A sampling of Natick town government meetings and agenda items for the week of July 7, 2025 (Review all meetings &  agendas):

Natick Cultural Council via Zoom (July 7, 6:00pm) – Planning the council’s presence and promotion at upcoming events:

• Natick Nights
• Farmers Market
• Natick Days
• New Year’s Eve on CRT (Cochituate Rail Trail)
• Social Media

Council on Aging Nominating Subcommittee (July 8, 10am, Community-Senior Center, 117 E. Central St.) Committee discussion – Develop nomination list of candidates for position of chair -Develop nomination list of candidates for position of vice chair -Develop nomination list of candidates for position of secretary; Finalize talking points for August COA Board meeting in regards to presenting the nominations

Natick School Committee Retreat – In Person Only (July 8, 6:30pm, Community Senior Center – Room 219, 117 East Central Street)

Understanding the School Committee’s role in building a culture of data and progress monitoring that aims at excellence for all students – Session with consultant Dr. Darnisa Amante-Jackson

Select Board (July 9, 6pm, town hall & online)

Announce 2025 Fall Annual Town Meeting – Opening of the Warrant; Natick 180 Annual Update; Update on Opioid Settlement Funds; Discussion of Draft Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon Policy; Discussion of Commercial Kitchens/Rezoning-Request to Planning Board

MetroWest Regional Emergency Planning Committee (REPC) (July 10, 10:00, Ashland Public Safety Building, 12 Union St) Presentation: Protecting the Vulnerable: Human Trafficking Awareness with Clara Decerbo, EMD, Providence, RI

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This past Wednesday, the Natick Select Board hosted Senate President Karen Spilka and State Rep. David Linsky, who delivered a combination of caution and optimism from Beacon Hill as the state grapples with federal cuts (see recording of June 25 meeting).

Spilka opened with a briefing of what she called “breaking news” for Natick and the state. First on the list was a resolution reached by the conference committee on joint legislative rules. The resolution marks the first time state congressional rules have been altered since 2019. These changes, as Spilka says, “meet the moment”—they represent “more rules, more transparency, and more efficiency.” Something that she said she believes is especially important when “trust in our institutions is at an all time low.” The changes may not be glamorous or sweeping, most being minor, such as requiring longer public notices before meetings or modifying bill summary requirements, but, for Democrats Spilka and Linsky, they are important steps for developing an “efficient [and] accessible, legislative process.”

The second piece of “breaking news” Spilka delivered was information on a bill up for debate and soon to be passed in the Senate. The legislation is designed to protect women’s healthcare, gender-affirming care and the providers thereof. Moreover, the senator and representative said they were proud to announce that the legislature agreed on a supplemental budget that will invest $1.4 billion from the millionaire’s tax into public, statewide education and transportation. 

Revenues from the tax, approved by voters in November of 2022 as the Fair Share Amendment, surpassed expectations, leaving the state with a surplus, some of which should make its way to Natick. Already, $73 million has been allocated to regional transit authorities, making regional transit fair-free. Additionally, in response to an increased need, “hundreds of millions of dollars” were allocated to a combination of special education, public higher education, and career/technical schools. More specific to Natick was the $75,000 for the town’s pedestrian and mobility improvements, including the installation of electric vehicle chargers.

On the issue of funding, which was central to the evening, the pair shared that the House and Senate were very close to agreeing on a fiscal 2025/2026 budget (and indeed, the legislature filed that proposed budget the following weekend). However, despite amendments to lower prescription drug costs and other positive developments, educational funding for Natick remains undecided until the final budget is in place. Nonetheless, the legislators said they still expected an increase in school funding, approximately $14.5 million in aid, including a possible $100,000 earmarked for mental health services.

Other funds within the budget were allotted to Healthy Incentive programs, libraries and cultural centers, and farmers markets. However, these otherwise positive developments came amid warnings about funding cuts from the federal government. While the state may intend fund certain initiatives, as more cuts come from the national government, the state not be able to backfill it all. For example, the state is looking at as much as $16 billion in Medicaid cuts and $5 billion in funding losses if the Department of Education is dissolved. “We are bracing for uncertainty,” Spilka said, “federal cuts will be painful.” She said she hopes the U.S. Senate “comes to its senses” and does not make the same cuts the House did. 

