Westwood Residents Reject Funding Request for Proposed Fire Station 1, Again (UPDATED)

The people has spoken, twice. The May Town Meeting was a joke. And this Select Board should resign. "Mr. Gotti noted that going back to the drawing board would be more expensive than approving the currently proposed design" - are they just threatening us? If they have done their job correctly and build a more reasonable proposal, we wouldn't be stuck with this situation in the first place. And why trying to push the same proposal twice without changing anything? NOs had it in June; why do we have to vote again for the same proposal in September? I would suggest this Select Board to pay for the cost of "going back to the drawing board" themselves - they wasted our money ($5-$7M, WOW) already in the first round of drawing. They are the ones that's NOT respecting the firefighters by proposing something that's not reasonable and wasting our money and time.

I hope last night’s vote is a wake-up call for our town’s leadership, but I am not sure as I said the same thing after the same FS1 proposal was rejected in June. Voters are increasingly aware that their concerns, voiced at various meetings, are heard but rarely acted upon. As an occasional meeting attendee, I consistently leave feeling dismissed, as if elected and appointed officials believe they know better than the residents. This is not how democracy should work. People shouldn’t feel intimidated or excluded from participating in the process. The tone of arrogance from some officials is alienating voters and discouraging engagement.

The recent town meeting, where malfunctioning clickers forced residents to stand for their votes to be counted, was an embarrassment. In a town where a vocal group of self-righteous individuals criticizes dissenters, standing up to vote against the majority takes courage, especially when some of the self-righteous head online to intimidate those who have a different opinion than them. At the same town meeting, the moderator allowed a former resident to waste time with irrelevant comments about her outfit, while shutting down others with pertinent concerns. This lack of control undermines the process and alienates residents who want to contribute. If you want residents to engage in a healthy, productive way, make voting easy, fair, and comfortable. Technical failures and a hostile, condescending environment do not encourage participation.

It’s baffling that the same FS1 proposal, rejected by voters, was presented again without changes. Despite holding a so-called “listening session” over the summer, town officials ignored residents’ concerns and suggestions, pushing forward the identical plan. This dismisses the taxpayers’ voice, treating them as if they’re incapable of understanding the issues. Going forward, know the purpose of a listening session is to gather input not offer lip service. Residents are not naive, they know there are alternatives to relocating FS1 behind Starbucks. The assumption that you can outsmart the community is misguided. Our hardworking residents deserve a say in how their money is spent. Decisions should not rest solely with the planning board, finance committee, or a select few individuals—residents should work alongside you. Time and again, people attend meetings, offer suggestions, and are ignored.

The tone one member of the Select Board is setting is not resonating well with the community. They may be a good person, but there’s a perception problem. Their flippant responses to nervous residents who muster the courage to speak at meetings are disheartening. For example, their condescending remark to resident Ada Zhong online, stating, “I know English is a second language” and “let me familiarize you with an American phrase,” was deeply insulting. If more residents saw this, they might call for their resignation. Equally troubling was their shameless exploitation of the 9/11 tragedy to garner support for FS1, implying that opposing the project disrespects our nation’s heroes. Their statement, “We will mark the 24th anniversary of 9/11… how could any decent American have anything but respect for the finest and bravest we lost that day?” was manipulative and disgraceful. Equating a “no” vote on the FS1 project with a lack of respect for firefighters and EMTs was a shameful tactic. Voters rejected this project once, yet in an undemocratic move, the Select Board forced the same proposal back on the ballot just three months later, disregarding the clear will of the people.

Our firefighters and EMTs are true heroes, risking their lives daily with unwavering courage. They are the ones most harmed by the egos of certain town officials. It’s time to stop allowing a small group to dictate what’s best for our town. Residents may not speak as eloquently as some officials, but that doesn’t make their ideas less valuable. Many are hesitant to run for office or volunteer for boards because they fear personal attacks from a small faction. This does no good for our community. I hope more residents stay resilient despite harsh critics. Every voice in this town matters, even if it’s not the loudest.