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Needham Bank, Wellesley
Write Ahead, Wellesley

Pre-election sign stealing spree in Wellesley will result in court hearing

March 13, 2023 by Deborah Brown

Although Wellesley’s 2023 town election is over and the voters have spoken, the dust is far from settled due to a political sign stealing spree that targeted a specific candidate.  Wellesley police received reports from 17 individuals who had signs in support of Neal Glick for School Committee taken from their property between March 5-6. (Glick did not win either of the open seats in the March 7 election.)

The officer investigating the incident was able to identify the male party, a Wellesley resident, who admitted to the officer that he took some of the missing signs. No arrest has been made. However, the individual will be summonsed to court, likely in 4-6 weeks, for three counts of trespassing, one count of larceny under $1,200 and one count of interfering with campaign material, according to a Wellesley Police Department representative.

In a telephone interview with The Swellesley Report, Glick said that on the morning of Monday, March 6, he started to hear from some supporters who were hosting his political yard signs that they were gone. The police began receiving reports about the thefts, and Glick says he went to the WPD to file a complaint. “The police were taking it very seriously,” he said.

Glick says police have confirmed to him the identity of the alleged perpetrator, and that he is a person known to Glick and with whom he has had past dealings of a business nature.

Police said because an arrest was not made, the alleged perpetrator’s name will not be made public until the court hearing.

For Glick’s part, he is determined to see the legal process through to its conclusion. “I am pursuing this not because I lost the election. It’s not sour grapes. I accept the judgment of the voters. The reason I care about this is because I care about this town,” Glick said, citing a climate of incivility that swirls around each election cycle. “I’m tremendously discouraged,” he said.

We’re tremendously discouraged, too. Political sign stealing has been a rampant problem in Wellesley, seemingly since political signs have existed.  We’ve been reporting on sign stealing—an activity that at its core is an attack on free speech and property rights —since at least 2008.

We’d been contacted in late February by an advisor to School Committee candidate Christina Horner that at least 5 signs displayed by her supporters had been swiped, so we were on alert. The Glick sign thefts, followed by the police calls, took things to a new level.

Such incidents keep the WPD busy during every election cycle. Most often the sign swipers are kids, and generally the juveniles and their families are informed by the WPD that removing signs from an individual’s property is a theft that can result in criminal charges. Sometimes college students, exasperated by the slow pace in which town government moves when compared with how quickly they’re able to push forward change on their own campuses, are responsible. A couple of years ago, local college students were busted after tracking devices put into signs led WPD straight to their dorm rooms. Black Lives Matter signs are also popular targets, presumably stolen by those who hold the opposite viewpoint.

We don’t, however, recall a case in which an adult past college age stands accused of sign stealing, and neither did the WPD representative we spoke with. That may change as more and more residents equip their homes with relatively inexpensive security cameras that capture nice, crisp images of things like the make and model of a vehicle, and its license plate number.

More here on Election 2023 sign thefts.

Filed Under: 2023 Town Election, Crime, Police, Politics

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Linden Square, Wellesley
Wonderful Wellesley, Lockheart
Write Ahead, Wellesley

Wellesley town election results: Incumbents retain seats in contested races; new candidate Horner secures School Committee spot

March 7, 2023 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

(Updated 3/13/23 with official results)

Incumbents in Wellesley’s contested races for Select Board, School Committee and Natural Resources Commission retained their seats, according to  results released by the Town Clerk’s office (complete results for town-wide and Town Meeting member contests are embedded below). The only newcomer to win a seat in those races was School Committee candidate Christina Horner, who has dedicated her career to education as a teacher and administrator.

A quarter of active registered voters submitted ballots during this election.

In the School Committee race for 2 seats, incumbent Catherine Mirick tallied the most votes, followed by Horner and Neal Glick.

Select Board incumbents Beth Sullivan Woods and Tom Ulfelder received the most votes to retain their seats, with challenger Odessa Sanchez finishing third.

In the NRC contest, Commission Chair Jay McHale retained his seat, as did Michael D’Ortenzio, who filled a vacated spot on the commission from November until March. Jaden Crawford finished third.

In a battle of write-in candidates, Ansley Middleton Martin earned the nod for 1 vacant seat on the Recreation Commission.

Congrats to all who ran for office as well as everyone who voted and helped to run the the town election.

Download (PDF, Unknown)

More: Wellesley Media did the rounds on Election Day


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Filed Under: 2023 Town Election

Page Waterman, Wellesley
London Harness, Wellesley

Wellesley Town Election Guide 2023

March 6, 2023 by admin

Wellesley’s Annual Town Election will take place on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Here is The Swellesley Report’s guide on all you need to know about exercising your right to vote.

Wellesley Town Hall, summer
Wellesley Town Hall

Ways to cast your vote in Wellesley

Vote by mail

Completed mail-in ballots must be RECEIVED by Town Hall, no later than 8pm on Tuesday March 7, 2023. They may be brought to the Town Clerk’s Office or to the drop box outside of Town Hall. Vote by Mail ballots may NOT be dropped off at polling locations.

Note: applications to vote by mail are no longer being accepted. (The last day to get an app to the Town Clerk was February 28 at 5pm.)

Vote in person at the polls

The polls will be open for in-person voting 7am-8pm. Polling map here.

Don’t know which precinct you’re in? Here’s how to find out where to vote in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

  • Precincts A & C: Bates Elementary School, 116 Elmwood Rd.
  • Precinct B: Sprague Elementary School, 401 School St.
  • Precincts D & E: Warren Building, 90 Washington St.
  • Precincts F & G: Shipley Center, Dana Hall School, 142 Grove St.
  • Precinct H: Tolles Parsons Center, Council on Aging, 500 Washington St.

Wellesley Town Election candidates:

Contested races—names are listed in the order on which they appear on the ballot:

  • Select Board—3 candidates, 3-year terms, 2 openings—Odessa Sanchez; Thomas Ulfelder; Elizabeth Sullivan Woods
  • Natural Resources Commission—3 candidates, 3-year terms, 2 openings—Martin Jay McHale; Michael D’Ortenzio; Jaden Crawford
  • School Committee—3 candidates, 3-year terms, 2 openings—Christina Horner; Catherine Mirick; Neal Glick

Uncontested races—names are listed in the order on which they appear on the ballot:

  • Moderator—1 opening, 1-year term—Mark Kaplan
  • Board of Assessors—1 opening, 3-year term—Stephen Burtt
  • Board of Health—1 opening, 3-year term—Shira Doron
  • Housing Authority, 1 opening, 1-year term—Lisa Kaufman Heyison
  • Trustees of the Wellesley Free Library—2 openings, 3-year terms—Anne Rappaport; Linshi Li
  • Planning Board—1 opening, 5-year term—James Roberti
  • Board of Public Works—1 opening, 3-year term—Jeffrey Weschler
  • Recreation Commission—1 opening, 3-year term

Candidates’ Q & A posts

All of the candidates running in contested races took the time to answer questions from The Swellesley Report. For your convenience, below is a round-up of the candidates’ Q&A posts.

  • Select Board
  • School Committee
  • Natural Resources Commission

 


Town meeting candidates

Town Meeting is the legislative body for the Town of Wellesley. There are 240 voting town meeting members elected by eight precincts. Each precinct has 30 members elected to three-year staggered terms.

In the 2023 election, two of the eight precincts are contested races.

In Precinct B, there are 11 candidates running for 10 open slots, and in Precinct E there are 14 candidates running for 12 open slots.


