Westwood Swears In Reed as Town Administrator, Advances Fire Station Feasibility Vote

Select Board · Meeting of February 25, 2026

Westwood swears in new town administrator and moves fire station planning toward a May Town Meeting vote. The Select Board unanimously swore in Connor Reed as town administrator at its February 25 hybrid meeting — its first ever conducted in person and remotely simultaneously — then voted to transfer $75,000 from its reserve fund for wetlands delineation and community outreach at three candidate sites for a replacement Fire Station 1: the town-owned parcel behind 736-738 High Street, the Deerfield Elementary School property at 72 Deerfield Avenue, and the existing station at 637 High Street. FS1 Steering Committee Chair Ford Spalding, reporting after 12 posted meetings since December, said his committee voted unanimously to recommend placing a feasibility and schematic design article on the May 4 Annual Town Meeting warrant, with professional services estimated at roughly $300,000.

Finance Director Stephanie McManis reported the School Committee approved a $61.9 million school budget — a 4.9 percent increase over FY26 — adding approximately $352,000 to the balance the town must close before Town Meeting, with health insurance rates still unresolved pending a Group Insurance Commission vote.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of February 25, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.