⚠️The Secret Cost of Excess:—13 Bathrooms, 8 Offices, 36,000 Sq Ft for 7 Staff Per Shift and 5 Admin in Westwood’s Proposed Fire Station

On June 3rd, Westwood voters will decide on a $38.1 million debt exclusion override for Fire Station 1, a project costing taxpayers over $72 million over 30 years. That’s an enormous commitment for a 36,000-square-foot building designed to serve just 7 firefighters per shift and 5 administrative staff. The numbers simply do not justify the price tag.

Let’s look at what taxpayers are being asked to fund:

• 13 bathrooms
• 10 dorms
• 8 offices
• 36,000 square feet of space

This is not a public safety necessity. It’s a luxury buildout disguised as essential infrastructure—funded by residents already dealing with inflation, higher childcare and school fees, and rising housing costs. For seniors, it’s retirement savings. For young families, it’s money that could be going to baby formula, groceries.

What's even more concerning is the lack of transparency surrounding this project. The Westwood government has pushed this project forward without adequately informing residents about the specific details of its exorbitant scale. They never proactively told Westwood voters there would be 13 bathrooms or 8 offices. I discovered these critical details through my own independent research. To this day, despite repeated public records requests, the Westwood government still refuses to release complete budget documents for this project. This lack of transparency undermines public trust and makes it impossible for voters to make truly informed decisions.

Compare this to what other towns have managed:

• Bedford, with a similar population, is building a 29,000 sq ft station to meet all its needs—for $32 million.
• Lexington, with nearly double Westwood’s population(projected 33,340 residents compared to Westwood's 16,248) and 60 firefighters, operates a 25,828 sq ft headquarters—with 8 bathrooms, not 13.

• Westwood, with a projected 2025 population of 16,248, is proposing something larger and more expensive than either town.

This kind of waste is especially troubling when we look at Westwood’s demographics. According to the December 2024 Climate Action, Resiliency & Sustainability Plan, 24.6% of residents are over 60, and 5% live in poverty. These are real people with fixed incomes. A 2.6% property tax hike could push some over the edge financially. And this is after years of overrides and escalating municipal costs.

Meanwhile, the Islington Fire Station—built in 2017 at 11,000 square feet—is underused. It has just 3 firefighters per shift, 1 active engine, and 2 unused offices. Why build an enormous second station without addressing the inefficiencies in the one we already have?

Public safety is not the issue. Fiscal discipline is. Voters deserve a plan that meets the town’s needs without bloated spending. If Bedford can do it, so can Westwood.

This project, as designed, does not respect the financial realities of our residents. It’s excessive. It’s wasteful. And it’s unaffordable.

⚠️Important Notice: Special Town Election – Tuesday, June 3, 2025

All voting on Election Day will take place exclusively at the Gymnasium at Westwood High School.

📍The Special Town Election will be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, with polls open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Voting Location for All Precincts

Westwood High School Gymnasium

200 Nahatan Street, Westwood, MA

Details:

https://www.townhall.westwood.ma.us/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/4320/16

Mini Bio: Ada Zhong is a Westwood resident committed to informed decision-making in town. Through independent research and advocacy, she champions fiscal responsibility and greater transparency in local projects and spending.