Project Financing Approval Now Moves to a Second Vote at the November 3 State Election
At the Special Town Meeting on Monday, October 26, Westwood residents voted in favor of Article 1, authorizing funding for the proposed Fire Station 1 (FS1) replacement project, contingent upon the passage of a Proposition 2 ½ Debt Exclusion vote (appearing as Question 10 on the November 3rd State Election ballot). The article received 89.5% support of the 670 participating voters, well in excess of the required two-thirds majority.
The vote marks a significant milestone in the Town's ongoing efforts to address the operational, health, and safety deficiencies of the existing Fire Station 1 at 637 High Street that was originally constructed in 1948.
Following two unsuccessful votes in 2025 on a previous proposal, the Town underwent a comprehensive feasibility and schematic design process to reevaluate the project, including establishing a resident-led Fire Station 1 Steering Committee, evaluating alternative sites for the station, refining the building program to help determine the size of the building, and gathering extensive community input.
"Over the past year, countless residents have contributed their time, questions and insight to this critical project," said Select Board Chair Marianne LeBlanc Cummings during the October 26, 2026, Special Town Meeting. "Those conversations have made this a better project and have made us a stronger community."
The new FS1 process resulted in a recommendation for a new station to be located at the former Deerfield School property. At about 29,300 square feet, the building would be approximately 20% smaller than the previous design. The total project budget is $39.98 million, and the Town's financing plan includes $5.18 million in available funds, reducing the amount proposed to be financed through a debt exclusion to $34.8 million.
The positive Town Meeting vote does not fully approve the project. Under Massachusetts law, two separate approvals are needed for the project to move forward: a two-thirds vote at a Town Meeting (which occurred on October 26, 2026) and a majority vote at an election.
That question will be before Westwood voters as “Question 10” on the Tuesday, November 3 State Election ballot. A majority vote on that question is required to authorize the debt exclusion necessary to finance the project. If Question 10 does not pass, the project cannot proceed.
If the debt exclusion is approved at the State Election, the project financing will be approved and the project can move forward. The Town anticipates beginning the next phase of design development following the November election, with construction of the new FS1 expected to begin in late 2027 and the building to be completed in 2029.
The Town appreciates all the residents who’ve participated in this process, and thanks all the members of the FS1 Advisory and Community Engagement Committee for their extraordinary time and effort working on the FS1 project to date.
Residents who wish to learn more may review project information, including the proposed design, financing plan, and tax impact estimates, at www.westwoodfs1.com.
The information in this press release responds to resident questions and requests for clarification about the status of the project and the debt exclusion process.