How to Participate in Town Government - Week of March 13, 2022 (Updated)

Image by John Phelan from Wikimedia Commons

Updated 2/15/2022 at 8:13 p.m. New information about a Westwood Environmental Action Committee meeting and a School Building Committee Aesthetics and Design Subcommittee meeting has been added to Thursday's schedule.

There are numerous meetings of town government this week.  Of special interest may be the following:

• Monday: Select Board will discuss and potentially amend, accept, and/or remove certain articles for the Annual Town Election
• Tuesday: FinCom discusses and votes on Select Board and Planning Board warrant articles
• Wednesday: Zoning Board of Appeals reviews several issues of nonconforming use or nonconforming structures, Permanent Building Committee reviews and vote on scoring criteria for a general contractor and file sub bid contractors

Select Board meeting via Zoom, Monday, March 14, 2022 at 6:30 pm. The Board of Registrars will attend. Select Board will take action on items that include:

• A potential vote to amend, accept, and/or remove certain articles that will be put to residents’ vote at the Annual Town Election;

• Finalizing a warrant article for the purchase of real property and an easement for 129 Dover Road will be discussed;

• Hanlon School project;

• Polling precinct consolidation;

• Regulatory agreement regarding Highview Street;

• Aid to the Elderly - FY2022 report and reserve request;

• FY 2023 budget update.

The board’s discussion of old business includes making appointments to the Charter Review committee and other boards and committees and discussing the Draft Guidelines for MBTA Compliance for Multi-Family Zoning.

To join, click here. Or visit Zoom, click “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID 893 4275 0013 and passcode 421149. Alternatively, join by dialing, toll-free: 833-548-0276 or 833-548-0282 or 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499.

This meeting will be livestreamed by Westwood Media Center. It will also be broadcast on Comcast Channel 12 and Verizon Channel 42.

Board of Library Trustees meeting via Zoom, Monday, March 14, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. The Library Trustees will discuss updates related to COVID-19, staffing, Friends of Westwood Public Library, 21st Century Fund, and the Strategic Plan. It will also discuss the Islington Branch Library.

To join, click here. Or visit Zoom, click “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID 838 7327 1609 and passcode 157773.

Board of Assessors meeting via Zoom, Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. The board will sign “apportionment of tax on divided real estate” and review Verizon Personal Property Agreement with DOR. It will review and vote on “FY 2022 abatement applications & Open Executive Session Executive Session Script.”

To join, click here. Or visit Zoom, click “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID 848 7594 5568 and passcode 515913. Alternatively, join by dialing, toll-free: 833-548-0276 or 833-548-0282 or 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499.

Finance and Warrant Commission meeting via Zoom, Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Select Board will attend this meeting. FinCom will discuss and vote on selected Select Board and Planning Board warrant articles:

•  Select Board warrant article regarding disposition of land for the rehabilitation and reuse of the Obed Baker House;

• Select Board warrant article regarding an easement for a driveway related to 50 Carby Street;

• Planning Board zoning amendment regarding solar arrays;

• Planning Board zoning amendment regarding redevelopment and reuse of the Obed Baker House;

• Planning Board zoning amendment to give the Building Commissioner discretion to determine whether alterations to nonconforming properties shall be made special permit or by variance;

• Planning Board zoning amendment to change the designation of 394 Providence Highway from Industrial Office District to Highway Business District and to include 396 Providence highway within the Highway Business District;

• Planning Board housekeeping amendments.

To join, click here. Or visit Zoom, click “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID 823 9019 2854 and passcode 877758. Alternatively, join by dialing, toll-free: 833-548-0276 or 833-548-0282 or 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499.

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Personnel Board Meeting via Zoom, Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. The discussion will include two ATP job descriptions and placement on ATP compensation plan, FY 2023 compensation plans, and a summary of the conflict and interest law for municipal employees.

To join, click here.

Sewer Commission Meeting via Zoom, Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.  On the agenda are “I and I Bid Results,” the Clapboardtree pump station, and the pump operator position.

To join, click here. Or visit Zoom, click “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID 836 0603 7254. Alternatively, join by dialing, toll-free: 833-548-0276 or 833-548-0282 or 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499.

Permanent Building Committee meeting via Zoom, Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. On the agenda is a status report from Compass on responses to RFQ, review of and vote on scoring criteria for a general contractor and file sub bid contractors.

To join, click here. Or visit Zoom, click “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID 897 3575 0064 and passcode 664594. Alternatively, join by dialing, toll-free: 833-548-0276 or 833-548-0282 or 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499.

Finance & Warrant Commission meeting via Zoom, Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. This meeting is a continuation of discussion topics from the previous day’s meeting, if continuation is necessary. Select Board will attend if the meeting is held.

To join, click here. Or, visit Zoom, click “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID 896 8033 2953 and passcode 693844. Alternatively, join by dialing, toll-free: 833-548-0276 or 833-548-0282 or 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499.

Zoning Board of Appeals meeting via Zoom, Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting packet is available here. On the agenda are public hearings regarding:

• Application to extend a special permit for the temporary use of a single-family home as a design studio and sales office at 31 Abbey Road;

• Expansion of a nonconforming use with the expansion of a medical center/clinic use within a building at 315 University Avenue;

• Constructing a portico in a nonconforming front setback at 115 Greenacre Road;

• Constructing a new porch that further encroaches into the nonconforming front setback at 55 Webster Street;

• Changing a special permit condition regarding landscape screening of an installed solar array at 461 Sandy Valley Road.

To join, click here. Or visit Zoom, click “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID 845 6015 9201 and passcode 554100. Alternatively, join by dialing, toll-free: 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499.

Westwood Historical Commission meeting, Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. This is an in-person meeting to be held at the Fisher School at 830 High Street in Westwood. The commission will discuss MassDOT and the town’s proposal for roadway reconstruction along Canton Street and the possible extension of Demolition Delay period.

School Building Committee Aesthetics and Design Subcommittee meeting, Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. The subcommittee will discuss updates to various spaces in the building and site signage and building lettering. A vote will be held regarding moving forward on these items. This event will be livestreamed here.  No Zoom or dial-in information has been provided.

Westwood Environmental Action Committee (WEAC) meeting via Zoom, Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. WEAC will discuss updates on a Tree-Plenish program, solar zoning amendments, and Community Choice Electricity program. It will also discuss a letter in support of Hale and Earth Day Planning.

To join, click here. Or visit Zoom, click "Join a Meeting" and enter Meeting ID 816 5530 5488 and passcode 491668. Alternatively, join by dialing, toll-free: 833-548-0276 or 833-548-0282 or 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499.