Published in the December 17, 2018 edition.
By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — The towns of Wakefield and Reading have agreed to renew the intermunicipal agreement whereby they share the services of Director of Assessments Victor Santaniello. The new three-year agreement begins on Jan. 1, 2019, and expires on Dec. 31, 2021. Both the Wakefield Town Council and the Reading Select Board approved and signed the agreement earlier this month.
Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio called the arrangement with Reading “a spectacular collaboration with another community” that provides Wakefield with “excellent services at a reduced cost.” Maio said that Town Counsel Thomas Mullen had reviewed the agreement.
According to the agreement, Wakefield pays the salary and benefits of the Director. Reading contributes its share of the associated costs for this position by paying to Wakefield a variable sum, as required by the terms and conditions of the agreement. Each payment will be due and payable within 15 days after the commencement of each fiscal quarter (i.e., after July 1, Oct. 1, Jan. 1 and April 1).
Wakefield will adjust the compensation it pays as may be required by any collective bargaining agreements and standard personnel practices and will give prompt written notice to Reading of any such adjustment. Reading will adjust its quarterly payments accordingly.
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The Town Council last week authorized the town to enter into a grant/loan agreement with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to fund a continuing program to reduce and remove infiltration and inflow from the towns sewer system.
Infiltration consists of groundwater that enters the system through cracked or otherwise damaged pipes. Inflow is water that enters the sewer system from unauthorized sources, such as sump pumps, roof drains, cellar drains, and yard drains. Sewer inflow and infiltration increase the town’s pumping costs and the amount that ratepayers pay.
The MWRA grant/loan program will result in a grant of $960,000 to the town as well as a $321,000 zero interest loan to be paid back to the MWRA over 10 years.
Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio reminded the Town Council that Town Meeting had voted unanimously to approve the infiltration/inflow treatment program and to fund it via the MWRA grant/loan program. He explained that the board’s action was simply carrying out the will of Town Meeting.
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In other business last week, the Town Council:
• Renewed retail liquor licenses for the following establishments:
Bamboo House, Tonno Wakefield, Dockside Restaurant, Bellino’s, Massimo and Four Points Sheraton Wakefield.
• Renewed entertainment licenses for these businesses: Bamboo House, Brothers Deli & Restaurant, Tonno Wakefield, Dockside Restaurant, Hobbsbrook Management, LLC (101, 201, 401, 501, 601, and 701 Edgewater Drive), Bellino’s, Leaf and Ginger, Massimo and Four Points Sheraton Wakefield.
• Renewed Common Victualler licenses for the following establishments: Piece O Pizza, Bamboo House, Brothers Deli & Restaurant, Diamond Fortune Restaurant, Dockside Restaurant, Greenwood House of Pizza, Hobbsbrook Management, LLC (101, 201, 401, 501, 601, and 701 Edgewater Drive), Leaf and Ginger, Lisa’s Family Pizzeria, Massimo Ristorante, Four Points Sheraton Wakefield, My Brother’s Place and Wakefield House of Pizza.
• Renewed an Automated Device License for Dockside Restaurant.
• Renewed the Lodging House License of Four Points Sheraton Wakefield.
• Renewed Class II License (used car dealer) for Allstate Truck Sales.
