West Newbury, MA

Agricultural Committee

Affordable Housing Trust

Board of Assessors

Town Clerk

The Town of West Newbury will conduct the legally required advanced removal of early voted ballots at Town Offices on August 27 at 8:30 AM and August 28 at 8:30 PM. Observers may watch but must register in advance with the Town Clerk.

• Advanced removal of early ballots scheduled for August 27, 2026, 8:30 AM and August 28, 2026, 8:30 PM
• Observers must register by calling 978-363-1110 or emailing townclerk@wnewbury.org

Board of Registrars

The West Newbury Board of Registrars will meet to conduct ballot testing. The agenda contains no other substantive items, resolutions, or public hearings.

• Ballot testing

Town Clerk

The Town Clerk's Office is conducting the advanced removal of early voted ballots for the September 1, 2026, State Primary Election. This process will take place at the Town Offices on August 27 and August 28, 2026.

• Advanced removal of ballots on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 8:30 AM
• Advanced removal of ballots on Friday, August 28, 2026, at 8:30 PM

Finance Committee

The West Newbury Finance Committee is meeting to handle routine business: approving minutes, hearing updates from Town Manager Sean Fitzgerald, and reorganizing by filling vacant committee roles. Members will also discuss anticipated Fall Town Meeting dates and a schedule of joint School Committee/Finance Committee meetings. The agenda is largely procedural with no specific votes, contracts, or dollar amounts listed.

• Introduction of Finance Committee members and Town Manager Sean Fitzgerald
• Finance Committee re-org: describe and fill vacant roles
• Anticipated Fall Town Meeting dates and schedule of joint SB/FC meetings
• Approval of previous meeting minutes
• Public comment period

Mill Pond Committee

The Mill Pond Committee is meeting to approve prior minutes, discuss membership, and consider special permit requests. They will also review projects and priorities, including trail marking, family events, and invasive species management.

• Special permit requests
• Trail marking project
• Family events: Movie Night and Junior Fishing Derby
• Invasive species management

Regional / Non-Town Committees

Town Clerk

The Town Clerk's Office will test voting machines for the September 1, 2026, State Primary on Tuesday, August 25 at 10:00 AM in the Town Clerk's Office. This is a procedural public notice required by state regulation, with no other business on the agenda.

• Voting machine testing for the September 1, 2026 State Primary
• Testing at Town Clerk's Office, 381 Main St, West Newbury, MA
• Testing scheduled for Tuesday, August 25 at 10:00 AM

Town Governance Committee

The Town Governance Committee is meeting to review recommendations from Community Paradigm Associates, discuss next steps for an organizational assessment, and outline the process and timeline for the Town Manager search. They will also review and approve minutes from the July 8 and 15, 2026 meetings. The agenda is substantive, focusing on governance and leadership transition.

• Review of Community Paradigm Associates recommendations
• Organizational Assessment next steps
• Process and timeline for Town Manager Search
• Approval of July 8 and 15, 2026 meeting minutes

Board of Water Commissioners

The West Newbury Board of Water Commissioners will review account balances and approve draft minutes from its August 11 meeting. The board will follow up on a kickoff meeting with engineering firm Tighe & Bond, discuss an MTTA grant and a request for proposals (RFP) for a cell tower, and set rates for FY2027 water purchases from Newburyport. It will also consider releasing a retainage check for DeFelice, based on a document or letter from Stu.

• Follow-up on Tighe & Bond kickoff meeting
• MTTA grant and cell tower RFP discussion
• FY2027 Newburyport water purchases and new rates
• Release of DeFelice retainage check

Parks & Recreation Commission

The West Newbury Parks and Recreation Commission will meet to approve minutes, make annual appointments, and receive updates on finances, Cammett Park signage, and the Summer Rec scholarship policy. They will discuss the Action Cove Community Preservation Act (CPC) application, address toy dumping at Action Cove, and review pickleball court repairs, the Connection Recreation project, and fall project ideas.

• Action Cove CPC application discussion
• Toy dumping issues at Action Cove; possible clean-up day and no-dumping signage
• Pickleball court updates/repairs
• Fall project ideas: flag pole repair/replacement at Cammett Park, dirt mount by shed, pavement repairs at snack shack, reseed hillside at Action Cove
• Annual position appointments: Chair, Clerk, CPC liaison

Select Board

Historical Commission

The Historical Commission will meet to discuss various preservation and commemorative efforts. The agenda includes reviews of historic sites, markers, and the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

• 250th Anniversary American Revolution
• Historic Sites Survey
• Oral History Project
• Antique Houses & Plaques
• Historic Markers

Zoning Board of Appeals

The West Newbury Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on an administrative appeal of the Building Commissioner's decision not to take enforcement action at 22 Main Street (Pentucket Regional Middle/High School). The board will also discuss updates to its rules and regulations, review its FY26 annual report, and consider scheduling a workshop on Chapter 40A.

