Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board approves Brendan Sweeney as new Town Manager

Select Board approves three-year contract with new Town Manager Brendan Sweeney, effective May 26. Chair Charles Surpitski was authorized to sign the agreement in Executive Session, with Michael Dougherty, Vice Chair, Sarah Player, Linda Alexson, and Carl Nylen voting unanimously to approve.

Townbrief news summary · May 20

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board approves ELD capital planning and March 9 subcommittee minutes.

Select Board and Electric Light Subcommittee jointly reviewed capital infrastructure planning with no formal project votes. ELD Manager Dylan Lewellyn and Electric Operations Manager Anthony Calascibetta discussed upgrades at Fowler's Lane and High Street substations, with the High Street project

Townbrief news summary · May 11

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board approves building permit fee increases effective July 1, 2026

Select Board approves Building Department permit fee increases, with effective date of July 1, 2026. Building Commissioner Jim Bone presented Option B, which the five-member board approved unanimously after reviewing fee adjustments for building, mechanical, plumbing, gas, fire, signage, and

Townbrief news summary · May 4

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board extends outdoor dining season through Labor Day

Select Board unanimously extends outdoor dining season through Labor Day. The Board voted 4-0 to approve the expansion from the Friday before Memorial Day through the Friday after Labor Day, responding to a request from Bud Siciliano, co-owner of Heart and Soul Café, to add May and September to the

Townbrief news summary · Apr 27

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board approves oyster planting, outdoor dining through Labor Day, and six shellfish permits

Ipswich Select Board approves outdoor dining limits and oyster habitat restoration. Chair Charles Surpitski and members voted unanimously to permit Heart and Soul Café, Brown Dog, and Zabaglione to operate outdoor seating from June 1 through September 1, with Brown Dog reducing parking space use

Townbrief news summary · Apr 21

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board discusses electric utility financing and policy updates.

Select Board examines municipal electric utility capital financing and policy. CEO Tom Barry presented the MMWEC pooled loan program for infrastructure projects; Board members discussed a possible non-binding ballot question. ELD Manager Dylan Lewellyn proposed revising the distributed generation

Townbrief news summary · Apr 13

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board approves $9.8M Public Safety Building funding for voter consideration.

Ipswich boards confirm $9.8M Public Safety Building funding for voter approval. The reduced request reflects updated construction estimates lower than the original $13 million-plus proposal, with plans for builder selection and fall construction targeting winter 2028 completion. The Elementary

Townbrief news summary · Apr 11

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board names Brendan Sweeney as next Town Manager

Ipswich Select Board unanimously offers Town Manager job to Brendan Sweeney. The five-member Board, led by Chair Charles Surpitski, completed its search by voting 5-0 on April 9 to extend an offer to Sweeney, citing his knowledge of Ipswich, elected official experience, financial and procurement

Townbrief news summary · Apr 9

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board Interviews Three Town Manager Finalists

Select Board interviews three Town Manager finalists ahead of April 9 deliberation. The Board heard from Steve Bartha, former Town Manager in Danvers and Lexington; Angus Jennings, Chief Financial Officer in West Newbury and Hampden, Maine; and Brendan Sweeney, current Assistant Town Administrator

Townbrief news summary · Apr 7

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board recommends all warrant articles except two.

Select Board recommends most warrant articles for 2026 Annual Town Meeting. Chair Charles Surpitski and four fellow members voted unanimously on Articles 1 through 12, with Article 13, authorizing borrowing for Public Safety Building construction, passing 4-1, Vice Chair Michael Dougherty opposed

Townbrief news summary · Apr 6