Lunenburg boards tackle school aid, land-use hearings, and municipal building plans
Lunenburg's town boards covered a wide range of business over the past two weeks, from a proposed $350,000 boost to the school budget to four land-use public hearings before the Planning Board. All meetings listed below were scheduled with agendas on file; minutes have not yet been published, so items reflect what boards planned to take up, not confirmed outcomes.
Select Board: School aid, election warrants, and memorial vote
The Select Board met twice during the period. On July 21, the board was scheduled to discuss a School Committee request to place an article on the November 2026 special town meeting warrant appropriating an additional $350,000 in state aid to the FY27 school operating budget. The same agenda included a vote on granting permission for an American Revolutionary War memorial on the Lower Common and approval of the August 8, 2026 special town election warrant.
On July 27, the Select Board was set to vote on a petitioned special town meeting warrant and its opening and closing dates, approve the September 1, 2026 State Primary Election warrant, and ratify a Teamsters Union Local 170 collective bargaining agreement for the DPW. A joint workshop on July 28 with the Municipal Building Design Committee covered MassSave energy programs and the status of town buildings including TC Passios, Brooks House, Ritter, and Town Hall.
School Committee: Warrants and donations
The School Committee's July 29 agenda included approval of warrants from July 6 to July 20, 2026, totaling $100,507.91, plus discussion of additional FY27 budget state aid. The committee also planned to consider donations for football helmets, transportation, color guard uniforms, and LEAF grants.
Planning Board: Four public hearings and zoning work
On July 27, the Planning Board scheduled four public hearings covering properties on Leominster Shirley Road, Parmenter Road, and New West Townsend Road. Items included a site plan modification at 475 Leominster Shirley Rd. (PMOD-26-4), stormwater and special permits at 10 Parmenter Rd. (PBSW-26-12, PBSW-26-13, PBSP-26-3, PBSP-26-4, PBSP-26-6, PBSP-26-7, PBSW-26-16), and site plan, stormwater, and special permit applications at 860 New West Townsend Rd. (PBSA-26-1, PBSW-26-1, PBSP-26-1). A separate public hearing was set on a site plan application to change the use of 475 Leominster Shirley Road from distribution to manufacturing; the property is owned by BP Lunenburg Central Fee Owner LLC with Hannigan Engineering Inc. as applicant. The board also planned to discuss and potentially approve the Master Plan.
Earlier, on July 20, the Planning Board held a working session on zoning amendments for the 2027 Annual Town Meeting, covering senior housing, inclusionary housing, cluster housing, and minor site plan review.
Board of Health: Well retention hearings and school repair
The Board of Health's July 20 agenda included public hearings on retaining a secondary well at 757 Chase Road and an agricultural well at 48 Island Road, plus an allocation of money for system repair at the Old Primary School.
Trust Fund Commission: AG breach notice and appointments
On July 21, the Trust Fund Commission met jointly with the Select Board to interview and vote on appointing Richard Howard as commissioner for a term ending June 2027. On July 24, the commission was set to discuss an Attorney General notice of breach for the town's failure to meet legal obligations, review a draft supplemental compliance complaint regarding school trust funds and gifts, clarify trust declarations for the American Legion Post 283 Fund and American Legion Poor Fund, and vote on a rewritten risk management policy.
Other boards and committees
The Agricultural Commission (July 20) focused on reorganization and USDA/MDAR updates. The Parks Commission (July 22) discussed an MOU with the Library Board of Trustees for community room use and a proposed renaming of the Town Beach. The Finance Committee (July 23) heard a Green Communities presentation on Mass Save programs and discussed additional state aid. The Sewer Commission (July 28) covered the CTE contract renewal, a bid for 100 Laurel Lane, and pump station repairs. The Cemetery Commission (July 30) reviewed North Cemetery Backlot expansion engineering plans and a CIMS Cloud invoice for $2,691.00. The Conservation Commission (August 1) conducted site walks for wetland driveway crossing work at 108 Sunny Hill Road (NOI-26-24) and irrigation pond construction at 157 Goodrich Street (NOI-26-25).
Coming up
- **August 4 — Select Board:** Ratification of Principal Assessor and Part-Time Principal Clerk appointments, vote on Revolutionary War Memorial location, and vote on a Certificate of Dedication renaming the Town Beach House to Genevieve Nass.
- **August 5 — Board of Assessors:** Discussion on increasing the Clause 22 Veteran Exemption amount and status of the Principal Assessor search.
- **August 10 — Planning Board:** Working session on 2027 zoning amendments, including senior, inclusionary, and cluster housing.
- **August 12 — Zoning Board of Appeals:** Public hearing on special permit ZBA-26-9 for used car sales at 149 Summer Street, applicant Ivan Valinchuk, property owner Philip Lynn Gervais Smith.