Sudbury Select Board advances small wireless bylaw, defers town override decision

SUDBURY -- January 10, 2023, Sudbury's interim town manager will not seek a town-side override for fiscal 2024 as schools pursue $745,000. Interim Town Manager Marianne told the Select Board on Jan. 10 she would defer additional town requests to give incoming Town Manager Andy Sheehan time to assess staffing needs, even as she acknowledged departments are "doing more with less." Sudbury Public Schools is moving toward a roughly $745,000 override to preserve staffing, and the school committee asked the board not to bundle any town request with it. Finance Director Dennis Keohane projected 3.86 percent expenditure growth and noted free cash remains uncertified by the state. Members Janie Dretler and Lisa Kouchakdjian criticized a budget meeting between Chair Charles Russo, member Daniel Carty and school leadership held without the full board, with Dretler calling it "very concerning." More than 70 residents attended. The board separately voted 5-0 to send a small wireless facilities bylaw to the May 1 town meeting.