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Select Board — March 16, 2026

Meeting focused on routine approvals, recognitions, and administrative updates with positive public comments limited to Eagle Scout honors and no public opposition or internal splits.

Date Monday, March 16, 2026 Duration 2.2h Speakers 16 Public comments 3 Decisions 14 Routine
▶ Video

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

Water and sewer rate adjustment

7% level increase (or alternatives) to meet retained earnings target Affected: All utility customers in Winchester
fee change
02

Payment of back taxes from Housing Fund

$42,052.48 paid (conditional verification) Affected: Housing Fund / affordable housing resources
other high impact

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Accept EEC stabilization grant of $13,720
For Recreation Department Kid Connection
Unanimous (Aye)
Accept MHC survey and planning grant
For Winchester Westside survey by Planning and Historical Commission
Unanimous (Aye)
Waive 15-day waiting period for Annette Flaherty appointment
Council on Aging Senior Clerk
Unanimous (Aye)
Appoint Wendy Swanton to Design Review Committee
Term expires December 31, 2028
Unanimous (Aye)
Reappoint Peter Pongratz to WinCam board
Term expires November 30, 2028
Unanimous (Aye)
Approve BANs, bond, and back taxes payment
$4.05M and $17.9M BANs; $9.74M bond; $42,052.48 taxes (conditional on Waterfield verification)
Unanimous (Aye)
Approved withdrawal of $110,334.33 from SPED Reserve Fund
Motion by a speaker, second by a speaker; for unanticipated FY26 special ed costs
Approved (ayes noted)
Agreed to co-sponsor Article 9 (bylaw review) with Government Regulations Committee contingent on their vote
Friendly amendment to include co-sponsorship; board will not sponsor individually without GovRegs support
Approved
Agreed to co-sponsor solar purchase Article 14 with School Committee; remove PPA Article 15
Motion to co-sponsor 14; consensus to drop 15 given lack of support
Approved
Co-sponsor Article 14 with School Committee
Motion by a speaker, second by a speaker
Approved (Aye)
Remove Article 15 from the warrant
Motion by a speaker, second by a speaker
Approved (Aye)
Co-sponsor Article 16
Motion by a speaker, second by a speaker
Approved (Aye)
Co-sponsor Article 32 with Capital Planning Committee and Town Manager
Separate motions by a speaker
Approved (Aye)
Approve consent agenda as posted
Motion by a speaker, second by a speaker
Approved (Aye)

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 00:21 Donations and Grants

Accepted EEC stabilization grant of $13,720 for Recreation Department and MHC survey/planning grant for Planning and Historical Commission.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 00:55 Eagle Scout Recognition

Honored Isabella Bogovich, Renee Lubomirsky, and Madison Von Mary as first female Eagle Scouts in Troop 570 history; presented proclamations and heard project summaries on church renovation, veteran grave survey, and Fast Forest planting.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 08:54 Staff Appointment

Approved waiver of waiting period to appoint Annette Flaherty as Council on Aging Senior Clerk.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 10:11 Grants and Infrastructure Updates

Received two green communities grants (~$90k) for Mystic School windows and McCall Middle School LED lighting; updated on Waterfield site survey, flashing crosswalks installation, and upcoming contract approvals.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 21:58 Design Review Committee Appointment

Interviewed and appointed Wendy Swanton to the Design Review Committee (term ending Dec 31, 2028) following discussion of her preservation experience.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 27:07 WinCam Board Reappointment

Reappointed Peter Pongratz to Winchester Community Access and Media board (term ending Nov 30, 2028).

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 28:55 Bonds, Back Taxes, and ZBA Concerns

Approved BAN renewals and bond; voted to pay $42k in back taxes on Washington/Swanton and Waterfield parcels from Housing Fund (conditional on verification); raised concerns over ZBA delays on Washington-Swanton project causing added interest costs.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 44:04 Water and Sewer Rates

Presented FY27 rate options (7% level plan, 8%/6.5% front-loaded, or 6%/higher later) to maintain -2% retained earnings target amid MWRA assessments, capital projects, and stormwater costs; discussed impact of dry vs. wet years; board expressed preference for level 7% option ahead of March 30 public hearing.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 75:52 Mystic Tenant Lease (Kids Corner)

Review of current $37k lease; analysis of unassessed costs (energy ~$13.7k, maintenance) borne by DPW/REC; consideration of increasing lease to cover energy via 3-year average and possible future adjustments.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 87:11 Special Education Reserve Fund Withdrawal

Request to expend remaining $110,334.33 balance for unanticipated FY26 SPED tuition/transportation costs after town meeting approval of budget.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 89:53 Warrant Articles and Co-Sponsorships

Review of articles including local occupancy tax (Article 4), Human Rights Commission (Article 7), bylaw decennial review (Article 9), solar purchase (Article 14) and PPA (Article 15); decisions on board sponsorship and removal of PPA option; board reviewed and acted on co-sponsorship of Articles 14, 16, and 32; removal of Article 15 (PPA); status of standard articles including 19, 33, 41, and citizen petitions.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 121:05 SELECT Contract for High School Roof Projects

Discussion of proceeding with SELECT for test drilling and structural engineering on multiple high school roof options under an at-risk contract, seeking town approval for all despite expected attrition.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 134:07 Consent Agenda and Meeting Close

Motion to approve consent agenda for March 16, 2026, followed by adjournment.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker

Controversy & ⁠dissent

Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.

