By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — The Town Council tabled approval of a proposed new Open Space and Recreation Plan after several Town Councilors had problems with the document itself and the process that was used to created it.
Conservation Agent Ethan Fleming and Conservation Commission chairman Jim Luciani appeared before the Town Council last week seeking support for the plan. Fleming said that the plan had already received conditional approval from the state and the last step required was a letter of support from the Town Council.
Councilor Jonathan Chines said that he was impressed with the plan, calling it “a great document and resource.”
But Councilor Robert Vincent was less impressed. He questioned the level of responsibility assumed by the consultant that assisted with the creation of the plan. Specifically, he wanted to know who authorized the consultant to submit the plan to the state on behalf of the town. He said that he was concerned because he found the quality of the document to be lacking.
Vincent noted that the document gives the Conservation Commission the authority to assign responsibilities to the Town Administrator. He questioned the ConCom’s legal authority to direct the Town Administrator to do anything.
He also pointed to errors in the document related to the ownership and management of school property.
Fleming and Luciani maintained that the document simply offers guidance, goals and objectives.
But Vincent said that “words matter” and he was disappointed that the changes that the Council had asked for last July weren’t incorporated into the plan.
Chairman Michael McLane observed that the document goes beyond just guidance and recommendations, listing many things that “will be done.”
Chines insisted that the board was “letting the perfect be the enemy of the good.” He suggested that the document was meant to guide future planning efforts and would not be binding on any boards or town officials.
Councilor Edward Dombroski suggested allowing the Conservation Commission to go back and address the issues raised.
The board tabled the Open Space and Recreation Plan pending further changes and edits by the Conservation Commission.
—————
The Town Council spent some time discussing with Town Counsel Thomas Mullen the legal and logistical process for hiring a new Town Administrator. Current Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio has announced that he will retire in July.
The board discussed the size and makeup of a screening committee as well as retaining an executive search firm. The board instructed Maio to issue a Request for Proposals for such a firm.
—————
In other business last week, the Town Council:
- Set the date for the Annual Town Meeting, which will begin on May 5, 2025, at 7 p.m. at Galvin Middle School auditorium. The board also opened the Town Meeting warrant and set Friday, March 7, 2025 as the closing date for the warrant.
- Accepted the initial quarterly report from the Economic Development Committee regarding their spending of $1 million in ARPA funds that was assigned to them to administer for economic development purposes. The EDC reported spending $15,275 so far: $10,000 for a Chamber of Commerce speaker series, and $5,275 for a “digital marketing series.”
- Accepted a grant of easement from the developer of 18-20 Melvin St. for 223 square feet of sidewalk space.
- Accepted a gift of $500 from Nablus Realty Trust to the Police Department for the care and maintenance of the department’s two canines.
- Accepted gifts totaling of $160 to the Council on Aging from various donors.
- Accepted a donation of $63 from the Boys & Girls Club to the Wakefield Health and Human Services Department for the “Wake-Up Coalition” for substance abuse prevention.