Select Board October 20, 2026

Executive Director Meghan Jop presented updates on several town matters:

• Flu Clinics: The Health Department will host flu clinics on October 22 at the Warren Building (10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) and on November 4 at the Council on Aging (10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.).
• Prescription Drug and Sharps Disposal: National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will be held at the Police Department on October 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Unused medications may also be brought to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital information desk. Sharps (needles, syringes, EpiPens) in secure, closed, hard containers can be deposited in the Warren Building sharps collection box.
• Hydrant Flushing: The Department of Public Works is performing annual hydrant flushing. Residents are advised not to do laundry during flushing, to run water until clear if discolored, and noted that water remains safe to drink.
• Early Voting: Early voting is held October 20–23 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Tolles Parsons Center/Giuliani room, Saturday, October 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Town Hall, and October 26–30 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Boston Marathon Applications: Applications closed with approximately 35 submissions received from non-profits and prospective War Memorial runners; the Board will review and vote on allocations and scholarship amounts on November 3.

The Board considered two items on the consent agenda:

1. Approval of a takeout Common Victualler license for Lalico at 268 Washington Street to operate a hot water station and microwave for customer preparation of pre-packaged food, conditioned upon final Health Department sign-offs.
2. Acceptance of an anonymous gift of $5,000 to cover the purchase of downtown holiday lights.

• Motion to approve the consent agenda: Passed 5-0.

The Board reviewed the annual request from MCO Housing to set affordable rental rates based on 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) for Wellesley Place at 978 Worcester Street. Proposed rates set new tenant rents at the maximum allowable limits (excluding utilities) and reflect a standard 5% increase for existing tenants.

• New Tenants (excluding utilities):

  • One-bedroom unit: $2,705
  • Two-bedroom unit: $3,032

• Existing Tenants (5% increase):

  • One-bedroom unit: $2,163
  • Two-bedroom unit: $2,284

• Motion to approve the proposed rent increases for new and existing tenants: Passed 5-0.

Fire Chief Steve Martorelli provided an update on the Fire Department Master Plan and addressed points raised in correspondence and circulated neighborhood flyers regarding potential station development at the North 40:

• Traffic and Access: Chief Martorelli noted the department currently utilizes Weston Road continuously from Station 1. If relocated to the North 40, southbound trips would average three to five calls per day; a signal-preemption system coordinated with Central Street and Linden Street signals would clear traffic for emergency egress, similar to the existing system at the Route 9 station.
• Land Use and Community Gardens: The specific building footprint has not been finalized; whether any portion of the community gardens would be impacted remains unknown pending feasibility study results.
• Environmental and Water Safety: All apparatus washing occurs inside stations through closed-loop systems with oil/water separators managed by the Facilities Management Department. Decontamination requirements focus on everyday calls (diesel, bodily fluids, smoke byproducts) and modern station layouts isolating "hot," "warm," and "cold" living zones to mitigate occupational cancer risks in accordance with Massachusetts cancer presumption law.
• Site Alternatives: Expanding the Route 9 headquarters to accommodate all operational needs is not feasible due to site boundaries, rail lines, high-crash intersection geometry, and Department of Public Works/Municipal Light Plant circulation access. A two-station operational model is required to preserve response times townwide. Station 1 on Central Street would be decommissioned or repurposed upon completion of a new headquarters.
• Operational Details: Sirens are deployed with due regard and not utilized continuously on nighttime runs; response routes will not cut through residential side streets unless operationally necessary.

Select Board member Kenny Largess presented revisions to proposed amendments for Article 2 of the Town Bylaws (Public Bodies), following feedback from the Advisory Committee:

• Revisions converted passive voice phrasing into active voice throughout the text.

• The committee retained the term "shall" in alignment with Massachusetts statutory drafting standards, Supreme Judicial Court precedents, and municipal legal convention.

• Motion to approve the revised language for Article 2 (Public Bodies) of the town's bylaws as presented for Article 7 of Special Town Meeting: Passed 5-0.

The Board discussed procedures for Special Town Meeting citizen petitions that seek financial appropriations outside the Townwide Financial Plan:

• Articles 14.2, 15.1, and 15.2, alongside Article 16 (requesting $100,000), require Select Board review and formal votes as town fiduciaries.
• The Board requested staff prepare an updated inventory of capital projects, free cash balances, and borrowing capacity impacts under levy vs. debt exclusion scenarios to support deliberations scheduled for October 27, 2026.

The Board reviewed the draft Select Board edition of the townwide "W" publication ahead of Special Town Meeting:

• Members agreed to retain descriptions of financial policies under development (debt management and reserve stabilization funds) while omitting specific technical policy titles pending formal Board adoption.

• Revisions were directed for the Bates and Fisk elementary school air conditioning project summary to clarify that construction funding will seek bids rather than estimates at Annual Town Meeting, noted that current figures reflect early feasibility estimates, and highlighted that the funding mechanism differs from the debt exclusion model originally contemplated.

• Motion to approve the Select Board edition of the W and authorize Marjorie Freiman to make final edits: Passed 5-0.

The Board reviewed minutes from previous meetings:

• Action on the minutes of October 6, 2026 was deferred to allow members further review of discussion concerning free cash reserves and capital project modeling.

• Motion to approve the minutes of September 23, 2026 and September 29, 2026, as amended: Passed 5-0.

Chair Marjorie Freiman reported on upcoming town proceedings:

• Advisory Committee: A minority opinion will be appended to the Advisory Committee report regarding school air conditioning following a 7-8 vote on Article 3.1.
• Special Town Meeting Scheduling: The Town Moderator anticipates addressing Articles 1 through 13 and Article 16 on the first evening, with Articles 14 and 15 taken up on the second night. The order of Articles 3.1 and 8 will be reversed to account for conditional dependencies.
• Community Events: The Wellesley Education Foundation (WEF) will hold its annual spelling bee on November 18; board members were invited to sponsor or join a team with a $500 entrance fee.

The Board considered a motion to enter into Executive Session pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(3) to conduct strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining with the Wellesley Superior Officers Association, the Dispatch Unit, and AFSCME Council 93 Local 49 Custodians' Union; and under Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(7) to review and consider release of executive session minutes from multiple prior sessions spanning 2025 through 2026, with the Board to reconvene only to adjourn.

• Motion to enter executive session: Passed 5-0.