Minutes

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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JULY 2, 2024 
President Letterie calls meeting to order at 6:30 PM 
ROLL CALL 
Present: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Costigan, Councilor Munson, Councilor Aiello, Councilor
Swope, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie 
Absent: Councilor DeMarco, Councilor DaRos 
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 
Councilor Munson 
MINUTES 
Motion by Vice President Belcher to Approve the June 18, 2024, as circulated. 
2 nd by Councilor Tassinari 
Discussion 
Councilor Swope questioned the vote from the Tree Committee noted in minutes, this was reviewed and
corrected. 
Motion Passed 
GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
Swearing in Lt. Rogers as Town of Winthrop’s Deputy Chief of Police 
Officer Rogers is sworn in by Town Clerk as the Town of Winthrop’s Deputy Chief of Police 
Kim Dimes-Discussion-Climate 
Chair of the Conservation Commission introduces Chris Mancini Executer Director from Save the
Harbor to speak on Climate Control and report that a Workshop will be held next Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at
the Lyceum Room in reference to the Metropolitan Beaches. Would like any and all to join in…. 
PUBLIC HEARING 
None 
PUBLIC COMMENT 
None 
CORRESPONDENCE 
Carol Facella asks Town Council to consider a No vote on MBTA 3A Zoning 
Gus Martucci-Discusses an incident at the June 18 th meeting 
COMMITTEE REPORTS 
Intergovernmental Strategies- 
Vice President discusses the meeting. MWRA Mitigation contract was more detailed and discussed. At the
next meeting, the Massport Mitigation contract will be discussed in detail. 
Council President request the agenda be out of order to discuss the Tree Removal on Grovers Ave 
Motion by Councilor Munson to take the agenda out of order. 
2 nd by Vice President Belcher 
Motion Passed 
Discussion 
Tree Warden Paul O’Donnel reiterates the condition of this tree is not in good health and should be
removed. 
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 2, 2024, PAGE 1

Nathan O’Leary, owner of the home has provided the Town Council with a separate arborist’s report that
also confirms this tree is in poor health. 
Questions from the Town Council to Mr. O’Leary in reference to this tree being removed are asked and
answered by Mr. O’Leary. 
Councilor Swope questions about an easement on his property of a driveway. Mr. O’Leary explains this is
not a driveway as it is just an easement to their backyard which has been fenced in and if fence was
removed, there are trees that block entrance to any parking in the back yard. 
Councilor Swope questions the denial letter that Mr. O’Leary received from the Inspectional Service
Department. Mr. O’Leary explains that this denial was due to the building of a deck, and he did not meet the
sq. footage. 
Council President will now take a motion and vote for the removal of the tree. A yes vote will remove trees,
a No vote will not permit removal. 
Mr. O’Leary has confirmed that he will pay for the removal of this tree and will purchase 4 more trees for
the greenery of the neighborhood and environment. He will put one in front of his home, his neighbors and
the other two are the discretion of the town. 
Councilor Tassinari wants it to be noted that you cannot buy a tree to removal a healthy tree, that is not
permitted. 
Councilor Aiello also points out to Mr. O’Leary that whoever is advising him is incorrect as for saying you
can pay to have a healthy tree removed and pay for others to replace it. Mr. O’Leary points out that this is
not the advice he was given, he asked for advice when the other tree feel what the procedures were to try
and replace it. 
Council President asks the Town Council if they would like to do (2) motions: 
(1) The Removal of the tree 
(2) Accept a donation from Mr. O’Leary for removal of this tree and the cost to buy 4 more trees. 
Motion by the Council President that the Town Council approve the recommendation from the Tree Warden
to remove the tree in front of 170 Grovers Ave. 
2 nd Vice President Belcher 
ROLL CALL VOTE 
Yes: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Costigan, Councilor Munson, Councilor Aiello, 
Vice President Belcher, President Letterie 
No: Councilor Swope 
Absent: Councilor DeMarco, Councilor DaRos 
Motion Passes 
Motion by Town Council President that the Town of Winthrop accept a donation from the O’Leary’s
which would include the purchase and planting of (4) new trees, one of which will be in front of 170
Grovers Ave. another in front of 185 Grovers Ave. and the remaining two would be at the towns
discretion. The Town will also accept a donation from O’Leary’s of the cost to remove the current tree in
front of 170 Grovers Ave. 
2 nd Vice President Belcher 
Discussion 
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 2, 2024, PAGE 2

Councilor Costigan discusses the caring of the 4 new trees…who will be responsible for the condition and
what happens if all 4 dies? 
Councilor Tassinari had discussed this with Director Calla and the DPW will take care of these trees for 3
years. 
Councilor Swope wants to make sure they are replaced if within 3 years one of these trees dies. 
Council President agrees with the two trees on Grovers Ave but disagrees the owner should be responsible
for where the town puts the other trees. 
Vice President Belcher states she believes some of this information is out of the scope of the Town council
and we should tread lightly. 
Councilor Aiello states that the water bags are sometimes not filled and wants to make sure these bags are
filled, can this be guaranteed? 
ROLL CALL VOTE 
Yes: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Costigan, Councilor Munson, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope 
Vice President Belcher, President Letterie 
Absent: Councilor DeMarco, Councilor DaRos 
Motion Passes 
TOWN MANAGER REPORT 
Town Manager Marino updates the Town Council that he will be presenting the Water Rates at the July 16 th
meeting. 
Floodplain Ordinance has been submitted to the State and accepted. 
Police Chief Goodwin swearing in on July 16 th 
Yirrel Beach had some clean up done on it and he thanks the public that did it on their own. 
Investigating Basketball courts as potential sight for the new Fire Station 
Next 3A Meeting is on July 16 th . 
He has met with a company reviewing the cost of zoom for the Sr. Center, will keep all updated. 
Trash will be delayed one day due to July 4 th. 
One extra barrel after the 4 th of July holiday 
Council President discusses MBTA 3A and good information we have received from our citizens and asks
Town Manager if he has looked into this. 
The Town Manager reports that he has reviewed 40B compliance. 
The Sumner tunnel is closed from July 5 th to August 5 th , Ferry is $2.40 
Horrible Parade is 9am on July 4 th. 
Councilor Swope discusses trees being “girdled” and asks about other trees and what can be done… 
She took pictures of (3) other trees that were cut down due to being hollow. She disagrees that a tree should
be cut down due to being hollow. She reviewed Pathfinder and believed too many trees have been cut down
for an exorbitant of costs. She asks if the trees we are planting are making up for the trees that are being
removed? 
Town Manager reports that there have been trees planted . 
Councilor Swope questions the arborist of Pathfinder. She requests a report on what trees have been cut
down in this town. 
Councilor Munson asks the number of trees 
Town Manager reports approx.. 80 right now

