Minutes

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waTOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 5, 2023 
President Letterie calls meeting to order at 6:30 PM 
ROLL CALL 
Present: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco,
Councilor Aiello, Councilor Flockhart, President Letterie 
Vice President Ruggiero-Absent (Late) 
TOWN COUNCIL TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION Pursuant to G.L. c.30A, §21(a) (6)— 
To consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property if the chair declares that an open meeting may have a
detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body-address 245 Rear Winthrop St. 
Town Council will return to Open Session 
Motion by Councilor Belcher to go into Ex. Session 
2 nd by Councilor DeMarco 
Yes: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco,
Councilor Aiello, Councilor Flockhart, President Letterie 
Councilor Ruggiero-Absent (Late) 
Motion Passes 
Town Council Enters into Executive Session 
Motion by Councilor Belcher to adjourn Ex. Session 
2 nd by Councilor DeMarco 
Yes: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco,
Councilor Aiello, Councilor Flockhart, President Letterie 
Councilor Ruggiero-Abstain 
Motion Passes 
Town Council is back in Open Session 7:00 PM 
Council President Calls Open Meeting to Order 
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 
Councilor Honan 
MINUTES 
Motion by Councilor Belcher to Approval of Minutes, November 28, 2023, as circulated. 
2 nd by Councilor Fucillo 
Councilor Aiello Abstain 
Councilor Honan Abstain 
Motion Passed 
GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING 
Tax Classification FY 24 
Nate Cramer from the Assessor Office reviews and presents a Power Point on the Winthrop FY24 Tax Rate
Classifications….Please see Presentation on the Town of Winthrop Web Site-
https://www.town.winthrop.ma.us/assessing-department 
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 5 , 2023 PAGE 1

Board of Assessor Member Peter Gill states Board of Assessors agrees with current tax classification. 
PUBLIC COMMENT 
Nellie Kurtz P5-Discusses the accusations of anti semitism. Disagrees with the accusations against the Town Council
stating they are anti semitism. She does not think the Israeli Flag should be flown; she believes just our USA Flag
should be flown. 
Annie Mahoney P2-Discusses her opposition to the Israeli Flag being flown in our Town. 
Corinna Campobasso P3-Discusses that no other nation other than the USA Flag should be flown. 
P6-Agrees with Nelly Kurtz and believes the Town Council should be easing all the tension that is happening now. 
Wants to see people brought together more in our town. 
Jack Dowd P3-Discusses other than the USA Flag, POW Flag should be flown. Our opinions are causing more
problems. 
Marcy Hamilton P2-Thanks everybody for coming together as a team and wants to see more interaction with all our
citizens. 
Todd Sacco-P5-Discusses that we should just be flying the USA, POW and State Flag. He also discusses how other
proclamations have been passed and now this problem with flying the Israeli Flag is causing a problem within the policy
of the current Flag Policy. 
CORRESPONDENCE - John Tranfaglia, Scott Mahoney Wright, Corinna Campobasso all commented on the Flag
Policy 
John Vitagliano and Diana Veins commented on the Town Council going into Executive Session 
COMMITTEE REPORTS 
Chair of the Finance Committee Councilor Fucillo discusses the FY24 Tax Rate Classification, and the Finance
Committee voted with a Positive Recommendation to approve this. 
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT REPORT 
There was no meeting. 
TOWN MANAGER REPORT 
Reminds All that next Tuesday on Dec. 12, 2023, is an Open Public Hearing with Comcast to begin at 6 PM in the
Harvey Hearing Room 
Comments on the MBTA Zoning of which the town needs to have in place by 2024. We’ve also received a grant to hire a
consultant to review this zoning and it will be reviewed and updated. 
Councilor Munson asks about the Air BnB ordinance. 
The Town Manager replies it has gone to counsel for review and the ordinance is being reviewed. 
Councilor Aiello asks about when the Capital Liability Report will be ready for review. 
The Town Manager replies that the Water Structure should be done by weeks end and the remainder should be available
by the end of year. 
He would like to have the 2 nd meeting in January to discuss this in detail. 
Discusses the $2.2 Million of Free Cash and would like a meeting as to where these funds will be used appropriately. 
Discusses the CHA Process at Mass Highway opening up feels a consultant is needed to get a clear understanding of
schedule for this project. 
He received correspondence on a youth soccer program that was supposed to start and at the last minute was postponed
due to filming being done. When will this program run? 
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 5 , 2023 PAGE 2

