Most Leftover Westford Streets Will Get FIOS in December Says Verizon

8:05 p.m. to 8:26 p.m.

Tony Vaca and Jim Silva of the Communications Advisory Committee gave an update on additions to infrastructure provided by Verizon. Over the past four years, Vaca said that aerial service requests had already been approved and most of the underground infrastructural improvements had been made, with all improvements to be completed soon.

However, there had been an expectation that all improvements would have been made by Oct. 27

Apparently there had been a miscommunication between the town and Verizon on digging up newly paved streets, as some towns nearby do not allow this.

Some homes will be completed in December, others in April. A representative from Verizon reiterated that virtually all streets in town would have FIOS by the end of the year, and that the company has been working with the town.

Highway Department superintendent Chip Barrett gave an update, and Kelly Ross asked why the underground work was delayed until this year, with the Verizon representative saying underground work was not planned until this year.

Wormell and Peraner-Sweet discussed negotiating tactics with Verizon, with Vaca saying the next step would be a non-compliance notice.

Peraner-Sweet recommended a delay on any action.

8:26 p.m.  to 8:32 p.m. 

Town Manager Jodi Ross asked the board for guidance on the next steps regarding a conservation restriction on the Vose Parcel after attempts to sell the property to four possible non-profit groups had failed.

Town Planner Jeff Morrissette said that due to the costs of conservation restrictions and the small size of the property, these groups were not interested in taking up the restriction.

Brian Skedd, one of the neighbors in the area, said that residents nearby sought an attorney to see if they could form a non-profit.

It would cost approximately $3,000. However, such a body would unlikely qualify to hold a conservation trust, saying that the Board of Selectmen had no obligation to go through with a conservation restriction, and it was best to leave the property in the hands of the Westford Conservation Commission.

No action was taken, with further research required on whether the neighborhood group could hold the conservation restriction, or if a group specifically tasked to conserving multiple properties would be needed.

8:32 p.m. to 8:52 p.m.

A sign request for the Fashion Truck on Main was approved.

Another sign request to give a “welcome to the neighborhood” signs for the Lakeside Village Association was proposed.

Wormell was concerned, saying that if all developments had welcome signs, it would erode the country feel of Westford, stating that the Selectmen generally did not allow these types of signs in the past.

Morissette informed the Selectmen that the signs would be far away from the road and there had been precedent for allowing non-profit groups to put up signs like these.

The majority of the Selectmen wanted the advice of the Planning Board, but also felt the signage was appropriate given how far inside the development it was, pending fire and police approval and if the Planning Board felt it was appropriate.

A new sign for Sandisk was quickly approved.

8:52 p.m. to 8:58 p.m.

A request to change the permit relating to the Chamberlain Road house move was taken out of order.

The permit was unanimously approved to allow Nov. 23 as a second rain/snow date if Nov. 21 and 22 had weather issues.

The Selectmen provided a letter for Rose F. Limo to give to Massport.

8:58 p.m. to 9:14 p.m.

Town Manager Jodi Ross began a presentation on the FY ’15 proposed town budget.

There were several main goals to this fiscal year’s budget, including just to name a few…

·         Funding all debt obligations and existing contracts

·         Maintain level funded services

·         Maintain Other Post-Employment Benefit (OPEB) obligations

·         Sustain town assets through capital investment

All departments received an approximate 4.5 percent funding increase, but no new positions were added. Debt service funding was decreased by approximately 6 percent.

Projected revenues are higher than the previous year, thanks in part to new projects such as Cornerstone Square. There was also a slight increase in state aid.

Approximately 9 percent of the budget was made of up cash reserves.

Other highlights of Ross’ presentation included

·         a health insurance stabilization fund of $500,000 that would allow a 4 percent reduction in the health insurance budget

·         fully funded town/school and water department OPEB obligations

·         an additional $2.2 million for Westford Schools and approximately $800,000 extra for all other departments.

·         $400,000 extra for snow and ice removal

·         $250,000 extra for perchlorate expenses.

·         Transferring $100,000 from the school budget for wastewater treatment.

These figures were reached in part due to zero percent salary increases by town unions in recent years with minimal cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increases.

Currently the town expects to be approximately $500,000 over recommended minimum reserves.

9:14 p.m. to 9:20 p.m.

Requests for various holiday events and banners were approved, and the date for the follow up to the NMCOG Town Center study is on Dec. 2

Ross presented her report, which included the establishment of a Healthy Lakes and Ponds Collaborative,  an economic guide from the Business Development Committee, and a request to approve the surplus policy and a company that wants to provide recycling for the town.