The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

Officials defend actions relating to the Hanscom misallocation issue

At two recent meetings, town officials sought to offer more detail about the Hanscom misallocation and pushed back against the idea that there had been actual mistakes by anyone.
 
In 2024, an outside consultant found that — under terms of the contract between Lincoln and the Department of Defense Educational Activities (DoDEA) then in effect — not enough money was allocated to the town from that contract for some expenses. The issue was raised by resident David Cuetos and eventually resulted in a review of the contract and a report by the Collins Center, which found that “some expenses, typically paid by the town on behalf of the Hanscom contract, were being funded by outdated methodologies,” School Committee Chair Matina Madrick said at the group’s March 19 meeting.
 
Since then, a revised allocation approach was adopted and about $560,000 has been returned to the town’s general fund for Hanscom pension liabilities in FY 2024 and FY2025, but resident David Cuetos and others have been trying to get the town to recover a further $1.5 million they say it is owed from the Hanscom reserve fund.
 
Cuetos et al maintain that the town should also get reimbursed for misallocations for several earlier years, but the Collins Center report did not address that specifically.

“The amount paid for these years is the difference between what was already paid and the amount if the new methodology had been applied to these contract years. These are the only past years for which actuarial determined contributions are available,” Madrick said.
 
The report — which was issued about a year before the current contact with DoDEA was signed — updated the methodologies for determining pension payments and indirect cost payments to the town. It made numerous recommendations for improving town and Lincoln Public Schools policies and procedures as well as financial and accounting operations concerning Hanscom. The report also recommended seeking special legislation to establish the Hanscom contract as an “enterprise account operation.”
 
Some have expressed unfounded fears that town funds have gone directly to Hanscom when they shouldn’t have, but Madrick vigorously disputed that notion.
 
“At no time has the Lincoln School Committee taken money from the town general fund to pay for Hanscom expenses. The School Committee does not have the authority to move money from the town’s general fund,” she said. “The Hanscom reserve is entirely made up of DoDEA funds from the contract. There is no Lincoln tax levy that goes into the Hanscom reserve.”

As a result of the new methodologies, the annual payment for pension benefits has gone from roughly $200,000 to over $400,000 per year, and the indirect costs (the administrative costs the town incurs to run benefits and other administrative costs for the contract) have gone from $71,000 to close to $200,000, she said.

Madrick added that the Hanscom reserve “should be used primarily to protect the town from increased expenses at Hanscom due to a loss or change in the contract.” In that case, Lincoln would probably be solely responsible for educating the children who live on the base, and the increased expenses would include unemployment benefits for laid-off workers as well as pension and retiree benefits in addition to operating expenses for the Hanscom School.
 
“Additionally, the School Committee was cautious to commit too much money out of the reserve because of the new financial structure of the new DoDEA contract” that began on July 1, 2025, whose “revenue structure differs from the previous contract significantly.”
 
However, Cuetos said at the School Committee meeting that “several of the explanations offered for refusing [additional] reimbursement are not supported by the record” and said that Hanscom has been running an annual budget deficit for several years. He also argued that the School Committee does not have control of those funds by right (a notion that has been refuted by town counsel and others). He and others added that the town should “take a much more active role” in overseeing Hanscom funds.
 
The Select Board agreed at their March 23 meeting with the sentiment that other town officials should have some oversight over Hanscom finances. Board member Jennifer Glass went even further in advocating for consistency across other town departments.
 
“I agree a hundred percent,” board member Jim Hutchinson said. “If we do this for the School Committee, it better be the same for the Water Department, the library, or any other department that does any kind of budgeting or allocation of shared costs.” 
 
But Hutchinson also said he was “troubled” about the tone of some residents when discussing the issue. 
 
“I disagree with using the words ‘error’ and ‘mistake.’ I feel like that’s when you type in a wrong number to an Excel spreadsheet. I don’t think a stale or inaccurate estimate is an error or mistake. You make estimates all over the place when you make budgets every year,” he said. “I respectfully ask residents to think about the language they use when they talk about this topic.”
 
Nonetheless, there are still “significant misunderstandings and misstatements,” said resident Sarah Postlethwait. “I know it may look bad for the town to have a misallocation pointed out, but don’t try to put lipstick on a pig.” 

When Cuetos first raised the issue in 2022, he was “dismissed and denied,” she added. “Frankly, residents are being generous in describing it merely as a mistake.”
 
“I personally am sorry it took us so long to figure out what to do about that,” Hutchinson said earlier in the meeting.

