Meeting report · Select Board
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Select Board — March 30, 2026
The meeting was marked by significant public pushback on utility rates and business impacts, alongside internal board disagreements on financial strategy and leadership.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
Water and Sewer Rate Increase
7% rate increase plus ongoing discussion of tier restructuring Affected: All water and sewer customers in Winchester
fee change
02
Budget Deficit Mitigation
Potential for new revenue levers, fee increases, or service outsourcing following a failed $11.5M override Affected: All taxpayers
tax increase
03
Inclusionary Zoning Amendment
Amending bylaws to allow payments in lieu of on-site affordable housing units Affected: Developers and residents in the Center Business District
zoning change
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Election of Anthea Brady as Select Board Chair.
Anthea Brady was nominated to serve as Chair.
Unanimous
Election of Bill McGonigal as Select Board Vice Chair.
Bill McGonigal was nominated as Vice Chair; Michelle Pryor abstained and Mike Betancourt voted no.
Passed (1 Abstention, 1 No)
Acceptance of MassDOT Municipal Speed Feedback Signage Program grant.
Accepts two speed feedback signs for Swanton Street and a speed feedback trailer; authorizes Town Manager to sign the MOA.
Passed
Acceptance of Green Communities grant.
Accepts $90,094 for Mystic School/Rec Department windows and McCall Middle School LED lighting.
Passed
Motion to explore a fourth water rate tier.
The board voted to explore implementing a fourth rate tier at 45 or 50 cubic feet and above for implementation in 2027.
Passed
Approve outdoor dining for Atavola (2 parking spots and sidewalk on Church St, with ADA access and cleaning/pest control conditions).
Conditional upon submission of master cleaning schedule and pest control contract.
Approved
Approve outdoor dining for Black Horse Tavern (3 parking spots and sidewalk on Thompson St, with ADA access and cleaning/pest control conditions).
Conditional upon submission of master cleaning schedule and pest control contract.
Approved
Approve outdoor dining for First House Pub (2 parking spots near Eastern Bank and sidewalk on Main St, with ADA access and cleaning/pest control conditions).
Conditional upon submission of master cleaning schedule and pest control contract.
Approved
Approve outdoor dining for Kiyo Ramen (1 parking spot towards Starbucks and sidewalk on Main St, with ADA access and cleaning/pest control conditions).
Conditional upon submission of master cleaning schedule and pest control contract.
Approved
Approve outdoor dining for Nouvelle Maison (1 parking spot and sidewalk on Church St, with ADA access and cleaning/pest control conditions).
Conditional upon submission of master cleaning schedule and pest control contract.
Approved
Approve outdoor dining for Lucia's Restaurant (3 parking spots and sidewalk on Mount Vernon St, with ADA access and cleaning/pest control conditions).
Conditional upon submission of master cleaning schedule and pest control contract.
Approved
Approve outdoor dining for Thai Chow Rin (1.5 parking spots and sidewalk on Main St, with ADA access and cleaning/pest control conditions).
The 'no' vote was from Bill (a speaker).
Approved (4-1)
Amendment to Article 4 regarding the composition of the new committee.
The board voted to remove 'a member of the school committee' from the committee composition requirements.
Approved
Reduction of General Stabilization Fund annual transfer.
Voted to reduce the amount of general stabilization to $1 million per fiscal year until the target reaches 5% to 7%.
Approved
Co-sponsorship of Literacy Curriculum Article.
The board voted to place the article concerning the adoption/funding of the literacy curriculum on the warrant as a co-sponsored article by both the School Committee and the Select Board.
Approved
Place the School Committee literacy curriculum article on the warrant as a co-sponsored article by the School Committee and Select Board.
The motion was moved by a speaker and seconded.
Passed (Aye)
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 00:17 Select Board Reorganization
The board dissolved to a committee of the whole to elect a new Chair and Vice Chair.
Speakers: Michelle Pryor, Anthea Brady, Bill McGonigal, Paras Bayani, Mike Betancourt, Chris Senior
▶ 05:56 Grant Acceptance: MassDOT Speed Feedback Signage
Discussion regarding the acceptance of a grant for speed feedback signs on Swanton Street and a portable speed trailer for town-wide use.
Speakers: Paras Bayani, Matt (Town Engineer), Michelle Pryor, Chris Senior
▶ 11:00 Grant Acceptance: Green Communities Grant
The board reviewed a $90,094 grant from the Department of Energy Resources for window replacements at Mystic School and LED lighting at McCall Middle School.
