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Behemoth edition
Welcome back!
And welcome to what might be the largest Sudbury Weekly edition ever. It was a big week on several fronts — from Town finances to recreation, civic engagement, and beyond.
Here’s what you really need to know: If you overindulge in the Beaujolais turkey this Thanksgiving, there’s going to be a comfy seat to fall asleep in during Special Town Meeting on the Monday (Dec 1) evening after the big holiday weekend.
We were tempted to cancel this mammoth edition and just wax poetic about the Gamay grape for 5,000 words or so. Alas, that’s not why anyone is here…
Here’s what we have for you this week:
SPS Receives Recognition From State For LGBTQ+ PAC, Gender Identity Policy
Sudbury, Wayland Town Managers Voice Support For Sherman’s Bridge Project
Capital Plan Garners Widespread Praise In Joint Meeting
Presentation Captures Past, Present, Future of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
Select Board Calls Special Town Meeting For Monday, December 1
Chase Opens First Sudbury Branch on Boston Post Road
Park and Rec Backs SMILE Playground Application to CPC
Will Camp Sewataro Property Be Included In Open Space/Rec Plan?
Atkinson Pool On Track For On-Budget, On-Time Completion
Nearly 800 Participants Estimated At Sudbury No Kings Protest
Sudbury DEI Commission Finds Footing, Charts Course For Year Ahead
Sudbury’s ADU Bylaw Gets Partial Approval From AG
Events!
Let’s get into it!
SPS Receives Recognition From State For LGBTQ+ PAC, Gender Identity Policy
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
On October 22, the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth sent a letter commending the recent work of the Sudbury Public Schools (SPS), according to the contents of the SPS School Committee packet for their October 23 meeting. The Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth “advises others in state government on effective policies, programs, and resources for LGBTQ youth.”
The letter, addressed to SPS School Committee chair Karyn Jones, and Superintendent Brad Crozier, applauded recent actions by the district that established an LGBTQ+ Parent Advisory Council, as well as a Gender Identity and Inclusivity Policy that was passed by the school committee in August of this year.
Shaplaie Brooks, the executive director of the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth, wrote:
Sudbury, Wayland Town Managers Voice Support For Sherman’s Bridge Project
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
The Town Managers of Sudbury and Wayland (Andy Sheehan and Michael McCall) have formally endorse a proposed renovation of Sherman’s Bridge, which connects the two towns, in a letter addressed to residents of each town.
Originally reconstructed in 1992 after being closed in 1989, Sherman’s Bridge has long served as a key connector for commuters, cyclists, and emergency vehicles. The proposed project will focus on ensuring the bridge remains safe, functional, and visually consistent with its scenic surroundings according to the letter.
The letter identified specific benefits that both Town Managers deemed “substantial”:
Capital Plan Garners Widespread Praise In Joint Meeting
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
The Town of Sudbury has a freshly-minted 15-year capital plan, and it was met with widespread praise from members of the Sudbury Select Board, Finance Committee, and Capital Improvement Advisory Committee on the evening of October 22.
The positive sentiment alone is a fundamental shift in the way financial management has been discussed in the years prior to Town Manager Andy Sheehan’s arrival in 2023. Add in new Assistant Town Manager and Finance Director Victor Garofalo, who has been a key contributor to capital projects like the on-schedule, on-budget Atkinson Pool renovation, and it’s no surprise that Sudbury’s elected and appointed officials were effusive in their praise on Wednesday night.
At its core, the 15-year Capital Plan is a mundane municipal document that catalogues capital assets and forecasts replacement dates and costs. In Sudbury, capital assets cost $20,000 or more and have a useful life of five or more years, so the level of detail captured in the plan is significant. Sheehan described it as a “living document” insofar as so much can change from year to year. But it’s a foundation for long-term planning, and one that members of both the Select Board and Finance Committee have been asking for since before Sheehan took over as Town Manager in Sudbury.
Presentation Captures Past, Present, Future of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
FEATURES
By Sudbury Weekly & Len Simon
On October 19, 2025 the Friends of the Goodnow Library and the Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail sponsored an event at the Goodnow Library featuring a presentation by Len Simon. The event, titled “Tales From the Rail Trail” was well-attended, and the presentation provided a unique view into the past, present and future of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
Simon, a former member of the Sudbury Select Board and a longtime rail trail advocate, shared his presentation with Sudbury Weekly.
Select Board Calls Special Town Meeting For Monday, December 1
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
During the October 22 meeting of the Sudbury Select Board, the board voted unanimously to call a Special Town Meeting on Monday, December 1, 2025. It will be held at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.
The primary cause for the Special Town Meeting was for two Sudbury Public Schools school roof projects that have been working their way through the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process. According to Town Manager Andy Sheehan, the MSBA will provide 41% reimbursement on the projects if they make it through final approvals and get support from Town Meeting and voters at a special election.
Sheehan explained to the board that Monday, December 1 was not ideal, as it’s the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend, but it was the best date available based on the required MSBA timeline and other logistical factors.
There’s a window for other articles to be submitted for the warrant, including Citizen Petitions, but the public won’t know exactly what’s going to be on the warrant until it is closed and signed by the Select Board sometime in early November.
