Lee Town Meeting Shifts Abatements to DPW Staff

Town Meeting · Meeting of October 1, 2026

Lee Town Meeting shifts water and sewer abatement decisions from its elected board to DPW staff. Voters rejected an amendment from 30-year Board of Public Works member Dave Forrest, who argued "I'd like to stay with the board," after Member Jones said one case this year took the board two months to decide and called past decisions "arbitrary." Board member Robert Wright countered that the board has fielded only two appeals in his four years, both granted. The amended system, approved by voice vote, lets staff decide abatements the "same day," with appeals moving to the Select Board.

Voters also approved $8,535.21 to reimburse 104 Center Street owners for water-line damage, $17,500 for a fleet tire machine, and unanimously adopted a new clean-energy zoning bylaw adding battery storage rules required by a state permitting law effective October 1.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,780 words

Source: the Town Meeting meeting of October 1, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.