Potentially controversial issues

01

Water and sewer rate increases

FY27 options (7% level, front-loaded, or back-loaded) directly raise resident utility bills amid MWRA costs and potential override; a speaker flagged cumulative burden on taxpayers
Board position: Preference signaled for the level 7% option ahead of March 30 public hearing
low concern
02

ZBA delays on Washington-Swanton project

Six-month delay cited as causing $100k extra interest cost to town/Housing Fund; external friction with ZBA rather than internal board conflict
Board position: Agreed to follow up with ZBA on timeline
low concern

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Verify if Waterfield taxes were previously paid before releasing funds
Assigned: Town Manager Chris Senior · Due: Before March 30 meeting
Follow up with ZBA on Washington-Swanton comprehensive permit timeline and delays
Assigned: Select Board · Due: Next meeting
Provide update on water meter pilot program data and accuracy
Assigned: DPW (Bob) · Due: Next quarter
Calculate 3-year average energy costs for Mystic lease adjustment and report back
Assigned: a speaker · Due: March 30 meeting
Prepare and submit motions for warrant articles by March 27 for review at March 30 meeting
Assigned: Board members · Due: March 27
Socialize 2-3% annual stabilization fund transfer proposal with Finance Committee for co-sponsorship
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Prior to March 30
Prepare tables showing stabilization fund balance scenarios (e.g., 2M or 3M increments)
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Prior to March 30
Add board names as co-sponsors to Articles 14, 16, and 32
Assigned: a speaker
Review citizen petition Article 41 on sidewalks/snow clearance
Assigned: Town staff (DPW, Police, COA)

Notable ⁠statements

Chris's report can always wait for scouts. — Unidentified speaker · Prioritizing Eagle Scout recognition over manager's report ▶ 15:28
Six-month ZBA delay on Washington-Swanton is a $100,000 hit; ZBA should explain to board. — Unidentified speaker · Criticism of project timeline and interest costs ▶ 73:32
Rate increases plus potential override could add up for residents; seek alternatives to large annual hikes. — Unidentified speaker · Concern over cumulative tax and fee burden ▶ 97:33
I generally would agree with option one, followed by option three, in that order. — Unidentified speaker · Water rate increase preferences ▶ 73:17
I always prefer the plans that just kind of keep things level. That's option one here. — Unidentified speaker · Support for level 7% water rate option ▶ 74:48
I think we should settle on something on the 30th of March to signal for Kids Corner for April so that they can plan. — Unidentified speaker · Lease timeline ▶ 83:58
They work at risk — Unidentified speaker · Confirming SELECT contract terms for high school roof diligence ▶ 121:23
So there's not a lot of downside risk to the town — Unidentified speaker · Assessment of financial exposure on SELECT projects ▶ 121:50

Member ⁠positions

0 issues · 0 explicit · 0 inferred

Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position.

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
3
Total speakers
3
Addressed
0
Partial
0
Not addressed
Isabella Bogovich
▶ 00:53
Addressed
Isabella described her Eagle Scout project renovating a storage room at Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church, including cleaning, repainting, building shelving, and reorganizing supplies for holiday events. She noted the personal connection as the troop's meeting space and appreciated the opportunity to give back. Key concern
Recognition of her Eagle Scout achievement and project completion.
Board response
Board members offered congratulations, presented a proclamation, posed for photos, and expressed appreciation for the service and community impact.
The board fully engaged with positive recognition, proclamations, and celebration of the project.
Madison Von Mary
▶ 00:32
Addressed
Madison outlined her Eagle Scout project at Wildwood Cemetery surveying veteran graves, collecting data on birth/death dates, service details, and awards, then compiling it into a searchable spreadsheet organized by zones for easier location of veterans. Key concern
Recognition of her Eagle Scout achievement and project completion.
Board response
Board members offered congratulations, presented a proclamation, posed for photos, and expressed appreciation for the service and community impact.
The board fully engaged with positive recognition, proclamations, and celebration of the project.
Renee Lubomirsky
▶ 00:13
Addressed
Renee described her Eagle Scout project with Grow Local Winchester planting a 'fast forest' of 1,100 native shrubs and plants at Wright-Locke Farm, mobilizing over 200 volunteers, and celebrating its first-year growth after extensive preparation. Key concern
Recognition of her Eagle Scout achievement and project completion.
Board response
Board members offered congratulations, presented a proclamation, posed for photos, and expressed appreciation for the service and community impact.
The board fully engaged with positive recognition, proclamations, and celebration of the project.
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Report composed by grok-4.3, claude-opus-4-7 · analyzed 2026-05-27.