Land Acquisition, Stretch Code Among Proposed 2012 Warrant Articles

In an initial overview of what could be voted on at Town Meeting in May, the Westwood Board of Selectmen presented its proposed warrant articles to the Westwood Finance Commission Tuesday night.

Tuesday's presentation was meant to serve as an initial overview of this year's articles, and a number of items could be merged moving forward, while other articles could be dropped.

"Tonight is really just to give us an introduction, so we can start thinking about what the issues are in preparation for Town Meeting,” FinCom Chair Mary Masi-Phelps said Tuesday night.

Land Acquisition to Be Addressed

And among the 47 proposed articles by the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board, what is currently listed as Article 27 could be one of the more complicated items this year, as it involves the potential acquisition of land.

But officials were tight lipped on what that acquisition might entail, and said more discussion needs to be held before releasing more details to the public.

"Without saying too much, we have had some discussion about the purchase of some of what I will call conservation-type land that we think is good for the Town of Westwood," Board of Selectmen Chair Pat Ahearn said Tuesday night.

Ahearn added, "I'm being purposely vague because it is at such a delicate state of discussion that for me to be able to articulate anything further than that, it would put those discussions in even more precarious places than they already are."

As such, the Selectmen would not elaborate, except to say that the acquisition would not exceed any similar purchases of land that have been made within the last 10 to 15 years. The nature of the complications involved relate to potential partnerships between public and private entities, as well as discussion with abutters.

"It's in the works; there are a number of people involved in it," Ahearn said, adding that the Board hopes to iron out more details on which to elaborate within the next 30 days.

Stretch Code Returns

Also sparking some discussion at Tuesday's meeting was , which is currently listed as Article 19. That matter was originally intended to be apart of the 2011 warrant, .

"This was something that came before us a year ago and we passed on it a year ago, as the Board of Selectmen based it on the way we manage our fleet," Ahearn said. "When we voted to put it on the Town Meeting warrant for this year, we were of the opinion that we could continue to manage our fleet the way we are right now.

Much of the concern with the revolved around whether the up-front costs would bring with it adequate benefits down the road. But a new concern raised with the Stretch Code, Ahearn said, was from Westwood Fire Chief William Scoble, who wished to investigate how it could affect building fire codes if adopted.

"There are 104 towns that have adopted the Stretch Code," said Peter Kane, Co-Chair of the Westwood Environmental Action Committee, who was present Tuesday. "It's news to me that Chief Scoble has a concern. I'll certainly sit down and discuss this with him."

Other items to be addressed this year include potentially synchronizing the traffic lights on High Street/Rte. 109 to help alleviate traffic issues, as well as improvements to the town's waste disposal and recycling regulations.

The Board of Selectmen said they will continue to discuss the warrant articles, with more conversation to be held Monday night at the board's next meeting.

Westwood Patch will provide continued coverage of Town Warrant discussions, with updates and details on this year's warrant articles, leading up to Town Meeting in May.