Iron Rail Decisions and Pickleball Concerns in Wenham
The Wenham Select Board weighs key choices on the future of the Iron Rail property, including clearing second-floor tenants, while hearing resident objections to outdoor pickleball at Dodge Farm Greenbelt. The board also reviews plans for a complex three-page state ballot, shares updates on CPA funding and new town signage, and honors a longtime community volunteer’s decades of service. 19mins
Was this helpful?
Original Meeting
In This Video
-
Steve shared community announcements about the CPA funding pre-application deadline, the upcoming Wreaths Across America veterans wreath ceremony, and the rollout of new town logo signage across Wenham.
-
Board Member Cheeseman and Chair Pierotti honored the late Sally Barber Black’s decades of civic and volunteer service and extended condolences to their family.
-
Diane outlined preparations for the November 3, 2026 state election in Wenham, explaining the two-precinct setup, the multi-page ballot with nine questions, and the state-provided voter guide and checklist that residents were encouraged to review in advance.
-
Steve reported on a well-attended site walk and charrette where about 40 residents discussed future uses for the property, with strong support for a potential community center and relocating Council on Aging services to a larger space there.
-
Chair Pierotti opened public comment on the pickleball proposal, and a nearby resident of the Dodge Farm Greenbelt area objected to outdoor pickleball at that site, citing intrusive noise, potential legal concerns over quiet enjoyment, and the availability of other courts in Wenham and Hamilton.
-
Chair Pierotti introduced Steve’s memo on Iron Rail alternative uses, and Steve outlined the board’s next decisions on leasing versus selling site 1, possible parcel subdivision to preserve road frontage, and the need for town meeting authorization to proceed.
-
The Select Board authorized the Town Administrator to terminate the existing agreements with second-floor tenants at the Iron Rail building with up to 90 days’ notice, after clarifying that scout leases would be handled in a separate motion.
Nearby governments