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WESTFORD — Welcome to the June 19 edition of Weekend Wrap-Up. Here, we highlight the most important news you may have missed this week in Westford.
I’m back in Westford, so expect much more content in the days to come.
Voters approve funding for Cameron HVAC upgrades, energy management
Voters approved Article 6, which covered the funding of a new HVAC system for the Cameron Senior Center and proposed an Energy Management Services Agreement, which will improve energy efficiency within the new system.
Both cooling and heating will be provided as needed throughout the entire building, as well as improve the building’s control system and modify its ventilation system.
“We can have the best of both worlds if we vote on both motions […] we can have comfortable seniors and a working system,” said resident Sue Thomas.
The HVAC system would also allow the center to reduce its natural gas consumption, with its total energy consumption expected to reduce by fifty percent.
Electronic vote tabulators approved for Town Meeting
In a split vote, residents approved Article 1, which authorized the use of tabulators for the current Town Meeting.
Previously, the process for tracking hand-counted votes could take up to twenty minutes. With clickers, the same process takes seconds. Majority votes will still use physical cards.
Also known as “clickers”, these devices counted votes for the first time at Westford’s Town Meeting.
By shortening this process, officials hope the change will increase accessibility and turnout for future meetings, should they continue use.
“We want to bring more people into [the voting] practice, and ensure that as many people partake in our democracy as possible,” said Town Moderator Angela Harkness.
These clickers were only approved for the current Annual Town Meeting, and residents did not vote to authorize their use for future meetings.
Westford Superintendent Update – June 14th, 2022
In the final Superintendent Update for the 2021-2022 School Year, Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Chris Chew addresses you from The East Boston Camps and 5th Grade Camp day!
Catch the next Superintendent Report this coming August near the start of the 2022-2023 School Year.
Watch the update below!
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