State Passes Westwood Town Charter Bill

The home rule charter has passed both branches of the state legislature and was signed into law by Gov. Deval Patrick on Monday, March 19, according to a statement this week from State Sen. Mike Rush (D-West Roxbury) and State Rep. Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham). 

McMurtry filed the bill, which was, in essence, the result of the work or the Westwood Government and Charter Study Task Force, which had begun to research was to update the document in October 2009. The Charter was first adopted in 1970.

The task force engaged in more than 25 public meetings to receive input from residents and local officials. As part of its final report, the task force recommended the following changes to the charter:

• To add a Fall Town Meeting.
• To create an optional pre-petition process.
• To incorporate a periodic Charter review.
• To institutionalize positions within the town's finance department and the role of the Director of Municipal Finance.
• To expand upon responsibilities of the Town Administrator.
• To provide for associate members on various boards.  

"I commend the Task Force, the Board of Selectmen and all contributors for their input in recommending strong modifications to the charter," Rush said in a statement. "Westwood's charter has not been updated significantly since it was adopted. The task force has demonstrated a truly collaborative effort to modernize operations to ensure Westwood's government continues to operate efficiently in our best interest."

Revisions to the charter were brought before Town Meeting in May 2011, when they were approved. The charter will now appear on the town ballot during the April 24 Town Election.