Woburn council refers $1.1M Hurl Park appropriation, approves local licenses and permits

The Woburn City Council on July 16 referred a mayoral order proposing $1,098,960 to design and construct a new Hurl Park playground to the Committee on Finance and approved a slate of local licenses and special permits.

The mayor's order, read into the record, said the appropriation would cover designing and constructing an accessible play area and splash pad, a basketball court, pavilion, open fields, walking paths and related incidental costs. The communication authorized the treasurer, with the mayor's approval, to borrow under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44 §7 or to issue bonds or notes; councilors voted to refer the matter to the Committee on Finance for further review.

In other business, the council opened and closed a public hearing on Teresa's Closet, a secondhand dealer and collector's license application at 164 Main Street. The Committee on Public Safety and License recommended approval with three conditions—hours of operation limited to 8 a.m.–6 p.m. daily, annual fire department inspection, and no on-site refinishing or woodworking—and the council voted to grant the license. The mayor has 10 days to sign the license for it to take effect.

The council also advanced a continued public hearing on a petition from Bombay Baking LLC to modify a 2004 special permit to replace an existing Starbucks and operate a fast-food restaurant at 350 Washington Street (204 W. Cummings Park). Attorney Joseph Tabby told the council that the special permits committee's outstanding issues had been resolved after a review of a trip-generation letter and that the committee's proposed conditions (including the site plan of record, prior conditions, nontransferability without council approval, hours of operation, signage compliance and property upkeep) were being submitted as a working draft.

A petition by Domenico Gallanelli to build a detached 30-by-40 garage on a lot that spans Woburn and neighboring property lines was continued to the council's Aug. 6 meeting so the council could await a written comment from the conservation commission. Gallanelli told the council he has filed with the conservation commission and expected its approval; he said he owns several classic Italian sports cars and needs indoor storage. "I have three or four small classic Italian sports cars, and I'm trying to find a place to house them," Gallanelli said.

Petitions by Hannaford and Dumas Corporation (a two-story addition and stormwater review) and by 25 Everett Street Realty Trust (a mixed-use building proposal) were continued to Aug. 20 and Aug. 6 respectively at the petitioners' requests.

Committee reports received and adopted included a finance committee recommendation to proceed with applications and agreements for PFAS removal at the Horn Pond Water Treatment Plant (DWSRF 12538). The council also adopted committee recommendations to appoint Charles T. Culhane to the Woburn Golf and Ski Authority, John J. Garcia to the Woburn Public Library board and Maria Zico to the River Redevelopment Authority.

Administrative reports placed on file included a quarterly nuisance report from Building Commissioner Thomas C. Quinn Jr. covering April 1–June 30, 2024, and a parking clerk report listing parking violations and collections for January–May 2024; the parking report noted a backlog of 1,587 tickets dating from 2004 to 2020 as provided in the clerk's submission.

The council also read and referred to the Committee on Ordinance, Charter, and Rules a proposed amendment to the municipal code revising reserve police officer hourly pay (the document on the table showed an increase to $32.14 per hour, effective July 1, 2024). The council adopted the list of wardens, clerks, inspectors and substitutes for upcoming elections and adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Quotes in the meeting included attorney Joseph Tabby describing the applicant's file review and the trip generation letter review as a step that resolved mitigation concerns, and Domenico Gallanelli saying he needed indoor storage for classic cars. No formal budget appropriation vote was taken on the Hurl Park order at this meeting; it was referred to the finance committee for consideration.

Next steps: the finance committee will consider the Hurl Park appropriation; several continued hearings are scheduled for Aug. 6 and Aug. 20; Teresa's Closet's license awaits mayoral signature within 10 days.