Speakers: Paras Bayani
▶ 12:21 Public Comment: Kids' Corner
The Executive Director of Kids' Corner provided context on the organization's mission, its relationship with the town, and its need for long-term lease stability.
Speakers: Andrew Gensel
▶ 18:31 Water and Sewer Rate Hearing
A public hearing regarding proposed water and sewer rate increases, featuring discussions on service fees and potential tier restructuring.
Speakers: Brian, Anthea Brady, Paras Bayani, Chris Senior, Bob (DPW)
▶ 38:01 Outdoor Dining Applications and Parking Impacts
Review of multiple business applications for outdoor dining spaces, focusing on frontage policies, impact on downtown parking, retail storefront visibility, and pedestrian safety.
Speakers: Bill McGonigal, Michelle Pryor, Celine Kimberley, Mary McPowell, Local Business Owner, Unidentified speaker
▶ 89:11 Post-Override Budget Debrief and Strategy
Discussion regarding the failed $11.5 million operating override and planning for the upcoming Town Meeting, focusing on revenue generation, cost-cutting, and the use of free cash.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 97:00 Municipal Revenue Generation
Exploration of various 'levers' to increase town revenue, including transfer station commercial rates, building/zoning fees, and potential product sales (wood chips).
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 121:01 Budget Process and Financial Coordination
The board discussed its role in coordinating with the Finance Committee, Town Manager, and School Committee regarding fee changes, potential budget overrides, and the use of free cash to balance the budget.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 125:53 Potential Outsourcing of Services
A discussion was held regarding the possibility of the Town Manager investigating the potential outsourcing of certain services, such as DPW custodial work, to achieve cost savings.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 131:23 Community Preservation Act (CPA) Funding Policy
Members debated the policy for using CPA funds, specifically whether to prioritize the town's capital queue due to the failed override or maintain the traditional 'bottoms-up' community-driven approach.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 161:24 Solar Project Investment
The board reviewed a proposal for solar canopy projects, including a suggested 5% construction contingency and the potential for significant net savings and tax credits.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 176:02 Literacy Curriculum Funding
The board discussed a warrant article to fund a specific literacy curriculum (Arts and Letters) following a successful pilot program, including placement on the warrant as a co-sponsored article.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 184:05 Inclusionary Zoning and Affordable Housing
Discussion regarding a 'stopgap' measure to amend the Center Business District zoning bylaw to allow a combination of on-site affordable housing units and payments in lieu of units.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 194:58 EFPBC School Committee Appointment
Discussion on a technical amendment to allow the School Committee to appoint members to the EFPBC at their pleasure to ensure MSBA compliance.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 203:17 Washington-Swanton Street Project Update
An update on the timeline and delays for the Washington-Swanton Street project, including ZBA permit status, peer review processes, and the need for Mass Housing financing.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 213:06 Vacant Board Positions
The board discussed the process for filling a vacant position on the Housing Partnership Board or Affordable Housing Trust.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
Outdoor Dining vs. Downtown Parking
Local business owners and residents are concerned that expanding restaurant footprints for outdoor dining reduces essential customer parking and storefront visibility for non-restaurant retail businesses.
Board position: The board prioritized restaurant expansion by approving multiple applications, though they attempted to balance it by limiting the number of spots per application.
Internal dissent
Bill McGonigal voted 'no' on the Thai Chow Rin application.
high concern
02
Post-Override Budget Strategy and CPA Funding
Following a failed $11.5 million override, the board is debating how to fill revenue gaps, including potentially changing how Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds are used—shifting from a community-driven approach to a town-capital-priority approach.
Board position: The board is exploring several 'levers' including fee increases, outsourcing services, and potentially redirecting CPA funds to the capital queue.
Internal dissent
a speaker argued that using CPA funds for the capital queue instead of community projects would be 'cynical' and 'bad form'.
medium concern
03
Water and Sewer Rate Structure
Residents argued that the current service fee structure is regressive and unfairly impacts low-income residents and low-volume users.
Board position: The board approved a 7% increase but agreed to explore a fourth usage tier to shift more costs to high-volume users.
high concern
Split votes
Election of Bill McGonigal as Select Board Vice Chair
Passed (1 Abstention, 1 No)
Approval of Thai Chow Rin outdoor dining application
4-1
Community vs. board tension
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Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Circulate the list of all town liaison and committee assignments for board review.
