Minutes

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Rules and Ordinance Subcommittee Minutes July 27, 2023 
Town Hall Gathering Room 2 and via Zoom 
Attendance: Councilors Ruggiero, Munson, Belcher (ex officio); Mike DiLuiso (TSAC
Chair), Karin Chavis (TSAC Member) 
 Call to order 
 Public Comment – None 
 Town Manager Town Hall Municipal Lot Motion 
o Councilor Ruggiero reads motion 
o Chair DiLuiso explains the motion 
 Town received a legal opinion from Atty Cipoletta regarding
moving the HP spot on Hermon St in question 
 According to opinion, it is permissible 
o Munson requests follow up information for the reason for this proposal 
 DiLuiso – VSO office moved and after a discussion with the Town
Manager, these spots were not being utilized and hence the
decision was made to open up the spot usage 
 The VSO was also looped in on this discussion 
o Chavis – there is a handicapped spot currently at the new VSO office 
o DiLuiso – there are plans to revamp the back entrance of the library to
make it wheelchair accessible so this change would align with those plans 
o Munson – are there any other sticking points to this? 
 DiLuiso – on days when there is the Veterans Food Bank, the
Chief of Police can authorize these spots to have a special use on
these 
o Motion from Munson to accept the TM recommendation 
 Second from Ruggiero 
 No further discussion 
 Motion passes 2-0. 
 Transient Lodging/Airbnb Discussion 
o Councilor Ruggiero – recaps why and how this discussion came up 
 The Town Attorney and Town Manager asked for feedback and we
need to provide that to them 
o Councilor Belcher feels that the preamble to the current ordinance is good
and usable 
o Councilor Munson – likes the direction the Administration was going
towards during their presentation to the Council 
o Councilor Ruggiero explains the current ordinance 
o Councilor Munson – has received feedback from Airbnb hosts that are
currently following the rules 
 Recaps a community discussion he has been having in his precinct 
 We want to make sure we don’t want to allow Airbnbs at the
sacrifice of the neighborhood 
o Councilor Belcher

 The argument of not knowing your neighbors doesn’t necessarily
check out; even though there is something nice about knowing
your neighbors, it can’t be expected. 
o Chavis – explains a negative situation regarding Airbnb in her
neighborhood 
o Councilors generally talk about themes that need discussion and
decisioning 
 Parking 
 Trash 
 Number of occupants 
 Where the property owner must reside 
 Noise 
 Enforcement of the rules – what is the punitive process? 
 Is there a license limit? Or is the goal to get all of the current
Airbnbs licensed and identified? 
 Definitions of Bed and Breakfast vs Airbnb 
o Munson – the responsibility should be on the rental company (Airbnb) to
not allow the posting on the site without Town approval 
 There are other third party enforcement companies that the Town
could contract with 
o Chavis – there are advertisements at the airport for Winthrop Airbnbs 
o Munson – eventually we create a process that is simple to apply for 
o Discussion of whether or not to limit number of short term rentals in each
neighborhood 
o Discussion of whether or not neighbors should have final say in whether
or not an Airbnb should be approved 
 Public comment - none 
o Motion to adjourn by Councilor Munson 
 Seconded by Councilor Ruggiero 
 Motion passes 2-0