Selectboard orders re-vote on $472,500 fire tanker bond for November ballot

The Westford Selectboard on July 23 voted to put a re-vote on the purchase and equipping of a fire tanker truck on the November general-election ballot after the town attorney determined the 2024 bond was not properly warned.

Pat Haller moved the article onto the ballot and Julia Andrews seconded; the motion passed 3-0. The board approved the ballot language as read aloud at the meeting: “Shall general obligation bonds or notes of the Town of Westford in an amount not to exceed Four Hundred Seventy-Two Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($472,500), subject to reduction by funds from the Fire Department Equipment Reserve Fund, and having a maximum term of ten (10) years, be issued to fund the purchase and equipping of a fire tanker truck for the Westford Fire Department?” Haller framed the motion as a corrective action following the attorney’s finding about the 2024 warning.

Board members said they will develop a voter communications plan ahead of the ballot. Julia Andrews and Tommy O’Connor will meet to coordinate outreach materials so residents have clear information before voting. There was no further action taken at the meeting beyond approving ballot placement; the board did not set a final funding source beyond the reserve-fund reduction language in the article.

The re-vote follows legal advice received in executive session and will appear on the November general-election ballot with the maximum term stated as ten years. The board indicated it will circulate explanatory materials to clarify the impact and any reserve-fund offsets prior to the election.