Town Council Notebook
By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD —— One of the more dangerous and confounding intersections in town will be redesigned and reconfigured to improve safety and enhance operations.
Town Engineer William Renault appeared before the Town Council last week to discuss the planned changes to the five-way intersection at Green Street, Oak Street and Greenwood Avenue.
The intersection currently has vehicles entering from Green Street and from two directions on Oak Street and two directions on Greenwood Avenue.
The changes would narrow the center of the intersection and provide drivers with clearer stopping and entry points.
Renault said that a mini-roundabout was considered but that option was ultimately rejected.
The town received a $250,000 grant for the work, so there will be no impact to local taxpayers.
The intersection will be narrowed in the middle by removing pavement and creating a mini “pocket park” with a pollinator garden. The town received an additional $25,000 to create the pollinator garden.
The town’s Engineering Division plans to implement a 30 to 45-day trial period in the fall, using flex posts and street markings to simulate the planned changes to the intersection. Renault anticipates awarding the contract this winter with construction beginning in the spring/summer of 2026.
Butler Avenue remediation
Renault updated the Town Council on plans for the remediation of a contaminated, town-owned site on Butler Avenue. He said that one of the bids came in considerable lower than the allocated funds for the project, so he anticipates the work being done well under budget.
Trash strike update
DPW Director Joseph Conway briefed the Town Council on the impact of the recently settled trash strike, which began July 1. He said that at the first rumblings in June of a possible strike, the town began contingency planning. As a result, he said, the town was able to step in immediately and begin collection the next day.
He said that the town secured rental trucks and got more efficient with each passing day of the 82-day strike. He said that all DPW employees took part in the effort.
He explained that the town did not pay out anything to trash contractor Republic Services for the period of the strike and will be seeking to be made whole for any costs that the town incurred by stepping in during the strike.
He promised to provide a more detailed report at a later date.
Street name change
The Town Council approved a change to the name of Edgewater Place Drive to Edgewater Place. The change will make the address consistent with street name being used by the buildings, the Post Office and the town.
Town Meeting Article
The Town Council referred a Town Meeting article related to the recodification of the town’s Zoning Bylaws to the Planning Board for a public hearing.
Signage change
The Council approved a “No parking here to corner” sign on Melrose Avenue, near Oak Street.