Minutes
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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 7, 2025 President Letterie calls the meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Harvey Hearing Room ROLL CALL TOWN COUNCIL Present: Councilor Aiello, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Swope, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Absent: Councilor Daros PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilor Swope MOMENT OF SILENCE Richard DiMento Richard Bangs MINUTES Motion by Councilor DeMarco to Approve the Minutes of September 16, 2025, as circulated. 2 nd by Councilor Swope Motion Passed GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Recognition of Veterans Breakfast: Gabriella Blamer & Carmen Bauer Citation: Former Fire Chief Scott Wiley PUBLIC HEARING Public Hearing Opened Comcast: Madison and Winthrop St. Underground Conduit Comcast Rep. discusses adding Comcast Services to 210-214 Winthrop St. Discussion Director of DPW Sees no conflicts with this but will continue to review with Comcast Public Hearing Closed PUBLIC COMMENT John Morgan P4-October is White Cane Awareness Month Mr. Jaffrey-Requests more pickle ball courts in town. Marci Hamilton P2- Requests information on how the town is going to help the flooding areas in Winthrop. Something has to be done not just temporarily but a permanent plan. Kim Dimes P2- Thanks all that participated in the Fishermen’s Bend coast clean up, a big success. Joe Romano P3 -Thanks the Town Council for their work on the ADU Ordinance. Erin Barcello’s P5- Asks for another citizen about the no parking signs on River Rd. CORRESPONDENCE- Received None COMMITTEE REPORTS Rules & Ordinance-Vice President Belcher reports the committee is reviewing on parking ordinances and the Council Rules & Procedures FHBC -Demolition and Asbestos Removal Contract was awarded. Discussions will begin when the construction site will begin at the Old Middle School building. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 7, 2025, PAGE 1 SCHOOL DEPARTMENT REPORT Council President not able to attend, but reports there is still ongoing negotiations with the Teachers Union. UPDATE POLICY MAKING COMMITTEES- None to Update TOWN MANGER REPORT- Please see attached copy of report. Council President reports he has talked to the Town Manager about the Pickle Ball Courts and is looking into installing new courts for use. DPW Director Calla reports that there will be notices posted for No Parking on River Rd. today and neighbors will be made aware. Councilor Aiello asked about a pickle ball games during the winter. Asks if there is a final decision on the pricing of Zoom at the Sr. Center Requests information on the Tree cut on Shirley St. (Information is posted on website) Wants all to know that when a public tree is removed illegally, party will be held responsible. Requests the email exchange between the Board of Registrars and Sec.of State be posted on the Town Website. Councilor Aiello make a motion to appeal Council Presidents decision that only Town Manager Report information should be discussed during the Town Managers Report 2 nd by Councilor Tassinari Discussion Councilor Tassinari discusses that no items can be put on the agenda since the Town Council President makes final decision. He requests that all Recall Process be put on the website. Also requests that the Town Council should be able to discuss more than just the Town Managers Report, especially since nothing is allowed on the agenda, particularly any Recall information. Town Council President reiterates that the rules for the Town Managers Report were established over a year ago. He also questions reasonings for some things to be put on website while other things are not requested to be put on website. Reports that Recall information could not be put on the agenda as it was going through a court process. The Town Manager reports this was in litigation and believes another filing may be occurring. Councilor Aiello takes offense that if Council President agree with something, it is due to an election time, he is disappointed that there is no transparency and believes the Town Council President makes things difficult. Council President reiterates he does not make things difficult, there is a process, which he did not create. Roll Call Vote on Motion Yes: Councilor Aiello, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher No : Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Costigan, Councilor Swope, President Letterie Tied Vote-Motion Does Not Pass Council Vice President requests update on Short Term Rentals and Accessory Dwelling Unit Town Manager reports process is to go through the Board of License. Councilor Costigan inquiries about the Memorial Tree in front of the Old Middle School. The Town Manager reports the tree should not be moved too far, the tree warden is considering Ingleside park. Councilor Tassinari asks if there has been a request on the $2,000,000 Earmarked from Chapter 150 of the Act of 2024. Town Manager will make request. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 7, 2025, PAGE 2 Hopes trucks that are made bigger are not sent through Winthrop as the bump out in front of 90 Degrees may not admit a smooth drive. Worried trucks would have to go into the other lane to make turn. Discussed that it is great the angle in the slopes could be changed. Looks forward to discussing the trees that were removed. OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Town appropriates the sum of $1,100,000 (1) to pay costs to replace water meters -Referred to the Finance Committee by Council President COMCAST Installation- Referred to the Public Health & Safety Committee by Council President Motion by Councilor Tassinari to waive Council Rules and Re-schedule November Town Council Meetings from Nov. 4 th to Nov. 5 th and Nov. 18 th . Leave as regular scheduled meeting. 2 nd by Councilor Swope Discussion Motion by Councilor Tassinari to amend the date from Nov. 5 th to Nov. 12 th , 2025 2 nd by Vice President Belcher Discussion Vice President Belcher not available on the 12 th Amended Motion is Withdrawn by Councilor Tassinari Main Motion is Passed Appointment(s)- Motion by Councilor Swope to accept the appointment of Carol Mietzch to the Aviation & Nautical Committee 2 nd by Vice President Belcher Discussion Councilor Aiello requests Town Council Privilege to table all appointments on agenda until we have clarification of the Board of Registrars behavior Debbie Chavis- Board of License- Tabled Andrea DeSouza-Council on Aging Tabled PUBLIC COMMENTS Lee Foley has questions on the procedures of the Board of Registrars and how a Recall Meeting was called… Questions that they may have discussed the meeting prior Paul Reardon had reached out to Sec. of State Office previously. Discusses further information pertaining to this issue Asks why after a meeting that should not have been scheduled, Diana Viens issued a statement she was having a campaign event for Paul Reardon, who is on the Board of Registrars Jack Dowd P2- Asks that people stand up to be heard and asked about microphones in room and can they be made lower to be heard better on WCAT? He is navigating to keep green space green and is not in agreement of more pickle ball courts being put in Ingleside Park. Asks if the dirt will be graded and hydroseeded when construction begins on the Old Middle School? Marci Hamilton P2 -Requests something on the Agenda on the Shelter in Place Policy. Please join the Trunk or Treat Event Celeste Ribeiro Hewitt P1- Revisits the request to post FOIA requests…would like to see posted for a variety of reasons. Max Tassinari P1 -Removes himself from the Town Council Table and requests a public request that he requested on Sept. 9, 2025 be addressed. Discusses emails during Sept. 6 th to the 9 th and would like a copy. He asks on an email that was sent and said“ Denise is not making unilateral decisions” who was making decision? Mark Sennott P2-Discusses that it is very important that with an ADU, the should be a policy on asphalting a driveway. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 7, 2025, PAGE 3 PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS October 15, 2025 White Cane Awareness October 15, 2025 October 15, 2025-Walden St. Dedication-Jerry DeFranza October 21, 2025 Public Forum-Sr. Center 7:00 PM (Town Council Meeting will begin at 6:00 PM) October 21, 2025 Mass Port Presentation Polling Locations- Precincts 1-2-3-5-6 will be voting at the Winthrop High School Precinct 4 will be at Golden Dr. Last Day to register to vote is Oct. 25, 2025 ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Vice President Belcher at 7:35 pm 2 nd by Councilor DeMarco Roll Call Vote Yes: Councilor Aiello, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Swope, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie, Councilor DaRos (Zoom) No: Councilor Costigan Motion Passes -Meeting is Adjourned 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 OCTOBER 7, 2025, PAGE 4