Some Lynnfielders Set To Be In New Precincts

Following last year's Census, policymakers around the country are now getting the redistricting process underway - and that applies to Lynnfield as well.

At Monday night's selectmen's meeting, Town Administrator William Gustus reported that relatively modest changes were made to the town's existing precincts because they are required to be uniform in size. Several streets in each precinct were said to have moved, affecting about 10-15 percent of Lynnfield's population.

"It would be a much bigger deal if we didn't all vote in the same location," said Gustus, adding that at the next town election, officials will post a list of streets and precincts to help keep residents apprised of the changes. 

He also noted that this local process is relevant to the coming state representative redistricting process, as well as the federal congressional one. The coming process will see Massachusetts lose one congressional seat based on 2010 Census results.

"They need all this baseline data from the communities in order to begin this more complicated process," said Gustus.

Select Board Chairman Arthur Bourque expressed the desire to see all of Lynnfield someday represented by the same State Rep. "I'm very concerned that the town remains divided in its representation," he said, while also praising the work that both of the town's current state representatives do.

Presently, Donald Wong, owner of Kowloon Restaurant on Route 1 in Saugus, is the state representative for the second precinct of Lynnfield, while Brad Jones, the House Republican Leader, represents the town's other three precincts.

In other business on Monday night the selectmen:

- Heard a report from Fire Chief Tom Bogart and Chaplain Dennis Bailey from the Congregational Church about the town's forthcoming 9/11 remembrance activities. A separate story about this will be available at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning on Lynnfield Patch.

- Approved Brian Shaffer as an alternate member of the ZBA. Shaffer is a 1986 LHS graduate who holds a master of science in electrical engineering and who holds a 1999 U.S. patent that involves configuring power converters. He also currently serves on the town's School Building Committee and has assisted town officials with a property best use project.

- Chose Patrick Rondeau to be a full member of the Zoning Board of Approvals. Rondeau graduated from Harvard Law School with a J.D. cum laude in 1984 and worked for prestigious Boston law firm WilmerHale from 1984 to 2010. Rondeau had been an alternate member of the ZBA since December. Rondeau replaces David Miller on the board.

- Approved licenses to peddle for two individuals who will apparently be operating ice cream trucks in town.

- Proclaimed July 26 to be ADA Day in Lynnfield in honor of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

- Approved the request by the Lynnfield Athletic Association to use local roads for their 44th annual Fourth of July Road Race.

- Read a letter from the Ross family thanking the town's fire and police personnel for their prompt and effective response to a fire at their home several weeks ago.

- Acknowledged the contributions and longstanding service to the town of Recreation Committee member Kevin Sullivan, who is stepping down.

Editor's Note: The week Lynnfield Patch went live in late November, I interviewed the newly-elected State Rep. Donald Wong.

Also be sure to check out the monthly we run with Rep. Brad Jones in conjunction with Reading and North Reading Patch.