Agenda
Town Council · from the Town's website · released Feb 11, 2025 · 17 pages · 2.9 MB
open the file ↗ · original at the source ↗
Zoom Information
Meeting ID: 822 6728 0438
Passcode: 973682
Phone: 1-646-558-8656
WINTHROP TOWN COUNCIL
Lown Council Members
Town Council President James Letterie MEETING AGENDA
FEBRUARY 11, 2025
Precinct 1 Councilor Costigan
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING 6:30PM
Precinct 2 Councilor Munson
Precinct 3 VP- Councilor Belcher HARVEY HEARING ROOM
Precinct 4 Councilor Swope
Precinct 5 Councilor Aiello
Precinct 6 Councilor DaRos
Councilor at Large DeMarco
Councilor at Large Tassinari
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
L MINUTES
Approval of Minutes January 21, 2025 as circulated
2. ANDRECOMMENDATIO:
Attorney Cipoletta-Article 97 & ADU Compliance
Chief Wiley - Review Emergency Action Plan for Town of Winthrop
3. PUBLIC HEARING
None
PUBLIC COMMENT
CORRESPONDENCE
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Rules & Ordinance
Climate Commission
SCHOOL DE:
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
UPDATE CDICR & POLICY MAKING COMMITTEES
0. OLD BUSINESS
11, NEW BUSINE
Town Council vote to approve to create a new Education Stabilization Account
Town Council discuss New Finance Policy in regards to Free Cash
Town Council vote to approve the Amended Tree Ordinance
Town Council vote to approve $158,500 for the funding of Phase II of the engineering at Tileston, Girdlestone and Pico
Town Council vote to approve letter to the Mass DOT Secretary and General Manager re: Winthrop Ferry
Town Council vote on Fire House Debt Exclusion Question
Town Council review EOHLC Action Plan-- MBTA 3A
Appointment
2025 Ordinance Review Committee
12. PUBLIC COMMENT
13. PUBLIC RELATIONS /UPCOMINGEVENTS
Time to Renew your Parking Sticker & Dog License online on the Town of Winthrop Website
14. ADJOURNMENT
Nae
meen
TOWN OF WINTHROP
OFFICE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
Town Hall, 1 Metcalf Square, Winthrop, MA 02152 Telephone: 617-846-1742
MOTION
Submitted By: Council President Date: February 6, 2025
Motion: That the Town Council approve to create a new Education Stabilization
Account; or take any other action thereto
TOWN OF WINTHROP
OFFICE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
Town Hall, 1 Metcalf Square, Winthrop, MA 02152 Telephone: 617-846-1742
MOTION
Submitted By: Vice President Belcher Date: February 6, 2025
I move that the Town Council amend the Town of Winthrop ordinance titled "Title 12 -
STREETS SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES, Chapter 12.48 - TREES" to make the
following amendments:
1. In the “DEFINITIONS” section, amend the “Landmark Tree” section to include the
sentence “Any public tree with a DBH of 18 inches or greater shall automatically be
designated a Landmark Tree.” at the conclusion of the definition.
2. Under PERMITTING; ACTIVITIES REQUIRING A PERMIT, amend the fourth
sentence that currently reads:
“No tree work/removal permit shall be issued unless on the following conditions
exists,”
to add the clause immediately following the comma:
“and such permit shall only allow for a scope of work necessary to address the
reason for the permit:”
3. Under “REMOVAL OF PUBLIC TREES”, add the following immediately after the first
sentence:
“Therefore, a Landmark Tree may not be removed for any non-Town purpose.”
4. Under “TREE MEMORIAL PROGRAM”, delete the final sentence that reads
“Plaques may not be affixed to a said tree.”
to be replaced by:
“The tree warden may affix a memorial plaque as approved by the Memorials
Committee to a memorial tree if they deem it appropriate based on the health of
said tree. The tree warden (or their designee) must perform the installation of a
memorial plaque.”
TOWN OF WINTHROP
OFFICE OF THE TOWN MANAGER
Town Hall, 1 Metcalf Square, Winthrop, MA 02152 Telephone: 617-846-1077 Fax: 617-846-5458
Anthony Marino
Town Manager
Town Council Motion
February 6, 2025 Fiscal Year 2025
Motion Summary
Title: Engineering and Design Work for the Girdlestone, Tileston, and Pico Drainage
Improvements Project - Phase 2
Motion ID: TCM25-010
Amount: $158,500
Funding Source: Capital Stabilization Fund
Motion Details
Motion Type: Transfer
Submitted by: Anthony Marino, Town Manager
Date Submitted: February 6, 2025
Text of Motion
MOTION: I move that the Town Council transfer $158,500 from the Capital Stabilization
Fund to the Stormwater Engineering special article account for Phase 2 of the Stormwater
Engineering for the Tileston Rd, Girdlestone Rd, and Pico Ave Areas; or take any other
action thereto.
