Arlington Town Meeting Tables Fee Schedule Over Document Discrepancy, Passes Bylaw Changes

ARLINGTON — April 27, 2026 — Arlington's 2026 Annual Town Meeting opened with override reflection and tabled its fee schedule. Select Board Chair John Hurd told the roughly 220-member body at Monday's opening session that the March 28 passage of a $14.8 million override was "not a long-term solution," and that officials must identify new non-tax revenue — the same commitment that drove a comprehensive fee revision under Article 16, which was laid on the table after town meeting member Adam Oster identified apparent discrepancies between the printed Select Board report and the annotated warrant. A 27-article consent agenda passed 216 to 3. The meeting approved Article 11, amending the wetlands enforcement bylaw, 270 to 8; passed Article 14 formally establishing the Arlington Tree Committee in the bylaws 208 to 1; and accepted a state local-option statute under Article 17 allowing municipal boards to adjust fees administratively without returning to Town Meeting for each change. Town Counsel Michael Cunningham cautioned that all fees must remain "reasonably tied to the cost" of services provided. The meeting adjourned just after 11 p.m., with Article 16 and at least one wetlands bylaw article continuing to a second session April 29.