Recent comments

Your comment brings up a good point. Two libraries for a community of about 17,000 (so, it's more than 14,000, the last U.S. Census mis-represented Westwood's own town-wide figures) sounds a bit luxurious and unnecessary, considering other smaller communities don't even have one library in good working order. Proponents of the library seem to be correct that the current main library facility is out-dated and over capacity. The Islington Branch seems out-dated as well (but utilized), so, it's quite a tricky situation. Being someone who purchases his books and has more than two personal computers for research, I'm not qualified as a frequent library user, and can't speak on the issue as well as your average library-goer. 

I'm on the fence though, since the community of Dedham, MA (with roughly 24,000 people) also has two library branches, and plans to use both, even if the town can't pay workers for their service on the weekends. Most employees of the library have stepped up to the plate and continued to work for free in order to maintain the hours of operation at both branches. 

The scary thing, is that even though Westwood, to my knowledge, does not have a problem with paying employees of both libraries, Dedham is light years ahead of Westwood in terms of overall innovation, LEED certified buildings, and numerous community groups that are beginning to strengthen governmental relationships. Dedham has a community willing to get involved and form solutions - Westwood seems to be coasting with a terribly embarrassing lack of involvement from its citizenry. 

In addition, many surrounding communities will, or have already built new library facilities in the past year, and residents seem pleased with the outcome. However, with taxes rising on our properties, Westwood Station's failure, a bloated School budget, and new projects a the forefront, we're going to need Dedham's style of leadership and innovation if we're going to protect ourselves from future financial shortfalls. 

Greg asks "a puzzling question: why do DPW department heads continually ask for so little, when the numbers indicate they always need more?" The answer is not a lack of competence on the part of the town administration, but rather in several quirks in state law.

First, you can never reduce the amount Town Meeting allocates for snow removal. If they appropriate $100 this year, they can not, by law, go any lower than that. They can vote $150 or even a steady $100 next year, but not $90.

Secondly, as the amount of snow that we will get in any given year can't be known ahead of time, this is the one area of a municipality's budget where they are allowed to deficit spend. Thus, it makes sense to lowball the snow budget, and then fund it as needed from reserves.

Like Greg, I was also surprised by the woeful efffort at snow removal. I left my house yesterday at 10am, and figuring 109 would be better than Thatcher to Fox Hill, went down High Street. To my amazement, it took almost 30 minutes to get from the Middle School out to 128! The Eastbound roadway was still covered in several inches of slushy snow more than 20 hours after the storm. The road was so narrow from the snow banks that there was not enough room for cars going straight to make it around cars taking left turns. Strangely, the Westbound side was completely clear (as was my driveway thanks to the Bean family.

Two exits north on 128, I get off on Great Plain Ave and turn right on Greendale. In contrast to 109, the road was clear edge to edge and dry. I continued on into Newton which was not as good as Needham, but far better than what I left behind in Westwood.

Why would our main artery through town be in such terrible condition so long after the storm had passed, knowing that so many from so far away depend on that route? Saying that it was the timing and severity of the storm doesn't cut it when we see how well other towns managed the same problem.

Thanks, Dave for all you have contributed to Westwood and the Westwood Blog! You will be missed.

Yes it looks that way
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/10/13/wegmans_first_mass_st...

Yet another town getting its tax base in order..

There were about 30-35 residents that turned out for the brainstorming session. My understanding is that this was a first step in a long process. The results of the session should appear on the town website although I'm not sure when that might be. 

and can they provide a summary. I would love to know the turnout and what was discussed. It was a really hard time for anyone in town sports. But hopefully the turnout was great and a lot got accomplished.

Yet another coincidence.

great, thanks Dave!

I'd say it has potential for mountain biking. just need to (re)move half a dozen fallen trees and clear a few saplings. here's the ride I took this morning:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/48840083

btw is there a map online of the trails anywhere? it's a big green splotch on google maps.

Best wishes on the new position.