BoardIpswich

Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Track committee activity, current roster, and published meeting coverage for Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen) in Ipswich.

0 active membersLast meeting Aug 17, 202630 summaries in 30d

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Active roster

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Aug 21, 2026

Municipality

Ipswich

Latest coverage

Commercial Shellfish License Fee Cut Approved

Published Aug 21, 2026

Related summaries

Published meeting coverage connected to Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen).

Briefing

Jun 10, 2026

Select Board Advances FY27 Goals

The Select Board agreed on proposed FY27 priorities covering Electric Light Department governance, downtown safety and parking, charter and policy review, long-term financial planning, and outdoor dining; members plan to vote on the finalized goals June 22. The Board also approved a one-day all-alcohol liquor license by a 5-0 vote.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 8, 2026

Board Advances Electric Department Governance Petition

The Select Board unanimously approved, 5-0, a revised letter sending the Electric Light Department governance Home Rule Petition to the Legislature. The Board did not decide when to seek funding approval for the Public Safety Building; it compared a September 8 Special Town Meeting and September 22 election with an October 20 meeting and November 3 ballot question.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 5, 2026

Board Rescinds Special Election Schedule

The Select Board unanimously voted 5-0 to rescind its prior call for a July 28 Special Town Meeting and an August 11 Special Election. The Board is reviewing other dates and locations after new information raised questions about using the YMCA as the polling place.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 1, 2026

Special vote set on public safety building

The Select Board voted 4-1 to schedule a Special Town Meeting for July 28, 2026, and a special election for August 11, 2026, concerning the Public Safety Building project. Staff will confirm the required facilities, voting equipment, scheduling, publication, and funding arrangements.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 26, 2026

Board Plans Trash Rollout and Town Manager Priorities

The Select Board identified trash-conversion outreach as an immediate priority, with new barrels expected the week of June 15 and plans for a postcard, website information, video, and a public demonstration. The Board also outlined 30-, 60-, and 90-day priorities for Town Manager Brendan Sweeney, including reviewing FY27 finances, preparing for potential Town Meetings, improving capital-project tracking, and addressing staffing needs.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 20, 2026

New Town Manager Contract Approved

The Select Board unanimously approved Brendan Sweeney’s employment agreement as town manager, beginning May 26, 2026, for a three-year term ending May 26, 2029. The Board also elected Michael Dougherty chair and Carl Nylen vice chair, both by unanimous 5-0 votes.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 11, 2026

Electric upgrades target reliability and resilience

Ipswich Electric Light Department staff said the High Street Substation is beyond its intended lifespan and outlined a proposed indoor replacement, with a preliminary estimate of $15 million that may change as design work advances. The meeting also reviewed Fowler’s Lane upgrades, distribution improvements, cybersecurity, and storm-resiliency projects.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 4, 2026

Building Permit Fees Set to Increase

The Select Board unanimously adopted Option B fee increases for Building Department permits, effective July 1, 2026. The board also supported a marine equipment grant project backed by approximately $120,000 in equipment funding and received an update that Phase Two of the Town Wharf Project is estimated at $400,000 to $500,000.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 27, 2026

Outdoor Dining Season Extended

The Select Board unanimously voted 4-0 to extend outdoor dining in town parking spaces and on public sidewalks from the Friday before Memorial Day through the Friday after Labor Day.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 21, 2026

Seasonal outdoor dining approved with parking change

The Select Board unanimously approved outdoor dining for Heart and Soul, Brown Dog, and Zabaglione from June 1 through September 1, with Brown Dog reducing its use of public parking by one space. The Board will revisit the arrangements over the summer with the Building Inspector.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 13, 2026

Electric utility planning and policy reviewed

The Select Board and Electric Light Subcommittee reviewed potential pooled financing and began revising Ipswich’s distributed generation policy, but took no vote on either proposal. The Electric Light Department said its interconnection fee has not changed in 10 years and raised concerns about the current crediting rate and electric rates.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 11, 2026

Public Safety Building Funding Discussed

The Select Board reviewed a proposal for an additional $9.8 million in public safety building funding. If approved at a subsequent vote, construction could begin in fall 2026 and be completed by winter 2028.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 9, 2026

Board Selects Brendan Sweeney for Town Manager

The Select Board voted unanimously, 5-0, to move forward with a job offer to Brendan Sweeney as town manager. The board then entered executive session to negotiate contracts for the incoming and interim town managers.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 7, 2026

Select Board Interviews Town Manager Finalist

The Select Board interviewed town manager finalist Steve Bartha and announced it would deliberate on the town manager search on April 9. No appointment was made in the documented meeting.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 6, 2026

Board backs Public Safety Building borrowing

The Select Board recommended borrowing for the Public Safety Building construction project by a 4-1 vote, with Michael Dougherty opposed. The Board cited the project’s critical safety needs and updated cost estimates, while raising concerns about affordability and timing.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 2, 2026

Board directs toter grant to general fund

The Select Board voted 4-0 to place the DEP grant for trash toters in the General Fund rather than the trash enterprise fund. The Board also voted unanimously to transfer $240,000 originally allocated for the Winthrop School modular project to Capital Stabilization.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Mar 23, 2026

Ipswich approves higher water and sewer rates

The Select Board approved new utility charges effective May 1, 2026: the seasonal residential water rate will rise from $8.50 to $29.91 per 100 cubic feet, the year-round base water rate from $18.46 to $19.94, and the sewer rate will be $17.41 per 100 cubic feet. The water-rate vote passed 4-1, while the sewer-rate vote was unanimous.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Mar 16, 2026

Ipswich Approves Automated Weekly Trash Pickup

The Select Board unanimously voted to proceed with full automation for weekly trash and recycling collection, including 35-gallon trash totes and 95/96-gallon recycling totes.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Mar 10, 2026

Board Approves Commercial Shellfish Permits

The Select Board unanimously approved 67 commercial shellfish permits and two lottery applicants for the permit year beginning April 1, 2026. It also approved licenses for qualifying individuals over 70 by a 3-0-1 vote. The FY27 budget remained under review, including a $45,000 snow-and-ice transfer, approximately $70,000 in additional internal transfers, and $2.6 million in free-cash use by the schools and Town.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Mar 2, 2026

Hazard mitigation plan adopted for grant funding

The Select Board unanimously adopted the Town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, a required update tied to a $15 million grant award.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 25, 2026

Snow and Ice Budget Faces $125,000 Shortfall

Ipswich is projected to run approximately $125,000 over its Snow and Ice budget this year after $65,000 was cut from the prior year's allocation. The Select Board discussed ways to restore funding and planned to revisit the issue after Town Meeting.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 24, 2026

Ipswich Receives $500,000 Complete Streets Grant

Ipswich is receiving $500,000 through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Complete Streets Program. The Select Board also reviewed FY27 department budgets, approved two appointments, authorized two Pavilion Beach use dates, and was informed that the Attorney General’s office approved banning Bitcoin machines in Ipswich.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 12, 2026

FY27 Budget Review Rescheduled

The Select Board voted unanimously, 5-0, to suspend the FY27 budget review and continue it at a rescheduled hearing on February 25 because some budget materials were provided late and a board member said she was not prepared.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 2, 2026

Trash and Traffic Plans Reviewed

The Select Board reviewed three trash-collection proposals moving toward automated service. A $30-per-container grant is available, but the Board did not approve a contract or a potential fee for areas that should not receive free pickup.

2 min readMunicipal coverage