West Newbury Select Board Approves Housing Plan and Hires New Police Officer

WEST NEWBURY -- February 6, 2025, West Newbury Select Board approves housing production plan, appoints new officer, and advances warrant. The board voted unanimously at its February 6 meeting to approve an updated five-year housing production plan prepared by the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, a tool that, once state-certified, can provide the town safe harbor from unwanted Chapter 40B affordable housing developments for one to two years at a time; the previous plan expired in 2023. The board also unanimously appointed Steven Savoy as a full-time police officer, with academy training set to begin in June and conclude in November. Town Manager Rick Angus submitted a Community Compact IT grant application at the day-of deadline for a telecom and E911 compliance project totaling roughly $112,700, which the board ratified. Building Inspector Sam presented a revised permit fee schedule, the first major update in more than a decade for some items, including raising the per-fixture plumbing fee from $7 to $8, approved unanimously. Newburyport Director of Public Works Wayne Amaral briefed the board on a water capital program approaching $68 million, with Member Barry Fogel calling for "a more fully developed partnership" between the two communities on water supply. The board closed the Annual Town Meeting warrant retaining all articles except a Capital Improvement Committee bylaw proposal, deferred to a fall Special Town Meeting, and referred 11 capital articles to the Capital Improvement Committee.