WOBURN - Mayor Thomas McLaughlin has vetoed a proposal that would have turned over a parcel of land in North Woburn to the city as payment in lieu of back taxes.

In his veto message to the City Council that was received at its most recent meeting, McLaughlin wrote the acquisition of the parcel at the intersection of Baldwin Avenue and Merrimac Street is "not in (the) overall interest of the city."

He also cited the lack of an environmental report as another reason for the veto.

The council took no action on the veto. The council has two meetings from the receipt of a veto message to enact an override attempt, meaning the mayor's action will stand if the council does not revive the matter at its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

The veto is currently not on the council's agenda for the Dec. 2 meeting.

In May, McLaughlin vetoed the council's acquisition of two other parcels of land in the same area that were offered by the owner in lieu of taxes. The tax debt for the other two parcels of land is about $23,000.

The three parcels are landlocked and of little value to the city. Some council members expressed concern that it was setting a bad precedent by accepting relatively worthless land from a property owner seeking to negate a tax debt.

Andrews thanked - The council asked the Woburn Commission for Handicapped & Disabled Citizens to "reach out to" departing member Veronica Andrews, whose nomination for a new term on the board was pulled back by the mayor.

On Sept. 29, McLaughlin nominated Andrews, a Green Street resident, for a term until April 30, 2011, but then apparently rescinded the appointment and plans to replace her with West Street resident John Flaherty.

Flaherty's nomination was sent to the council's Personnel Committee for review.

Ward 3 Alderman Scott Galvin said he was "disappointed" that Andrews would not be returning to the commission.

"We owe Veronica a debt of gratitude for all the work she's done," said Galvin.

Alderman at-large Joanna Gonsalves, who is the council's Liaison to the Handicapped Commission, said Andrews has provided "very valuable input" to the board.

"She deserves our gratitude for her years of service," said Gonsalves.

City Council President Charles Doherty asked the commission to "reach out to her, as a valuable source of knowledge," on accessibility issues.

Window signs - Continued until the council's Jan. 6 meeting was a proposal to change an ordinance to close an apparent loophole in the definition of a window sign.

City Council President Charles Doherty said members of the city's Sign Review Board and Mayor McLaughlin were expected to meet with the council's Ordinance Committee to discuss the proposed change to the regulations, which would include signs "near a window within a building" rather than just the windows themselves.

Doherty also asked for a report from the city's Building Department to determine how much enforcement of the window sign ordinance is taking place.