WESTFORD’S ALTERNATIVE CANDIDATE

Meghan O’Connell:  An Alternative To Westford’s Status Quo

Meghan O’Connell has been making herself known in town in recent years both as a candidate for the school committee and as a defender of the second amendment. This year, as a candidate for the select board, she has been catapulted into the spotlight as the leading challenger and critic of the town’s unprecedented 6.8M proposition 2 ½ override proposal. Meghan proudly boasts that she is the only candidate that has clearly and unequivocally stated her opposition to it.  Her reason is very simple, the town has not done enough to save money and the select board went to the override as their first option not their last.

O’Connell puts a lot of stock in history referencing an override attempt in 2005, when the school budget was only 33M. The override that year would have supported 9% of the school budget. The override failed but the school budget still went up by 12.9% the next year. The bottom line; there was funding available, but an incentive was needed to find it. Overrides remove the incentive. O’Connell has estimated that with a declining school population and bringing the school bus operations in house, another 1.3M can be saved in the school budget. 

Other savings can be realized through improving the collection rate with the ambulance enterprise, which she claims is far below that of area towns, and by tapping into the town’s stabilization fund which she estimates is between 8 to 9M, claiming this will not jeopardize our bond rating.  O’Connell has strong reservations about going all in on a tax increase, when so many variables outside the town’s control such as inflation, health insurance costs, energy costs and depleting state aid are driving the increases.  She recommends buying time to see if these factors will improve and start restructuring if they don’t. 

Much of her focus is reigning in school spending.  She recommends “mothballing” the Blanchard Middle School, closing it to save administrative costs, while keeping it in reserve in the event of new surge of school children from potential development.  In that regard, she is hesitant to support the proposed MBTA zoning plan.  While she does not advocate opposing it, she believes the town should support only minimal compliance, capping potential development at the state mandated level of 950 units and no more. She does not support the 4500 units proposed by the town.  Her concern is a surge in traffic and an increase in school students.  She estimates in a worse case scenario an 800K town budget deficit, if development in the proposed zone came on line all at once.

Concern over a shrinking commercial tax base is also one of O’Connell’s concerns. She points to the fact that the tax burden shouldered by Westford’s residential property owners over commercial owners has increased to 90% from 86% a few years ago.  This trend appears to be continuing. She said it is critical to find ways to attract business to Westford in order to reverse this trend.  Comparing and examining Westford’s tax policies with those of other communities is imperative she says, pointing to Billerica and Chelmsford as models to study.   

O’Connell offers a very unique and relevant background for public service.  A graduate of Catholic University in Washington, she is a bio-medical engineer and currently the Director of Quality at Valerio Therapeutics.  She has a very in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Massachusetts bio-tech industry, and says her strength lies in analyzing operations to find efficiencies, while balancing the needs of stakeholders and customers in delivering products.  As a transgender woman she also has a very deep personal understanding of the challenges faced by transgender people. However, she believes that the personal issues related to gender transition rests primarily with children and their parents not with the schools.  On the question of transgender athletes, O’Connell is sensitive to the concerns that this issue presents, noting a preference to consider cases on an individual basis; but offering that the decision to opt for transgender requires sacrifices. One such sacrifice may be the opportunity to compete in athletics.   She also noted that being transgender has given her a strong appreciation for the second amendment stating: “there are people who believe I do not have the right to exist.”   Meghan O’Connell will be on the May 7^th town ballot challenging incumbent John Cunningham for his seat on the Select Board.

Editorial:

JUSTICE FOR COLUMBUS:  Vote ‘Yes’ on Article 22

The history of society for most of human existence, has been nothing more than the story of masters and slaves. Human consciousness seemed incapable of conceiving existence in any other way.  A radical change occurred on April 19^th 1775, when farmers marched to the Concord bridge and offered armed resistance against an oppressive British Crown.  The ensuing American Revolution ended British colonial rule in America and gave birth to a new nation, a new consciousness and a new era in history in which the universal right to freedom for all people was now proclaimed.

However, the evolution of this consciousness had not yet been fully realized in 1775. The spiritual chains that held the old master-slave paradigm together had been loosened but not severed. The final break came 90 years later, with the defeat of the confederacy in the American Civil War and ending chattel slavery in the United States.  The logic supporting all master-slave societies had now been broken. A powerful vision of universal freedom had been vindicated in blood and its energy was now unleashed.   

Christopher Columbus is a critical figure in this saga.  Yet, he has been accused of racism and of being a progenitor of slavery in America. Many want to ban him from historical memory. Slavery, as we know it, was introduced into the colonies by the British Empire, not by Columbus.

His detractors conveniently forget that he was a man of his time. The struggle for dominance to include slavery was the way of his world.  Europeans, Native Americans, Asians and Africans all engaged in it. The world was tribal, acquiring power and wealth were the driving motives of all human societies big or small. Columbus never experienced the fullness of the evolving spirit of freedom, because in his day, that spirit had not yet been born

However, wittingly or unwittingly he made its birth possible.  As an explorer and a man of science in its rudimentary stages, he challenged the prevailing superstitions of his time and risked his life in pursuit of scientific truth.  His discovery of America was a triumph against ignorance of which superstitions like racism are fruits.  Columbus was among the first to peel away the mask of human ignorance.    Centuries later, the science to which he was devoted eradicated ancient assertions of racial superiority.  But equally important, it was Christopher Columbus, who discovered the land upon which the great struggle for human liberation was to play out.  For these reasons, justice demands that he be remembered.    Support Article 22.

THE VOTE ‘NO’ ANTI OVERRIDE PAMPHLET IS ATTACHED

The Pamphlet offers a  comprehensive look at the override and its impacts.  Study it well before Town Meeting this Saturday April 27.2024   WA Football field.   

Call To Order at 9AM sharp.   

Get there early !

Finance Committee Member Explains The Opposition Position

Finance Committee member Dennis Galvin was interviewed last week by Kathy Lynch the host of Second Opinion, the Republican sponsored public affairs program on WCAT. The subject was the ins and the outs of the proposed proposition 2 ½  override facing voters at Westford’s annual town meeting on Saturday April 27^th 2024.  The Finance Committee is established under state law to provide oversight and recommendations to the town with regard to its financing.  Galvin was one of two members, who opposed the override and during this edition of Second Opinion he explains why.

Galvin identified the difference between the town budget and the school budget, a difference which he said was established in state law, and noted on the town side several issues that needed to be addressed, specifically the top heavy management structure of the town’s public safety sector, deficiencies in vendor contract management and fleet vehicle management and a move to transfer town employees, hired with federal emergency funds, over to the town side budget.  In the school budget Galvin charged that the school committee overcommitted the town in contract settlements particularly with reading and math interventionists. Increases were justified utilizing a “market basket” of communities with average per capita incomes of 96K while Westford’s is 72K  He also noted that the school-department is holding some three million dollars in reserve funds, some of which can be applied to offset costs in the school’s operating budget, but no one has taken the time to figure out how much.

There were essentially three factors driving this override, said Galvin.  The first are the inefficiencies noted in town management, discussed above.  The second is related to rising inflation, health insurance and energy costs caused by failed policies in Washington and the third is a pullback by Beacon Hill of its commitment to local aid. He offered his recommendations for improving the town’s fiscal situation: (1) scale down public safety management, improve contract and vehicle management and freeze hiring (2) pressure our state representative and senator to better represent the town on Beacon Hill; if that doesn’t change begin to seriously examine regionalization (3) Change the administration in Washington.

Impacts were discussed. Galvin said that the tax hit for the owner of a 568K home would be about $500.00 plus with a $100.00 increase for each hundred thousand dollars of property valuation.  This does not include additional costs related to the debt exclusion for the library or the annual CPA assessment, both come in at about $200 each.  Galvin warned that the burden for the debt exclusion will not remain stable but will increase. As to service loss if the override fails, Galvin listed a loss of 2 police officers, 2 firefighters and 1 public safety dispatcher.  On the school side he said that 47 school personnel would be laid off, twelve teachers and the rest would impact the reading and math intervention program.

Town meeting is scheduled for 9.00AM on Saturday April 27, 2024at the Westford Academy football field.  Voters will also face a ballot question on this issue in the May 7^th town election.  We recommend you get there early.

Watch Second Opinion

Annual Town Meeting Update

Please Make Note Of This Second Change

Due to a conflicting calendar of events at Westford Academy, the Westford Select Board recently voted to change the date of town meeting from  Saturday May 4^th to Saturday April 27^th, 2024.  The start time will remain at 9AM.  

This time the meeting will be held outdoors on the WA football field.   A large crowd is still expected.  Registration will begin at 8A.  The Town Warrant remains the same.  The massive override measure will lead the warrant.  If you want your opinion and vote registered you must show up early.  

Additionally, at the end of the meeting voters will have the opportunity to decide whether to reinsert Columbus Day onto the October holiday date adding it to the town’s celebration of Indigenous people’s day.

For those looking for “ No Override- Don’t Tax Me Out”  signs, see link below.

