Westford Promotes Steven Clark to Chief Assessor as PAYT Billing Begins
The town promoted Steven Clark to chief assessor this week, even as residents adjusted to the first days of the new Pay-As-You-Throw trash program that took effect July 10.
TOWN HALL
The Town of Westford announced the promotion of Steven Clark to chief assessor, according to the town's News Flash service. Separately, the town confirmed that PAYT — the Pay-As-You-Throw trash and recycling billing program — officially started July 10, following a series of reminder notices about the switch and a related "PAYT Cart Delivery Follow-Up" bulletin from the town. The July Town Manager's Newsletter is also now available, and officials reported that the Stony Brook Track & Athletic Court Improvement Project is complete. Forge Pond received treatment on July 7, with the town advising residents not to swim in the pond until July 8. The town also expanded its free lockbox payment service for tax bills and opened applications for the 2026 bow hunting season, accepted July 1 through August 7, with permits issued by August 14.
Westford Recreation announced a lineup of summer youth programs starting soon, including Impact Speed and Agility, Skyhawks Field Hockey, Brazilian Soccer, Marcus Lewis Tennis, and Archery with On the Mark.
SCHOOLS
The town's News Flash reported that Nabnassett Elementary School's playground is temporarily closed during ongoing construction. The Robinson School Project, a collaborative modernization and rebuild effort between the town and the Massachusetts School Building Authority, continues to be tracked as a special project, with the Robinson School Building Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 14.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The J.V. Fletcher Library, operating from its temporary location at 515 Groton Road during the ongoing building renovation project, has a full slate of summer programming underway. Upcoming events include a Tween/Teen program at the Craft Lounge on July 14, a virtual historical fiction book recommendation session with author Greer MacAllister (subbing for Jane Healey) also on July 14, a "Ready, Set, Grow!" summer reading magic show with Mike Bent at Abbot Elementary School on July 15, and a Winnie the Pooh storytime at the Winnie the Pooh House on July 16. The library's 2026 Summer Reading Program, themed "Plant a Seed, Read," continues across all age groups. Looking further ahead, a Homesteading Workshop on garden planning and seed starting is set for Good Pickin' Farm on July 23, and Farm Tales Storytimes return to the Roudenbush Community Center on July 21 and July 28.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"🌱 Patch AM: How Westford's new Chief Assessor could impact your future tax bill" — Patch previewed the implications of Steven Clark's promotion for local tax bills, a personnel move the town's News Flash also covered today (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
"🌱 Patch AM: Westford's Jeffrey Battle scores big SuperModified win at Thompson Speedway" — Patch highlighted a local racing win by Westford resident Jeffrey Battle at Thompson Speedway, according to Patch AM Team (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
"🌱 Patch AM: What Westford residents must do differently with trash starting today" — Patch flagged changes residents need to make under the new PAYT trash system, a shift also detailed in the town's own News Flash releases (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
"Diarrhea Parasite Outbreak: 7 Things To Know And What To Do In Massachusetts" — Patch reported that the CDC has confirmed cases across 17 states amid a parasite outbreak, per Patch Staff writer Joseph Hosey (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
"Hungry Kids In MA May Not Be Getting Enough To Eat This Summer" — Patch cited Feeding America estimates that more than 177,000 Massachusetts children face food insecurity, according to Patch Staff writer Jessie Castellano (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
COMING UP
The Board of Health, the joint J.V. Fletcher Library Board of Trustees/Permanent Town Building Committee meeting, the Library Board of Trustees, and the Agricultural Commission all meet Monday, July 13. The Robinson School Building Committee and the Select Board meet Tuesday, July 14, the same day the library hosts its Tween/Teen program and virtual author talk. The Zoning Board of Appeals meets Wednesday, July 15, when the library's magic show with Mike Bent takes place at Abbot Elementary School. A Winnie the Pooh storytime follows July 16. The City Beet StoryWalk at Westford Community Gardens runs July 20, with Farm Tales Storytime and a "Grow Your Own Grass Head" program both set for July 21 at the Community Gardens and Roudenbush Community Center, respectively.