Lexington Select Board Approves $2.1 Million MWRA Sewer Bond, Eyes Cannabis Opt-Out

LEXINGTON — May 22, 2026 — Lexington Select Board approves $2.1 million MWRA sewer package and begins cannabis delivery opt-out debate. The board voted unanimously Friday morning to authorize a Massachusetts Water Resources Authority financial assistance agreement totaling $2,103,000 — 75 percent grant funding and a $525,750 interest-free loan repaid in equal annual installments over 10 years — for ongoing sewer line and catch basin improvements across town. Finance Director Jennifer Koznoff said the deal allows the town to "take advantage of the grant" while keeping utility rates lower. The board also took up a new state law making recreational cannabis delivery legal by default as of April 19, with member Vanessa Kumar urging an immediate opt-out waiver, saying "I would rather see us proactively opt out and then have some community conversations," while Mark Sandeen pressed questions about enforcement and the rights of residents without transportation. The board directed staff to gather input from the Board of Health, Council on Aging, and youth mental health organizations before a scheduled vote at the June 15 meeting, where Town Meeting's 109-to-34 vote against recreational cannabis sales will form the backdrop of the deliberation.