Ipswich, Massachusetts Development News
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Ipswich Select Board Meeting 7/13/26 07/09/2026
Published: Jul 13, 2026
Select Board Develops Rubric to Prioritize Capital Investment Projects
The Select Board is undertaking a strategic planning process to prioritize capital investment projects. A rubric has been developed to objectively evaluate projects based on criteria such as life safety, health safety, town-wide benefit, and economic benefit. Projects that have already received full town authorization or funding, like the water treatment plant or aerial ladder, will not be included in this prioritization process as they are considered 'done deals.' Outside funding will be removed from the rubric to allow for a more subjective evaluation of projects based on their internal merits and alignment with town priorities, while still considering external funding opportunities as a separate factor. The rubric's weights for life safety and health safety may be adjusted, but the current proposal of 4 and 3 respectively, with town-wide and economic benefits weighted at 2, will be used. The process involves individual scoring of projects by board members over the next three weeks, followed by a dedicated meeting in August to discuss and finalize priority projects.
Town Continues Critical Drought Restrictions Amidst Concerns Over Water Usage and Future Development
The town is continuing to experience a critical drought, prompting the continuation of a water ban for all municipal and private well owners without exemptions, except for harvested rainwater. Despite reservoirs appearing full, they hold limited capacity and deplete quickly, necessitating strict customer behavior, especially as demand is expected to increase with warmer temperatures. The town has issued over 50 pre-warning letters and is prepared to enforce civil penalties for non-compliance. Rainfall is significantly behind, contributing to the critical drought status for the region. River gauges are above last year's levels but still below the mean. The town is exploring options for a new water source to build flexibility and resilience into the public water supply and is reviewing new developments for water usage impacts, focusing on irrigation and landscaping as primary concerns, not household use.
Select Board Approves Sewer Extension for Jeffries Neck Road Amidst Wastewater Capacity Discussion
The Select Board, acting as Sewer Commissioners, unanimously approved a sewer extension request for 31 Jeffries Neck Road. This extension, approximately 491 feet long, terminates at the specified address and is the third such extension along Jeffries Neck Road. The Wastewater Subcommittee unanimously recommended approval with standard conditions, including full applicant funding, obtaining all necessary permits, and conveying title to the town upon completion to town standards. The decision is within the commissioners' authority as the extension is under 500 feet. The town's wastewater treatment plant has sufficient capacity for new development, designed for 5.4 million gallons per day, exceeding current demand. However, other infrastructure like pump stations are considered limiting factors, though designed for reasonable build-out growth.
Town Advances Electric Light Commission Independence, Tackles Drought, and Launches Energy Efficiency Program
The town is undergoing a transition to an independently elected Electric Light Commission, with Bill S 3147, a home rule petition, scheduled for a hearing on July 22nd. Senator Tarr's office anticipates a vote in late summer/early fall. This process does not require a roll call vote and can proceed in informal sessions. The transition plan is a top goal for the Select Board for the year, with detailed planning to ensure a smooth transition. Concurrently, the Electric Light Department is preparing its annual DPU report, detailing financial information, capital assets, power sourcing, and rate structures. The report uses a calendar year end, distinct from the town's fiscal year. Discussions also touched on the cost of plant ($37 million spent on assets), depreciation rates (requested increase to 4-5%), fuel inventory (diesel for starting generators, natural gas as primary fuel), power sourcing costs (ranging from $0.035/kWh for Seabrook to over $0.18/kWh for interchange power), system losses (3.59% norm), and peak demand (around 5-8 PM). A key focus for the department is the reINVEST program, a USDA loan initiative for energy efficiency upgrades, with final loan documents expected in 1-2 weeks, followed by rate hearings and program applications anticipated in the fall. The program aims to provide accessible financing for energy upgrades, potentially with a first-come, first-served basis for applicants, though criteria will be developed to ensure program success and manage demand. The department is also reviewing its distributed energy resource policy, considering a shift towards a fixed monthly interconnect fee and a dynamic buyback rate tied to power costs, and is conducting a study on adding capacitance to the system to improve efficiency. The Fowler's control house upgrade and battery energy storage project are experiencing delays due to switchgear equipment availability but are expected to be completed by the end of the year or early next year.
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The Ipswich News archive
Ipswich Conservation Commission Meeting 7/22/26 07/14/2026
Ipswich Zoning Board Meeting 7/16/26 07/09/2026
Ipswich Finance Committee Meeting 7/14/26 07/09/2026
Ipswich Planning Board Meeting 7/9/26
Ipswich Conservation Commission Meeting 7/8/26
Ipswich Select Board Meeting 7/8/26
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