Update:Webster Selectmen

The Board of Selectmen would like to remind all registered voters to attend the Special Town Meeting on Monday, February 13, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. in the Bartlett High School Auditorium, 52 Lake Parkway. A copy of the Town Meeting Warrant can be viewed on the Town’s website: www.webster-ma.gov

The Board of Selectmen would like to bring attention to article four (4) on the Special Town Meeting Warrant; to see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to lease all or any portion of the following parcels for a term of up to 30 years and for such consideration as the Board of Selectmen shall determine, for the purpose of installing and operating thereon a solar photovoltaic array for electric power generation and distribution, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to grant such easements in, on, under and across said land for utility and access purposes, as reasonably necessary to install and operate such a solar array, and to further authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into a power purchase agreement with any lessee of such property to purchase all or a portion of the electricity production of the solar array.

Photovoltaics (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels composed of a number of solar cells containing a photovoltaic material. Solar power is pollution-free during use. Clean energy means you reduce your carbon emissions by as much as one ton per annum. PV installations can operate for many years with little maintenance or intervention after their initial set-up. The Board of Selectmen encourages this “Green” initiative that the Town of Webster would undertake.

The Last Green Valley is asking all residents to show their support for our beautiful National Heritage Corridor by lighting up green during the month-long “Green Light Celebration”, January 14 – February 12, 2012. The Town of Webster has put a green light in every window in the Town Hall to show support of the Green Light Celebration. The Last Green Valley developed the Green Light Celebration as a way to build awareness of the organization and its work, promote tourism and provide a fun reprieve from winter.

The Board of Selectmen had the pleasure of having the Center of Hope attend their last Selectmen’s Meeting. Since 1956, Center of Hope Foundation has offered a continually evolving list of services for persons with disabilities. The agency has grown far beyond its initial mission and first program, a school for children with Mental Retardation, to its present state, offering a wide range of day and family support program for both children and adults with disabilities. The Mission of the Center of Hope Foundation is to provide people with disabilities and their families with the resources, services and opportunities to be contributing members of their communities and to achieve the most fulfilling and meaningful lives possible. If you would like to donate to the Center of Hope or would like to volunteer please call (508) 764-4085 or visit the website for more information: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This past year of 2011 was a year of great productivity and prosperity for the Town of Webster. The Board of Selectman would like to extend our great thanks and gratitude for the efforts from the offices of the Town Administrator and the many highly committed members of our community. Our goal from the beginning of the year was to commit ourselves to focus on our town’s greatest needs and to establish priorities and develop a plan for each priority.

The Town engaged in very conservative budgetary practices, but still maintained essential services. The town used very realistic revenue estimates, with minimal reserves to balance the budget, avoided the creation of a structural deficit, and limited department spending in every conceivable way. With this level of commitment the Town of Webster budgetary numbers for 2012 were at levels comparative to 2002. Additionally, the Town was able to increase our free cash in the Water and Sewer Enterprise accounts along with the General Fund. We were also able to increase our stabilization funds nearly to levels not seen since 2008. The water rates for the town’s people were able to remain at the levels from 2010. Recent negotiations conducted by the Town Administrator with the local utility company, along with conservative budgetary practices, allowed the Board of Selectman to rescind a decision to turn off selected street lights made in April of 2009 as a means of saving revenue.

PLEASE REMEMBER: The Webster-Dudley Food Share located in the United Church of Christ on 4 Church Street in Webster is an Emergency Food Pantry which offers food to Webster and Dudley residents in need of emergency food assistance. They are open Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. If you are in need of assistance please call (508) 943-9171. Donations are greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the Board of Selectmen’s Office at (508) 949-3800 x 4000 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .