Mary Byrne

Mary Byrne

Mary Byrne is a member of The Belmont Voice staff. Mary can be contacted at mbyrne@belmontvoice.org.

BEA Votes No Confidence in School, Town Officials

March 5, 2026
Teachers in red apparel filled desks and lined the walls of a Chenery Upper Elementary School classroom Wednesday evening to notify the Select Board of the union’s recent vote of no confidence in school and town officials. Speaking before the Select Board,…

Town Meeting Approves Belmont Center Overlay District

March 5, 2026
After a lengthy and contentious debate Wednesday night, Town Meeting ultimately approved the Belmont Center Overlay District, 165-87, with 10 abstentions. With its passage, the town can begin accepting project applications Nov. 1, 2026. “I think it’s an excellent plan which… is,…

Woman Killed in Trapelo Road Crash

March 2, 2026
A 77-year-old woman died Saturday morning after being struck by a vehicle on Trapelo Road between Beech and Hull streets, according to police. According to Belmont Interim Police Chief Mark Hurley, Belmont Police, along with the Massachusetts State Police, are investigating the…
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Select Board Notes, Feb. 23, 2026

February 28, 2026
Cardboard Event Residents are invited to bring cardboard for recycling to the Department of Public Works yard on March 7, free of charge. The event comes in response to some missed pickups in town, according to Select Board Vice Chair Taylor Yates.…
A street scene in summer

Overlay Votes on Deck at Town Meeting

February 27, 2026
The highly anticipated votes on the Belmont Center Overlay are just days away. There are two overlay proposals on the warrant for the special Town Meeting, which begins March 4. Article 2 would shift zoning along Leonard Street, and Article 3 would…

Pending Negotiations, Select Board Appoints Police Chief

February 26, 2026
Pending a successful background check and contract negotiations, the Select Board voted unanimously to appoint Shane C. Smith as chief of the Belmont Police Department. “He did a really solid job; he spoke directly and addressed our questions,” said Select Board Chair…

Mass Deportations Spark Local Response

February 20, 2026
From Los Angeles to Minneapolis, and more recently in Maine, the increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and other federal agents has caused a stir in communities coast to coast. In Massachusetts, the activity has resulted in a grassroots…

Three Finalists Named in Police Chief Search

February 18, 2026
Three finalists have been named in the search for a new police chief, with interviews and a possible vote to appoint scheduled for Friday afternoon. Those individuals are Shane C. Smith, who currently serves as deputy chief of the Salem, New Hampshire…

$250K Raised to Aid Belmont Media Center Move

February 17, 2026
After a successful fundraising campaign to aid in the move of the Belmont Media Center from its home in Waverley Square, the nonprofit has surpassed its $229,000 goal by more than $20,000. “We are super thankful,” said Sheryl Grace, chair of the…

Permits Provide Minor Revenue Source

February 9, 2026
In the last decade, Belmont has collected just over $5 million in application fees for building permits. “It’s small, but it’s significant,” said Town Administrator Patrice Garvin. “Without it, we would not be able to fund things we need to fund.” In…