LYNNFIELD — The Select Board on Monday night shared the good news that it had been able to accomplish many of the goals it set last spring.
The board’s progress was shared during a “State of the Town” report that was delivered by Select Board Chair Dick Dalton.
“This update clearly demonstrates that all of the goals that were adopted are either complete or on schedule to be completed in a timely manner,” Dalton said.
Dalton said the goals have served as a planning guide and a “declaration to the citizens of Lynnfield of what the board viewed as its priorities and a basis for holding the board and its management team accountable.”
Town Administrator Rob Dolan said the elementary school building project that will add eight full classrooms and two multi-use rooms is on target to be completed in August 2022; eight classrooms will be available for student use by April 2022.
The town has signed a contract with an engineering firm, World Tech, for the design of the rail trail project. A $100,000 state grant must be spent by Jan. 1 with the aim of reaching 75-percent design. The town is trying to move the project up on the state’s Transportation Improvement Project (TIP) list. The project is slated to be funded in 2026.
The Historic Commission received high praise for its management of the Meeting House and Pope Richard Family Historic House. Financial procedures are now in place to track rental income and a budget has been created to ensure accountability. Significant improvements to the Pope Richard House to repair damage caused by neglect have been completed.
“The Meeting House has never looked better and both buildings have been transformed from neglected structures to something to be proud of,” Dalton said.
The town established a management committee to oversee $3.8 million in stimulus funds and to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The first round of spending proposals has been submitted. The committee will review the requests and prioritize them before presenting to the Select Board in January.
A $6 million public-works-facilities improvement project, which will be paid for entirely from energy and other cost savings, began in October, and is on track to be completed in the same month next year. Dalton said an added benefit to the upgrade will be improved air quality in all town buildings.
Dolan said the town has hit an 83-percent vaccination rate and is close to reaching the town’s goal of 80 percent at the high school.
Plans to build a new public-safety building are also progressing on schedule. A design-funding proposal will be submitted at the 2022 spring Town Meeting with design completed in the summer of 2023. The project includes a new South fire station, renovation of the police and central fire stations and renovation of Town Hall to be handicap compliant and up to code. Funding will come from debt falling off the town’s debt schedule from former school projects and the purchase of the golf course 20 years ago.
Dolan highlighted the recent hiring of Police Chief Nick Secatore and said the process to fill his former role as captain and the hiring of a new officer is being finalized.
“With three new hires, the Lynnfield Police Department is at full staffing for the first time in a decade,” said Dalton.
Dalton noted other goals that have been implemented, including expansion of the tax credit for veterans, the disabled and low-income residents; the purchase of an additional 30 graves at Forest Hill Cemetery; implementation of a shared-services agreement that brought water to the Town Common and Huckleberry Hill ball fields; a working partnership with the local business community to provide necessary support and services; the assignment of the right of first refusal on the Richardson Green property to Essex Greenbelt, ensuring the property will remain undeveloped in perpetuity; passing the tree preservation bylaw; continued progress on the Veterans Memorial project; restoration of the Historic Bell and other improvements to the Town Common; obtaining an AA+ bond rating from Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings; development of an effective negotiating strategy for collective bargaining contracts that will expire on July 1, 2022; restructuring of the library building committee with recommendations to the Select Board in January 2022, and the creation of an in-house committee to plan for construction of a clubhouse at King Rail Reserve Golf Course.
Dolan also touched upon the town’s response to a rash of hate crimes over the past year, saying the community worked with police to identify the perpetrators.
“We continue to be united as a community focused on solutions, treating our neighbors as we would like to be treated, and supporting each other as friends and neighbors with an open heart,” Dolan said. “We did not point fingers, cast blame or create more victims. This approach has made us different and for that the Select Board is proud.”
