WESTFORD CENTER — The Select Board’s Feb. 10 meeting focused heavily on town communications, including review of a proposed Communications Plan and presentation of a 2026 community engagement strategy.
Residents weigh in on Communication Plan
An Open Forum featured warm appreciation and constructive critique.
Resident Diane Wood commended Assistant Town Manager Mike Edwards and Select Board member Noel Donovan for a highly successful Pay-As-You-Throw public forum held earlier at Cameron Senior Center, which drew roughly 60 residents and prompted numerous requests for similar future sessions.
“People don’t really know that level of detail,” Wood said, adding that the event underscored the ongoing need for clear, accessible communication.
Resident Emily Teller expressed disappointment with the 65-page draft Communication Plan prepared by Capital Strategic Solutions (CSS), describing much of the document as “boilerplate” that felt generic rather than tailored to Westford. She questioned the guidelines suggesting minor police activity should not generate press releases and noted the absence of WestfordCAT as a recognized local communication vehicle.
“I felt it didn’t sound like it was made for Westford,” she said, adding that the document may be difficult for the average resident to navigate.
Town Manager Kristen Las acknowledged that all town departments have reviewed the plan internally and that CSS has been conducting communications training with staff over the past year.
Vicky Geary from the League of Women Voters of Westford requested that the town create a centralized email address for all boards and committees to simplify public communication. The proposal would allow residents to send a single message to an entire board rather than copying individual members.
“It’s about making the voters feel heard,” Geary said.
Board members asked that the issue return at a future meeting with additional analysis and potential implementation options.
Proposed 2026 communications strategy
CSS representatives Nichol Figueiredo and Liz Kalajian presented the plan as a “living document” designed to improve transparency, coordination, and resident engagement. They emphasized that it will evolve over time as communication needs change.
In addition to the communications framework, CSS presented a proposed 2026 strategy focused on deeper, “boots on the ground” engagement.
CSS described the approach as moving beyond one-way announcements toward “story-driven” communication to build trust and stronger community connection.
Board members generally expressed support for the expanded outreach model but raised several concerns.
John Cunningham questioned whether formal communications policy should precede the operational plan and expressed unease with language that appeared to position the Town Manager and a Public Information Officer (PIO) ahead of the elected board.
Chris Barrett questioned the absence of explicit protocols for school-related crises and asked that real-world examples illustrate how the plan would function.
Several members and residents voiced support for greater transparency and easier two-way communication. Las noted the town plans to conduct a resident survey later this year to measure whether communications have improved and gather feedback for future refinement.
WestfordCAT seeks consideration as newspaper of record
Sarah Fletcher, executive director of WestfordCAT, addressed the Board regarding the town’s newspaper of record designation.
Fletcher stated that WestfordCAT now meets eligibility criteria under Massachusetts General Laws, citing its digital publication history, yearlong print edition, and growing subscriber base. She suggested a trial period in which the town could continue using the Lowell Sun while also testing WestfordCAT’s capacity to serve as the official publication outlet.
The matter was acknowledged by the Board and will be discussed further at a future meeting.
The meeting concluded after extended discussion on communications strategy and future engagement efforts. The Select Board is expected to revisit several of these issues in upcoming sessions.
