Arlington Select Board reverses course on two bylaws, advances fee overhaul to Town Meeting

ARLINGTON -- March 23, 2026, Arlington Select Board advances fee overhaul and CPA slate while reversing course on two bylaws at marathon March 23 session. The five-member board voted unanimously to recommend Town Meeting approve a $3,050,500 Community Preservation Act slate including $500,000 for Emma's Court affordable housing and $900,000 for Town Hall envelope design, and approved three linked fee-reform articles projected to generate $100,000 to $150,000 in new annual revenue. After reconsidering prior 5-0 votes, the board moved no action on an outdoor lighting dark skies bylaw and a native plantings bylaw, citing enforcement costs and administrative concerns raised in late-arriving staff memos. The board voted 3-1 to send a home rule petition to Town Meeting that would end Arlington's obligation to accept new Chapter 61B tax exemption applications from private country clubs, with the dissenting member citing broader policy consistency concerns. Town Manager James Feeney received a perfect 5.0 annual evaluation score, up from 4.8, and reported the town's snow and ice budget is running $840,000 over for the fiscal year.