Policy

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.

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.

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.

Re-elect Heidi Frail on or before April 8!