Link To Request Vote No Yardsigns

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15aS7XulTYt7x_lw4jmCvwgpEOWsr65MX9ue63gwdE14/viewform?edit_requested=true

Editorial –  Annual Town Meeting

Historical Crowd Overwhelms Building Capacity Forcing TM Shutdown

There was a time when the Westford town moderator, along with the Select Board would express concern over the lack of attendance at town meeting.  Not any more.   Nothing like banning guns or raising taxes to get everyone’s attention. On Saturday, over 1600 town residents assembled at Westford Academy (WA) on a cold, rainy and wintry morning to do political battle at annual town meeting over a proposed massive proposition 2 ½ override.  They were abruptly told that they must “stand-down” and wait until May for the final showdown on the issue.   Despite intermittent boos and grumbles, the crowd took the news in an orderly manner and respectfully filed out of the building, while returning their vote clickers.   This says a lot for Westford.  Imagine if this happened in Brockton.

The size of the crowd overwhelmed the physical capacity of WA to accommodate residents, forcing a cancellation of the spring town meeting.  The historical cancellation was due in part to the fact that the crowd capacity exceeded limits set by state and local fire codes for the building.  There was also a legal issue as to whether the town could face court action, if it denied entrance to a town voter, who wanted to participate in “open” town meeting.   A once theoretical question was answered today.  Yes.

This is now the second instance in succession, where a volatile issue has resulted in an unprecedented turnout of Westford voters wanting to participate in open town meeting. For Westford this is a truly revolutionary development.  Times are obviously changing.  Increasing pressures and concerns related to the economy, education and public safety are driving people out to these meetings. Many attendees were dissatisfied with the postponement, offering comments that open town meeting has seen its day.

Town committees have looked at various options over the years ranging from remote electronic participation to representative town government.  Up until now, there has been resistance to any changes, but there is no doubt that concerns are not going away.  Today’s debacle demonstrated that on the issue of this critical override, in which significant numbers of people wanted to be heard, the status quo governing the legislative function of the town was inadequate.  It resulted in a significant loss of town funds, people’s time, a delayed fiscal decision on a critical issue and a lot of frustration.

Prior to dismissal, Moderator Angela Harkness announced that the town meeting would be postponed until Saturday May 4th 2024 at the Westford Academy football field.  The time was not provided.

Ides of March Edition  –    Editorial

Inflicting Fiscal Pain On Town Taxpayers Not Justified

The Westford town meeting this year will be presented with an unprecedented, multi-year proposition 2 ½ override to support a 5.6% increase in town spending for FY 25, with additional increases up to FY28. Combined, this proposal will result in an 18% increase in taxes over the next three years and this increase will be permanent.             

Inflation and increases in health insurance and energy costs will be blamed as the cause.  That is partly true.  Yet, households and personal budgets of many town residents particularly those on fixed incomes are also impacted by these factors.  This tax increase will compound the financial situations of many causing major economic pain.   This pain is unnecessary.              

These cost drivers are all self-imposed, the result of policy decisions in Washington.  They can be changed.  Is it wise to commit the town to a burdensome taxation plan, passing the costs of failed federal policies onto Westford taxpayers ?  Wouldn’t it be more prudent to scale back on spending, and utilize reserves for a short period to see if these impacts abate ?               

The state has also drawn back from its commitment to support municipalities with state aid.   State assessments and mandates, coupled with local aid allocations that fail to keep up with inflation, have pushed more of the revenue burden onto our property taxes. We cannot maintain the current level of town services solely on property tax revenues, unless we are willing to drive a large segment of our population, many born and raised here, out of town.  The state pullback must be offset by drastic restructuring of local government in which regionalization becomes an imperative.              

The tax plan calls for an “override stabilization fund”, a risky fiscal proposition.  It creates a pile of cash presenting a significant temptation to draw upon.  If control of this fund is lost, our difficult fiscal situation will compound.  The town should stand by year-to-year budgeting.             

3.8M of the town budget increase is driven by the Westford Public Schools.  The School Committee and Superintendent made commitments in contract negotiations with multiple unions that went beyond the fiscal capacity of the town to support. The so-call “market basket” communities, cited to support these increases, have per capita incomes greatly exceeding that of our town. The fiscal impact on the town’s taxpayers was never considered.  The school department also maintains multiple reserve accounts estimated at close to 3M.  A portion of these funds can be applied to offset operational costs but no analysis of how much of this can be utilized has ever been done.             

Streamlining town government can yield additional savings.  Public safety management is top heavy, vendor contracts can be better managed, fuel costs and vehicle replacements within the DPW, the Police Department and the Council on aging can become more efficient.  The transfer of several positions to the town budget, originally funded by ARPA funds can be deferred.               

