Westwood Select Board Chair Gotti Resigns as New Town Administrator Takes Office

WESTWOOD — February 3, 2026 — Westwood Select Board Chair Robert Gotti resigned his seat mid-meeting Tuesday, effective 6:15 p.m., leaving the board with two sitting members and triggering a special election to fill the remaining year of his term. Gotti, who had served six years including time as chair, cited personal health considerations and a sense that his values "may no longer reflect those of the greater Westwood community at large," delivering a prepared statement during the Chair's Update before departing the Zoom meeting. Town Counsel Patrick Ahern explained that, unlike every other elected board in Westwood, the Select Board cannot fill its own vacancy by appointment — a special election must be held. The same evening marked the first Select Board meeting for new Town Administrator Connor Reed, who started February 2 and survived a Special Town Meeting on his first day on the job. The two-member board — Member Marianne Sherwood serving as acting chair and Member Joe Donahue — went on to approve a 5 percent ambulance rate increase recommended by Assistant Fire Chief Colin McCarthy, setting new rates of $58 per mile, $2,205 for basic life support, $2,651 for ALS-1, and $3,728 for ALS-2, aligning Westwood exactly with mutual aid partner Norwood Fire; voted to rescind $233,205 in unissued Pine Hill Elementary School debt; and confirmed Reed in the full suite of Town Administrator administrative appointments through June 30, 2026.