Table of Contents
The Winchester Town Meeting Members Association (TMMA) supports informed discussion and decision-making for Town Meeting members. Its monthly Bulletin shares brief updates from town boards and commissions about their current work. Winchester News will publish each Bulletin as it’s released so all residents can stay informed. Winchester News has not edited this content.
Select Board Spring Town Meeting Update
The Select Board held its annual hearing on water rates on Monday and voted to propose a 7% increase for FY27. This will be brought to Spring Town Meeting. The Board also approved outdoor dining applications for seven restaurants; the outdoor dining season begins in early May. The Board is also sponsoring or co-sponsoring articles to establish a Human Rights Commission, install solar panels, and purchase a K-5 literacy curriculum, among other articles this spring. —Anthea Brady, Chair, Select Board
School Committee Reduces FY27 Budget by $2.3M for Spring Town Meeting
At its March 26 meeting, the School Committee made the difficult decision to reduce its FY27 budget request to Spring Town Meeting by $2.3 million following the failed override. The Budget Subcommittee will present recommended cuts at the April 2 meeting.
The Committee also adopted the Elementary Literacy Team’s recommendation of Arts & Letters as a new curriculum—a critical step forward. Startup costs for the new program will go to Town Meeting as a separate article; however, due to cost constraints, funding essential literacy teacher supports and assessment tools will be challenging. —Stefanie Mnayarji, Vice Chair, School Committee
Planning Board Begins Work on Fall 2026 Bylaw Amendments
Though the Planning Board will have no warrant articles for Spring Town Meeting, it is beginning work on changes to the zoning bylaws for the fall meeting. That work begins at its April 7 meeting, where the Board will meet with its consultants, CommunityScale of Cambridge, to align expectations on the project.
The consultants’ assignment is to modernize and clarify the bylaw language for greater consistency and accessibility. Their work will be completed by June 30, after which the Board will decide on final changes and begin sharing them with Town Meeting members, aiming for adoption in the fall. —Jack LeMenager, Clerk, Planning Board
CPC Spring Town Meeting News
The Capital Planning Committee (CPC) wishes to recognize the conclusion of Helen Philliou’s tenure after over 30 years of service as a Town Meeting, Finance Committee, and CPC member/chair. Her wisdom and grace have been our North Star; she leaves enormous shoes for new member Jason Roeder to fill.
Regarding the warrant, the failed override requires withdrawing Article 31 for Town Hall renovation design. However, because McCall and Ambrose roof bids were significantly under budget, we can now fully fund the Town Hall roof and bell tower repairs. This allows us to secure the building’s envelope using existing surpluses. This work was delayed due to significantly higher costs for the library roof portion of that project. —Roger McPeek, Chair, CPC
COGR Adopts Rules
The Committee on Government Regulations (COGR) has officially adopted a set of rules based on the language in the Town Charter, Article 8, Section 8-5(h), and the Bylaws, Article 4, Section 4.3. The purpose of the rules is to help standardize processes, fill in any gray areas, and provide a guide for future COGR members. Key elements include details on the review process, standards of review, and written reports. A copy of the rules has been shared with the Town Clerk for posting and is available upon request. —Stephen A. Boksanski, Chair, COGR
Fields Management Committee Update
The FMC met on March 26 and will meet again on April 23. Lauren Herrman and Michael Creane will work with members to create a Town Meeting presentation. Trending topics include:
- Financial awareness of grass and turf funds
- Status of projects underway, including those supported by the Winchester Committee on Community Preservation (WCCP)
- Partnerships with field users, including the emerging Winchester Youth Football effort led by David and Mai Harrison
- Coordination with the Conservation Commission on project goals
- Engaging partners to improve awareness of field conditions and potential WCCP support
- Reviewing fee schedules and seeking Select Board approval if changes are proposed
—Michael Creane, Chair, FMC
Follow the Conversation
Visit TMMA's Forum to read posts from Town Meeting members about Town Meeting articles and issues. To contact your Town Meeting representatives with questions or comments, visit the TMMA website for the current list.
About TMMA
The Winchester Town Meeting Members Association is a non-governmental, non-partisan association formed to help Town Meeting members stay informed about town issues and town meeting articles ahead of Town Meeting sessions.
