West Newbury Select Board Closes Warrant, Backs Bike Route and Park Path

Select Board · Meeting of February 5, 2026

West Newbury Select Board closes spring town meeting warrant and backs U.S. Bicycle Route designation. The board voted unanimously Thursday on four major actions: supporting Adventure Cycling Association's request to designate U.S.

Bicycle Route 1 through town on Middle Street, adding a stone-dust walkway at Camelit Park to the town work plan, requesting a $50,000 Finance Committee reserve fund transfer for a proposed organizational assessment, and closing the annual town meeting warrant with 13 capital articles totaling just over $1 million. A placeholder article was added for a possible retiree health insurance rate increase — from 50 percent to 65 percent — that actuarial projections show could reach $81,000 annually by fiscal year 2031; whether the Select Board already holds authority to make that change under MGL Chapter 32B Section 9E remains unresolved pending a records search. Separately, resident Daphne presented evidence that anticoagulant rodenticides on town property harm raptors and other wildlife, and the town manager confirmed the pest control vendor has agreed in writing to remove all such products from 11 town buildings by March 1.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of February 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.