The Advisory Committee this week invited the public to a hearing on the 46 articles packing the Annual Town Meeting warrant, but it was only Article 8, which features the omnibus budget, that attracted people to speak up. (See the Feb. 12 sub-hour public hearing via Wellesley Media’s recording.)

Members of the public had nothing to say this night on articles covering topics such as Morses Pond renovation, changes to legal notice publishing, and air conditioning at schools.

The main topic that people spoke out about was the Wellesley Public Schools decision to cut two district-level mental health staff and eliminate partial positions at the high school, middle school and two elementary schools in the proposed $94 million fiscal year 2026 budget (see “Now is Not the Time To Cut’ Mental Health Staff, Parents Tell Wellesley School Committee”).

advisory meeting — Advisory Committee meeting (screenshot from Wellesley Media recording)

A half dozen Hardy Elementary School staff and parents queued up to urge Advisory to consider their concerns about planned cuts.

Hardy school psychologist Lisa Goodman read from a statement in which she questioned the data used to justify cuts. “Children’s needs fluctuate and there’s always an increase in our case loads and referrals through the school year. The data that was presented to support the cuts used one data source and does not reflect our day-to-day experience…” Separately, Hardy first grade teacher Renee Lilley said she sees the daily impact a current psychologist has on the community with social-emotional needs of kids on the rise.

Also related to the budget article, two members of the Council on Aging’s board—speaking as citizens, not board members—defended a plan to renovate the commercial kitchen at the Tolles Parsons Center where the Advisory meeting was held. One in particular voiced support for the Facilities Management Department’s (FMD) ability to deliver on the project. FMD is seeking $560K in its FY26 cash capital budget at Town Meeting to cover kitchen construction. The speakers were responding to comments made at the start of the meeting by a citizen, who objects to the kitchen renovation and raised safety concerns for those who use the adjacent room where the Advisory meeting was held that night.

Advisory in the weeks to come will be discussing and making recommendations (or not) about the articles being presented at Town Meeting. So the public will have more opportunities to have their say on topics of importance to them. Advisory’s next meeting is slated for Feb. 19 and covers a handful of articles, including those related to Human Resources, Planning, and the Community Preservation Committee.

Related: What the heck is Wellesley’s Advisory Committee anyway? (from 2022)