Your Top *7* in Town News

A snapshot of Weston's Town Government news.

Did you know?

Town Hall is open on Tuesday nights until 7:00 p.m. Pay property and excise taxes and water bills, ask questions or file permits, or check out the historical photos around Town Hall and the historical display curated by the Historical Society. You can also just pop in to say "Hi!"

1 - Presidential Primary: March 3rd

If you did not participate in the Early Voting period, the Presidential Primary is March 3rd from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Weston residents should report to their polling locations to cast their ballot.

Note Polling Location Change

Precincts 1 & 2, which used to report to the United Methodist Church and St. Peters Church, will need to report to the Town Hall Auditorium. Precincts 3 & 4 will continue to report to St. Demetrios Church on Brown Street. Please follow the "vote here" signs to access the voting location inside the building. Church administration has asked for residents to only enter the community hall where the voting is occurring.

Where Do I Vote?

If you don't know where your polling location is, visit WhereDoIVoteMA.com to find out.

2 - Be the Change, Weston!

Volunteer to serve on a Town Government Board/Committee

Weston's Town Government is supported by many volunteer boards and committees. It is volunteers, elected or appointed, who give their time and talents to the betterment of Weston.

Serve as an Elected Official - Attend the Caucus

The Annual Town Caucus is where residents who wish to run for an elected office are nominated to be placed on the ballot for the Town Election in May. The Caucus will be held Tuesday, March 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the Weston Public Library.

The duties and responsibilities of each elected office below are available online. Offices with membership up for election are:

• Select Board (1 seat)
• School Committee (1 seat)
• Moderator
• Planning Board (1 seat)
• Board of Assessors (2 seats)
• Recreation Commission (3 seats)
• Board of Library Trustees (3 seats)
• Board of Health (1 seat)
• Commissioner of Trust Funds (1 seat)
• Measurers of Lumber (3 seats)

...or Serve as an Appointed Official

The Select Board and the Moderator are currently seeking residents to serve on the following appointed bodies:

• Board of the Council on Aging
• Cable Advisory Committee
• Weston Cultural Council
• Weston Veterans Memorial Education Fund
  (respond to Moderator@westonmass.org)

For the three Selectmen-appointed positions, you can apply online or download an application and email it to selectmen@westonmass.org or mail it to Town Hall, PO Box 378.

3 - April Special Town Meeting

The Select Board has called a Special Town Meeting to be held on April 6th at 7:00 p.m. Please note (and tell your friends) this Special Town Meeting will be held in the Town Hall Auditorium, rather than at the High School.

The warrant will contain two articles regarding the addition of an Active Adult Residential Cluster (AARC) to the Town's Zoning By-laws.The Planning Board will be holding a Public Hearing on March 11th at 7:00 p.m. in Town Hall. The warrant will be posted to the Town's website within the next week and will be mailed to all households prior to Town Meeting.

4 - 2020 Recreation Master Plan

The Recreation Master Plan Steering Committee underwent a master planning process to determine priorities on Weston's recreation facilities over the next 10 years. This was a new process from the last 10-year master plan.

The Committee revisited the current and future needs of all outdoor fields and courts. It also considered indoor facility needs, such as an expansion of the Middle School swimming pool, additional gymnasium space, and more.

The 2020 Master Plan was finalized this month and is available on the Town's website. Additional information regarding the planning process is also available on the project web page.

5 - Prevent Stormwater Pollution

Environmentally-friendly Landscaping Practices

Stormwater pollution is the fastest growing type of water pollution in the state. Any natural or man-made contamination, such as dumped leaves and grass, dog waste or lawn fertilizers, that finds its way into our natural water sources (i.e. streams, ponds, rivers, groundwater) is stormwater pollution. Everyone can do their part to reduce pollutants for clean water and a healthier environment.

