Fall Town Meeting

Pays two small unpaid bills from last fiscal year ($1,407.48 total) using leftover balances in DPW fuel accounts.

Moves $4,000,000 of Certified Free Cash into the Capital Stabilization Fund, a reserve for future capital needs. By far the largest dollar item on the warrant. Town officials have tied it to future debt for the proposed Municipal Complex, which is expected to be voted on in spring 2027.

Adds $100,000 of Certified Free Cash to the General Stabilization Fund (the Town's main reserve / rainy-day fund).

Adds $64,000 of Certified Free Cash to the Special Education Stabilization Fund, which cushions the budget against unexpected out-of-district special education costs.

Funds three small projects from Free Cash: a Fire Department radio grant match ($16,033), a Housing Production Plan ($17,500), and a Senior Center fire panel replacement ($70,000).

Spends $1,075,000 of sewer enterprise savings (not tax money) toward a $1,575,000 purchase of 150,000 gallons per day of wastewater capacity from Franklin at the Charles River Pollution Control District plant. $800,000 of it is to be reimbursed by the Heritage on Main developer. Authorizes the Select Board and Town Manager to sign the agreements.

Redirects $23,106.64 left over from two earlier library ventilation appropriations (2022 and 2024) to new Library HVAC repairs. No new money.

Broadens the remaining $17,496.78 of Community Preservation Act money for the Medway Link Trail (approved in 2018 and 2022) so it can be used on any Town trail improvement or development project. No new money.

Updates Section 5.5 to match recent changes to the state Zoning Act (G.L. c. 40A). Key effects: permits stay protected from later zoning changes for 24 months instead of 12; homes that are nonconforming only because of lot size, frontage, coverage or floor-area ratio can be expanded as of right (no ZBA finding) if the addition meets current height, story and setback rules; and an unused nonconforming use keeps its status for four years instead of two.

Creates a sign category for trails and multi-use paths in residential districts. Defines a “Trail Sign,” exempts small trailhead, wayfinding and trail-marker signs from sign permits, and allows one freestanding (up to 40 sq. ft., 6 ft tall) and one projecting sign per trail parking area. DCR-run trails are excluded.

Three cleanup edits: renames “Automobile Car Wash” to “Car Wash” and trims the “Frontage Parking” definition; updates the state-regulation reference for clean-energy permit applications (225 CMR 29) so a complete application moves to review rather than toward constructive approval; and simplifies the Oak Grove Park reference to the Design Review Guidelines.

Would add a general bylaw barring the Town — including the Police Department — from buying, installing or operating Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) systems such as Flock Safety cameras, and from contracting for or accessing ALPR data collected by others.

Would add ALPR systems and related vehicle-surveillance equipment to the zoning bylaw's list of prohibited uses — for any private, commercial or non-governmental owner, on any property, structure or right-of-way in town.

Raises $1,040,000 on the tax levy: $1,000,000 to supplement the FY2027 debt service budget and $40,000 for the Assessors' revaluation account. The Finance Committee had not taken a position when the warrant was signed.