Westford Farmers' Market Will Return for Seventh Season

The Farmers Market will be returning for its seventh year on June 18, but it’s not clear whether there will be changes to it over the summer following the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday.

Debate arose among the board and members of the audience, primarily on issues hovering around whether the Market has outgrown the Town Common such as a police detail to mitigate safety concerns, and traffic along Boston Road.

The most ardent opposition came from Selectman Valerie Wormell, who noted it would be against the state constitution for the town to pay for a non-profit group’s police detail, as well as safety concerns south of 495.

“With the Minot’s Corner construction this summer, we cannot predict how bad it will be, but it will increase traffic on the Boston Road corridor,” said Wormell. “For those of us who live in Parker Village who have to wait for an ambulance (going down Boston Road), I see significant risk for my family and friends.”

Westford Farmers’ Market spokesperson Gloria Gilbert asked the Board for their assistance to return the Market to the Common, with other members of the audience also noting concern over the potential costs of a Police detail for the market.

Nancy Ellis of Cold Spring Road, a new resident to town according to her testimony, hoped both sides could reach a compromise, whether it be shuttling motorists onto 495 from 110 whenever possible, or advocate for alternate routes to supplant Boston Road or even adding a new exit on 495, noting that the issue also included parking and traffic concerns for other buildings along the Common.

“I think there is more than one solution to this problem, not just kicking the Market off the Common,” she said.

Police Safety officer Michael Croteau told the board that various other events such as the Strawberry Festival and the Westford Road Race use police details, although members of the audience challenged that those events occurred only once per year while the Market is held every week for several months.

Croteau also challenged claims that the Market was not growing, citing that while the amount of vendors were held stable, the amount of patrons could not be controlled by the Market.

Westford Police provisional captain Mark Chambers hoped to clarify the position of the Westford Police Department that they are advising, and not advocating for a police detail, and only as a last resort, preferring to see the Market head to an alternate site or hold it during non-peak traffic times on the weekend.

“Farmers’ Markets once they reach a certain size move to a different location,” he said. “We need to consider the safety of Westford rather than the convenience of the Common.”

The board voted 3-1-0 to approve the Market’s return to the Common, with Wormell voting in opposition.

Wormell voted with new Selectman Scott Hazelton in a 2-2-0 vote to mandate a police detail for the Market, with the motion failing due to the tie.

Selectman Andrea Peraner-Sweet said she may support a detail at a later point in the summer and would pay attention to the detail potentially becoming necessary if needed.

Selectman Jim Sullivan, who was elected as the new Vice Chairman of the board, was not present.

More information on the Market is available at www.sustainablewestford.com