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Government

Conservation Commission Endorses FGAR Rodenticide Ban, Advances Winchester Country Club Projects — February 19 Meeting

The Arlington Conservation Commission voted to endorse two warrant articles seeking to ban first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs) on both private and public property, following a presentation detailing wildlife deaths linked to the chemicals. The commission also closed hearings and issued orders of conditions for two Winchester Country Club improvement projects after extensive discussion of native planting plans and invasive species management.

Government

Finance Committee Recommends $14.8M Override with Spending Caps — February 18 Meeting

Arlington's Finance Committee voted 12-5 to recommend a $14.8 million Proposition 2½ override headed to the March 28 ballot, while attaching language clarifying that school and town budget growth rates are caps rather than guaranteed spending levels. The contentious debate revealed deep divisions over structural deficits, spending discipline, and the likelihood of yet another override in three years.

Government

Select Board Unanimously Approves $14.8 Million Override Ballot Question — February 12 Meeting

The Arlington Select Board voted unanimously to place a $14.8 million Proposition 2½ override on the March 28 town election ballot, funding town and school operations for fiscal years 2027 through 2029. The board also adopted a set of override commitments pledging no additional overrides before FY30, 4% annual school budget increases, and 3.25% annual general government budget increases.

Government

School Committee Presents Two FY27 Budgets, Unanimously Endorses $14.8M Override — February 12 Meeting

The Arlington School Committee unanimously endorsed a $14.8 million property tax override headed to voters on March 28, after reviewing two starkly different FY27 budget scenarios — one with a 4% increase to $107.8 million and one level-funded at $103.6 million. Both scenarios feature only reductions with no new additions, including cuts to elementary specialists, multilingual learning teachers, and central office staff.

Government

Zoning Board Closes Hearings on 53 Hodge Road Addition and 71 Mystic Street Fence, Continues Eli's Gas Station Variance — February 10 Meeting

The Arlington Zoning Board of Appeals closed public hearings on a large addition at 53 Hodge Road and a 10-foot fence at 71 Mystic Street, with final votes expected February 24. The board continued a complex variance hearing for Eli's Service Station at 125 Broadway, grappling with the undefined term "service bay" and its implications for the proposed expansion.

Government

Finance Committee Reviews Legal, Police Budgets and Reserve Fund — February 9 Meeting

The Finance Committee approved budgets for the legal department and police department, along with the annual reserve fund, during its February 9, 2026 meeting. Members expressed frustration over the legal department's continued lack of detailed line-item budgeting and discussed key police department developments including body-worn camera implementation and the town's exit from state civil service hiring requirements.

Government

Redevelopment Board Approves Mass Ave Facade Renovation, Brewery Phasing — February 9 Meeting

Arlington's Redevelopment Board granted a special permit for facade renovations at 1341-1347 Mass Ave and approved a two-phase construction approach for the ABC Beer brewery and restaurant at 15 Rider Street. The meeting also featured a lengthy discussion over design deviations at 455 Mass Ave, the reappointment of the Arlington Heights Neighborhood Action Plan committee, and a preliminary review of warrant articles for the 2026 annual town meeting.

Government

Conservation Commission Continues Enforcement, Approves Compliance, Advances Winchester Country Club Plans — February 5 Meeting

The Arlington Conservation Commission voted to continue enforcement proceedings at 66 Dudley Street pending a revised remediation plan, issued a certificate of compliance for 102-104 Milton Street, and continued two Winchester Country Club hearings to February 19 after substantive discussions on stormwater management, mitigation planting, and invasive species monitoring.

Government

Finance Committee Reviews Fire, Health, and Municipal Budgets — February 4 Meeting

Arlington's Finance Committee approved budgets for more than a dozen departments at its February 4, 2026 meeting, including an $8.68 million fire department budget amid concerns about vacancies, retirements, and response-time standards. The committee also voted on budgets for Health and Human Services, the Council on Aging, inspections, elections, and several other municipal offices while deferring the legal budget pending a detailed expense breakdown.

Government

Finance Committee Reviews Committee Budgets, Recreation, Rink, and Library — February 2 Meeting

Arlington's Finance Committee debated whether to zero-fund committees and commissions holding reserves exceeding their budget requests, ultimately rejecting the blanket approach and voting on budgets individually. The committee also approved enterprise fund budgets for Recreation ($3.3M) and the Ed Burns Arena ($654,620), along with the Robbins Library budget of $3,010,025, while discussing potential impacts of a failed override on library services.

