Wakefield Select Board Sets May 4 Town Meeting, Approves Ethics Exemption for EDC Member

WAKEFIELD — February 9, 2026 — Wakefield Select Board sets Annual Town Meeting for May 4 and clears ethics issue for Economic Development Council member. The board voted unanimously 7-0 on all six items at its February 9 meeting, including setting the warrant window from February 9 through March 13, 2026, at noon, with sessions to be held at Galvin Middle School Auditorium on a Monday-Tuesday schedule rather than the usual Monday-Thursday format. The board approved a conflict of interest exemption allowing EDC chair Alison Houghton to continue signing quarterly financial reports that document payments to WCAT and the Wakefield-Lynnfield Chamber of Commerce — organizations on whose boards Houghton also sits — after determining her financial interest is "not so substantial as to be likely to affect the integrity of her service." The board also approved FY2027 budgets for the Recreation Department and the fire alarm and traffic signal system, appointed Tess Kohansky to the EDC through October 31, 2027, and accepted $5,801 in donations to the Beebe Memorial Library. Town Administrator Casey noted the full FY2027 budget picture was expected to take shape by February 12.