While reading the Westwood Press this morning during breakfast, I noticed a very compelling letter to the editor, sent in by Jane Nash, a member of Westwood’s Board of Library Trustees and News Coordinator for the Westwood-Walpole chapter of the League of Women Voters.

Jane spoke of the 41 year anniversary of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which established our right as Americans to obtain government records and affirmed our right to know what our local town, state, or federal governments are doing. Nash also exclaimed that our rights to transparent government have been eroding, leaving people feeling helpless when it comes to attempting to obtain knowledge of government happenings.

Much like Jane, I suggest residents in Westwood become more aware of what their town government is doing on a week-to-week basis. We need to make sure our top town government officials are being asked questions, and held accountable for their actions. In addition, I ask that you attend meetings held by our local boards and committees, educate others on the important role town government plays in your life, and become aware of elections being held in our town, our Commonwealth, and our country.

Best Wishes,

Greg Agnew

Creating open lines of communication and advocating transparency within the Town of Westwood’s government has been one of my top concerns as a Candidate for Selectman.

I understand that many of you, including myself, show up at a meeting in town that supposedly has a predetermined agenda, only to find that the board or committee did not prepare to speak about the topics that the public was interested in hearing or debating about.

I’m pleased to admit that our town website is one of the most informative and visually appealing websites I’ve seen in years. But there is still a huge problem with communication, and I’m not sure anyone can truly grasp the disconnect that continually occurs with residents and town officials. Events are posted along with the subject matter that supposedly coincides with that particular meeting. Each time a board or committee meets however, they must accomplish or discuss any leftover business from previous meetings. This is the only reason I can see for continual resident disappointment in not being able to discuss and/or participate in the subject matter they came prepared for. Agendas, much like construction projects, are continually delayed or pushed back in order to clean up unfinished business.

I’m struggling to understand why people (including myself-several times) have difficulty showing up to the correct meeting. It most certainly has something to do with the town, and NOT the resident’s ability to “follow directions” so to speak. Earlier in the week, “Concerned Resident” mentioned he/she did not see the any members of the Board of Selectman show up to a meeting that in part featured them! I can GUARANTEE that I’ll show up to every meeting, especially meetings that I’m listed as being a featured participant in. Countless times this has happened in our town, where representatives are sent in place of the actual person, supposedly dictating their sentiments to the group. This behavior is not one of transparent government that advocates the desires of the people, the true representatives. I agree that time commitments may have played a role for all three members of the BOS, but I truly believe that representation is what the residents deserve above all.

This is my proposed solution. I’m not sure, but I think we’re not dealing with a lack of information, rather, we’re dealing with the lack of attendance by board members and the lack of truth to the posted agenda from the town website. I’m also sure that Westwood possesses someone who continually posts updates and meeting schedules onto the website for informational purposes. What we need is someone SINGULARLY dedicated to meeting posts, schedules, changes, and general information. The best part is, we won’t have to pay them. I suggest we offer the job listing to a highly qualified web and media oriented student, willing to dedicate their time to meeting information, changes, etc. Credits will be given to this student by the school for performing this task, thus treating the experience much like an internship for credit.

What are your thoughts?