My Turn: Payne explains proposed approach for FinCom appointments

By Andy Payne

I’m currently a candidate for Town Moderator. Should I be elected, this would be my approach to Finance Committee appointments. Town Hall is open for early voting now and the election is March 30, 2026.

The moderator’s role

Under Lincoln’s bylaws, the Town Moderator appoints members of the Finance Committee. Terms are three years, expiring at the close of Town Meeting, with new appointments made within 30 days. With seven seats on the committee, one to three seats come up in any given year.

This responsibility is one of the reasons the moderator is an elected position: residents choose the person they trust to make these appointments, and that accountability runs through the ballot box. In 2025, Town Meeting considered and rejected (80–345) a citizen’s petition to change this process. The current system reflects the town’s deliberate choice.

How I approach appointments

My process for filling expiring seats:

  • Talk with the outgoing moderator (in transition years) about committee context and history
  • Talk with the Finance Committee chair about the committee’s current needs, workload, and any skill or representation gaps
  • Talk with the holders of expiring seats to understand their interest in continuing to serve
  • Welcome outreach from any resident interested in serving, at any time throughout the year

Beyond individual qualities, I also think about the committee’s overall balance. When I served on FinCom, we advised the moderator on the value of diversity across several dimensions: gender, age, geographic location within town, parents with children in the schools, and the mix of quantitative and policy-oriented perspectives. No single appointment can cover all of that, but it’s worth keeping in mind as seats turn over.

This is my current approach, and I’m open to feedback on how to improve it.

Residents interested in the Finance Committee are welcome to contact me directly or sign up for a conversation through my open Zoom hours.

What the committee needs

The Finance Committee is Lincoln’s independent advisory body on budget and financial policy, reporting directly to Town Meeting. That role requires members who can work collaboratively across boards and committees, do careful analytical work, and understand that FinCom’s job is to advise Town Meeting on behalf of all residents, not to advance a personal agenda or substitute for the authority of elected boards like the Select Board or School Committees.

Also, municipal finance has a learning curve. New members typically need a full budget cycle before they’re fully effective, and the best committee members bring curiosity and patience alongside whatever expertise they arrive with.

The committee’s credibility depends on getting the numbers right. That means doing the homework, understanding the source data, and, critically, being willing to update analyses when presented with better information. Fincom’s recommendations carry weight at Town Meeting because residents trust that the committee has done careful, honest work and left the political decisions to residents.

Equally important is the ability to communicate complex financial information clearly. Town Meeting is the decision-making body, and residents deserve explanations they can follow. The best FinCom members can translate budget analyses and fiscal trade-offs into plain language that helps voters make informed decisions.

A note on volunteering

Lincoln is a town of about 8,000 people (with about 5,700 off-base), and like most small towns, we depend on volunteers willing to give their time to public service. Town staff is small, which makes volunteer committee work even more essential. In my experience, we do not have a surplus of residents lining up for committee seats.

I am grateful to everyone who serves, and I want the appointment process to encourage volunteerism.

Contact

If you’re interested in serving on the Finance Committee, or if you’d like to share your thoughts on what the committee needs, I’d welcome the conversation. You can reach me at andy+moderator@payne.org or sign up for a Zoom slot:

https://calendar.app.google/msFkWZDFA5PcW9rRA

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnians. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Legal notice: ZBA (61 Oxbow)

LEGAL NOTICE — ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

The Zoning Board of the Appeals of the Town of Lincoln will hold a virtual online public hearing Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 7:00 P.M. to hear and to act on the following petitions under the Zoning Bylaws:

New:

  • Floriain Allroggen/Amanda Millis, 61 Oxbow Rd., M/P 174-11-0 for a variance to build a garage with studio above.

Note that legal notices often must be posted twice by law. For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.

Legal notice: Order of Notice (BSL/BN Commons Licensee Inc.)

Editor’s note: This is one of three repeated legal notices required by law. BSL/BN is the prior holder of the on-premises liquor license at The Commons in Lincoln. The dissolution will have no impact on the current liquor license holder at The Commons, nor any impact on The Commons.

ORDER OF NOTICE

WHEREAS a civil action has been commenced by BSL/BN Commons Licensee Inc. (“BSL/BN”), seeking a petition for dissolution, pursuant to G.L. c. 180, §11. Any person who has a claim against BSL/BN may present themselves to the Middlesex Superior Court, 200 Tradecenter Dr. Woburn, MA on April 21, 2026 in Courtroom 720 at 2:00 p.m. and address the Court.

We COMMAND YOU if you intend to make any defense, that on April 21or within such further time as the law allows you, to cause your written pleading to be filed in the office of the Clerk of Court named above, in said Commonwealth, and further that you defend against said action according to law if you intend any defense, and that you do and receive what the Court shall order and adjudge herein. If you do not, said action may be adjudged and orders entered in your absence.

