Selectmen Approve Establishment of Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee

At their Tuesday meeting, the Board of Selectmen voted 5 to 0 in favor of establishing a Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. 

The grant was awarded after receiving a $7500 Health and Wellness Grant from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).

Pete Miller, Chairman of Tewksbury Rail Trails, said the committee will most likely be comprised of one member from the Board of Selectmen, six members from other Town boards and committees and four citizen members.

Selectman Todd Johnson said that he would like to review the committee’s proposed bylaws, which are based on those of similar committees in other communities.

Johnson also said time would be needed for public posting for citizen members before appointing members at the Selectmen’s first July meeting.

Tewksbury Rail Trails will still exist following the establishment of the Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, according to Miller.

Tuesday night’s meeting started with recognition of Tewksbury Police Chief Timothy Sheehan and several members of the Tewksbury Police Department for their response to the Boston Marathon bombings.

Members of the Tewksbury Police Department, as part of Northeast Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, provided tactical support in Boston and Watertown following the bombings.

Selectmen Chair Scott Wilson commended the officers, thanking them for the role they played in bringing peace and justice to the victims of the bombings.

“On behalf of the town thanks to you, but also to your families,” Wilson said. “A thank you to you and all your brothers and sisters across the state.”

The Selectmen voted 5 to 0 in favor of granting Jon Ryan’s Pub an entertainment license which will allow the restaurant to have live music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to close,  and on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Jon Ryan’s Pub Owner Bob Ryan said the intent is to offer customers live music to enjoy along with their meals.

Ryan said the restaurant would offer soft rock from Thursday through Saturday in the evenings, inside the restaurant, and jazz on the patio, weather permitting, for Sunday brunch.

“For Sunday brunch if it’s a nice day we would love to have jazz outside on the patio,” Ryan said. “We would have no evening music outside.”

Wilson noted that all of the restaurant’s abutters had been notified of the potential for live music at the restaurant and of the public hearing on Tuesday.

More From Tuesday’s  Selectmen Meeting

-The Selectmen voted 5 to 0 in favor of granting Thermo Fisher license for storing compressed hydrogen gas at their facility at 2 Radcliffe Road, near Ames Pond.

Thermo Fisher, which employs 400 people in Tewksbury, uses hydrogen gas in making devices used by law enforcement to detect foreign substances including drugs. The plan had been approved by the Tewksbury Fire Department.

-The Selectmen made annual appointments to various committees including Conservation Commission, including Community Preservation Committee and the Council on Aging. There are several committees with open seats that the Selectmen are still looking to fill, including Green Committee and Historical Commission.

-Selectman Jim Wentworth reported the recent Tewksbury Spring Carnival was a success for Redmen Football. Wentworth said the weekend-long event went off without a hitch thanks to hard work put in by members of Redmen Football, the Tewksbury Police Department, state officials and many others. “The only negative feedback I heard was that people want it bigger,” Wentworth said. “Great, we’ll make it bigger next time.”