Board Approves $3.2M Transfer, Westwood Pact

Select Board · Meeting of July 23, 2026

DEDHAM — The Dedham Select Board heard a health update on a cyanobacteria bloom closing part of the Charles River and approved $3,225,000 in interfund borrowing for capital projects. Health Director Sam Menard said a dog's death from suspected algae-toxin exposure prompted a state advisory covering river access points from Riverdale Park through Dedham's section of Cutler State Park, warning against swimming, pet contact and water consumption. Member Erin Boles Welsh pressed for wider notification to boaters launching from the Dolan Center.

The board also renewed a three-year, $10,000 animal control agreement with Westwood, reappointed four Commission on Disability members including Bernadette "Bernie" Chirocas and Ellen Conway, and closed the warrant for the Nov. 16 Fall Town Meeting. Attorneys from KP Law briefed the board on evaluating four unissued liquor licenses, citing the Ballarin appeals court case. "There's not much we can do" about the bloom beyond waiting for rain, Menard said.

The board voted 4-0 to enter executive session on a school transportation contract claim.

In the full story:

• Remembrance of Jerry Pacheco
• Cyanobacteria Bloom Advisory on the Charles River
• Town Manager's Report: Overdose Awareness Day
• Consent Agenda and Interfund Borrowing
• Commission on Disability Reappointments
• Eversource Pole and Whole Foods Corporate Change
• Westwood Animal Control Agreement
• Fall Town Meeting Warrant Date
• Liquor License Target Zones and Licensing Primer
• New and Old Business, Executive Session
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,681 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of July 23, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.