How to Participate in Town Government - Week of June 12, 2022 (Updated)

Image by John Phelan from Wikimedia Commons.

Updated 6/13/2022 at 9:20 p.m.  Newly available information has been added for a Westwood Environmental Action Committee meeting on Thursday. Also, a correction has ben made to Monday's Westwood Youth & Family Services entry. "Acknowledgement of outgoing board member Mary Ellen LaRose" has been corrected to "Acknowledgement of outgoing board members by Mary Ellen LaRose."

Below are ways to participate in upcoming meetings of town government. Some highlights include:

• Monday - Westwood Youth & Family Services holds its annual award ceremony for the Recognize a Youth (RAY) award;

• Tuesday - The public is invited to participate in a meeting regarding Hale's proposal that the town of Westwood purchase a conservation restriction for $10 million in exchange for the benefits of preserving the natural state and recreational opportunities on Hale's land within the town.

Westwood Youth & Family Services Advisory Board & Recognize a Youth Ceremony, Monday, June 13, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. An award ceremony will be held for this year's recipients of the Recognize a Youth (RAY) Award. Acknowledgement of outgoing board members by Mary Ellen LaRose is also on the agenda.

This in-person meeting will be held in the Westwood Public Library Community Room.

Board of Library Trustees Meeting via Zoom, Monday, June 13, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. On the agenda are the Director’s Report, Islington Branch Library, a Strategic Plan update, approval of acceptances and expenditures and new business.

To join, click here. Or visit Zoom, click “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID 871 2438 9640 and passcode 67852.

Hale Task Force Public Meeting via Zoom, Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. In 2019, Hale Education (then Hale Reservation) proposed a conservation restriction on its land in the towns of Westwood and Dover, to those towns, at the cost of $10 million to each. A conservation restriction could ensure that development that goes against the purposes of the conservation restriction would not be allowed, thereby preserving the natural character of Hale and preserving residents' recreational opportunities on the property.

Jack Wiggin and other members of Westwood's Hale Task Force will make a presentation. In January 2022, the Hale Task Force communicated strong support of the conservation restriction to Select Board. It recommended that Select Board present an article at Town Meeting for the purpose of purchasing the proposed conservation restriction. 

The Hale Task Force presentation will be followed by a presentation from Hale Education’s Executive Director Eric Arnold and a presentation by Westwood Land Trust.

Select Board members will also attend.The public will have opportunity to participate with comments.

To join, click here. Or go to Zoom, click “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID 834 2717 6713 and passcode 745884. Alternatively, join by telephone by dialing, toll-free: 888-475-4499 or 833-548-0276 or 833 -548-0282 or 877-853 -5257. 

Additional dial-in numbers are: +1 929-205-6099 or+1 301-715-8592 or+1 312-626-6799 or+1 669-900-6833 or+1 253-215-8782 or +1 346-248-7799.

Zoning Board of Appeals Public Hearing, Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. The board will hold public hearings on:

1. An application for Special Permit and Variance for constructing a new, covered front porch on the home at 55 Webster Street, where the construction will further encroach on an already nonconforming front setback. An addition is also proposed which would render the north side setback nonconforming;

2. An application for a Special Permit to construct an accessory apartment for use as a pool house at 9 Recess Way;

3. An appeal from a decision of Building Commissioner Joseph Doyle that determined that residential use is not allowed in the Local Business B zoning district, where the applicant proposes a second story addition for a home office over an existing garage.

To join, click here. Or visit Zoom, click “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID 814 4528 5188 and passcode 757227. Alternatively, join by telephone by dialing, toll-free: 833-548-0276 or 833-548-0282 or 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499. 

Additional dial-in numbers are: +1 301-715-8592 or +1 312-626-6799 or +1 929-205-6099 or +1 253-2158782 or +1 346-248-7799 or +1 669-900-6833.

Westwood Environmental Action Committee Monthly Meeting via Zoom, Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. The committee will discuss Westwood solar projects, an update on Community Choice Electricity, new initiatives and election of officers for the next term.

To join, click here. Or visit Zoom, click "Join a Meeting" and enter Meeting ID 860 5572 2852 and passcode 799394.  Alternatively, dial by telephone, toll-free: 833-548-0276 or 833-548-0282 or 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499. Or dial by your location: +1 312-626-6799 or+1 929-205-6099 or+1 301-715-8592 or+1 346-248-7799 or+1 669-900-6833 or+1 253-215-8782.

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You may also be interested in:

- Westwood Follows Dover in Recommending Preservation of Open Space at Hale

- Select Board Meeting: Town Makes History and SB Revives Issues of Conservation Restriction, Long-Term Financial Planning Committee

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