MassVoter.com← Winchester Select BoardWinchester Member
Paras Bhayani
At-large · 2 terms in this record
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Board years
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Start my ballot →Record at a glance · 2026–2027 Board
How these numbers work
- Counted from the official minutes, for 2026–2027 Board only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
- Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Bhayani as present or absent at the start.
- Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
- Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
- A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
- “Whole board” combines every member’s record for the same term.
These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.
In the news
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Attendance
At the start of 4 of 4 Select Board meetings in 2026–2027 Board.
Missed none.
Every meeting (4)
- Jul 13, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Jun 29, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Jun 18, 2026 · Special: Present
- Jun 15, 2026 · Regular: Present
Votes where members disagreed · 2026–2027 Board
Jul 13Proceeds with January 1, 2027 with the plan design…Motion: *Motion That the Select Board proceeds with January 1, 2027 with…Passed 4–0 · Bhayani: Yes
July 13, 2026: Proceeds with January 1, 2027 with the plan design changes as discussed 50/50% support overall premiums and $200 Part B with the retirement cutoff date to be determined by the…
*Motion That the Select Board proceeds with January 1, 2027 with the plan design changes as discussed 50/50% support overall premiums and $200 Part B with the retirement cutoff date to be determined by the Select Board and rescinded off of the August cutoff date and with that date not to go beyond June 30, 2027. Bhayani - Bettencourt VOTED Roll Call: Yes - Bettencourt, Prior, Bhayani, Brady Motion passes 4-0-1 Abstain: McGonigle
Voted: Yes
Yes: Bettencourt, Bhayani, Brady, PriorAbstained: McGonigle
From the minutes
“*Motion That the Select Board proceeds with January 1, 2027 with the plan design changes as discussed 50/50% support overall premiums and $200 Part B with the retirement cutoff date to be determined by the Select Board and rescinded off of the August cutoff date and with that date not to go beyond June 30, 2027. Bhayani - Bettencourt VOTED Roll Call: Yes - Bettencourt, Prior, Bhayani, Brady Motion passes 4-0-1 Abstain: McGonigle.” (Motion: Bhayani, second: Bettencourt)
Jul 13Directs the Town Manager and requests the Superintendent to…Motion: *Motion That the Select Board directs the Town Manager and requests…Passed 4–1 · Bhayani: Yes
July 13, 2026: Directs the Town Manager and requests the Superintendent to provide a report to the Select Board with a copy to the School Committee on operational impacts for both municipal and…
*Motion That the Select Board directs the Town Manager and requests the Superintendent to provide a report to the Select Board with a copy to the School Committee on operational impacts for both municipal and school operations of retirements. Superintendent and Town Manager work with the RHIAC members on making sure that the report is relevant to the Select Board and School Committee Bhayani - Bettencourt VOTED Roll Call: Yes - Bettencourt, Prior, Bhayani, Brady Motion passes 4-1 No - McGonigle
Voted: Yes
Yes: Bettencourt, Bhayani, Brady, PriorNo: McGonigle
From the minutes
“*Motion That the Select Board directs the Town Manager and requests the Superintendent to provide a report to the Select Board with a copy to the School Committee on operational impacts for both municipal and school operations of retirements. Superintendent and Town Manager work with the RHIAC members on making sure that the report is relevant to the Select Board and School Committee Bhayani - Bettencourt VOTED Roll Call: Yes - Bettencourt, Prior, Bhayani, Brady Motion passes 4-1 No - McGonigle.” (Motion: Bhayani, second: Bettencourt)
Jul 13Approve a 1-year lease extension with the Winchester After-…Motion: *Motion: That the Select Board approve a 1-year lease extension with…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · Bhayani: Yes