Rep. Linsky echoed many of the same concerns as Spilka, but also pointed out a few key earmarks in the upcoming budget specific to Natick.

• $50,000 for Natick Public Schools
• $30,000 for Veterans Oral History Project
• $25,000 for A Place to Turn Food Pantry
• $25,000 for the Natick Service Council food pantry
• $50,000 for Hunnewell and Murphy Fields

After looking at the state budget and funds for Natick, Linsky set aside a moment to thank the Select Board. “It’s not an easy time to be a public servant,” he said. His remarks came in light of the recent killing of Minnesota Emerita Speaker of the House Melissa Hortmann and her husband. “We’re all public servants, we’re all trying to do the right thing,” Linsky said. 

Select Board Q&A: Housing, 27/9 interchange, and funding concerns

After the legislative update, the meeting broke into a brief Q&A. Some questions were just “accounting issues” or clarifying points, but others generated more significant discussion about the future of Natick and Massachusetts, especially as the state confronts federal uncertainty. Questions were heard about the 27/9 roadway project and whether or not federal funding would continue. The MassDOT initiative will replace the Route 27 bridge over Route 9 in Natick and reconfigure the interchange. Funds for the project have been secured, so it seems that it will not be subject to federal cuts. 

However, federal cuts may pose problems for education that the state likely won’t be able to fully backfill financially. Other questions simply didn’t have a good answer. Board Member Bruce Evans raised the issue of affordable housing. Massachusetts has one of the most expensive housing markets in the country and with more tear downs and large, expensive homes being built in Natick, this issue has been brought to the forefront. However, once a property is in the hands of a developer, there’s not much Natick or the state can do to determine what kind of housing gets built beyond what zoning bylaws dictate. 

Other board members asked what could be done about ICE in Massachusetts. Similar to housing, there’s not much for the state can do given that immigration control is a federal power. The group also discussed federal grants for hospitals, which are central to Massachusetts’ economy. Again, the legislators said it’s simply not something they have control over.

At this point, the Q&A session became more of a brainstorming exercise. Town Administrator James Errickson raised the idea of regionalization, which Natick has taken part in through efforts such as an upcoming dispatch center with other nearby communities. At a time when high-quality professionals are becoming harder to attract and secure, he believes regionalizing services may help counter the imbalance and more efficiently allocate skilled community workers. Select Board Chair Kathryn Coughlin also raised the potential to raise the excise tax on alcohol, which hasn’t changed since 1980. Even a modest increase could mean billions in revenue across the state. 

Top Priorities for Linsky and Spilka

Before departing Linsky and Spilka outlined their priorities for the next legislative session. For Spilka, education was first and foremost, not just K-12, but everything from early ed and care to public higher education and vocational schooling. Stabilizing the system, she said, will help parents and solve workforce issues as well. Spilka is also aspiring to ban cell phones in schools, something that is part of her larger mental health in schools agenda (Natick Public Schools has separately been evolving its cell phone policy). Housing was another top concern, making it more affordable, creating more units, and exploring other less orthodox solutions. Healthcare, especially primary care access and reducing wait times for appointments, is another priority for Spilka.

Linsky shared many of Spilka’s concerns, adding that much more has recently fallen to the states due to the “dysfunction of Congress in Washington.” Linsky said there’s one thing that’s been especially worrying to him at the local level. Recently, he says, there’s been an uptick in unemployment claims for people in Natick and Wayland.The Massachusetts economy relies heavily on higher education, healthcare, pharma, and biotech, all of which will be “deeply affected” by what happens in Washington. 

Other News

Also at the meeting, the Board recognized yet another accolade for the town finance division: the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its FY26 Budget Book. 

The Select Board also made a handful of appointments.

For the Board of Registrars, Michael Avitzur was named a member.

For the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the following board members were appointed:

• Reginald Leese 
• Glenn Kramer
• Susan Crossley
• Ganesh Ramachandran
• Patrick Duggan

The rest of the meeting consisted of administrative tasks, including a look at the Johnson Future Use Project, which is expected to be a 2+ year long initiative finding a new use for the Johnson school building. 

The Select Board meets every other Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM in the Edward H. Dlott Meeting Room of Town Hall unless otherwise stated and can be streamed live via Natick Pegasus

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