Sample ballots for each precinct

Precinct A
Precinct B
Precinct C
Precinct D
Precinct E
Precinct F
Precinct G
Precinct H

If you have any election/voting questions, please call the Town Clerk’s Office at (781) 431-1019 x2252.


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Filed Under: 2023 Town Election, Government, Politics

Refined Renovations, Wellesley

Wellesley Town election 2023: Select Board candidates

February 25, 2023 by admin

The Town of Wellesley depends on the active participation of its citizens in governance of the Town. Wellesley has 11 Boards and Committees on the ballot at the Annual Town election each year in March. The 2023 election will be held on Tuesday, March 7.

There are three candidates running for two open three-year seats on the Select Board, which serves as the chief executive board of the Town, and as such, oversees all matters affecting the interest and welfare of the community. The five-member Board exercises the authority vested in the Town not specifically assigned by law to any other board or office.

The Select Board candidates are:

  • Odessa Sanchez
  • Thomas Ulfelder
  • Elizabeth Sullivan Woods

The Swellesley Report invited the candidates to answer a few questions about their priorities for the Town of Wellesley.

Candidate interviews appear in this post in the order in which their names appear on the ballot.

Odessa Sanchez

Odessa Sanchez, candidate for Select Board

The Swellesley Report: Please introduce yourself to The Swellesley Report’s readers.

Odessa Sanchez: I am Odessa Sanchez and I’m excited to announce my run for the office of Select Board. I am running to broaden my continuous effort to share ideas of ground level citizenship and leadership experience.

Raised in Newton, I moved to Wellesley 15 years ago with my young family and I consider this town to be one of the best places to live. I work locally in town as a teacher aide and cheer coach, two positions that, besides my volunteer work, have afforded me the benefit of building multiple relationships with many different groups of people in the community. I raised a great crew of individuals that have attended Wellesley Public Schools, worked in local shops, mentored youth activities and played sports that I’ve supported throughout the years.

I am well-suited for this position based on my proven track record of dedication, responsiveness and a history of relentless community advocacy. For example, I’m the current vice chair of the Wellesley Housing Authority Board, to which I was elected to a five-year term. I represent Precinct E as a Town Meeting Member, and I currently hold positions on the town’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce, the Historical Commission, and many more community groups and committees including a State appointment to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women.

Living, working and worshipping here has shown me these clear facts: the issues that impact our community are the issues that improve our daily lives, disrupt our day-to-day, and/or make those lives and livelihood meaningful. As your Select Board member, I would ensure that my decisions would be fair, transparent, inclusive, and representative of those issues.

I see a Wellesley that’s ready to be an example of diversity in its town leadership that allows a transformation of the typical figures of government we see. We can open the doors for others to be an example for other towns to model. Let Wellesley be a true place of “contentment,” where diverse voices and diverse leadership meet.

TSR: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish in your 3-year tenure as a Select Board Member?

Odessa Sanchez: If I am elected I will continue to express the ideas and values that I’ve been so outspoken about. I have a passion for empowering the youth and ” age strong” members of the community, so I want to safeguard the revenues set aside for Teen Center programs and the Council on Aging social and cultural funds. I want to develop initiatives that bring all ages, of various income levels, together for recreational activities that are mutually beneficial. I have already discussed basketball and pool tournament ideas with town stakeholders.

As a Housing advocate, I’m interested in the town-owned property that may be potential sites for housing development. I understand the complexity of increasing town housing stock options, (the limitations and considerations), I would examine the proposals with the best interests of the entire community in mind. My goal is to support businesses, encourage communication and feedback, and let them thrive and feel confident that town government appreciates their presence and patience with the changes and mandates set forth.

I’m very dedicated to opening dialogues to repair any wounds of injustices that some of us bear, and some of us don’t understand. Civil Discourse Conversations are a great step for lasting results that restore peace to our schools and community. Lastly I would like to meet with town stakeholders to develop better transportation services that extend the limited range of mobility some residents are frustrated with. Accessible public transportation is the key to financial, social, and educational freedom for some of our residents who don’t drive or are seeking sustainable solutions for transportation. Wellesley is capable of providing fast-paced public transportation with routes that connect people to the places they need to go to. With a workforce and population needing to get to flourishing shopping areas, dinning, and recreational attractions, improving the mobility in town helps the financial and mental well-being of all citizens.

TSR: The issue of daytime government (town employees) vs. nighttime government (elected or appointed officials) responsibilities has come up often at Select Board meetings over the past year. How can the town most effectively share responsibilities between the town employees and elected officials?

Odessa Sanchez: In the issue of town employees vs. elected/appointed officials,  I believe awareness of the capacity of individual roles is the best way to effectively share responsibilities. Proper definition and understanding of all roles will foster recognition and respect amongst the mutual partners. I believe it is a partnership,  and both sides have agreed interest in our town. We are grateful to the town employees because they are responsible for the mechanics that help run our town. On the other hand, elected officials are the essential heart of the town built by the people’s voices. I propose an interesting idea I saw in another town, a “town marquee” board on Wellesley Media broadcasting (or somewhere appropriate) that displays the names and titles of town government officials. All officials can be accessible to the people, but we should be aware of the process of getting the right person in contact with the citizen’s request that involves their role.

Transparency and clarification of whomever is working in certain departments and what their exact role is will go a long way in sharing responsibilities effectively.

TSR: How should voters reach you if they want more information?

Odessa Sanchez: I ask for your vote on March 7th, to be your next Select Board member. I welcome questions or conversations about what makes me the best fit for this role.

I welcome emails at:  selectodessasanchez@gmail.com

Visit my website www.electodessasanchez.com

Thank you for your time.


Tom Ulfelder

Tom Ulfelder, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report: Please introduce yourself to The Swellesley Report’s readers.

Tom Ulfelder: I am presently completing my second term on the Select Board. I am the current vice chair of the Board and have been either chair or vice chair for the past four years. I served as the vice chair of the HHU School Building Committee, served as the board’s appointee to the Sustainable Energy Committee (now the Climate Action Committee), and am the board member responsible for the successful effort to secure funding for the interior renovation of the Wellesley Town Hall. I have been instrumental in advancing our environmental goals negotiating the electrification of the residential units at the Wellesley Office Park, the electrification of Town Hall, and advocating for the construction of net-zero ready elementary schools. Using the Hunnewell design development process, the School Building Committee established that the initial cost to construct a net-zero building in Wellesley was only 8.75% greater than a non net-zero building. I have developed excellent working relationships with individuals throughout our many boards, committees, and departments by working successfully on many often-difficult issues.

I am a father of four children and have lived in Wellesley with my wife Jean for 24 years. I have been a Town Meeting Member since 2006, served on the Town Government Study Committee, the St. John-St. Paul Collaborative Parish Council, and as a board member of Wellesley Friendly Aid. I am an attorney in private practice following a lengthy career as an assistant district attorney and assistant attorney general in Massachusetts. I retired as  chief of the Special Prosecutions Unit in Suffolk County where I was responsible for prosecutions involving white-collar crime, public corruption, and police misconduct. Prior to my career as an attorney, I was employed as a hospital administrator and a senior consultant with Arthur D. Little working on healthcare cost containment.

TSR: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish in your 3-year tenure as a Select Board Member?

