Select Board April 14, 2026

• Date: April 14, 2026
• Governing Body: Select Board
• City: Wellesley, MA
• Meeting Type: Regular Session
• Attendees:
  • Marjorie Freiman, Select Board Chair
  • Colette Aufranc, Select Board Member
  • Beth Sullivan Woods, Select Board Member
  • Tom Ulfelder, Select Board Member
  • Kenneth Largess, Select Board Member
  • Meghan Jop, Executive Director
  • Corey Testa, Assistant Executive Director

The Board provided an update on electronic communications received from the Commonwealth regarding the MassBay project at 40 Oakland Street.

• Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) Letter:
  • The state intends to build 180 homes, concentrated on the existing parking area.
  • A conservation restriction will be offered for the balance of the parcel.
  • The project will comply with local inclusionary zoning (20% affordable units).
  • An RFP is scheduled for release in July 2026.
• Department of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCMM) Letter:
  • Official 30-day notice that 40 Oakland Street is determined to be surplus.
  • Public comments on the disposition are accepted until May 13, 2026.
• Official Action: The Select Board announced a Special Town Meeting in May (date TBD) to present a non-binding question to Town Meeting members regarding the project.

The Board held a 25-minute public comment period. Key speakers included:

• Marguerite Chatelier (11 Colburn Rd): Expressed support for the project. "I'm glad the state has agreed to preserve the forest and build much needed housing on the parking lot."
• Doug Youngen (62 Oakland St, Friends of Centennial): Opposed the surplus designation. He argued the land is protected under Article 97 and criticized the state for "top-down development imposed by the state without adequate research."
• Raina McManus (2 Mulherrin Lane): Raised environmental concerns regarding wetlands and wildlife. "Any construction is going to interfere with those protected resources... two years of construction activity and noise will frighten and scare off wildlife."
• Leslie Hanrahan (5 Putney Rd): Challenged the state's narrative of community support, noting that 3,400 residents signed a petition against the high-density designation.
• Wendy Beck (26 Oakland Circle): Highlighted the impact of rodenticides on local owl and eagle populations and the loss of mature oak trees.

• Tree Work: Midnight tree work is scheduled for Wellesley Square to minimize merchant disruption.
• Climate Action: The Geothermal Solutions event at Village Church is oversubscribed with 140 registrants.
• Resolution in Honor of Gertrude Hughes: The Board read a resolution for the town's oldest resident, Gertrude "Gertie" Hughes, for her 107th birthday on April 19.
  • Key Passage: "Now, therefore, be it resolved, we, the Select Board of the Town of Wellesley, Massachusetts, send our warm congratulations and happy birthday wishes to Gertrude Hughes for her contributions to our town and community."

The Board considered three items:

1. One-day license for Wellesley Historical Society (June 17).
2. Mobile food vendor license for Oath Pizza.
3. Amendment to Lockhart restaurant entertainment license for indoor amplification.

• Vote: Colette Aufranc moved to approve; seconded by Tom Ulfelder. Passed 5-0.

Executive Director Meghan Jop reported that the developer of 140 Weston Road has formally withdrawn their application to amend the development agreement.

• Outcome: The developer will proceed under the existing terms, which include the removal and reconstruction of the porch.
• Timeline: Permit applications are expected by the end of the week.

Chair Marjorie Freiman announced the following liaison and committee appointments:

• Business Liaison: Beth Sullivan Woods.
• General Bylaw Review Committee: Kenneth Largess and Marjorie Freiman.
• Townwide Capital Planning Committee: Colette Aufranc (Chair) and Tom Ulfelder.

The Board discussed improvements for future Town Meetings:

• Warrant Order: Proposal to group articles by department and move non-appropriation articles to Night 1.
• Audio-Visual: Discussion of sound issues at the High School auditorium. The Board will evaluate returning to the Middle School or adjusting speaker placement.
• Budget Motions: The Board reached a consensus to continue separating Municipal and School budget motions for clarity.
• Future Dates:
  • ATM 2027: March 29, 30; April 5, 6, 12, 13.
  • Fall Special Town Meeting 2026: November 9, 10, 16.

• Minutes Approval: The Board approved minutes for April 6, April 7, February 10, and February 24, 2026, as amended. Passed 5-0.
• Executive Session: The Board entered Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining strategy regarding Wellesley Firefighters, Library Staff and Supervisors, and Custodian Unions (AFSCME Local 49).