Weston rejects shorter Planning Board terms, approves CPA sidewalk and Old Library spending

WESTON — May 11, 2016 — Weston voters reject shorter Planning Board terms but greenlight sidewalks and Old Library design. On the second night of annual Town Meeting, Article 29 — a citizens' petition from Jean Bybee of 255 Merriam St. to cut Planning Board terms from five years to three — failed 118 to 204 on a counted standing vote, and the companion Article 30 was withdrawn. Planning Board member Tony Flynn defended the longer term, citing a "substantial" learning curve, while presenter Skye Olander pointed to a February Attorney General finding that the board had violated Open Meeting Law on 34 sets of minutes. Voters then approved $250,000 in Community Preservation Act funds for Winter and Brown street sidewalks over Finance Committee opposition (9-0 against), $30,000 for Merriam Street sidewalk design, $364,000 to design the Weston Art and Innovation Center in the Old Library, $10,000 for Charles River water-chestnut removal and $16,163 for the Regional Housing Services Office.