Tom Ulfelder: I hope to build off of prior accomplishments from my first two terms. We are emerging from the most challenging period of the pandemic. Through cautious and thoughtful, financial management the town is in a strong financial position, has maintained an intact and skilled workforce, and continues to provide the level of service our residents, businesses, and visitors expect. As a member of the Select Board, I remain responsible annually for producing and managing a balanced budget, a Town-Wide Financial plan, and a Five-Year Capital Plan; all of which I will continue to do for the next three years.

As vice chair of the HHU School Building Committee, I look forward to the completion of the Hunnewell and Hardy schools.The Town Hall Interior Renovation Project will begin construction shortly and requires continued oversight. I will remain engaged and focused on each of these projects through completion.

I will continue to advocate for a new approach to planning that integrates economic development, housing, and sustainability. Wellesley faces important decisions regarding economic development and the need to ensure that there is a widely supported vision for Wellesley’s future. There are opportunities for increased revenue through commercial growth and the right kind of residential construction. But what does that look like and what will town residents support?

It is only through an integrated approach that welcomes community participation that we can move forward with projects that diversify our housing options, support our retail districts by driving foot traffic into the businesses, and lowers our environmental impact by reducing vehicular use and by using sustainable building practices. An important first step will be to share our vision with the community actively seeking input and support through which projects can be designed that will succeed. Residents in the neighborhoods effected want to know what development will look like and whether they can support it. They want to know if we are listening and are we willing to respond to their concerns.

The town has committed to a sustainable future. I will work to ensure the implementation of the municipal sustainable building guidelines, electrification of municipal buildings when built or renovated, and work on a municipal vulnerability resilience plan. I support the foresight of the Municipal Light Plant to increase electrical supply capacity and solar-generated storage as examples of our ability and willingness to address critical issues. The town has prioritized mobility in our effort to reduce carbon emissions by moving toward a safe, supportive community for biking, walking, and reliable public transportation, and improved traffic management.

Wellesley has a remarkable future and a demonstrated track record of innovation and achievement. I believe by working together, we will continue to be a town that embraces challenges, welcomes new solutions, and remains a strong and vibrant community.

TSR: The issue of daytime government (town employees) vs. nighttime government (elected or appointed officials) responsibilities has come up often at Select Board meetings over the past year. How can the town most effectively share responsibilities between the town employees and elected officials?

Tom Ulfelder: The terms daytime and nighttime government are a popular way of referring to the critical distinction between the role and responsibilities of a board and the staff. I have extensive experience serving on and as a consultant to boards. Through my experience in successful organizations, I believe boards establish policies consistent with the organizations vision, mission, and strategic planning goals. The staff, on the other hand, oversees the day-to-day operation of the organization in line with board policies and guidance. Board members may be professionals in their personal lives, but we are not professional municipal managers. Members of the Select Board and the Select Board staff have very different roles. It isn’t a question of sharing responsibilities. It is a question of how board members envision and formalize the fiscal year work plan and related policies that the professional staff implement and adhere to in daily operations. This relationship is interactive and requires communication between the staff and the board. The Select Board should focus on governance and support for the staff as they actively manage town operations. In doing so there is both clarity and consistency in the operation of town government.

TSR: How should voters reach you if they want more information?

Tom Ulfelder: Voters may reach me through www.electtomulfelder.com or through my email electtomulfelder@gmail.com.


Beth Sullivan Woods

Beth Sullivan Woods, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report: Please introduce yourself to The Swellesley Report‘s readers.

Beth Sullivan Woods: Thank you Swellesley for providing this forum to provide the voters with insight about the candidates as they prepare to vote before or on March 7. My name is Beth Sullivan Woods and I have both very deep Wellesley roots and a passion for using my time and talent to help lead the Town as we make decisions that impact our future. I grew up in Wellesley with my seven siblings and was educated at Perrin, Upham, Wellesley Junior High and Wellesley High, as well as Brown University. My husband and I chose Wellesley as the town to raise our family in because of its many wonderful attributes; I am the proud mother of a senior at Wellesley High. Several of my family members—my mother and three siblings and their families—live in Wellesley.

Professionally, my background is in marketing research and strategic planning. I am entering my 22nd year operating my own business, working with clients in a wide range of business areas including healthcare, social justice, entertainment, and financial services. After leading the research and strategic planning departments at both Hill Holliday and Arnold Communications, I founded my own business in 2001. The professional skills that my clients value—critical thinking, listening, flexibility, responsiveness, problem solving, long-term vision and budgetary accountability—have been valuable to me in serving the Town as a member of the Select Board.

I believe strongly in civic engagement and volunteerism and have participated in local non-profits in several ways, including serving on the parent council and as a room mother at St. John School, as a member and board member of Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club, and as a member and current president of Kiwanis Club of Wellesley.

In terms of involvement in Wellesley town government, I have served as a Town Meeting Member for Precinct D since 2009 and served three terms as an elected member of the Wellesley Free Library Board of Library Trustees including several terms as chair. I have served on the Select Board since 2017 and am seeking re-election to a third term. As a member of the Select Board, my responsibilities have included serving as the liaison to the Council on Aging, the Board of Health, the veteran community, the Celebrations Committee, the Recreation Board, Playing Fields Taskforce, and the business community.

I have an in-depth understanding of the town budget and finances, as well as strong working relationships with our town departments. I am committed to ensuring that resident voices and perspectives are heard and represented as we deliberate on issues that affect our community. I would very much appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve the community on the Select Board.

TSR: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish in your 3-year tenure as a Select Board member?

Beth Sullivan Woods:

a. Strengthening the level of transparency and inclusiveness in decision making. Keeping our community informed of decisions and issues that the town is addressing has become more challenging over the past several years. I believe that we need a stronger approach to keeping our community informed about upcoming decisions on a proactive basis and encouraging resident engagement. Decision making is stronger if it reflects the input of residents. Although local government meetings are streamed and recorded by Wellesley Media and Swellesley provides highlights of key discussions, we often hear that residents didn’t know an issue had emerged until the decision process was well underway. Moving forward, we need to more collaboratively work with Swellesley, Wellesley Media, Charles River Chamber of Commerce, community groups, and our internal resources to proactively inform the community about issues and opportunities coming before the town government. I am committed to supporting a more robust communications plan that encourages an open and inclusive decision-making process which reflects the desires of the community.

b. Revisit and strengthen our support of the business community. For decades the Select Board has had a designated point person as liaison to the business community and I have been serving in this position. Three of the Select Board members recently voted over the strong objection of the business community to eliminate the formal support of the business community through a dedicated Board liaison role. This vote created concern among the business community about the value we place on this vital component of our town. Vibrant retail districts are an important part of Wellesley’s identity and what residents value. I believe our Board should consider the message that this vote sent to our businesses and rethink how the Select Board and staff can collaboratively support the business community. There are important and distinct roles for the elected residents and the staff to play. The impact of the pandemic as well as the broader changes in the retail environment across the country have caused significant disruption for our businesses and the vibrancy of our retail areas. The recovery is underway, but it is a long process; the Town has made important and effective changes in bylaws and regulations to attract restaurants to support this recovery. I have served as the business liaison for several years and plan to continue to actively advocate for Wellesley merchants and our commercial property owners to support their growth and identify additional ways we can contribute to their ongoing vibrancy. The Select Board needs to be proactive in identifying policy changes and innovative ways to support new and existing businesses. As a Select Board member, I have led the initiative to update alcohol policies to make Wellesley more attractive for restaurants, identified the value of extending the free holiday parking time period the Town provides in the retail district, worked directly with the business leadership to implement a pilot event and communication program for the retail districts, and engaged local artists to enliven our downtown with art in the windows while our commercial landowners released the space. I have enjoyed a close working relationship with our merchants and look forward to collaborating with them on ways in which the town can strongly support their businesses, including regulatory and policy modifications.

