LYN NF IELD
ADVOCATE
Have a Happy Easter & Passover! ECRWSSEDDM
PERMIT # 167 WOBURN, MA
Vol. 4, No. 13 - FREE - www.advocatenews.net Lynnfield@advocatenews.net 978-777-6397 Friday, March 30, 2018
Memories made at Annual Father/Daughter Dance
Residents weigh in on Town Meeting procedures, logistics By Christopher Roberson
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Shown at the Annual Father/Daughter Dance held at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Wakefield on March 23 are, from left to right, Chris MacDonald & Lauren, Pete Calishman & Jordan, Brian Caufield & Clara. See more photo highlights on pages 9-11. (Advocate photo by Laura Jolly)
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15 YEAR
30 YEAR
3. 4. 075% 549% 4. 4. 990%
RATE
APR*
500RATE % APR*
Mortgage Department 617.381.3615 or 617.381.3616 419 Broadway • Everett
For more rates visit our website at everettbank.com
**Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is effective March 23, 2018 and is subject to change. All Rates and APR’s are calculated based on a $250,000 loan for an owner occupied single family dwelling with 20% down payment. Rates are also based on Loan to Value and Credit Scores. The monthly principal and interest payment for 15 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage is $7.39 per $1,000 borrowed. Monthly principal and interest payment for 30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage is $5.07 per $1,000 borrowed. These payments do not include taxes and insurance. Your payment may be greater if the loan is secured by a first lien. Loans subject to credit approval. NMLS #443050
may be greater if the loan is secured by a first lien.
he results of the recent Town Meeting Survey showed that from a pool of 1,289 respondents, 13 percent of them said they always attend Town Meeting, 26 percent said they never attend, 29 percent said they sometimes attend and 31 percent said they rarely attend. The results were presented by Jack Adelson, chairman of the Town Meeting Study Committee, during the March 20 Board of Selectmen meeting. From the questions that were asked, Adelson said, the question which looked at the quorum requirement produced “the most overwhelming vote.” Nearly 700 residents said the current quorum of 175 voters should not be changed. In contrast, 200 residents said it should be lowered or eliminated, 100 residents said it should be increased and 150 residents said the requirement is not important.
Those residents who do not attend Town Meeting cited work conflicts and a lack of interest as their top reasons. In addition, 73 percent of the respondents said they would favor shorter meetings, 49 percent wanted a later start time and 72 percent wanted the meeting to end earlier. Another 390 residents said there should always, or at least sometimes, be a time limit on the length of presentations. In addition to conducting the survey, Adelson said, the committee attended Town Meetings in Wayland, Ipswich, Rockport and North Reading. He said some of the Town Meeting practices in those communities include childcare services, reducing the quorum requirement after the meeting has started, not taking up any new articles after 10:30 p.m. and putting a time limit on presentations. Adelson said
TOWN MEETING | SEE PAGE 4
Preliminary zoning changes recommended for MarketStreet theatre By Christopher Roberson
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heodore Tye, managing partner of National Development, on March 22 returned before the MarketStreet Advisory Committee to present his initial proposal for zoning changes to allow a movie theatre at MarketStreet Lynnfield. During the meeting, Tye said that the current zoning bylaws allow for retail/restaurant, office and recreational conservation usage. Therefore, a new definition would be needed for a “traditional neighborhood theatre.” “There are seven pieces that would need to be changed,” Tye said of the zoning bylaws. Those changes would include having no more than eight screens in the building and no more than 800 seats in each cinema. Speaking about the building’s height, Tye said 45 feet
would need to be permitted, but only for a theatre. In terms of parking, there would be one space for every three seats, which is the industry standard. He said the theatre would also need to be removed from the list of prohibited uses. In addition, Tye said the theatre’s location would be restricted to the space between Gaslight and Wahlburgers. Tye also said he had received information about spot zoning from an “amateur lawyer.”“It is not spot zoning, I can assure you of that,” he said. However, resident Joseph DeMaina took issue with Tye’s statement, saying he obtained that zoning information from Attorney Richard O’Neil, the chief executive officer of Everett Bank. He also said that O’Neil formerly served on the
CHANGES | SEE PAGE 4