Government

Redevelopment Board Approves 1513–1519 Mass Ave Project, Hears HCA Affordable Housing Proposal — February 2 Meeting

Arlington's Redevelopment Board voted 4-1 to approve a mixed-use building at 1513–1519 Massachusetts Avenue with conditions addressing transformer access and design changes, while also opening review of a major 40-unit affordable housing campus proposed by the Housing Corporation of Arlington at 840–846 Mass Ave and 17 Newman Way. The board additionally granted a special permit for a Jersey Mike's restaurant at 1398 Mass Ave.

Government

Finance Committee Reviews FY27 Budget Amid Override Vote Preparations — January 28 Meeting

Arlington's Finance Committee received a detailed FY27 budget presentation projecting $237.9 million in revenue and 3.88% expenditure growth, with a pending override vote scheduled for March 28 that could determine whether the town faces deep service cuts. Town Manager Jim Feeney and Deputy Town Manager Julie Waite outlined a structurally imbalanced budget driven by healthcare costs growing at 11.25%, police and fire salary catch-ups exceeding 10%, and the depletion of the override stabilization fund.

Government

Finance Committee Kicks Off FY27 Budget Season Amid Override Uncertainty — January 26 Meeting

Arlington's Finance Committee opened its fiscal year 2027 budget season on January 26, approving three small budgets while grappling with deep uncertainty over a pending property tax override vote set for March 28. With the Select Board yet to finalize the override amount and a projected multi-million-dollar deficit looming, committee members debated how to prepare for two possible budget scenarios — one with an override and one without.

Government

Redevelopment Board Approves 10 Warrant Articles for 2026 Spring Town Meeting — January 26 Meeting

Arlington's Redevelopment Board voted to advance 10 zoning bylaw amendment articles to the 2026 Spring Town Meeting warrant, while dropping two proposals — one on industrial zone jurisdiction and another on commercial space minimums in the multifamily overlay district — for further study. The board also continued three pending public hearings to an in-person meeting on February 2nd.

Government

Select Board Receives FY27 Budget Tied to Override Vote, Hears CDBG Funding Requests — January 26 Meeting

Town Manager Jim Feeney presented a $237.9 million fiscal year 2027 budget that is contingent on a Proposition 2½ override vote scheduled for March 28, warning that a roughly $3 million deficit — growing to $18.3 million in FY28 — would force significant service cuts if the override fails. The board unanimously voted to reschedule its February 9 meeting to February 12 to incorporate the latest health insurance cost data from the Group Insurance Commission before setting the override amount.

Government

School Committee Approves Model UN Trip, Celebrates Performing Arts Growth and Ottoson Elective Reforms — January 22 Meeting

The Arlington School Committee unanimously approved an overnight field trip for the Model United Nations club and received detailed presentations on the district's expanding performing arts programs and a new elective pilot at Ottoson Middle School. The committee also reviewed an FY26 financial update highlighting rising special education transportation costs and discussed upcoming budget forums tied to a potential override.

Government

Conservation Commission Continues Winchester Country Club Hearings, Discusses Fishing Line Waste — January 22 Meeting

The Arlington Conservation Commission continued two notices of intent for Winchester Country Club's golf course and facilities improvements to February 5, requesting additional planting plans, invasive species management proposals, and stormwater engineering review. Commissioners also received an update on their meeting with the town manager about fishing line waste at Hills Pond, expressing frustration over the lack of a concrete action plan from the recreation department.

Government

ZBA Hears Boston Gas Take Station Proposal, Continues to Jan. 27 — January 13 Meeting

The Arlington Zoning Board of Appeals heard a special permit application from Boston Gas Company (National Grid) to construct a new natural gas take station at 307 Washington Street, drawing significant public opposition over tree removal, wildlife impacts, and the necessity of building on a new site. The board continued the hearing to January 27, 2026, requesting additional information on native plantings, noise mitigation, and environmental considerations.

Government

Select Board Eyes March Override as FY27 Deficit Hits $3.7M — January 12 Meeting

Arlington's Select Board received a sobering long-range financial update showing a projected $3.7 million deficit for fiscal year 2027, down from $13.5 million last April but still requiring a property-tax override vote on March 28. The board also approved expanded 25 mph speed-limit signage along Massachusetts Avenue and updated outdoor dining permit rules.