July 13, 2026: Approve a 1-year lease extension with the Winchester After- School Program, Inc., for space at 263 Main Street, former Mystic School from June 30, 2026 through June 30, 2027, an…
*Motion: That the Select Board approve a 1-year lease extension with the Winchester After- School Program, Inc., for space at 263 Main Street, former Mystic School from June 30, 2026 through June 30, 2027, an authorize the Chair and Town Manager to execute said agreement. Bettencourt - Bhayani VOTED Roll Call: Bettencourt, Prior, Bhayani, Brady
Voted: Yes
William McGonigle recused himself from the discussion and vote (“as his wife is on the Kids’ Corner Board”) and is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“*Motion: That the Select Board approve a 1-year lease extension with the Winchester After- School Program, Inc., for space at 263 Main Street, former Mystic School from June 30, 2026 through June 30, 2027, an authorize the Chair and Town Manager to execute said agreement. Bettencourt - Bhayani VOTED Roll Call: Bettencourt, Prior, Bhayani, Brady.” (Motion: Bettencourt, second: Bhayani)
Jun 29Approve the Town Manager's memo in current form as…Motion: *Motion: That the Select Board approve the Town Manager's memo in…Passed 4–0 · Bhayani: Yes
June 29, 2026: Approve the Town Manager's memo in current form as presented in the packet
*Motion: That the Select Board approve the Town Manager's memo in current form as presented in the packet. Bettencourt - Prior VOTED Roll Call: Yes - Bettencourt, Prior, Bhayani, Brady Motion Passes 4-0-1 Abstain - McGonigle
Voted: Yes
Yes: Bettencourt, Bhayani, Brady, PriorAbstained: McGonigle
From the minutes
“*Motion: That the Select Board approve the Town Manager's memo in current form as presented in the packet. Bettencourt - Prior VOTED Roll Call: Yes - Bettencourt, Prior, Bhayani, Brady Motion Passes 4-0-1 Abstain - McGonigle.” (Motion: Bettencourt, second: Prior)
Jun 18Appoint Brian Vernaglia to the Affordable Housing Trust term…Motion: *Motion That the Select Board appoint Brian Vernaglia to the Affordable…Passed 3–1 · Bhayani: Yes
June 18, 2026 (Special meeting): Appoint Brian Vernaglia to the Affordable Housing Trust term to expire April 30, 2027
*Motion That the Select Board appoint Brian Vernaglia to the Affordable Housing Trust term to expire April 30, 2027. Bhayani - McGonigle VOTED Roll Call: Yes - McGonigle, Bhayani, Brady Motion Passes 3-1-1 No - Bettencourt Abstain - Prior
Voted: Yes
Yes: Bhayani, Brady, McGonigleNo: BettencourtAbstained: Prior
From the minutes
“*Motion That the Select Board appoint Brian Vernaglia to the Affordable Housing Trust term to expire April 30, 2027. Bhayani - McGonigle VOTED Roll Call: Yes - McGonigle, Bhayani, Brady Motion Passes 3-1-1 No - Bettencourt Abstain - Prior.” (Motion: Bhayani, second: McGonigle)
Jun 15Accept management's recommendation for Option IIIMotion: *Motion That the Select Board accept management's recommendation for Option III.…Passed 4–0 · Bhayani: Yes
June 15, 2026: Accept management's recommendation for Option III
*Motion That the Select Board accept management's recommendation for Option III. Bhayani - McGonigle VOTED Yes: Brady, Bettencourt, Bhayani, McGonigle Motion Passes 4-0-1 Abstain: Prior
Voted: Yes
Yes: Bettencourt, Bhayani, Brady, McGonigleAbstained: Prior
From the minutes
“*Motion That the Select Board accept management's recommendation for Option III. Bhayani - McGonigle VOTED Yes: Brady, Bettencourt, Bhayani, McGonigle Motion Passes 4-0-1 Abstain: Prior.” (Motion: Bhayani, second: McGonigle)
Votes with no disagreement (5)
From the Winchester Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center (Select Board). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos (the town’s website has no Select Board photos): Winchester News candidate profiles — Michelle Prior and Michael Bettencourt (2026), Anthea Brady and William McGonigle (2025), courtesy of the candidates. Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.
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