Accomplishments
Long Range Financial Planning
Westwood current needs are greater than we can afford to support financially. This means we need to approach investment decisions with discipline and prioritization of needs versus wants.
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As Select Board Chair, Rob re-established the Long Range Financial Planning Committee to provide greater depth and breadth of discussion regarding the many capital needs of the community.
The LRFPC recommended the Select Board conduct a comprehensive study of all municipal and school building to asses their condition, needs, urgency of those needs, and potential costs. This study will also allow for reimagining future uses to repurpose facilities as opposed to always having to build new.
The mission of the LRFPC is to assist the Select Board by studying the longer term needs and make recommendations for prioritization based on importance, urgency, projected cost and availability of outside resources at the federal or state level to help defray those costs.
Sustainability
Rob successfully advocated for and/or approved the following:
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EV charging stations to be installed at Westwood Police Station & Wentworth Hall
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Solar panel arrays to be installed at Westwood High School parking lot
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Installation of solar array atop the new Pine Hill School
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Directed restricted ARPA funds (American Rescue Plan Act) towards defraying some of the costs of geothermal HVAC system at new Pine Hill School.
Islington Center Redevelopment
Dedicated the opening of the new Wentworth Hall Library and Community Center. Welcomed many new businesses to Westwood including:
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Muffin House
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Neroli Mercato
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Neroli Ristorante
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Edward Jones Investments
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Orange Theory Fitness
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Salon Cabelo
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Balanced Beauty Aesthetics
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Higher Ground Fitness
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Lashcious Co.
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Starkweather & Shepley
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Busy Paws Pet Supply
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Nightingale Wealth Solutions
State Advocacy for Westwood
Rob has established and fosters excellent collaboration and ties with our representatives in the state house: Senator Michael Rush and Representative Paul McMurtry both of whom are tireless supporters of Westwood.
Strengthening Town Management
With recent retirements of long-serving staff members came an opportunity to make some structural changes and critical hires to key roles to help steward our community into the future.
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First, the Select Board strengthened our commitment to our Town Administrator, Chris Coleman.
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Next, we made two key hires in Finance Director, Stephanie McManus and Human Resources Director Molly Kean. Both were also named as Assistant Town Administrators to help attract top talent to the roles and ensure strong succession planning into the future.
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Rob also served as a member the Superintendent Search Committee that brought Tim Piwowar to Westwood Public Schools.
Collective Bargaining Contracts
During his term the town successfully settled new contracts with all municipal collective bargaining groups across public safety, public works, and others within our sustainable budget targets.
Economic Development
Economic development is vital to our ability to continue delivering services within a sustainable economic model. Commercial development is a crucial part of this equation.
In addition to the redevelopment of Islington center, we have approved the sale and and planned conversion of the historic Obed Baker house to mixed use (commercial / residential) property.
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Over these past three years we have welcomed many new businesses to Westwood:
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Playa Bowls
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5 Below
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Birdie's Hot Chicken
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Poke Bros.
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Bark & Buzz Grooming
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Skin Defyne Medspa
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Aston Martin Boston
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Colbea Shell/Seasons/Mary Lou’s
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Ira Mazda
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Grillo’s Pickles
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The Good Feet Store
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J Crew Factory Store
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24M
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Labs @128
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We have also continued working to secure the final build out of University Station with appropriate mixed uses to ensure a healthy economic ecosystem into the future.