The fight is over: Town reaches accord with Westwood Station developer

By Jay Turner
Citizen Staff

Following four-plus years of legal wrangling and failed negotiations, the longstanding dispute between the town of Canton and Westwood Station developer Cabot, Cabot & Forbes appears to finally be over after both sides reached an agreement in principle late last week that would satisfy virtually all of the town’s demands.

Selectman Victor Del Vecchio, speaking via conference call along with Selectman Bob Burr, said he would remain “cautiously optimistic” until the final details between CC&F and the state could be ironed out, but otherwise hailed the settlement as a “big victory” and said he was “delighted with the results.”

“This is a success story,” Del Vecchio said. “This is a good resolution for the town of Canton.”

The settlement not only grants town officials their biggest wish — construction of “critical infrastructure” on and around Dedham Street to handle the additional traffic that the project is expected to generate — but it also includes a provision for future traffic mitigation if necessary, as well as an “enforceability” clause that would prevent the project from going forward if Canton’s needs were somehow not being met.

On top of that, CC&F has agreed to provide Canton with a “full and complete” reimbursement of all costs incurred while defending itself, including all legal fees as well as money spent on traffic studies. The developer has also agreed to “materially reduce the size and scope of the project,” which initially called for 4.5 million square feet of retail, residential, hotel and office space on 135 acres near the Westwood/Canton border.

Del Vecchio said that last provision would not rule out the possibility of future expansion, although CC&F President Jay Doherty has stated publicly that his focus for now has shifted away from residential units in favor of “big box” anchor stores such as Target and Wegmans grocers. (Click here for full article)

Selectmen submit balanced budget to Finance Committee

By Mike Berger
Citizen Staff

Selectmen will submit a balanced budget to the Finance Committee and elected to only spend $52,000 in new money for the five municipal departments that requested additional spending beyond their level-funded budgets.

Although the five departments’ new requests totaled more than $175,000, selectmen followed the suggestion of their chairman, Sal Salvatori, and authorized $4,254 to the library, $975 to the Recreation Department, $10,547 to the Police Department, $27,637 to the Fire Department, and $33,310 to the Veterans Department.

The Veterans Department was the only one to receive its full request. Veterans Agent Tony Andreotti said he has seen an increase in the number of cases; however, the state reimburses the town for approximately 75 percent of the costs of each case. Selectmen also approved $47,650 in a reserve fund transfer to the Finance Committee for the rest of the budget year to cover the increased caseload.

Selectmen said they may increase the four remaining departments’ budgets if new revenue figures come in higher than expected prior to town meeting. (Click here for full article)

CHS math team continues its winning ways; looks for new fundraising avenues

- Will host Magic and More March 20 ~

By Kathy Anderson
Citizen Staff

They’re brilliant yet unassuming. Indomitable, yet humble. They have won more championship competitions than any other team at Canton High School. They are the CHS math team, and they are on their way to the Massachusetts State Finals meet April 9 at Shrewsbury High School after placing second in both the Greater Boston Math League meet on February 25 and the Massachusetts Math League playoffs on March 4. The New England Championships, which Canton has hosted for nearly two decades, will pit Canton against 50 teams from throughout New England on April 30.

Although the members of the CHS math team have actively and enthusiastically led member-run fundraisers for over 30 years — the most profitable of which has been running the concession stand at CHS football games — the Canton Athletic Boosters have been handed the torch for the football concessions, leaving longtime CHS math team coach Martin Badoian, along with math team parents, brainstorming creative ways to fund awards, competition fees and scholarships.

With that as its goal, on Saturday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m., the team will host a fundraiser called “Magic and More,” a 90-minute show full of magic, music and comedy suitable for the entire family. Presented by the Boston Area Society of Young Magicians (SYM) and led by professional magician David Oliver, the group’s traveling performers, ages 8 to 17, are students of the art of magic and many of its members have won national awards.

“The SYM is an organization dedicated to the promotion of youthful interest in the art of magic,” said Oliver. “Members learn about performing, teaching, creating and discovering the history of magic as a performing art.” (Click here for full article)