Annual Town Meeting

Authorizes the purchase of approximately 78.7 acres across four Winthrop Street parcels. Funded by $2.87M from the Community Preservation Fund and $2.75M in borrowing; land to be held for CPA-eligible open space, recreation, or housing purposes.

Transfers ambulance billing revenue into the FY27 General Fund operating budget, offsetting the amount that must be raised through property taxes.

Sets salaries for elected officials and appropriates all Town department operating expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. The total amount is determined through the budget presentation at Town Meeting.

Funds Water Department operations including salaries ($1.13M), expenses ($929K), debt service ($3.03M), and indirect costs ($514K). Fully funded by water user fees — no tax levy impact.

Funds Sewer Department operations including salaries, expenses, debt service, and indirect costs. Primarily funded by sewer user fees with a small sewer betterment transfer — no direct tax levy impact.

Funds the Solid Waste/Recycling Department operations. Primarily funded by trash bag fees ($1.73M) with a retained earnings contribution ($248K) — no direct tax levy impact.

Appropriates $2.99M from Certified Free Cash for 30 one-time capital items spanning IT ($342K), Police ($107K), Fire ($123K), Schools ($520K), DPW ($1.47M), Library ($70K), and Parks & Rec ($50K).

Transfers funds from the Athletic Fields Stabilization Fund to pay for the design of turf field replacements at Lamson and North Fields at Medway High School.

Authorizes borrowing to rehabilitate the Lovering Street water storage tank, including engineering, design, project management, and construction costs.

Transfers Water Enterprise retained earnings to purchase a replacement Ford Ranger pickup truck for Water Department operations.

Raises and appropriates funds for repairs to Town roads, sidewalks, bridges, and related infrastructure, including design, engineering, and construction management services.

Contributes to the Town's Other Post-Employment Benefits trust, which pre-funds future obligations for retiree health insurance and other post-employment benefits.

Adds to the Town's General Stabilization Fund (the municipal "rainy day fund") to maintain fiscal reserves for unexpected expenses or future capital needs.

Authorizes the FY27 CPA budget of $645,850 for administrative costs and debt service, plus mandatory 10% reserves ($165,694 each) for Open Space, Community Housing, and Historic Preservation.

Sets FY27 spending caps for 11 self-supporting revolving funds covering parks & rec ($900K), senior/disabled transit ($135K), school transportation ($300K), tree preservation, cemetery, Thayer Homestead ($95K), and others.

Authorizes the Select Board to sign a Payment In Lieu of Taxes agreement with Medway Energy Center, LLC for a battery energy storage system proposed at 15 West Street.

Accepts state law provisions protecting EMTs from losing pay when injured on duty and indemnifying them for certain related expenses (MGL c.41 §§111M & 111N).

Allows the School Superintendent to award non-personnel contracts up to five years (currently capped at three) when approved by a 4-member School Committee vote.

Transfers a 9.8-acre parcel (acquired by the Town via tax foreclosure in 1977) to the Conservation Commission for permanent protection as open space and passive recreation.

Authorizes the Select Board to sell or lease a 4.2-acre town-owned parcel at 13 Populatic Street, with terms to be determined by the Select Board in the Town's best interest.

Creates a new bylaw authorizing the Police Department to conduct fingerprint-based criminal background checks for applicants for specific licenses: alcohol beverage managers, pawn dealers, second-hand goods dealers, ice cream truck vendors, and motor vehicle dealers.

Creates a consolidated local permitting pathway for small solar, wind, and battery storage projects in compliance with state Chapter 239 of the Acts of 2024. Effective October 1, 2026.

Changes the zoning bylaw to allow car washes by special permit in the Central Business District, where they are currently prohibited entirely.

Updates design standards for mixed-use, commercial, and civic buildings in the Oak Grove/Central Business District — removes max street-facing wall widths, increases gas station footprint allowance, and raises height cap for municipal buildings to 70 feet.

Allows the Planning Board to grant special permits relaxing dimensional requirements for municipal buildings such as fire stations and police stations, enabling better site design while preserving neighborhood review.

Makes technical corrections to the Zoning Bylaw: streamlines administrative site plan review, adds an appeal provision for the Multi-Family Overlay District, and updates sign illumination language.