Your Top 5 in Town News
An easy to digest digest of Town News, served monthly....
...with just a little bit extra in this issue because we missed last month's.
1 - Climate Action and Resilience Plan
Weston Ahead, the Town's Climate Action and Resilience Plan is complete! The Sustainability Committee, working through a consultant, conducted surveys, public outreach meetings, stakeholder workshops, and spent countless hours over the course of the year to produce a plan to help the town face climate change.
Weston is facing a future with more environmental and health disasters spurred by climate change (heat waves, intense storms, draught), and these may lead to infrastructure damage, power outages, loss of biodiversity, higher risk of illness and disease, and compromised air and water quality.
Weston Ahead:
- identifies our vulnerabilities
- lays out a plan to reduce our contributions to climate change
- prepares our community for the impacts we know are coming
- plots a course toward a more sustainable future
Find the plan, the identified actions, the goals and benchmarks, as well as how you too can help make a difference at WestonAhead.org.
2 - Updated Housing Production Plan
The Housing Production Plan Steering Committee, working through a consultant, has developed a draft update to Weston's Housing Production Plan.
A Housing Production Plan (HPP) is a proactive and studied means towards developing affordable housing that is in keeping with the Town's own affordable housing policies and preferences (PDF). It is intended to communicate to the state how Weston can address its affordable housing responsibilities.
The Committee will be meeting with the Select Board and the Planning Board on June 14th to present the updated plan, the recording of which will be available on Weston Media Center. Public comments on the HPP are welcome and can be sent to selectboard@westonma.gov.
3 - Changes to the Transfer Station
Weston will be moving to the Pay As You Throw (PAYT) system effective October 1, 2021. The Select Board recognizes that this is a big change to one of the Town's services but it is a necessary move in the right direction toward sustainability and protecting the environment. The program works similarly to other resources - you pay for what you use. It is a more equitable operation for all users of the Transfer Station, rather than smaller households and avid recyclers subsidizing larger usage.
Abbreviated points to PAYT:
- all household trash will need to go into a specific PAYT garbage bag
- recycling, yard waste, and composting remains free and does not need to go into the special garbage bag
- access to the Transfer Station will be free - all households will be eligible for two free permit stickers
- the PAYT bags will be available at local stores and will be available in two sizes - 15-gallon ($2) and 30-gallon ($4) - in rolls of 10
- Find more information at WestonMA.gov/PAYT
Recycling opportunities abound at the Transfer Station. Learn what you can keep out of your trash bag utilizing the
resources available on the Town's website including the Recyclopedia tool.
The Sustainable Weston Action Group held a webinar in April regarding Sustainable Spring Cleaning. In it, were some very helpful advice on how to reduce, reuse and recycle.
The Town Manager anticipates that the Swap Shed will reopen as a volunteer-run operation. A resident working group is currently developing that operation. Stay tuned for details and calls to help run the operation.
4 - Summer in Weston
Weston Recreation is hosting the Summer Concert Series, starting on June 23rd. It's an abbreviated season but will still guarantee a rockin' one. The three-concert lineup can be found at
Weston.org/EventsMemorial Pool opened for the season on June 12th and with it comes the poolside family events, starting on June 19th. Find the full lineup at
Weston.org/Events and find
2021 Pool Season information at WestonMA.gov/Recreation
5 - Volunteer Opportunities and Committee Feedback Sought
Volunteers are, and always have been, an integral part of Weston Town Government. It is volunteers, elected or appointed, who make policy, serve on committees, give of their time and talents, and who help make this the special place that Weston is to all of us.
If you have a special interest or talent that you would be willing to share or if you would just like to become more involved in the community, we encourage you to contact us and make your interest known. Please follow the links below to learn more about the position, the committee, and how to apply.
Select Board Seeks Feedback Regarding Town Boards and Committees
Members serving on
certain Select Board-appointed committees will have at least one position come up for reappointment in June and as such, the Select Board is seeking feedback from residents regarding the charge, procedures, and activities of these government bodies the Board appoints.
The Select Board is also soliciting any informal expressions of interest residents may have in serving on these boards or committees now or in the near future. Feedback and interest can be sent to
selectboard@westonma.gov.
The Select Board will be meeting in July to make the reappointments. Please respond by June 30th if you have feedback regarding any of their committees.
BONUS NEWS
CLIMATE ACTIONS AT HOME
Pollinator Week starts June 21st. The
Weston Plant Pollinator Alliance is sponsoring a public exhibition garden on the Mass Central Rail Trail at the Concord Road underpass. This new local organization has a lot of great information on its website regarding the importance of "recognizing that the conservation of native pollination systems within human-dominated landscapes is essential for saving biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and preserving what's left of the natural world that supports us all."
If you're wondering what you can do to
become more resilient in the face of climate change or how you can reduce your carbon footprint, check out the
Homeowner's Climate Action Toolkit (PDF)Composting at home will save so much room in the trash bag and with the program offered at the Transfer Station, it's even easier to do. To get started, visit the
composting resource page on the Town's website.
Invasive plants are one of the greatest threats to Massachusetts nature by out-competing native plants and threaten food sources, pollinators, and habitats.
Learn to identify common invasives and how to remove them from your yard or neighborhood. Our new Conservation Administrator, Jordan McCarron, worked with Weston Media Center to
discuss Japanese knotweed, a horrible, fast-growing invasive.
Would you know what to do if you discovered a Honey Bee swarm? Do you know what one looks like?
Honey bees play a part in every aspect of the ecosystem. They support the growth of trees, flowers, and other plants, which serve as food and shelter for creatures large and small. ACO O'Reilly wrote
a recent blog entry about bee swarms and what to do to protect them, as well as information on how to keep bees.
Most of Massachusetts is already in a mild drought! This is a terrible way to start off summer and a key topic in Weston Ahead. You can make some changes at home, inside and out, to
Water Smart to
help preserve water usage.
JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE....
In the next few months, watch for postal correspondence from Weston's Department of Public Works regarding the installation of Advanced Metering Interface (AMI) to accommodate
wireless water metering. This new system will allow
The comprehensive permit public hearing of the Hanover Weston proposal at
518 South Avenue is still being heard by the
Zoning Board of Appeals.
Town Hall is now on its
summer hour schedule through Sept. 3. Offices are open Monday - Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
give yourself a pat on the back - you made it to the end!
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email 