Assigned: Chris Senior / Patty · Due: Before next week's meeting
Provide data on average tuition costs and energy/maintenance impacts to the board regarding Kids' Corner.
Assigned: Chris Senior · Due: Soon
Run scenarios for a potential fourth water rate tier and prepare a report for the fall.
Assigned: Matt (Town Engineer) and Bob (DPW) · Due: Fall 2026
Provide an update on library parking and project status following the roof installation.
Assigned: Chris Senior · Due: As soon as possible
Conduct focus groups, listening sessions, or surveys to understand why the override failed.
Assigned: Town Manager/Staff
Schedule a joint meeting to discuss budget levers, revenue, and cuts prior to Town Meeting.
Assigned: Select Board, School Committee, and Finance Committee · Due: Week of April 6th
Review all departmental fees and charges to identify appropriate increases or efficiencies.
Assigned: Town Manager/Department Heads · Due: Next 1-2 weeks
Prepare data/hearing regarding commercial rates at the transfer station.
Assigned: Town Manager/Staff · Due: Next few weeks
Begin looking into the feasibility, costs, and implications of outsourcing certain services (e.g., DPW custodial).
Assigned: Town Manager
Provide an update/roadmap regarding the outsourcing investigation at the next meeting.
Assigned: Town Manager · Due: Next meeting
Clean up motion language for the Literacy article and finalize the warrant for printing.
Assigned: Select Board / Staff · Due: 2026-04-06
Clean up the motion language for the literacy curriculum article.
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Next Monday
Discuss the zoning bylaw amendment with the Planning Board and Karis.
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Before next Monday
Prepare a sentence-long article regarding EFPBC school committee appointment authority.
Assigned: a speaker (Paris) · Due: Next Monday
Email the chairs of the Housing Partnership Board and Affordable Housing Trust to request letters of interest/applications for the vacant position.
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Next Monday
Notable statements
We are a non-profit community organization... dedicated to the working families of Winchester. — Andrew Gensel · Discussing the mission and community value of Kids' Corner during public comment. ▶ 13:01
The service fee is regressive and hits those who struggle to afford water the hardest. — Local Resident · Public comment regarding the water/sewer rate structure. ▶ 19:06
I'm not talking about myself. I'm talking about every other business in town... We rely on parking in every spot at every moment. — Local Business Owner · Expressing concerns regarding the loss of parking due to outdoor dining expansion and upcoming construction. ▶ 95:24
The fewer parking spaces, the less revenue it is for small business... Small business will not survive with the outside dining and the loss of the parking spaces. — Unidentified speaker · Public comment regarding the economic impact of outdoor dining on retail vs. restaurants. ▶ 70:35
I am not prepared to vote for another override at all until the select board is part of those conversations. — Unidentified speaker · Discussion regarding the process of planning a future budget override. ▶ 119:40
I do disagree with Mike that we have a comfortable amount of free cash. That is, that is a resource that is overly exaggerated sometimes. — Unidentified speaker · Debate over the town's actual financial cushion following the failed override. ▶ 97:40
I think it's time to start having the town manager look more closely at that option [outsourcing] and what it could possibly mean. — Unidentified speaker · Proposing the investigation into outsourcing services to find savings. ▶ 125:43
I think it would be really bad form to really have a beaten switch right when we just passed the CPA... It would be very cynical. — Unidentified speaker · Opposing the proposal to use CPA funds primarily for the town's capital queue/stabilization. ▶ 131:06
Hope is a strategy. Let's do nothing. Let's just sell it harder or let's just cut to the core and freak everybody out. — Unidentified speaker · Responding to concerns about the board's momentum following the failed override. ▶ 144:13
This is kind of a stopgap measure because you can't retroactively obviously apply any sort of clarifications or anything into a bylaw once an applicant has started the process. — Unidentified speaker · Explaining why the zoning bylaw amendment for affordable housing is being proposed now. ▶ 185:53
The EFPBC's authorizing language does not allow them, the school committee, to change its member at will... and it is therefore ineligible to be a planning body under MSBA regulations. — Unidentified speaker · Explaining the necessity of the technical amendment for the EFPBC. ▶ 194:58
We should try to push on it [Mass Housing financing]... so that we can actually get to a point where title is passed, the ban is done, we're really at a point where we can actually collect tax revenue. — Unidentified speaker · Discussing how to expedite the Washington-Swanton Street project closure. ▶ 211:40
Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
9
Total speakers
4
Addressed
3
Partial
2
Not addressed
Andrew Gensel
Partial
As Executive Director of Kids' Corner, he provided context on the organization's history as a non-profit serving 650 children. He emphasized the growing need for childcare in Winchester and expressed a desire to build a strong relationship with the Select Board as the town's new landlord.
