Westwood, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 310 § 310-3
Agents (Westwood Lodging Facilities)
Operative Text
A. If the licensee is unable to exercise proper supervision of the premises, the licensee shall designate one or more agents to carry out all or part of its responsibilities. The owner of any such lodging facility having 12 or more units shall be required to have an agent present on the premises at all times. Upon recommendation of the Chief of Police, for reasons of public safety, the Board of Selectmen may require the owner of a facility having fewer than 12 units to have an agent present on premises at all times. Based on the qualifications of the agent(s) designated and the extent of their responsibilities, the Board of Selectmen may require more than one agent be provided. If, for any reason, an agent ceases to exercise his or her responsibilities, the licensee shall at once notify the Board of Selectmen and take immediate steps to provide proper interim supervision and obtain a suitable replacement. B. The agent(s) shall be available on a twenty-four-hour basis, and the telephone number for the on-duty agent must be posted in a conspicuous place inside each rooming unit or in a public area in the lodging facility office. The licensee must provide to the Board of Selectmen a list of all agents, including land line and cell phone contact information. The Selectmen's Office will provide the contact information to the Police, Fire, Health and Building Departments.
Section 310-3 of Westwood's Code of Bylaws establishes rules for how lodging facility licensees must ensure their properties are supervised. Facilities with 12 or more units must have an agent physically present at all times, while smaller facilities may be subject to the same requirement if the Board of Selectmen acts on a public-safety recommendation from the Chief of Police. Agents must be reachable around the clock, and their contact information must be posted visibly within each rooming unit or in a common area, with a full agent list also submitted to the Board of Selectmen for distribution to relevant town departments.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 310 § 310-3, compliant lodging facility operators maintain a designated agent—or multiple agents if the Board of Selectmen so requires—who can be reached 24 hours a day. Operators of facilities with 12 or more units ensure an agent is physically on-site at all times, and all operators keep an up-to-date list of agents, including both landline and cell phone numbers, on file with the Board of Selectmen. When an agent leaves or can no longer fulfill their duties, the licensee promptly notifies the Board of Selectmen, arranges interim supervision, and moves to secure a qualified replacement without delay.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 310-3 entitles residents of licensed lodging facilities in Westwood to have access to an on-duty agent's contact information posted in a visible location inside their rooming unit or in a common area of the facility. If an agent is not reachable or the facility appears to lack proper supervision, residents may bring this to the attention of the Board of Selectmen, or contact the Police, Fire, Health, or Building Departments, all of which receive agent contact information under this provision. Tenant-rights organizations or local housing authorities can help residents understand what remedies may be available if a licensee is not meeting the supervision requirements of CH. 310 § 310-3.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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