The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Wellesley Board of Selectmen’s Office Hours, Town Hall

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Members of the Wellesley Board of Selectmen will be holding occasional office hours at Town Hall for residents to drop in to discuss town-related issues. Some of the board of five elected officials will be available on each of these upcoming dates:

 

Tuesday, April 23, 9am to 11am in the Great Hall (second floor)

Tuesday, May 7, 9am to 11am in Conference Room G in the Selectmen’s office (third floor)

Tuesday, June 4,  9am to 11am in Conference Room G in the Selectmen’s office (third floor)

The Board of Selectmen serves as the chief executive board of the Town, and as such, oversees all matters affecting the interest and welfare of the community. The Board exercises the authority vested in the Town not specifically assigned by law to any other board or office.

Here’s what’s on Wellesley Special Town Meeting agenda

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Special Town Meeting warrant is posted
Town Constable Phil Juliani posts the Wellesley Special Town Meeting warrant

 

The regular Wellesley Town Meeting is still going, but the warrant already has been posted for the follow-on Special Town Meeting to be held on May 13 (and possibly May 14) at Wellesley Middle School.

The focus of the meeting includes:

*Zoning changes related to Smart Growth Overlay Districts and more specifically, the Wellesley Park Smart Growth Overlay District proposed at the Wellesley Office Park on William Street. These changes, adhering to the Commonwealth’s 40R rules,  could help the town address its shortage of affordable housing and generate new jobs in the area.

*Zoning changes that would allow for less intrusive development at Delanson Circle and Weston Road under what had been 40B proposals.

*Possible funding for mental health and social services in town

A public hearing on the Special Town Meeting articles is planned for Thursday, April 11 at 7 PM during the Advisory Committee meeting. Residents are invited to attend to ask questions and share their thoughts.

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MORE: Wellesley High grads told “You’re not special”

 

Wellesley Advisory Committee hearing is April 11, 2019; Special Town Meeting

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Wellesley Clock Tower, SpringSave the dates for these important upcoming Town government events:

Advisory Committee hearing — April 11, 2019

The Advisory Committee will hold a Public Hearing on all Special Town Meeting articles on Thursday, April 11.

Special Town Meeting — May 13, 2019

The Wellesley Board of Selectmen will convene a Special Town Meeting at the Wellesley Middle School Auditorium, 50 Kingsbury Street, on Monday, May 13, 2019 at 7pm.

The Special Town Meeting will continue on Tuesday, May 14 if two nights are needed for discussion.

Wellesley residents open wallets for political candidates

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Brett_Hondow / Pixabay

You might think based on low voter turnouts at local Wellesley elections that residents on the whole have a meh attitude about politics. But the latest report from the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance shows that Wellesley ranks #12 in the state based on per capita contributions to candidates.

Wellesley residents forked over a total of $431K to support candidates last year, according to the independent state agency. That works out to $15.43 per person in our town of nearly 28,000 (based on 2010 Census).

Weston, which has less than half of Wellesley’s population, is #1 per capita at $33.27 per person. The usual suspects — Dover, Newton, etc. — are also among the top 10, according to Office of Campaign and Political Finance, where you can also look up what individuals reported contributing to political campaigns.

The tiny towns of Gosnold and Monroe, both with fewer than 125 residents, were the only communities that did not report any contributions.

You’re not allowed to contribute more than $1,000 per year per candidate, though you can contribute up to $5K per party committee. Pledges of less than $50 don’t have to be itemized.

Overall, the state’s per capita in 2018 was $4.91, and candidates who reported receiving contributions claimed a total of nearly $34 million.

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