Table of Contents
Here is a roundup about what’s going on in town from reports and agenda items.
The Winchester Health Department has one final flu clinic date on November 8 at the Jenks Center. Prior registration is required at https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/winchester-vaccine?site=winchester-public-flu-clinics
Pursuant to Winchester joining the Minuteman Regional Household Hazardous Collaborative, there will be a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9:00-2:00 at the Minuteman Household Hazardous Product Collection Facility at 60 Hartwell Ave in Lexington. Pre-Registration is required (and closes 48 hours prior) and proof of registration is necessary to enter. To register please go to https://acv-test-forms.formstack.com/forms/minuteman
The Transfer Station will hold its fall leaf collection from 12:00-4:00 (for leaves only) on the following Sundays: November 5, November 12, November 19 and November 26. A valid Transfer Station Permit is required.
Currently, the Lake Street Bridge is scheduled to reopen the week of December 4. Delivery of the delayed precast culvert sections is currently scheduled for November 13 and 14. The contractor is actively working to improve the delivery date, which could allow the bridge to reopen before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Paving and pavement markings are complete for the Transfer Station renovation. Eversource will continue its work on Cross Street through the fall construction period. The bid opening for the Lynch School project is scheduled for November 17. Ristorante Serena, an Italian restaurant, is looking to open at 831 Main Street where Mitho Restaurant used to be located. The Select Board voted to approve an All Liquor License for the establishment after a hearing at their meeting on October 30.
Town Manager, Beth Rudolph, received an updated appraisal for the embattled property at 20 Glenwood Ave. To read the appraisal go here: https://www.winchester.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/4628?fileID=14082 The appraisal uses the Sales Comparison Approach. The appraiser was also informed by Town Counsel that the current home is uninhabitable and having been vacant for over two years, the non-conformance of the property that was allowed to exist had been extinguished thereby requiring variances to build. The likelihood of obtaining variances was quoted as “doubtful” and “speculative”. The property was therefore appraised as unbuildable. The appraisal was listed as $50,000.
However, the appraisal did not consider a buyer or owner ready and willing to build pursuant to 40B and that benefit to the Town. It also did not consider the value of the benefit to the abutter, who has made an offer of $40,000, which was indicated as low by the appraiser. Said abutter’s lot would be increased in size (once 20 Glenwood is added to its lot) such that the new square footage would allow a duplex to be buildable as of right. This was confirmed by a letter from the Planning Board Chair, Diab Jerius, dated Oct. 28.
The Select Board voted unanimously to amend Article 18 of the Fall Town Meeting Warrant. Article 18 is about appropriating funds to pay for the costs of acquisition and installation (direct purchase) of solar panels and solar panel canopies on or in the vicinity of the new Lynch Elementary School. The originally printed article requests the appropriation of $3.1 million with $300,000 from free cash and the authority to borrow $2.8 million. The successful motion amends the article to increase funding to $3.5 million with $300,000 from free cash and authorization to borrow $3.2 million.
Town Manager, Beth Rudolph, will hold the Town Manager’s Public Hearing on the Fall Town Meeting Warrant Articles (not previously discussed at a Public Hearing) on Wednesday, November 1 at 6:30. The meeting will be held remotely and pre-registration can be done here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Pq9gIoj9TVmd1FEwJVg0RA
The Planning Board will be hosting two North Main Street and MBTA 3A Rezoning Information Sessions. The first, an Introduction to the Zoning Initiatives will be held November 2 from 7:00-8:30 and pre-registration for the online meeting can be done at https://bit.ly/WinchesterZoning1 The second, an Interactive Zoning Workshop will be held in person at the Jenks Center on November 21 from 7:00-8:30.
