Minutes
Town Council · from the Town's website · 6 pages · 84 KB
open the file ↗ · original at the source ↗
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 4, 2026 CALL TO ORDER ENTER INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION Executive Session Pursuant to G.L. c.30A, §21(a) (3) To discuss strategy with respect to Litigation as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the Negotiation Position of the public body if the chair so declares. Motion to Enter into Executive Session ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie Zoom-Councilor Romano Motion Passes Motion to Adjourn Executive Session and return to Open Meeting ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie Zoom-Councilor Romano Motion Passes PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE- Councilor Tassinari MOMENT OF SILENCE David Hubbard / Bernie Costigan Council President discusses an Old Business Item, Adoption of the Hazard Mitigation that he would like to request be taken out of order. Motion by Councilor Tassinari to take the motion that the Town Council Vote to Adopt the Hazard Mitigation Plan out of order. 2 nd by Councilor Dimes ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie Zoom-Councilor Romano Motion Approved Vice President Swope discusses this Hazard Mitigation Plan and the review from the Public Health Safety & Works Committee Motion from the Public Health Safety & Works Committee with a positive recommendation that the Town Council vote to adopt the Hazard Mitigation Plan No 2 nd Needed ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie Zoom-Councilor Romano Motion Approved TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 4, 2026, PAGE 1 GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS MASSPORT- Michael Vatalaro - Sarah Dennechuk - Steve Sulprizio … (Please see presentation on Town Website- https://ma-winthrop.civicplus.com/743/MASSPORT-PRESENTATION-8-4-26 Councilor Millar believes one thing missing in all these studies is we can deaden the sound, but the vibration is still very common and constant. MINUTES Motion by Councilor Dimes to Approve the Minutes of July 21, 2026, as circulated. 2 nd by Councilor Tassinari ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie Zoom-Councilor Romano Motion Approved PUBLIC HEARING(S) PUBLIC HEARING OPEN Town Council Appropriate $1,100,000 Water Meter & Valve Replacement Project -Year 3 Discussion Councilor Tassinari reports on the Finance Committee met on this and voted with a positive recommendation. PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED Motion by Councilor Romano to suspend Town Council Rules and take this motion out of order. 2 nd by Councilor Dimes ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie Zoom-Councilor Romano Motion Approved Motion by Councilor Dimes to waive the reading. 2 nd by Councilor Finn ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie Zoom-Councilor Romano Motion Approved Motion from the Finance Committee with a positive recommendation that the Town Council Appropriate $1,100,000 Water Meter & Valve Replacement Project -Year 3 No 2 nd Needed ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie Zoom-Councilor Romano Motion Approved Continued Public Hearing Continued Taxi Fare Increase Public Hearing Opened Discussion TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 4, 2026, PAGE 2 Shawn Cluen, owner of Winthrop Taxi, expresses his need for this increase of $2.00. John Morgan P4-Discusses the hardship this will have, especially with the Seniors. Councilor Costigan asks what the prices are with Uber and Lyft Shawn Cluen answers that they can increase their prices anytime to anywhere you request. Town Council discusses the review of the current Town Ordinance of which states the Town Council reviews these Taxi Rate Fares to discuss and maybe amend this so that the Town Council does not overrule these fares for the Taxi Company Continued Taxi Fare Increase Public Hearing Closed Motion by Councilor Dimes to suspend Town Council Rules and take this motion out of order. 2 nd by Councilor Millar ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie Zoom-Councilor Romano Motion Approved Motion that the Town Council vote to increase the Taxi Fares from the Town to Town Currently of $8.00 to $10.00 (See Attached Motion) 2 nd by Councilor Dimes Discussion Motion to Amend by Councilor Romano to change the proposed fare increase from $8.00 to $9.00. 2 nd by Councilor Costigan ROLL CALL No: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope Yes: Zoom-Councilor Romano, Councilor Costigan, President Letterie Amendment Not Approved Main Motion Not Amended. ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope No: Zoom-Councilor Romano, Councilor Costigan, President Letterie Motion Approved PUBLIC COMMENT Marci Hamilton P2 Requests that the Flooding Meeting for Girdlestone and Tileston are made very public and hopes finances are found to have this work completed. Requests it is on the signage boards coming in and out of town. Celeste Ribiero Hewitt P1 -Discusses the runway schedule and concerned of the power drive being 24/7. Also noise abatement timeline is longer than it should be and there should be a better process. Mark Sennott P2 -Discussess Massport ’ s presentation and feels the volume has increased greatly with sound especially with the configuration of the new runway, had they reviewed this prior? TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 4, 2026, PAGE 3 Jack Dowd P4 -Discusses the sea wall leaving Winthrop, Beach Mont Wall (presented pictures for the record) and would like Winthrop to discuss with Revere what the future of this wall will be as they are currently undertaking an in- depth study on this wall. Chief Steve Calandra Winthrop Fire Dept.