Funding Details
Funding Source Funding Destination
Account! Description Amount Account Description Amount
964 Capital Stabilization Fund [$158,500 |0196058-588214 [Stormwater Engineering {$158,500
Capital Stabilization Fund Balance: $1,890,600
Amount Requested: $158,500
Capital Stabilization after motion approval: $1,732,100
TOWN OF WINTHROP
OFFICE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
Town Hall, 1 Metcalf Square, Winthrop, MA 02152 Telephone: 617-846-1742
MOTION
Submitted By: Vice President Belcher Date: February 6, 2025
Motion for the council to accept and sign the attached letter addressed to MassDOT Secretary
Tibbits-Nutt and MBTA General Manager Peter Eng regarding operational concetns surrounding
the Winthrop-Quincy Ferry.
The letter should be sent to the following email and physical addresses:
Recipient Email Address Physical Address
Secretary Monica Tibbets-Nutt 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA
02116
GM Phillip Eng 10 Park Plaza, Room 3910,
Boston, MA 02116
Senator Ed Markey Ed@edmarkey.org 975 JFK Federal Building
15 New Sudbury Street,
Boston, MA 02203
Senator Elizabeth Warren info@elizabethwarten.com 2400 JFK Federal Building
15 New Sudbuty Street,
Boston, MA 02203
Representative Katherine Clark | MA5District@mail.house.gov 24 Beacon St., Room 410,
Boston, MA 02133
Senator Lydia Edwards lydia.edwards@masenate.gov 24 Beacon St., Room 413-C,
Boston, MA 02133
Representative Jeffrey Turco jeffrey.turco@mahouse.gov 24 Beacon St., Room 473B,
Boston, MA 02133
Attorney Cipoletta jcipoletta@town.winthrop.ma.us | 1 Metcalf Square, Winthrop,
MA 02152
Winthrop Climate Committee 1 Metcalf Square, Winthrop,
MA 02152
OFFICE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
Town Hall, 1 Metcalf Square, Winthrop, MA 02152 Telephone: 617-846-1742
MassDOT Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt
MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng
February 7, 2025
Dear Secretary Tibbits-Nutt and General Manager Eng,
The Winthrop Town Council sent a letter dated July 31, 2024 to you regarding our frustrations
surrounding the Winthrop ferry, to which we received no response. It is deeply disturbing that we
would not receive any communication — a response letter, email, phone call, or meeting request
after our letter was received. Our letter outlined a number of concerns regarding the Winthrop ferry
including boat maintenance, travel routes, affordability, and scheduling. As a representative body
for the people of Winthrop, the Town Council is seeking to ensure reliable transportation for our
residents, especially given our unique geographic location and proximity to Boston.
Our primary asks in the original letter were for year-round, 7 day service from Winthrop with no
more than 2 hours maximum between trips. Prior to the 2024 ferry season, the schedule had not
been wholly advantageous to those working in the city who wished to use it as their primary
commuting method, given the ferry’s schedule and the lengthy time needed to complete a route
that included a stop in Quincy. During the 2024 season (notably exacerbated by the Sumner Tunnel
closures), Winthrop saw a DECREASE in ridership as the boat was turning away passengers at
our dock due to reaching capacity in Quincy. It is wholly unacceptable that Winthrop riders were
turned away when it is Winthrop’s vessel and Winthrop that originated the service.
While Winthrop faces a number of challenges in the public transportation space that we seek to
partner with the MBTA to address, and we do wish to engage in discussions about these in the near
future, we ask that you focus on the ferry first as we move towards the typical season of operation.
Ensuring direct, frequent, and affordable ferry access from Winthrop to the city of Boston is
paramount in supporting our community’s transportation needs at this time.
As one of many communities that the MBTA services, Winthrop consistently falls to the bottom
of the priority list. We are asking yet again that you prioritize correcting this issues, beginning with
the ferry. Attached is our original letter for reference. It goes into much deeper detail about the
important concerns we have.
