Needham Select Board Reviews Immigration Enforcement Policy, Defers Vote

NEEDHAM -- March 24, 2026, Needham Select Board reviewed but did not vote on a draft policy governing local police conduct during federal immigration enforcement operations at its March 24 meeting. Vice Chair Kathy Dowd led a clause-by-clause walk-through of the eight-provision policy, which was developed by Town Manager Katie King, Town Counsel Chris Heap, and Police Chief John Schlittler following a January briefing on existing practices. Schlittler confirmed that the draft largely codifies current departmental practice under the 2017 Commonwealth v. Lund decision, telling the board, "This is what we're doing now," while Dowd noted that provisions prohibiting proactive ICE contact and barring 287(g) deputization agreements go beyond what is currently written policy. The board also unanimously approved the final 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant, featuring a shift of Center for the Heights improvement funding from debt to free cash and $1,668,000 in debt for high school HVAC repairs, and closed the May 11 Special Town Meeting warrant. The meeting opened with extended remarks honoring outgoing 13-year board member Mary Ann Cooley, who received State Senate and House citations signed by Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano respectively.