• Public hearing: Administrative appeal of Building Commissioner's decision not to enforce at 22 Main Street (Map R1, Lots 1, 2, 3), applicant Sandra Raymond
• Discussion on updates to Zoning Board Rules & Regulations
• Review of draft FY26 Annual Report
• Discussion on Chapter 40A updates and workshop scheduling
• Proposed 2026-2027 meeting calendar

Open Space Committee

The Open Space Committee is meeting to vote on a member for the Community Preservation Committee, discuss the Knapp Property and Open Space and Planning Department (OSPD), consider a petition for periodic closure of Ash Street, and receive updates on the Sawmill Brook Trail, an October Walk, and the Action Plan. The committee will also approve the June minutes.

• Vote for OSC member for Community Preservation Committee
• Discussion of Knapp Property and OSPD
• Ash Street petition for periodic closure
• Sawmill Brook Trail update
• October Walk and Action Plan updates

Planning Board

The West Newbury Planning Board will hold public hearings on two development proposals: an Open Space Preservation Development at 187 Main Street and a Reduced Frontage Lot/Common Driveway at 20 Ash Street. The board will also review the draft FY26 Annual Report and discuss the status of bylaws passed at recent Town Meetings.

• Public hearing: 187 Main Street (R2-41) – Special Permit and Site Plan Review for Open Space Preservation Development by The Poppies, LLC
• Public hearing: 20 Ash Street (R9-9D) – Special Permit for Reduced Frontage Lot and Common Driveway by Sarkis Development
• Review draft Planning Board FY26 Annual Report
• Status update on bylaws passed at 2025 Fall and 2026 Spring Town Meetings
• Introduction of Denise McClure as Interim Planning Consultant

Regional / Non-Town Committees

The Planning/Career Center Committee is meeting remotely to approve minutes from June 16, 2026, and vote on a policy update to the MassHire Merrimack Valley Workforce Board (MMVWB) Interagency Training Agreement regarding a residency waiver. Members will also receive performance, budget, and career center updates. The meeting is recorded for minutes purposes only.

• Approval of June 16, 2026 meeting minutes (vote required)
• Approval of MMVWB ITA Policy Update – Residency Waiver (vote required)
• Performance Summary Update
• Budget Update
• Career Center Report

Cultural Council

The West Newbury Cultural Council is meeting to approve minutes from its May meeting and to update the criteria for its grant application. The agenda contains only these two items, with no other substantive business listed.

• Approval of May meeting minutes
• Update to Cultural Council Grant application criteria

Conservation Commission

The West Newbury Conservation Commission is holding a public meeting with several public hearings and discussions. They will consider a notice of intent for a driveway crossing a wetland, a request for tree removal, and multiple certificates of compliance for completed projects. Several items are continued to the next meeting on September 14, 2026.

• Public hearing: NOI for driveway across BVW at 0 Middle Street (DEP#78-788), continued to Sept 14
• Public hearing: RDA for tree removal at 58 Ash Street
• Certificate of Compliance requests for 9 Marshall Drive (DEP#78-123, #78-205), 7 Garden Street (#78-773), 154 Middle Street (#78-769)
• Discussions on wetland fill at 13 Steed Ave, tree cutting at 48 Georgetown Road, and wetlands bylaw
• Discussion on Riverbend sanctioned parking and fowling

Energy and Sustainability Committee

The Energy and Sustainability Committee is meeting to discuss revisions to the decarbonization plan, including hybrid heat pump/gas equipment, and to receive a status update on EV chargers. They will also review a 2018 microgrid report and a 2023 solar site survey report, and approve the July meeting minutes.

• Decarbonization plan revisions and hybrid heat pump/gas equipment
• EV chargers status update
• Review 2018 microgrid report
• Review 2023 solar site survey report
• Approve July meeting minutes

Board of Health

The West Newbury Board of Health will review minutes, discuss a fall recycling event and website FAQ, and reschedule its September meeting. The main item is a continued hearing on a variance request for a septic system at 885 Main Street, tied to converting St. John's Hall into housing. The board will also review three septic plans and note a staff schedule change.

• Continuation of The Resettlement Project – 885 Main Street variance request for septic system on Saint John the Evangelist property (914 Main Street / Emery Lane)
• Septic plan review: 64 South Street #C26-17 (Millenium Engineering)
• Septic plan review: 157 Crane Neck Street #C26-31 (Millenium Engineering)
• Septic plan review: Lot #1 Eagle's Nest #26-7 (Chongris Engineering)
• Reschedule next meeting from September 8 to September 15, 2026

Board of Water Commissioners

The West Newbury Board of Water Commissioners will review balances and approve minutes from July 28th. They will discuss the rate study and master plan with Tighe & Bond, consider a resident's abatement application, and discuss new Town Meeting articles and the FY2027 water purchase budget.

