Volunteer & Public Experience

Town of Westford

• Select Board (2023-present)

• Capital Planning Committee (2017-2025)

• Parks and Recreation Commission (2015-present)

• Community Preservation Committee (2015-2023)

• Pedestrian Safety Committee (2014-present)

• Town Manager Search Committee (2022)

• Unaccepted Roads Subcommittee (2011-2012)

• 35 Town Farm Rd Task Force (2026-present)

Other Volunteer Experience

Westford Youth Soccer Association, Travel Coach (2022-2024)

·Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (2007-present)

Westford Friends of Recreation (2015-2022)

Dedication to Community Service and Volunteerism

I am grateful for the opportunity to volunteer my time in support of the town and several outstanding non-profit organizations. Throughout my involvement, I have worked alongside exceptionally committed volunteers across various committees, boards, and organizations. Together, we have made meaningful contributions and celebrated numerous achievements. I am proud to have played a role in these successes, which reflect the collective dedication of each team.

The following sections highlight some of the accomplishments from committees I have been privileged to serve on, demonstrating the positive impact of our collaborative efforts.

Parks and Recreation Commission: Fostering Community and Stewardship

The Parks and Recreation Department works closely with Westford residents, providing essential childcare services and a wide variety of recreational programs for people of all ages throughout the year. During my time as chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, I made fiscal responsibility a primary focus. Through careful financial management by department staff and diligent oversight from the commission, the department successfully maintained a balanced budget over the past two fiscal years. In my role as chair, I introduced important fiscal management practices, such as regular reviews of recreation program rates, to help ensure the department’s ongoing ability to achieve balanced budgets.

My tenure with the Parks and Recreation Commission began as the Nutting Rd Field Complex project was being completed. I gained first-hand understanding of the facility’s impact on the town’s youth and adult athletes, especially through my experience as a coach for Westford Youth Soccer. As chair, I led the effort to revitalize the facility, so it could continue to serve the needs of thousands of Westford’s children and adults. In the spring of 2026, the complex will receive completely new turf fields with state-of-the-art shock padding.

The Nutting Rd Field Complex is just one of many valued recreation assets in Westford. During my service on the commission, it became clear that many of these facilities were under significant strain, and some were even at risk of complete failure. I strongly advocated for effective capital planning and facility maintenance practices to be adopted by both the Department of Public Works and the Recreation Department. I am proud that, over the course of my time with the commission, every town recreation facility has received important capital improvements, ranging from court resurfacing and safety netting to complete rebuilds, such as those at the Jack Walsh courts and the Forge Beach playground.

Pedestrian Safety Committee: Advancing Walkability and Safety

I served as chair of the Pedestrian Safety Committee for several years, leading efforts that enhanced road safety for Westford residents.

Joining Complete Streets and Securing Funding

In 2016, the Pedestrian Safety Committee led the initiative for Westford to be among the first communities to join the state’s Complete Streets program. As a result, the town received $400,000 grant. This funding supported important safety improvements in the town center and enabled the completion of a sidewalk on Concord Road leading to the Robinson School. The strong partnership between the committee, the Department of Public Works, and the Engineering Department also positioned Westford to receive Shared Streets grants, which have funded a variety of pedestrian safety projects across the community. The town has further benefited from grants for safety devices, including Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at crosswalks, school zone safety lights, and traditional pedestrian and bicycle safety signage.

Expanding Sidewalks and Connectivity

During my involvement with the committee, Westford saw a remarkable increase in the number of sidewalks constructed.  Westford’s Nabnasset neighborhoods now enjoy sidewalks on Oak Hill, Plain and Moore roads which allow residents to safely walk to school, recreation areas, and commercial offerings. 

During my involvement with the commission the town has created sidewalks in almost every area of Westford from Groton Rd in the north to Acton Rd in the south.  It is now possible for resident to walk from the very north of Westford all the way to Stoney Brook on sidewalks. 

Promoting Safety Education

Beyond infrastructure, the committee’s collaboration with the state’s Safe Routes to School program has brought valuable bicycle and pedestrian safety training to Westford students. This education initiative helps ensure that the next generation of residents can safely navigate the town’s increasingly busy streets.

Establishing Lower Speed Zones

While serving as chair of the commission, I also led a successful effort to secure the town's adoption of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 90, Section 17c. This important legislation allowed Westford to establish 25 MPH speed zones in key areas, further enhancing pedestrian safety throughout the community.

Unaccepted Roads Subcommittee: Addressing Infrastructure Gaps

During a period of significant growth in the 1980s, Westford experienced the construction of many new subdivisions and roads. At that time, town staffing levels were insufficient to keep pace with the rapid development. As a result, more than 30 roads did not complete the required approval and acceptance process and were subsequently classified as “unaccepted.” These unaccepted roads were not maintained by the town, which led to gradual deterioration. Residents living on these roads were often unaware that their streets were not eligible for routine town maintenance or repairs.

My own street, Vose Hill, was among these unaccepted roads. The lack of town maintenance only became evident when a pothole grew so large that neighbors contacted the town for repairs, only to discover that the road was not under the town’s responsibility. In response, I organized a group of neighbors to research the situation and negotiate with town officials. Over the course of a year and a half, residents invested time and resources—including spending several thousand dollars on new plans for the road. Ultimately, our efforts paid off, and Vose Hill was accepted by town meeting, allowing the town to assume responsibility for its maintenance.

The initiative undertaken by Vose Hill residents prompted town leadership to establish the Unaccepted Roads Subcommittee. Thanks to this concerted effort, over 30 roads that were previously unaccepted have now been formally accepted by the town and are regularly maintained, providing significant benefits and peace of mind to residents.

Capital Planning Committee: Managing Town Investments

Serving on the Capital Planning Committee provided valuable insight into a crucial aspect of the town’s budgeting process. Each year, the committee undertakes a thorough review of all capital requests submitted by various town departments, boards, and committees. Because the town faces a substantial backlog of capital needs, every request is carefully prioritized and evaluated in relation to the others. With only a limited amount—typically a few million dollars—of available free cash to fund capital improvements annually, it is essential to analyze each request in detail and apply efficient financing strategies. This deliberate and methodical approach helps the town maximize the effectiveness of its capital budgeting, ensuring that resources are allocated wisely to address the community’s most pressing needs.

Community Preservation Committee Member

Served as a member of the Westford Community Preservation Committee (CPC), a key town board responsible for evaluating and recommending investments in community projects funded through the Community Preservation Act. In this role, I contributed to the review and prioritization of proposals across open space preservation, historic resources, recreational improvements, and community housing initiatives.

The CPC works collaboratively with town departments, boards, and community stakeholders to assess project feasibility, financial impact, and long-term value to residents. This experience provided a broad perspective on municipal planning, capital investment, and community engagement, while reinforcing a commitment to thoughtful, transparent decision-making in local government.