By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD —The Wakefield Farmers Market will be back for another year after the Board of Selectmen formally renewed its contract this week. But the board deferred a decision on a request from the market management to place a permanent structure or storage unit on Hall Park.
The Wakefield Farmers Market’s eighth season runs on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning on June 18 and ending Oct. 15, 2016. The market is located at Hall Park on North Avenue next to Veterans’ Field.
Market manager Wendy Dennis appeared before the board on Monday. After Town Counsel Thomas Mullen agreed with Dennis that the new contract was substantially the same as previous years, the selectmen renewed the contract.
The board also approved requests for liquor licenses for Aronap Cellars and Downeast Ciders to sell wine and hard cider by the bottle at the Farmers Market. Dennis said that both companies started last year and did very well. She said that the two firms would alternate Saturdays throughout the summer.
Dennis also discussed with the board the possibility of placing a structure or storage unit at Hall Park where the market could store their tents, tables and other equipment during the week. Dennis said that up to now all that has been loaded into her minivan where it stays all week between Saturdays. She said that going forward there could be weeks when she’s not around or someone else could take over as manager. So she was looking for some way to store the tents, tables and chairs right at the market site.
She brought pictures of storage sheds for the board to look at but said that a simple storage box would be acceptable as well.
The selectmen seemed more inclined to go with a more modest storage unit, provided it was screened with shrubbery or by some other means.
Dennis agreed to the board’s request that she work with Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio and DPW Director Richard Stinson to determine the type of storage unit that would work best at the site.
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In other business this week, the Board of Selectmen:
• Approved a request from William Lee to place a small granite marker at Beasley Field in honor of longtime Wakefield Memorial High School cross country coach John DiComandrea.
• Approved a request from Mary Remon to accept and expend a gift of $80 for the World War II Memorial in honor of Jim Murphy’s birthday.
• Approved having Maio represent the board at the celebration of Father William Coughlin’s 50th anniversary as a priest to be held on May 29 at Most Blessed Sacrament Church.
