Wakefield Town Council Notes -- December 16, 2024

Here's what we covered at our Town Council meeting on Monday, December 16:

• We finalized the allocation of all federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) by approving Memoranda of Understanding specifying the uses of the funds distributed to Wakefield's Affordable Housing Trust and the Economic Development Council. We also received an update on the ARPA-supported pathway and drainage improvements planned for the section of the Lake Quannapowitt shoreline between Beacon Street and Lakeside Avenue.

• The Town Council approved an intermunicipal agreement with the Town of Reading and several other communities to create a Regional Housing Services Office, which will help connect residents in need with local housing resources and services. We also approved the contract for the installation of solar panels on the Galvin Middle School roof.

• The Council reappointed Joe Bertrand and John McDonald to the Permanent Building Committee, and appointed Christina Gabriel to an open seat on the Committee. In addition, we voted to dissolve the Town Council's 40A Subcommittee since the MBTA Communities compliance plan developed by the subcommittee was approved by Town Meeting last month.

• We approved a slate of business licenses for 2025, including 62 restaurant licenses, 34 entertainment licenses, 30 liquor licenses, 2 lodging house licenses, 1 fortune teller license, 5 automated device licenses, 6 new car dealer licenses, and 25 used car dealer licenses.

• We accepted a gift of $1,200 from the Friends of Wakefield Tennis for new nets at the Dobbins Tennis Courts, and a gift of $8,000 of electric vehicle fire suppression equipment from Callahan Construction.

• After a lengthy discussion, the Town Council voted to remove the flex poles protecting the North Avenue bike lane for the winter. The removal of the poles for the winter was long planned to facilitate snow removal by the Department of Public Works, with the expectation that they will be reinstalled in the spring.

Our next meeting will be after the new year, on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM. Best wishes to everyone in Wakefield for a happy holiday season and a joyous new year!