MassVoter.com← Winthrop Town CouncilWinthrop Town Council · 2026–2027 Council · Regular meeting
June 2, 2026
9 recorded votes, 7 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
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Present: Patrick Costigan, Max Tassinari, Kurt Millar, Kim Dimes, Joseph Romano, Paul Reardon, Martin Finn, Suzanne Swope, James Letterie
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Enter in Executive Session
Motion by Councilor Dimes to enter in Executive Session
The minutes list this roll call but do not write down the result.
From the minutes
“Motion by Councilor Dimes to enter in Executive Session 2nd by Councilor Romano ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Romano, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie.” (Motion: Dimes, second: Romano)
Adjourn Executive Session
Motion by Councilor Millar to Adjourn Executive Session
The minutes list this roll call but do not write down the result.
From the minutes
“Motion by Councilor Millar to Adjourn Executive Session 2nd by Councilor Finn ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Romano, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie.” (Motion: Millar, second: Finn)
Adjourn Executive Session
The minutes list this roll call but do not write down the result. The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Adjourn Executive Session ENTER INTO OPEN SESSION ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Romano, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie.”
MINUTES
Amend by Councilor Romano to add Roll Call when entering back into Open Session after Ex. Session Main Motion as Amended
Motion to Amend by Councilor Romano to add Roll Call when entering back into Open Session after Ex. Session Main Motion as Amended
The minutes say only "Motion Passed", with no count and no names.
From the minutes
“Motion to Amend by Councilor Romano to add Roll Call when entering back into Open Session after Ex. Session Main Motion as Amended Motion Passed.” (Motion: Romano)
OLD BUSINESS
Waive Reading
Motion by Councilor Romano to Waive Reading
From the minutes
“Motion by Councilor Romano to Waive Reading 2nd Vice President Swope Passed Unanimously.” (Motion: Romano, second: Swope)
Appropriate Certified Free Cash/Revolving Fund Close out FY26
Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation that the Town Council vote to Appropriate Certified Free Cash/Revolving Fund Close out FY26
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 Appropriate Certified Free Cash/Revolving Fund Close out FY26 No 2nd Needed ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Romano, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie Motion Passes.”
Authorize Unpaid Bills for Prior Year
Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation that the Town Council vote to authorize Unpaid Bills for Prior Year
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 for Prior Year No 2nd Needed ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Romano, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie Motion Passes.”
Adopt the zoning ordinance amendment read into the record (vote after the full text)
Motion by Rules & Ordinance that the Winthrop Town Council propose and refer for review the attached amendments to Title 17 Zoning of the Code of Ordinances concerning the prohibition of use variances and clarification of the powers of the Board of Appeals.
The motion came from a council committee, so no mover or seconder is named.
From the minutes
“Variance. A departure from the terms of this title dimensional requirements of this Title authorized by the board of appeals under M.G.L.c. 40A pursuant to §17.52.020 and in accordance with applicable provisions of M.G.L. c. 40A, §10. A variance shall not authorize a use or activity otherwise prohibited in the zoning district in which the land or structure is located. Section 2. §17.52.020 - Powers of the board of appeals §17.52.020 is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph: Notwithstanding any provision of this Title to the contrary, the board of appeals shall have no authority to grant a variance for any use not otherwise permitted within the applicable zoning district. Variances shall be limited solely to dimensional and intensity regulations, including but not limited to setbacks, frontage, lot area, height, and similar requirements. Any application seeking relief to allow a prohibited use shall be denied for lack of authority. Section 3. New §17.52.025 - Use variances prohibited Title 17 is hereby amended by inserting a new section as follows: Sec. 17.52.025. Use variances prohibited. Notwithstanding any provision of this Title or any general or special law to the contrary, no variance shall be granted to authorize a use not otherwise permitted by right or by special permit within the zoning district in which the subject land or structure is located. All use changes shall occur only as permitted under this Title, including but not limited to rezoning or special permit approval where applicable. Section 4. §17.28.030(D)(1) - Nonconforming uses §17.28.030(D)(1) is hereby amended as follows: A nonconforming use may be changed to another nonconforming use by special permit, provided such use in not substantially more detrimental provided that such change shall not be substantially more detrimental to the neighborhood and shall not circumvent the use regulations established by this Title. Section 5. Severability If any provision of this article is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions. Section 6. Effective Date This amendment shall take effect upon adoption and publication as required by law. ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Millar, Councilor Dimes, Councilor Romano, Councilor Reardon, Councilor Finn, Vice President Swope, President Letterie Motion Passes.”
NEW BUSINESS
Suspend Town Council Rules & Procedures and change the June 16th Town Council Meeting to June 30th , cancel the first Town Council Meeting of July 7th and keep scheduled Town Council Meeting of...
Motion by Councilor Romano to suspend Town Council Rules & Procedures and change the June 16th Town Council Meeting to June 30th , cancel the first Town Council Meeting of July 7th and keep scheduled Town Council Meeting of July 21st.
From the minutes
“Motion by Councilor Romano to suspend Town Council Rules & Procedures and change the June 16th Town Council Meeting to June 30th , cancel the first Town Council Meeting of July 7th and keep scheduled Town Council Meeting of July 21st. 2nd by Councilor Costigan Discussion If this motion was to pass, the Town Council President will announce a special meeting for June 9th. Passed Unanimously.” (Motion: Romano, second: Costigan)
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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