Minutes

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TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 18, 2026 
President Letterie calls the meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Harvey Hearing Room 
ROLL CALL 
Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Romano,
Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie 
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE- Vice President Swope 
MOMENT OF SILENCE 
Frank Clifford 
GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
None 
PUBLIC COMMENT
John Morgan P4 -Comments that if you are not a frequent bus driver on 712, MBTA has moved 2 bus stops
without any notification of this change given to the public. Asks this to be reviewed. 
Marci Hamilton P2- Comments after sitting through presentations on Tileston, Girdlestone and Pico, she is
asking the Town Council and Town Manager to appropriate funds for this project. Asks that on the next agenda
the money for the funding is on the next agenda. 
Tom Derderian P3- Bad news on dead trees opposing a danger and had to be removed. There are many trees
where tops are dead, due to not enough nutrients and on their way out. Our mission is to replace them. It is also
disconcerting is the number of tree removal companies working on private properties removing trees. We are
having a net loss in tree coverage, we must consider this. We will be getting close to 4 trees and he asks the
public to consider helping to plant them. We have to figure out a way to find the way to get more funding for
trees. 
Jack Dowd P4- Comments that at last meeting gave out pictures of seawalls. Looks like more than 7 miles of
seawalls. He comments that he was told he could not mention sea walls as it was not on the agenda, but a
presentation made mentioned sea walls, therefor it was allowed. He believes there is a lack of critical thinking
and what should and should not be thought about. 
Erin Barcello P5 -Comments on a correspondence she was given. Invites all to attend them on the bridge. 
CORRESPONDENCE 
Scott Mahoney Wright would like the Town Councilors and Town Manager to consider complying with MBTA
3A 
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Rules & Ordinance-August 13, 2026 
Councilor Millar reports on Rules & Ordinance Meeting discussing the items on the agenda
Councilor Romano submitted a request, he asked if he wanted it reviewed or brought back to the council
he wanted to bring back to the council.
Section 10 Councilor requested a Rule Change that the Rules & Ordinance Committee asked him to defer to the
Town Attorney for an interpretation of the request.
Two Items were submitted for new re-appointment application for members
Motion voted unanimously to continue dissolving the Rules & Ordinance Committee. 
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 18, 2026, PAGE 1

Vice President Swope requests that the zoom information be added to the Agenda. 
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Please see attached Town Manager Report- 
Town Manager Marino reviews his report and is open to any questions
Comments on the Grand View Sea Wall and have received bids, Town Council President asks who the low
bidder was and Town Manager replies Jeans Helping Hand out of Newton.
Asks how many bids on the Fire Station, Town Manager replies we have received 7 total bids.
Councilor Tassinari congrats the Town Manager and Staff on our Rating Letter. 
OLD BUSINESS 
Town Council President Requesting a Public Comment Answer Period to Previous Public Comments/Questions- 
(In discussion with Rules & Ordinance, they voted but did not propose a motion as of yet. Councilor
Romano remembers that Rules & Ordinance wanted to implement this and try out, that was Rules & Ordinance
Recommendation)
Town Council President asks if we would like to implement this prior and research.
If the council choses, he will entertain a motion to have a two month period where we are able to address
questions during public comment and if not, have answers by the next meeting. 
Motion by Councilor Millar to allow Council President to answer questions during public comment for a
two month trial period
2 nd by Councilor Dimes
Discussion 
Vice President Swope asks if this includes questions that we received during correspondence? Council President
states the committee would have to look into this
Councilor Tassinari, asks if he envisioned it being a Q&A or answer, how long would this be? Council President
expresses if it is a quick answer, it will be answered if not, it will be brought back to the next agenda. It will not
be a “ back and forth ” . Councilor Romano agrees
Councilor Millar points out that at any point the Town Council President can answer any questions but the
purpose is not to let questions be asked and never be answered. This puts a strict policy that the public will have
their answers. 
Motion is Voted on Unanimously
Motion Passes 
Town Council Discussion Deletion of the Rules & Ordinance Sub Committee 
One-Way on Court Road
Ordinance Amendment 17.52.030 Use Variance Required notice was inadvertently not 
Tree Ordinance Amendment 17.44.60 Section G advertised within the statutory timeframe 
Small Commercial Vehicle Allowance for Resident Parking Sticker ( Currently in discussion R&O ) 
Motion to Amend Town Council Rules & Procedures (In Committee- Rules & Ordinance) 
Small Commercial Vehicle Allowance for Resident Parking Sticker ( Currently in discussion R&O )
NEW BUSINESS
Town Council appropriates the sum of ($1,500,000) to pay costs of water main replacement at
Winthrop St, including costs incidental or related thereto 
DPW Director explains this funding
Vice President Swope asks for more information
Water main replacement from Magee ’ s Corner to Metcalf Sq. 
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 18, 2026, PAGE 2