It is ORDERED that notice of this action be given by publishing, once a week for three successive weeks, the last publication to be at least 20 days before said return date, in the Lincoln Squirrel.

For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.

See the latest Lincoln Review!

The spring issue of the Lincoln Review is now available — and for the first time, it’s free to all, not just Lincoln Squirrel subscribers! Flip through the colorful pages or download a PDF to see work by Lincolnians including Stewart Coffin, Ginny Lemire, Jennifer Morris, Dilla Tingley, Anne Warner, and more. Proudly hosted by the Lincoln Squirrel website.

News acorns

Play at L-S for children

LSB Players presents “The Ants and the Grasshoppers” on Saturday, March 28 in the Kirshner Auditorium of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School at 11:00am and 3:00pm. There will be a special sensory-friendly performance at the 11:00am time. It’s the classic tale of the grasshoppers who played and sang all summer, while the industrious ants work hard — but what will happen when winter arrives? There will be lobby activities for young children before the show and during intermission. Concessions will also be sold at intermission (cash only). Tickets (buy online or at the door) are $10, or $5 for ages 5 and under.

Artists reception: Friends of Modern Architecture & CFREE

There will be an artists reception at the Lincoln Public Library art galley on Monday, March 30 from 5:30–8:00pm for the Friends of Modern Architecture and CFREE exhibit opening that day. “Mid-Century to Next Century: Modern Houses and Sustainable Futures” explores Lincoln’s commitment to creating a sustainable future for Lincoln’s rich collection of Modern houses. Featuring large-format photographs by local photographers, smaller-scale photographs of homeowners’ choices to make their houses more sustainable, and narrative panels documenting the architectural history of the houses and the homeowners’ decision-making about how to make their houses more energy efficient, the exhibit highlights how five of Lincoln’s Modern houses — pioneering in their time — are meeting the present-day challenges of climate change. As part of the renovations, homeowners, architects, and builders worked closely together to ensure that the original signature features of the Modern houses were maintained through the process. The exhibit is a joint initiative of the Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln (FoMA) and CFREE (Carbon Free Residential, Everything Electric). The exhibit runs through April 30 during library hours.

Silent auction, car wash for 8th-graders

Fundraising for the eighth-grade Washington trip continues with the silent auction that’s open until Sunday, March 29 at 9:00pm and annual eighth-grade car wash at Town Hall on Saturday, May 16 (rain date: Sunday, May 17). Questions? Email Lila Kanner at lilakanner@gmail.com. 

Codman Community Farms volunteer day

Join other volunteers on Sunday, April 12 from 2:30–4:30pm to spruce up the farm. There are tasks for all ages: raking, mulching, weeding, organizing, and special box decorating for our littlest of volunteers. Please bring your own work gloves, water bottle and weather-appropriate clothes. Come for the full 2 hours or join us for part of the time. Questions? Email tana@codmanfarm.org. Sign up here. A Sunday Supper from 4:30-6:30 will follow along with live music — dinner sign-ups coming soon.

Former Lincolnite David Ogden, 1924–2026

David Ogden

David Ogden, a Boston investment counselor who served in the Army’s 10th Mountain Division during World War II and later helped guide several educational and cultural organizations, died peacefully at home on March 11, surrounded by family. He was 101.

Ogden was born in 1924 in Torquay, England, though his family at the time was living in the south of France in a villa known as Villa Cortland. His mother traveled to England shortly before his birth so that he would be born there rather than in France, thereby avoiding the mandatory military service then required of boys born in that country. Shortly after his birth, the family returned to the south of France.

His father came from an American family with substantial real estate holdings in New York State, and much of Mr. Ogden’s early childhood was spent in Europe, where the family lived and traveled extensively. As tensions mounted in Europe before the outbreak of World War II, he left England with his father in 1939 aboard the S.S. President Roosevelt, bound for New York. The ship was crowded with Britons and refugees from across Europe fleeing the gathering conflict, and while his father shared the berth with a stranger desperate to escape the war, young David ended up sleeping, as family members later recalled, “under the sink.”

The precaution surrounding his birthplace carried a certain irony: two decades later, Ogden would serve in the United States Army during World War II.

Friends and family knew him for an unusual calmness and a reflective cast of mind. He possessed a deep curiosity about science and the natural world and was widely regarded within his family as a source of steady wisdom and perspective. Though he spent more than 60 years in the United States, he retained a faint but unmistakable British accent and mannerisms from his early upbringing, something friends often found quietly distinctive.