In our last letter, we highlighted that it is time for action, not discussion. We requested a proposal
for 2025 ferry service inclusive of 7-day service and divorced from Quincy. We did not receive
this proposal, an offer of discussion, or an estimated timeline on when we could expect either of
those things.
Our expectation at this juncture is that we see swift action on this matter. We look forward to
hearing back from you.
Sincerely,
The Winthrop Town Council
President James Letterie
Vice President Hannah Belcher
Councilor At-Large Max Tassinari
Councilor At-Large Rob DeMarco
Councilor Patrick Costigan
Councilor John Munson
Councilor Suzanne Swope
Councilor Joseph Aiello
Councilor John DaRos
Cc: Senator Ed Markey, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Representative Katherine Clark, Senator Lydia Edwards,
Representative Jeffrey Turco, Attorney Cipoletta, Winthrop Climate Committee
TOWN OF WINTHROP
OFFICE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
MassDOT Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt
MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng
July 31, 2024
Dear Secretary Tibbits-Nutt and General Manager Eng,
We write this letter in frustration and with a straightforward request - please make the Winthrop
ferry a permanent service, characterized by direct service to the East Boston, South Boston, and
Downtown Boston waterfronts. As we have written before in concert with representatives from
Quincy, Winthrop and Quincy service need to be separated from each other.
We were stunned by the MBTA’s unilateral decision this year to take a Winthrop provided boat
and gut the service to our community while favoring Quincy. Given this, Winthrop ridership has
decreased while Quincy’s has increased as would be expected. During the Sumner Tunnel closure,
Winthrop riders have been turned away on the dock as the boat is reaching its capacity rendering
the service unable to be utilized and leaving our residents stranded.
We also have a high level of concern regarding care of the Valkyrie. When the boat was given to
the MBTA last year, the Valkyrie had just had two new Cummings engines installed, new wiring,
and other improvements implemented. We are disappointed with the performance of the boat and
the measures your vendor may have needed to take to keep the boat operating as expected.
Winthrop ferry service needs to run year-round, 7 days a week, with no more than 2 hours
maximum between trips This level of service also needs to remain affordable to our community
members.
We believe that this service should be made permanent because:
1) The MBTA has a long history of underserving our community despite the relative
payments we make to the T. As you know, the bus service is provided by a private vendor.
The cost of this service relative to directly provided MBTA-staffed service is about 50%
of those normal costs.
A) Until 2017, the outsourced bus service took the form of school buses. These buses
failed to provide a number of amenities found on your bus fleet. These missing
amenities included air-conditioning, a comfortable ride , no security tie-ins to your
OCC ete.
B) Until 2019 the T did not provide MBTA bus stop signs, did not provide T fare
collection equipment and basic marketing info such as inclusion of these bus routes
as part of the T system. Our signs were either the vendor’s or painted stripes on
2)
3)
4)
5)
telephone poles. This caused potential customer confusion, hindrances in using fare
media, and a higher cost for our residents because of a lack of transfer credit.
C) Our current public transportation offerings are inadequate. Today we have NO
MBTA-PROVIDED BUS SHELTERS! Very little direct marketing from the T to
our residents take place. We don’t have adequate outreach to our middle and high-
school students to try to shift the culture to more transit utilization. And its not clear
to most residents on how to obtain a Charlie Card or a Senior Fare Card.
D) Through the Bus Network Redesign project, bus service in the town of
Winthrop will be permanently altered, eliminating service to large sections of
town, removing our most frequented (and only covered) bus stop, and bifurcating
the route making Winthrop’s Center business district inaccessible without
transferring buses lines within our minute 1.2 square mile community.
Winthrop has limited means of egress. We must have a ferry because both of our
vehicular pathways out of Town are one lane in each direction, each threatened by climate
change and each unable to be expanded. As an example - the DCR-controlled Winthrop
Parkway runs between the Atlantic Ocean and Belle Isle Marsh. The roadway is frequently
closed by the Commonwealth- decreasing our exit capacity by 50% This results in backups
of more than an hour delay. Ferries are a mitigation to this problem.
Ferries are a mitigation to public safety challenges in Winthrop. In addition to limited
roadway access (which would be alleviated by an acceptable ferry service) Winthrop hosts
two significant state authorities: Massport and MWRA. Each of these contributes to our
local and regional traffic (by example Massport related travel accounts for more than 50%
of the Ted Williams tunnel traffic). Each represents a major public safety risk if they have
certain emergencies. Winthrop has no emergency room, as well as relatively small police
and fire departments, thus the ability for a regional response of ambulances and public
safety is essential. If our roads are shut down or congestion in our access roads remain at
their current high level, public safety will be endangered.
