Select Board

Government · Select Board

Select Board Adopts Policy After Crosswalk Backlash

Swampscott's Select Board apologized and adopted a new government-speech policy after backlash over two rainbow crosswalks painted black during fall maintenance.

Townbrief reporting · Oct 21

Government · Select Board

Select Board Splits 3-2 Over Waterfront Land Bid

Swampscott's Select Board split 3-2 on a bid to seek Community Preservation funding toward buying the St. John's parking lot at 187 Humphrey Street.

Townbrief reporting · Oct 7

Government · Select Board

Select Board unanimously approves earth removal permit for Essex Street development

Swampscott Select Board unanimously approved an earth removal permit for a 163-unit residential development at 555 Essex Street. The permit required revision to ensure compliance with the town's Earth Removal Bylaw. The project generates minimal earth removal needs, approximately 1,000 cubic yards

Townbrief news summary · Sep 8

Government · Select Board

Select Board addresses overlay deficit and school traffic safety

Swampscott Select Board tackles financial challenges and school safety improvements. The Board considered a $2,527,823 Bond Anticipation Note for capital expenditures and reviewed fiscal year 2026 financial results, uncovering a $371,000 overlay deficit from assessment errors and increased

Townbrief news summary · Aug 27

Government · Select Board

Select Board excludes residential use from Hawthorne RFP

Select Board bans residential development on Hawthorne waterfront property. The three-to-two vote, with Mary Ellen Fletcher, Danielle Leonard, and Wayne Spritz voting to exclude housing and Katie Phelan and Ted Dooley opposed, responded to overwhelming public opposition and affirmed the town's

Townbrief news summary · Aug 4

Government · Select Board

Select Board Votes 3-2 to Exclude Hawthorne Housing

Swampscott Select Board votes 3-2 to bar housing from Hawthorne RFP after months of debate. Members Wayne Spritz, Mary Ellen Fletcher and Danielle Leonard carried the motion; Chair Katie Phelan and Ted Dooley dissented, warning the town could later need to fund the project itself.

Townbrief reporting · Aug 4

Government · Select Board

Board approves 3-4 percent water and sewer rate increases

Swampscott approves water and sewer rate increases for FY27. The Select Board unanimously approved a 3 percent water rate increase and a 4 percent sewer rate increase, expected to cost the average household approximately $52 annually. The Town's financial staff presented the increases as necessary

Townbrief news summary · Jul 21

Government · Select Board

Swampscott Board Votes to Cut Recycling Pickup to Every Other Week Starting January

Swampscott Select Board votes 4-1 to shift to every-other-week curbside recycling beginning January 1, 2027, projecting $168,000 in annual savings.

Townbrief reporting · Jul 21

Government · Select Board

Select Board approves biweekly recycling, new solid waste contract

Swampscott Select Board approves biweekly recycling and new waste contract. The board voted 3-1 to shift recycling collection to every-other-week beginning January 1, 2027, saving approximately $168,000 annually, with Danielle Leonard voting opposed and Wayne Spritz, Mary Ellen Fletcher, and Ted

Townbrief news summary · Jul 7

Government · Select Board

Swampscott Select Board Votes to Cut Recycling Pickup to Every Other Week in January

Swampscott Select Board votes unanimously to move curbside recycling to every other week beginning January 1, projecting $168,000 in annual savings.

Townbrief reporting · Jul 7