Table of Contents
Preferred contact method:
brianvernaglia@gmail.com
What experiences and perspectives would you contribute to Town Meeting?
I grew up in town, attended Winchester Public Schools, and returned to raise my family here while completing my Ph.D. I have spent the last fifteen years in local government, serving on numerous different elected and appointed boards. I have served the school community in the PTOs, school councils, and on the School Committee. Additionally I helped steward our finances as member of the Finance Committee for eight years. I currently serve as the Chair of the Planning Board and Vice Chair of the Capital Planning Committee. I strive to stay informed on all the issues facing Winchester residents.
What are two or three issues facing Winchester that you think are most important and what are your positions on them?
1. Financial stability for our town and our schools. We need to acknowledge that Proposition 2.5 is not sustainable, especially during highly inflationary periods. This means that operating overrides are necessary from time to time to bridge the gap and maintain the level of services that our residents deserve. We face such a period now, and I support a "right-sized" override that will allow our town avoid cuts while being mindful of those in town who would be most impacted.
2. Encouraging smart growth. As a member of the Planning Board, I have seen firsthand the need to encourage commercial and residential growth, and also increase our much needed tax base. Streamlining our zoning bylaw to remove unneeded bureaucracy while maintaining guardrails is crucial. Town Meeting is the body that must approve any zoning bylaw amendments I look forward to being part of those solutions.
3. Maintaining our aging capital assets. The town has identified over eighty million dollars in capital needs over the next five years, most notably essential renovations to our town hall, but only anticipates thirty million dollars in available funding. As a member of the Capital Planning Committee, every year I see needed repairs that must be deferred leading to even more costly fixes in the future. Any override presented to residents must include funding for capital projects so that we can try to catchup with the backlog of critical infrastructure repairs.
What is a special challenge in your precinct that might not be faced in other precincts?
Precinct 4 is split in half. West side residents send their children to Ambrose while those on the east send their children to Lincoln. Between us is Main Street and the Symmes Corner Rotary. The chaotic nature of this rotary impacts precinct 4 residents more than most in town. The town is in the process of designing improvements to this location, and will need additional funding in order to unlock millions of dollars of state funding. I support this project to prioritize safety for our town and to help unify Precinct 4.
Why should voters elect you to represent them?
As outlined above, I have been an active member of our community my whole life, and I am committed to improving the quality of life for our neighbors. I take my role very seriously and I have never missed a session of Town Meeting, always engaging with thorough and careful preparation. I am always available to hear your concerns, and I humbly ask for your vote to continue this work.
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