Winthrop is a very dense Environmental Justice community. Setting aside Boston,
Winthrop is already the 4"° most dense municipality in the T’s service area. The 3A housing
law proposes to make us even more dense. For the reasons stated above we need better bus
service and permanent ferry service in all their dimensions. Because of the historic lack of
care by the MBTA, the T needs to also promote a more transit-oriented culture.
Regional equity - we are frankly tired of hearing about the T’s lack of funds and the poor
cost benefit of the Winthrop ferry. The T’s own analysis shows that ferry service is the
second most cost effective forms of transit when based on life-cycle costs (which represent
the true cost to the taxpayer). The T has spent multiple billions of dollars over the past 5
years on three of the four main rapid transit lines. The T spends about a billion per year
subsidizing the commuter-rail system. Have cost-benefit studies ever preceded that work?
Multiple billions in expenditures have been made on the Southcoast Rail system with no
cost/benefit study - not even an updated ridership study The MBTA has informally
communicated to us that it cannot afford to run the Winthrop ferry system in the manner
requested, and yet they have just agreed to add weekend service with no apparent hesitation
over its costs nor its unknown revenue.
Let us be clear - we want and need T to invest in our services. Winthrop has been ignored for too
long. We need commitment, not idle chatter. Send us a proposal for calendar year 2025 that
provides for year round, seven day per week service that runs directly into the three Boston ferry
stops and not to Quincy at all. Improve the frequency and a seasonally adjusted time span. Consider
a fare reduction and a discounted transfer at Aquarium station for those that need to travel beyond
the waterfront. Regarding the bus routes in Winthrop- restore Point Shirley service (per our earlier
letters) in the Bus Network Redesign plan, install at least 10 bus shelters within the next 60 days,
as well as create a comprehensive marketing plan so all relevant parties can know more about the
ferry, bus, and Blue Line and all about fare media.
Winthrop has multiple green and climate initiatives on-going. Join us for the sake of our future.
We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
The Winthrop Town Council
President James Letterie
Vice President Hannah Belcher
Councilor At-Large Max Tassinari
Councilor At-Large Rob DeMarco
Councilor Patrick Costigan
Councilor John Munson
Councilor Suzanne Swope
Councilor Joseph Aiello
Councilor John DaRos
Cc: Senator Ed Markey, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Representative Katherine Clark, Senator
Lydia Edwards, Representative Jeffrey Turco, Attorney Cipoletta, Winthrop Climate Committee
TOWN OF WINTHROP
OFFICE OF THE TOWN MANAGER
Town Hall, 1 Metcalf Square, Winthrop, MA 02152 Telephone: 617-846-1852 Fax: 617-846-5458
Anthony Marino
Town Manager
MOTION
Submitted By: Town Manager Marino Date: 2-11-25
MOTION: | move that the Winthrop Town Council adopt the following order:
ORDERED: That the Town appropriates the sum of FORTY MILLION DOLLARS ($40,000,000) for the
design, engineering, constructing, equipping, and furnishing of a new Fire Station, including the
payment of costs incidental or related thereto; and to meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with
the approval of the Town Manager, is authorized to issue bonds or notes under the provisions of
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, section 7, or any other enabling authority.
Ballot Question:
Shall the Town of Winthrop be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and
one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to pay costs of
designing, engineering, constructing, equipping, and furnishing a new Fire Station in Winthrop,
Massachusetts, including the payment of costs incidental or related thereto?
Ballot Question:
Shall the Town of Winthrop be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two
and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to pay
costs of designing, engineering, constructing, equipping, and furnishing a new Fire Station
in Winthrop, Massachusetts, including the payment of costs incidental or related thereto?
Summary:
The town council has voted to appropriate funds to build a new Fire Station in the town. The
new station will replace the two existing stations that will be deactivated upon completion of
construction. The appropriated funds would authorize vendors to design, engineer, build, and
furnish the new Fire Station. The funds would be borrowed by the Treasurer and approved by
the Town Manager. The cost of the debt service, like a mortgage, will be added to your taxes
ONLY until the debt service is paid off. Again, just like a mortgage, when the debt service is
paid off, there will be no Fire Station debt service payments added to your taxes. It is anticipated
that it will be fully paid in Fiscal Year 2052.
