Westwood Voters Approve FS1 at Special Town Meeting; Second Vote Required on Question 10, November 3

Contact: FS1 Yes Committee | fs1yescommittee.com | info@fs1yescommittee

Westwood Voters Approve FS1 at Special Town Meeting; Second Vote Required on Question 10, November 3

Article I passed 594 to 76 at Special Town Meeting. FS1 Yes Committee urges residents to vote YES on Question 10, the debt exclusion, and to tell their neighbors and friends.

WESTWOOD, Mass., October 28, 2026: On Tuesday evening at Special Town Meeting, Westwood voters overwhelmingly approved Article I, the budget and borrowing authorization for the new Fire Station 1 (FS1) at the former Deerfield School site. The vote was 594 to 76, or 88.7 percent in favor, among the 670 voters who cast electronic ballots. The not-to-exceed budget is $39.98 million.

One more vote is now required for the project to be approved. Article I approved the budget and borrowing, but voters must still approve a debt exclusion, which exempts the project’s borrowing costs from Proposition 2½. Westwood voters must vote YES on Question 10 on the Tuesday, November 3 ballot. The Special Town Meeting vote was the first step. November 3 is the second vote.

At the beginning of last night's meeting, a practice question used to test the electronic voting clickers revealed that 17 percent of voters in attendance did not realize that a second vote is needed. The Yes for FS1 Campaign is asking residents to help spread the word to friends and neighbors that a majority vote on Question 10 is needed to approve the project.

“We are grateful for the strong show of support at Town Meeting, but the work is not done. Every Westwood voter needs to know that Question 10 is the vote that approves this project.” Said FS1-Yes campaign co-chair Michael Gay.

Early voting is already underway, and residents who have not yet voted can make a plan now to do so. The early voting schedule is available on the Town of Westwood website: https://www.townhall.westwood.ma.us/departments/town-clerk/voting-elections/early-voting-schedule. 

Question 10 is the last question on the ballot, at the bottom of page 3.

The Yes for FS1 Campaign is working to educate residents that a majority vote is needed on Question 10 and to get out the vote. Residents can volunteer, request a yard sign, or make a contribution at fs1yescommittee.com. Please forward this release to your friends and neighbors so that together we can meet this critical public safety need in Westwood.

“Please talk to your neighbors this week. A yes vote at Town Meeting was the first step; a yes vote on Question 10 is what gets the project underway for a new Fire Station 1.” Said FS1-Yes Campaign Co-Chair Dori Parmelee.

Key dates:

• Early voting is underway (see the Town Clerk’s schedule linked above for days and hours)
• Tuesday, November 3: Election Day. Vote YES on Question 10, the last question on the ballot (bottom of page 3)

About the FS1 Yes Committee

The FS1 Yes Committee is a registered ballot question committee formed by Westwood residents, co-chaired by Michael Gay and Dori Parmelee, with Chris Giovino serving as treasurer. Its purpose is to support construction of a new Fire Station 1 through passage of Question 10.

Submitted by the FS1 Yes Committee, Chris Giovino, Treasurer, 476 Everett Street, Westwood, MA 02090.