Winchester Town Meeting raises retiree COLA base, debates procedural reforms
Members rejected an immediate shift in parliamentary procedure, opting instead for more study before replacing Robert’s Rules.
Will Dowd | Correspondent
Winchester Town Meeting OKs $4.4M in capital spending amid fiscal warnings
Winchester Town Meeting members approved $4.4 million in capital appropriations Monday night while receiving sobering warnings about a looming structural deficit and hearing updates on the town’s newly secured climate leader status and ongoing search for a permanent town manager. The opening session of Winchester’s Fall 2025
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane chosen as Winchester’s new town counsel
The Winchester Select Board recently voted to appoint Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane LLP as the town’s new legal counsel, concluding a monthlong search that drew three finalists and extensive board deliberation. The Quincy-based firm began its work ahead of Fall Town Meeting. Board members cited the firm’s
Chamber event spotlights Winchester’s budget pressures and override plan
Officials outlined a multiyear plan to stabilize funding through updated fees, long-term liability planning and potential new revenue streams.
Winchester Select Board interviews three firms for town counsel role
The Select Board has finished interviewing three law firms vying to become Winchester’s next town counsel, with members weighing cost control, accessibility and experience as they move toward a decision. The finalists — KP Law, Harrington Heep LLP, and Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane — each presented detailed proposals in late
Winchester swimmer completes elite Triple Crown of open water
Sean Bannon learned to swim at the Woburn Boys & Girls Club before he could remember, but nobody in his family shared his affinity for the water. His parents don’t swim. His three younger siblings dabbled, but never pursued it seriously. Yet at 23, Bannon has joined one of
Extensive stewardship plan to guide Winchester Town Forest for next decade
The Winchester Conservation Commission will host a public meeting Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. to gather feedback on a forest stewardship plan for the 29-acre Brooks Parkhurst Town Forest, the first step in a broader effort to protect and manage nearly 150 acres of conservation land across town. Consulting
Winchester volunteers clear debris blocking Wedge Pond water flow
Winchester Conservation Commission members and Friends of Wedge Pond volunteers recently worked together to remove a large pile of debris and garbage that had been clogging the entry where Horn Pond Brook flows into Wedge Pond. The team removed hundreds of pounds of debris using ropes, grappling hooks and muscle
State of Town Committee charting Winchester override strategy
Winchester’s State of the Town Committee is deep into developing a comprehensive fiscal plan that will likely include an override on the March 2026 ballot, marking the most extensive municipal planning effort since the town’s last successful override in 2019. The 25-member committee, which includes representatives from the
E-bike complaints rise in Winchester amid safety concerns
Winchester Police Lt. Frank Limoncelli says complaints about electric bikes are climbing, with collisions between e-bikes and cars among the biggest concerns. “Some of these can reach speeds of 25 to 35 miles per hour,” Limoncelli said. “At that speed, you’re going to have to pay close attention.” Select
Winchester soccer coach back on the pitch
In a letter to her “conquerors” Winchester High School Girls Varsity Soccer coach Michelle Ross told her players,“I am delighted to return to coach you and cannot wait to be back on the pitch with this amazing team.” She also thanked the girls for their love and support. Superintendent
Proposal to reform Winchester bylaw review process won’t reach Fall Town Meeting
A proposal to restructure Winchester’s decennial bylaw review process will not be considered at the 2025 Fall Town Meeting, its author — Select Board member William McGonigle — told the Winchester News. His mid-August memorandum outlines significant reforms to address what he called the “cumbersome nature” of the town’s most
Winchester Select Board picks interim town manager amid search for permanent leader
The Select Board has appointed Stephen L. Delaney interim town manager, following the July resignation of Beth Rudolph after two decades of service to Winchester. The announcement — in an all-staff memo — arrived two days after the board spent nearly three hours interviewing candidates for the interim post. Rudolph submitted her
Winchester opens doors to new $94M Lynch Elementary School
The morning sun cast long shadows across the new universal playground as hundreds of Winchester families streamed through the doors of their community’s latest educational investment Monday morning. Parents carried toddlers past floor-to-ceiling windows while older siblings raced ahead to test interactive displays in the media center. After nearly
WinCAM faces funding crisis as cable subscribers decline, federal threats loom
Winchester Community Access & Media Inc. (WinCAM) is confronting its most serious financial challenge in decades, with a $50,000 budget deficit threatening the organization’s ability to provide local government coverage and community programming. Executive Director David Gauthier told the Select Board recently that the deficit represents about 15%
Winchester Select Board imposes strict conditions on dog after child bite
A Winchester Labradoodle that bit a 6-year-old boy requiring eight stitches must be muzzled in public, confined behind a 6-foot fence and undergo continued training under conditions imposed by the Select Board after unanimously finding the dog to be a “nuisance.” The board voted 5-0 on July 28 to impose