Weston adopts Specialized Energy Code, funds fire station design at Special Town Meeting

WESTON — December 12, 2023 — Weston Special Town Meeting adopts Specialized Energy Code and seeds fire station overhaul. Voters approved the state's Specialized Energy Code 142-36 under Article 7, requiring new mixed-fuel buildings to pre-wire for electrification and add rooftop solar starting July 1, 2024; Sustainability Committee Chair Nick Chrisman called buildings the town's "number one lever" against emissions, citing 68 percent of Weston's greenhouse gases. Voters then approved $1.53 million, 159-19, for fire station design, scaled back from a $4.5 million request after a working group's conceptual plan came in at $50 million to $60 million for the 1914 Central and 1967 South stations. Finance Committee Chair Lisa Reitano said her committee backed the smaller, staged request unanimously. Voters also approved $420,000 for the Ash Street walkway (150-5), $111,000 for tennis court design (139-7), $100,000 for affordable home repair grants (153-23) and $50,000 to design two elderly housing units at Brook School (132-8).