Select Board Approves Final Land Rights for Community Path Phase 1

Select Board · Meeting of August 10, 2026

Belmont clears final land rights for its Community Path, splits 2-1 on a Planning Board pick. The Select Board voted unanimously to approve MBTA lease terms, private easements and land donations needed to meet a September 5 bid deadline on the roughly $48 million Phase 1 project, and separately approved up to $50,000 for added Phase 2 survey work near a proposed Moraine Street development. The board also accepted a $75,000 anonymous donation to fund a police motorcycle unit and awarded GTA Company Inc. a $1,004,987.85 contract for the FY2026 water main project.

In public comment, Precinct 7's Ira Morganstern said withholding meeting documents in advance "implies that the citizens' views are not valued." Chair Taylor Yates and Vice Chair Carol Berberian outvoted Member Matt Taylor 2-1 to appoint Madeline Frazier-Cook, rather than a construction-experienced applicant, to the Planning Board.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,992 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of August 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.