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Town Meeting members approved a modest pension boost for retired town employees and advanced several infrastructure projects last Thursday night during the second session of Winchester’s Fall 2025 Town Meeting, while deferring a controversial proposal to change the rules that govern how the meeting itself operates.
The three-hour session, held Nov. 6 in the Winchester High School auditorium, saw spirited debate over Article 26, which sought to raise the cost-of-living adjustment base for retirees, and Article 15, which proposed replacing Robert’s Rules of Order with “Town Meeting Time,” a parliamentary guide written specifically for New England towns.
Members also endorsed funding for two major public works projects and approved bylaw updates recommended by the Committee on Government Regulations.
Retiree COLA increase passes
In one of the evening’s most closely watched votes, Town Meeting approved Article 26 by a count of 102–45, raising the base on which annual retiree cost-of-living adjustments are calculated from $14,000 to $16,000. The change will increase the maximum annual benefit from $420 to $480 per retiree and will cost the Winchester Contributory Retirement System about $15,000 in its first year.
The Retirement Board argued the increase was overdue and fair, noting that Winchester’s base has not been raised in more than a decade and lags behind the statewide average of $15,755.
Opponents, including the Finance Committee and Select Board, warned that the change would add roughly $2 million to the town’s long-term pension liability and extend the timeline for reaching full funding from 2027 to 2028.
Select Board Chair Michelle Prior cautioned that even small increases in benefits have lasting fiscal consequences.
Several members countered that the adjustment was both affordable and overdue.
“It’s about fairness and dignity,” said Precinct 4 member Robert O’Donnell, urging passage.
The measure required only a simple majority and passed comfortably after a standing vote.
Infrastructure investments move forward
Earlier in the evening, Town Meeting backed two key capital measures recommended by the Capital Planning Committee.
Under Article 9, members authorized $1.237 million for the East Side Sewer Rehabilitation Project, which aims to repair and line aging pipes to prevent stormwater infiltration into the town’s sanitary sewer system.
The funding will come primarily through a low-interest loan from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, with the potential for partial grant reimbursement.
Article 10 authorized $600,000 for engineering and construction of a new pressure-reducing valve on Wildwood Street, replacing infrastructure that dates to 1963. Of that total, only about $167,000 will be borrowed; the rest will come from unused funds from previous water and sewer projects.
Both articles passed with little discussion.
Capital Planning Chair Roger McPeek noted that the projects address “core infrastructure that residents rarely see but depend on every day.”
Debate on parliamentary rules
The night’s liveliest exchange came under Article 15, which proposed changing Winchester’s bylaw to make Town Meeting Time: A Handbook of Parliamentary Law the official guide for Town Meeting, replacing Robert’s Rules of Order.
Moderator Philip Frattaroli explained that the Roberts Rules of Order Study Committee, established last spring, had found Town Meeting Time to be more accessible and tailored to Massachusetts town governance. The committee argued the change would make procedures clearer to both members and the public.
Opponents expressed concern about departing from a well-known national standard. Some members feared that switching manuals could cause confusion or require additional bylaw adjustments.
After more than 30 minutes of debate, members voted 79–68 to refer the article to a new study committee rather than adopt it outright. Frattaroli said he welcomed the continued discussion.
Bylaw housekeeping
Members also approved updates to Chapters 1 and 2 of the town’s bylaws under Articles 16 and 17, part of the ongoing decennial review conducted by the Committee on Government Regulations.
The revisions modernize definitions, clarify voting standards, and remove references to two defunct committees — the Human Services Committee and Equal Opportunity Committee. They also require that financial articles seeking appropriations include cost estimates and a statement of purpose for Finance Committee review.
COGR Chair Steve Boksanski said the updates “make our bylaws more transparent, easier to navigate and consistent with current practices.”
Other actions
Members also voted to indefinitely postpone a proposed wetlands bylaw update (Article 19) following concerns raised by residents and abutters about its potential scope and cost.
Later in the evening, Town Meeting approved a $51,000 transfer from free cash to fund additional custodial support at the newly opened Lynch Elementary and expanded McCall Middle School, both of which require more maintenance staffing than originally budgeted.
Just before 10 p.m., Frattaroli thanked members for their engagement and announced the meeting would reconvene Monday, Nov. 10, to take up the remaining articles, including Community Preservation Act allocations and housing-related measures.
