MassVoter.com← Wakefield Town CouncilWakefield Town Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
January 27, 2025
16 recorded votes, 3 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Meeting video · Agenda
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Present: Douglas S. Butler, Mehreen N. Butt, John F. Carney, Jonathan P. Chines, Edward F. Dombroski, Michael J. McLane, Robert E. Vincent
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Fiscal Year 2026 Budgets
Approve Budget #4 Treasury Department for $255,406.00
Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #4 Treasury Department for $255,406.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0.
From the minutes
“Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #4 Treasury Department for $255,406.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Approve Budget #18 Fire Alarm / Traffic Signals Department for $78,000.00
Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #18 Fire Alarm / Traffic Signals Department for $78,000.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. asked that the master box fees be reviewed. The motion passed 7-0-0.
From the minutes
“Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #18 Fire Alarm / Traffic Signals Department for $78,000.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. asked that the master box fees be reviewed. The motion passed 7-0-0..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Approve Budget #19 Emergency Management Department for $94,030.00
Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #19 Emergency Management Department for $94,030.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0.
From the minutes
“Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #19 Emergency Management Department for $94,030.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Approve Budget #20 Inspectional Services Department for $506,867.00
Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #20 Inspectional Services Department for $506,867.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0.
From the minutes
“Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #20 Inspectional Services Department for $506,867.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Approve Budget #27 Recreation for $136,136.00 Jonathan P. Chines seconded
Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #27 Recreation for $136,136.00 Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0.
From the minutes
“Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #27 Recreation for $136,136.00 Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Approve Budget #36 Street Lights for $178,131.00
Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #36 Street Lights for $178,131.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0.
From the minutes
“Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #36 Street Lights for $178,131.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Approve Budget #38 Historical Commission for $2,000.00
Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #38 Historical Commission for $2,000.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0.
From the minutes
“Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #38 Historical Commission for $2,000.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Approve Budget #41 Unemployment for $75,000.00
Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #41 Unemployment for $75,000.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0.
From the minutes
“Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #41 Unemployment for $75,000.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Approve Budget #42 Reserve Fund for $400,000.00
Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #42 Reserve Fund for $400,000.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. Motion passed 6-1-0 with Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. voting against the motion.
Yes: Butler, Butt, Carney, Chines, McLane, VincentNo: Dombroski
From the minutes
“Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve Budget #42 Reserve Fund for $400,000.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. Motion passed 6-1-0 with Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. voting against the motion..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Approved Budget #44 Professional/Medical for $15,300.00
Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approved Budget #44 Professional/Medical for $15,300.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0.
From the minutes
“Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approved Budget #44 Professional/Medical for $15,300.00. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Licenses - Common Victualler and Entertainment License
Approve the 2025 Common Victualler and Entertainment license application for Inspire Café located at 411 Main Street
Licenses - Common Victualler and Entertainment License: Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve the 2025 Common Victualler and Entertainment license application for Inspire Café located at 411 Main Street. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0.
From the minutes
“Licenses - Common Victualler and Entertainment License: Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve the 2025 Common Victualler and Entertainment license application for Inspire Café located at 411 Main Street. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Approve the 2025 Class II license application for Allstate Truck Sales located at 17 New Salem Street
2025 License Renewals: Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve the 2025 Class II license application for Allstate Truck Sales located at 17 New Salem Street. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0.
From the minutes
“2025 License Renewals: Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve the 2025 Class II license application for Allstate Truck Sales located at 17 New Salem Street. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Donations
Revote the request of the Library to accept and expend a gift or gifts to the Library for $1,800.00 for Blossoms with thanks
Donations: Library - Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to revote the request of the Library to accept and expend a gift or gifts to the Library for $1,800.00 for Blossoms with thanks. The request was originally approved and voted at the January 13, 2025 Town Council meeting. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0.
From the minutes
“Donations: Library - Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to revote the request of the Library to accept and expend a gift or gifts to the Library for $1,800.00 for Blossoms with thanks. The request was originally approved and voted at the January 13, 2025 Town Council meeting. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Approve the donation for $500.00 from Green Team Junk Removal with thanks to the Environmental Sustainability Committee
Environmental Sustainability Committee - Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve the donation for $500.00 from Green Team Junk Removal with thanks to the Environmental Sustainability Committee. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0.
From the minutes
“Environmental Sustainability Committee - Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve the donation for $500.00 from Green Team Junk Removal with thanks to the Environmental Sustainability Committee. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 7-0-0..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Minutes
Approve the January 13, 2025 Town Council minutes as presented
Minutes: January 13, 2025: Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve the January 13, 2025 Town Council minutes as presented. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 6-0-1 with Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. abstaining.
Yes: Butler, Butt, Carney, Chines, McLane, VincentAbstained: Dombroski
From the minutes
“Minutes: January 13, 2025: Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. moved to approve the January 13, 2025 Town Council minutes as presented. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed 6-0-1 with Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. abstaining..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Adjournment
Adjourn
Adjournment: John F. Carney moved to adjourn at 8:37 p.m. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed by acclamation.
The minutes say the motion passed “by acclamation” (a voice vote with no count or names). Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“Adjournment: John F. Carney moved to adjourn at 8:37 p.m. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. The motion passed by acclamation..” (Motion: Carney, second: Chines)
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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