WILMINGTON, MA — Watch the Wilmington School Committee Meeting from Monday, March 13, 2017, courtesy of Wilmington Community Television, below:
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In case you missed them, below are some highlights from the meeting, previously shared on Wilmington Apple:
#1) Selectmen approved a request to illuminate the Wilmington Town Common blue during the month of April in observance of Autism Awareness. Town Manager Jeff Hull noted that an anonymous donor is paying for the gel that will be inserted into the lights on the Town Common.
#2) Town Manager Jeff Hull provided Selectmen with a brief update from Senator Ed Markey’s Office relative to New England Transrail:
“A representative from the Surface Transportation Board (STB) confirmed receipt of the comment letter from the Congressional delegation and from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The STB is currently conducting their investigation of the NET petition and is not at liberty to discuss details. The STB representative stated that the agency will give serious consideration to the comments received from the delegation and EPA. No time line was provided as to when the investigation would be complete. The Senator’s Office will continue to monitor activity at the STB and inform the Town of any developments.”
#3) Town Manager Jeff Hull provided Selectmen with a letter from the state’s Supervisor of Records relative to the board’s public records request to obtain copies of executive session minutes from the Wilmington School Committee related to the departure of former Superintendent Mary DeLai.
The Supervisor of Records declined to provide a determination as to the status of the executive session minutes and, instead, referred Selectmen to contact the state’s Attorney General Office, who oversees the Open Meeting Law.
Selectmen and Town Manager Jeff Hull provided no comment on the letter. It’s unclear if they intend on taking the matter to the Attorney General. Given their lack of comment, one could surmise that they’ll be dropping the matter and will simply wait until July 1, when the minutes in question are expected to be eligible for release, but that’s conjecture at this point.
#4) Selectmen signed a license agreement with the Wilmington Farmers Market, allowing the Farmers Market Association to hold their market on the former Swain School property. Selectmen previously approved the market’s 2017 season — Sundays from 10am to 1pm, June 11, 2017 to October 29, 2017. This represents a 3-week expansion compared to 2016.
#5) Selectmen accepted an easement, for the cost of $1, with Philip Fontana for 4 Lynch Lane. The easement allows the town legal access to perform necessary routine drainage work.
#6) After receiving a presentation from Planning & Conservation Director Valerie Gingrich, Selectmen executed the deed for the Butters Farm Property (165 Chestnut Street, Map 15, Parcel 31), executed the preservation restriction agreement; and signed the stewardship agreement with Historic New England. The new owner is David Sugrue, who purchased the first period home — built between 1680 and 1700 — for just $100.
Sugrue is required to maintain the building’s exterior facade, footprint, height, roof pitch, central chimney & fireplace, central frame, and various interior details and features within the house.
“This is great news for the town, the owner, and the building,” said Selectman Mike Champoux.
“I appreciate [town officials] seeing this through so the building can be preserved and continue to be a landmark in town and cared for in the way it should be,” said Selectwoman Judy O’Connell, who also commended the Historical Commission for their involvement in the process.
#7) Selectmen closed and signed the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting scheduled for Saturday, April 29 at 10:30am in the Wilmington High School Auditorium. The warrant booklet will be mailed to all residents and posted online shortly. Residents are invited to attend the joint Finance Committee-Planning Board hearing on the Town Meeting warrant articles on Tuesday, March 21 at 7pm in the Wilmington Town Hall Auditorium.
#8) Selectmen received an update from Town Manager Jeff Hull regarding the Housing Authority Election. The Department of Housing and Community Development is currently decreasing the number of individuals and revising the makeup of individuals elected to individual housing authorities. Town Clerk Sharon George was initially told Wilmington could not hold an election for the seat, but the Director and Legal Counsel from the Election Division of the Secretary of the Common Wealth’s Office recently reversed the decision and has advised Wilmington to continue with its election. The decision was made, in part, for fear that the housing authority could struggle to meet a quorum, which would impede the body’s ability to conduct business. Bottom line, Stacie Murphy, the incumbent and only candidate to pull and submit nomination papers, will be on the April 22 ballot.
#9) After receiving the recommendation of Town Engineer Paul Alunni, Selectmen authorized Cheyenne Drive to be considered for approval as a public way at the Annual Town Meeting. Prior to the vote, a public hearing was held to entertain feedback from neighbors and the general public, but no one chose to speak.
#10) Town Manager Jeff Hull provided Selectmen with the Ascertainment Report that the Cable Advisory Task Force recently completed as part of the town’s contract renewal process with Comcast. The report calls for a senior discount for senior customers subscribed to the basic cable basic; improved customer service; capital improvements at Wilmington Community Television; an investment in WCTV equipment; the maintaining of WCTV’s operating budget for all 3 channels (public, education & government); and broadcasting WCTV in high definition rather than analog. The Cable Advisory Task Force is currently seeking dates to begin negotiations with Comcast. The Selectmen will ultimately have to approve the deal. The town’s current licensing agreement with Comcast expires in February 2018.
#11) The request of Sunil B. Patel (of Shree Prayosha Wilmington, Inc.) to obtain a common victualer license to operate Sonic Drive-In was postponed. This means Sonic will remain closed for at least a little longer.
#12) During “Public Comments,” Kevin MacDonald, a candidate for Wilmington Board of Selectmen, made unsubstantiated claims against a town department. MacDonald, who interrupted the Chair and raised his voice on several occasions, was ruled out-of-order multiple times and was asked by the chair to remove himself from the meeting. He was eventually escorted to the parking lot by Police Chief Michael Begonis.
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