Town Manager replies that this email was incorrect and there was a problem with the soccer program not correctly
working out a contract with Parks and Rec with renting the gym this email stating that there was filming being done and
this was incorrect. 
Discusses the town ‘s and if there is an inventory of repairs and maintenance? 
The Town Manager replies there is not an official list, but the Parks and Rec Director is aware of this. 
His office is also aware of what equipment is in need of repairs. 
He would like to see this information in the Capital Plan and would like to see it in January with the Capital Plan 
The Town Manager will not guarantee this will be done in January but is continuing to work on it as with most
Departments they are understaffed and do the best we can do to keep everything up to date. 
Update on Revere St and Crest Ave: The paving has been raised on the streets but not completed until the Spring. There
is no work to begin until the Spring. 
There was no CDICR Meeting this week, the next is Dec. 13, 2023 
OLD BUSINESS 
Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation that the Town Council maintains a Uniform Tax rate
for all classes of Property for FY2024, authorize Town Manager Marino to sign and electronically submit the LA-5 to the
Department of Revenue and the Town Council approves Electronic Signature to this document on behalf of the Town
Councilors. 
2 nd by Councilor Belcher 
Roll Call Vote: 
Yes: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco,
Councilor Aiello, Councilor Flockhart, Vice President Ruggiero, President Letterie 
Motion Passes 
NEW BUSINESS 
Motion by Councilor DeMarco that the Town Council accept his Flag Proclamation (See Attached) 
Councilor DeMarco continues to read the proclamation but at the end in lieu of raising the Israeli flag as he does not feel
he has the community nor the Town Council’s support; he is amending this proclamation that the Jewish Community
understand that the Town Council is behind them. He requests the Town Council to offer a Roll Call Vote to stand
behind the Jewish Community…. 
Discussion 
Council President reiterates that he is not making a flag proclamation. Councilor DeMarco agrees that he is changing
this proclamation for the Town Council to stand behind the Jewish Community 
2 nd by Councilor Aiello 
Discussion 
Councilor Flockhart does not believe this proclamation includes the pain and suffering the Palestinians are going through
and will not support this …. 
Councilor Honan agrees with Councilor Flockhart and has a statement…. (See Attached) 
Councilor Fucillo states that he feels the Town Council supports everybody in our community equally. 
He also states that he will abstain from this vote and all further votes on any flag policy issue. 
Councilor Munson feels the support of all citizens in this community and reflects on what people have to offer our
community with unity. 
Discussion Continues 
Councilor Belcher applauds Councilor DeMarco for his input and feels that our flag policy should be reviewed at this
time. 
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 5, 2023, PAGE 3

Councilor Aiello thanks all for the community input. He has Israeli Friends as well as Palestine Friends. Hate has no
Home in Winthrop. He believes any proclamation should include ALL… 
Vice President Ruggiero recognizes that it is great to hear from so many different members of the community. 
He reflects that this is a difficult decision to discuss. We have not flown a flag on any international crisis, Town
Councilors were told that a statement could be made also told Proclamations cannot be amended. There is not a question
on the Town councils unwavering support of this community. 
Town Council President reflects on everyone’s points. He does not find it difficult to support the Jewish Community as
well as every other community. 
Motion by Councilor Flockhart amends original proclamation that we support the Jewish and the Palestine Community
and hope for peace. 
2 nd by Councilor Aiello 
Discussion 
Councilor Belcher uses her Council Privilege to table this motion. 
PUBLIC COMMENT 
Jack Dowd P3-Comments on the Town Council’s procedure of Executive Session 
Marci Hamilton P6-Thanks all for their patience and procedural knowledge 
Kathleen Cappuccio-Discusses the Flag Policy and the comments during this meeting and reiterates that the council
voted for the Flag Policy and now the Town Council would like to review this policy. She disagrees as she believes the
Town Council is responsible for the current happenings with this Flag Policy and wants something to be done. 
Vasili Malios P5-Asks about the Planning Board research regarding the MBTA Housing and Zoning. He has reached out
and would like to know if the Planning Board will be updating the town. 
He agrees with several people on the Flag Policy. The Town Council voted for this policy, and this is something that
should have been thought of when the policy voted on. We have opened a can of worms… 
The Town Council needs to suspend Flag Policy. 
Diana Viens P2-Discusses Ex. Session and feels this is not following the Open Meeting Laws. She feels any major
development is a concern for the entire town. We should all be informed of what is being negotiated in certain areas and
this is one of them. Why is discussing this particular parcel of land being discussed in an Ex. Session.? 
Town Council President reiterates that we did follow the Open Meeting Rules with the Ex. Session 
Todd Sacco P5-Discusses the Flag Policy and spending too much time on this ….he stated he knew when the Flag Policy
was being discussed in the past he did not agree with. He agrees with suspending the Flag Policy. 
Rabbi Benjamin Flax of the Temple Tifereth , but from Revere…. 
Council my Councilor Belcher to suspend Council rules and allow the Rabbi to speak. 
2 nd by Councilor Munson 
Passed 
Rabbi Flax discusses the issues that these Jewish outbreaks are happening here…not outside our community but
happening here in front of us….* 
*Rabbi Flax is referring to the end of the meeting which was disrupted by a Zoom bomber using antisemitic epithets 
The Town Council immediately ended the meeting due to this interruption. 
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 5, 2023, PAGE 4

ADJOURNMENT 
Motion to adjourn by Councilor Aiello to adjourn at 8P:45PM 
2 nd by Councilor Flockhart 
Passed Unanimously 
Public Documents used in the meeting are available at Town Managers Office. 
Documents Used in this Meeting: Handwritten Notes / Committee Openings Documents Roll Call Log 
Written Motions / Verbal Motion 
Respectfully submitted. 
Denise Quist 
Town Clerk 
Council Clerk 
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 5, 2023 PAGE 5