Unable to get to the polls on Election Day, Tuesday, March 5th? Absentee ballots are now available from the Town Clerk’s Office for the upcoming local election.

Registered voters who are unable to vote in Wellesley on Election Day may vote absentee in person by coming to Town Hall and filling out the ballot in the Town Clerk’s Office. Voters may also request a mailed absentee ballot by using the Absentee Ballot Application.  For mailed ballots, please allow enough time for mail delivery both ways – generally up to ten days.

The last day to request an absentee ballot is Monday, March 4th at 12 noon. All absentee ballots must be received in the Town Clerk’s Office on or before the polls close at 8 PM on Election Day.

The Town Clerk’s Office is open Monday – Friday (except on President’s Day, February 18th) from 8 AM to 5 PM. Questions? Contact Town Clerk KC Kato.

A complete list of 2019 town candidates and sample ballots are available on the Local Election Information webpage.

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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 2019 election will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

Contested race: Natural Resources Commission (NRC)

It is the mission of the Natural Resources Commission 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.

There are five members on the NRC Board. Vice Chair Raina McManus’ term expires in 2019. She is running as an incumbent, and Jim Miller is running against her for the three-year term.

We invited the two to answer a few questions about their qualifications and their priorities for the Town of Wellesley. Today’s post features Jim Miller. Raina McManus was featured in yesterday’s post.

Jim Miller, Candidate for the NRC Board

The Swellesley Report: What is your background and what qualifies you for this position?

Jim Miller: I serve on the Board of Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions, where I work with Dr. Jim Hansen, the world’s most respected climate scientist, and Bill McKibben, environmental activist and founder of 350.org, in the fight against global warming. I am the author of the “Clean Energy and Shared Prosperity Act”, which Dr. Hansen presented to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2014 during his testimony about the dangers of global climate change. I also serve on the Board of Our Children’s Trust which is litigating the climate change crisis as a human rights issue and will be featured on 60 Minutes on Sunday, March 2nd.

Sw: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your three-year tenure on the NRC?

Miller: My top priority is to make NRC a more collaborative partner and build coalitions with other boards in town and the broader community. I view environmentalists, civic and business leaders, schools, and the sports communities as allies and would be a bridge to bring them together. As part of our commitment to make our open spaces safe, beautiful, and accessible to all generations, I would partner with key stakeholders to increase the town’s tree canopy, fix gas leaks, and promote clean energy and energy efficiency in our schools, municipal buildings, businesses and private homes. Wellesley has the highest participation rate of any sports program in Massachusetts.

NRC needs to ensure that there are enough playing fields for the hundreds of teams and thousands of children playing sports. As part of this effort, I would prioritize ensuring that the girls’ playing fields are of equal quality as the boys’ playing fields. Wellesley should aspire to be powered 100% by clean, healthy, renewable energy and NRC should lead by example by installing energy efficient, environmentally friendly LED lights at NRC owned playing fields including WHS Stadium. This strategy would reduce the towns energy consumption and create much needed field time for the 28 WHS sports teams that would like to practice and host games in the Stadium. Lighting the Stadium also creates a safe place for Wellesley residents to walk and run at night, particularly during the fall, winter, and early spring. I would provide Wellesley residents age 60 and over free admission to all town sporting events, making WHS Stadium an intergenerational gathering space for students, parents, and grandparents.

Sw: What is your hot-button issue?

Miller: I think climate change possess the greatest threat to Wellesley’s natural resources but I do not think of it as a hot-button issue. The strategies I would pursue to fight climate change are also things that will make the town more beautiful, our properties more valuable, our families healthier, our air and water cleaner, our open spaces more accessible, and will build a stronger community where we can live healthy and happy lives doing the things we love.

Sw: How much of a role do you think the NRC should play in shaping  environmental policy outside of Wellesley?

Miller: My work with Jim Hansen, Bill McKibben, and Our Children’s Trust is focused on shaping environmental policies at the state, national, and international levels. I am interested in serving on Wellesley Natural Resources Commission because I think
Wellesley has the potential to lead by example that other communities can emulate.

Sw: How do you think the North 40 should be utilized?