Key concern
Establishing a positive relationship with the town and securing a long-term lease for the organization.
Board responseA board member requested specific financial data regarding tuition and energy costs to better understand the organization's financial position.
The board acknowledged the context and requested follow-up data rather than providing an immediate resolution or lease discussion.
null
Addressed
The speaker noted that water and sewer service fees have increased significantly from $5 to $30 per quarter. They argued that this flat fee is inequitable because it impacts low-income residents and those with minimal water usage just as much as high-volume users.
Key concern
The regressive nature of the flat service fee in the water/sewer rate structure.
Board responseThe board discussed the rate structure and eventually moved to explore creating a fourth tier for high-volume users in the future.
The board engaged in a lengthy deliberation about the tiers and passed a motion to explore a fourth tier for 2027.
null
Addressed
The speaker argued that access to clean water and sanitation is a human right and expressed concern that rising rates burden cost-burdened residents. They proposed shifting the rate structure to increase costs for discretionary users (like irrigation) rather than applying a flat percentage increase to all.
Key concern
Protecting cost-burdened residents from regressive water rate increases.
Board responseThe board deliberated on tier structures and proposed exploring a new tier to address this.
The board's discussion and subsequent motion to explore a fourth tier directly addressed the suggestion to shift costs to higher-use tiers.
Wyatt Beal
Addressed
The speaker agreed that potable water is a basic human right and expressed willingness to pay more to support those who cannot afford it. They noted that their current rate for a family of four is reasonable for a public utility.
Key concern
Supporting affordability for those in need.
Board responseThe board moved into deliberations regarding the rate structure and tiers.
The board's deliberation on shifting costs to higher tiers aligns with the spirit of the speaker's support for subsidizing the less fortunate.
Celine Kimberley
Addressed
Speaking on behalf of Nouvelle Maison, she explained that the restaurant cannot share outdoor dining space with its neighbor because they are seeking separate pouring licenses. A shared space would conflict with the requirements for individual licenses.
Key concern
Clarifying why the restaurant requires its own distinct outdoor dining area.
Board responseThe board acknowledged the explanation and proceeded to vote on the specific number of spots for the application.
The board accepted the reasoning as a valid reason for the specific application request.
Mary McPowell
Partial
As an ice cream shop owner, she expressed concern that outdoor dining footprints for nearby restaurants will block her storefront and eliminate parking for her customers. She noted that her business relies heavily on a short summer season.
Key concern
The impact of restaurant outdoor dining on the visibility and accessibility of non-restaurant businesses.
Board responseThe board discussed the number of spots for various restaurants and debated the balance of the downtown area.
The board attempted to limit the number of spots to maintain frontage/parking, but they did approve several restaurant applications.
null
Partial
The speaker argued that expanding outdoor dining harms brick-and-mortar retail businesses by reducing essential customer parking. They expressed fear that the town center will lose its character and retail diversity if parking becomes unavailable.
Key concern
The loss of customer parking for non-restaurant retail businesses due to expanded outdoor dining.
Board responseThe board discussed the trade-offs of outdoor dining and the need for parking, though they continued to process applications.
The board engaged in a debate about the balance of businesses, but ultimately continued the practice of outdoor dining.
null
Not addressed
The speaker noted that they have had to reduce their outdoor dining footprint and expressed that they are struggling financially after a difficult winter. They stated they need the help of outdoor dining to survive.
Key concern
The financial necessity of outdoor dining for business survival.
Board responseThe board acknowledged the difficulty but proceeded with the voting process for all applicants.
The board did not address the specific financial struggle, only the administrative application process.
Artie Bennis
Addressed
The speaker highlighted the loss of small businesses due to declining revenue and parking issues. He also offered his professional expertise in parking planning to help the town manage the upcoming Waterfield construction and general downtown traffic.
Key concern
Small business survival, parking availability, and managing construction impacts.
Board responseThe Town Manager noted that they had already met regarding the Waterfield project and expressed a commitment to collaborative management.
The Town Manager confirmed the project was a priority and that the town is working to manage the impacts collaboratively.
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