment with Capital Budgeting Committee (CAPCOM) criteria.
• Meeting Schedule Deliberation: The Board discussed scheduling around the November 3 Election Day, evaluating options for an all-remote Zoom meeting to take up Article 16, Boston Marathon bibs, and the War Memorial report.