Costs associated with the override are not the only burden to be foisted on taxpayers.  Debt exclusions to fund a library expansion and repairs to the Blanchard Middle school roof will be added. A water rate increase is in the offing to pay for two new PFAS purification plants and despite what the Governor says, prospects for additional state tax increases are highly likely.                 

The property tax is the most regressive tax for raising revenue.  It impacts people’s most vital and necessary asset aside from food itself, shelter.  Taxation is pain. If it must be inflicted, morality dictates it must be as a last resort.  That cannot be said in this case.   Reject this override.

OVERRIDE OPPOSITION BEGINS TO BUILD

A Call For Volunteers : Spread The Word : Get Out The Vote

An organized effort to oppose the unprecedented override proposed by the Select Board is beginning to mount.  This measure can be killed if enough voters attend Town Meeting on March 23, 2024 and vote NO against it. The meeting will start at 9.00AM, registration will begin at 8.00AM.  DO NOT DELAY IN REGISTERING  GET THERE EARLY.             

Everyone has to attend TOWN MEETING and Vote ‘NO’ or your tax bill is going to rise.  If the measure passes there is still a chance to kill it at the ballot box in May but let’s not let it get that far.

Reject Division: Affirm Columbus Day

A very nasty little culture war developed in Westford about three years ago over the issue of Columbus Day.  A movement was launched to eradicate memories of the great explorer and discoverer of America, Christopher Columbus.  The spin behind the effort was that his discovery almost led to the genocide of the native American population in America and that slavery was ushered into the North American continent. This measure was aggressively opposed and a pause took hold after a town-wide referendum on the question last fall essentially ended in a draw ( the ban Columbus faction won by 7 votes).             

Holding Christopher Columbus singularly responsible for these evils is a gross distortion of historical fact.  This distortion is one of several political machinations meant to maintain a divide among the American working population. The purpose of the division is to prevent and block the development of a unified front to reform American institutions and to expand economic opportunity for all.  Don’t fall for this.  Every country in the world has grievances within its populations.  The United States, above them all, has made tremendous sacrifices in the search for Justice.  No one else comes close.                   

If you vote Yes on this article you will not dismiss the heritage and suffering of America’s indigenous population.  This measure will retain that commemoration, but at the same time it will assert that it is not necessary to condemn other parts of our heritage, as well.  You will also serve notice to those who are seeking to divide us that you will not be fooled and that the history of all Americans deserves to be honored.   

Town Tries To Make Best Of  A Heavy Handed State Law

In 2021, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a bill that imposed zoning requirements on any municipality that was directly served by the MBTA or adjacent to such a community.   By virtue of the fact that Littleton is an MBTA stop on the T’s Fitchburg line, Westford came under this edict.  Some claim that it violates the Home Rule provisions of the state constitution.  It does not.  Home Rule expressly states that the state legislature can pass zoning measures, which are binding upon communities, provided such laws apply equally to all communities in the state.  The state cannot engage in “spot zoning”.   Because of a concern over the skyrocketing price of single-family homes and the lack of an alternative housing inventory, which is impeding state efforts to attract younger workers (ages 25-40), the legislature enacted the MBTA multi-family zoning by law.  Originally, this was Governor Charlie Baker’s brain child.                 

All communities that fall under the state edict are required to identify zones that would permit the development of high density mixed used housing.  Density requirements call for development that allows for 15 units per acre.  A zone capable of supporting a minimum of 924 such units must also be established.  The Westford plan potentially impacts 350 acres within the confines of Littleton and Powers Road, offering a maximum buildout capacity on paper of 5K.  However, sewage and drainage limitations would limit buildout to a maximum of 3500 units.  Town planner Geoff Morrissette has stated publicly that buildout even to that level is highly unlikely.  Expanding the zoning area helps facilitate compliance with the law given the limitations created by the lack of a public sewage system.                   

From Westford’s perspective, the zoning plan seeks to accomplish several things.  It seeks to shore up Westford’s eroding commercial tax base, which is forcing more of the tax burden onto residential tax payers.  Multi-use zoning allows commercial units to be imbedded with residential units. Additionally, the Nashoba Valley Ski area is very interested in promoting a year-round program of activities that would hopefully attract residents to these units, while shoring up their own business, which has now expanded from one to two active operational seasons during the year.  The plan also seeks to offer increased housing diversity to Westford.  The plan calls for 10% of all units to be affordable (80% of the area’s median income) and 80% of the units would be workforce housing (120% of the area’s median income).           

