Wellesley Select Board renews $7.5 million Hardy School note, switches parking vendor

WELLESLEY -- May 19, 2026, Wellesley Select Board renews $7.5 million Hardy School borrowing and dumps Plymouth County parking contract. The board voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve a one-year bond anticipation note awarded to Fidelity Capital Markets at a 3.5 percent coupon with a $67,275 premium, yielding a 2.60 percent net interest cost, below last year's 3 percent. Treasurer Maura O'Connor and CFO Rachel DeRoche said the renewal buys time for solar scope additions and pending MSBA reimbursements before permanent financing. In a separate 5-0 vote, the board ended its 2023 intermunicipal agreement with Plymouth County and rehired Passport Parking at a $500 monthly fee, with Lt. Michael Lemenager citing system-integration failures. Plymouth County Treasurer Thomas O'Brien told members, "we would love to not see you go." The board also approved 12 to 15 Cameron Street spaces for Hunnewell solar contractors from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, and Executive Director Meghan Jop announced an $840,000 Linden Street bottleneck grant award.