Agenda
Town Council · from the Town's website · released Feb 25, 2025 · 11 pages · 2.6 MB
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ZOOM INFORMATION
Meeting ID: 827 2677 6117
Passcode: 764865
Phone: 1-646-558-8656
Lown Council Members
Town Council President James Letterie
Precinct 1 Councilor Costigan
Precinct 2 Councilor Munson
Precinct 3 VP- Councilor Belcher
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
1. MINUTES
WINTHROP TOWN COUNCIL
MEETING AGENDA
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING 6:30PM
HARVEY HEARING ROOM
Approval of Minutes February 11, 2025 as circulated
2. MOMENT OF SILENCE
Jack VanBuskirk
3. MINUTES
Approval of Minutes February 11, 2025 as circulated
4. GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5. PUBLIC HEARING
Town Council discuss a New Finance Policy regarding 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
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
7 CORRESPONDENCE
8 COMMITTEE REPORTS
Finance Committee
9.
10.
11.
Town Council discuss a New Finance Policy regarding 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 discuss EOHLC Action Plan— MBTA 3A
12. NEW BUSINESS
Town Council approve Memorial Committee recommendations
Appointment- ORC Committee
Town Council Decorum
13. PUBLIC COMMENT
14. PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS
FHBC Meeting Feb. 24, 2025 6:00 PM Harvey Hearing Room
15. ADJOURNMENT
TOWN OF WINTHROP
OFFICE OF THE TOWN MANAGER
Town Hall, 1 Metcalf Square, Winthrop, MA 02152 Telephone: 617-846-1077
Anthony Marino
Town Manager
Town Manager Report
2-25-2025
¢ Department Budgets have all come in for the FY26 budget season, and J continue
to work with the Finance team to balance the budget to accommodate increases in
Health and Property Insurance along with COLA increases for union and non-
union personnel. We continue to plan for our normal budget cycle with nominal
COLA increases in line with past budgets. However, I again need to stress that if
the schools do not receive additional funding via an override, substantial cuts
across every department will be required from the Town side of the budget to
assist the schools. We will not be able to give the schools the entire 3.5 million
dollars that the schools will need for the FY26 budget but will need to offer up
more than we normally do to spread the cuts throughout the entire town and to be
prepared to highlight the service level drop off and any staff reductions that will
occur. Superintendent Howard and I continue to meet and discuss what a nd
version of the FY26 budget without a school override will look like and determine
what services will be reduced for both the Town and the Schools. -
¢ We submitted our Action Plan to the EOHLC and received confirmation that it
was accepted. We are in “interim compliance” until July 14, 2025. We also
submitted Public Comments before the 2-21-25 deadline with Winthrop’s
concerns and suggested language for an exemption under a new definition that we
called “Compact Coastal Community.” Both documents are up on the Town’s
Website for review.
© Our DPW team continues to do a great job with snow removal efforts this Winter.
Special thanks to all of our DPW workers who work long, hard hours keeping our
streets clean! As this winter has had more snowfall and storms than the last few
years, we are over what we budgeted for snow and ice in the FY25 Budget. Snow
and ice are line items that we can deficit spend and move monies around later.
We budget $135,000 and anticipate finishing closer to $300,000 before the end of
the Winter Season.
e As we approach the Spring Season, our tree committee is developing a Tree
Adoption program to help us regularly water our newer trees. They created a form
we will post on the website and advertise the program in the Town Manager
report and social media.
e The IFB for the Pauline Street Fire Station Floor Repair is out, and bids are due
February 27, 2025. Potential bidders have sent us follow-up questions.
e Ourconsultant, Epsilon Associates, has completed the sieve sample at Yirrell
Beach, and we anticipate them giving us a final report with the material we need
to purchase to install the coastal berm along the sea wall. Once we receive that,
we can source the material, get pricing to purchase it, and have it delivered. Once
we do that, we can formulate a plan to bring to the town council that includes all
associated costs associated with this project.
