Select Board - 09/15/2026

The Tewksbury Select Board meeting on September 15, 2026, covered a range of municipal governance topics with significant focus on procurement, budget amendments, and capital improvement projects. Key procurement-related discussions included approval of budget amendments funded through state aid that would not impact the tax levy, notably the expansion of ambulance services requiring the hiring of four firefighters, and various capital expenditures such as vehicle replacements, public safety boat launch improvements, and lead service line replacement projects. The board also reviewed and recommended multiple warrant articles for the upcoming special town meeting, including appropriations for school health insurance, police and fire department salaries, and maintenance of town facilities. Additionally, the board discussed a ground lease proposal for a cell tower site at Heathbrook School, with plans to issue an RFP pending town meeting approval. The meeting featured extensive debate on two citizen petition articles concerning surveillance technology oversight and automatic license plate reader (ALPR) configurations. Legal counsel highlighted potential conflicts with the town charter, possible unintended consequences, and the need for further vetting and policy development before adoption. The board ultimately voted not to recommend these surveillance-related articles, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive review and collaboration with affected departments. Other procurement actions included approval of vendor invoices and acceptance of a donation to the veterans department. The meeting concluded with motions to approve the special town meeting warrant and to table minutes from previous meetings.