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Rain in the early morning didn’t change plans to hold Westford’s Annual Town Meeting outdoors on the Trustees Field at Westford Academy on June 12.
It took a few hours but eventually the sun burnt through the clouds as sun hats went on and sweaters came off.
Westford voters acted upon 23 articles at an outdoors Annual Town Meeting on June 12. PHOTOS BY JOYCE PELLINO CRANE
Voters acted upon 23 articles approving or dismissing all but four:
Article 21 — sought approval for up to six Westford restaurants to have drive-thru windows. Lacking a two-thirds majority vote, Article 21 failed to win permitting approval for drive-through windows of up to six along Route 110.
Article 22 — a citizens petition — would have disallowed a failed zoning bylaw proposed change to return to Town Meeting for a period of two years.
Article 23 sought to amend the zoning bylaw to expand the zoning overlay district map for senior residential multifamily overlay districts. The measure failed 88 to 79 votes.
Article 17 was dismissed but select board members voted 5 to 0 to bring the article to Special Town Meeting in the fall. If approved the measure would have outlawed the use of an internal combustion engine on Keyes Pond. Select Board Chair Andrea Peraner-Sweet said she also encouraged petitioner Bruce Bunker to speak with members of the Conservation Commission. [Editor’s note: a mention of Article 17 below was eliminated to avoid confusion.]
Voters approved the remaining articles:
Article 1 — Accept Town Reports.
Article 2 — Approve fiscal 2021 budget adjustments.
Article 3 — Appropriate for perchlorate expenses.
Article 4 — Approve capital appropriations.
Article 5 — Appropriate from sale of cemetery lots receipts reserved for cemetery improvements.
Article 6 — Approve community preservation committee recommendations, including the motion to allow the Community Preservation Committee to apply $2 million to the $18 million project. The motion passed with a two-thirds minority vote.
Article 7 — Amend the wage and classification plan.
Article 8 — Authorize revolving funds.
Article 9 — Approve fiscal 2022 operating budget.
Article 10 — Approve Capital Appropriations.
Article 11 — Appropriate Chapter 90 local transportation funds for roadway maintenance.
Article 12 — Appropriate funds from water enterprise other post employment benefits stabilization fund to the water enterprise budget.
Article 13 — Authorize the select board to accept easements.
Article 14 — Increase the membership of the affordable Housing Trust Committee to include three alternative members.
Article 15 — Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. (Passed 138 to 99).
Article 16 — Authorization for the select board to petition the General Court for one additional chapter 138 section 15 all alcohol package store license to be exercised by Feng You, Inc., located at 175 Littleton Road, Westford.
Article 18 — Amend the Town’s General and Zoning Bylaws to reflect inclusive language.
Article 19 — Establish a municipal charges lien pursuant to general laws Chapter 40, section 58 for unpaid stormwater utility fees.
Article 20 — Amend the zoning bylaw to allow for home occupations by right.
Article 21 — Amend zoning bylaw sections 2.1.1. Establishment, 5.3: Signs, 8: Special districts, 10.2: General definitions, appendix A: Table of principal use regulations, and appendix B: Table of accessory use regulations to define and regulate restaurant drive – through facilities.
Article 22 — Amend section 9.5.1 of the Zoning bylaw to not allow a proposed Zoning bylaw change to return to Town Meeting for two years after an unfavorable vote.
Source: Westford Town Manager’s office.
UPDATE: More information was added to articles 6 and 21.