¢ MVPFY26 Action Grant Funding Round is now open, due April 4", 2025. We
have reached out to our consultant from last year and will update last year's
submissions to resubmit for consideration this year.
e Lastly, Union negotiations continue to move forward. We have had initial and gnd
meetings with the two Police Unions and the Library union. We have yet to meet
with the DPW and Clerical Unions but have contacted their representatives to get
something on the books.
Please contact me directly if you have any questions about the items listed above or about
any other issues. Thank you.
Anthony Marino
Winthrop Town Manager
amarino@winthropma.gov
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.”
2024 Tree Plan
Introduction
Winthrop’s tree canopy provides the town many benefits. Trees clean the air, and help to reduce
noise, therefore addressing, to a degree, the negative health and welfare impacts the town
suffers as a result of the activities of Logan Airport. Trees also reduce carbon dioxide from the
air, therefore helping to combat climate change. Winthrop is particularly at risk to the impacts
of climate change and a rising ocean. Trees also reduce heat islands, make parks and public
spaces more comfortable, reduce stress, and can increase real estate values.
Recent Efforts
During the current fiscal year the DPW has planted roughly 50 trees as a result of town funding,
and donations. Additionally, Winthrop Loves Trees has planted 36 trees in Winthrop’s parks and
public lands. Finally, 15 maple trees were planted as a result of a community run fundraiser in
honor of David Green and Ramona Cooper. With current staffing and funding Winthrop
currently has the ability to plant roughly 50 trees each year. Further, a tree survey was
conducted, and the town is incorporating that information into the GIS system. As trees are
planted and removed, the GIS system must be updated. The Winthrop Town Council should also
be updated at least annually as to how many trees have been planted and how many have been
removed over the course of the year.
Multi-Year Tree Planting Plan
Winthrop is in need of many additional trees that produce a robust canopy. Winthrop should
adopt a policy, where sensible, of planting trees that will provide the maximum feasible canopy
for a specific location. Tree hardiness, diversity, and other considerations must also be weighed.
Winthrop’s main travel corridors are the most heavily utilized streets in Winthrop, resulting in
higher traffic-related pollution and noise on those streets. The Tree Warden and Tree
Committee therefore recommend an initial focus on these main travel corridors for mass-
plantings of trees as it will have an outsized impact on both the corridor residents and the
greater Winthrop community. The tree committee has evaluated the three priority corridors,
which are the Pleasant-Washington corridor, the Main-Revere corridor, and the River-Cross
corridor. The needs of these corridors are further explained below, but at Winthrop’s current
pace of tree planting it should be expected to take at least the next 2.5 years to address the
needs of the first two corridors. Additional main corridors that should be evaluated next are
Crest Ave-Veteran’s-Shirley, Pauline-Winthrop-Walden.
It is likely that at the current planting rate it may take up to 5 years to address the identified
corridors. Meanwhile, Winthrop’s neighborhoods and parks are also in need of additional trees.
The Tree Committee and Warden should evaluate tree canopy disparities between
neighborhoods and parks, and consider facts such as where EJ communities are located, to help
guide future planting efforts.
Where town funds and capabilities are limited, the town administration should work to secure
additional funds dedicated to planting additional trees, promote tree donations, optimize the
tree farm, and work with community organizations to better address these needs. Further,
where feasible, grass strips along edge of the sidewalks should be considered. The additional
permeable surface will make for healthier trees, and allow for more water to be absorbed into
the ground during rain storms. Finally, as sidewalks are relaced, tree pits and trees for feasible
planting locations should be incorporated into the construction plans as normal design and
construction standards.
Pleasant and Washington Corridor
The Pleasant-Washington corridor should be first to be addressed. An initial evaluation indicates
a need for at roughly 38 trees along Pleasant St. and at roughly 22 trees along Washington Ave.*
As some trees planted each year replace trees that have died, it should be expected that it will
take roughly two years of planting efforts for this corridor to be fully built out. The Tree
Committee and Warden should next work to recommend tree species for the designated spots
along this corridor.
