Westwood Select Board advances police chief search and backs Norwood Hospital legislation

Select Board · Meeting of July 13, 2026

Westwood Select Board votes to support eminent domain legislation for Norwood Hospital and authorizes fire safety measures at Fire Station 1. At the July 13 meeting, chaired by Marianne LeBlanc Cummings, the board unanimously backed a letter to the Massachusetts Senate supporting pending legislation allowing the Commonwealth to use eminent domain to reopen Norwood Hospital, which the board said "continues to challenge Westwood's fire and EMS service." Fire Chief Steve Lund reported that deterioration of the apparatus floor at the temporary Station 1 structure has left fire trucks flush with High Street, causing multiple near-miss incidents; the board authorized the chief to install signage and lighting immediately. Town Administrator Connor Reed announced three police chief finalists, with public interviews set for July 17 and a selection special meeting July 20 at the Westwood Public Library.

Architect Todd Koster of Castle Booze Associates presented a redesigned fire station concept nearly 7,000 square feet — about 20 percent — smaller than the 2025 plan voters rejected, with a site selection vote targeted for August 7 and a potential debt exclusion question on the November 3 ballot.

In the full story:

• The timeline the board described runs as follows
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 1,791 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of July 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.