Vote Heidi Frail on or before April 8!
Policy
Here are some issues I’m passionate about:
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I see abundant opportunities for climate resilience and sustainability, to benefit both the environment and the local Needham economy.
I proudly support the Climate Action Plan and voted in favor of adopting of new building codes to ensure that future homes and buildings are built to the highest efficiency standards, while costing less to maintain. I voted in favor of our Town’s first Municipal Electricity Aggregation program to make affordable clean electricity and stable pricing available to Needham residents and businesses. I voted to adopt our Town’s Electric Vehicle First Policy, which will put cleaner municipal vehicles on the road and make Needham eligible for new State grant programs. Hiring Needham’s first Sustainability Manager has proven impactful, by helping the Town to accelerate its de-carbonization efforts and bringing hundreds of thousands of grant dollars to Town.
I am committed to protecting our tree canopy, addressing housing massing and working to address stormwater and flooding through committee work in the coming year on the Tree Preservation Planning Committee and the Large House Review Study Committee.
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In 2023, I helped develop a new Code of Conduct guidelines to foster trust in Town governance. This Code was adopted by the entire Select Board. I have always been honest, transparent, and civil in my engagement with constituents.
Our Town has so many engaged, civically minded residents, businesses, and Town leaders, and though we don’t always agree on policy, my goal is always to find ways to bring sides together and find common ground.
The loss of the Needham Times was a real hit to the cause of town-wide communication in Needham. The Needham Observer, the Needham Local and the Town’s own newsletter have helped to fill that void, but for many, digital is not the same as a physically delivered newspaper. Getting creative about all types of outreach has become a primary goal for all town projects. We’ve made a lot of progress, but more needs to be done so that residents feel informed and connected to our local government.
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Needham deserves a vibrant business community, and our local businesses are a big part of what makes Needham such a special place to live. Needham businesses need to be able to attract great employees, and count on a local ecosystem where successful businesses cluster to create a shopping and dining destination.
But Needham’s business community needs a hand. The cost of doing business just keeps rising. The rise in residential home values mirrors the increase in commercial space and property. Tax increases are passed along to lessees, and while Needham’s split tax rate helps insulate residents, it can be a burden to local businesses.
As the incoming Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, I am dedicated to understanding and addressing the challenges businesses face. Whether a Great Plain Avenue retailer, the hospital on Chestnut Street, a restauranteur in Avery Square or a tech innovator in the Business Center, all of Needham’s business districts have a different story to tell. By engaging with local businesses, we aim to develop strategies to support their growth and create a thriving commercial environment.
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Housing continues to be one of the most important issues facing Needham today. Lack of housing is a prime driver of higher taxes, higher home prices, fewer and more expensive services, more traffic and longer commutes.
We continue to see many of the more affordable homes in Town torn down and replaced with homes affordable to only a few, so I am pleased that the Base Plan is moving to Town Meeting in May, putting Needham in lawful compliance with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. The Base Plan will lay the foundation for sustainable housing options that I hope will allow long-time Needhamites to downsize and the next generation of Needhamites to begin building their lives here, while supporting a thriving commercial corridor.
I also wholeheartedly support the Needham Housing Authority’s affordable housing redevelopment project and the Charles River Center’s plan to build semi-independent housing for individuals with developmental disabilities, along with community and workforce housing.
Regarding the January 14, 2025 Special Town Election
I believe it is important to encourage full participation and informed community discussion on major zoning issues such as MBTA Communities Act zoning. As co-chair of the The Housing Needham (HONE) Advisory Group, which was established jointly by the Select Board and Planning Board in 2023, I did just that. Communication was paramount throughout the two-year public process which led to the submission of two plans: the Base Plan, and the broader Neighborhood Plan, to Town Meeting in October of 2024.
That process included months of extensive opportunities for public input and discussion, public meetings, studies, informational materials, scenario options, and three full public hearings. To reach as broadly as possible, beyond legal requirements and every available communication channel, two postcard mailings went to every Needham household. The purpose of that process was to enable civil and complete community conversation.
The two plan options, both supported by the Planning Board and the Select Board, were submitted to Town Meeting. After full discussion and debate, Town Meeting first voted to approve the base plan, and then voted to approve the Neighborhood Plan. I supported the Neighborhood Plan because I believed it would do more to help the town improve housing options and revitalize our downtown areas.
Following Town Meeting’s vote, a citizen’s group successfully petitioned to put Town Meeting’s action, the Neighborhood Plan, on the ballot for referendum review. The Charter procedure used by this group does not allow for amendments, only a Yes or No vote.
I advocated for a Yes vote because of my obligation as an elected Select Board member to support the board’s voted position, the voted Town Meeting decision, and to speak for what I believe to be the best interests of the Town.
The No vote prevailed, nullifying Town Meeting’s decision. I accepted that decision.
Since the referendum, I and many others have participated in the renewed process on the MBTA Communities issue, including public hearings at which all residents have had an opportunity to be heard. I support the decisions of the Select Board and Planning Board to recommend enactment of the Base Plan by the Town Meeting in May.
Our democratic system involves advocacy, education, and consensus-building. The process demands vigorous debate from all interested parties. At all times in this process, my participation has been civil, factual, and focused on the best interests of our shared community.
