How to Participate in Town Government - Week of March 5, 2023 (UPDATED)

Image by John Phelan from Wikimedia Commons.

Updated 3/6/2023 at 7:56 p.m. Information for School Committee's public hearing regarding its proposed FY24 budget has been added. Text has been formatted for clarity.

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This week, highlights of Westwood's town government meetings include:  

Tues. 3/7: Planning Board and Conservation Commission both have simultaneous discussions on Tuesday regarding a developer's plans to rehabilitate the historic Obed Baker House.

Thurs. 3/9:  School Committee holds a public hearing regarding its proposed FY 2024 budget.

MONDAY

Select Board Meeting via Zoom, Monday, March 7, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. The public portion of this meeting appears brief, with an agenda consisting  only of the chair's update on Westwood Day, the Annual Town Election, and Westwood Artists library exhibit, before the board enters executive session to consider the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property at Assessors Map 33, Lot 060.

For information on how to join this meeting remotely, click here. This meeting will be broadcast by Westwood Media Center on its YouTube channel.

TUESDAY

School Committee: Superintendent Search Subcommittee Meeting, Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. As of the date of this posting, the sole agenda item for this meeting is an executive session discussion by the preliminary screening committee or candidates for superintendent of Westwood Public Schools. With only an executive session on the agenda, there appears to be no public discussion portion of this meeting at this time.

Dedham-Westwood Water District General Business Hybrid Meeting, Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. On the agenda are reports from the treasurer, business manager, operations manager, and executive director. An update on TTHM at Far Reach Road will be discussed.

This meeting can be attended in-person or remotely. The in-person meeting will be held at 50 Elm Street in Dedham. For information on how to join this meeting  remotely, click here.

Planning Board Public Hearings and Meeting via Zoom, Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. The Planning Board continues public hearings to consider:

• A Flexible Multiple Use Overlay District (FMUOD) special permit for rehabilitation and expansion of the historic Obed Baker House and construction of a new vet clinic at 909 High Street

• AFMUOD special permit for mixed-use redevelopment at 436 Washington Street

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

The board will also consider a request for a release/reduction in surety for homes at 20-79 Abbey Road, and plans involving addresses at: 326 Blue Hill Drive, 345 Nahatan Street, and 78 Fox Hill Road.

A packet of meeting materials is available here. For information on how to join this meeting remotely, click here.  This meeting will be broadcast by Westwood Media Center on its YouTube channel.

Conservation Commission Meeting via Zoom, Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. The commission considers project plans at 909 High Street to convert the Obed Baker house into a residential duplex with rear addition, demolition of the cemetary maintenance shed, and construction of a large, two-story,  commercial building housing an animal hospital. 

A packet of meeting materials is available here. For information on how to join this meeting remotely, click here.

WEDNESDAY

Joint Permanent Building Committee / School Building Committee Meeting via Zoom, Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. On the agenda are updates on construction, schedule, and budget, among other items. 

For information on how to join this meeting remotely, click here.

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Public Hearings via Zoom, Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. ZBA will hold hearings on:

• An application regarding 21 Edgewood Road for construction of a portico over existing front entry stairs on nonconforming lot of 17,157 square feet where 40,000 square feet is required. The exisitng residence is nonconforming with the structure currently violating the front setback, and the portico would extend further into the front setback.

• An application regarding the property at Gay Street, Map 22 Lot 014 for construction of a single-family home with an accessory apartment over the garage.

• A request to change the plans cited in the Special Permit decision recorded in the Town Clerk's office on August 1, 2022.

For information on how to join these hearings remotely, click here.

Conservation Commission In-Person Public Hearings and Meeting, Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. The public has opportunity to comment on:

• New construction at 490 Gay Street
• New construction at 403 Gay Street
• Tear down and rebuild home at 120 Hemlock Drive
• New home, barn improvements and new arena at 215 High Street
• New single-family home and landscapting at 510 Far Reach Road

The commission will also discuss a potential tree policy/ordinance/bylaw and Conservation Land Management Plan. 

A packet of meeting materials is available here. The public hearings and meeting will be held at 50 Carby Street in the Champagne Meeting Room.

THURSDAY

School Committee In-Person Public Hearing on FY24 Budget, Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. The School Committee encourages residents to provide input on the proposed FY24 budget.  This in-person hearing will be held in the Westwood High School Little Theater at 200 Nahatan Street.

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- Proposed Westwood FY24 Overall Budget Summary is Online; Public Input Opportunities in March

- Annual Town Election (Calendar event)

- Dates Set for 2023 Westwood Day, Little League Parade

- Lynne Viti Selected as First Westwood Poet Laureate