Capital panel weighs fire station over DPW campus

Capital Planning Committee · Meeting of September 28, 2026

Wellesley's capital planning committee flagged that a new fire headquarters and a DPW campus overhaul, worth up to $173 million combined, cannot move forward at the same time. Facilities Management Director Joe McDonough told the Town-Wide Capital Planning Committee the two "anchor" projects make up about 58 percent of the proposed 10-year capital budget, estimated at $68 million to $73 million for the fire station and $75 million to $100 million for the DPW campus. Fire Chief Steve Mortarelli said current stations lack proper decontamination zoning: "Basically, you can't mix the two." The committee also reviewed a $6.33 million Bates School roof replacement, an $18.1 million school air conditioning plan, and an $8 million Morses Pond bathhouse project funded mostly by Community Preservation Committee grants.

Finance Director Rachel DeRoche said Wellesley's debt service sits at 9.21 percent of gross revenues. The committee's only formal action was a 4-0 vote approving its June 16 minutes; it will vote on project priorities November 23.

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Source: the Capital Planning Committee meeting of September 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.