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In case you missed it, here's a quick summary of the information and actions from Select Board at its September 13, 2021 meeting.
Westwood resident Charlies Aries turns 100 years-old. Select Board Chair Michael Walsh recognized Mr. Aries who becomes a centenarian on September 17, 2021. Mr. Walsh noted that Mr. Aries has 20 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren, and offered congratulations to Mr. Aries for reaching this milestone.
A public hearing on the proposed new Hanlon elementary school building project will be held on September 20, 2021 at 6 p.m. at the beginning of the Finance and Warrant Commission meeting.
Westwood Day is Saturday, September 25, 2021. There will be a 5K race at 9 a.m. and a Fun Run at 10 a.m. The Vendor Village, food court, and activities will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A Special Town Meeting will be held on Monday, October 18, 2021 at Westwood High School on Flahive Field. Registration begins at 4 p.m. with business being conducted at 5 p.m.
A Special Town Election will be held on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. Residents will vote on whether to approve funding for the proposed new Hanlon elementary school building project. A majority vote is needed. Voter registration ends on October 6, 2021.
Town Collector Albert Wisialko submitted his resignation, effective September 31, 2021. After holding the position for 31 years, he is moving out of town. Mr. Walsh thanked him for his service and noted that the Select Board is collecting resumes and letters of interest in this now open position until 4:30 p.m. on September 27, 2021. Applicants should note “Town Collector” in the subject line.
Two students from Martha Jones School won the Be Safe and Be Seen Yard Sign Contest held by Massachusetts Safe Routes to School. Molly Shay and Sophia Camillio were in fifth grade at Martha Jones School last school year when they entered the contest. As winners, their yard sign designs, which advocate for safe walking or biking to school, will be displayed throughout the state. The Select Board voted unanimously to allow the Department of Public Works to place Westwood’s six copies of the signs in spots around town.
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Police Chief Jeffrey Silva announced that two members of Westwood Police have been awarded the PSAP Leadership Scholarship. Public Safety Communications Manager Brian Kamp was awarded the honor in the past, and he recently assisted Communications Officer Shawn McKee in submitting his own winning application. Public safety answering points receive 911 calls and determine how to dispatch them. Chief Silva noted that in Westwood, all police, fire, and medical dispatch is conducted by Westwood Police’s public safety staff. Mr. McKee is one of only five people in Massachusetts to receive the award, which was a competitive process. He will receive 14 days of training in Florida.
Select Board unanimously voted to sign a Purple Heart Proclamation and recognize Westwood as a purple heart community. With the approval, Westwood will install a street sign identifying itself as a purple heart community. Additionally, on August 7th of each year, the town will raise the purple heart flag. Westwood is the last town in the West Suburban Veterans Service District to receive this designation, which is made possible by finding a living purple heart veteran residing in Westwood.
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, the town’s population increased by 11 percent, or 1,648 residents, resulting in the need to add a new voting precinct. There are currently four voting precincts, with polling places at the Council on Aging, Sheehan School, Hanlon School and Downey school. A fifth polling place will be added, and boundaries of current voting precincts may change.
Westwood will be obligated to vote to approve new precinct boundaries and submit them to the Local Election Districts Review by October 30, 2021. Upon approval of the changes, Select Board must publish a map or description of the new precinct and post a copy in every precinct. Registered voters who will have their polling location changed will be notified by mail. Changes will be effective on December 31st in the year the changes are adopted.
Select Board voted to approve regulatory agreements for two affordable housing units at 581 Gay Street, 1215 High Street. Both are single family, three bedroom homes that are owned by Westwood Affordable Housing Associates.
A regulatory agreement was also approved for two affordable housing units at 250-256 Washington Street, which are part of the Islington Center Redevelopment Project.
Select Board revisited and granted the request by the developer of the Islington Center Redevelopment Project to delay a traffic signal timing study. Select Board voted to let the developer fill his spaces to 75 percent of occupancy before requiring the traffic signal study. The deadline for the study is December 1, 2022.
Select Board voted to release a quarterly sum of $198,750 from the $3.8 million approved for capital projects this year. Last quarter, $2.7 million was released, largely for department use for maintenance and school maintenance. After the large expenditures of last quarter, this quarter’s spending will be much smaller.
Select Board entered into Executive Session to discuss a strategy for collective bargaining with union personnel.
The next Select Board Meeting will be conducted on Zoom on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at 6 p.m. A review of upcoming meetings also shows that Select Board will be in attendance at the Finance and Warrant Commission public hearing on the proposed new school building on Monday, September 20, 2021.
