Published in the May 9, 2017 edition.

By MARK SARDELLA

WAKEFIELD – A step at a time, improvements are being made to the downtown, and among the next upgrades will be the installation of 20 decorative iron benches along Main Street as well as some lighting for the trees in the square, courtesy of Wakefield Main Streets, Inc.

Wakefield Main Streets’ mission is to establish and promote downtown Wakefield as a vibrant, inviting destination by fostering historic preservation, economic renewal, and community involvement.

John Ross of the Wakefield Main Streets program appeared before the Board of Selectmen last night to tell them about the group’s latest plans for the downtown and to get the board’s blessing on the benches.

Ross reminded the selectmen that he had come before them in December to tell them about a crowdfunding endeavor that Main Streets would be embarking on. They have been working with Patronicity, a crowdfunding facilitator, to get funding through MassDevelopment’s Commonwealth Places matching grant program.

If they raised $29,000, Ross told the board, MassDevelopment would match those funds. Already, Main Streets has raised over $31,000.

Ross showed the board some pictures of the kinds of benches that the group would like to purchase with the money. The decorative benches would be made of steel and cast iron, he said, and would be placed on the sidewalks along both sides of Main Street in the square from roughly the Post Office to Lincoln Street. He explained that the 4-foot long benches would be placed perpendicular to Main Street, in sets of two, with each pair facing each other about 10 feet apart.

He said that the color that had been chosen was a textured charcoal. The color became the topic of much discussion at last night’s meeting.

Selectman Ed Dombroski said that he was concerned about the cohesiveness and coordination of downtown improvement plans going forward. He noted that the decorative trash barrels and lamp posts are black, and wondered if it would make more sense to have the benches match that color.

Ross said that the Main Streets group had consulted with DPW Director Richard Stinson and Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio and would be using the same vendor that provided the trash barrels. He said that he thought that the colors complemented each other. He said that there was also a belief that the textured charcoal color would not get as hot in the summer sun and would be easier to clean than a black bench.

Selectman Brian Falvey said that he was initially OK with the textured charcoal color but was convinced by Dombroski’s argument to go with a matching black.

Selectman Peter May asked what the timetable was for purchase and installation of the benches. Ross said that with the selectmen’s approval the order would be placed this week. He said it would take six to eight weeks for the benches to arrive.

“The intent is to get them out as soon as possible,” Ross said.

With a motion on the table to approve the benches as presented, Dombroski proposed an amendment to change the color to a black that matched the barrels and the lamp posts.

Selectman Ann Santos said that she thought the textured charcoal color would blend in fine, but wouldn’t have a problem with either color.

Susan Wetmore, another member of the Main Streets board of directors, said that the group had gone out and placed all of the color choices next to the lampposts and barrels before choosing the textured charcoal. She suggested that a color that was complimentary and blended was preferable to an exact match.

“I think you will be very happy,” she said of the textured grey choice.

A vote on Dombroski’s amendment failed and the board then voted unanimously for the textured grey color.

The Main Streets program is already responsible to the four self-watering planters at the four bump-outs at the corners of Main, Chestnut and Centre streets. Ross said that the group is also looking at tree lighting on 24 trees along Main Street year round in order to create a more inviting ambiance downtown and make streets brighter and safer at night.

Ross said that there are still three weeks left (until May 31) for people to make donations to the fund at patronicity.com/project/revitalizing_downtown_wakefield_together#/.

“If we can raise an additional $16,000 beyond our original $29,000 goal, this could be put toward additional possibilities for enhancing Wakefield’s downtown,” Ross said. Those possibilities include: expanded area of tree-lighting, placement of additional benches or kiosks, or more self-watering planters.