WILMINGTON, MA — Here are FIVE things that happened at Monday’s night Wilmington Board of Selectmen Meeting:
#1) Wilmington Town Engineer Paul Alunni provided a brief written update on the Yentile Farm Recreational Facility project, which remains on schedule. Much of the work not yet complete involve interior trade work (i.e, electrical, plumbing) for the concession stand and restroom building. An Occupancy Permit is expected to be obtained within the next week. Site work is substantially complete. A few seasonal items (e.g., new plantings, touch-up painting on courts) will be completed in the spring. These seasonal items represent less than 1% of the total contract value. The Public Building and Fire Department are conducting various testings and trainings at the facility this week. Planning for the grand opening (“Wilmington Spirit Day”) will be beginning shortly.
#2) Wilmington Town Manager Jeff Hull provided Selectmen with the town’s official comments submitted to the Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis regarding the New England Transrail proposal to build a transloading facility at the Olin Superfund site. … Hull provided the Selectmen with copies of the letter that the town sent to its federal delegation to ask for their support in fighting the proposal. … As a result of those letters, Hull and O’Connell will be meeting this week with aides from the officers of Senator Ed Markey, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Congressman Seth Moulton to have a “candid conversation” about the town’s strategy in fighting the proposal. The meeting was organized by Kate Machet, Regional Director with Senator Markey’s Office. … Selectmen receive a letter sent to the Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis from the 4 Jewel Drive Condominium Association. “Our building has 14 occupied units and we are very concerned that the reuse of the site could disrupt existing toxins that could contaminate our property thus endangering human life and decreasing our property values.”
#3) Wilmington Director of Planning & Conservation Valerie Gingrich provided a brief written update on a petitioned zoning amendment involving 278 Lowell Street, the “shed property” located next to Burger King. On November 2, resident Derek Santini submitted a petition to rezone the 2.25 acre parcel (Map 72, Lot 1B) from General Business to Residence 20. The Planning Board will be holding a public hearing on the matter during its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, January 3 at 7:30pm at the Town Hall. A public notice advertising the hearing will be published in the Town Crier over the next two weeks. Notice will also be sent to all abutting Towns, the Department of Housing and Community Development, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, and direct abutters. Once the public hearing is closed, the Planning Board will provide a recommendation within 3 weeks. The proposed zoning amendment would then be placed on the warrant for a vote at the Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, April 29 at 10:30am at Wilmington High.
#4) Wilmington Selectmen approved a long list of annual licenses granted to Wilmington businesses. Licenses were in the area of Alcohol Beverages, Automatic Amusement, Billiard Room, Class I Vehicle Sales, Class II Vehicle Sales, Common Victualer and Entertainment. “With six Dunkin’ Donuts and three Subways, we certainly have coffee and subs covered,” observed Selectwoman Judy O’Connell.
#5) Wilmington Selectmen unanimously approved the appointment of Assistant Town Manager Denise Casey to the town’s Cable Advisory Task Force, which will soon begin negotiating a new 10-year contract with Comcast for the town.
PLUS: Under “Committee Reports,” several Selectmen praised the town’s recent holiday events, including the Fourth of July Committee’s Town Tree Lighting, the We’re One Wilmington’s Festival of Trees, and the “Santa Parade” organized by Wilmington Public Safety officials. … Selectman Kevin Caira praised the work of the Wilmington-based iPods for Wounded Veterans and its collaboration with the Wilmington Senior Center.
More coverage of the meeting — including news on Fun on the Fourth and FY18 budget priorities — will be coming over the next few days.
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