WESTFORD — The Select Board is scheduled to meet on Tuesday night – here’s what to expect.
Communication Proposals
The Select Board will consider whether to approve $65,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding for a consultant to develop a communications plan and to offer communications support for one year among other items.
In a memo to the Select Board, Town Manager Kristen Las noted that there is a need for “a more unified communications strategy” for the town.
She said that with current budget constraints looming for FY26, the town is unable to integrate into the operating budget next year.
“With the understanding that the dedicated communications function may go away, with a strong communications plan Westford will be well-positioned in the future to carry out some of these duties with existing staff or we may be able to enhance our communication with a dedicated staff person,” she wrote.
So far, one proposal has been submitted by Pierce-Coté, an Osterville-based firm under Regan Communications Group in Boston.
The proposal calls for social media seminars and staff training, social media monitoring and reporting as well as public relations and crisis communications.
The company would charge $3,500 a month for public relations and crisis communications, $1,750 per seminar for social media training, and $1,800 a month for social media monitoring and reporting.
A second proposal from Capital Strategic Solutions for Jan. 11, 2023 originally submitted to the Town of Hanson was also included in the packet.
Town Hall pilot
Town Hall may see updated hours next January.
In a memo to the Select Board, Las recommended that the town expand its hours into Tuesday evening while shortening its opening hours on Friday.
Las said that the new hours would allow for residents and others to conduct business later into the evening on Tuesdays while improving retention and recruitment by reducing hours on Fridays.
Abutting communities such as Acton, Littleton, Chelmsford, Groton, Tyngsborough and Dunstable already have at least one night with extended hours and reduced Friday hours. Dunstable and Tyngsborough town halls are closed on Fridays.
Additionally, comparable communities like Tewksbury, Stoneham, Reading, Westwood and Westborough among others have either reduced hours or are closed on Fridays, with at least one day with evening hours.
Las proposes that Town Hall will operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday.
If approved, the pilot program will begin on Jan. 6 and last for six months.
How to watch or attend the meeting
Residents may attend the meeting in person in the second-floor conference room in Town Hall, 55 Main St. at 7 p.m. Residents may also participate remotely via Zoom.
Those who wish to tune in may watch the meeting on YouTube, Comcast channel 9, Verizon channel 34 or via Castus.
The meeting may also be accessed via WestfordCAT’s app, which can be downloaded from the App Store, Google Play Store and Roku.
Tuesday’s agenda can be found here. Tuesday’s packet can be found here.
