By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — As is customary at their first meeting following the Town election, the Town Council will choose new leadership tonight. Julie Smith-Galvin, who has served as chair for the past year, will turn over the reins at tonight’s meeting.
In addition to the nomination and election of a new chair and vice chair, the board will receive an update on the property at 383 Water Street. The property has been the subject of a Cease-and-Desist Order from the Building Inspector requiring the removal of numerous junk vehicles on the property. The Town Council has been receiving bimonthly progress updates since January.
The board will also hear an update on the Green Communities Energy Plan. Smith-Galvin and Municipal Gas & Light Commissioner Jennifer Kallay made the same presentation at last week’s School Committee meeting.
The board is expected to schedule a public hearing date to set the Fiscal Year 2023 Water and Sewer Rates.
Tonight’s agenda also includes a request from House Bear Brewing to sell wine at the Farmers Market from June 18, 2022 to Oct. 29, 2022. They will also hear a request from Aaronap Cellars to sell wine at the Farmers Market for the coming season.
The board will also discuss and possibly vote on an Inter-Municipal Agreement whereby Wakefield will share the services of Director of Assessments Victor Santaniello with the town of Lynnfield. Santaniello currently performs the role for Wakefield and Reading via an agreement between the two towns.
The Town Council will receive an update tonight on the town’s Flag Policy. The issue stems from a request from the Wakefield Human Rights Commission to fly the Pride and Juneteenth flags on various flagpoles around town along with the American flag. At its last meeting, the Town Council put the decision on hold pending a United States Supreme Court decision with possible implications for the local flag issue. That Supreme Court decision was handed down last week.
Tonight’s Town Council meeting gets underway at 7 p.m. at the Wakefield Community Access Television studio on Hemlock Road. The meeting will be televised live on WCAT’s government channel, on WCAT’s Facebook page and will also be conducted via Zoom.
The Town Council agenda and meeting packet are posted on the town’s website at wakefield.ma.us.