c. Continuing to support fiscal prudence and responsible investments. Taxpayers have recently approved significant debt exclusions to fund the building of two new elementary schools; in addition, Town Meeting approved a full remodeling of the interior of Town Hall from existing cash reserves and inside the levy borrowing. These are three significant and important investments. At the moment, the Town is in a financially strong position in terms of cash reserves coming out of the pandemic. We are currently negotiating all of the Town union contracts for the next three years. These contracts will have a significant impact on our operating budgets in the coming years. We have several other important infrastructure investments on the horizon. We must plan and prudently budget to ensure that we fairly compensate our staff and that these future projects can be responsibly executed for the residents. I am committed to strong project vetting in terms of community buy-in, timing and financing strategies to avoid overrides as well as continuing to leverage our collaborative relationships with the other town Boards to manage the growth of our operating budgets.

d. Expanding our inter-departmental collaborations to identify and prioritize our budgets to address shifts in the community. Several years ago, it became clear that mental health and social service resources within town were insufficient to address the needs our Police, Fire, Health and Council on Aging departments were facing. I advocated for the creation of an interdepartmental working group to develop a plan which Town Meeting funded to more effectively meet the needs of our residents and employees. I believe there are more opportunities for the town to work collaboratively across department to strengthen our services. Key areas of interest include how to effectively encourage the development of housing options for our residents interested in downsizing as well as ways to better support new residents to town so they more fully use the resources available to them (the value of using the recycling at the RDF, the energy saving education and rebates offered by MLP and community groups, etc.)

TSR: The issue of daytime government (town employees) vs. nighttime government (elected or appointed officials) responsibilities has come up often at Select Board meetings over the past year. How can the town most effectively share responsibilities between the town employees and elected officials?

Beth Sullivan Woods: I believe the daytime/nighttime government terminology does not accurately present how the Town is structured or how it works most effectively. Our Town government follows Mass General Law and Town bylaws.

The Select Board serves as the Chief Executive Board of the Town, and as such, oversees all matters affecting the interest and welfare of the community, including the fiscal planning and financial health, public safety (police, fire, building), non-school infrastructure, appointments to key committees including those that manage the Council on Aging, the Youth Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Veterans Services Officer and the Historical Society. The 5-member Board exercises the authority outlined in the state and local bylaws, including those not specifically assigned by law to any other board or office.

The Select Board establishes policies, develops an annual balanced budget for the town, hires the Executive Director of General Government Services and oversees the governance and operations by managing the Director. Board members also serve as working members on task forces, subcommittees, and as liaisons. The individuals that volunteer to serve the community as elected representatives are accountable to the community for the activities of the government.

Our government works through a coordinated a strong relationship between the Board and the staff. The Board is responsible for providing clear vision, decision-making and direction for the staff. We are very fortunate to have long-term, committed, and talented staff that care about the town. They know how to work effectively with their Boards and manage daily operations at the direction of the Board. Our staff has the professional training and expertise to provide the Board with the information needed to make thoughtful and strategic decisions.

The leadership by the elected residents supported by the professional expertise of our staff has proven to be an effective model for the town over many years. It is a wonderful partnership that we have in town across elected Board leadership and professional staff that effectively stewards our town.

TSR: How should voters reach you if they want more information?

Beth Sullivan Woods: I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this wonderful town and would appreciate residents’ support in voting on March 7 (or before using mail-in/early voting options.) I can be reached at bethsullivanw@gmail.com or 617-320-7344 and welcome the opportunity to engage with residents and members of our business community.

Filed Under: 2023 Town Election, Government, Politics

Call and Haul, Wellesley

Wellesley Town election 2023: School Committee candidates

February 24, 2023 by admin

The Town of Wellesley depends on the active participation of its citizens in governance of the Town. Wellesley has 11 Boards and Committees on the ballot at the Annual Town election each year in March. The 2023 election will be held on Tuesday, March 7.

There are three candidates running for two open 3-year terms on the School Committee. The five-member Committee is made up of local residents. The Committee’s responsibilities are to develop and manage school policies; support the allocation of resources by overseeing budget and facilities; hire and review the superintendent of schools; and advocate for the school district.

The School Committee candidates are:

  • Christina Horner
  • Catherine Mirick
  • Neal Glick

The Swellesley Report invited the candidates to answer a few questions about their priorities for the Town of Wellesley.

Candidate interviews appear in this post in the order in which their names appear on the ballot.

Christina Horner, candidate for School Committee

Christina Horner, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report: Please introduce yourself to The Swellesley Report‘s readers.

Christina Horner: Our public school system was one of the main reasons my husband and I selected the town of Wellesley. We have three children. Our twin boys graduated WHS in 2022, and our daughter will graduate in 2024. My own education started in Boston, with the Massachusetts Experimental School System (M.E.S.S). It was through M.E.S.S. that I benefited from what were then considered innovative methods in education. Some of these same methods are being implemented today on a more widespread basis. In 5th grade I started attending Weston Public Schools as a participant in the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity program, better known as METCO. The curriculum was challenging, the extracurricular activities were endless, and the out-of-school learning opportunities were supported by academic and social growth. After graduating Weston High School I attended Boston College, where I majored in business administration with a concentration in marketing. I continued on to Lesley University, where I earned a Master’s Degree in Education in 1996. I have since dedicated my 30-year career to the pursuit of excellence in education—both as a teacher and administrator.

While teaching in Weston:
● My students were regional winners of Continental Math League two years in a row
● I was recognized as an outstanding METCO Alum by the METCO Directors Association
● I was selected by the National Social Studies Assessment Project, funded by the Council of Chief State School Officers, to develop national assessment questions for social studies
● I was selected as the first cohort of teachers to score the Massachusetts Comprehensive
Assessment System (MCAS) test

For about a decade, I was the director of the Lincoln-METCO program. As a district administrator, I recognized and challenged inequitable policies and practices. In fact, I have been recognized locally and nationally for the success of my efforts.

Currently I am a Town Meeting Member for precinct B, co-president of World of Wellesley, where I focus on family and community anti-bias awareness and education, and director of the Great Schools Partnership. I work collaboratively with a team of dedicated community volunteers and other community-based organizations that are committed to creating a more inclusive Wellesley.

TSR: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish in your 3-year tenure as a School Committee member?

Christina Horner:

Excellence
Goal 1: Create an annual community satisfaction survey where all stakeholders can provide feedback to the superintendent on what matters the most to them.

One of the main functions of the School Committee is to hire and evaluate the district superintendent. In 2019, I was one of the Massachusetts educators who worked with leadership at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and contributed to the creation of DESE’s Superintendent and District Administrator Rubric. Although I am proud to see that the Wellesley School Committee has embraced the use of this effective evaluation tool as part of the evaluation process, I think it can be improved by including community feedback on the four standards which are: instructional leadership; management and operations; family and community engagement; and professional culture.

Equity
Goal 2: Support policies that will provide access to alternative learning options and graduation pathways (at no cost or low cost) to meet the goals and interests of our students while also preparing them for college, careers and life. These opportunities include, but are not limited to, encouraging students to take classes at MassBay Community College and participating in the dual enrollment program at MassBay, whereupon graduation students may receive both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree. This would mean a vibrant internship program where students receive credit for working with local businesses while exploring different career paths. This would also enable WPS to forge stronger connections with the broader community.