Miller: The purchase of the North 40 is an exciting, once in a generation opportunity for the town. I support the current strategy of coming together as a community to decide how the North 40 can be best utilized to enhance our lives.

Sw: Is there anything else you would like to say that the above questions did not cover?

Miller: I have been an active resident of Wellesley for 20 years. My wife, Krisann, works as a nurse for the Wellesley Health Department and Wellesley Public School and our three children have attended Wellesley Public Schools. I served on advisory committees for Wellesley Public Schools strategic plan and key hires. I have coached youth soccer in Wellesley for the last 15 years. I am the CEO of RxMapper, a precision drug information platform developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic. I plan to bring the same collaborative leadership to NRC.

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

Miller: [email protected]
Facebook @ JimMillerforNRC

MORE: Wellesley election 2019

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 2019 election will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

Contested race: Natural Resources Commission (NRC)

It is the mission of the Natural Resources Commission 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.

There are five members on the NRC Board. Vice Chair Raina McManus’ term expires in 2019. She is running as an incumbent, and Jim Miller is running against her for the three-year term.

We invited the two to answer a few questions about their qualifications and their priorities for the Town of Wellesley. Today’s post features Raina McManus. Tomorrow’s post will feature NRC candidate Jim Miller.

Raina McManus, candidate for NRC Board

The Swellesley Report: What is your background and what qualifies you for this position?

Raina McManus: I’ve been an environmental advocate for 28 years. Twenty-five years ago, I helped install the first community garden at Fiske Elementary school and insisted it be pesticide-free. I’ve been a strong advocate for measures to protect our Town environment ever since:

 4-year Town Meeting Member
 5 years on the Natural Resources Commission; Athletic Fields Project Liaison; Community
Preservation Committee; Fuller Brook park Coordinating Committee; Unified Plan Steering
Committee; North 40 Steering Committee;
 Significant accomplishments: Hiring of new NRC director, Brandon Schmitt; Banning single-
use plastic checkout bags; raising community awareness of gas leaks and their effect on our
trees;
 Co-Founder of Friends of Brookside;
 Proud member of the Wellesley League of Women Voters and Wellesley Conservation
Council, two organizations with long histories of environmental stewardship.

Sw: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your three-year tenure on the Natural Resources Commission?

McManus: My top priorities include completing projects that help enhance and conserve our natural resources for the benefit of current and future generations, like the volunteer-built vernal pool boardwalk at the North 40 which protects the resource area and offers educational opportunities.

Ongoing priority projects include:

 Expansion of the Grow Green Wellesley initiative to encourage eco-friendly lawns and native
landscaping via the planting of “pollinator corridors” throughout town;
 Approval and construction of the Girls’ Softball field renovation project, including a
regulation size field with dugouts, bleacher seating, scoreboard, and improved drainage;
and proposed creation of a wetlands habitat as part of the environmentally-sensitive design;
 Implementation of the Town Forest Stewardship and Bird Habitat Plans to protect our
drinking water and provide recreation and wildlife habitat;
 Execution of the Morses Pond Shoreline Erosion remediation plan which protects our
drinking water, beach, and wildlife habitat at this popular recreation area;
 Implementation of the Wellesley Unified Plan’s environmental best management practices;
 Protection of our valuable town trees through bylaw review, quantification of the tree
canopy, development of an interactive public shade tree map; continuing the town’s tree
planting program including gas leak detection prior to planting new trees; and providing
education and advocacy to address gas leaks.

Sw: What is your hot-button issue?

McManus: Pesticides! Just because a product is for sale at the hardware store does not mean it is safe to use. Our health, especially that of our children and pets, is at risk from harmful chemicals in commonly used lawn products. Pesticides can leach into our groundwater and our drinking water by rain and runoff and seeping into the wells from which our drinking water is drawn. Pesticide use is having an adverse impact on insects, like caterpillars, an important food for our birds whose populations are in precipitous decline; and pollinators like monarch butterflies and bees that are responsible for pollinating 35% of our food supply. I want to continue to provide educational opportunities to engage and educate residents. I love teaching kids (and parents!) about watershed protection at the STEM Expo; and presenting educational workshops like Landscapes for Living, which encourage us to consider how our actions affect our environment, and consequently, our health.