Main and Revere Corridor
At the recommendation of the Tree Warden and the Tree Committee the town has recently
planted street trees at most open locations along Main St. from the entrance to Winthrop to
Magee’s Corner. Further, the TIP project is expected to add a net gain of 25 trees on Revere St.
between Magee’s Corner and the intersection with Crest Ave, which should result in most
appropriate street tree locations along that stretch being planted. Tree species
recommendations have been made in relation to the TIP project plantings.
The initial evaluation of Revere St. from the intersection of Crest Ave. to the exit of town
indicates a need for roughly 15 additional trees. This should be prioritized after the Pleasant and
Washington corridor, which should line up nicely with the completion of the TIP project. Expect
this segment to take the bulk of new trees for one planting season.
River-Cross
+See recommended planting locations excel sheet.
River road is in need of roughly 35 trees, and there is a need for additional trees on Cross St. as
well. Tom Dederian has recommended specific species in some places, and the size of trees in
others. Two to three planting seasons (1 to 1.5 years) of planting will be needed to fully plant
this corridor at current planting rates.
Conclusion:
Winthrop is in need of a significant amount of additional public trees which will provide
numerous benefits to the town. Currently the DPW has the resources to plant roughly 25 street
trees per planting season, translating to 50 a year. This includes donated trees (trees can be
donated for $350) and town-led tree planting efforts. Meanwhile it is much more expensive to
outsource tree planting, with a cost in excess of $1,500 per tree. There is therefore a capacity
constraint as to how rapidly Winthrop can replenish its canopy. Winthrop should continue to
focus on mass plantings along the main travel corridors in the short term to maximize the
impact and benefit of town funds, while continuing to both plan neighborhood and park tree
plantings, and to seek funding, donations, and partnerships for those plantings.
Proposed Edits:
1) Landmark Tree: Addition to definition to include: Any public tree with a DBH of 18 inches
or greater shall automatically be designated a Landmark Tree.
a. The town has not yet designated any trees as Landmark Trees, this will
automatically designated Winthrop’s largest public trees as Landmark Trees.
2) Added Language in Activities Requiring A Permit: No tree work/removal permit shall be
issued unless one of the following conditions exists, and such permit shall only allow for
a scope of work necessary to address the reason for the permit.
a. Added clarity of scope of work to be done.
3) Removal of Public Trees: Addition of new 2™ sentence: Therefore, a Landmark Tree may
not be removed for any non-Town purpose.
a. Protection against removal of Significant Trees at request of private parties, but
allows for removal by the town.
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: 617-846-1852
James Letterie
Town Council President
MOTION
TEXT OF MOTION
Submitted By: Council President Date: 2-11-25
Subject: Memorials Committee
TEXT OF MOTION
The Town Council votes to approve the Memorials Committee recommendation of the
following:
Street Sign for Gunnery Sgt. Arthur Lyng
Street Sign for PFC Harold “Huck” Evans
Street Sign for LTCR Robert DeGregorio, Sr.
Add Coach Robert DeFelice to Miller Field
Winthrop Memorials Committee oa
Agenda
Date: 1/28/2025_ Times:6:00 Location: Veterans Office
E.B. Newton School Winthrop, MA
Members present:
1, Phil Ronan
2 Rose Mazzuchelli
3 Judi Buono
Others present: Gus Martucci
Robert DeGregorio, Jr
Mark DeGregorio
Topics of Discussion: (Attach Agenda) V | - :
1. Memorial street sign for Gunnery Sgt. Arthur Lyng J ) AG yu re
2. Memorial street sign for PFC. Harold "Huck" Evans, i
3. Memorial street sign for LTCR. Robert DeGregorio, Sr
4. Add Coach Robert DeFelice to Miller Field
Motions made/by whom:
1. Phil Ronan
2. Rose Mazzuchelli
3. Phil Ronan
4. Rose Mazzuchelli
2.
Votes Taken: Unanimous by all members 3-0 to approve memorial will be
forwarded to Town Council for approval_
Misc. Notes
HI.
Chair signature Phil ronan del Konan