MassVoter.com← WinthropMunicipal votes · 2022–2023 Council
Winthrop Town Council
How the Winthrop Town Council voted, from the Town Council’s official minutes. 9 members: a Council President and 2 at-large members elected townwide, and one member from each of the town’s 6 precincts. Jim Letterie was elected Council President in November 2021, defeating Philip Boncore. Richard Fucillo (Precinct 1), Hannah Belcher (Precinct 3) and Aiello (Precinct 5) joined the board; Ferrino, LoConte and Christopher left. On January 18, 2022 the board appointed John Munson to the Precinct 2 seat Mr. Letterie left (on the board from February 1, 2022) and chose Stephen Ruggiero as Vice President over Rob DeMarco (5-3 roll call of choices); Mr. Ruggiero was chosen again on January 3, 2023. Covers 48 meetings, January 5 to December 5, 2023.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Town Council do? It is the town’s lawmaking body (this town has no Town Meeting). It passes local laws (bylaws or ordinances), votes on the yearly budget, and approves borrowing and zoning changes.
The council hires the town manager or administrator, who runs the town day to day and proposes the budget.
Sources: Mass. General Laws c. 44 § 32 (city budgets)Your Winthrop ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →Board years
Coming up
No upcoming meeting is posted yet. Check the official calendar →
Under the state Open Meeting Law, boards post notice at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays.
Members
PresidentJames LetteriePresident · Council President · at 48 of 48 meetingsVice PresidentStephen RuggieroVice President · Precinct 6 · at 43 of 48 meetings"At X of Y meetings" counts the members the minutes list as present at the start of each meeting in this record. Members who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: Winthrop Town Council minutes from January 7, 2020 through September 8, 2026, full board meetings only (regular, special and joint meetings). Council committee meetings, budget forums and precinct listening posts filed in the same Agenda Center list are not included. Older minutes are not here: the Agenda Center begins in January 2020, the town’s older online archive ends in January 2016, and minutes from February 2016 through December 2019 are not online (MassVoter has asked the town for the 2018–2019 minutes). Also not here: January 21, 2020 and December 19, 2023 (the posted “minutes” are the agendas), and August 10, 2020, October 27, 2021, March 22 and March 31, 2022, May 14, 2024, August 27, 2024 (joint meeting with the Planning Board), January 14, 2025, October 30, 2025, January 26 and January 29, 2026, and April 8 and April 14, 2026, which have agendas but no minutes posted. Most minutes from 2020 and 2021, and some later ones, are scanned copies, which MassVoter read with text-recognition software and checked by hand. Winthrop’s minutes usually record a roll call by name, and we show each member’s vote as recorded. “Passed Unanimously” means every member present voted yes. In 2020 and 2021 the clerk often wrote counts such as “8-1” where the second number was an absent or abstaining member rather than a no vote; when the roll call names add up, we show the names and explain the count in a note. Where the minutes say only “Motion Passed,” or a roll call does not match the members present or lists a name twice, we show the count or the result only, with a note. At joint meetings with the School Committee, Planning Board or Housing Authority, only the members’ votes are shown. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Dec 5Maintains a Uniform Tax rate for all classes of…Motion: Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation that the…Passed Unanimous, 9 present · see note
December 5, 2023: Maintains a Uniform Tax rate for all classes of Property for FY2024, authorize Town Manager Marino to sign and electronically submit the LA-5 to the Department of Revenue and the…
Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation that the Town Council maintains a Uniform Tax rate for all classes of Property for FY2024, authorize Town Manager Marino to sign and electronically submit the LA-5 to the Department of Revenue and the Town Council approves Electronic Signature to this document on behalf of the Town Councilors.
The motion came from a council committee, so no mover or seconder is named.
From the minutes
“Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation that the Town Council maintains a Uniform Tax rate for all classes of Property for FY2024, authorize Town Manager Marino to sign and electronically submit the LA-5 to the Department of Revenue and the Town Council approves Electronic Signature to this document on behalf of the Town Councilors. 2nd by Councilor Belcher Roll Call Vote: Yes: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Flockhart, Vice President Ruggiero, President Letterie Motion Passes.” (second: Belcher)
Dec 5Amends original proclamation that we support the Jewish and…Motion: Motion by Member Flockhart amends original proclamation that we support the…Passed · see note
December 5, 2023: Amends original proclamation that we support the Jewish and the Palestine Community and hope for peace
Motion by Councilor Flockhart amends original proclamation that we support the Jewish and the Palestine Community and hope for peace.
The minutes say only "Passed", with no count and no names.
From the minutes
“Motion by Councilor Flockhart amends original proclamation that we support the Jewish and the Palestine Community and hope for peace. 2nd by Councilor Aiello Discussion Councilor Belcher uses her Council Privilege to table this motion. PUBLIC COMMENT Jack Dowd P3-Comments on the Town Council's procedure of Executive Session Marci Hamilton P6-Thanks all for their patience and procedural knowledge Kathleen Cappuccio-Discusses the Flag Policy and the comments during this meeting and reiterates that the council voted for the Flag Policy and now the Town Council would like to review this policy. She disagrees as she believes the Town Council is responsible for the current happenings with this Flag Policy and wants something to be done. Vasili Malios P5-Asks about the Planning Board research regarding the MBTA Housing and Zoning. He has reached out and would like to know if the Planning Board will be updating the town. He agrees with several people on the Flag Policy. The Town Council voted for this policy, and this is something that should have been thought of when the policy voted on. We have opened a can of worms… The Town Council needs to suspend Flag Policy. Diana Viens P2-Discusses Ex. Session and feels this is not following the Open Meeting Laws. She feels any major development is a concern for the entire town. We should all be informed of what is being negotiated in certain areas and this is one of them. Why is discussing this particular parcel of land being discussed in an Ex. Session.? Town Council President reiterates that we did follow the Open Meeting Rules with the Ex. Session Todd Sacco P5-Discusses the Flag Policy and spending too much time on this ….he stated he knew when the Flag Policy was being discussed in the past he did not agree with. He agrees with suspending the Flag Policy. Rabbi Benjamin Flax of the Temple Tifereth , but from Revere…. Council my Councilor Belcher to suspend Council rules and allow the Rabbi to speak. 2nd by Councilor Munson Passed.” (Motion: Flockhart, second: Aiello)
Nov 28Memorials CommitteeMotion: Motion by Member DeMarcoPassed · see note
November 28, 2023: Memorials Committee
Motion by Councilor DeMarco
The minutes say only "Passed", with no count and no names.