Sw: How much of a role do you think the NRC should play in shaping environmental policy outside of Wellesley?

McManus: The laws and regulations created on Beacon Hill on issues such as gas leaks, pesticide use, plastics reduction, and more, affect all Wellesley residents. The NRC regularly communicates with our state representatives in an important two-way relationship – we stay informed, and we advocate for best environment practice and policy. I have testified at the State House on bills concerning pesticide and plastics reduction on behalf of our town.

Sw: How do you think the North 40 should be utilized?

McManus: One of the NRC’s most important functions will be educating the public on the economic and environmental value the North 40 is currently providing to Wellesley, including drinking water protection and flood control. The forested area of the North 40 helps clean our air of the exhaust fumes of idling cars on Route 9 and Weston Road; open space offsets heat islands created in nearby developed areas of town. We know that property values are enhanced in towns with healthy, green open spaces. This land is contiguous to Morses Pond, providing valuable wildlife habitat and a connecting wildlife corridor – as well as cherished open space for passive recreation. With the increasing intensity and frequency of climate events like storms and droughts, we need to be mindful of the benefits of flood control, temperature cooling, and air quality mitigation this resource provides. The North 40 is currently under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen, and when discussions begin around best uses of the land, the NRC will be speaking in support of our natural resources. One of the lessons I’ve learned while working in town government is that you should never come into a conversation with a preconceived solution. There are always unknowns
and opportunities that cannot be realized until an open process begins, and I hope to be part of that conversation.

Sw: Is there anything else you would like to say that the above questions did not cover?

McManus: My experience as co-founder of Friends of Brookside, 4-year Town Meeting Member, and 5-year NRC Commissioner has taught me how our town government works, and the importance of taking time to build broad support for solutions to complex projects. The strong relationships I’ve built with residents, businesses, our talented town staff, and members from our 9 independently elected boards and multiple appointed committees have enabled me to produce positive results for our town, always in a collaborative manner. It’s been an honor and privilege to serve Wellesley for the last five years, I hope I’ve earned your vote for another three! Thank you!

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

McManus: I welcome comments and questions from our residents:
[email protected]
www.RainaForNRC.org

MORE: Wellesley election 2019

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 2019 election will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

Contested race: Board of Selectmen

The Board of Selectmen serves as the chief executive board of the Town, which oversees all matters affecting the interest and welfare of the community. There are five members on the Board of Selectmen. Secretary of the Board, Ellen F. Gibbs’ term expires in 2019, leaving one BOS position up for grabs. There are two candidates vying for that spot: Lise Olney and Jennifer Fallon.

We invited the two to answer a few questions about their qualifications and their priorities for the Town of Wellesley. Today’s post features Lise Olney. Yesterday’s post featured Jennifer Fallon.

Lise Olney, Candidate for Board of Selectmen

The Swellesley Report: What is your background and what qualifies you for this position?

Lise Olney: I’ve lived in Wellesley for 25 years with my husband, Tim Fulham, and our daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. For the past five years, I’ve served on the Wellesley Natural Resources Commission and represented Precinct E at Town Meeting. I’ve led major projects and partnerships for the NRC on gas leaks, plastic waste, and pesticide reduction; I’ve built relationships inside and outside of town government; and I’ve learned first-hand what makes our decisions successful long-term. I’ve been a member of the Sustainable Wellesley leadership team for eight years and I led an interfaith coalition for two years, advocating at the state level for the transition to a clean and just energy future. In my earlier career, I was executive editor of the Educational Media Division at the National Geographic Society, managing a large staff and overseeing all editorial content.

Sw: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your three-year tenure on the Board of Selectmen?

Olney: In the next few years, Wellesley must make critical decisions that will affect the quality of life in our town for years to come. These decisions include redevelopment of three of our elementary schools, moving forward with the town’s Housing Production Plan, addressing transportation and traffic issues, and determining the disposition of the North 40. As the chief executive board of our town, the Board of Selectmen will play a key role in bringing together elected boards, town officials, and stakeholders to grapple with these big decisions. I want to highlight three priorities for this work:                                                                                                                                                       

1. Ensuring Inclusivity: I’ve learned first-hand that successful and lasting decisions come from a process of partnership and dialogue, when we bring differing stakeholders to the table early and throughout our decision-making.
2. Promoting livability: I’m committed to preserving our town’s quality of life, while also creating a welcoming environment that’s attainable for people of different ages, incomes, and backgrounds.