• Discussion with Tighe & Bond re: Rate Study and Master Plan
• Resident Dawn Fairbanks' abatement/adjustment application to be discussed and voted
• New Articles for Town Meeting
• FY2027 Water Purchase Budget & Fall Town Meeting Article discussion

Board of Assessors

The West Newbury Board of Assessors is meeting to handle routine administrative business, including approving minutes, reviewing motor vehicle abatement reports, and discussing apportionments, rollback taxes, and the LA3 item. The agenda is largely procedural with no major policy decisions or public hearings listed.

• Motor Vehicle Abatement Reports
• Apportionments
• Rollback Taxes
• LA3
• Fall Town Meeting discussion

Select Board

The West Newbury Select Board is meeting to handle routine appointments, including naming the Town Clerk as Chief Election Officer and submitting members for the Whittier Regional Agreement Amendment Committee (RAAC). They will also discuss next steps for RAAC and the board's position. Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per resident on topics not on the agenda.

• Annual appointment of Town Clerk as Chief Election Officer
• Appointment of primary and alternative voting members to Whittier RAAC
• Discussion of next steps for RAAC and Select Board position

Select Board

The West Newbury Select Board is meeting to discuss and set its goals and priorities for fiscal year 2027. The agenda contains only this single regular business item, with no other substantive topics listed.

• FY27 Select Board Goals and Priorities discussion

Housing Authority

This agenda contains only procedural boilerplate and repeated placeholder text. No specific decisions, proposals, or discussions are listed for the meeting.

Planning Board

The West Newbury Planning Board will discuss the current status of the Eagle’s Nest Subdivision and proposed changes to zoning and general bylaws. Staffing updates include an interim planner, and routine reports from town committees will be presented.

• Discussion on status of Eagle’s Nest Subdivision
• Discussion on status of Zoning & General Bylaw Changes
• Staffing Updates – Interim Planner
• Public Hearing Notices / Notices of Decisions
• MVPC Updates, Affordable Housing Trust Updates, CPC Updates

Conservation Commission

The Conservation Commission will hold public meetings on driveway construction at 0 Middle Street, tree removal at 360 Main Street, and fence installation at 27 Rivercrest. It will also review subdivision road compliance at 9 Marshall Drive and other compliance requests at 7 Garden Street and 154 Middle Street. Several discussions include wetland fill, sanctioned parking, and bylaw updates.

• Public meeting: Driveway construction at 0 Middle Street (NOI R22-2B)
• Public meeting: Tree removal at 360 Main Street (RDA R13-3)
• Public meeting: Fence installation at 27 Rivercrest (RDA R1-93)
• Certificate of compliance: Subdivision road at 9 Marshall Drive (DEP#78-123)
• Certificate of compliance: Roadway and houses at 9 Marshall Drive (DEP#78-205)

Whittier Regional Agreement Amendment Committee

The Regional Agreement Amendment Committee (RAAC) will discuss school enrollment capacity and a draft Regional Agreement. The committee intends to vote on capital cost allocation methods and whether to refer the RAAC report to the School Committee.

• Vote on proposed capital cost allocation methods
• Vote to refer RAAC report and draft Regional Agreement to School Committee
• Presentation of updated working draft Regional Agreement
• Discussion of school enrollment capacity, design, and policy considerations

Housing Authority

The West Newbury Housing Authority is meeting but has no required board actions or agenda items to discuss. The agenda consists only of reviewing and approving prior meeting minutes.

Board of Water Commissioners

The Board of Water Commissioners will review account balances and approve minutes from July 14. They will discuss and vote on Dawn Fairbanks' application for an abatement or adjustment. The board will also follow up on a written warranty acknowledgment for Church Street repairs and review a rate study and master plan from Tighe & Bond. A draft Enterprise Fund User Charges template is up for discussion and possible approval.

• Vote on Dawn Fairbanks' abatement/adjustment application
• Follow-up on DeFelice's written warranty acknowledgment for Church Street repair
• Review of Tighe & Bond Rate Study and Master Plan by Town Manager and Town Counsel
• Discussion/approval of draft Enterprise Fund User Charges template

The Board of Water Commissioners discussed an abatement application for 6 Pleasant Street, reviewed meter testing and policy, and chose to enforce the established abatement and red card payment policies. A vote on the abatement was deferred to the next meeting, with the superintendent to contact the applicants beforehand. The board also approved the July 14 minutes and discussed the Church & Prospect Street project closeout.

• Approved July 14 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Deferred vote on 6 Pleasant Street abatement application to next meeting
• Directed preparation of red card for unresolved past-due water bill at 6 Pleasant Street
• Enforced established abatement policy for 6 Pleasant Street application