The Advisory Committee recommended negotiating with the state over a proposed 180-unit housing development at 40 Oakland Street, with 9 members favoring that option, 2 favoring litigation, 0 favoring the alternative negotiation option, and 1 abstaining.

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Briefing

Apr 22, 2026

40 Oakland Street Proposal Reviewed

The Advisory Committee reviewed proposed May 2026 Special Town Meeting questions about designating and disposing of 40 Oakland Street, including a state proposal involving 180 housing units and possible litigation.

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Briefing

Apr 6, 2026

Advisory Committee Rejects Article 32 Amendment

The Advisory Committee voted 4-8 against an amendment to Warrant Article 32 and recommended unfavorable action. Discussion focused on the density, location, housing implications, and procedural scope of the proposed changes to RIO provisions.

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Briefing

Mar 31, 2026

Committee tables RIO zoning amendment

The Advisory Committee voted 11-3 to table the proposed amendment to Article 32, delaying its recommendation until a follow-up meeting on Monday, April 6, 2026.

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Briefing

Mar 30, 2026

Advisory Committee reviews warrant articles

The Advisory Committee approved favorable action on a 16-article consent agenda by a 12-1-1 vote. Members also discussed a proposed amendment to prohibit new Residential Incentive Overlays in all zoning districts, but the provided minutes do not show a vote on that amendment.

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Briefing

Mar 11, 2026

Advisory Committee Supports FY27 Budgets

The committee recommended $121,501,445 for municipal operations and $96,856,075 for the school budget for FY27. It also supported transferring $2,776,678 from certified Free Cash to reduce the tax rate and appropriating $900,000 for snow and ice removal.

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Briefing

Mar 4, 2026

Advisory Committee Reviews Town Warrant Articles

The committee unanimously recommended favorable action on job classification changes, three employee pay schedule changes, the Town Clerk’s proposed $133,722 annual salary, and two supplemental appropriations totaling $53,244. It tabled a proposed $200,000 transfer from Free Cash for legal services by a 9-3 vote.

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Briefing

Feb 25, 2026

Financial plan and town meeting articles reviewed

The Town Wide Financial Plan presented a proposed FY27 budget split into $121.5 million for municipal operations, $96.8 million for school personal services, and less than $2.8 million in free cash to balance the budget. Reserves were reported at 14.94%, above the 12% guideline.

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Briefing

Feb 18, 2026

Advisory Committee Meeting Summary

The committee reviewed proposed Community Preservation Act appropriations, including $100,000 for administration and $230,000 each for historic resources and community housing reserves. It also discussed potential funding for Reed's Pond and Duck Pond dredging, floodplain protections, and proposed Residential Incentive Overlay zoning changes.

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Briefing

Feb 11, 2026

Advisory Committee Meeting Summary

The committee reviewed Wellesley Public Schools’ FY27 budget requests, including staffing needs, mental-health services, enrollment trends, and per-pupil spending comparisons. The minutes state that staffing changes reflect evolving student needs and that reducing staff at the same rate as enrollment would not prevent use of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports.

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Briefing

Feb 4, 2026

DPW Facility Replacement Study Advances

Wellesley reviewed an $858,000 feasibility study for replacing the aging Park and Highway building and cold storage shed at the DPW campus. If approved at Annual Town Meeting, the study would begin in July 2026 and evaluate options for phasing a potential project estimated at about $100 million.

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Briefing

Jan 28, 2026

Human Resources Budget and Policy Changes

The Human Resources Department presented a FY27 budget request 2.78% above FY26, below the 3% guideline, along with proposed 2% pay increases and changes to personnel policies and approval procedures.

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Briefing

Jan 21, 2026

Election Costs Rise With Three FY27 Elections

The Town Clerk reported that FY27 will include three elections, increasing budget pressure from seasonal staffing and vote-by-mail postage; elections now cost approximately $30,000 to $40,000 each. The Advisory Committee also approved the January 14, 2026 minutes by an 8-0 vote, with two abstentions.

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Briefing

Jan 14, 2026

DPW Budget and Water Projects Reviewed

The committee reviewed a proposed 2.2% increase in the Department of Public Works tax-impact budget, or $186,000 over FY26, along with $14.2 million in proposed borrowing for PFAS water treatment.

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Briefing

Jan 7, 2026

Advisory Committee Reviews Health and School Costs

A presentation found that Wellesley Public Schools’ budget rose 37%, from $67 million in 2016 to $91 million in 2025, while enrollment fell 22%, from 4,972 to 3,896 students. The committee also reviewed the Board of Health’s FY27 budget request, which is 2.78% above FY26 and includes more than $500,000 in opioid settlement funds for prevention and recovery programs.

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