Wakefield Town Council Notes -- May 19, 2025

Here’s a summary of our Town Council meeting on Monday, May 19:

• We received a quarterly report on the spending of the $1 million in federal ARPA funds allocated by the Town Council for economic development initiatives. Under the direction of Wakefield’s Economic Development Council, $550,000 will be used for downtown facade and sign improvements, $100,000 has been earmarked to support public art and cultural development, and $150,000 will be used to market Wakefield businesses. I’m also excited that $100,000 has been allocated to Project Pop-Up, a short-term retail test space for new businesses considering locating in Wakefield.

• The Town Council approved an intermunicipal agreement with Melrose, Malden, Medford, Stoneham, and Winchester to continue our existing regional public health collaboration. This collaboration will allow us to maintain eligibility for the state Public Health Excellence for Shared Services Grant that has brought more than $500,000 into our six communities over the last few years.

• The Council approved recommendations from the Traffic Advisory Committee to install high-visibility crosswalk signs at 1155 Main Street in Greenwood, and Rapid Flashing Beacon signs to the crosswalks on Water Street at Nasella Park, and Albion Street near Foundry Street.

• We finalized the composition of the Town Administrator Search Committee, which will be responsible for screening potential candidates and recommending three finalists to the Town Council for consideration. The Committee will include Assistant Town Administrator Kevin Gill, Superintendent Doug Lyons, Public Works Business Manager Ann Waitt, Finance Committee member Dan Sherman, and community members Emily Rivera, Gene Sullivan, and Tiana Veldwisch. We had an excellent pool of applicants to consider for the committee — sincere thanks to everyone who volunteered to serve.

• The Council approved an entertainment license for Life Love Cheese on Water Street, and an alcohol sales license for Blisspoint Meadery to sell wine at the Wakefield Farmers Market. We also will evaluate the Town’s current policy on prohibiting sampling at the Farmers Market at an upcoming meeting.

• The Town Council appointed Peter Constantine to the Veterans Advisory Board, Dan D’Ademo to the Recreation Commission, and Shaun Santos to the Fence Viewing Committee. We also finalized our liaison assignments for the coming fiscal year. I will continue to serve as the Town Council’s liaison to the Health and Human Services department, Wakefield Public Schools, Permanent Building Committee, and Wakefield Police Department, as well as one of the Town Council’s representatives on the Housing Production Plan Advisory Committee.

Our next meeting will be on Monday, June 9 at 7:00 PM. As always, members of the public are welcome to join us in-studio at Wakefield Community Access Television, or on Zoom.