Weston Select Board advances water tank siting study, schedules January vote

WESTON — December 5, 2023 — Weston Select Board hears water tank siting recommendations and votes to keep modified town hall hours. Engineers Rob Williamson and Amy Coppers of Wright Pierce presented a weighted alternatives analysis recommending Alternative Site 1A at Payne's Hill (score: 80.3 out of 100), Alternative Site 1 at Cat Rock, and Alternative Site 2 at Doublet Hill, all chosen for minimizing Article 97 conservation land impacts and construction cost. The board also voted unanimously to adopt a residential tax factor of one for fiscal year 2024, setting the rate at $11.12 per thousand — down from $11.84 — on a total taxable valuation exceeding $8.3 billion, with the tax levy rising only 2.17 percent to roughly $93 million. The board approved an MBTA fiber optic conduit installation under Church, Viles, and Conant Streets, tabled a discussion on reopening the Hastings and Silver Hill commuter rail stops to January, and agreed to convene a special Friday meeting to reconstitute the fire station working group ahead of a potential May town meeting funding article.