Councilor Tassinari asks if restoring of roads, included, DPW Director states at this point, yes 
Council President refers to the Finance Committee
New Committee Appointment – This was sent to the Council late for this agenda but does have an appointment
for the Board of Appeals. He did circulate an application on a member for the Board of Appeals as there has been
quorum issues, we can vote or send to the Committee on Committees. 
Motion by Council President to appoint Scott Bocchio to the Board of Appeals Committee 
Councilor Millar asks that on the Board of Appeal there are certain time limits and if no quorum will this put us
at risk with time frames?
Council President answers, yes. He is aware of this certain applicant and asks Town Councilors to consider
appointing.
Councilor Romano requests the Town Council to wait, he would like more time to investigate and understand the 
“ time crunch ” but requests more time.
This is put off until next meeting. 
Town Council discuss deletion of Taxi Ordinances 5.28.130 & 5.28.140 (Taxi Fares)
Council President refers this to Rules & Ordinance
MINUTES
Motion by Councilor Tassinari to Approve the Minutes of August 4, 2026, as circulated.
2 nd by Councilor Finn
Motion Passed Unanimously
DISCUSSION-TOWN COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN 
Council President opens discussion on strategic planning and this will be continued. He has reviewed a company
that is more involved with Strategic Planning, Community Paradigm who also was involved with the Town
Manager Review and Hiring and would like to consider this company as they can offer information to our
council on Strategic Planning.
Looking for direction in terms of projects, what needs to be prioritized, infrastructure, flooding, schools,
maintenance … what ever interest is by the Town Council.
Town Manager reports a great document to review is the WIN 2030 Vision for a template or guideline.
Vice President thought project was to expand on this review and plan, or the Town Council could decide upon
another plan.
Council President opens up for discussion as for what our long term goals would be for certain projects … . 
Councilor Finn discusses the Old Middle School Gym and if any money has been appropriated for this? 
Councilor Reardon understands the need for work on the rink but is concerned with parking spots which leads
into parking especially in the CBD. 
Councilor Tassinari considered the zoning on the CBD and making more restrictive could be a liability for the
town. We need more information from Town Attorney. 
Councilor Romano would like Town to look more into Hazard Mitigation from Massport, maybe ways to be
more creative to get mitigation. Interested in the Yirrel Beach Plan and keep working over the winter with this. 
Councilor Dimes would like consideration on the flooding areas and did research on a strategic plan for a sea
wall study, who owns, who is responsible for the upkeep. Considers the new park opening from the new Fire
Station and what we could promote with this. 
Councilor Millar is interested in a more defined marketing plan for our town. The IT Infrastructure has to be
considered for newer technology. Work with businesses to see why some close, what do we need to help these
businesses? 
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 18, 2026, PAGE 3

Councilor Tassinari discusses in terms of the town vision there are places that we can all mutually agree on the
fact that if we build something in town it brings in more traffic and we cannot sustain it. This makes economic
development difficult. Short Beach over to Revere Sea wall is in current discussion and this is not our wall to
touch. There is a funding source, there is $50,000,000 earmarked for Winthrop but because we are in non
compliance with MBTA 3A we are not going to be able to receive. As soon as we make a decision on this, we
could request some of this funding. 
Councilor Costigan discusses a pool for the town. Maybe a sports complex as Councilor Finn discussed, this
would be advantageous for our young and old. The High School could have a swim team. These are bold
visions. The Youth needs a place to go . Would like a restrictive height in the CBD, parking must be reviewed.
The Flooding issues must be addressed. 
Vice President Swope considers the discipline of resource allocation. We all have ideas but we do have to come
down to a set of priorities and budgeting. Priorities are very important. There are many things we want and need
and do no have funding. Everything our Councilors have discussed must be considered. Also we need a plan
system that in the future whoever sits in these chair, here is a system for them to follow and where the priorities
are. What are we going to commit to, what don ’ t we have and we need and if there is funding a discussion on
where to apply the funding, what is best for our Town. Where do we want to be in 5-10 years?
Council President considers the Tileston, Girdlestone ,Pico flooding areas that must be resolved. Discusses what
each Councilor presented and how to proceed with these. He discusses the Fire Station and at some point we will
have to look at new police station or something available to upkeep what they currently have.
Believes this is an incredible start and proud of this beginning. Asks how council would like to continue this
discussion.
Councilor Romano would like to look more into Community Paradigm and figure schedule for further discussion
then. Council President agrees and maybe have this company come and make a presentation. Maybe in a
September meeting.
Thanks all for their preparation. 
PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS
8-22-26 TO 8-27-26 Early Voting for 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 
Farmers Market have done an incredible job and vendors have been fantastic.
ADJOURNMENT
With no Further business for the Town Council, the Town Council President Adjourns
Meeting at 8:00 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 18, 2026, PAGE 4