Empathy
Goal 3: Continue to fund the additional personnel and added support services required to address the rise in social-emotional and mental health challenges that our students are experiencing at an unprecedented level. As a community, we should all be deeply concerned with the issues recently identified by the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey of WHS and WMS—including substance use, cyberbullying, mental health, online behavior, and protective factors. I can’t emphasize enough that the wellbeing of our students and our educators must always come first. We cannot underestimate the tremendous negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the resiliency we like to ascribe to children, and the tireless dedication of our teachers, staff and administrators, the reality is that they have suffered real consequences. Continued focus and support on the mental wellbeing of students and all educators is essential to ensure they have the tools to cope with the demands of school as well as the challenges of life outside of the classroom.

TSR: With enrollment at Wellesley Public Schools dropping, more questions are being raised about why expenses keep rising. What can WPS do to rein in expenses while still providing a great education and supporting social and emotional learning?

Christina Horner: Many factors have influenced enrollment over the years. They include birth rate, housing costs, private school options and a pandemic—all of which are difficult to predict. Nevertheless, there are steps we can take that prepare us for enrollment fluctuations. These include:

● Understanding the reasons for declining enrollment (curriculum or student services, unmet needs, private school preference, moving etc.), with a focus on identifying why the percentage of children attending private schools has increased by 20-25 percent in the past three years
● Engaging our WPS educators in the conversation and possible solution, by soliciting their ideas on how best to expand/contract with enrollment changes and where they see meaningful opportunities for flexibility
● Having a plan in place for expansion and contraction of class sizes
● Building two new green schools that will reduce energy costs over time, resulting in town savings
● Proposing other revenue sources to offset transportation costs

Wellesley has always prided itself on the quality of our public schools. This should never be compromised based on enrollment.

TSR: How should voters reach you if they want more information?

Christina Horner: My email address is electchristinahorner@gmail.com. I can also be reached through my website at electchristinahorner.com.


Catherine Mirick, candidate for re-election, School Committee

Catherine Mirick, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report: Please introduce yourself to The Swellesley Report‘s readers.

Catherine Mirick: Thank you Swellesley Report for helping get out the word on local elections. I’m Catherine Mirick, and I am running for re-election to the School Committee. I’ve lived in Wellesley for 23 years with my family. My two kids are recent graduates of Wellesley Public Schools and both are now in college. I’ve volunteered in many capacities over the years, three times as a PTO co-president, 14 years as a Town Meeting member, and many years as a scout leader. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the Town of Wellesley the last three years as one of your School Committee members, including serving a year as chair.

TSR: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish in your 3-year tenure as a School Committee member?

Catherine Mirick: I’m focusing my campaign around three themes: my collaborative approach to problem solving, building schools for the next generation, and excellence for everyone.

In the spring of 2020 Wellesley had been talking about building elementary schools for more than a decade. I put my hat in the ring for School Committee because it was time for action. I helped push through decisions on where to build and worked across town boards to get the projects approved with overwhelming town-wide support in a debt exclusion vote in December 2021. Both schools are now under construction—but the work is not done. As the School Committee liaison, I want to see these projects through to the ribbon cutting. No other School Committee members or candidates have Wellesley school building experience. We can’t leave these projects in the lurch.

I served as chair of the Committee last school year and led it through challenging community discussions around bullying, Hunnewell swing space, communications, and academic excellence. I facilitated School Committee Conversations, talked with parents from across the district and presented multiple times at Town Meeting. These types of conversations will continue as our community grapples with the right definition of academic excellence and finalizes our strategic plan. My collaborative approach is essential to help lead these conversations in a productive way that keeps our community moving forward together.

Sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction are increasingly important issues in Wellesley and across the globe. I am on both the town-wide Mobility Committee and the Climate Action Committee. I am working on school transportation, ways to get more students walking, biking, or riding the bus. The district is also concentrating on buildings. Our two new schools are all-electric, energy-efficient models of the town’s Sustainable Building Guidelines. At buildings across town we are switching to LED lights, using green cleaning methods and encouraging composting, among other things. I plan to help the schools do their part so that the town can reach its greenhouse gas reduction goals.

TSR: With enrollment at Wellesley Public Schools dropping, more questions are being raised about why expenses keep rising. What can WPS do to rein in expenses while still providing a great education and supporting social and emotional learning?

Catherine Mirick: The population of Wellesley is changing, as it has in cycles over the last 50 years. There are 600 fewer school-aged children living in Wellesley now than there were just five years ago, one major reason for the drop in school enrollment. While this enrollment drop gives us ways to realize savings, it’s not a linear relationship.

The school budget has multiple cost drivers. Two of the biggest are personnel and state-mandated special education. Educators are both the biggest asset and the biggest expense in the school budget, and they’re worth it. Every year the vast majority of the school’s budget increase is based on contractual salary increases for teachers. As enrollment drops, there are reductions in the number of teachers at each level, informed by the School Committee’s class-size guidelines. There are 21 fewer elementary sections than in 2015, and sections have also been reduced at the middle school and high school. Art, music and PE teachers are shared across schools so that they are fully utilized.

The biggest change on the horizon is that the district is closing an elementary school. In 2024 we will consolidate into only six elementary schools—saving the costs of an additional nurse, librarian, principal, etc.

Even as these enrollment-related reductions are made, expenses continue to increase. Mandated out-of-district special education costs, which are set by the state, went up by 14% this year. Transportation contracts also increased significantly. In addition, the mental health needs of our students and families are growing. Additional social workers, adjustment counselors, and psychologists are needed to provide essential services to students.

As part of its strategic plan, the district has also been working over the last decade to reduce the number of fees paid by families and to reduce the dependence on donations. When I was the Sprague PTO president, there was a major line item in our budget to fund library books—because the school budget had no funds to update libraries. PTOs also gifted large amounts of money for classroom technology. These costs have been incorporated into the school budget. In addition, many fees have been reduced so that families don’t have to pay thousands of dollars for students to fully participate in their “free” public education. These included fees paid to take art and technology classes, activity fees at the middle and high school, reductions in sports fees, reductions in bus fees, and Hale reservation. While these are important reductions, they do add to the bottom line.

The budget is one of School Committee’s biggest responsibilities, and I don’t take that lightly. We must continue to look for ways to streamline and reduce costs without negatively affecting the education of Wellesley students.

TSR: How should voters reach you if they want more information?

Catherine Mirick: Please visit my website at www.mirickforschoolcommittee.com for more information, or email me
at catherine.mirick@gmail.com.


Neal Glick, candidate for School Committee

Neal Glick, candidate for Wellesley School Committee

The Swellesley Report: Please introduce yourself to The Swellesley Report‘s readers.

Neal Glick: I am an 18-year resident of Wellesley, a former member of the Planning Board and the Wetlands Committee, winner of an award for Community Service, a Little League coach, a hockey dad and a lawyer practicing in town. I am a public school product and I believe in public K-12 education. But most importantly, if you are reading this I am probably like you—a parent and a taxpayer. I have a son in 5th grade at Sprague and an older child who graduated from the high school in 2013. I have seen, and continue to see, great things happen at Wellesley Public Schools. We have everything that we need for truly great public schools—from terrific students, educated and involved parents, excellent teachers and good facilities. Like many of you, though, I want to make sure that WPS reclaims its position as a top system producing tomorrow’s leaders and solid citizens.

