MassVoter.com← Winthrop Town CouncilWinthrop Town Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
January 21, 2025
12 recorded votes, 10 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
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Present: Max Tassinari, Patrick Costigan, John Munson, Rob DeMarco, Joseph Aiello, Suzanne Swope, John DaRos, Hannah Belcher, James Letterie
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
MINUTES
Approve the Approval of Minutes of January 7, 2025 as circulated
Motion by Councilor DeMarco to Approve the Approval of Minutes of January 7, 2025 as circulated.
The minutes say only "Motion Passed", with no count and no names.
From the minutes
“Motion by Councilor DeMarco to Approve the Approval of Minutes of January 7, 2025 as circulated. 24 by Vice President Belcher Motion Passed.” (Motion: DeMarco, second: Belcher)
OLD BUSINESS
Authorize Unpaid Bills of Prior Year
Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation that the Town Council Vote to Authorize Unpaid Bills of Prior Year...
The minutes say only "Motion Passes", with no count and no names. 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 Vote to Authorize Unpaid Bills of Prior Year... No 2" Needed Motion Passes.”
Authorize the Town Manager's Contract an extension of 5 yrs. (See website)
Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation that the Town Council to authorize the Town Manager's Contract an extension of 5 yrs. (See website)
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 to authorize the Town Manager's Contract an extension of 5 yrs. (See website) No 2" Needed ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Costigan, Councilor Munson, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello Councilor Swope, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Motion Passes.”
The Town Manager sign a 5yr. contract with Capital Waste
Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation that the Town Manager sign a 5yr. contract with Capital Waste.....
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 Manager sign a 5yr. contract with Capital Waste..... No 24 Needed ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Costigan, Councilor Munson, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello Councilor Swope, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Motion Passes.”
The Town Manager to renew the MWRA Contract (Please see copy on website)
Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation that the Town Manager to renew the MWRA Contract (Please see copy on website)
Yes: Aiello, Belcher, DaRos, Letterie, Munson, TassinariNo: DeMarco, SwopeAbstained: CostiganThe 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 Manager to renew the MWRA Contract (Please see copy on website) No 2" Needed ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Munson, Councilor Aiello, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Abstain-Councilor Costigan No-Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Swope Motion Passes.”
Amend: put both the Old Middle School site and the Walden Street site on the ballot as a ranked option (Councilor Munson's amendment)
Councilor Munson makes an amendment to the main motion to include the Middle School Site and the Walden Street Site as a ranked voting type option on the ballot
Yes: Costigan, MunsonNo: Aiello, Belcher, DaRos, DeMarco, Letterie, Swope, Tassinari
From the minutes
“Councilor Munson makes an amendment to the main motion to include the Middle School Site and the Walden Street Site as a ranked voting type option on the ballot 2™ by Councilor Costigan Discussion Vice President thinks this amendment may over complicate the ballot with this amendment Council President major concern is either both No or a split Councilor Costigan reiterates that the Town Council already voted on the location to be the Basketball Courts- He thinks rushing to judgment, is it the pressure by the public because the Old Middle School is an eye sore, if that the case, just take it down. Council President agrees we did vote on the Basketball Courts but it is fact, nothing in revenue is happening with the Middle School in the foreseeable future. Councilor DeMarco respects Councilor Munson opinion and he does prefer the Basketball Court site, but we have to act on this, our town needs a Fire House. Councilor Tassinari does not love the location of the Middle School, but more important is our Fire Fighters need a new Fire House, if this is the best way, then he will support it... ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Munson No-Councilor Tassinari, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Amendment Does Not Pass.” (Motion: Munson, second: Costigan)
Reconsider the Fire House location, from Walden St. to the Old Middle School site (original motion)
Motion by Councilor Aiello to move the question of the original motion All in Favor
Yes: Aiello, Belcher, DaRos, DeMarco, Letterie, Munson, Swope, TassinariNo: CostiganCouncilor Aiello's motion to move the question was approved "All in Favor" just before this roll call; the minutes do not say who made the original motion ("Motion by the Town Council").
From the minutes
“Motion by Councilor Aiello to move the question of the original motion All in Favor Roll Call on Original Motion to Reconsider Location of Fire House from Walden St. to the Old Middle School Yes: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Munson, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie No: Councilor Costigan Motion Passes.”
Approve the language of the School Override Ballot Question and Information written by the School Committee..(See Website)
Motion by Councilor DeMarco to approve the language of the School Override Ballot Question and Information written by the School Committee..(See Website)
From the minutes
“Motion by Councilor DeMarco to approve the language of the School Override Ballot Question and Information written by the School Committee..(See Website) 2™ by Councilor DaRos Discussion ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Costigan, Councilor Munson, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Motion Passes.” (Motion: DeMarco, second: DaRos)
Approve the date of Saturday, April 5'n for the Local Election
Motion by the Town Council to approve the date of Saturday, April 5'n for the Local Election
The roll call lists Hannah Belcher and James Letterie twice. The minutes give no count, so we show the result only. The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Motion by the Town Council to approve the date of Saturday, April 5'n for the Local Election ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Costigan, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie No: Councilor Munson, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Motion Passes.”
Move the question
Motion by Vice President Belcher to move the question
The minutes say only "Motion Passes", with no count and no names.
From the minutes
“Motion by Vice President Belcher to move the question 2™4 by Councilor DaRos Motion Passes.” (Motion: Belcher, second: DaRos)
Approve one Election and have both the School Override Question and Fire House Debt Exclusion on one ballot on Saturday, April 5, 2025 7AM to 8 PM
Motion by the Town Council to approve one Election and have both the School Override Question and Fire House Debt Exclusion on one ballot on Saturday, April 5, 2025 7AM to 8 PM
Yes: Aiello, Belcher, DaRos, DeMarco, Letterie, Munson, TassinariNo: Costigan, SwopeThe minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Motion by the Town Council to approve one Election and have both the School Override Question and Fire House Debt Exclusion on one ballot on Saturday, April 5, 2025 7AM to 8 PM ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Munson, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie No: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Swope Motion Passes.”
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourn
Motion to adjourn by Councilor DeMarco at 10:00 pm
From the minutes
“Motion to adjourn by Councilor DeMarco at 10:00 pm 2"4 by Councilor DaRos Passed Unanimously.” (Motion: DeMarco, second: DaRos)
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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