From the minutes
“Motion by Councilor DeMarco 2nd Councilor Belcher Passed.” (Motion: DeMarco, second: Belcher)
Nov 28Accept the appointments of Steven Githinji and Aaron Williams…Motion: Motion by Member Belcher to accept the appointments of Steven Githinji…Passed · see note
November 28, 2023: Accept the appointments of Steven Githinji and Aaron Williams to the CDICR
Motion by Councilor Belcher to accept the appointments of Steven Githinji and Aaron Williams to the CDICR
The minutes say only "Motion Passed", with no count and no names.
From the minutes
“Motion by Councilor Belcher to accept the appointments of Steven Githinji and Aaron Williams to the CDICR 2nd by Councilor DeMarco Motion Passed.” (Motion: Belcher, second: DeMarco)
Nov 28Amend the Town Council Rules for Dec. 19th meeting…Motion: Motion by Member Belcher to Amend the Town Council Rules for…Passed · see note
November 28, 2023: Amend the Town Council Rules for Dec. 19th meeting and to begin at 6 pm in lieu of 7 pm 2nd
Motion by Councilor Belcher to Amend the Town Council Rules for Dec. 19th meeting and to begin at 6 pm in lieu of 7 pm 2nd
The minutes say only "Motion Passed", with no count and no names.
From the minutes
“Motion by Councilor Belcher to Amend the Town Council Rules for Dec. 19th meeting and to begin at 6 pm in lieu of 7 pm 2nd by Councilor DeMarco Motion Passed.” (Motion: Belcher)
Nov 14Appropriates the sum of $980,000 to pay costs of…Motion: Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation that Town…Passed Unanimous, 7 present · see note
November 14, 2023: Appropriates the sum of $980,000 to pay costs of replacing lead water service lines
Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation that Town Council appropriates the sum of $980,000 to pay costs of replacing lead water service lines
The roll call lists Tracey Honan as absent. The roll call lists Joseph Aiello as absent. The motion came from a council committee, so no mover or seconder is named.
From the minutes
“Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation that Town Council appropriates the sum of $980,000 to pay costs of replacing lead water service lines No 2nd Needed ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Flockhart, Vice President Ruggiero, President Letterie Absent: Councilor Honan, Councilor Aiello Motion Passes.”
Nov 14Ingleside Tennis Courts be named afterMotion: Motion by Vice Ruggiero to accept this motionPassed · see note
November 14, 2023: Ingleside Tennis Courts be named after
Motion by Vice Ruggiero to accept this motion
The minutes say only "Motion Passed", with no count and no names. The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Motion by Vice Ruggiero to accept this motion 2nd by Councilor DeMarco Discussion Vice President Ruggiero in favor of this Councilor Munson meant him and feels he is very highly regarded. His accolades are impressive Motion Passed.” (second: DeMarco)
Nov 14Approve the use of Election Voter Information Input Machines…Motion: Motion by Member Belcher to approve the use of Election Voter…Passed · see note
November 14, 2023: Approve the use of Election Voter Information Input Machines (Poll Pads)
Motion by Councilor Belcher to approve the use of Election Voter Information Input Machines (Poll Pads)-
The minutes say only "Motion Passed", with no count and no names.
From the minutes
“Motion by Councilor Belcher to approve the use of Election Voter Information Input Machines (Poll Pads)- 2nd Councilor DeMarco Motion Passed.” (Motion: Belcher, second: DeMarco)
Nov 14Accept the appointment made by the Town Council President…Motion: Motion by Member Fucillo to accept the appointment made by the…Passed · see note
November 14, 2023: Accept the appointment made by the Town Council President to appoint John Macero to the Citizens Advisory on Finance
Motion by Councilor Fucillo to accept the appointment made by the Town Council President to appoint John Macero to the Citizens Advisory on Finance
The minutes say only "Motion Passed", with no count and no names.
From the minutes
“Motion by Councilor Fucillo to accept the appointment made by the Town Council President to appoint John Macero to the Citizens Advisory on Finance 2nd by Councilor Belcher Motion Passed.” (Motion: Fucillo, second: Belcher)
Oct 17Change the meeting dates in November to November 14th…Motion: Motion by Member Fucillo to change the meeting dates in November…Passed · see note
October 17, 2023: Change the meeting dates in November to November 14th and November 28th
Motion by Councilor Fucillo to change the meeting dates in November to November 14th and November 28th
The minutes say only "Motion Passes", with no count and no names.
From the minutes
“Motion by Councilor Fucillo to change the meeting dates in November to November 14th and November 28th 2nd by Councilor Belcher No-Councilor Aiello Motion Passes.” (Motion: Fucillo, second: Belcher)
From the Winthrop Town Council’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center. We check every vote against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Member photos: Winthrop Sun Transcript (candidate announcements for Letterie, Millar, Dimes and Romano; Costigan and Swope from a captioned June 2026 Strawberry Festival photo by Salza). Former members and Tassinari, Reardon and Finn show initials for now.
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