West Newbury Select Board Sets November 3 Special Town Meeting, Accepts Major Environmental Grant

WEST NEWBURY — September 18, 2025 — West Newbury Select Board schedules November 3 Special Town Meeting and accepts a $426,000 environmental design grant despite a staffing crisis. The board voted unanimously Thursday to hold the fall Special Town Meeting at 7 p.m. at the high school gymnasium, over objections from Town Moderator Casey Clark, who said the spring annual meeting was "probably the worst town meeting I've ever been to" due to poor acoustics and sight lines. Town Manager Angus Ramsay disclosed that two staff members had recently given notice — including Christine Wallace, who had been designated as the primary administrator for the just-accepted MEP Action Grant — a $321,000 year-one, $105,000 year-two award from the state's Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program for Route 1 riverbank design and engineering work. Ramsay said state program administrator Michelle Rowden signaled a path exists to shift year-one funds into year two by January or February if needed, and called the grant "a bird in the hand." The board also unanimously appointed Tim Cronin, a former six-year planning board chair, as Associate Planning Board member, approved three special event permits including the Harborside Half Marathon pending updated insurance, and authorized a conditional opt-in to the Purdue Pharma and Sackler opioid settlement pending Town Counsel review.