Published in the May 10, 2017 edition
By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — The Board of Selectmen has new leadership, as Paul DiNocco was tapped to be the board’s new chairman and Peter May was elected vice chairman.
Selectman Ann Santos nominated DiNocco, who received the unanimous vote of his colleagues. May was nominated by Selectman Tony Longo, and was unanimously chosen as vice chair.
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The dates of Wakefield’s two signature summertime celebrations were made official Monday night as the selectmen approved requests to hold the annual Independence Day Parade on Tuesday, July 4 and Festival Italia on Saturday, Aug. 19.
Patrick Sullivan and Brian Fox of the Independence Day Committee made the presentation to the board to have the parade begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Office Park and continue down North Avenue, Church Street, Common Street and Main Street, concluding at the Galvin Middle School.
The selectmen also granted the Independence Day Committee permission to use Quannapowitt Parkway for staging purposes and the Galvin Middle School parking lots for parade participants. Additionally, the board voted to allow the committee to have exclusive joint control with the West Side Social Club of all vendors present around the immediate vicinity of the parade route including Vets Field, the Upper Common, the Lower Common, and 100 feet on both sides surrounding the entire parade route. The WSSC provides events for all ages before and after the Independence Day Parade.
The selectmen also granted the Events Planning Committee permission to conduct the Festival Italia on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017 with a rain date of Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017 between the hours of 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. with street closures from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The street closures include: Main Street closed to southbound vehicular traffic from Crescent Street (south) to Richardson Avenue; Main Street to be closed to northbound vehicular traffic from Water Street to Crescent Street; Albion Street to be closed to vehicular traffic from Main Street to North Avenue. Additional street closings include: Centre Street, from Main Street to the rear of the Alano building and Princess Street, from Main Street to the Lindquist building. Avon Street and Chestnut Street will have limited access from Main Street, and Foster Street will have no vehicular access to Albion Street.
The selectmen also granted permission for Festival Italia to utilize the Lincoln Street parking lot (if necessary, possible car show) and the use of all municipal parking areas (if available) for festival parking.
They also voted to give The Event Planning Committee the ability to extend the liquor licenses of the restaurants participating in the event to a predetermined area in front of their business within the shutdown area of the Town Right of Way.
The board also approved a request from The Event Planning Committee of a 10-day liquor license to purchase Beer and Wine for Festival Italia to be sold by The Event Planning Committee staff.
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In other business this week, the Board of Selectmen:
• Heard from former Selectman Jim Scott of Elm Street who urged the town to look into acquiring the federally owned land along Tarrant Lane which is currently being auctioned by the federal government.
• Appointed Gerald E. Barrett, 29 Evergreen St., to the Recreation Commission.
• Appointed Maria B. Palomino, 11 Newell Rd., to the Advisory Board of Public Works.
• Scheduled a Public Hearing for the possible suspension or revocation of Liquor License for Caryn’s Restaurant at 395-397 Main Street for May 22, 2017 at 7:10 p.m.
• Scheduled a public hearing on a request for an all-alcohol liquor license for Blue Moon Grille for Monday, May 22, at 7:40 p.m.
• Scheduled a Public Hearing for an alteration of premises for Caffe Italia, Inc. at 21-23 Water St. for June 12, 2017 at 7:10 p.m.
