Wenham Select Board adopts library surveillance policy and finalizes several warrant adjustments ahead of town meeting

The Wenham Select Board voted on March 18 to adopt a surveillance camera policy for the Hamilton‑Wenham Library and authorized the Town Administrator to finalize associated language with the union. The cameras were installed with a mix of ARPA and town capital funds; the union provided a cease‑and‑desist bargaining notice that led officials and union representatives to negotiate edits to the draft policy before it came before the board.

"This is literally just for to limit security cameras from being used ... to monitor employees' performance unless we have just cause," a town official said while explaining the policy’s scope, stressing the cameras are intended for building security and not as an employee‑monitoring tool.

Separately, the board handled several warrant housekeeping actions in preparation for the 2025 Annual Town Meeting: it opened and later closed the warrant, voted to remove placeholder Article 23 (public street acceptance for ways within Spring Hill subdivision), voted to include a $2,375 late bill from Bob Moffett as Article 8, and agreed to reorder warrant articles so that the Cutler elementary school article is moved later in the sequence. The board also voted to recommend passage of the zoning article on accessory dwelling units (Article 20) and to recommend positive action on the late bill article.

The Select Board also approved an amendment requested by the Affordable Housing Trust reducing required insurance aggregate limits on a small property‑management contract from $3 million to $1 million, citing excessive cost relative to contract size.

Next steps include the Planning Board public hearing on April 16 for zoning items and staff returning final warrant materials to be mailed and posted ahead of Town Meeting.