February 27 2023 meeting

Chair Crawford called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. He announced that the meeting was being recorded for cable television and led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Proposed agreement regarding right of way and boundary lines for properties at 72 and 74 Crescent Avenue

 Assistant Town Administrator Robert Curtin explained that Town Counsel Thomas Mullen is attending the Wakefield Town Council meeting tonight but has provided background information for this matter:

A longstanding private boundary dispute between the owners of two parcels that abut Pillings Pond at 72 and 74 Crescent Ave.  There is a pending Land Court case about it, and a related Land Court appeal from a decision of the ZBA which also grows out of the boundary dispute. The Town's only interest in the matter is that the Town has a recorded drainage easement on part of the disputed property.  The parties have now settled their dispute with a new plan and an agreement for judgment that expressly preserves the Town's easement. The Court is fine with the agreement for judgment.  If it is signed, the appeal from the ZBA decision will also be dismissed. The only thing standing in the way of a total resolution of this matter before the ZBA and the Land Court is the need for Town Counsel’s signature on the agreement for judgment.

MOTION by Mr. Connell, duly seconded by Mr. Dalton: I move that the Town Counsel be authorized to sign and file with the Land Court, on behalf of the Town of Lynnfield, the Agreement for Judgment in Murphy, et al. v. Recka, et al., Land Court Case No. 19 MISC 000481, in substantially the form presented to the Board, terminating the said action and preserving the Town's drainage easement. Vote was unanimous.

Application for common victualler license and weekday entertainment license, Thai LLC, dba Soi 8 and Sushi Ike, 335 Market Street.

Attorney Timothy Doyle said that the new restaurant would be located in the space between Yard Houe and the Rooster barber shop. William Cong, the manager, has 30 years of experience in the restaurant field, and operates Lemongrass in Warwick, RI and Poke Works in Watertown. He said the restaurant will seek a wine and malt beverages license in the future. He described the restaurant as a sushi bar with 20 seats and a restaurant with about 30 seats plus counter orders for takeout service.

Board members wished Mr. Cong well.

MOTION by Mr. Connell, duly seconded by Mr. Dalton I move that the Board approve the common victualler license for Thai LL, doing business as Soi 8 and Sushi Ike, at 335 Market Street. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Connell, duly seconded by Mr. Dalton: I move that the Board approve the weekday entertainment license for recorded music for Thai LLC, doing business as Soi 8 and Sushi Ike, at 335 Market Street. MOTION by Mr. Connell, duly seconded by Mr. Dalton

MAPC presentation on Community Vision Plan initiative

Andrea Harris-Long of the Massachusetts Planning Advisory Council (MAPC) made a slide show presentation on the Community Visioning Initiative that is underway under the auspices of the Planning Board. Planning Board Chair Brain Charville introduced them and described the process as a mini-Master Plan. He said it is time to consider a plan update and said the visioning process is the first step. The MAPC representatives have taken tours of the Town and have had discussions with Town staff.

Ms. Harris-Long is the projects manager and senior planner at MAPC. She said the first step is to hear people on their vision for Lynnfield – how it should look and operate over the next 10-20 years. The data that is received and analyzed would feed into a new Master Plan by identifying priorities and issues. The MAPC reps will meet with members of Town committees, distribute a Town-wide survey, and hold an open house as part of an inclusive and transparent process. They will be attending Planning Board meetings in March. A project web page will provide updates to the community.

Chair Crawford said he agrees it is time for an update, and will inform the work the Board is doing. Mr. Connell said that the Strategic Planning Committee, which eh chaired, had recently finished it review and prioritization of major capital projects. Mr. Dalton said he was a member of the Planning Board when the latest Master Plan was adopted and said the biggest challenge will be getting the community to engage with the process. Ms. Harris-Long said they plan to go to events where people are already in attendance rather than just hold their own focus sessions. They are hoping for a large response to the survey.

Mr. Crawford said that when he served on the Fields Study Committee, meeting with user groups was important.

Library FY24 Budget Presentation

Director Abigail Porter presented the Library FY24 operating and capital budget requests. She said during FY22 and FY 23 the Library filled four positions, including Director and Assistant Director, and is currently fully staffed. Program participation is increasing and the Library is building out its Library of Things, non-traditional items that patrons can borrow. Staff is being trained in assisting people with dementia and like conditions. Materials checkout has increased by 10,000.

Over the last three years, the operating budget has averaged an increase of 2.5 percent. Contract negotiations with the union are still ongoing. The library budget request seeks an increase of 1.5 percent, which does not include any salary increases that will be negotiated.

The capital request seeks to digitize 600 photos with notes from the collection donated by longtime resident and developer Charles Wills. She said the Library will seek grants for future digitation projects.

Board members thanked her for her presentation.

Department of Public Works FY24 Budget Presentation

Director John Tomasz presented the Department of Public Works FY24 operating and capital budget requests.

Mr. Tomasz said the operating budget request was similar to last year’s, and includes negotiates raises. License incentives and longevity payments. The school bus contract costs are up over $100,000. A n increase of five percent was expected, but the lowest bid was an 18 percent increase. Electricity and fuel costs are up 20 percent during to rising prices. He said the ESCO project is working well, and that without the energy efficiencies achieved through it, fuel and energy costs would be up 40 to 50 percent. Mr. Tomaz said he tweaked various line items to reflect actual costs. He said no Town all work is planned due to the upcoming renovation project. He said he will reduce the number of Town bus drivers from three to two as the Town has not been able to hire a third driver. He said due to the age of the workforce, he expects to see a large amount of worker turnover in the coming years.

The capital budget request includes among its major items $50,000 for the Lynnfield High School septic system repairs, the second payment on the bus lease for $20,000, and $500,000 in road construction. Town Administrator Robert Dolan said that the goal is to spend more than $1 million on road repairs, including state Chapter 90 highway funds. Mr. Tomasz said he will engage contractors early in the season. Mr. Crawford said he supports making any funds that are available for road improvements. Mr. Doland and Mr. Tomasz said they are very happy with the responsiveness of the contractor. Other capital items include $110,000 for a new truck, $125,00 for a new library roof, $22,320 for two scrubbers for the schools, and $25,240 for two gloss floor burnishers. Mr. Dolan said that an additional truck will be purchased with ARPA funds. Mr. Tomasz said the trucks he and Mark Rogers, the operations supervisor, use both have over 200,000 miles.

Use of Facilities requests

            a. Centre Congregational Church Easter service, Newhall Park, April 7

            b. LHS baseball, car wash, South Fire, May 7

            c. LAA road race, July 4

MOTION by Mr. Connell, duly seconded by Mr. Dalton: I move that the Board approve the Use of Facilities requests subject to any conditions imposed by the Public Works Director and the Chief of Police. Vote was unanimous,

MOTION by Mr. Connell, duly seconded by Mr. Dalton: I move that the Board adjourn. Vote was unanimous.

The Board adjourned at 6:36 p.m.