-Explains an image camera and the firefighters have not had these which would help immensely in a fire with helping find people, child under bed, people unconscious … . State Representative Turco came forward helping the Fire Dept. and cameras were ordered. He Thanks Rep. Turco. CORRESPONDENCE None COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance Committee Councilor Tassinari reports on the Finance Committee meeting. Public Health Safety & Works: Vice President Swope discusses the meeting and the review her committee had on the Hazard Mitigation Plan Rules & Ordinance Councilor Millar reports on Rules & Ordinance Meeting All Meeting Mins. can be found online. SCHOOL DEPARTMENT REPORT- Council President reports warrants were signed. UPDATE- POLICY MAKING COMMITTEES Please see attached. TOWN MANAGER REPORT Please see attached Town Manager Report- Town Manager reports Deckard Tech has been signed onto to review all Air BnB ’ s being advertised on different platforms so that they will be notified they must obtain a license from the town and follow proper procedures. Also reports an RFP has been reviewed for the Town Parking Study OLD BUSINESS Town Council Appropriate $1,100,000 Water Meter & Valve Replacement Project -Year 3- Voted Taxi Fare Increase- Voted Town Council President Requesting a Public Comment Answer Period to Previous Public Comments/Questions- Discussion in Rules & Ordinance Town Council Vote to Adopt the Hazard Mitigation Plan- Voted Town Council Discussion Deletion of the Rules & Ordinance Sub Committee- Discussion in Rules & Ordinance Town Council Discuss One-Way on Court Road- TSAC has voted with a Positive Recommendation Public Hearing will be scheduled. Town Council Discuss Stop Sign Corner Lincoln St., Brookfield Rd. & Beal St.- TSAC will revisit this subject in 90 days but will replace current faded signage. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 4, 2026, PAGE 4 Ordinance Amendment 17.52.030 Use Variance-WPB has 65 Days to report back to the Town Council of which these days have passed. Hopefully the Planning Board will return with a recommendation, but in the meantime a public hearing will be scheduled which at that time if there is no recommendation, the Town Council can vote. Tree Ordinance Amendment 17.44.60 Section G (Currently in discussion Planning Board) Small Commercial Vehicle Allowance for Resident Parking Sticker (Currently in R&O Committee) Video Recordings of Committee Meetings to be Posted ( All videos have been uploaded to WCAT You Tube Website ) Motion to Amend Town Council Rules & Procedures (Currently in R&O Committee) NEW BUSINESS Committee New /Re-Appointment-None Suspend Town Council Rules to change our Regular August 18 th Meeting to a Special Meeting with a Limited Motion by Councilor Dimes that the Town Council waive Council Rules and schedule the August 18, 2026, Meeting to be considered a Special Meeting to discuss the Town Council Strategic Plan 2 nd by Councilor Tassinari ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie Zoom-Councilor Romano Motion Approved PUBLIC COMMENT John Morgan P4- Comments on the Revere St. project, happy almost over and questions the materials of the crosswalks not being too slippery with certain materials of thermal plastic. Maybe in future these materials will not be used. DPW Director Calla comments on the One Way of Court Rd. and would like to see the One-Way, Two-Way Study added to the Parking Study. Tom Derderian P3- Comments #300 on public parking spaces and reviewed average information on a public parking space and this could bring in revenue for the town. Marci Hamilot P2- Comments on the meeting being very calm and thanks all for the respect for each other and hopes moving forward the funding for the strategic plan being made available. We must consider becoming a better partner with the State … . Public Comment Jack Dowd P4- Reads from minutes , 2 weeks ago, concerns Erin Barcello, P5 about an email sent to the Town Council on reference of procedural disputes of ongoing drama. She asks, “ what is going to happen ” , “ how can this be resolved to not have to happen tonight ” It ’ s a very personal issue for me, these comments because he states that a few months ago, he was standing outside and was accosted by people yielding flashlights in his face. It is against the law to blind someone with lighting. Blinded by lighting you are left unprotected. So, the ongoing drama talked about at the last meeting, “ how can this be resolved. ” You can resolve the drama by telling Erin and the other person that they blinded me both sitting in the audience. To resolve this matter is for these two people to stay home. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 4, 2026, PAGE 5 Councilor Tassinari asks what the Charter, the Council or even the public meeting law states about aggressively discouraging participation by regular citizens in a public meeting. He requests the Town Attorney to investigate this, and he would like to request a detailed officer present for the remainder of the meetings while we have that kind of aggressive discouragement or participation. Council President asks the Town Manager of the next phase of the Revere St. Tips Project Cynthia Hastings P3 -Comments that DCR has given the town two beach wheelchairs which are available at the DCR beach building. PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS 8-11-26 5:30 PM — Public Meeting-Girdlestone/Tileston Drainage Project 8-22-26 TO 8-27-26 Early Voting-State Primary 9-1-26 Location will be in Town Hall-Normal Business Hours 8-29-26 Deer Island 12-3PM -Accessible Adventures-Commission on Disability ADJOURNMENT With no Further business for the Town Council, the Town Council President Adjourns Meeting at 8:45 PM 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 AUGUST 4, 2026, PAGE 6