Published in the October 28, 2019 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Town councilors will sit tonight with Director of Assessments Victor Santaniello and elected assessors to hear information that will help determine what your property tax bill will be for the current fiscal year.
The annual tax classification public hearing is set for 7:10 tonight in the WCAT studio in the back of Wakefield Memorial High. Based on information provided by the assessors, the Town Council is expected to vote on what share of this year’s tax burden will be borne by residents and by those who own commercial and industrial properties.
It is anticipated that the shift eyed by the Town Council will create a residential tax rate of between $12.83 and $14.31 per $1,000 in property valuation. This would lead to an estimated “average” property tax bill for the year of between $7,132 and $7,955 a year.
Currently the average single family home in Wakefield is valued at $555,9000.
—–
Tonight’s Town Council meeting begins at 6:30.
Also on the agenda will be a period of public “engagement.”
Representatives of the Board of Assessors are expected give councilors an update on various projects and undertakings in their department as part of the ongoing initiative for improved communications between the Town Council and Wakefield’s various committees, boards and commissions.
The council will also discuss articles to be placed on the warrant of the November 18 Regular Town Meeting. Those articles relate to various changes to a policy regarding license fees, a request for betterment on Walton Lane and a Sewer Enterprise Fund article.
Mayara’s Restaurant at 61 New Salem St. is seeking both a Common Victualler License and an Entertainment License.
A One Day Liquor License is being requested for a Wakefield Food Pantry event at the Americal Civic Center.
Councilors will talk about restitution for a new resident’s “destruction” of trees adjacent to Crystal Lake.
They are also scheduled to discuss a pilot program for municipal Electric Vehicle chargers.
Openings on the Human Rights Commission and the Board of Health will be requested to be advertised.
The Wakefield Alliance Against Violence has asked to hang a banner on Main Street.
Councilors will have the chance to report on issues raised by constituents that may not be on the agenda.
And Chairman Edward Dombroski will comment briefly on the budget process, Senior Center/Council on Aging activities and the real-time notifications of town information.