Mr. Ogden was educated at Sunningdale School and Charterhouse School in England before leaving the country in 1939 as war gathered in Europe. He continued his schooling in the United States at St. Paul’s School. He entered Harvard University in 1942 but left to serve in the U.S. Army, joining the 10th Mountain Division, the specialized alpine training force created to prepare soldiers for mountain warfare. Stationed in the Colorado Rockies, he helped train troops in mountain combat and winter operations, rising from private to second lieutenant before completing his service in 1946. He returned to Harvard after the war and graduated in 1949. That same year he married Joan Anable, who died in 1968.

Ogden began his career in finance at Kidder, Peabody & Co. and later worked at the University of Rochester. He subsequently joined Massachusetts Financial Services, one of the country’s earliest mutual fund companies. In the late 1960s he joined the Boston investment counseling firm Thorndike, Doran, Paine & Lewis, which later became part of Wellington Management Company. He eventually served as president of the firm. After leaving the firm in 1984 he worked independently as an investment counselor and trustee, advising families and institutions for many years.

Beyond his professional work, Ogden was active in several educational and cultural organizations. He served as a trustee of the deCordova Museum, the Children’s Museum of Boston, and the Bert L. and N. Kuggie Vallee Foundation, which promotes international collaboration among biomedical scientists. He was also chairman of the board of trustees of the Cambridge School of Weston.

Fishing was one of his enduring pleasures. Whenever he could, Ogden cast a line along the coasts of Massachusetts and on Martha’s Vineyard, returning home with the day’s catch and often improvising a meal cooked simply and, family members liked to say, frequently finished with a generous helping of mayonnaise.

Ogden spent nearly three decades living in Lincoln, where he took part in productions with the local theater group, the Lincoln Players. Castmates often gave him roles that suited him perfectly: the slightly eccentric, upper-crust Englishman, pipe in hand and delivering his lines with the unmistakable accent that never quite left him.

In November 1978 he married the educator Judith Ellison Grosvenor, a union that became the central partnership of his life. Their marriage, which lasted 47 years until his death, was marked by deep affection and by the devoted care she gave him in the many years they shared together. Friends and family widely regarded his marriage to Judy as the great love of his life.

In his later years, Ogden donated to the Morgan Library & Museum an original illuminated family copy of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (“The Night Before Christmas”), written by his great-great-grandfather Clement C. Moore.

Ogden was a member of the Harvard Club and the Concord Country Club. His interests also included stamp collecting, golf and tennis in his younger years, and collecting antiques and art.

He is survived by his wife, Judy Ogden; his children, Ann Helpern and her husband, David Helpern, Linda Squibb and her husband, Ed, Sam Ogden, and David Grosvenor; nine grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren, as well as a half-brother, Clement M. Ogden of Pasadena, Calif.; a niece, Sarah Garbett of Somerset, England; and a cousin, John Garbett of London.

To his family, he remained above all a steady presence — calm, thoughtful and quietly wise.

My Turn: Dionne seeks support for Parks & Rec seat

By Hilary Dionne

I’m running for the open seat on the Parks & Recreation Committee and wanted to introduce myself. Please note that there is both an elected and an appointed position opening this year.

My family moved to Lincoln in 2021, and since then the Parks & Recreation programs and facilities — especially the July 4th road race and parade, Codman Pool, and Fall Fest — have quickly become some of our favorite town traditions. I’m interested in getting involved to help preserve what already makes these programs so strong, while also supporting new offerings that will be possible with the community center.

Professionally, I’m SVP of marketing and operations at a local tech company where I lead cross-functional teams and oversee large marketing budgets to attract and retain millions of job-seekers. I’d bring that same data-driven, community-focused approach to strengthening Lincoln’s Parks & Recreation programs. I’ve also volunteered as a strategic advisor to the Title IX Girls Running Club, helping expand access to athletics and build confidence for young girls.

A few areas I’m especially excited to focus on:

  • Exploring ways to support a longer season at Codman Pool.
  • Using both qualitative and quantitative feedback to evaluate programs and help maximize participation and enjoyment.
  • Expanding weekend programming for preschool-age children.
  • Supporting safer bicycle and pedestrian access around town. As an avid distance runner, it’s something I care deeply about and would love to work on in partnership with the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

Thank you for your consideration, 

Hilary Dionne
105 Trapelo Road

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnians. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Police log for March 6–17, 2026

March 6

South Great Road (8:12am) — An officer assisted with a disabled vehicle. The vehicle was moved off the roadway to a nearby parking lot where the operator waited for a tow.

