Irrigation funding strategy finalized for Special Town Meeting

The Golf Committee coordinated outreach and decided not to seek floor amendments for a warrant article requesting new and extended CPA funds plus revolving funds for course irrigation. The measure seeks to extend $550,000 previously approved, request approximately $350,000 in new CPA funding, and spend $100,000 from the revolving fund.

Golf Committee, watch at 9:34

Contract signed for 200-drone Tricentennial light show

A contract was executed with Firefly for a 15-minute drone light show on January 1, 2027, launched from St. Mark's field with viewing at Woodward School and the Town House. Organizers are reevaluating a proposed community bonfire and horse-drawn rides due to cost and site constraints.

Tricentennial Committee, watch at 1:23:58

Advisory Committee backs Parkerville landfill water funding

The committee voted 6-0 to recommend Town Meeting approve $240,000 from water retained earnings to connect two homes near the landfill to municipal water, with the town covering service lines into the houses.

Advisory Committee, watch at 1:20

CPC advances Peninsula Trail bridge article without cuts

The Community Preservation Committee voted 3-2 to advance the $428,550 bridge funding request to Town Meeting as printed, rejecting proposals to remove contingency funding despite cost concerns raised by other boards.

Community Preservation Committee, watch at 0:30

ZBA supports two-family zoning article as drafted

The board voted to present the warrant article to Town Meeting without removing minimum lot requirement language, concluding after legal review that last-minute alterations could create zoning ambiguity.

Zoning Board of Appeals, watch from the start

Costco warehouse and gas station proposal on Coslin Drive

Costco Wholesale presented site, stormwater, and traffic plans for a proposed 167,000-square-foot warehouse and 30-position fueling station at 21 Coslin Drive, drawing neighborhood concerns regarding traffic on Route 9 and surrounding roads. The Planning Board voted 4-0 to continue the hearing to October 19.

Planning Board, watch at 31:54

Funding strategy for Peninsula Trail pedestrian bridge

After the Select Board and Advisory Committee voted not to recommend Warrant Article 4, the Trails Committee discussed offering a floor amendment at Special Town Meeting to request $25,000 in new CPA funds while repurposing $211,000 in existing CPA allocations and seeking a state grant.

Trails Committee, watch at 18:15

Two-family dwelling zoning bylaw revisions

The Planning Board reviewed draft revisions to a proposed zoning bylaw amendment governing two-family dwellings, focusing on removing confusing terms and clarifying minimum lot size rules across commercial and industrial districts. The hearing was continued to October 17.

Planning Board, watch at 0:15

Neary School options narrowed to Options 1, 3, and $15M scope

The Elementary School Building Committee voted 3-1 to eliminate Option 4 and voted 4-0 to direct consultants to focus on Options 1, 3, and a $15 million baseline scope. Preliminary total cost models presented ranged from $24.4 million to $49.2 million.

Elementary School Building Committee, watch at 22:04

Select Board votes on revised Special Town Meeting articles

The Select Board reopened the October 17 warrant to vote support for revised articles on two-family housing and a Community Preservation Act irrigation project. A motion to support a CPA trail project failed on a 1-4 vote.

Select Board, watch at 0:46

Affordable Housing Trust explores investing $1M in cash reserves

Trustees discussed that roughly $1 million in trust funds currently earns near-zero interest and agreed to consult town finance officials regarding allowable higher-yield investment options.

Affordable Housing Trust, watch at 50:18

Select Board and Advisory Committee split on Town Meeting warrant articles

The Select Board recommended seven of eight warrant articles, endorsing two-family zoning changes and golf course irrigation while opposing CPA funding for a trail bridge. The Advisory Committee voted against recommending the zoning revisions, golf course funding, and the trail footbridge.

Select Board and Advisory Committee, watch at 3:06:55

Town departments model service and staff cuts under override-failure budget scenarios

Departments prepared dual FY28 budget submissions following guidance tied to an anticipated spring tax override. Modeled zero-increase scenarios would eliminate library programming and subscriptions, reduce hours for health staff, and cut 125 annual hours from the Conservation Agent position.

Library Board of Trustees, watch at 2:50

Trails Committee plans outreach after boards reject bridge funding article

Following votes by both the Select Board and Advisory Committee against supporting $217,318 in additional CPA money for the Peninsula Trail footbridge, the committee planned voter education and drafted a fallback request to extend the expiration of $211,000 in existing funds.

Trails Committee, watch at 20:25

Central district offices dropped from Neary building design

The committee reviewed an addition and renovation concept and instructed architects to remove central school district administration offices to keep the building focused on grades 4 and 5 educational needs.

Elementary School Building Committee, watch at 6:46

Committee dismisses 10-year phased repair plan

Members rejected a proposed decade-long capital repair schedule because of the continuous disruption it would cause students, though they asked for high-level cost estimates to show Town Meeting why it is not viable.

Elementary School Building Committee, watch at 32:00