The Wellesley Municipal Light Plant (WMLP) was established in 1892. The facility provides electrical power for Wellesley residents and businesses, as well as some Needham residents. The plant has four substations, one of which is located on the Worcester Street grounds of the WMLP. This substation was built in 1968 and was recently renovated, with work ending during the summer of 2009; the Weston Road substation was built in 1959 and renovated in 2005; the substation on Cedar Street was built in 1967; and a fourth substation in Wellesley Hills was built in 1968. In March of 2010, WMLP was among 94 utilities that received the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) recognition from the American Public Power Association. The award is given for providing customers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service. The RP3 recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, training and system improvement. The WMLP's director, Richard Joyce, has been doing his job for the last 15 years, and is looking forward to many more.
The Wellesley Housing Authority provides affordable housing to low and moderate income people. It is located on Barton Street, site of the town's largest public housing development. The town provides two family developments (this and one on Linden Street), as well as four locations for elderly and disabled residents. See the town's website for applications and other information.
The Wellesley Fire Department was established shortly after the town of Wellesley was incorporated in 1881. A fire station was built on the current Worcester Street location of the department's headquarters in 1889. The first version of the building also housed the Police Department, the Board of Health and the Highway Department. That building was demolished in 1987 and replaced with the current headquarters building, which houses Engine 2, Engine 3, Tower 2, the department's administrative offices and a mechanic shop.
The Wellesley Fire Department has 56 employees, including 35 firefighters, 12 lieutenants, four staff captains, a fire inspector, Deputy Chief Jeffrey J. Peterson and Fire Chief Richard DeLorie.
Joseph E. Fiske Elementary School, located on Hastings Road, teaches 375 students in grades K-5. Elaine Harold is the principal. The school's Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) operates a supplementary Web site. The school is named in honor of Joseph E. Fiske, a local politician who was instrumental in leading the separation of Wellesley from the town of Needham in 1881.