WILMINGTON, MA — Below are SIX things that happened at the Wilmington Board of Selectmen Meeting earlier this month:
#1) OPEN SPACE & RECREATION PLAN: Town Manager Jeff Hull announced that the town will soon begin working on a new open space & recreation plan, which most be updated every five years. The document provides an inventory of the town’s open space and addresses progress towards the previous plan’s goals. The committee will start meeting in September and consist of town staff, members of some of the town’s committees and boards, and a few interested residents. The committee will conduct a survey of residents and identify actionable items. Once the plan is submitted and approved, the town will become eligible for grants for open space and recreational activities.
#2) FLOOR INSURANCE RATE MAPS: FEMA recently updated the engineering analysis of several rivers in the Middlesex County area. Town Engineer Paul Alunni serves as the town’s point person relative to FEMA’s flood insurance mapping. A representative from his office attended a FEMA public meeting on Tuesday, July 16 on the Shawsheen River basin.
#3) INHABITANT BYLAW COMMITTEE: The committee held its first meeting on Thursday, July 11. Two members of the committee – Dan Stewart and Hirak Shah – indicated to the Town Clerk that they’re unable to continue to serve, resulting in two vacant spots. Stewart was originally appointed by Selectman Greg Bendel, while Shah was appointed by then Selectwoman Judy O’Connell, whose seat is now held by Selectwoman Jomarie O’Mahony. Selectmen agreed with Town Manager Jeff Hull’s proposal to allow Bendel and O’Mahony to each appoint a member to the committee at the Selectmen’s August meeting.
#4) MASS. COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES GRANTS: Town Manager Jeff Hull shared information on Mass. Commission on Disabilities’ Municipal ADA Grant Program. There are two types of grant — (1) a planning grant to review community policies and procedures with respect to making its facilities and programs accessible to folks with disabilities and (2) a project grant to fund work that would remove structural barriers in a building. The maximum grant amount is $250,000. Hull provided the grnt information is DPW Superintendent George Hooper and the town’s Commission on Disabilities Chair Dee Gennetti. Applicants have a 6-month window to ensure bidding is done and work is completed. “This is something we’ll take a look at,” said Hull. “The planning grant may be more up our alley at this point.”
#5) COMMUTER RAIL FARE HIKE: Town Manager Jeff Hull passed along information from MassDOT about recent fare increases at MBTA. A 1-way ticket in Wilmington (Zone 3) will cost $8; reduced fare is $4; and a monthly pass is $261. These changes were effective July 1.
#6) CLIMATE PREPAREDNESS WEEK: Selectmen were asked to join efforts that a number of Massachusetts communities, including Boston and Cambridge, are undertaking as part of Climate Preparedness Week (September 24-30). Wilmington was encouraged to hold educational programs, planning programs, or service programs as it relates to climate change. Selectmen took no action at the meeting.
Check back tomorrow for SIX more things that happened at the Selectmen’s Meeting in July.
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