2026 02 11 SelectConnect

Night work on the Lincoln Road water main replacement.

(Lincoln's) Big Dig, Phase 2

At the February 9th Select Board meeting, the Public Works, Water, and Public Safety Departments provided an update about the Lincoln Road water main project. Click here to see the slide deck. There will be a public forum on February 24th @ 6:30 PM, Town Offices.

Before Phase 2 can begin, the Town must first address a failed drainage system on Bedford Road. This issue was identified during excavation work performed as part of Phase 1. Drainage repairs are scheduled to begin in March and are expected to take approximately twelve weeks, with completion anticipated around the end of May.
Phase 2 of the water main replacement project will involve replacing the water main from Ballfield Road to South Great Road (Route 117) and is expected to begin in June.
Water, Public Works, and Public Safety staff are currently working closely with the project engineers to develop a construction phasing plan designed to minimize impacts to residents, businesses, and roadway users.
This phase of the project may take about two years.
More complex set of challenges as construction progresses down Lincoln Road, moving away from Ballfield Road, through the Lincoln Station area, beneath the railroad crossing, and beyond Codman Road to South Great Road/Route 117.
Town will make every effort to always keep at least one lane of traffic open; conditions in the field may occasionally require temporary road closures and detours.
Particular attention will be given to reducing impacts at Ballfield Road while school is in session, maintaining safe access for Lincoln Station residents and businesses, and completing work at the railroad crossing without disrupting MBTA service.

Town Meeting Study Committee Offers Recommendations

On Monday, the Town Meeting Study Committee (TMSC) presented its draft report, findings, and recommendations to the Select Board. The TMSC will hold a public forum in March (date TBA) and give a report to residents at the Annual Town Meeting. The committee's findings address five key areas identified through extensive community engagement:

Preserving core democratic traditions and community-building aspects of Town Meeting that residents value;
Managing the length of Town Meeting, which was identified in the survey results as the top challenge;
Ensuring balanced and fair presentation of motions on warrant articles so all perspectives receive consideration;
Improving access and voting opportunities for residents facing barriers due to scheduling conflicts, caregiving responsibilities, or physical accessibility issues;
Ensuring clarity and inclusivity of Town Meeting procedures.

The TMSC views these recommendations as tools available to Town leadership to implement when appropriate, and will suggest piloting these changes, rather than mandating them in by-laws, which will allow for quantifiable evaluation of their effectiveness and understanding of any unintended consequences of the changes.

Click the image to visit their website.

Citizens' Petition: Ban on Anticoagulant Rodenticides

Pesticides and rodenticides are controlled at the state level. A resident group, "Save Lincoln Wildlife," is trying to put pressure on the state to ban anticoagulant rodenticides because of their impact on animals and humans. To do this, Save Lincoln Wildlife has put forth a citizens' petition that asks residents to authorize a "home rule petition." If Town Meeting votes in favor, the Select Board will then file a home rule petition with the state asking permission for Lincoln to ban anticoagulant rodenticides.

Image of the Town Meeting page on www.lincolntown.org.

Town Meeting: This is what democracy looks like!

The 2026 Town Meeting page is up and running! Town Meeting is Lincoln's legislative body, and anyone who is registered to vote in Lincoln is encouraged to come learn about and vote on budgets, policies, and bylaws. Click here to get information about procedures, logistics, and the topics we'll be voting on at the March 28, 2026 Annual Town Meeting!

Next Select Board Meeting - Tuesday, February 24th

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 24th at 9:00AM. It will be a fully virtual meeting. Click here to read the latest [it-comes-in-the-mail] edition of Select Board News!

Graphic says "Interested in Volunteering?"

Volunteer Opportunity - Housing Commission

The Lincoln Housing Commission is seeking a volunteer to serve. The Lincoln Housing Commission is a welcoming and inclusive group that works to fulfill the town’s mission and ensure that a range of diverse housing options are available in town to meet the current and future needs of Lincoln’s residents. The Commission carries out the following duties: developing and promoting policies, programs, and regulations that preserve and/or increase housing that addresses such needs; maintaining Lincoln’s inventory of housing affordable for low- and moderate-income households in compliance with state policy; supporting town, regional, and state housing goals; and administering Lincoln’s town-owned rental housing units. The Commission is also responsible for updating the Town's Housing Production Plan every five years, with the next iteration of this process scheduled to occur in 2026. For more information and to submit a volunteer application, visit the town's volunteer page.