TSR: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish in your 3-year tenure as a School Committee member?

Neal Glick: For our kids I want to ensure that every child has the opportunity to achieve the very best that they can. This entails equality of opportunity, not ensuring outcomes. From elementary school literacy and math, to special needs education, to AP classes in the high school, we must offer the very best in robust education for those at all levels of ability. While teaching the “whole child” is very important, the importance of providing a strong academic foundation for our students, to the best of their individual abilities, should be job 1. In so doing, we must embrace the new, but when necessary reject confusing and stressful experiments like Standards Based Grading.

For our parents I want transparency and respect. Parents are stakeholders and should be treated like the necessary partners in their children’s education that they are. I want the Committee to be open to parental concerns, at open meetings. While respecting the views of educational experts, parents must be given the timely information that they seek and their perspectives must also be respected. This important public input should not just be a “check the box” exercise, but rather an important component of decision-making.

For our taxpayers I seek proper stewardship of the fiscal resources that we provide to our schools. Excellent public education is expensive. That means that taxpayer dollars must be watched carefully. Priority must go to personnel and programs that directly impact the delivery of education to our kids, over high-priced consultants and bureaucracy.

TSR: With enrollment at Wellesley Public Schools dropping, more questions are being raised about why expenses keep rising. What can WPS do to rein in expenses while still providing a great education and supporting social and emotional learning?

Neal Glick: There are many factors influencing the steep and persistent decline in WPS enrollment. Some are beyond our control, but there is no doubt that a growing number of discouraged parents are voting with their feet and pulling their children out of WPS. We need to learn why, address the reasons in order to stem the tide and do everything that we can to get those parents back. Increasing enrollment will itself add fiscal resources to our system.

As for rising costs in the face of enrollment decline, the hard questions must be asked. Are tax dollars being spent on “kid-facing” personnel and resources, or on consultants and unnecessary experiments like Standards Based Grading? Is our WPS bureaucracy sized correctly? Is it appropriate to justify every aspect of our budget on comparisons to so-called “peer communities?” We live in Wellesley. We should set the standard for the Commonwealth on delivery of strong educational achievement coupled with fiscal responsibility. This approach need not sacrifice social and emotional learning. That is particularly important in the aftermath of COVID. We must pay attention to educating the whole child, but like all aspects of education we should do so as efficiently as possible.

TSR: How should voters reach you if they want more information?

Neal Glick: Please check our website at NealforSC.com. I can also be reached at NealforSC@gmail.com. I am happy to discuss any of the foregoing. You will also see me at the dump, at Roche Brothers and in the neighborhoods as election day nears. Thanks.

Filed Under: 2023 Town Election, Education, Government, Politics

Rumble Boxing, Natick Mall

Wellesley Town election 2023: Natural Resources Commission candidates

February 23, 2023 by admin

Wellesley Town Hall, summer
Wellesley Town Hall

The Town of Wellesley depends on the active participation of its citizens in governance of the Town. Wellesley has 11 Boards and Committees on the ballot at the Annual Town election each year in March. The 2023 election will be held on Tuesday, March 7.

There are three candidates running for two open 3-year positions on the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) Board.

It is the mission of the five-member NRC Board to provide stewardship of, education about, and advocacy for the Town of Wellesley’s parks, conservation, recreation and open space areas so the full value of the Town’s natural assets can be passed onto future generations.

The Natural Resources Commission candidates are:

  • Martin Jay McHale
  • Michael D’Ortenzio
  • Jaden Crawford

McHale is finishing a 3-year term on the NRC, and D’Ortenzio has been serving since November, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the commission.

The Swellesley Report invited the candidates to answer a few questions about their priorities for the Town of Wellesley.

Candidate interviews appear in this post in the order in which their names appear on the ballot.

Martin Jay McHale

Martin Jay McHale, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report: Please introduce yourself to The Swellesley Report‘s readers.

Martin Jay McHale: I’ve lived in Wellesley over 15 years with my wife Shelley and our two boys. I’m semi-retired after 35+ years in financial services, and currently serve as chair for Action for Healthy Kids, a non-profit focused on nutrition, physical education and mental health partnering with schools around the country. I also co-chaired the “A Home of Our Own” campaign to purchase a permanent home for the Wellesley A Better Chance program back in 2020.

While the ballot will show me as Martin J. McHale Jr., everyone knows me as “Jay.”

TSR: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish in your 3-year tenure as a Natural Resources Commission member?

Martin Jay McHale: I’ve proudly served on the NRC since 2020 and I am currently board chair. During this time, I have built collaborative relationships with the Select Board, Climate Action Committee, School Committee, and Planning Board, as well as developed effective working relationships with staff at the NRC, Wellesley Schools, Department of Public Works, and Wellesley Police. These relationships are key as we look to move several projects forward.

The NRC is integrally tied into the town’s Climate Action Plan, and we have already taken steps to align our work with the Climate Action Committee goals that align under Natural Resources. For example, I look forward to continuing the work with enhancing our tree canopy, improving our wetlands regulations, along with educating the public on environmental issues and how citizens can help. In addition, l look forward to working with the DPW as we address issues around the quality of drinking water and how we can better manage stormwater runoff.

In addition to supporting our Climate Action Plan, I will continue to advance the work of improving our active spaces in town. I feel that I have already been particularly influential in a few areas:

  • Getting the aqueduct bathroom installed—this was a project that began in the early 2000s, failed twice at Town Meeting to obtain adequate funding, but was finally approved in 2021 and installed last fall.
  • Doing initial research and being a full supporter of the current Active Field study that is underway.
  • Collaborating with School Committee in a couple of areas—to navigate the numerous issues that caused the bathroom/team rooms project at Hunnewell Track & Field to stall since its approval at Town Meeting in 2018, as well as assisting in their efforts to install a multi-purpose practice wall and design/funding the bathrooms at Sprague Fields.

In addition to continuing the work outlined above, I will continue to support and advance the work to improve the Morses Pond area, support the Trails Committee as they look to improve the trails in town, in addition to the numerous programs promoting indigenous plantings for our parks and homes.

TSR: Lights have been a big topic of conversation related to NRC land in recent years. Now we’re hearing more questions raised about the use of sound on public land (from music to pickleball). What role do you foresee the NRC playing when it comes to sound?

Martin Jay McHale: The NRC plays a key role in both areas, especially given the Commission’s role in setting and managing policies. There are NRC lighting and sound policies already in place for fields under our control. As for the newly requested lighting on the Hunnewell Track & Field, School Committee drafted a lighting usage policy as part of their proposal, which the NRC has reviewed but will refine and vote on before the lights become operational.

As Board chair, I recently initiated a full review of our policy handbook, which guides the NRC in its oversight and decision making. This is being done one section at a time at our twice-monthly meetings to maximize transparency and give citizens the opportunity to participate in this process.

Many likely do not realize the authority which the NRC has—even over areas not under its direct control. This was written into the Act that created the committee in 1978:

“…(the NRC) shall study and make recommendations regarding the use, maintenance, management, preservation, and protection of the natural resources of the town which are under the jurisdiction of other boards.”

Since the question of sound affects not only NRC properties, but school properties as well, I have asked School Committee to work with us as well in addressing this issue. There are currently inconsistencies in how sound is treated between the two land stewards, especially on the larger fields (Bates, Schofield, Sprague and Hunnewell). I am hoping this collaborative approach with School Committee, which will certainly include neighbors of the fields, will result in workable solutions that could be applied town-wide.

