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Category Archives: Politics

The latest from Wellesley condo builder Connolly

By bbrown | Published: October 7, 2011

A reader points out a Boston Herald article on the latest political maneuver by Michael Connolly, the Boston political veteran who used 40B affordable housing provisions to build the controversial Wellesley Commons condo project on Washington Street that has kept Wellesley’s Zoning Board busy for the past few years. Connolly has had trouble selling the [...]

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Audit report: Wellesley School Department’s business office a mess

By bbrown | Published: September 27, 2011

An audit of Wellesley Public Schools’ business office by an independent accounting firm has found that the $100K+ school lunch collections debacle that inspired the audit isn’t the only example of poor controls and policies by the office (access full report here). The review was conducted at the request of the town’s Audit Committee. Powers [...]

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Wellesley hosting public meetings on going with split tax system

By bbrown | Published: September 26, 2011

The Board of Selectmen will host public meetings tonight, Sept. 26 at 730pm (and again on Oct. 17) at town hall about the benefits of sticking with a single-rate tax system for residents and businesses vs. the benefits of moving to a dual-rate one that might increase the rate for businesses. You can study up [...]

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Wellesley sets date for Special Town Meeting: Nov. 14

By bbrown | Published: September 20, 2011

The Board of Selectmen will convene a Special Town Meeting at Wellesley Middle School on Monday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 P.M. The warrant for the meeting will close at 5:00 pm on Friday, Sept. 30. Anyone desiring to have an article included in the warrant should submit a petition signed by not less than 100 [...]

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See Warren run?

By bbrown | Published: August 31, 2011

UPDATE: More than 50 Newton and Wellesley residents  gathered in Wellesley Sept. 1st to encourage Elizabeth Warren’s candidacy for the 2012 U.S. Senate race. Hosts included Deborah Fogel and Jeri Okamura of Newton and Cynthia Curtis and Dona Bolding of Wellesley. (photo by Marc Fogel)     Supporters of having consumer advocate/Harvard law professor Elizabeth [...]

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Federal debt crisis puts Wellesley under review

By bbrown | Published: July 31, 2011

Moody’s Investor Service has threatened to review the triple-A credit rating of Wellesley and 162 other local governments that could be impacted by the debt crisis facing the federal government, whose own triple-A bond rating is under review. Wellesley’s in good company, with Brookline, Dover and Newton also on the watch list. “The ratings of [...]

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Wellesley voters OK DPW building addition

By bbrown | Published: May 19, 2011

Wellesley voters, by a count of 617 to 337, approved funding a DPW building addition project via a tax increase during Wednesday’s special election. Just 6% of registered voters went to the polls. A special election was held to decide whether to fund a new $3.5M Department of Public Works building on Rte. 9 via [...]

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One way Wellesley spiced up today’s boring election

By bbrown | Published: May 18, 2011

Wellesley did its best to add a little excitement to today’s  special election involving whether or not to approve a debt exclusion (higher taxes) to fund a DPW building spruce-up. At Precinct G at Wellesley Free Library voters got to take part in a bit of a scavenger hunt for voting booths by winding around [...]

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Special election reminder: Voters to decide on DPW building Wednesday

By bbrown | Published: May 13, 2011

A Special Election to seek voter approval of a debt exclusion to fund the debt service for the proposed DPW Operations Office addition, will occur on Wednesday, May 18. The text of the question is: Shall the Town of Wellesley be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts [...]

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New DPW building focus of May 18 special election in Wellesley

By bbrown | Published: April 14, 2011

A special election will be held in Wellesley on May 18 to decide whether to fund a new $3.6M Department of Public Works building on Rte. 9 via a debt exclusion (i.e., roughly $29 annual tax increase per household, at least at the start). Somehow, we can’t envision this vote will result in a lot [...]

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Appraisers to pay Wellesleyites a visit in coming weeks

By bbrown | Published: April 13, 2011

Expect an appraiser representing the Wellesley Board of Assessors to visit your property within the next few weeks so that the town can do its annual real estate review for tax purposes. Appraisals are estimated to take about 15 minutes and include exterior and interior reviews, including photographs. If you’re not home at the time [...]

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Ginormous Wellesley to add 8th precinct

By bbrown | Published: April 12, 2011

Given that Wellesley’s population grew more than 5% between 2000 and 2010 to nearly 28,000 people, according to the latest U.S. Census data, we’re getting an additional precinct. The Board of Selectmen has been working with GIS staff and the Town Clerk to prepare alternate mapping scenarios for 8 precincts. There’s plenty of trickiness involved in [...]

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Wellesley teacher contract OK’d

By bbrown | Published: March 29, 2011

The Townsman reports that the Wellesley School Committee has approved a new contract between school administrators and the teachers’ union, allowing for very modest increases over the next 2 years. The deal reflects today’s tough economic reality, according to those involved. A separate report in the Boston Globe includes comments from Town Meeting members questioning [...]

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Wellesley town meeting primer

By bbrown | Published: March 25, 2011

Wellesley Annual Town Meeting begins March 28 at 7:30 pm at Wellesley Middle School Auditorium. Additional sessions will occur on Monday and Tuesday nights until the business of the Meeting is concluded.(No sessions April 18/19) The Warrant and Advisory Committee reports can be found here Wellesley has a Representative Town Meeting. The Members are elected [...]

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Babson, Searle retain Wellesley Selectmen seats

By bbrown | Published: March 1, 2011

Wellesley voters gave Gig Babson and Barbara Searle 3 more years on the Board of Selectman in a light turnout at the polls today. Challenger Andrew Pernokas, a Boston University student, gave it a good run, finishing 3rd. Preliminary results show Babson with 1,387 votes, Searle with 1,324 and Pernokas with 1,004. In the other [...]

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