Wellesley Morning Brief, Oct. 23: Panel debates new pay grade for officials

From Wellesley News

• Advisory Committee debates school AC funding timeline Wellesley's Advisory Committee weighed a citizens' petition to front-load free cash for Bates, Fisk and Schofield air conditioning against the School Committee's slower funding path. Petitioner Kelly Norris argued "if there was or wasn't an Article 15, it's the same" project, just funded sooner.Wellesley News
• Design board pauses Albion Road house review Wellesley's Design Review Board approved four commercial sign permits and continued review of a 9,524-square-foot house proposed for 35 Albion Road, after architect Tref LaFleche said the project removes 28 trees to fit an oversized stormwater system built "40 percent" above code.Wellesley News
• Design board sets October 21 hearing for Albion Road Wellesley's Design Review Board continued its Albion Road house review to October 21, asking whether relocating the stormwater recharge system could preserve large black oak trees, while deferring Wonder's sign and construction applications to the same date.Wellesley News
• Advisory Committee advances new senior pay grade Wellesley's Advisory Committee weighed a new top salary grade, roughly 15 percent above the current $148,600-to-$200,600 range, for three senior officials, with retroactive merit pay possible back to July 2025. Member Penny Rossano asked, "So somebody made a mistake, right?"Wellesley News
• NRC weighs Morton Park land swap for fire station Wellesley's Natural Resources Commission debated whether to revisit a 2025 position statement and swap its roughly two-acre Morton Park, as commissioners split over green space and a citizen's petition to fund legal work on acquiring White's Pond hit new access concerns.Wellesley News
• Advisory Committee compares dueling school AC funding plans Wellesley's Advisory Committee heard competing Special Town Meeting proposals for Bates and Fiske school air conditioning, with School Committee Chair Niki Ofenloch's plan featuring an optional $242,000 premium for accelerated design and petitioner Kelly Norris calling the issue one that affects more than 1,700 students.Wellesley News
• Select Board weighs fiscal 2028 budget pressures Wellesley's Select Board heard from School Committee, Library Trustees and Board of Health representatives about fiscal 2028 cost drivers, including open union contracts, health insurance costs projected to rise 5.8 to 12 percent, and a trash contract increase that could add $75,000 to $100,000.Wellesley News
• Panel reviews compensation plan, Wight Pond land questions Wellesley's Advisory Committee heard proposals adding a new Grade 16 pay tier for three directors and a citizen petition seeking $25,000 to $50,000 for Town Counsel to resolve title questions on Wight Pond, a 5.5-acre property whose 1955 conservancy trust may have dissolved in 1975.Wellesley News

Happening Sat, Oct 24

• 9:15 a.m.: Library holds fall book sale this weekend The Friends of the Wellesley Free Libraries hold their Fall Book Sale in the Wakelin Room Saturday, October 24, from 9:15 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, October 25, from 1 to 4:30 p.m.Wellesley Free Library
• 2:00 p.m.: Theatre project stages final Starcatcher shows Wellesley Theatre Project performs "Peter and the Starcatcher" at its Washington Street studio, with remaining shows Saturday, October 24, at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m.Wellesley Theatre Project
• The Final Weekend Day Of Early Voting 2026 Arrives In Wellesley Wellesley Patch reports residents have one more weekend day to vote early at Town Hall, 525 Washington Street, ahead of the Nov. 3 election.Wellesley Patch

Wellesley on Fri, Oct 23

• Schools launch bargaining update website Wellesley Public Schools opened a public website tracking contract negotiations with the Wellesley Educators Association, including the School Committee's latest global settlement proposal, to keep families and community members informed as talks continue.Wellesley Public Schools
• Babson volleyball tops Middlebury in five sets No. 25 Babson College volleyball edged Middlebury College 3-2 in the New England Challenge opener Friday night at Staake Gymnasium, as junior Angelina Holm had a season-high 15 kills and six blocks.Babson Athletics
• Raider Recap 10-23-26 Wellesley Sports Blitz reports Wellesley field hockey tied Dover-Sherborn 3-3 and Wellesley football fell to Natick 37-14 on Friday.Wellesley Sports Blitz
• Raider Recap 10-22-26 Wellesley Sports Blitz reports Wellesley boys soccer tied Braintree 1-1, girls soccer beat Braintree 1-0, and girls volleyball swept Framingham 3-0 on Thursday.Wellesley Sports Blitz

Coming up

• Mon, Oct 26: Framingham vs Wellesley | Soccer | 10/26/2026 Framingham's varsity girls soccer team travels to Wellesley for a non-conference match Monday, October 26, according to MaxPreps.MaxPreps
• Tue, Oct 27, 6:30 p.m.: School Committee meets Tuesday evening Wellesley's School Committee holds its next regular meeting Tuesday, October 27, at 6:30 p.m.Wellesley Public Schools
• Wed, Oct 28, 6:00 p.m.: Library hosts perimenopause health discussion Oct 28 The Wellesley Free Library presents "Dine & Discover Perimenopause: The (M) Factor 2" in the Wakelin Room Wednesday, October 28, from 6 to 8 p.m.Wellesley Free Library
• Thu, Oct 29, 7:00 p.m.: Library presents coyote coexistence talk Oct 29 The Wellesley Free Library hosts "Co-Existing with the Evolving Coyote" in the Wakelin Room Thursday, October 29, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.Wellesley Free Library
• Fri, Oct 30, 10:30 a.m.: Library plans Halloween Storytime Oct 30 The Wellesley Free Library hosts Halloween Storytime in the Wakelin Room Friday, October 30, from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.Wellesley Free Library

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