Minutes
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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 18, 2024 President Letterie calls meeting to order at 6:30 PM ROLL CALL Present: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Munson, Councilor Costigan, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Absent: Councilor DeMarco, Councilor DaRos PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilor Swope MINUTES Motion by Councilor Aiello to Approve the June 4 and June 11, 2024, as circulated. 2 nd by Vice President Belcher Discussion Councilor Aiello questions the June 4 th meeting minutes in reference to the motion made to amend the time of the Town Council Meetings to 6:30 that it was not passed correctly. This will be reviewed Motion Passed Update: This was renewed and motion was done correctly Town Council President requests the agenda to be taken out of order and discuss the New Business motion Memorial Sign Plate Hermon & Atlantic-Veteran Ronald “Lou” Camacho Veterans Agent Phil Ronan speaks on behalf of Lou Camcho and how deserving he is of this street plate which will be done on July 8, 2024 at the corner of Hermon and Atlantic St. Motion by Vice President Belcher to accept the Memorials Committee recommendation of a Veterans Street Plate for Ronald “Lou” Camacho 2 nd by Councilor Tassinari Motion Passed Town Council President requests the agenda be taken out of order to discuss the Old Business motion Flood Plain Zone Recommendation from Planning Board Motion by Vice President Belcher to take the agenda out of order to discuss the Flood Zone 2 nd by Councilor Aiello Motion Passed Town Manager Marino and Attorney Cipoletta discuss this zoning need for the Town of Winthrop and the Town Council vote to accept the Planning Boards recommendation as to send to the state for final resolution. Discussion-This is a state mandated program Motion by Vice President Belcher to accept the Flood Plain Zone Recommendation from Planning Board 2 nd by Councilor Swope ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Munson, Councilor Costigan, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Absent: Councilor DeMarco, Councilor DaRos Motion Passes TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JUNE 18, 2024 PAGE 1 GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Town Manager Update on Fire Station Town Manager Marino discusses different sites. We have gone back to Kessle & Boos for further review. Please see copy of Power Point Presentation on Town Website Winthrop Fire Chief Wiley discusses that the consensus is that the town needs a new Fire Station and we must come to a decision on location. The Town Manager reports a current situation that the Pauline St. Fire house is now going through. The wood floor which concrete has been pored over in the past is now corroding and this must be replaced. Major structural repairs will have to be done to this area. Councilor Swope asks if there will be two fire stations. She advises avoiding buying private property and maybe makes this a smaller project. Councilor Aiello want so to be careful on how we ask the voter for debt exclusion and funds for the fire station we could be looking at a loss at the voter boxes. We might want to think of making it smaller and more affordable. Councilor Tassinari agrees that more detail is needed and asks about total costs. Also want to be able to notify taxpayers what increase would be. Councilor Costigan agrees and definitely needs a fire house. It’s the location that is a problem. He has an idea of the Fire Station being put in the current basketball courts on Walden St. He believes we need the Middle School for the town’s economy. Vice President Belcher asks that we look at longer term goals of all public safety. Councilor Munson requests that we need to think long term but no move slow. Town Manager will continue with further information PUBLIC COMMENT Kurt Millar P2-Asks if the demo cost of the fire station is included in pricing shown. All but the asbestos was included. Kathy Witkowski-Believes there are grants available for this project Bill Schmidt P5-Thinks the basketball courts should be considered for new Fire Station. Realizing this council has a lot on their plate we must notify citizens of all that is happening with total costs to town and residents. Must provide more education Jack Dowd P2-Requests written report on the Fire Station. Engineers report is needed. Requesting the minutes for the Intergovernmental Strategies meeting and when next meeting will be. Asks about flood insurance for the residents in needs. Would like some procedures to be given to the residents. Comments on the Fire Station Project locations TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JUNE 18, 2024 PAGE 2 Diana Vien P2-Agrees with respect to the priorities of Winthrop and with vote in November for Fire Station, more information and education is needed. Scott Mahoney Wright P3-Discusses that residents feel they don’t have a place at the table. Mainly people that are tenants, they are still responsible for tax increases as the homeowners will pass this cost to these residents. We need to engage these people as they feel they don’t have a say and not invested. Marci Hamilton P2- Thanks for the pot luck dinner it was a great event. Asks about flooding and draining issues and costs and how will this play out for the next few years. Also would like all information to be posted to residents will know exactly what is happening. Would like the town to offer more information for the residents to learn more about the towns issues and how to work within the website and the availabilities of what is offered. PUBLIC HEARING None CORRESPONDENCE COMMITTEE REPORTS Appointment Commissions & Committees Councilor DeMarco absent, will have report next meeting Intergovernmental Strategies Councilor Tassinari reports they could not hold a meeting but will set a date for the next one. Reports that Councilor Aiello did attend a meeting with the DCR , they did a presentation about Short Beach and Winthrop Parkway on work going on at Belle Isle Marsh, including Morton St. DCR consultants are reviewing wave patterns and sea wall and as they collect this data they will interact with Winthrop and neighbors on how to replace and improve current infrastructure. Councilor Aiello stressed how bad traffic is in Winthrop when Parkway closed. Looking for help on Bennington St. and Saratoga St. traffic. Councilor Aiello thinks this is better news than we expected with their