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Dave Watkins

Planning Board Flags Jurisdictional Uncertainty Over Break Hill Cell Antenna Proposal

WEST NEWBURY -- May 5, 2026, West Newbury Planning Board raises regulatory alarm over proposed cell antenna on Break Hill water tower. The board, chaired by Ann E. Bardeen, debated Tuesday whether a proposed wireless facility on the approximately 60-foot Break Hill water tank falls under federal small wireless facility

Newbury Town Meeting Approves $27 Million Budget, New Taxes, and Historic District

NEWBURY -- May 5, 2026, Newbury Annual Town Meeting approves $26.9 million FY2027 budget, rejects senior center study, and passes voluntary nonprofit tax bylaw. Voters at the May 5 meeting approved a $26,948,625 operating budget representing a 4.6 percent increase over FY2026, including a $250,000 draw

Middleton Select Board Unanimously Rejects $6.7 Million PFAS Water Line Borrowing

MIDDLETON -- May 5, 2026, Middleton Select Board shelves $6.7 million PFAS water line loan, approves package store expansion and Verizon easement. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to take no action on a Massachusetts Clean Water Trust borrowing proposal that would have extended municipal water lines to roughly seven households

Gloucester City Council Votes 9-0 to Accept $178.7 Million FY27 Budget

GLOUCESTER -- May 5, 2026, Gloucester City Council unanimously accepts $178.7 million FY27 budget for 45-day review. The council voted 9-0 on May 5 at a special meeting to formally receive Mayor Greg Lundberg's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget of $178,690,650 and refer it

Newbury Conservation Commission Authorizes Stormwater Review for 44-Unit MBTA Housing Development

NEWBURY -- May 4, 2026, Newbury Conservation Commission authorized an independent stormwater review for a proposed 44-unit MBTA housing development at 34 Central Street and scheduled a second May meeting to manage a growing agenda. Engineer Christian Smith of Beals and Associates told the commission the project's design

Middleton School Committee Approves Tri-Town Tuition Policy, Warns on Roof Ballot Vote

MIDDLETON -- May 4, 2026, Middleton School Committee approves inter-town tuition waiver and warns voters on Fuller Meadow roof ballot. The committee voted unanimously Monday to adopt Tritown School Union recital language eliminating base-program tuition charges when students cross town lines for specialized special education services, while preserving cost

Manchester Select Board Approves Verizon Conduit, Sweeney Park Sign, and Two Appointments

MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA, May 4, 2026, Manchester-by-the-Sea Select Board approves Verizon conduit work and a softball field sign in unanimous session. The board voted unanimously May 4 to approve a Verizon New England petition to install 248 feet of 4-inch PVC underground conduit on Procter

Essex Town Meeting Approves Two Override Questions Totaling $454,449 for May Ballot

ESSEX -- May 4, 2026, Essex Annual Town Meeting approves two Proposition 2.5 overrides and a new river user fee, sends both to May 11 ballot. Voters at the May 4 meeting passed a $268,722 municipal operating override and a $185,727 Manchester-Essex Regional School District override, both

Manchester Essex School Committee Advances Feasibility Study, Faces $300,000 Budget Increase

ESSEX -- May 4, 2026, Manchester Essex Regional School Committee advances school facilities feasibility milestone but discloses a $300,000 cost overrun. The School Building Committee voted unanimously on April 28 to approve the preferred schematic report, the final major deliverable of the Massachusetts School Building Authority feasibility study module, and

West Newbury Town Meeting Votes to Ban Marijuana, Restore Full Library Budget

West Newbury town meeting approves $8.8 million FY2027 budget, votes to ban marijuana establishments.

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