Subscribe to our mailing list and consider following WestfordCAT on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram for daily updates from Westford’s hometown source for news.
WESTFORD — You may no longer get a physical Finance Committee book mailed ahead of Annual Town Meeting, but it will still remain accessible.
Article 17 in the Annual Town Meeting Warrant would “discontinue the requirement” that the annual Finance committee book be mailed to all households.
Kristina Greene, chair of Westford’s Finance Committee spoke to WestfordCAT on the proposed changes.
“There will still be hard copies available in several locations around town,” Greene told WestfordCAT. “The Cameron Senior Center, J.V. Fletcher Library, Town Hall and the police station.”
She continued, “so if people still want their hard copy they can still pick one up. If somebody wants a hard copy and can’t get one, they can contact the Town Manager’s office and they will get them a copy.”
Greene noted that the change will amount to an approximately $2,500 savings for the town while fulfilling Westford’s sustainability goals of net zero emissions by 2050.
“We don’t want to be mailing 8,500 of them when the majority of them end up, hopefully in the recycling bin but possibly the trash.”
She continued, “It’s something, personally I’d rather spend that $2,500 on something else.”
Greene said the change would prevent a delay for Town Meeting, which nearly became a reality in 2018.
“In 2018 we had trouble finding a printer to print this book,” she said. “We almost had to delay Town Meeting because the bylaw says you must have it out 10 days ahead of Town Meeting and we came really close.”
She continued, “I don’t see that getting better in the future.”
Residents will still receive a one-page mailer with the date, time and location of Town Meeting. The mailer will also include a summary of each article and how to access the Financial Committee book.
Local journalism is vital to our communities. As other publications shift focus toward regional journalism, WestfordCAT continues to provide high-quality hyperlocal reporting to our town, free for everyone to read. So — we have a small favor to ask. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, helps us sustain our journalism and keep our community informed. Please consider supporting WestfordCAT for as little as $1 on PayPal.
