Town Government
Town Departments
Finding the Right Department
Most of what residents need from the town runs through a department, not an elected official: paying a bill, pulling a permit, reporting a problem, registering to vote. Each department reports up through the Town Administrator’s office.
Westwood spreads its offices across four buildings, and knowing which one you want saves a trip. Town Hall at 580 High Street holds the clerk, finance and administration. The Carby Street Municipal Building at 50 Carby Street holds public works and everything under Community and Economic Development, including building, health, planning and zoning. Wentworth Hall at 273 Washington Street, in Islington, holds Youth and Family Services and the branch library. The Senior Center at 60 Nahatan Street holds the Council on Aging and Veterans’ Services.
The directory below covers the departments residents contact most. For the full list, hours, and staff, visit townhall.westwood.ma.us. The town’s main number is 781-326-6450.
Department Directory
| Town Clerk | Elections, voter registration, vital records, licenses and the Town Meeting record. Town Clerk Dottie Powers. 781-326-3964, Town Hall. |
|---|---|
| Public Works | Streets, sewer, engineering, cemetery, facilities and snow. Director of Public Works Todd Korchin. 781-326-8661, 50 Carby Street. |
| Police | Public safety and non-emergency response. Acting Chief Michael DiLalla. 781-320-1000, 588 High Street. |
| Fire | Fire suppression, emergency medical service and fire prevention. Fire Chief Steven Lund. 781-320-1000, 637 High Street. Fire Prevention 781-471-5902. |
| Health Division | Permits, inspections, communicable disease reports and public health nursing for the Board of Health. 781-320-1027, 50 Carby Street. Public health nurse 781-251-2576. |
| Community & Economic Development | Building, conservation, housing, licensing, planning and zoning in one department. Director Nora Loughnane. 781-251-2595, 50 Carby Street. |
| Recreation | Programs, fields and aquatics. Recreation Director Richard Adams. 781-461-0070, 240 Nahatan Street. |
| Council on Aging | The Senior Center, outreach social work and the town van. Director Mary Ellen LaRose. 781-329-8799, 60 Nahatan Street. |
| Youth & Family Services | Counselling and family support out of Wentworth Hall. Director Katy Colthart. 781-320-1006, 273 Washington Street. |
| Library | Main library and the Islington Branch. Library Director Elizabeth McGovern. 781-326-7562, 660 High Street. Branch 781-326-5914. |
| Finance | Accounting, assessing, treasury and collections. Finance Director, Treasurer and Collector Stephanie McManus. 781-320-1010, Town Hall. |
| Veterans’ Services | Benefits and services for Westwood veterans and their families. 781-489-7509, at the Senior Center, 60 Nahatan Street. |
Water is not a town department. The Dedham Westwood Water District serves both towns from 50 Elm Street in Dedham, 781-329-7090.
Getting Something Fixed
- Name the problem. A pothole and a zoning question go to different buildings, so start with what physically needs to change.
- Call the department, not the board. Public Works owns the road. The Health Division owns the restaurant inspection. The Clerk owns your registration.
- If a permit is involved, Westwood takes applications online through ViewPoint Cloud rather than on paper.
- If nothing moves, the Select Board meets most Mondays and the Town Administrator’s office is on 781-326-4172.
Every department here answers to residents. Learn how to make the ask land.