Woburn planning board unanimously releases sureties for three long‑running subdivisions
October 15, 2025 | Woburn City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
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The Woburn City Planning Board voted 7-0 on Oct. 14 to release financial sureties for three long‑running subdivisions: Woods Hill, Rose Farm and Christian Woods.
The action followed a staff report that the three subdivisions — decades‑old approvals dating to the 1990s — have sureties still held by Stoneham Bank and that staff had prepared the required Form L releases for the board’s consideration. Planning Director John reported that the sureties remain in place and provided the amounts involved.
The sureties listed were: Woods Hill, $10,000; Rose Farm, $3,600; and Christian Woods, $6,500. Director John said the three sureties are all held by Stoneham Bank and that he had been in touch with the bank’s controller, Maria Sonima, to confirm the balances and the bank’s procedures for release.
Jim Callahan made the motion to approve the release of the sureties for all three subdivisions; the motion was seconded by Claudia. Chair Robert Dorey called the vote: “All those in favor. 7-0 carries.”
The board discussed whether to take the votes as a single motion or separately and proceeded with one motion covering all three releases. Director John said the originals of the Form L documents are available for signing.
No formal conditions or follow‑up tasks were recorded on the release motions in the meeting transcript.
The releases close longstanding administrative items for subdivisions originally approved in the 1990s and clear the city’s financial encumbrances tied to those subdivisions.
Minutes show the board approved the motion unanimously and signed the necessary paperwork following the vote.
The action followed a staff report that the three subdivisions — decades‑old approvals dating to the 1990s — have sureties still held by Stoneham Bank and that staff had prepared the required Form L releases for the board’s consideration. Planning Director John reported that the sureties remain in place and provided the amounts involved.
The sureties listed were: Woods Hill, $10,000; Rose Farm, $3,600; and Christian Woods, $6,500. Director John said the three sureties are all held by Stoneham Bank and that he had been in touch with the bank’s controller, Maria Sonima, to confirm the balances and the bank’s procedures for release.
Jim Callahan made the motion to approve the release of the sureties for all three subdivisions; the motion was seconded by Claudia. Chair Robert Dorey called the vote: “All those in favor. 7-0 carries.”
The board discussed whether to take the votes as a single motion or separately and proceeded with one motion covering all three releases. Director John said the originals of the Form L documents are available for signing.
No formal conditions or follow‑up tasks were recorded on the release motions in the meeting transcript.
The releases close longstanding administrative items for subdivisions originally approved in the 1990s and clear the city’s financial encumbrances tied to those subdivisions.
Minutes show the board approved the motion unanimously and signed the necessary paperwork following the vote.
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