Finance Committee unanimously opposes historic cemetery preservation restriction article

WESTON — April 28, 2025 — Weston's Finance Committee voted 7-0 to oppose a warrant article placing a historic preservation restriction on Central Cemetery, while learning the town's MBTA 3A zoning bylaw will not appear at Annual Town Meeting. Town Manager Leon Gaumond told the committee that the Planning Board's second consecutive rejection of the bylaw has triggered a Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40A bar prohibiting action on the substantially similar article, with Town Moderator Rip Hastings set to announce the decision at the opening of town meeting. Finance Committee Chair Bharath Venkataraman reported that the grant program tied to the cemetery gate restoration project — cited in prior presentations as potentially worth "up to $100,000" — had total 2025 funding of only $125,000 across all applicants, with most 2024 awards coming in at $10,000 each. Member Rebecca Kantar said the lower likely award size "would dramatically change at least my voting on this measure." Yanakakis, stepping down after 12 years on the committee including six as chair, received public tributes from Gaumond and fellow members at what she confirmed was her final meeting.