Published in the March 22, 2021 edition.
By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — Facing a full agenda, tonight’s Town Council meeting will begin at 6 p.m., an hour earlier than usual.
The final round of FY 2022 town departmental budgets is on tonight’s agenda and that includes the largest municipal budget, that of the School Department. School Superintendent Douglas Lyons and his administrative team will present the $45,703,200 budget proposal, a 4.88 percent increase over the current fiscal year’s budget.
The Town Council does not vote on the School Department budget, but may weigh in on how the school budget fits in with overall town budget.
The $1,732,232 vocational school budget is also on tonight’s agenda and representatives of Northeast Metro Tech will also make a presentation on their plans to build a new school with the assistance of the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
Other budgets on tap tonight are the Health Insurance budget and the $2 million Capital Outlay budget.
Also on the agenda is the Public Access TV enterprise budget. This budget is not funded by tax levy but by franchise fees paid by cable operators to the town.
The Town Council will also hear about a Town Meeting article proposing local adoption of the “Stretch Energy Code.”
Massachusetts gives communities two options for their building energy code – a base energy code or an optional “stretch energy code.” Municipalities can choose to adopt the stretch energy code by vote of City Council or Town Meeting and it can be rescinded by these bodies as well. Adoption of the Stretch Code is one of the requirements for the Town of Wakefield to apply for designation as a Green Community and thus be eligible for grants to pay for energy saving projects in town buildings.
Also listed on tonight’s agenda is a discussion of “proposed non-seasonal Main Streets banners.”
The acceptance of a donation of benches and kiosks from Wakefield Main Streets also appears on tonight’s agenda.
The Town Council will vote tonight on extending the Public Comment period on the Lake Boat Concession to May 21, 2021.
The Town Council will issue a proclamation designating April 6, 2021 as “Educational Savings Branch of The Savings Bank Day” in Wakefield in honor of the 40th anniversary of its opening, and for its contributions and commitment, not only to financial literacy and education among all students, but also to the Town of Wakefield.
Finally tonight, the Town Council will entertain a request from the Environmental Sustainability Committee to add three members of the public to that committee.