The town’s Master Plan Implementation Committee in 2017 recommended the town consider multi-family housing zones for the same reasons that the state seeks to do so, to attract younger workers to the area. Additionally, this zoning plan could conceivably allow for more housing opportunities for senior citizens as well, who might want to downsize but want to remain in the town.  As far as voting recommendation is concerned, this is one that readers will have to make on their own.  The issue is too close to call.  One additional factor for consideration is that if the town refuses to comply with this law it could face legal action from the state.  Reference developments in the town of Milton MA.

The Ed Cohen variety show on WCAT  recently hosted Select Board members Scott Hazelton and John Cunningham for a discussion about the override.  There was some good straight talk about this critical issue.

Editorial – Town Meeting Rundown

Override Budget With Stabilization Fund Will Head Town Meeting Agenda

Articles 1 through 4 at Saturday’s town meeting will all pertain to an unprecedented proposition 2 ½ override. Article 1 seeks approval to establishing and fund the override budget. We urge you to vote no.   Article 2 seeks to established the override stabilization fund. We urge you to vote no. Article 3seeks to put money in the override stabilization fund.  We also urge a no vote on this.  If these items fail, a non-override budget must be approved (Article 4). We recommend a Yes vote. 

IZON has met with town Moderator Angela Harkness, who advises that she will run a tight ship on Saturday.  The meeting will start sharply at 9A. Registration begins at 8A.  There will be a limit on the number of people allowed into the town meeting.  Occupancy will be capped at 1600 persons.  All speakers, except for Town Manager Kris Las, will be limited to 2 minutes to make their points.  Las will be given 12 minutes to make the case for the override.  Requests for special presentation time from the School Committee in support of the override, and from dissenting members of the FINCOM, in opposition, were all denied by the Moderator.  She has also announced that she will not allow any reconsideration votes at this town meeting with one exception, if there is an error in the data that was presented to the voters.  Under the rules adopted for the Westford Town Meeting (Town Meeting Time) she has that authority.

The rundown and recommendations on the other articles are as follows:  Article 5, is a pro forma item- vote yes.  Article 6 seeks supplemental appropriations for FY 2024. This moves money from town accounts that were not drawn down to those, that need to be bolstered- vote yes. Article 7 is an appropriation for the on-going Perchlorate issue- vote yes.   Article 8 are the capital appropriations for FY 2024.  Follow the FINCOM recommendations on this article. Some of these items may be challenged by the FINCOM – vote no with the FINCOM.   Article 9calls for a bond to construct two PFAS treatment plants for 24M.  This is being driven by an EPA mandate. No real choice here- vote Yes.  Article 10will approve Community Preservation Committee funding for FY25. There is no issue with these expenditures.   Article 11 seeks approval for revolving funds. These are fund that involve the town taking in money to support services- vote yes.  Article 12 seeks approval to receive and appropriate money received from MGL Chapter 90 (traffic ticket revenue). Vote yes.  Article 13 seeks approval to apply money from the Water Enterprise fund, which is not part of the town’s general operating budget, to the post employment benefit fund for the Water Enterprise employees- vote yes.   Article 14 seeks approval from the town to expand relief from certain real estate taxes for veterans – vote yes.  There are no issues with articles 15 through 17 which authorizes easements and updates the flood plains.  Article 18 see below.

Article 19 seeks to establish rules for door-to-door canvassing.  It proposes a bylaw that would require door to door solicitors, engaged in commercial business, to register with the police department, pay a fee and undergo a background check.   There is a concern about the scope of this bylaw. Will it prohibit people from going door to door for signatures in political campaigns, and would it apply to groups like the Jehovah Witnesses ?   This needs to be discussed at town meeting.  Article 20proposes a Civil Fingerprinting Bylaw, which would require all Hawkers, Peddlers, Door to Door solicitors, Taxi drivers and Ice Cream Truck vendors to submit their fingerprints for a criminal reference check.  Based on results of the check, the police would have the right to deny licenses to people. This is probably a good idea. Vote Yes. Article 21 gives the cemetery commissioners the authority to amend policy and procedures governing the town’s cemeteries.  Vote Yes.   Article 22 brings the issue of Columbus Day back on the agenda.  See article below.                     

This is a very important town meeting.  The results of this meeting will have a significant impact on your tax bill.  It is important to attend and most importantly stay until the end, particularly if you were not happy with the referendum, that pushed Columbus Day off the town calendar.

Tomorrow we’re meeting to discuss the Town Meeting Articles and how Westford tax payers will potentially be impacted by results.

Date: 3/9/24
Time: 10AM - Noon
Location: JV Fletcher Library - Mary Atwood Room

Members of the Finance Committee will be in attendance to answer questions on the Override proposal.