How to Participate in Town Government - Week of February 5, 2023 (Updated 2/10/23)

Image by John Phelan from Wikimedia Commons.

Of special interest in this week's meetings of Westwood town government:

Mon. 2/6: Long Range Financial Planning Committee meets to discuss capital projects, financial policies and approach to planning.

Tues. 2/7: Charter Review Committee discusses the Westwood Minute opinion piece by John Aram regarding the proposal to change the positions of town treasurer and collector from elected to appointed. Planning Board holds many public hearings and discusses a new Downey Street sidewalk and potential changes to zoning bylaws.

Wed. 2/8: Conservation Commission continues public hearings on a Downey Street sidewalk. It discusses a potential tree policy and Conservation Land Management Plan.

Thurs. 2/9: School Committee deliberates over FY 2024 budget and discusses search for a superintendent. Commission on Disability discusses inclusion in Westwood Recreation programming

Long Range Financial Planning Committee Meeting via Zoom, Monday, February 6, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. The committee will discuss financial policies, Proposition 2 1/2,  an approach to planning and review capital projects. 

For information on how to join remotely, click here.

Martha Jones Elementary Site Council Meeting (hybrid), Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. School Council member parents and staff will discuss norms and expectations, review a Welcoming Schools Survey and a School Resources Survey, discuss budget, extended day and goals. 

This meeting can be joined in person or via Zoom. The meeting location is the Martha Jones School Library at 80 Martha Jones Road. For information on how to join remotely, click here.

Board of Registrars Meeting via Zoom, Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. Discussion will include giving authorization to the town clerk and town employees to "perform all the actions required by 950 CMR 55.02 and MGL c.53 Section 7 for 2023". Also to be discussed are voting by mail including access for disabled voters, absentee voting, in-person early voting, address confidentiality.

For information on how to join remotely, click here.

Charter Review Committee Meeting (in-person), Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. The committee will discuss the opinion article published in Westwood Minute regarding the proposal to change the town treasurer and collector positions from elected to appointed. It will also discuss presentation(s) at the Finance and Warrant Commission.

This meeting will be held in the Jaillet Meeting Room of Westwood Police Station at 588 High Street.

Dedham-Westwood Water District General Business Meeting (hybrid), Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.  On the agenda is a presentation on Treatment Alternatives for Sodium, PFAS,  and TTHM reduction and review of illegal use of a hydrant near Weatherbee Avenue from April 2018. There will also be reports from the treasurer, business manager, operations manager, and executive director, including an update on January PFAS and TTHM sampling.

This meeting can be joined in-person or via Zoom. The meeting location is 50 Elm Street in Dedham. For information on joining remotely, click here.

Planning Board Public Hearings and Meeting via Zoom, Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.  Planning Board holds public hearings on a number of topics:

• removing approximately 35 trees within the public rights-of-ways of Downey and Canton streets in conjunction with a new sidewalk

• considering a wireless communication overlay district Environmental Impact & Design Review (EIDR) approval for DISH wireless collocation at 100-200 Lowder Brook Drive;

• EIDR approval for change of use for Astrea Bioseparations at 200 University Avenue

• consideration of a Flexible Multiple Use Overlay District  (FMUOD) Special Permit for Mixed-use Redevelopment at 436 Washington Street

• consideration of FMUOD Special Permit for Rehabilitation and Expansion of Historic Obed Baker House and
  construction of a new veterinary Facility at 909 High Street;

• Limited environmental impact and EIDR of an exempt use for alterations to an equestrian facility at 205-215 High Street

• Potential amendments to zoning bylaws related to sustainability, dumpsters, and earth material movement

For information on joining this meeting remotely, click here. This meeting will also be livestreamed on Westwood Media Center's YouTube channel.

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Council on Aging Meeting (in-person), Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. On the agenda are updates on the tax work off program, programs, budget, transportation, friends and other items. 

This meeting will be held at Westwood Senior Center at 60 Nahatan Street.

Joint Permanent Building Committee/School Building Committee Meeting via Zoom, Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. The committee will discuss updates on construction and schedule, PCO#2 abatement discussion and possible vote, among other items.

For information on joining this meeting remotely, click here.

Conservation Commission Public Hearings and Meeting (in-person), Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. The commission will take action on the issue of tree trimming on conservation land at 16 Blue Jay Road. The discussion of a  potential tree policy/ordinance/bylaw and a potential Conservation Land Management Plan will be continued.

Public hearings will include review of a request to construct three additions at 156 Sunrise Road, replacing a failing septic system at 10 High Rock Street, land disturbance over 5,000 square feet at 26 Dartmouth Street. 

There will also be continuation of public hearings regarding a Downey Street sidewalk, an addition at 7 Little Boot Lane, new home and improvements to barn and new arena at 215 High Street and new home construction and landscaping at 510 Far Reach Road.

This meeting will be held in the Champagne Meeting Room at 50 Carby Street.

Commission on Disability Meeting via Zoom, Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. The commission will discussion inclusion in Westwood Recreation programs, School Street Playground, legislative updates, and other items.

For information on joining this meeting, click here.

School Committee In-Person Meeting, Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. The committee will hold deliberations on the FY 2024 budget and make equity audit recommendations. There will be updates on the superintendent candidate search and the school building project, among other items.

This meeting will be held at Westwood High School in the Josepha Jowdy Little Theater at 200 Nahatan Street. It can also be viewed live on Westwood Media Center's YouTube Channel, and will be recorded for later viewing.

Updated 2/10/23 at 5:36 p.m. The link has been corrected to John Aram's opinion article, "OPINION: Pros/Cons of Changing Westwood's Treasurer, Tax Collector from Elected to Appointed Positions."

Updated 2/9/2023 at 6:00 p.m. Newly available information has resulted in a School Committee meeting being added to this list of meetings.

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- OPINION: Pros/Cons of Changing Westwood's Treasurer, Tax Collector from Elected to Appointed Positions

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