Select Board Clears National Grid Petitions, Preps School Warrant

Select Board · Meeting of October 5, 2026

Manchester-by-the-Sea Select Board previews $95.3 million Essex Elementary School ahead of a November 16 town meeting vote. Chair John Round and the Finance Committee heard from district officials, including finance director Michelle Cresta, that the project's cost rose from roughly $93 million in the spring after estimates came in near $98 million, before $3.5 million in value-engineering savings brought it to $95.3 million. Manchester's assessed share, after an estimated 21.4 percent state reimbursement, is projected at $49,947,932.31 of a combined $74,946,660.21 town assessment.

One member objected that warrant language citing the top-line 36.9 percent reimbursement rate, rather than the lower effective rate, "is really misleading." The board separately approved two National Grid utility petitions, 5-0 each, for work on Lincoln Street and Ashland Avenue, and voted 5-0 to approve its consent agenda, including the reappointments of Andrea Mainville and Jennifer Yaskell. Resident Jim Starkey told the board his August mooring appeal still hadn't been scheduled for a hearing.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,868 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of October 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.