TSR: How should voters reach you if they want more information?

Martin Jay McHale: Please reach out to me at mjmchalejr@gmail.com or join the campaign at electmchale.com. I humbly ask for your vote on March 7th.


Michael D’Ortenzio

Michael D'Ortenzio, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report: Please introduce yourself to The Swellesley Report‘s readers.

Michael D’Ortenzio: I grew up in Wellesley’s forests and open spaces. As a kid living near Morses Pond, the pond, the woods, and the North 40 were special places to explore and roam free. I was fortunate enough to get a great education in the Wellesley Public Schools, have the opportunity to go to college and law school, and recently to start practicing as a municipal attorney. In between, I have been involved in town government in various capacities including chairing the School Committee and Playing Fields Task Force, serving as vice chair of the Sustainable Energy Committee, and as a 10-year Town Meeting Member. I was also a member of the committees that oversaw the building of the new sports center at 900 Worcester Street and developed the town’s Unified Plan. On election days, you’ll often see me at Precinct A as a poll worker. I have been lucky to get to know the town and its government from many angles, and hope to leverage that perspective and my legal training to contribute to the preservation of Wellesley’s remaining forestland.

TSR: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish in your 3-year tenure as a Natural Resources Commission member?

Michael D’Ortenzio: My vision for the NRC is to develop a comprehensive land conservation plan, with a focus on preserving the limited intact forestland we have left.

We have many opportunities to increase preservation. According to a report the NRC produced a few years ago, though 33% of Wellesley is open space, 50% of that open space is held privately with no long-term protection. And overall, only a mere nine percent of Wellesley is protected under Article 97 of the state Constitution. (Thanks to former NRC Commissioner Raina McManus, who pulled together this important data.) The 1978 special act that created the NRC explicitly empowers the Commission to “propose for acquisition by the town those natural resources that the commission deems useful or important.” Where there are large parcels of forest in town that the community reasonably desires to preserve, we should be acting now—not when a development is imminent and costs are high (like with the North 40). And preservation does not necessarily mean acquisition: easements, zoning, and other tools are at our disposal to further forest protection.

Keeping carbon in our trees is a big way the NRC can prevent more atmospheric carbon from changing our climate. By working with partners both inside and outside of local government, we can grow the amount of forestland conserved.

TSR: Lights have been a big topic of conversation related to NRC land in recent years. Now we’re hearing more questions raised about the use of sound on public land (from music to pickleball). What role do you foresee the NRC playing when it comes to sound?

Michael D’Ortenzio: The NRC must balance the needs of all our users and constituents, which includes managing sound appropriately. I see a distinction between sports-based sounds (e.g., the crack of a ball hitting a bat, a referee blowing the whistle) and amplified sound (e.g., graduation name announcements, pump-up music during practices). Generally, sports-based sound is incidental to the existence of playing fields. If that sound has increased substantially as a result of a new sport like pickleball, the town may consider limiting play to certain hours. Generally, though, my focus is on amplified sound. The reading of names at graduation is, of course, a necessity; pump-up music before practice less so. To find common ground on the use of amplified sound, the NRC cannot act alone. The management of Wellesley’s playing fields involves multiple entities (e.g., the NRC, School Committee, Playing Fields Task Force). We must work collaboratively with our partners to balance the needs of users as well as be good neighbors.

TSR: How should voters reach you if they want more information?

Michael D’Ortenzio: Please e-mail or call me anytime at mdortenziojr@me.com or (781) 801-4317, or visit my website at https://www.michaelfornrc.com/


Jaden Crawford

Jaden Crawford, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report: Please introduce yourself to The Swellesley Report‘s readers.

Jaden Crawford: I moved to Wellesley with my family in 2010. Like many families we quickly fell in love with Wellesley’s outdoor spaces. We spend much of our free time enjoying Centennial Park, Hunnewell Fields, Morses and Longfellow Ponds, Town forest, and most of the town’s parks, playing fields, and 47 miles of trails.

We also spend a lot of time in our gardens and have slowly replaced most of the lawns with organic vegetable gardens, as well as native and ornamental gardens to support and enjoy local wildlife. One particular joy is maintaining milkweed and other native plants to support butterflies and other pollinators as a monarch butterfly way-station.

For over 17 years, I have worked to decarbonize the world’s electric grids. Early in my career, I built and operated renewable power plants. Since then I have focused on developing wholesale and retail electricity markets to integrate distributed energy resources (DER), such as smart thermostats, solar roofs, batteries, electric vehicles, and building management systems. I am currently the director of policy for a DER-focused energy retailer, where I lead our regulatory and policy engagement, and market development.

TSR: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish in your 3-year tenure as a Natural Resources Commission member?

Jaden Crawford: Three specific things I’d like to work on are:

  1. Improving the health of our tree canopy by implementing a distributed nursery. Much like the distributed energy model our power grids are moving toward, I believe that we can grow a meaningful percentage of the trees that we need by engaging with residents, gardening clubs, community gardens, schools, and houses of worship, to take part in growing our town’s trees.
  2. Working with other town boards and organizations to improve and increase the number of bicycle pathways. This will help reduce the carbon impact of transportation, which is a key issue in the town’s Climate Action Plan, and provide a healthy, safe way for Wellesley residents to travel through town.
  3. I’d like to work with organizations like the Wellesley Conservation Land Trust, as well as volunteers to help identify, geo-tag, and inventory issues like tree loss, invasive species, and erosion on Wellesley land. This would enable a more fulsome, and up-to-date, view to enable remediation decisions.

TSR: Lights have been a big topic of conversation related to NRC land in recent years. Now we’re hearing more questions raised about the use of sound on public land (from music to pickleball). What role do you foresee the NRC playing when it comes to sound?

Jaden Crawford: The NRC has a primary role when it comes to sound on NRC property, and a meaningful voice regarding sound on other town property. The NRC charter specifically addresses sound and the impacts of sound on surrounding stakeholders. I would use the NRC charter as my guiding principal in any discussions or decisions regarding sound on public land.

TSR: How should voters reach you if they want more information?

Jaden Crawford: I’d love to talk with you about why I’m running, about what matters to you, or even about gardening. (Especially compost. I love compost.) Just sent me an email at jadenfornrc@gmail.com, or visit my website: jadenfornrc.org.

Filed Under: 2023 Town Election, Government

Wellesley town election 2023: Meet the Candidates Night recording available; Next up is chamber forum

February 20, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The recording of the League of Women Voters of Wellesley’s Meet the Candidates Night event is now available for viewing. The event makes for good preparation to vote in the March 7 town election.

Separately, the Charles River Regional Chamber will hold an online discussion on Feb. 22, 11-11:45am, with 2 of 3 Wellesley Select Board candidates on a variety of economic development and nonprofit issues, as well as other topics. Register to attend.

Filed Under: 2023 Town Election

Sustainable Wellesley gives candidates their say

February 15, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Sustainable Wellesley’s “Conversation with the Candidates” event on Monday at Wellesley Free Library gave those running for town-wide offices on March 7 a chance to share their views on environmental issues before an audience of interested community members, including a back row filled with students. Sustainable Wellesley is an all-volunteer non-profit focused on ways those in town can address climate change and related topics.