3. Integrating sustainability: By sustainability, I mean looking beyond just environmental sustainability and taking an approach to decision-making that meets both our current needs and our obligation to future generations.

   Sw: What is your hot-button issue?

   Olney: A study commissioned by the NRC in 2017 revealed many more gas leaks in Wellesley than the 197 reported by National Grid. These leaks come from deteriorating pipes throughout town and they persist near homes, parks, and even adjacent to some of our schools and preschools. Natural gas consists primarily of methane, which is even more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Exposure to methane and other chemical components of the leaking gas can also result in asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Gas companies (National Grid in Wellesley) have sole responsibility for gas infrastructure, subject only to regulation by the state Department of Public Utilities. The NRC has worked for two years to bring attention to this issue and I am now co-coordinating a multi-town effort with Mothers Out Front, HEET, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to open a dialogue with National Grid with the goal of accelerating the rate of gas leak repair and pipe replacement.

   Sw: What role, if any, do you think the Board of Selectmen should play in shaping policy outside of Wellesley?

   Olney: As the chief executive board for the town, the Board of Selectmen can and should weigh-in on state policy that affects the town and its residents. As a member of the Natural Resources Commission, I have represented our board at the State House on several occasions, testifying on legislation pertaining to pesticides and plastic pollution. Recently, the NRC has also advocated for legislation that would address safety challenges in our neglected gas system, create a path to a safer renewable energy future, and bring about much-needed reforms in the state Department of Public Utilities. Wellesley is considered a model by many of our peer communities and we have an important role to play in advocating for policies that can benefit our town and help build a better future for our state.

   Sw: What are your thoughts about changing the third Monday in October from Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day?

   Olney: I am in favor of changing this holiday to Indigenous Peoples Day. I want to acknowledge the work of Wellesley residents and the World of Wellesley who are advocating for this important proposal. I believe this day should be dedicated to honoring the heritage and history of our First Peoples. I understand this is a sensitive issue and that some people may ask why we should erase a day that is meaningful to many, particularly to Italian-Americans. We need to recognize that our understanding of American history has evolved. For too long, we were taught a narrow view of the colonization of the Americas. Now that we have a more complete picture of the darker history of American colonization, we can no longer commemorate someone who is associated with the enslavement and genocide of Native peoples.

   Sw: Your thoughts about the HHU project?

   Olney: With the feasibility study for the Hunnewell School project nearing completion, I look forward to seeing the final recommendations by the architects and the School Building Committee. I have observed the process closely, attending public meetings and representing the Natural Resources Commission in consultations concerning the adjacent park property under our jurisdiction. I have been impressed by the thoroughness of the architects conducting the process and the efforts of the School Building Committee to balance the many factors that must go in to the eventual siting and design of the building and its landscape in this challenging location. I am hopeful that the project can be designed as a net zero energy facility, generating as much energy as it consumes without the use of fossil fuels and creating a healthier, safer environment for Wellesley students. I am aware of the sensitivities that come with any discussion of major changes to our schools and I trust that the feasibility study for Hardy and Upham (just starting now) will be conducted with the same thoroughness and attention to stakeholders.

   Sw: Is there anything else you would like to say that the above questions did not cover?

   Olney: I’m proud to be among the hundreds of volunteers who devote time and energy to Wellesley town government. I am often in awe of my colleagues on town boards and at Town Meeting who bring extraordinary thoughtfulness and expertise to their deliberations. All of us rely on the dedicated and resourceful staff who serve the town at every level. I also appreciate the many residents who advocate for the issues that matter most to them and, if elected, I intend to offer regular office hours to hear from them directly. I look forward to continuing to work toward a bright and healthy future for our town.

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

   Olney: Please learn more about our campaign at ElectLiseOlney.com and come meet me at one of the private gatherings or public forums listed. Like our Facebook page @LiseOlneyforWellesley. Email me at [email protected].