proposing in the fall to start community involvement. Finance Committee Vice President Belcher reports on meeting to discuss the potential roof and solar project for the schools. The consensus is their contract is one that we may not review right now and move towards grants. SCHOOL DEPARTMENT REPORT A citation was to Nick Cappuccio, winning 3 state meets in track and field. He represented Winthrop in the Nationals. Discussed the 2 ½ Override. This is still being reviewed and needs more education for the residents to know what they are voting for. Town Council Presidents asks citizens to get more involved. Councilor Munson asks about the 2 ½ Override. Wants to know if the expenses will be explained on what funding is needed for. If million dollar over ride, taxes go up approx.. $47 per million per quarter, roughly $185 annually TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JUNE 18, 2024 PAGE 3 TOWN MANAGER REPORT Update on Pico, Tileston and Girdlestone- information is on website. By doing all the fine tuning with the numbers, the final numbers running closer to $400,000 instead of $600,000-Have broken it out into 4 phases Town Council can move forward to fund Phase II in lieu of waiting for grant. Town Council President would like to have a motion for these funds at our next meeting. Councilor Munson asks how long before we get grant money. Town Manager reports it is very hard to determine any dates of funding. Caution the Town Council that he will be presenting the Town Council with future funding requests on project that we are reviewing. COMMISSION OF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS Pride Pot Luck a great event and went well UPDATE POLICY MAKING COMMITTEES None to report OLD BUSINESS Elementary Schools Potential Roof & Solar Project-Review Gorman & Cummings Solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPA’s) and Lease Agreement- Town Manager will not be signing Flood Plain Zone Recommendation from Planning Board-Discussed and Voted Town Council adopt the updated version of the Short Term Rental Ordinance (Air BnB)- Reviews this Ordinance and asks all Town Councilors to review as there will be a public hearing on this at the 7-16-624 Meeting for further review. Councilor Munson asks that the current ordinance and new one be on website NEW BUSINESS Memorial Sign Plate Hermon & Atlantic-Veteran Ronald “Lou” Camacho-Discussed and voted Tree Committee – Tree Removal on 170 Grover’s Ave. This is not being voted on but will take any questions. Vice President Belcher has a question on the process and how this is done. Town Manager reports that if the Tree Committee has a meeting and one or more residents disapprove, it must be sent to the Mayor or Board of Selctmen which is now the Town Council Correspondence has been received for the approval of this tree being removed and 2 emails about it not being removed. Discussion on the removal of this tree. Tree Warden reports that the vote was 3-1 to keep the tree but since there was a complaint about this , it has to be sent to the Town Council for review. Discussion entails with homeowner and Tree Warden of this tree removal. Councilor Munson asks the Tree Warden why he is in favor of removal of this tree. The Tree Warden reports that after investigating this tree it is in need of removal as it is a dying tree. The homeowner is willing to remove the tree and replace with 3 other trees for the street. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JUNE 18, 2024 PAGE 4 Councilor Swope would like to postpone until next meeting Appointments/Re-Appointments Motion by Vice President Belcher to accept the re-appointments made by Town Council President (Please see copy attached) 2 nd by Councilor Munson Motion Passed Motion by Vice President Belcher to accept the appointments made by Town Council President of Jordan Senerth to the Board of Appeals 2 nd by Councilor Munson Motion Passed Motion by Vice President Belcher to accept the appointments made by Town Council President of Denise LoConte to the Board of License 2 nd by Councilor Costigan Motion Passed Motion by Vice President Belcher to accept the appointments made by Town Council President of Jared Siegel to the Conservation Commission 2 nd by Councilor Munson Motion Passed Motion by Vice President Belcher to accept the appointments made by Town Council President of The following to the Citizens Advisory Climate Commission: Town Manager Marino or Designee Councilor DaRos Councilor Costigan Norman Hyett Ana Taveres Leary Celeste Robeiro Hewitt Kim Dime 2 nd by Councilor Swope Motion Passed PUBLIC COMMENT Jack Dowd P2-Discusses the tree removal on 170 Grover’s Ave. He states that this homeowner’s driveway will be in front of home which is not allowed in this town. He would like to see the minutes of the Board of Appeals Meeting. In reference to the meeting that Councilor Aiello had with DCR, he requests a written report. Town Council President states a report is not needed. Mr. Dowd continues to discuss the Winthrop traffic problems and sea wall problems. Town Councilor allows Councilor Aiello was talked to directly. Councilor Aiello is sorry if a resident misinterpreted the DCR meeting. DCR has in fact has started the process of the sea walls problems. Hopefully will start next spring but it is constrained by funding. Our question is do we wait for DCR or mitigate it with an override with traffic signals at the heights. T TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JUNE 18, 2024 PAGE 5 Bill Schmidt P5-Asks the town to think about the debt exclusion and 2 ½ vote that will be concerned. Brendan Cooney P5-Stresses that nothing is pushed off until the fall. Funding is needed for flooding and asks that this continues to be a priority. Diane Sands P5-Speaks about the Fire Station location and asks about traffic issues in this town with new developments in Winthrop and Revere? Diana Viens P2-Discusses the tree removal on 170 Grover’s Ave. and would like an arborist report on the health of this tree and reflects the Tree Ordinance…. PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS- • 7-16-24 Winthrop Planning Board Meetings/MBTA 3A Zoning with RKG Associates • 6-27-24-Winthrop Public Library Celebrates it’s 125 th Anniversary from 5-7 pm • Winthrop Farmers Market Dates: June through October Ingleside Park 9AM – 1PM ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Vice President Belcher at 9:34 pm 2 nd by Councilor Tassinari 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 JUNE 18, 2024 PAGE 6