Published in the June 7, 2019 edition.

By MARK SARDELLA

WAKEFIELD — All but one of the four informational kiosks supplied by the Wakefield Main Streets program have been installed, including one at the corner of Church Street and Lake Avenue that will include a digital component. Representatives of Wakefield Main Streets were on hand at last week’s Town Council meeting to provide an update.

Of the three two-sided kiosks, two have been installed — one at the corner of Main and Water streets and one near Veterans Field on North Avenue. The third will be located at the corner of Main and Albion Streets but Maio said that new concrete had to be poured first, as it was determined that the existing sidewalk wasn’t strong enough to support the kiosk.

Bob Mailhoit and Susan Wetmore told the Town Council that the the two-sided kiosks will have room to highlight four events at a time as well as a map and directory of the downtown, highlighting businesses, public buildings and locations of historical interest.

The digital kiosk will be pre-loaded with an SD card and will feature seasonal promotional videos as well as videos promoting downtown merchants.

Town Councilor Jonathan Chines asked about the process for what goes on the kiosks. Maio said that everything would have to be approved by Town Hall. Only town events or local events sponsored by nonprofits will be featured on the kiosks. Examples cited included the Town Meeting, the Hartshorne House Breakfast, the Holiday Stroll, Festival Italia, the Festival By the Lake and Friends of Lake Quannapowitt events.

Maio said that a policy for the kiosks was being developed and he hoped to have it ready for approval at the next Town Council Meeting.

Town Councilors wanted assurances that the volume and brightness of the digital kiosk near the Common would not be a distraction. Mailhoit said that the volume would be controlled by Town Hall. The digital screen will be turned off at night.

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The Town Council got a preview last week of the town’s new Hazard Mitigation Plan. DPW Director Richard Stinson, Storm Water Manager Claire Moss and Town Engineer Bill Renault were on hand as Kendra Martin, an engineer with BETA Group, presented the draft plan.

Martin explained that communities must have a Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) in place to qualify for future federal funding. The HMP program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) in collaboration with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Administration (MEMA). Wakefield received a grant from FEMA to update the town’s HMP in 2007. That plan expired in 2013.

Martin reviewed the HMP update process, which included updating existing mitigation measures to include measures taken since 2007. In addition, a list was developed of 48 potential mitigation measures and prioritized actions, of which 14 actions were identified as having a high impact and high feasibility of being completed.

Martin explained that the next steps include submitting the new draft HMP to MEMA for comment. Once approved, MEMA submits the plan to FEMA. After Wakefield adopts the approved HMP, the town becomes eligible to apply for FEMA funding. The HMP must be updated every 5 years.

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Chairman Edward Dombroski announced last week which Town Councilors had been assigned to serve as liaisons to major town departments.

Peter May will served as liaison to the Department of Public Works. Julie Smith-Galvin will be the liaison to the Municipal Gas & Light Department. The Police
Department contact will be Paul DiNocco. Ann Santos was assigned to the liaison to the Fire Department. Mehreen Butt will serve as both the Social Services and Arts and Culture liaison. Smith-Galvin and May will team up to handle communications. Dombroski said that he would serve as liaison to the Finance Committee and will also look at long-range forecasting.

Dombroski also tasked vice chair Ann Santos with improving the notification and appointment process for committees appointed by the Town Council.

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In other business last week, the Town Council:

• Renewed a Class II (used) car dealer’s license for Precision Auto Works at 1 Melvin St.

• Approved the 2019 contract between the town and the Farmers Market.

• Approved a liquor license for Pony Shack Cider to allow samples to be offered at the Farmers Market.