Board of Assessors
Director of Assessing Robert Leroux reported the FY2026 motor vehicle and trailer excise third commitment reflects a taxable valuation of $8.78 million. He briefed the board on preparations for the town’s next property assessment recertification, which is scheduled for 2029. The town conducts cyclical property inspections every six years.
His progress report noted that residential property accounts for 95.9296% of the community’s tax base, while commercial property represents 2.76% and industrial property represents 0.0809%.
Leroux reported the FY2027 new growth estimate currently exceeds the $300,000 minimum set in the Finance Department budget and remains on pace toward a target of more than $600,000.
Design Review Advisory Board The Design Review Advisory Board on June 2 voted contingent approval of a new business sign at 14 West Plain Road for Kent Fitzpatrick, new owner of the former Paresky Flitt building. The existing sign will be replaced with an externally illuminated sign for his firm, Asset Strategy, and have spaces for affiliated businesses. A more detailed site plan showing the 15-foot setback measured from the property line and addition of a street number for emergency responders was requested before proceeding to the ZBA.
Members supported Facilities Director Michael Faia’s concept to replace the wooden town building sign at 41 Cochit-
uate Road with a rectangular PVC sign matching the public safety building across the street, with granite posts and solar uplighting. The board concluded by reviewing ongoing revisions to the town’s design guidelines, expanding the scope from updates to a comprehensive revision with potential changes to zoning district maps.
Historical Commission The Historical Commission voted Richard Conrad to be chair for a three-month interim term beginning after the summer. Members plan to meet June 10 for site visits to recommend placements for three interpretive signs, one at Castle Gate and two at Dudley Woods. Tonya Largy reported the History at Play production of “Rachel Revere” is set for Aug. 30 at the Vokes Theatre and will be free with donations supporting a Cochituate Ball Field historical sign. The commission’s annual budget was cut from $1,000 to $250. Members marked Ann Gordon’s final meeting after eight years. “It’s been a real pleasure,” Gordon said.
Historic District Commission The Historic District Commission unanimously approved a new post-and-beam barn at 30 Cochituate Road. The commission issued a certificate of appropriateness for a 24-by-38-foot, 22-foot-tall two-story barn with a six-foot cupola as a detached two-car garage with an unfinished loft. Chair Greg Dale and Vice Chair Margery F. Baston led an hour of detailed design talk on cupola style, transom lights, paint versus stain and a ridge-line hay hoist. The certificate permits either louvered or windowed cupola panels and either stain or paint in the same deep barn-red range. Both abutters submitted letters of support.
The commission discussed that Town Manager Michael McCall will convene a collaborative meeting on historic-district parking of all shareholders after the Select Board referred the commission’s memo to him.
Planning Board The Planning Board reelected its current members but warned of a state-driven zoning crunch. Anette Lewis said she would “relinquish” the gavel midyear if Vice Chair Robin Borgstedt becomes available.
Town Planner Robert Hummel and Lewis flagged upcoming 225 CMR 29.00, which takes effect July 1. It requires a consolidated clean energy local site permitting program by Oct. 1, plus a 12-month decision clock that collides with the town’s 60-day site plan deadline. Lewis also said Gov. Maura Healey’s House Bill 5386 would force a fourth straight year of site plan bylaw rewrites. The board separately voted to appoint Borgstedt to the Wayland Housing Partnership and set a May 29 site walk at 1 Hobbs Road.
School Committee The School Committee accepted a $52,850 state earmark for a new high school ropes course that Superintendent David Fleishman credited to Reps. David Linsky and Carmine Gentile, who is retiring. The $91,360 Project Adventure will replace a 1979-era course, with $38,500 coming from Wellness and Athletic balances and donations. Members also approved multi-year HP leases on state contract ITC83 for a fall device refresh that moves high schoolers from MacBooks to 14-inch touchscreen Chromebooks and teachers to MacBook Neo laptops, with Director of Digital Learning Jen Judkins warning the district is “in worse than COVID times” on supply chain. Director of Finance Kirsteen Patterson reported $36.5 million spent or encumbered against a $54,987,318 FY26 budget, a $53,000 custodial overtime deficit, and $230,971 in newly secured Extraordinary Relief.
Surface Water Quality Committee At its May 26 meeting, Chair Tom Klem reported that a three-year, under $50,000 hand-harvesting contract with Solitude Lake Management for Heard Pond water chestnuts will be implemented which avoids submitting a full RFP. A meeting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Stephanie Koch clarified that last year’s ClearCast application stopped at the federal boundary because of high water, not contractor error. Extending treatment onto refuge land will require a special use permit and “won’t happen this year,” Klem said.
Members voted to first ask the Board of Health to run cyanobacteria toxin testing on a spring algae bloom; if declined, member Steve Garone will route a roughly $250 ARC test bill through the Dudley Pond Association gift fund. Members approved a $1,027 water quality lab invoice that zeroes its fiscal 2026 budget. Klem projected the fiscal 2028 ask could approach $100,000.