Right now is a good time to think about what you can do with your landscaping to help improve ecosystems, environmental practices, and reduce stormwater runoff from your yard. Consider speaking with your landscape company about their lawncare practices that can make your yard more environmentally-friendly. 

• Consider planting native groundcover plants or grass alternatives, rather than maintaining grass lawns
• Use grass clippings and mulched leaves to naturally fertilize lawns and garden beds
• adjust mower blades to 2" - 3" tall and keep the blades sharp
• don't mow wet grass
• If you have to water, water once a week and no more than 1"
• Pick up dog waste and properly dispose of it

More lawncare tips are available at: ThinkBlueMassachusetts.org

6 - Route 30 TIP Project

The State Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is an opportunity for municipalities to apply for funding for the construction of certain transportation projects. 

Weston has applied for two TIP projects: Route 20 Intersection and Route 30 Complete Streets. In order to gain eligibility through the state, the town needs to show support for the projects and provide 25% of the design. Both projects received design funds at the 2018 Annual Town Meeting. The 25% design is complete for the Route 20 intersection and it has been submitted to the state for consideration. The Route 30 plans are still in draft and are expected to be headed to the Select Board for approval in March.

7 - Upcoming Events

Light Pollution & Harmful Impacts to Wildlife

Members of Weston’s Planning Board invite the community to learn more about light pollution and its negative effects on wildlife. 

During this one-hour seminar, participants will:

• learn how to identify lighting in building design that creates the pollution, and the harmful impacts it has on wildlife
• review form and materials that can help reduce pollution and the harmful impacts
• gain an understanding on advances in lighting, form, and materials, as well as an integrated lighting design, can have a positive impact on wildlife

The event will be held in the Training Room at the Weston Police Station (180 Boston Post Rd. By-pass) on March 9th from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Parking is permitted in front and on both sides of the Police Station. If these lots are full, park up the hill in the area of the big green salt shed, out of the way of the DPW operations. Please do not park in any posted spots “for authorized personnel only,” and do not move any traffic cones in the lots.

Open House of the Case House

On March 28th from 10:00 to 2:00 p.m., members of the community are welcome to come by the newly restored Case House on the Case Campus at 89 Wellesley Street. The historic building has undergone historic restoration and commercial reuse for the School Administration and Facilities departments. Pam Fox, town historian, will be making a presentation at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

BONUS NEWS

Coronavirus

The risk of being exposed to this virus within Massachusetts continues to be low. We are more likely to become sick with a cold or the flu. One reason this virus has spread is because there is no vaccine; however, while the virus can make people very sick, most people recover fully. 

If the disease were to begin spreading in Massachusetts, public health officials, including Weston's Board of Health, are already working together to be prepared.

If someone arrives from an infected region, the state Department of Public Health notifies Weston's Board of Health, which then closely monitors the individual following CDC protocol.

Town Center Project

The underground infrastructure and utility work is nearly complete. The project team is preparing for the road and sidewalk work, which is anticipated to begin in April.

• Updates are posted to the project web page and emailed weekly
• Visual depictions of the surface work can be found on the Project Summary and Project Views web pages

Josiah Smith Tavern Project

Construction crews are on site and the Project Team is preparing to start the work to rehabilitate this historic building. Work updates and progress photos will be posted to the project page.

$$$ Grants Received $$$

The Town of Weston has recently received state funds to help with several projects, including document management, cyber security, the Town Center Project, and a Climate Action & Resiliency Plan.

40B Updates

Modera Weston - 751-761 Boston Post Road - the next public hearing with the Zoning Board of Appeals is March 4th with the final hearing scheduled for March 23rd.

Hanover Weston - 518 South Avenue - still with the Housing Appeals Court

Stony Brook - 104 Boston Post Road - still with the Housing Appeals Court

255 Merriam Street/11 Hallett Hill Road - the developer and the neighborhood abutters have been working with members of the Planning Board to develop a smaller-impact development and a new zoning district, which will be coming to the April Special Town Meeting.


 

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