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 2, 2024 PAGE 3 
Councilor Munson asks about the letter Carol Facella’s letter on 3A and asks if whether the condo docs
supersede 3A or do they defer to 3A? 
Councilor Aiello feels the tree law is very clear and reflects that he also believes the (3) trees that were just
removed has violated state law. He believes that Pathfinder using their arborist is conflict of interest . He
would like to go back at least 18 mos. and see what documentation on these trees being cut down there is. 
Vice President thanks the DPW and Town Manager for the flashing Stop Sign at Delby’s corner. 
Councilor Swope encourages all to read Carol Facella letter on 3A 
COMMISSION OF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS 
No Meeting 
UPDATE POLICY MAKING COMMITTEES 
None 
OLD BUSINESS 
Tree Committee – Tree Removal-170 Grovers Ave.-Discussed 
Short Term Rental Discussion continued until July 16, 2024 Town Council Meeting 
NEW BUSINESS 
Motion by the Town Council President to refer to the Finance Committee that the Town Council 
transfer $80,000 from Cap. Stabilization / Stormwater Engineering Phase II 
Appointments and Re-Appointments 
Motion by Council President Letterie to re-appoint Chris Aiello to the Tree Committee 
Motion Passes – Councilor Aiello Abstains 
Motion by Council President Letterie that the Town Council accept the appointments made by Town
Council President of : 
BOARD OF REGISTRAR’S 
James Gallagher 
COMMISSION ON DISABILTY 
Denise Quist (1 Yr.) 
Kathleen Kane 
Jonathan Rodis 
COUNCIL ON AGING 
Heather Martin 
Mary Vitale 
CULTURAL COUNCIL 
Linda Rainville 
Mariann Salza 
Goldie Boncore 
Guy Hillman 
PARKS COMMITTEE 
Nicole Vatcher 
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE 
Debbie Chavis 
MOTION PASSES 
Motion to accept the appointments made by Town Council President of 
Jeanne Maggio and Mary L Cooney to the Board of Health for a term of 3 years 
Motion Passed

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 2, 2024 PAGE 4 
Motion by Vice President Belcher to accept the appointments made by Town Council President of 
Dawn Letterie to the Scholarship Committee 
2 nd by Councilor Aiello 
Motion Passed- Council President Abstains 
Town Council Decorum- 
Council President refers to the decorum of the Town Councilor and the decorum of the public during the
Town Council Meetings…. 
Councilor Aiello refers to our last meeting and a number of contentious issues. He would like to make a
public apology to resident Jack Dowd (Mr. Dowd does not accept) but Councilor Aiello would still like to
make this as he states he violated his own value system. His responsibility is to listen to the public 
He violated this and he is very apologetic that he did this. He crossed a line and he is extremely sorry. 
PUBLIC COMMENT 
Marci Hamilton P2-Thanks all for the help with Tileston Road flooding. 
She went on the Ferry and encourages all to do the same. 
Thanks all for what is done on the Town Council. 
Town Council President wants to publicly thank the DPW for their hard work on all town flooding 
Karin Chavis P2- Comments she attended Sen. Edwards coffee hour and mentions a tour that was done with
Sec. Agustus. Last meeting the Town Manager sates a questionnaire would be put our on site of Fire
Station? 
Council President reiterates there will be a question going out to the residents on this subject. 
Council President discusses the tour that was done and did get clarification that we do have a credit of 220
units which brings our numbers from 882 to approx.. 600 units. 
Bill Schmidt P5-Thanks Councilor Swope and Councilor Aiello for information about the trees. 
Glad to hear that the Basketball court be considered for the new Fire Station 
Requests when information is sent on the Fire Station include all costs information. 
Council President thanks Mr. Schmidt and Jeannie Holgersen for their commitment to the Board of Health
for the last several years. 
Jack Dowd P2 – Request a copy of the correspondence from Gus Martucci in reference to the incident that
happened at the June 18 th Meeting. 
He refers to the seawall in Revere and what it would cost to fix. 
He would like to clarify that he does not want his comments answered or allow an answer. Put it on the
next agenda if there is a question. 
Peter Gill P3-Would like the Town Council to consider the location of Expert Auto for the new Fire Station 
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 2, 2024 PAGE 5

PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS 
7-16-24 Winthrop Planning Board Meetings/MBTA 3A Zoning with RKG Associates, Sr. Center 6:00PM 
Winthrop Farmers Market Dates: June through October- 2 nd & 4 th Sunday of the month Ingleside Park 9AM – 1PM 
ADJOURNMENT 
Motion to adjourn by Vice President Belcher at 8:00 pm 
2 nd by Councilor Aiello 
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 JULY 2, 2024 PAGE 6