Maynard Select Board Votes 7 Percent Water Rate Hike to Fund Well Engineering

MAYNARD -- March 17, 2026, Maynard Select Board unanimously approves 7 percent water and sewer rate increase for fiscal year 2027. The five-member board voted 5-0 Tuesday to adopt the higher of two rate options presented by Director of Public Works Justin DeMarco, effective July 1, 2026, with the added revenue funding a bond-anticipation note for full engineering of the Rockland Avenue water supply project, Phase 2 of the town's Water Master Plan. In a separate 5-0 vote, the board also approved $100,000 from water enterprise reserves to continue the water filtration rebate pilot program through FY27. Resident Ben Zauski, 9 Crane Avenue, supported the increase but urged more investment in distribution system upgrades, telling the board, "If this town runs out of water, property values are going to decrease, your rates are going to rise." The board also accepted 13 draft Town Meeting warrant articles for the May 18 Annual Town Meeting, authorized sale of the town's March 2026 General Obligation School Project Loan, Chapter 70B Bonds for the Green Meadow Elementary School, and opened a policy discussion on whether to cap or impose minimum distance requirements on marijuana establishments in the downtown overlay district, with Member Lindsay McConchie set to consult with the Planning Director and town counsel before the April 7 meeting.