Panel recommends $120,000 to replace Westford fire‑alarm digitizer after repeated failures

The Town of Westford Capital Planning Committee voted Sept. 18 to recommend funding to replace an aging fire‑alarm digitizer after staff reported multiple failures that risk undetected alarm signals to dispatch.

"Since May 26th, we've had four failures of our radio box system," said Andy Sherman, operations administrator for public safety communications, who told the committee the alarm-monitoring device is more than 20 years old, several generations behind current technology and offers no automatic failover when it stops transmitting. Sherman said the system relays alarms from many public buildings including Westford Public Schools and the town library and that failures mean dispatchers only discover problems through silence.

Sherman requested the committee recommend budgeting approximately $120,000 to cover replacement, potential price increases and installation costs. Committee members pressed staff on timing and compatibility risks; staff said replacement could be started quickly once approved but noted that long‑term compatibility with all building alarm systems across town remains an open risk that would require a broader capital plan to address.

Chair Dan O'Donnell said the request would go on the Oct. 26 special town meeting warrant with the committee's recommendation. The roll call recommending the public safety communications request was recorded as nine yes votes and one abstention.