Government & development in Wellesley

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Last 14 days

• Obituary notices for two Wellesley residents. This week's notices remembered Anita Carol Brickett, 88, and Richard O. Hansen, 91, who died at home on October 29 surrounded by family, on what would have been his 91st birthday.Wellesley News
• Wellesley polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wellesley polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 for in-person voting in the 2026 State Election, the town announced.Wellesley News
• Unofficial state election results posted. The town posted unofficial results for the November 3, 2026 state election on its website after polls closed at 8 p.m.Town of Wellesley
• Patch covers Election Day turnout in Wellesley. Wellesley Patch reported that polls were open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday for residents voting in state and federal races.Wellesley Patch
• MetroWest Daily News: MacAusland pleads not guilty in children's deaths. MetroWest Daily News reported a Wellesley woman accused of killing her two children was ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty at her Norfolk Superior Court arraignment Tuesday.MetroWest Daily News
• Obituary notices for the week of Oct. 26 to Nov. 1. Wellesley News published obituary notices for two residents who died this week: Anita Carol Brickett, 88, and Richard O. Hansen, 91, who died at home Oct. 29 surrounded by family. Most notices came from George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home.Wellesley News
• ZBA continues 592 Washington Street hearing to Nov 3. Wellesley's Zoning Board of Appeals continued its hearing on a 19-unit project at 592 Washington Street, saying the applicant owes a construction plan, lighting details and excavation data. An engineer estimated 700 truck trips to haul dirt, and an attorney called the route "lunacy."Wellesley News
• Design Review Board approves revised Albion Road plan. Wellesley's Design Review Board reviewed revised plans for a large house at 35 Albion Road after a vice chair said a planned pool and wall violated guidelines on natural landscaping. The board also weighed sign permits for Washington Street-area businesses amid a planning staffing shortage.Wellesley News
• Wetlands panel approves Worcester Road housing order. Wellesley's Wetlands Protection Committee continued review of a 24-unit Walnut Street apartment project after its peer reviewer could not confirm a proposed stormwater filter meets town standards. A town meeting member warned of truck traffic near a center for adults with special needs.Wellesley News
• Housing Trust delays five-year plan vote. The Wellesley Affordable Housing Trust postponed votes on its draft Five-Year Action Plan to November 18, saying trustees had not reviewed a newly red-lined draft closely enough. Trustees also discussed a developer's purchase of 110 Cedar Street.Wellesley News
• Light Board writes off $44,670 in unpaid bills. Wellesley's Municipal Light Board wrote off years of uncollectible debt from 212 inactive accounts dating to fiscal 2021, citing a lapse in collections policy under prior leadership. S&P affirmed its AA rating but called the cash reserve "borderline insufficient."Wellesley News
• Officials weigh Sprague scoreboard placement options. Wellesley school officials and parents debated where to place a $50,000 Sprague Field scoreboard, funded by the Diamond Club, after a neighbor warned a left-field spot could affect helicopter medevac access. The athletic director said center field would block batters' sightline.Wellesley News
• NRC votes to draft White Pond position statement. Wellesley's Natural Resources Commission voted to draft a Town Meeting statement on White Pond, backing conservation and asking petitioners to resolve whether the Karisbrook Trust still exists. The citizen petition seeks up to $100,000 ahead of the November 9 special Town Meeting.Wellesley News
• ZBA continues 10 Railroad Street hearing to Dec 10. The Wellesley Zoning Board of Appeals pushed a hearing on a proposed MBTA Communities housing development at 10 Railroad Street to December 10, after an attorney for the applicant said talks with abutters over parking have not reached resolution.Wellesley News
• School Committee adopts report, eyes new schedule. Wellesley's School Committee took up a streamlined annual town report and new facilities task force appointments as High School Principal Jamie Chisholm cautioned the district remains far from a new class schedule needed to meet added state graduation requirements.Wellesley News
• Select Board weighs faster school AC funding bid. Wellesley's Select Board weighed a $170,000 free-cash request to speed up design of air conditioning at Bates and Fisk elementary schools, as a Schofield parent described students "sprawled on tile floors, sweaty and red-faced" during hot weather.Wellesley News
