The Westford Select Board held a wide-ranging meeting on Monday, May 11 that included board reorganization, budget transfers, updates on the town’s upcoming Pay-As-You-Throw trash program, approval of community requests, and recognition of the Department of Public Works.
Board reorganization
During the annual reorganization portion of the meeting, Select Board Chair Tom Clay formally passed the gavel to newly-elected Chair Chris Barrett following unanimous board approval.
Sean Kelly was selected to serve as Vice Chair, while Noelle Donovan was appointed Clerk.
The board also officially welcomed newly-elected Select Board member Elizabeth Sawyer.
Sawyer introduced herself as a long-time town volunteer with experience on the Recycling Commission and in school-related activities. She said she was excited to contribute to the town at a broader policy level.
“I’m just incredibly excited to be a part of this board and working on the big picture sections of the town,” Sawyer said.
Clay thanked fellow board members and town staff for their support during his tenure as Chair.
Election workers, Apple Blossom Festival recognized
Board members thanked election workers and town staff for a smooth May 5 town election.
Officials also highlighted several upcoming community events, including the annual Apple Blossom Parade and carnival, as well as the First Parish Church pancake breakfast.
Board members congratulated Westford Academy student Kate Kelly, who was named Massachusetts Journalist of the Year for her work with the school newspaper, The Ghost Writer.
The board recognized Westford Pack 100 Scouts for removing 75 pounds of trash from East Boston Camps as part of the Scouts volunteer effort.
PAYT Trash Program rollout continues
Town staff provided an update on the implementation timeline for Westford’s upcoming pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) trash program, scheduled to launch July 1.
Town Manager Kristen Las explained that trash carts are expected to begin arriving at households in early June, with deliveries taking place over approximately two weeks.
The town is also preparing an online eligibility checker that will allow residents to verify how many carts their property will receive.
Officials said the tool is intended to identify address discrepancies, particularly at multi-family homes and accessory dwelling units.
Additional information regarding approved bag vendors and rollout logistics is expected to be released in early June through the town website, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.
The Select Board plans to include a dedicated PAYT update during its May 26 meeting.
Budget transfers approved
Meeting jointly with the Finance Committee, the Select Board approved two fiscal year 2026 budget transfers.
The largest transfer, totaling approximately $396,899, will fund firefighter contract obligations following a recently finalized firefighter contract.
Finance Director Dan O’Donnell explained that the union contract had expired in June 2024, requiring retroactive payments and updated funding allocations.
A second transfer of $9,700 will return proceeds from retired police cruiser auctions back to the police department budget for future cruiser outfitting expenses.
Town officials noted that the town received substantially more revenue through auction sales than through standard trade-in offers.
Public Works Week proclaimed
The board unanimously proclaimed May 17–23 as National Public Works Week in Westford.
Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Kyle Fox addressed the board, emphasizing the often-unseen nature of municipal infrastructure work.
“Our team shows up every day with a shared commitment to keeping this town functioning, safe, and moving forward,” Fox said.
The proclamation recognized DPW employees for maintaining roads, water systems, stormwater infrastructure, parks, cemeteries, fleet operations and public facilities.
Board members praised the department’s recent accomplishments, including sidewalk improvements, recreation projects, shade structures at Forge Pond Playground, and field upgrades throughout town.
Redgate seeks support for historic house preservation
Representatives from Redgate requested a letter of support for a state Underutilized Properties Program grant tied to the redevelopment of the former Westford Regency property at 219 Littleton Road.
The proposed redevelopment includes 300 multi-family housing units along with public open space amenities.
A major component of the proposal involves preserving the site’s historic house and converting it into a community-oriented amenity space featuring:
Redgate representatives said rehabilitation costs for the historic structure are estimated at approximately $1.4 million, with the grant application seeking up to $1 million in funding.
Several residents spoke in support of expanded bicycle amenities, particularly in connection with the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and future Route 110 corridor improvements.
The Select Board unanimously approved the requested support letter.
Code of Conduct discussion continues
Board members continued discussions regarding a proposed code of conduct for town boards and committees.
Board member Noelle Donovan explained that earlier versions of the document had been significantly shortened after months of revisions and feedback.
The revised draft centers on four core themes:
- Serving with integrity
- Collaborating respectfully
- Respecting roles and boundaries
- Modeling constructive engagement
Several board members said the document was intended to promote professionalism and civility in local government interactions.
Town officials plan to seek final feedback from town counsel before bringing the proposal back for formal adoption later this month.
October Special Town Meeting scheduled
The board voted to schedule the 2026 Special Town Meeting for Monday, Oct. 26 at Westford Academy.
Town officials anticipate several potential articles, including:
- Firefighter contract funding adjustments
- Energy storage zoning amendments required by the state
- Additional financial and planning matters
Soccer donation accepted for future turf replacement
The board accepted a $6,148 donation from the Westford Youth Soccer Association to support future refurbishment of the newly-completed Nutting Road turf fields.
Town officials said the contribution reflects an effort to proactively build reserves for future capital maintenance rather than relying entirely on taxpayers for eventual replacement costs.
Additional updates
The board appointed Paige Connell and Seema Pusalkar to the town’s 300th Anniversary Committee, which is continuing to recruit additional volunteers.
Town officials also previewed a busy May 26 meeting agenda expected to include a library building project update, Affordable Housing Trust discussions, Open Space and Recreation Plan updates and PAYT implementation updates.