Sustainable Wellesley Conversation with the Candidates

A total of 10 candidates for open positions at the Natural Resources Commission, Recreation Commission, School Committee, and Select Board each had 3 minutes to answer a few questions from Sustainable Wellesley. Most answered them and stuck to their time limit. Topics included everything from how the NRC can help reduce pesticide use in town to how School Committee can address transportation and electrification challenges. Chitchat before and after the podium comments included ice breakers like “So how’d your heat pump fair during the deep freeze?”

This was not an interactive forum, for the sake of conserving people’s time. If I’d had a chance to ask something I might have quizzed candidates on how they got to the library that night, having noticed not a single bicycle attached to the bike rack near the parking lot entrance (granted, this was a 7-9pm event, and I suspect at least a few nearby attendees walked).  In fact, I joked about this with Select Board candidate Odessa Sanchez when I saw her upon arriving, and she had a very green answer: “I took a ride share.” I couldn’t deny having gotten there solo via gas guzzler myself.

library bike rack

I won’t get into each candidate’s comments here (visit Sustainable Wellesley’s site for candidates’ responses), but among the themes and ideas were:

  • An appetite to protect Wellesley’s ample open space and expand sustainable transportation options as new housing initiatives bring more people to town
  • Fostering a distributed nursery in which community members can contribute grown resources, such as milkweed plants, that can be used across town
  • Teaching kids about the importance of the environment, but also about the government’s role in supporting or inhibiting change
  • Finding ways to ensure school buildings won’t make kids or staff sick
  • Viewing sustainability efforts through an environmental justice lens to ensure everyone can benefit
  • Paying attention to sustainability efforts in other communities, but don’t assume that if something can’t get done elsewhere it can’t get done here
  • Listening to community members before making big changes, such as building on underused lots in areas where lots of building has recently taken place.
Sustainable Wellesley Conversation with the Candidates
Sustainable Wellesley’s Quentin Prideaux lays out the ground rules

swellesley green ad

Filed Under: 2023 Town Election, Environment, Government

Reminder: League of Women Voters of Wellesley’s Meet the Candidates Night is Thursday, Feb. 16

February 15, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

League of Women Voters of Wellesley

The League of Women Voters of Wellesley’s Meet the Candidates Night will be held online Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7pm. Learn about candidates for town-wide office and hear their positions on issues of importance to the town. The event will be live-streamed, broadcast live on Comcast 8/Verizon 40, and will be recorded for on-demand viewing.

The League is a nonpartisan political organization which does not support or oppose candidates.

Voters are invited to submit questions for candidates by email: lwvwellesley2@gmail.com by 5 pm on Feb. 15.  Questions will be screened for lack of bias, relevance, and applicability to all candidates for each office.  Similar questions may be consolidated.

There will be no print version of the League’s Election Guide this year.  The Guide will be posted by February 16 to the League’s Election Guide platform, vote411.org, where voters can also find personalized election information on how and where to vote. Information about The Meet the Candidates Night event, the Election Guide and other election-related material may be viewed on the League’s website, and on the Town Clerk’s website.


Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Filed Under: 2023 Town Election

How to vote in Wellesley’s March 7, 2023 annual town election

February 14, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley Town Hall, summer
Wellesley Town Hall

Wellesley’s Annual Town Election will take place on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.

The town has 11 Boards and Committees elected each year. The seats on these boards are staggered so that one or two seats are elected each year for 3-year terms (Planning and Housing are 5-year terms).

Wellesley also has a representative Town Meeting for 240 members elected by voting precinct. Town Meeting Members have staggered three-year terms, so 10 are elected each year from each precinct. Town Meeting will begin on Monday, March 27, and will continue on dates past that until voting on operating budgets, capital expenditures, and bylaws for the town is complete. 


Are you registered to vote?

All registered Wellesley voters may vote in the Annual Town Election. If you are not registered to vote or are not sure if you are registered to vote in Wellesley, check the Secretary of State’s website. If you are not registered, the deadline to register to vote in the Annual Town Election is Saturday, Feb. 25.


Ways to cast your vote

 

Vote in person at the polls on March 7

  • Polling locations map
  • Precinct A (Katharine Lee Bates School, 116 Elmwood Rd.)
  • Precinct B (Isaac Sprague School, 401 School St.)
  • Precinct C (Bates School)
  • Precinct D (Warren Building at 90 Washington Street)
  • Precinct E (Warren Building)
  • Precinct F (Dana Hall School, Shipley Center, 142 Grove St.)
  • Precinct G (Dana Hall School)
  • Precinct H (Tolles Parsons Center, 500 Washington St.)

Don’t know which precinct you’re in? Here’s how to find out where to vote in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Polls will be open until 7am-8pm on March 7.

Vote by mail

The VOTES Act of 2022 allows everyone to vote by mail. Vote by Mail ballots for the 2023 Annual Town Election have been mailed to all registered voters who requested one. If you would still like to request a mailed ballot, submit a signed application to the Town Clerk’s office no later than February 28, 5pm. Please allow for time in the mail.

Complete and sign the ballot application form and return it to the Town Clerk’s office in one of the following ways:

  • email at elections@wellesleyma.gov
  • bring it to the drop box outside of Town Hall
  • mail it to Office of the Town Clerk, Wellesley Town Hall, 525 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482.

Completed mail-in ballots must be received by the Town Clerk no later than Tuesday, March 7, 2023, by 8pm.

Note: If you receive a ballot in the mail but then decide that you would rather vote in person, you may do so. You just can’t do both.

Vote absentee

Absentee ballots continue to be available. To qualify for an absentee ballot, voters must:

  • Be away from Wellesley on Election Day; or
  • Have a disability that keeps you from voting at your polling place; or
  • Have a religious belief that prevents you from voting at your polling place on Election day.

If eligible for a by mail absentee ballot, request one using the Absentee Ballot Application.  Requests require a signature. Applications with a signature may be emailed to Elections@WellesleyMA.gov or dropped off in the drop box or mailed to Town Hall no later than 5 business days before an election.

By appointment only, voters may apply for an absentee ballot in person until noon the day before an election and vote at the same time. Ballots cannot be hand carried out of the office. Please call 781-431-1019, ext. 2258 for an appointment.

Absentee ballots must be received by the Clerk’s office on or before polls close on election day at 8pm.


Candidates for Boards and Committees

Candidates are listed in ballot order. See sample ballots for each precinct here.

Contested races

Select Board (3 candidates, 2 openings—Odessa Sanchez; Thomas Ulfelder; Elizabeth Sullivan Woods)

Natural Resources Commission (3 candidates, 2 openings—Martin McHale; Michael D’Ortenzio; Jaden Crawford)

School Committee (3 candidates, 2 openings—Christina Horner; Catherine Mirick; Neal Glick)

Uncontested races

Moderator (1 opening, 1 candidate—Mark Kaplan)

Board of Assessors (1 opening, 1 candidate—Stephen Burtt)

Board of Health (1 opening, 1 candidate—Shira Doron)

Housing Authority (1 opening, 1 candidate—Lisa Kaufman Heyison)

Library Trustees (2 openings, 2 candidates—Ann Rappaport, Linshi Li)

Planning Board (1 opening, 1 candidate—James Roberti)

Board of Public Works (1 opening, 1 candidate—Jeffrey Wechsler)

Recreation Commission (1 opening, no candidates)


Contested Town Meeting races

Precinct A—there are 11 candidates running for 10 seats

Precinct E—there are 14 candidates running for 12 seats


MORE: Wellesley Town Meeting has a full plate: stormwater fund; equity audit; a Hardy helper; and more


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Filed Under: 2023 Town Election, Politics

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