MassVoter.com← Wakefield Town CouncilWakefield Town Council · 2021–2022 Council · Regular meeting
January 24, 2022
22 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
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Present: Julie Smith-Galvin, Mehreen N. Butt, Jonathan P. Chines, Anne P. Danehy, Edward F. Dombroski, Ann McGonigle Santos
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Approval of Minutes
Approve the January 10th, 2022 Town Council meeting minutes as proposed
Approval of Minutes: Ann Santos motioned to approve the January 10th, 2022 Town Council meeting minutes as proposed. Mehreen N. Butt seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Approval of Minutes: Ann Santos motioned to approve the January 10th, 2022 Town Council meeting minutes as proposed. Mehreen N. Butt seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Santos, second: Butt)
Public Hearings
Close the Public Hearing
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to close the Public Hearing. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to close the Public Hearing. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Approve the request for an All Alcohol Liquor License Transfer Application
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve the request for an All Alcohol Liquor License Transfer Application. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve the request for an All Alcohol Liquor License Transfer Application. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Set a Public Hearing for the Town of Wakefield Verizon New England, Inc. Cable Television License Renewal for February 28th, 2022 at 7:05 p.m. and to close the Public Hearing at 7:06 p.m
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to set a Public Hearing for the Town of Wakefield Verizon New England, Inc. Cable Television License Renewal for February 28th, 2022 at 7:05 p.m. and to close the Public Hearing at 7:06 p.m. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to set a Public Hearing for the Town of Wakefield Verizon New England, Inc. Cable Television License Renewal for February 28th, 2022 at 7:05 p.m. and to close the Public Hearing at 7:06 p.m. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Fiscal Year 2023 Budgets
Approve Budget #4 Treasury in the amount of $233,917.00
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #4 Treasury in the amount of $233,917.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #4 Treasury in the amount of $233,917.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Approve Budget #18 Fire Alarm/Traffic Signals in the amount of $66,700.00
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #18 Fire Alarm/Traffic Signals in the amount of $66,700.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #18 Fire Alarm/Traffic Signals in the amount of $66,700.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Approve Budget #19 Emergency Management in the amount of $88,851.00
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #19 Emergency Management in the amount of $88,851.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #19 Emergency Management in the amount of $88,851.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Approve Budget #20 Inspectional Services in the amount of $438,778.00
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #20 Inspectional Services in the amount of $438,778.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 5-1-0 with Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. voting against the motion as he feels there is not a need to add a full-time position. Mehreen N. Butt, Ann Santos, Julie Smith-Galvin, Anne P. Danehy and Jonathan P. Chines voting in favor of the motion.
Yes: Butt, Chines, Danehy, Santos, Smith-GalvinNo: Dombroski
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #20 Inspectional Services in the amount of $438,778.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 5-1-0 with Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. voting against the motion as he feels there is not a need to add a full-time position. Mehreen N. Butt, Ann Santos, Julie Smith-Galvin, Anne P. Danehy and Jonathan P. Chines voting in favor of the motion..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Approve Budget #27 Recreation in the amount of $119,599.00
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #27 Recreation in the amount of $119,599.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #27 Recreation in the amount of $119,599.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Approve Budget #28 Veterans Services in the amount of $253,220.00
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #28 Veterans Services in the amount of $253,220.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #28 Veterans Services in the amount of $253,220.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Approve Budget #36 Street Lights in the amount of $188,131.00
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #36 Street Lights in the amount of $188,131.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #36 Street Lights in the amount of $188,131.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Approve Budget #38 Historical Commission in the amount of $2,000.00
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #38 Historical Commission in the amount of $2,000.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #38 Historical Commission in the amount of $2,000.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Approve Budget #41 Unemployment in the amount of $75,000.00
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #41 Unemployment in the amount of $75,000.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #41 Unemployment in the amount of $75,000.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Approve Budget #42 Reserve Fund in the amount of $400,000.00
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #42 Reserve Fund in the amount of $400,000.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motioned passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #42 Reserve Fund in the amount of $400,000.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motioned passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Approve Budget #44 Professional Medical in the amount of $10,850.00
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #44 Professional Medical in the amount of $10,850.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #44 Professional Medical in the amount of $10,850.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Take Budget #7 Tax Department off the table
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to take Budget #7 Tax Department off the table. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to take Budget #7 Tax Department off the table. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Approve Budget #7 Tax Department in the amount of $297,475.00
Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #7 Tax Department in the amount of $297,475.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve Budget #7 Tax Department in the amount of $297,475.00. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Special Town Election Warrant
Approve the Special Town Election Warrant for February 22nd, 2022
Special Town Election Warrant: Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve the Special Town Election Warrant for February 22nd, 2022. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Special Town Election Warrant: Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve the Special Town Election Warrant for February 22nd, 2022. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Zoning Amendment
Refer to the Planning Board the Zoning Bylaw change for 343 Albion Street
Zoning Amendment: Mehreen N. Butt motioned to refer to the Planning Board the Zoning Bylaw change for 343 Albion Street. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Zoning Amendment: Mehreen N. Butt motioned to refer to the Planning Board the Zoning Bylaw change for 343 Albion Street. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Licenses
Approve the 2022 Common Victualler license application for Kipo's Roast Beef as proposed
Licenses: Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve the 2022 Common Victualler license application for Kipo's Roast Beef as proposed. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Licenses: Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve the 2022 Common Victualler license application for Kipo's Roast Beef as proposed. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Donations
Approve the request from the Library to accept and expend a gift or gifts to the Library in the amount of $1,190.00 from various donors with thanks
Donations: Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve the request from the Library to accept and expend a gift or gifts to the Library in the amount of $1,190.00 from various donors with thanks. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Donations: Mehreen N. Butt motioned to approve the request from the Library to accept and expend a gift or gifts to the Library in the amount of $1,190.00 from various donors with thanks. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
Adjournment
Adjourn
Adjournment: Mehreen N. Butt motioned to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
From the minutes
“Adjournment: Mehreen N. Butt motioned to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. Ann Santos seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: Butt, second: Santos)
From the Wakefield Town Council’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center (Town Council). We check every vote against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos (the town’s website has no member photos): Jonathan Chines from his own Wakefield Patch posts (2026); Stacey Constas (2025), John Crisley (2025, captioned group photo) and Ami Ruehrwein Wall (April 2026 WCAT candidate forum screenshot) from the Wakefield Daily Item; Douglas Butler and John Carney from WCAT’s 2024 candidate interview photos (Barbara Worley); Brian Fox from WCAT’s board page (2021). All cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.
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