Chase Opens First Sudbury Branch on Boston Post Road
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
Sudbury has a new addition to its business landscape. JPMorgan Chase has opened its first local branch at 525 Boston Post Road, marking the global bank’s official arrival in town.
Park and Rec Backs SMILE Playground Application to CPC
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
On October 21, the Sudbury Park and Recreation Commission voted unanimously to support a project application that has already been submitted to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) by Assistant Town Manager Victor Garofalo, but it took some convincing and a lot of discussion.
The project would add playground equipment to the SMILE playground at Haskell Field. That playground was the source of controversy earlier this year when the original project did not deliver on the scope that was presented to Town Meeting in 2021. In addition to surface replacement, several trees and a large play structure were removed, as planned, but shade structures and replacement equipment were not installed after years of delays in getting the project started.
While the vote to support the application was unanimous, Chair Mara Huston voiced a desire to see the ADA-compliant structures in the application upgraded to achieve universal design. Commissioners also voiced concerns about getting another opportunity to weigh in on design decisions.
Will Camp Sewataro Property Be Included In Open Space/Rec Plan?
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
Earlier this year the Select Board instructed Town Manager Andy Sheehan to evaluate the arrangement with the camp operator at Town-owned Camp Sewataro then return to the board with options, information and recommendations for the future. As of Tuesday, October 21, the Select Board isn’t the only elected body that would like to see additional analysis of the arrangement.
A majority of the Park and Recreation Commission told Assistant Town Manager Victor Garofalo that they feel Sewataro should be included in the Open Space and Recreation Plan that will be developed over the next year. While Sewataro wasn’t explicitly referenced in the RFP, Garofalo confirmed with Sudbury’s Planning Director that it could be included as the RFP has a reference to other parcels of interest beyond just those explicitly named in the document.
Atkinson Pool On Track For On-Budget, On-Time Completion
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
The Atkinson Pool renovation is on pace and on budget according to a report form Sudbury’s Assistant Town Manager and Finance Director, Victor Garofalo.
During the October 20 meeting of the Finance Committee, Garofalo told members that tile work is almost entirely complete, new filters are in, and skimmer work should be completed soon. Notably, Garofalo informed the Finance Committee that the latest PSI test on the skimmers indicated that there were no remaining leaks. He voiced confidence that the leaks have been resolved.
Nearly 800 Participants Estimated At Sudbury No Kings Protest
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
A No Kings protest was held in Sudbury on Saturday October, 18. According to multiple estimates from attendees and organizers, between 700 and 800 people turned out to protest.
Held from 1-2:30 along Route 20 at the intersection with Bay Drive (commonly known as the Whole Foods Plaza in Sudbury), the protest featured an abundance of signs and ongoing “no kings” chants. There were even a few costumes, including a panda, a bald eagle and Pikachu from Pokemon.
Sudbury DEI Commission Finds Footing, Charts Course For Year Ahead
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
The Sudbury Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Commission has released its 2024–2025 Annual Report, highlighting a year of advocacy, collaboration, and renewed focus on the Town’s inclusion priorities. The commission presented to the Select Board on September 30. (35:00)
The volunteer body, established in 2020, described its efforts to make Sudbury a place where “every member of our community feels valued, respected, and heard.” This year, the Commission worked to elevate issues directly affecting residents, which included advocating for recognition of holidays like Diwali, Lunar New Year, and Eid in local school calendars, and issuing public statements in support of Sudbury’s Indian community following incidents of theft and bias.
Sudbury’s ADU Bylaw Gets Partial Approval From AG
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
During Sudbury’s 2025 Annual Town Meeting, voters approved Article 28, which was a new local bylaw covering accessory dwelling units (ADUs). That came about in the wake of the Affordable Homes Act, which made ADUs allowable by right across the state in August of 2024. On October 14, the Massachusetts Attorney General, who is responsible for reviewing and approving local bylaws to ensure they comply with State law, provided only partial approval for Sudbury’s ADU bylaw.
The Sudbury Planning Board endeavored to develop a local bylaw while the State was relatively slow to roll out final regulations. Those didn’t arrive until February of 2025, just a few months before Sudbury’s Annual Town Meeting, and nearly a month after the Annual Town Meeting warrant is closed in Sudbury. That’s all in addition to the fact that the legislation was brand new, with few examples of local bylaw implementations in other municipalities.
That parallel path scenario created a bit of a blurry, moving target for municipalities.
Events!
Parting Thoughts
Admit it, you thought that was it for the news this week, right?
One more tidbit: The Sudbury Community Electricity Aggregation program has new rates, and they’re beating the current Eversource rate with all three plan options, including the Sudbury Plus option, which is their option for 100% MA Class I renewable sources. Details here.
Editor’s Note: We have been squatting on the Sudbury Weekly Facebook page for quite some time, but eagle-eyed readers may have noticed this week we began posting stories on our Facebook page. We’re doing that as the stories are published on the site throughout the week. If you prefer getting up-to-the-minute local news, you can follow the Facebook page HERE.
(This email newsletter will continue to be published weekly… because, well, it’s the Sudbury Weekly.)
And with that…
Onward!