Wakefield Town Council Notes -- April 14, 2025

Here's what we covered during another lengthy Town Council meeting on Monday, April 14:

• The Town Council voted 4-3 to eliminate the bike lane on North Avenue. I voted with Councilors Butler and Butt to maintain the bike lane for the year so that we could gather data on safety and usage. I'm disappointed by the shortsighted decision by Councilors Carney, Dombroski, McLane, and Vincent to make this hasty decision without seeking input from the Traffic Advisory Council or giving this project time to generate the data needed to make an evidence-based decision.

• We approved the installation of four monofilament fishing line disposal receptacles around Lake Quannapowitt. Many thanks to the Friends of Lake Quannapowitt for developing these receptacles and volunteering to maintain them going forward!

• The Council approved a Letter of Engagement Agreement with Community Paradigm Associates, the executive search firm that we will use to facilitate the recruitment of a new Town Administrator. We also voted to solicit applications from the public for the Town Administrator search committee.

• The Town Council voted to grant a beer and wine sales license to Mobil Mart located at 850 Main Street in Greenwood.

• We approved operating budgets for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2025 for the Wakefield Public Schools, vocational schools, Medicare, and Town Council/Town Administrator. Driven primarily by the school budget which represents the majority of municipal spending, these budgets total $60 million and will increase by approximately 6% in the coming fiscal year. Of note the Town Council budget will see a one-time increase next year of 28% due to the hiring of the Assistant Town Administrator and the expiration of federal funds used to offset the Town Planner's salary.

• The Town Council approved Wakefield's capital budget for Fiscal Year 2026, totaling nearly $2.2 million. Highlights from the capital budget include funding for three new police cruisers, a new Senior Center van, HVAC improvements at the Beebe library, and field improvements at the Dolbeare School, Walton School, and Mapleway softball field. We also approved a $1.3 million bond article to replace a 20-year old fire pumper truck.

• The Council approved the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting, which will begin on Monday, May 5 at 7:00 PM at the Galvin Middle School. As a reminder, all registered Wakefield voters are eligible to participate and vote.

• We approved the license agreement for the Wakefield Farmers Market for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Opening day is expected to be Saturday, June 14 -- mark your calendars!

• The Town Council appointed 21 residents to serve on 12 Town boards and committees, including the Capital Planning Committee, Conservation Commission, Council on Aging, and Recreation Commission, among others. Thank you very much to everyone who volunteered to serve our community! As a reminder for anyone else interested in stepping up, all committee vacancies are posted on the Town website under the "Boards & Committees" tab.

Our next meeting will be Monday, April 28 at 7:00 PM on Wakefield Community Access TV and
Zoom. In the meantime, please don't forget to vote in next week's Town Election. Polls will be open at the Galvin Middle School from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM on Tuesday, April 22, with absentee voting available at Town Hall all this week during regular business hours.