DPW board forwards six capital projects to new panel
The Wellesley Board of Public Works voted unanimously to forward six capital project proposals, including major road reconstructions and the DPW campus redesign, to the town's new Townwide Capital Planning Committee.
Board of Public Works · Meeting of September 14, 2026
WELLESLEY — The Wellesley Board of Public Works voted unanimously to forward six capital project proposals, including major road reconstructions and the DPW campus redesign, to the town's new Townwide Capital Planning Committee. The three-member board, chaired by Jeffrey Wechsler, also approved a revised encroachment policy 3-0 and appointed member Michael McManus as alternate representative to the committee's September 28 meeting. DPW Director Dave Cohen previewed a fiscal 2028 budget showing roughly $28 million in all-funds operating spending, a 2 percent increase, and about $41 million in capital requests, including $13.4 million for PFAS water treatment construction at Morses Pond.
Cohen said the capital jump reflects "a bit of a compression because projects that have been deferred." The board also marked the retirement of 51-year water and sewer foreman Dwight "Smitty" Rogers, the department's ninth retirement this past year, and noted outdoor watering remains limited to one day per week under a continuing Level 1 drought.
In the full story:
- Public Comment: MBTA Drainage Concern Near the Railroad Tracks
- Advisory Committee Report: Fall Town Meeting Preview
- Townwide Capital Planning Committee: Alternate Representative Appointed
- Capital Project Proposal Forms Forwarded to Capital Planning Committee
- Revised Town Encroachment Policy
- Staff Recognition: Retirements, a Promotion and New Hires
- Drought Status Update
- Fall Town Meeting and Board Scheduling
- DPW Omnibus Budget Version 1: An Early Look at Fiscal 2028
- Enterprise Fund Year-End Financials and the PFAS/MWRA Policy Question
- Director's Report: Goals, Community Programs and the Citizens Leadership Academy
- Engineering Project Updates
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report: 3,725 words
Source: the Board of Public Works meeting of September 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.
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