Letter: Consider Some Key Issues Before New Police Station Vote

Nancy Benotti proposes some things voters should consider about the proposed new police station.

To the Editor: At Town Meeting, Weston voters will be asked to approve funds for architectural design fees for a new police station. Although the vote is technically for design fees only, voters should be alert to the implications of this vote. The Weston Police Station Study Committee, on behalf of the board of selectmen, is recommending a new police station which is grossly oversized and needlessly expensive. The vote for design fees means giving the green light for construction of this costly building. I would like to present some facts about the proposed police station which I doubt you will hear at Town Meeting. By way of background, the Weston Police Station Study Committee (PSSC) was created last year by the board of selectmen. The …

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Letter: Boshart Is the Right Pick for Weston's Moderator

Greg Czarnowski explains why he's voting for Harvey Boshart for Weston Town Moderator.

Dear Editor: I wanted to submit this letter in support of Harvey Boshart for Town Moderator.  There are a number of reasons why I believe that Harvey would make an excellent moderator. In no particular order: But don’t just take my word for it – please go meet Harvey and hear what he has to say at the League of Women Voters’ Candidates Night on Thursday, May 2 at 7 p.m. in the Amy Potter Center at the Weston Middle School. I’m sure that you will come away from that meeting as impressed with Harvey as I am. Greg Czarnowski Brook Road, Weston  

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Weston Voters To Be Fooled Twice

Weston resident and Weston Board of Selectmen candidate Bill Sandalls offers some thoughts on the state of Weston's CPA funds.

Letter: It's Time for 'Excellent New Leadership'

Isabella Jancourtz lays out why she's voting for Sandalls, Boshart, Cardozo and herself at Weston's 2013 Annual Town Election.

If you'd like to see some excellent new leadership in town, then please join me Saturday, May 11 at the town election in voting for Bill Sandalls for selectman, Harvey Boshart for moderator, Glenn Cardozo for Planning Board and me for Recreation Commission. Weston could use a selectman with both common sense and financial expertise, who is willing and able to tackle the challenges of the day.  Bill Sandalls has served as a member of the Finance Committee and of the School Committee, as well as the recently disbanded Town Meeting Advisory Committee.  He knows how to manage the budget, including how to borrow money sensibly when necessary. With Bill on the Board of Selectmen, the voters will be kept informed and included in the decision …

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Letter: Please Support Boshart for Weston Town Moderator

Alex Cobb expresses his support for Harvey Boshart as Weston's next town moderator.

To my friends, neighbors and fellow Weston citizens: I’m writing to enthusiastically support my friend Harvey Boshart as a candidate for moderator.  I have known Harvey personally and professionally for several years, and I think he has the right character, disposition, expertise and experience in town government to make an excellent moderator.   Former moderator Bob Buchanan appointed Harvey to Weston’s Finance Committee in 2006. Harvey served on the committee for six years, and spent his final year as chairman. The Finance Committee has exposure to all aspects of town government and is responsible for carefully projecting the fiscal impact of town policies. This experience affords Harvey with a valuable perspective for the …

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Letter: Residents Should Have a Voice in Library/Tavern Discussion

Bill Sandalls weighs in on the Josiah Smith Tavern/Old Library question with which the town is grappling.

To the Editor: Weston’s Planning Board is pondering a zoning bylaw amendment to allow residential as well as commercial use of the Old Library and Josiah Smith Tavern (OL/JST). This amendment, along with $4.1 million in public funds, would abet the Urbanica proposal’s plan to convert OL/JST into seven privately owned condos. In addition to three residences, the condos would be occupied by a restaurant, a bed-and-breakfast inn, the Weston Historical Society and the Women’s Community League. This amendment is to be crafted so any restaurant deemed undesirable (“like Subway”) could be excluded from occupancy, at the Planning Board’s discretion. As the Board’s discussion at its March 19 meeting showed, the tricky part is to facilitate an …

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Letter: Weston Comprised of Eager Spenders, Wary Tax Payers

Bill Sandalls spends some time breaking down what he considers Weston's two political groups.

TO THE EDITOR: Weston town government is thankfully not divided according to the country’s two established political parties. But if the town’s voters were to rally around themes and preferences that shape their views about local politics, there might nonetheless still be two groups. And they might be called Eager Spenders and Wary Tax Payers. How the two diverge could be described like this: Eager Spenders embrace a new town project enthusiastically as something everybody should find really nice to have. Wary Tax Payers cautiously ask if this expenditure is really necessary, or alternatively, does a project have to cost so much. Same project, opposing views. Which side is getting its way? With only occasional bumps and stalls, the Eager …

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How Do I Submit a Letter to the Editor?

It's Town Election and Town Meeting season, which means plenty of people have plenty to say about important topics in Weston.

Opinions, they're the spice of life. OK, even if they don't merit "spice-of-life" status, they are important and we all have our fair share of them. Opinions play a role in shaping our decisions, beliefs, behaviors and actions, so why not share yours with Weston Patch readers? Weston Patch is always open to publishing Letters to the Editor, but this particular season in Weston -- election and Town Meeting season, to be exact -- comes with a couple of special considerations. Check out coverage of Weston's 2013 Town Election, including all the Letters to the Editor, on our topic page, Weston Town Election 2013. First things first, some general Letter to the Editor guidelines: Now, about election and Town Meeting season. Obviously, this time …

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Letter: Reflections on the Upcoming Caucus, Election and Town Meeting

Resident Isabella Jancourtz offers some thoughts on the upcoming political events in Weston in this letter to Weston Patch.

Weston's town caucus is coming up on Monday, March 11, and I'm looking forward to seeing who's running. Of course, you don't have to attend the caucus to be on the ballot. You may, instead, collect 50 or more signatures of your fellow voters and file them with the town clerk by March 22. Unfortunately, attending the caucus may not tell you much about the people running because the tradition is for them not to speak, but to be nominated by a friend. That may have worked well back when everybody knew everybody else in Weston, but not so much these days. I hope we start a new tradition this year at the caucus, actually seeing and hearing from the candidates before we vote for them. We discussed this issue at the now disbanded Weston Town …

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Letter: Troubling Trends in Home Values and Property Tax Rates 'Unsustainable'

Resident William Crum supplied the letter below.

The Boston Globe reported last Sunday that Weston assessed property values rose just 1.9 percent from 2007 to 2013, whereas average property taxes rose 23.2 percent, from $13,739 to $16,921. Over the same six-year period, the average assessed values for Boston suburbs dropped 12.8 percent, but property taxes increased 22.6 percent. (Globe West, p. 7). Are these troubling trends sustainable? No. Weston continues to have the highest property taxes in dollars out of 351 municipalities in the state. Does any household with less than 3 kids in the public schools get "good value" from the town government for almost $17,000 in property taxes per year? Not really. Will Weston residential property values continue to rise as Baby Boomers age, become…

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