LYNNFIELD — Residents voted to approve the town’s proposed fiscal year 2025 budget, create a Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, and accept Sagamore Place as a public way at Monday night’s Annual Town Meeting.
The $69,414,528 general operating budget for FY25 was approved by a vote of 146 to 25.
The article to create a Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, which would report to the Select Board and evaluate public safety nuisances and traffic, road, and safety issues, passed 86 to 64, but not without contention.
Resident Pat Campbell asked to amend the article to ensure that the TSAC would have three members who are town employees and live in Lynnfield, and four residents who are not town employees or officials. The motion to amend the wording of the original article passed 76 to 73.
Some residents voiced their support for the creation of the committee. Resident Stephanie Slate said that she has complained about certain roads, but the Police Department has not responded.
Other residents said that Main Street “has become a speedway” where cars go beyond the speed limit and create problems, and that “this is the type of committee the town needs,” which was met with applause.
“Nothing ever changes,” Historical Commission member Erin Hohmann said.
The article to have Sagamore Place accepted as a public way, which was recommended by the Select Board, Finance Committee, and Planning Board, passed by a vote of 132-19.
Some residents expressed concerns with what they described as large salary increases for some town officials and argued that there is not enough funding budgeted for line items such as road construction or items under the Council on Aging’s budget in the FY25 budget.
Campbell raised some concerns, which she said were driven by her “aim to educate.” One of her concerns was with an increase in salaries, as Campbell referenced an 8.7% increase in the treasurer’s salary and a 2.8% increase in the accountant’s salary, among others, for a total 4.1% increase in general government expenditures.
She also took issue with Fire Chief Glenn Davis’ salary, which will have a 2.8% increase from FY24.
“Taxpayers of Lynnfield should not be paying increases,” Campbell said. “It’s unsustainable.”
Campbell also expressed concerns with the recommended road construction budget of $300,000, which she said was not enough due to the state of the town’s main roads.
At one point, Campbell made a motion to take $110,000 in funds that would have gone to the demolition of the Danforth House, an abandoned house located at Reedy Meadow Golf Course, and add the money to the road construction budget.
Other residents seconded the motion. However, Town Administrator Rob Dolan, after conferring with town counsel, advised the audience that this would not be legal under Massachusetts General Laws, as any funds raised by the golf course would have to go back to Reedy Meadow.
“The demolition of Danforth House is not an immediate need,” Campbell said.
In response, Dolan assured the audience that the state, among other sources, contributes to road construction funding, and that the demolition is needed as there is a possible safety and liability issue if children go inside the abandoned building.
“Walnut Street will be completed this week,” Dolan said, adding that the town plans to redo the intersection at Summer Street and Salem Street. “We will spend the most we’ve ever spent, and this year they will do a reevaluation of all the roads in town and rank them.”