A_YES vote will authorize the town to fund all the costs of building the Fire Station, anticipated
not to exceed 38.5 million dollars, by issuing bonds to pay for the costs of the project and to
temporarily exclude that amount of debt from the provisions of Proposition 2 1/2. This is the
definition of a “Debt Exclusion”. In other words, a debt exclusion is a means of funding a
particular project with a temporary increase, which we anticipate 25 years, in the levy limit. The
debt service is excluded from the levy limitations of Proposition 2 4.
ANO vote will not authorize the town to exclude the debt service from the levy and will be held
to the limitations required by Proposition 2 1/2. The town would not be able to build the fire
station or need to bring forward a new or the same ballot question seeking authorization for a
debt exclusion at another future election.
Override vs. Debt Exclusion
What is an Override?
Proposition 2 % allows a community to assess taxes in excess of the automatic annual 2.5 percent
increase. A community may take this action as long as it is below its level ceiling, or 2.5 percent
of full and fair cash value. An override cannot increase a community levy limit above the level of
the community levy ceiling.
When an override is passed, the levy limit for the year is calculated by including the amount of
the override. The override results in a permanent increase in the levy limit of the community
which, as part of the levy limit base, increases at the rate of 2.5 percent each year.
A majority vote of a community’s selectmen, or town or city council allows an override question
to be placed on the ballot. Override questions must be presented in dollar terms and must specify
the purpose of the override. Overrides require a majority vote of approval by the electorate.
What is a Debt Exclusion?
Proposition 2 4 allows a community to raise funds for certain purposes above the amount of it
levy or levy ceiling. A community can assess taxes in excess of its levy limit or levy ceiling for
the payment of specified debt service costs. An exclusion for the purpose of raising funds for
debt service costs is referred to as a debt exclusion. Debt exclusions require voter approval.
The additional amount for the payment of debt service is added to the levy limit or levy ceiling
for the life of the debt only. Unlike overrides, exclusions do not become part of the base upon
which the levy limit is calculated for future years.
Reimbursements such as state reimbursements for school building construction are subtracted
from the amount of the exclusion.
Both of these exclusions require a two-thirds vote of the community’s selectmen, or town or city
council in order to be presented to the voters. A majority vote of approval by the electorate is
required for both types of exclusion.
Questions presented to exclude a debt obligation must state the purpose for which the monies
from the debt issue will be used.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
EXECUTIVE OFFICE or HOUSING &
LIVABLE COMMUNITIES
Maura T. Healey, Governor @ Kimberley Driscoll, Lieutenant Governor @ Edward M. Augustus Jr., Secretary
Via Email: amarino@winthropma.gov
January 27, 2025
Town Manager Tony Marino
Town Manager
1 Metcalf Square
Winthrop, MA 02152
Re: Winthrop — Confirmation of Status with G.L. c. 40A, Section 3A
Dear Town Manager Marino:
This letter is intended to clarify Winthrop’s current status and obligations related to compliance with the
MBTA Communities Law. On January 8, 2025, the Supreme Judicial Court published its opinion in the
case of Attorney General v. Town of Milton, confirming the law is constitutional and valid, and that the
Attorney General has the power to enforce it. The Court also held that EOHLC must promulgate the law’s
implementing guidelines through the Administrative Procedures Act if they are to be enforceable. In
response, EOHLC filed emergency regulations with the Secretary of the Commonwealth on January 14,
2025, and plans to adopt permanent regulations after a public comment period. The regulations are filed
as: 760 CMR 72.00 Multifamily Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities. They can be viewed at
mass.gov/mbtacommunities.
Winthrop has not submitted a district compliance application to EOHLC. The emergency regulations
provide Winthrop an opportunity to come into interim compliance by submitting a new Action Plan
by February 13, 2025. EOHLC is eager to work with municipalities to assist with developing and
submitting an Action Plan that can be approved. The emergency regulations also provide Winthrop with
additional time to adopt any necessary zoning amendments and submit a district compliance application to
EOHLC. Winthrop’s compliance deadline under the emergency regulations is July 14, 2025.
If Winthrop does not submit an Action Plan to achieve interim compliance, and/or does not meet its July
14, 2025, district compliance deadline, it will be ineligible for funds from the Housing Choice Initiative,
the Local Capital Projects Fund, the MassWorks infrastructure program, and the Housing Works
infrastructure program. Additionally, Winthrop would remain ineligible for the MBTA Communities
Catalyst Fund which was announced by Governor Healey in June 2024. Please note that all discretionary
grant programs across the Healey-Driscoll Administration take compliance with the MBTA Communities
Law into consideration when making funding decisions.
