By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — Town Meeting resumes tonight at 7 p.m. in the Galvin Middle School auditorium with five articles remaining on the warrant. Monday’s opening session completed work on articles 1-14 before adjourning at about 10:30 p.m.
After approving the FY2026 town budget under Article 1, Monday’s Town Meeting session considered the $2,152,966 capital outlay budget (Article 2), which was presented by Capital Planning Committee Chairman Phil Renzi.
Renzi highlighted some of the items on the recommended list, including two new police patrol cars and one K9 car for $234,200; a new rooftop AC chiller for the library at $150,000; new rubber surfacing for the Dolbeare School playground ($125,000); and $80,000 for a new Senior Center van.
Town Meeting approved the Capital Outlay budget after a brief discussion.
Articles 3-8 were deemed “routine” articles and grouped together to be voted in a “consent agenda.”
Article 3 was an annual article to fund the Debt Service Account, which is used to make payments due on the town’s borrowings for large projects like the Galvin Middle School and the new Wakefield Memorial High School. The amount requested for FY2026 was $9,548,150.
Article 4 related to the payment in lieu of taxes by the WMGLD. The amount for FY2026 is $989,032.
Article 5 related to appropriations from Free Cash of $650,000 to supplement the current FY2025 budget.
Article 6 provided for the payment of direct medical expenses for injuries suffered on duty by Wakefield Police and Fire personnel, utilizing $125,000 from Free Cash.
Article 7 was the annual article that allows the Town Council to take easements or conveyances for minor projects. A total of $1 from tax levy was requested.
Article 8 related to funding the collection, disposal, recycling and composting of refuse. This article also funds the operations of the Nahant Street Yard Waste Facility (“The Pit”). The motion on Article 8 was for $2,456,958 which was level funded from FY2025.
Voters unanimously approved articles 3-8 in the consent agenda with no discussion.
Under Article 9, Town Meeting approved borrowing $1.3 million for a new pumper (fire engine). Fire Chief Michael Sullivan explained that the new pumper would replace a 2000 Seagrave pumper that has already exceeded its expected life of 15-20 years.
After a brief discussion, Article 9 passed unanimously.
Article 10 sought $$395,300 for the design and permitting of a new salt shed at the Nahant Street Yard Waste Facility. DPW Director Joseph Conway discussed the deteriorated condition of the existing 1970s era shed, which holds the salt used for treating icy roads.
In response to a question from Scot McCauley of Walden Road, Conway said that the total cost to replace the salt shed on the current site would be approximately $1 million.
Eleanor Axelrod of Sheffield Road questioned the location, given the environmentally sensitive area. Conway said that the department looked at other sites but found none to be suitable.
Town Meeting voted 130-14 to approve Article 10.
Article 12 sought $1.3 million to complete the cleanup and capping of a contaminated town-owned site at 97 Butler Ave. After a brief discussion, Town Meeting approved Article 12 by a vote of 133-5.
Article 13 asked Town Meeting to accept two drainage easements at 39 Grafton St. The vote was 133-1 to accept the easements.
Article 14 sought acceptance of drainage easements at 70 Butler Ave. The vote on Article 14 was 139-2 in favor.
Monday’s Town Meeting session adjourned just after 10:30 p.m. The vote to adjourn was 85-45.
Tonight’s Town Meeting session will begin with Article 15, which would allow the public to have access to a portion of the land at the head of Lake Quannapowitt where The Basin development is being built. Police would also have a satellite public safety office there.
Article 16 pertains to the improvement and reconfiguring of the intersection of Farm Street and Hemlock Road in conjunction with the construction of the new high school. The plan includes the creation of a roundabout at the intersection.
Articles 17 and 18 are important zoning issues, one a flood plain district and the other dealing with accessory dwelling units.
Article 19 seeks to restrict the town from doing business with Israel or any entity having any involvement with Israel, based on alleged human rights violations by the state of Israel.