Capital Planning Committee - September 18th, 2026

The WestfordCAT Capital Planning Committee met on September 18, 2026, to review and discuss several capital requests for the upcoming special town meeting scheduled for October 26, 2026. Key procurement discussions included a $120,000 request to replace a critical, outdated public safety communications digitizer system, a $100,000 request to replace the Robinson School generator with a new pad-mounted unit that could be relocated in the future, and a clarification of an existing $100,000 technology appropriation for permitting software improvements. The committee also deliberated extensively on a costly HVAC replacement for the Westford Academy Auditorium, with a temporary cooling solution proposed at approximately $35,000 for rental, but tabled the vote on this item pending further information. The committee voted to recommend the public safety communications, Robinson School generator, and technology software requests to the town manager for inclusion in the special town meeting warrant. Discussions emphasized the importance of proactive capital planning and maintenance to avoid costly emergency repairs and highlighted the need for clear communication of project details to town voters.