EOHLC will continue to provide updates related to compliance statuses under G.L. c. 40A, Section 3A as
it promulgates and adopts permanent regulations. If you have questions or need further assistance
100 Cambridge Stréet, Suite 300 Www.mass.gov
Boston, Massachusetts 02114 617.573.1100
regarding this information, please contact MBTA Communities Compliance Coordinator Nathan Carlucci
at nathan.carlucci@mass.gov. Thank you for your continued collaboration implementing this important
housing law.
Sincerely,
C/ 2
LE Zs t JA ’ (ley a f
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.
Secretary
ce: Senator Lydia Edwards
Representative Jeffrey Rosario Turco
2 WINTHROP MEMBERS wy ch
Karla Murphy, Chair
COMMISSION ON Jon Rodis, Vice-Chair
DISABILITIES Andrew Carr, Secretary
Hannah Belcher, Town Council
Liaison
Kathleen Kane
John Morgan
Denise Quist
Susan Smith
January 25, 2025
Dear Town Council Members,
The Winthrop Commission on Disabilities (WCOD) has been monitoring the debate surrounding 3A and
its significant implications for our community, regardless of the vote outcome. WCOD has a longstanding
track record of advocating for the rights of people with disabilities in Winthrop. Our town has made
commendable strides toward inclusivity, and the support from our residents for this often-overlooked
demographic is commendable. However, we cannot afford to take our progress for granted.
Recently, we collaborated with the public library to secure a $225,000 grant from the Massachusetts
Office on Disability to enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities. This is just one of our many
achievements over the past two years, which also includes publishing a Resource Directory, initiating a
Speakers’ Series, and hosting the First Annual Accessible Adventures event at Deer Island.
The ongoing commitment from our town is laudable in ensuring that we continue to make our
community accessible for everyone.
We recently held a meeting featuring Jeff Dougan, Assistant Director for Community Services at the
Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD). During this meeting, we discussed applying for a Planning
Grant through MOD that would lead to a Self-Evaluation Plan as mandated by Title II regulations and the
ADA Standards for Accessible Design. This self-evaluation is an essential review of all programs, activities,
and services in Winthrop. It is important to note that a self-evaluation was last conducted in 1993, and it
did not include necessary updates to applicable laws and IT accessibility regulations. Conducting this
review is not just a formality; it is a mandate and an imperative step for our town to develop a transition
plan that addresses structural changes and modifies existing policies and procedures to be ADA
compliant.
As we approach the beginning of May, when applications for the Planning Grant open, we are dismayed
to discover that Winthrop is ineligible due to its recent vote against 3A. We have been informed by MOD
that our non-compliance severely restricts our access to vital grants intended to uphold ADA standards.
This is not merely a bureaucratic issue—it is a direct threat to our community's progress. While not
everyone on our commission agrees on the effectiveness of 3A in achieving affordable housing, we stand
united in condemning the Governor’s tactics that put Winthrop at a competitive disadvantage. We refuse
to accept a reality where our town is poorer for it. We simply do not have the resources or expertise to
carry out a comprehensive self-evaluation without support, and relying on our ADA Coordinator alone
will not provide the quality of assessment that an experienced organization, like the Institute for Human-
Centered Design, would deliver. Non-compliance means we are risking significant funding that could
benefit our community, leaving taxpayers to cover the shortfall.
A self-evaluation is not just overdue; it is essential, as the one currently on file is over 30 years old.
As a nine-member commission, we are emphatically urging Winthrop to prioritize compliance with 3A
while simultaneously challenging the punitive measures imposed by the Governor on communities that
vote against it. It is our duty to take a stand on behalf of those residents with disabilities, and some of us
will actively support any legislation that seeks to challenge the existing law and regulations. However,
given the SJC’s ruling on the constitutionality of the law, we need to acknowledge the challenges we face
in changing the law and regulations before we meet our compliance deadlines. Our community is at risk
due to the Governor’s policy of linking grant access to compliance votes, and our residents must
understand the implications of this. By withholding grant money because of our noncompliance with 3A,
our Governor is compromising our town’s ability to be ADA-compliant.
We request that the council members vote yes on 3A and collaborate with local groups to challenge a
law that coerces citizens into accepting results that remain questionable at best. We cannot stand idly
by. Our community deserves better.
Thank you for addressing this critical issue with the urgency it requires.