Town Notes
Published on March 20th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA — Special Town Meeting
On March 19 Selectmen opened a Special Town Meeting to begin at 8 p.m. within the May 6 Annual Town Meeting. The warrant will close at the end of the Town’s business day on April 2.
One reason for the meeting is to accept a $129,000 check from the State for Chapter 90 road work, but Selectmen Chairman Tony Kennedy said other articles will be added throughout the week.
Appointments
On March 19 Selectmen reappointed Town Counsel Bill Solomon for one year and Town Accountant Ron Florino for three years.
128/93 interchange
A community group calling itself the Tri-Community High-way Action Group came before Selectmen March 19 to talk about the State’s plans to redesign the highway interchange where Stoneham Reading and Woburn meet.
The group is trying to get the State to host a public meeting in Stoneham in April. More on this in the weeks to come...
Site plans approved
Selectmen approved a site plan for Dale Halchak’s property at the corner of Main Street and Nixon Lane at the March 12 meeting. Conditions of the site plan for the 3,900 square feet at 104 Main St. include limited usage, some landscaping, a brick building facade and access on Nixon Lane.
The dress maker and nail salon burned out by arsonist Gary Tilden earlier this year can return; these businesses are grandfathered uses. Banks, medical offices or labs, any retail or repairs of cars, bikes, boats, etc. are all forbidden uses.
Selectman Cosmo Ciccarello said Halchak also agreed to leave $5,000 on the table for a traffic study, leaving this option open to Selectmen. But for now the Board voted 5-0 to approve the site plan for office or limited retail use.
Nixon Lane neighbors had sued after Selectmen approved an earlier plan. Neighbors wanted the access on Main Street, not Nixon Lane. Public Safety officials would not OK this plan. The Appeals Court sent the decision back to Selectmen, and, although the Board would not agree to a Main Street entrance/exit, a compromise was reached by reducing square footage by around 500 feet and limiting the possible uses.
In other site plan news, Philip Mazzola as Gould Street Realty Trust purchased property at 9,11 and 13 Gould St. from Alan Melkonian as Stoneham Motor Company.
Melkonian had not acted on his approved site plan for two years, and the approval was about to expire. Selectmen voted to extend the approval two years for Mazzola.
Health insurance cut
The last part-time, elected Stoneham official to hold health insurance with the town may leave the plan, ending the era of coverage for these officials. The Town pays around $4,000 for individuals, closer to $8,000 for family plans.
Moderator Michael Rotondi is grandfathered in the program, but he may change health plans this summer, he told Selectmen last week. He is on the individual plan.
If he gets off the Town’s plan, he can’t return, according to a 5-0 vote of the Selectmen.
BBQ
Smokey’s Longhorn Cafe at the corner of Main and Minot Streets is a bit of a mystery. Town officials have heard little about the owner’s plans for the restaurant and catering business relocated from the mini-mall next to the Burlington Mall.
The Burlington location is closed. The same sign went up here Friday, and the sign reads “Cafe.” The rumor: the owner is considering selling takeout. No plans have been submitted or approvals requested as of this week.
Candidates Debate
Just a reminder — the Chamber of Commerce and League of Women Voters are hosting a candidates debate at the Senior Center at 7:30 p.m. tonight.
Call 781-438-0001 with last minute questions.
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