WILMINGTON — The Select Board met on March 23 with all members present.
The first appointment of the evening was with Thomas P. Miller, Esq. Miller informed the board that he was asking for a change of LLC managers, a change of ownership interest, and a change of manager of record to the all alcohol package store license of Eastgates WIL-NR LLC, East Gate Liquors at 211 Lowell St.
Miller assured the board that “the town will see no changes” and so the request was approved unanimously.
The second appointment was with Adam Doury, the chief operations officer for BHG Tavern in the Square. Doury requested a one-day beer and wine alcohol license for Fall Fest, as well as four one-day alcohol licenses for the Fun on the Fourth event.
Doury assured the board that his team was coordinating with the local police to have security present at both events. He also assuaged concerns of additional trash build-up at these events by discussing how his team was preparing for just such an eventuality.
Doury also mentioned that local vendors and breweries will be utilized so as to promote the community at the event.
Kevin Caira asked if there would be security overnight as well, as there will be alcohol stored on the premises. Doury guaranteed that this would indeed be the case.
The board then voted separately on the two requests for one-day liquor licenses. Both votes resulted in a 4–1 tally, with Caira opposed.
The third and final appointment was with Principal Assessor Karen Rassias regarding property tax exemptions for seniors and veterans. Rassias discussed the various changes to Wilmington’s responsibilities regarding these exemptions, as well as the state’s role in reimbursing said exemptions.
The board did not yet have any action to take regarding these updates.
Later, Town Manager Eric Slagle read out the communications the board received for their meeting.
A message from Slagle himself was then read regarding the fire at 333 Andover St. The town manager explained that the fire department was on location and had already gotten the mulch pile to stop smoking. Deconstruction of the pile will remain ongoing until all material is exposed and doused.
Other communications included an invitation from Wilmington Little League to attend the 2026 Opening Day ceremony on April 12, a letter from Maura Healey regarding Wilmington’s Chapter 90 apportionment for FY27, and a letter from MassDOT regarding the bridge replacement project.
A number of board to consider items were then voted upon and passed unanimously.
First was a request from Keith Black to have the Select Board proclaim March 22–April 30 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Period.
Next, Kimberley Souza Vitale from The Queen Bean requested a hawk and peddle license to sell coffee.
The license fee for all package store licensees was then raised $500 from $1,750 to $2,250. This increase was chosen as it keeps Wilmington’s license fees on par with the surrounding communities.
Peter Hey, pastor of the Wilmington United Methodist Church, got approval to use the town beach at Silver Lake for an Easter sunrise service on April 5 at 6:30 a.m.
Michael P. Ferrara of WPS’s performing arts department then requested use of the town common and gazebo on May 19 from 5 – 9 p.m. for the WHS honors jazz band and concert band. Ferrara also asked to use this area on June 2 from 5 – 8:30 p.m. for the Elementary String Orchestra Concert.
WMS Principal Brian Caira also got the board’s approval to use the town common and gazebo on June 16 from 6 – 8 p.m. for the 8th grade moving-on ceremony.
Library Director Nathalie Harty asked for permission to utilize the Wildwood Street parking lot on June 26 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. for the annual Big Wheels event.
Harty also received clearance to use the town common on June 20 from 10 – 11 a.m. for the Summer Reading Kickoff, on July 31 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. for Meet the Animals, and on Aug. 13 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. for the End of Summer Bash.
Tara DeFilippo, on behalf of the Shawsheen Tech Parent Advisory Committee, asked to place signs on the town common from June 1 – 12 for the 80 Wilmington seniors graduating from the school.
Christine Canevari, president of the Wilmington Farmers’ Market Association, got approval to use the town common for the farmers’ market from June 7 – Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
The board then signed the license agreement for the Wilmington Farmers’ Market.
Mallory Dowgiallo, marketing communications coordinator for Reading’s municipal light department, requested use of the municipal parking lot on Aug. 23 from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. for an electric vehicle car show. She also got approval to place promotional signs on the town common from Aug. 16–23.
Amy Gray, on behalf of the WHS baseball team, then asked to use the municipal parking lot at 142 Middlesex Ave. on May 16 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. for a fundraising car wash.
The board also approved a second car wash at that location on July 26 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. This request came from Marcie Mulcahy on behalf of the WHS Courtside Club.
Before the meeting came to a close, two announcements were made.
The first was regarding the Wildwood Street community clean-up event on March 28 from 9 – 11 a.m. Those interested in participating should reach out to the town manager’s office.
The second was a reminder that the Wilmington Rotary Club will be holding their polar plunge at Silver Lake on March 28 at 11 a.m. All proceeds for the event will go towards the eradication of polio.
The Select Board’s next meeting will be held on April 13.
