Paul Brennan

This presentation outlines the design phase of the Downtown Improvement Project in Winchester. The project focuses on enhancing the town center, specifically Main Street between the rotary and the dam, the rotary itself, and the intersection of Waterfield Road and Thompson Street. Key objectives include improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers; enhancing the quality of life through better walkability, accessibility, and comfort; supporting economic development for downtown businesses; preserving historic items and heritage; and upgrading infrastructure, including streets, sidewalks, and lighting. The plan emphasizes traffic calming measures, pedestrian safety, placemaking opportunities, and maintaining parking, while also exploring options for tree retention/replacement and connections to the Tri-Community Greenway.

The Town Manager's hearing addressed warrant articles not subject to other scheduled hearings, such as those for the Planning Board and Finance Committee. Key discussions involved hearing reports of town officers (Article 1), consideration of articles regarding failure of town meeting members to attend sufficient meetings (Article 2), reports from the Planning Board (Article 3), and various funding transfers. Significant financial discussions included transferring funds from free cash to various departmental budgets (Article 8), transferring funds from water and sewer retained earnings (Article 7), and appropriating funds for the Lake Street Bridge replacement project (Article 13), which required additional funding due to higher-than-expected construction costs. The committee also reviewed funding for engineering services related to traffic improvements for the Lynch School Elementary project (Article 14), funding for flood mitigation project maintenance along the Arizona River (Article 15), and appropriation of funds from free cash to supplement the Eversource account for consulting services related to transmission line construction (Article 16). Finally, Article 17 addressed the appropriation of funds contributed by Eversource for traffic calming measures along the 345 KB project route.

The agenda for the upcoming Select Board meeting includes action items for the acceptance of various donations and grants, and the appointment of five new firefighters. The Comptroller is scheduled to present a financial report for the period ending December 31, 2025. A public hearing is scheduled for the installation of a new utility pole at 955 Main Street. License actions include approving alterations to the premises for 30 Church Street and approving an update to the Officers/Directors list for the Sons of Italy. Business items cover committee appointments, including one for the Capital Planning Committee, a discussion on parking restrictions for Comella's Restaurant, discussion of a proposed operational override, and planning for an upcoming Special Town Meeting on February 9. The Board will also discuss setting up a Human Rights Commission Working Group and receive updates on the Washington/Swanton project and the status of the overnight parking pilot program. Operational updates detail the Town Manager's onboarding activities, including meetings with various department heads, and discussions regarding Eversource emergency repair work and preparations for anticipated snowfall.

The combined meetings covered several critical operational and capital updates. Key discussions included the approval of promotional staff appointments, which involved a vote to waive the statutory waiting period, and updates on the Fall Town Meeting schedule, including warrant deadlines. Extensive updates were provided on numerous construction and capital projects such as the Muraco School Life Extension, Lynch School Solar Completion, South Reservoir Dam Restoration, and various roof and concrete floor repairs across town buildings. The Board addressed operational matters including the transition to a new recycling vendor and updates on yard waste processing. Appointments to various committees and commissions were made, and the Board granted approvals for One Day Liquor Licenses and applications for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding support for the Borggaard Beach and 160 Forest Street applications. Furthermore, the Board reviewed updates on the PERAC actuarial valuation for the retirement system and discussed the DPW Worker Union Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which was approved. A Public Hearing was held regarding an Eversource conduit installation request, and another regarding an alcohol license for Nouvelle Maison. In business discussions, the Board addressed an appeal concerning the peer review designation for a zoning application, ultimately suggesting the Zoning Board of Appeals consider a different consultant despite finding no statutory conflict of interest. The Board also reviewed and discussed potential Fall Town Meeting articles, including funding for culvert repairs and the transfer of control for 160 Forest Street to the Affordable Housing Trust.

The meeting commenced with preliminary motions addressing seating arrangements for non-members, the Finance Committee, and the Town Clerk/designee during the meeting sessions. Other preliminary motions authorized the Moderator to permit various town officials and petitioners to sit at the front during relevant article considerations, set adjourned sessions for subsequent Monday and Thursday evenings, made action on appropriations contingent upon compliance with M.G.L. Chapter 59, Section 21C (the 2-1/2 Tax Limitation), and permitted cable television coverage. Article 1 involved hearing reports from Town Officers and the Finance Committee regarding the state of the Town and the Budget Outlook for Fiscal Year 2020 and beyond. The background materials indicated that expenditures have exceeded revenues, necessitating discussion around an operating override to maintain services, schools, and capital needs, as Winchester has not enacted an override in the last decade.