Hanscom Vandenberg Gate (1:43pm) — An officer remained in the area for a scheduled civil protest.

March 7

Old County Road (10:15am) — An officer checked the area for a report of a vehicle parked on the side of the road. The area was checked but the vehicle was gone on arrival.

March 8

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (3:09pm) — Officers assisted the Massachusetts State Police with a motor vehicle crash on Route 2 east.

Mary’s Way (3:43pm) — An officer spoke with an individual who reported a possible online fraud/scam.

Care Dimensions (11:15pm) — An officer spoke to an individual regarding a possible follow-up investigation.

March 9

Juniper Ridge Road (4:00pm) — An officer assisted two drivers with a minor motor vehicle crash after a vehicle failed to yield and struck another. There were no reported injuries. Both vehicles were driven from the scene.

Stonehedge Road (9:33am) — Firefighters responded for a simultaneous report of smoke coming from a home and a possible furnace blowback. It was confirmed to be a blowback; however, Fire Department gas meters found the home charged with carbon monoxide and unfortunately, no CO detectors were present. All residents were safe and firefighters mechanically ejected the CO from the home.

March 10

Concord Road (2:04pm) — Officers were called to a sick raccoon by Marconi’s Auto. The animal was put down.

North Commons (3:47pm and 8:30pm) — Officers responded to the area for an ongoing situation.

Sandy Pond Road (1:15pm) — Police and fire units responded to the area for a one-car crash into a utility pole. The vehicle was towed from the scene and there were no reported injuries.

March 11

Wells Road (12:30am) — An officer spoke with a caller regarding reported suspicious circumstances.

South Great Road (9:57pm) — Several callers reported hearing gunshots in the area. An officer confirmed that the noise (not gunshots) was coming from a construction company doing work on South Great Road.

March 12

Lincoln Road (8:16am) — Several callers reported a two-vehicle crash on Lincoln Road at Pierce Hill. One of the drivers was cited for failing to yield. There were no reported injuries and both vehicles were towed from the scene.

North Great Road (3:12pm) — Police and fire units responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of North Great Road and Bedford Road when a vehicle failed to yield and struck another. There were no reported injuries and both vehicles were able to be driven from the scene.

Concord Road (9:16pm) — Several calls were received for a deceased animal in the roadway. The DPW was notified.

March 13

Bedford Lane (10:28am) — An officer checked the area for a reported suspicious vehicle. The vehicle was gone on arrival.

March 14

Heritage Road, Hanscom AFB (9:07am) — Officers assisted the Hanscom Air Force Security Forces and Massachusetts State Police with a missing person. The missing person was located safe several hours later.

March 15

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (12:13pm) — The fire department responded to a report of smoke in the area. The smoke was discovered to be coming from a nearby controlled and permitted burn.

March 16

Lincoln Road (5:53am) — Several motorists report the railroad gates were malfunctioning. An officer responded and monitored several cycles. Keolis was notified.

Sunnyside Lane (4:19pm) — An officer spoke with a person regarding an incident occurring in another jurisdiction.

Silver Hill (3:48am) — Due to the weather, several downed trees were blocking the roadway. The DPW was notified to remove them.

Twin Pond Lane (10:02am) — A caller reported an issue with the locking mechanism on their door. The caller was advised to contact a locksmith.

The Commons of Lincoln (3:49pm) — A caller reported a past civil issue and requested the police not become involved.

Smith Hill Road (11:02pm) — The fire department responded to a residence for the report of an issue with a buried electrical line. The residential power was shut off and an electrician was caller to the scene.

March 17

South Great Road (1:29pm) — A caller reported a low-hanging wire near the roadway. The wire was not interfering with vehicular or pedestrian traffic but Eversource was notified.

Wells Road (11:45am) — A caller spoke with an officer regarding suspicious activity.

Goose Pond Road (8:52pm) — A caller spoke with an officer regarding unwanted emails.

Legal notice: ZBA (three properties)

LEGAL NOTICE — ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

The Zoning Board of the Appeals of the Town of Lincoln will hold a virtual online public hearing Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 7:00 P.M to hear and to act on the following petitions under the Zoning Bylaws:

New:

  • Nora Iluri, 7 Todd Pond Rd., M/P 162-20-0, for a variance to build a carport over existing paved spot.
  • Gabriel Almodovar and Stela Striligas, 25 Bypass Rd., M/P 110-8-0, for renewal of a special permit for an accessory apartment. 
  • Jane O’Rourke, 29 Lincoln Rd., M/P 143-4-0, for a special permit to construct a shed. 

Note that legal notices often must be posted twice by law. For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.