Essex Select Board Advances Fire Department Restructuring, Approves River Day Bonfire

Select Board · Meeting of July 27, 2026

Essex Select Board approves bonfire event, weighs fire department restructuring, and hears affordable housing warning. The board unanimously approved a bonfire for Essex River Day on Saturday, August 29, after learning that 1623 Studios is pursuing liability insurance for the event, with an alcohol license application to follow at the August 10 meeting. Town Administrator Brendan reported that three members of the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association's Form of Government Committee reviewed Essex's draft study-committee framework and called it "very much on target," recommending the town seat a seven-member committee — likely by October — to evaluate whether to pursue a bylaw change, special act, or charter commission.

Separately, the board discussed moving toward a "weak chief" fire department model, one of three options explored at a prior joint session with fire company and Board of Fire Engineers representatives, and accepted the resignation of Dave Perrine from the Board of Fire Engineers while noting his continued service as a firefighter and EMT. Planning Board Chair Lisa O'Donnell warned that Essex's affordable housing stands at 2.9 percent — far below the 10 percent Chapter 40B safe harbor — and that the pending 36-lot open space residential development on Essex Park Road will push that figure lower still, making the proposed inclusionary zoning bylaw slated for November Town Meeting increasingly urgent. The board also approved the weekly warrant totaling $1,117,282.90 and a $10,000 MIIA grant application to repair the Town Hall HVAC system's failing heating mode.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 4,573 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of July 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.