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6-28-2025 1:05am
Westwood Select Board Urges Civic Volunteerism, Approves Contracts for 3 Top Staff Positions
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Image of Westwood Town Hall by John Phelan via Wikimedia Commons.
Westwood Select Board, at its remotely held meeting of June 23, urged interested residents to apply to many currently open volunteer positions in town government, and also unanimously approved new, 3-year contracts for Deputy Town Administrator Molly Fitzpatrick and Finance Director/Treasurer/Collector Stephanie McManus, and a 25-day contract extension for outgoing Town Administrator Christopher Coleman.
Select Board also approved a long slate of residents, that they reappointed and newly appointed, to various town government boards and committees.
Regarding the open positions that remain, Select Board will seek to install new members to the Long Range Financial Planning Committee. This committee will have the important task of reviewing feasibility studies for building and investments related to Westwood Public Schools along with municipal government.
Vacancies, besides those on the Long Range Financial Planning Committee, currently include seats on the following:
- Commission on Disability
- Historical Commission
- Housing Partnership Fair Housing Committee
- Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee
- Recreation Committee
- Cultural Council
As stated on the Town of Westwood’s website, residents interested in serving on town government can email a resume and statement of interest to the Select Board at selectboard@townhall.westwood.ma.us
or mail the Select Board Office at 580 High Street, Westwood MA, 02090.
Select Board Member Marianne LeBlanc Cummings urged residents, including those new to Westwood, to get involved.
“Our government is simply residents who have stepped up to volunteer, like ourselves. . . . And especially if you’ve not been involved before, there is a place for you within our town government,” she said.
Select Board Chair Robert Gotti encouraged busy residents to make time to volunteer for town government. He described residents’ personal involvement and civic volunteerism as “paramount” to the open type of government adopted by Westwood.
“Our form of government doesn’t work without people giving of their time and their talent,” he said. He commented that when people fail to make time to learn about the issues raised in town governance, it can lead to something akin to “outsourcing” of personal opinions.
“This is the most democratic place on earth when it comes to our form of government, with Open Town Meeting,” said Mr. Gotti. Every resident is a legislator. Every registered voter has a vote, has a say.”
Regarding employment contracts for the town’s deputy town administrator and its finance director/treasurer/collector, Town Counsel Pat Ahearn highlighted that these 3-year contracts provide for an increase in compensation for each year of their duration. Otherwise, other terms of are “pretty standard,” he said.
Regarding the 25-day extension to the town administrator contract, he noted that short contracts are “more difficult,” but also described Mr. Coleman’s contract as “pretty standard.” Mr. Ahearn pointed out that it includes 2 percent increase to base pay, which he noted that all town employees have received.
Select Board quickly approved all three staff contracts without issue.
As Select Board begins its search for a new town administrator with the impending departure of Mr. Coleman, Select Board Chair Gotti described his plans to convene a committee of seven people who will screen candidates that are identified with the help of an executive search company. After the screening committee narrows down the candidates, Select Board will consider three finalists, said Mr. Gotti. As chair, he then tasked each Select Board member to recommend two residents for the screening committee by July 1.
A screening committee was established by a past Westwood Select Board for help with filling a vacancy in Westwood's town administrator position, which resulted in Select Board hiring Mr. Coleman in 2019. Counsel Ahearn recalled that back then, the initial screenings of that public body were conducted privately through executive session, but discussions with finalists were conducted publicly.
Updated 6/28/2025 at 10:19 a.m.