• Early in-person voting ends Oct. 30. Oct. 30 was the last day for Wellesley residents to vote early in person for the 2026 State Election, with Town Hall open until 8 p.m. the evening before for evening voters.Wellesley News
• Select Board debates faster school AC funding. Wellesley's Select Board took up a request to speed up design funding for air conditioning at Bates and Fisk elementary schools after a Schofield parent described students "sprawled on tile floors, sweaty and red-faced" during hot weather.Wellesley News
• Early voting ends Friday, Oct. 30. Wellesley's last day to vote early in person for the 2026 State Election is Oct. 30, with Town Hall open until 8 p.m. on Oct. 29 for evening voting.Wellesley News
• Town asks residents for input on Wellesley Square. The town is asking residents to complete the Wellesley Square Public Survey, posted via Town Hall's newsflash system.Town of Wellesley
• Advisory Committee votes down White Pond funding. Wellesley's Advisory Committee took up a citizen petition for free cash to fund White Pond legal work, as conservation trust leaders warned the pond's last active trustee may resign without town help and town counsel raised the prospect of an eminent domain taking.Wellesley News
• Housing Authority seeks $600,000 for security upgrade. Wellesley's Community Preservation Committee weighed a $600,000 security upgrade for Housing Authority properties serving hundreds of elderly and disabled residents, with members split over whether a legal opinion was needed before voting on using preservation funds for the project.Wellesley News
• Wellesley adds two late nights for early voting. Wellesley Patch reports two additional evening hours for early voting ahead of the 2026 election, giving residents extended Wednesday and Thursday sessions this week to cast ballots before Election Day.Wellesley Patch
• DPW weighs track building timeline, playground bids. Wellesley's Board of Public Works got an update on the Wellesley High School Track and Field building, where completion could slip past football season despite a pleased walkthrough by the athletic department, and weighed bids for a new Phillips Park playground facing a tight installation window.Wellesley News
• Wellesley obituary notices, Oct. 19 to 25. Wellesley obituary notices this week include Robert Curtin, 68, who died Oct. 19, and David Sanford, 90, who died Oct. 21, both listed on Echovita's Wellesley obituary page.Wellesley News
• Track and field building nears completion. Wellesley's Board of Public Works, meeting Oct. 20, heard that the high school track and field building's completion may slip past the football season, and weighed contract bids for a new Phillips Park playground among six proposals.Wellesley News
• Final weekend of early voting arrives in Wellesley. Wellesley Patch reports the final weekend of early voting for the 2026 election is underway, with voters able to cast ballots at Town Hall.Wellesley Patch
• Town flags key dates for Nov. 3 election. Wellesley Town Hall issued reminders this week of deadlines ahead of the Nov. 3 state election, including an Oct. 24 cutoff to register to vote at Town Hall.Town of Wellesley
• Worcester Street project could reshape zoning. A proposed 6-acre development on Worcester Street is drawing attention for its potential to reshape Wellesley's zoning rules, according to Wellesley Patch.Wellesley Patch
• 6-acre Worcester Street project could reshape zoning. A six-acre property on Worcester Street could prompt zoning changes in Wellesley, according to a Wellesley Patch item flagged in its Thursday morning briefing.Wellesley Patch

Coming up

• Wed, Nov 4, 6:30 p.m.: Advisory Committee meets Wednesday. The Wellesley Advisory Committee holds its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m., per the town calendar.Town of Wellesley
• Fri, Nov 6, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Sustainability summit convenes at Babson's Olin Hall. The Greater Needham-Wellesley Sustainability Summit runs Friday, Nov. 6, from noon to 5 p.m. at Olin Hall on the Babson College campus.Town of Wellesley
• Fri, Nov 6, 8:00 a.m.: Climate Action Committee meets in hybrid session. Wellesley's Climate Action Committee holds a hybrid meeting Friday from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in the Juliani Room at 525 Washington Street.Town of Wellesley
• Wed, Nov 11: Schools, town offices closed for Veterans Day Nov. 11. Wellesley schools and town offices are closed Wednesday, Nov. 11 for Veterans Day, per the district calendar.Wellesley Public Schools
• Tue, Nov 17, 11:00 p.m.: Retirement board volunteer applications due Nov. 17. The Wellesley Retirement Board is seeking a Fifth Member for a three-year term starting January 1, 2027; applications are due November 17.Town of Wellesley

Updated daily from the Wellesley morning brief.