WILMINGTON, MA – Hundreds of Wilmington voters participated in what Town Moderator Robert Peterson Jr. referred to as “purest form of democracy” at Saturday’s Annual Town Meeting, which emanated from the High School Auditorium.
In addition to overwhelmingly supporting the town’s FY17 operational budget of $104,326,543, representing a 3.87% increase from FY16, voters made a number of key decisions which will affect the quality of life in Wilmington.
Public Safety
Voters okayed the purchase of five new cruisers for the Police Department, plus a command vehicle, ambulance and pumper for the Fire Department. Voters also approved the purchase of tasers for police officers and new portable radios for firefighters.
Driver and pedestrian safety was also addressed by voters, who approved funding an intersection master plan “to evaluate and prioritize upgrades for major and heavily traveled intersections.” The town also approved its share of funding for engineering services to perform various upgrades to Route 38 (Main Street), from the Route 38/62 intersection to the Woburn city line.
The town also saw fit to approve the relocation of an underground control panel at the Public Safety Sewer Pump Station.
Education
School building improvements, including full roof replacements at the Boutwell Early Childhood Center and North Intermediate School, were approved, as was the purchase of a new student transport van.
Several technology purchases for the school system were okayed by voters, including the installation of a Voice Over IP phone system at all schools and the upgrade of switches as the six elementary schools.
Voters also supported several big ticket curriculum purchases for the elementary schools, including the “Fundations” ELA program and the “Lucy Calkins Units of Study-Reading ELA Program.” Costs associated with a new “Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum” for all schools was also approved.
Housing
The creation of a new “Neighborhood Mixed Use Zoning District,” in the areas of Lowell Street, Woburn Street and Dartmouth Street, was approved. The measure is intended, in part, to allow multi-family housing units, such as condos, to be constructed.
After a lengthy, contentious discussion, voters also supported amending the town’s zoning bylaws and zoning map, to create an over-55 housing district on Andover Street, near Fosters Pond. The vote will enable developer Steven Wright to build 27 small homes — 9 single family and 9 duplexes. 3 of the homes would be certified as “affordable.” The motion passed comfortably over the 2/3-majority requirement, despite objections from residents who live in the neighborhood. Critics of the project expressed concerns involving traffic, pedestrian safety, open space, proximity to wetlands and Fosters Pond, septic issues, and the proposal’s “isolated” location, away from any “neighborhood activity centers.”
The Planning Department’s desire to acquire the existing low and moderate incoming housing at Avalon Oaks (57 Ballardvale Street) was backed by the voters.
Recreation
While the owner and rink operator of Ristuccia Arena is tied up in court, voters – for the second consecutive year – approved $526,000 to operate a “Public Rink enterprise.” The vote will allow the town to move forward once the “right of first refusal” clause is decided by the courts.
After last year’s vote to fund the project, Selectwoman Judy O’Connell updated Town Meeting on the progress of the Yentile Farm Recreaitonal Facility, which recently broke ground in March. To date, the project is “ahead of schedule” and “under budget.”
Voters supported amending the town’s bylaws as it relates to dogs, to bring the town’s dog rules and regulations into compliance with those of the state’s. One of the more controversial provisions of the approved bylaw was the banning of dogs at Town Beach from May 1 to October 1.
Veterans & Patriotism
The town approved $25,000 to help fund the annual “Fun on the Fourth” celebration, including defraying police overtime costs. During the discussion, Hull announced that Fiesta Shows was selected to run this year’s carnival. Voters also supported funding for the town’s observances of Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Voters approved naming the corner of 136 Church Street and Adams Street in memory of William R. Harrison, a deceased Wilmington World War 2 veteran. There was also unanimous support for the town to continue to cover the leases for both headquarters for Wilmington’s Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts.
Infrastructure
Purchases of a heavy duty dump truck, heavy duty front end loader, and a heavy duty pavement roller and trailer were supported for the Department of Public Works. Voters also decided to continue to participate in the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) Financial Assistance Program.
Long-Term Liabilities
Voters approved depositing $1 million in the town’s Other Post Employment (OPEB) Liability Trust Fund; $1.5 million in the town’s Capital Stabilization Fund; and $500,000 in the town’s Employment Retirement Benefits Fund. Voters also agreed to make a $500,000 direct payment to the Middlesex Retirement System.
Bylaw Changes
Voters also made a number of changes to several town bylaws and zoning bylaws:
- increased the maximum seating allowance at a sandwich shop to 12 and formalized the requirements for patio seating at restaurants
- limited auto repair and body shops to display two used vehicles with “for sale” signs, which must be parked no closer than 20 feet from the street sideline
- updated town’s Comprehensive Stormwater Management bylaw and the town’s Flood Plan District zoning bylaw
- clarified the process of appointing members to the Finance Committee
- rezoned four parcels on Aldrich Road from Residential 60 to Residential 20
Seven of the 55 warrant articles were withdrawn or ruled out of order.
Watch the 7-hour meeting, courtesy of Wilmington Community Television, below:
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(NOTE: Cover photo courtesy of WCTV.org.)
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