Winchester has lost 90 acres of tree canopy in just over a decade — roughly 68 football fields of tree cover — and residents and town officials are trying to figure out how to stop any more loss. A 2023 analysis by PlanIT Geo found that Winchester’s tree canopy has dropped
The Select Board met Monday to review proposed bylaw revisions and vote positions on warrant articles for the spring Town Meeting scheduled to open April 28 with a record 56 articles. Town Counsel Jay Talerman provided a detailed legal analysis of the Government Regulations Committee’s proposed general bylaw changes,
At Winchester’s upcoming Spring Town Meeting — which opens April 28 — members will consider whether to replace “Robert’s Rules of Order” with “Town Meeting Time” as the procedural framework that governs how Town Meeting is run. The change is outlined in Article 38 of the 2025 warrant and is
Major changes to Town Meeting procedures highlight Winchester’s 10-year bylaw review as Town Meeting — which convenes April 28 — will take up reforms that could transform how the town conducts business. The Committee on Government Regulations drafted 18 warrant articles for Spring Town Meeting after holding 22 public meetings over
The Select Board on April 7 approved the 56-article warrant for the 2025 Spring Town Meeting and advanced a series of proposals ranging from flood mitigation funding and outdoor dining approvals to new draft regulations under the town’s tree bylaw and a commercial waste pilot program. Board members also
Multiple Winchester boards and committees will hold critical public meetings ahead of the April 28 Spring Town Meeting, offering residents opportunities to weigh in on 56 warrant articles ranging from zoning changes to budget appropriations. Select Board’s meeting The Select Board plans to finalize its positions on warrant articles
In a unanimous series of votes, the Winchester Select Board accepted donations totaling more than $348,000. Among these were notable contributions including $2,250 from Pediatric Dental Associates, Winchester Rotary Club, and Winchester Savings Bank to support Concerts on the Common. Town Manager Beth Rudolph expressed appreciation, calling the
The Winchester Select Board voted unanimously Monday to release $364,746 from the Special Education Reserve Fund to cover unexpected cost increases in transportation and out-of-district tuition expenses. “The contract, I believe, previously was an eight-year contract that expired, went out to bid,” said Director of Finance & Operations Andrew
Winchester voters head to the polls Saturday for municipal elections featuring contested races for Select Board and School Committee alongside an unexpected development — two write-in candidates vying for a Planning Board seat that initially have no contenders on the ballot. The March 22 election will take place at Winchester High
The Winchester Select Board unanimously approved an 8% water and sewer rate increase for fiscal year 2026, pending Town Meeting approval in late April. The board opted for a moderate approach among several options presented during a March 10 public hearing. The approved increase would raise the average residential user’
The Winchester Select Board revisited a steep health insurance cost increase that threatens to deepen the town’s budget deficit while unanimously approving $61 million in bonds and notes at its March 10 meeting. “The town has received a proposed increase of 18.92% for [fiscal year 2026] on our
Winchester’s School Committee recently voted unanimously against proposed bylaw changes from the Finance Committee that would ultimately require Town Meeting approval, citing concerns over hasty implementation and potential overreach into school operations. Select Board members expressed similar reservations without taking formal action in a special March 4 meeting. The
The Winchester Select Board on Feb. 24 reviewed draft articles for the Spring Town Meeting warrant, preparing to finalize language before the March 14 warrant closure deadline. Town Manager Beth Rudolph presented several proposed articles without assigned warrant numbers, as these will be determined after formal approval. “The warrant for
Rising water and sewer costs, a major development’s environmental impact and key public safety appointments took center stage at the Winchester Select Board meeting on Feb. 24. The board also received confirmation the town is officially in compliance with the state’s MBTA Communities zoning law, a milestone that
As the March 22 municipal election approaches, Winchester News — an independent nonprofit news organization covering the town of Winchester — has published its first comprehensive candidate guide, offering voters a detailed, nonpartisan resource to make informed decisions at the polls. The new digital guide, available on the Winchester News website, is
This guide is designed to inform Winchester voters and encourage civic participation. Stay engaged, ask questions and make your voice heard in the March 22 municipal election. Feel free to return to this space as it will serve as a living resource for voters, providing details on candidates, voting logistics,
