5 Things You Need to Know Today

Selectmen, Design Review Committee to Discuss Winchester High Project

Find out what is happening in Winchester on Monday, May 20.

Here is the 5 Things column for Monday, May 20 for Winchester: 1. Stormy weather? There is a 50 percent chance of rain Monday, as well as a possibility of thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service's forecast for Winchester. Temperatures will reach a high of about 79 before dipping to an overnight low of around 57, according to the forecast. 2. Local meetings: Here is a look at Winchester meetings slated for Monday, according to the town website: 3. Job hunt: Check out the latest jobs available in the region on the Jobs section of Winchester Patch. 4. Fair photos: Did you take some awesome En Ka Fair photos? Upload them to this post! 5. In case you missed it: Check out the latest Home of the Week on Winchester Patch. Use …

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On the Agenda: Budget Summit at Tonight’s Board of Selectmen’s Meeting

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall.

The Board of Selectmen will begin to discuss the town’s Fiscal Year 2014 budget tonight in a joint session with the School Committee, Finance Committee and Capital Planning Committee. The Board of Selectmen’s meeting, its last of 2012, starts at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall’s Board of Selectmen’s Meeting Room. The “Budget Summit” portion of the meeting begins at 8:30 p.m., according to the agenda (below). At 8 p.m., there will be a public hearing for a temporary fuel storage permit for Vinson Owen School. Board of Selectmen’s Agenda, Monday, Dec. 17 6:30 p.m. Public Session to adjourn to Executive Session (Collective Bargaining/Negotiations/Personnel Matters) 7:30 p.m. Re-open Public Session (Health Insurance Update, Board of Health Request for …

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On the Agenda: Tax Levy Classification Public Hearing Tonight

A look at tonight’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting.

The Board of Selectmen is holding a public hearing at 7:45 p.m. tonight in its meeting room in Town Hall. The purpose of the hearing is to establish a residential factor and allocate the percentage of the tax levy to be borne by each class of property for Fiscal Year 2013, according to a town announcement. The public is encouraged to express views in the classification, according to the town. The board’s meeting gets underway at 7:30 p.m. See the attached agenda for more information.

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Winchester Proposes Parking Changes

A redo of the town's parking plan that would lower current parking regulations from 32 to six is in the works.

Winchester is looking to make some parking changes around town. Planning Board Chairman Lance Grenzeback presented the proposed implementation schedule for the Winchester Town Center Parking Management Plan. “The plan would change the parking in town in order to meet identified parking needs, ensure that benefits and burdens are shared equitably across users groups, provide adequate time for the town to evaluate parking and pay station equipment and minimize town costs and maximize opportunities to monitor and adjust the program,” Grenzeback said. The plan would provide one hour of free parking in the center of town, which would be labeled as Red Zone parking. Free parking would be available for up to three hours in the Mt. Vernon, Town …

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Winchester Looking for Town Meeting Members

Interested residents can still run as write-in candidates.

In one week Winchester residents will head to the polls for the annual town elections. However, while the ballot may be longer than usual, contested races are few and far between. The Board of Selectmen has two open seats, but both candidates are running unopposed – Forrest Fontana (the current Selectman chair) and Jennifer Wilson (who will be taking over for the retiring Roger Berman). And for the School Committee, chairman Chris Linskey is running unopposed, while Cindy Bohne will be taking over for Sarah Girotti, who decided not to run for reelection. The only contested race is for the Board of Health, where Michael Fiorenza, Lindsay Letteri and Bridget Stump are vying for one vacancy. According to Town Clerk Mary Ellen Lannon, the …

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Winchester Moves Closer To Adding Pay Stations

The town is one step closer to having paid parking.

The town conducted a parking study, and according to the results, the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board were told that the lack of parking is hurting retail and restaurant sales and makes it difficult for clients to reach professional services. To combat those issues, the town is moving towards a parking management plan that would include pay stations around the town center and in the parking lots. “We recommend having pay stations,” said Lance Grenzeback, Chairman of the Planning Board. “They would replace the signs around town and improve the design of the center.” Even though the plan is expected to bring in $40,000, the board and Grenzeback said that the goal of the plan is not to generate extra revenue. “The point of the study is …

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BAV

5:37 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012

Thanks Daniel. This, I believe, is the original study. The plan outlined in the article seems to have changed quite a bit from the originally proposed plan. Perhaps it has not been put to paper yet.   more ›

Letter From Selectmen Candidate

Jennifer Wilson submitted this letter to the editor.

Fellow Winchester Residents: My name is Jennifer Wilson, and I am a candidate for the Board of Selectmen in the March 27 election. I moved to Winchester in 1999 when I married my husband, John.  We have three children, all of whom attend Muraco Elementary School.  I worked for many years as a lawyer, but have been at home since starting a family.  During this time, I have spent the largest share of my free time volunteering in Town government and at our children’s school.   From 2001 through 2009, I served on the Town’s Finance Committee, acting as Vice Chair and Chair for two years.  Last year, I assisted the Board of Selectmen as a member of the Town Manager Search Advisory Committee. I have been a Town Meeting Member since 2003.  At …

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Winchester Residents Discuss Freight Train Stops

Residents voiced their displeasure of having freight trains stopping in their neighborhood.

Even with the snow, Winchester residents showed up in force Thursday night at Town Hall to discuss the freight trains that are stopping the their neighborhood. According to Winchester resident Susan Busher, a railroad switch has been established by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad (MBCR) at Cross Street at the request of Tighe Trucking, Inc. A railroad siding was also installed, allowing freight trains to come off the commuter rail for the delivery to the backside of Tighe Trucking at 45 Holton Street. Cynthia Scarano Executive Vice President of Pan Am Railways attended the meeting and informed residents that there is little her company can do because they are a common carrier. “We’re obligated to deliver to them because we’re a …

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Wichester to Increase Record Fees

It will cost Winchester residents more to get their vital records.

It will cost Winchester residents more money to get a copy of their birth certificate. The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to approve an increase in fees at the Town Clerk’s office, which include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates and building permits, among other forms and permits. “The town will be able to generate approximately $40,000 in additional revenue,” Town Clerk Mary Ellen Lannon said. “While I believe the increase will assist the revenue estimates for Fiscal Year 2013, an affirmative vote of the board this winter will allow the town to generate the revenues during FY 2012.” According to Lannon, the town looks at its fees every couple of years to make sure they’re in line and they make adjustments…

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Transportation Boss Favors Fare Hikes, But Not Service Cuts

In an interview with the Boston Globe, State Transportation Secretary Richard Davey said the state is scrambling to raise enough revenue so that proposed service cuts can be scotched.

In a departure from proposals that would raise T fares and slash services to balance the T's budget, the state's top transporation official says his agency aims to raise enough revenue to avoid service cuts. Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey made the remarks to the Boston Globe. The about-face comes after thousands of people have turned out a public meetings to denounce the proposals.  Under the proposal, there are two scenarios – the first would include a fare increase of 43 percent, and the second a spike of 35 percent. For example, Winchester riders who pay $4.25 for a single ride could pay $6.50 per trip under the first proposal and $6 under the second. Both scenarios would mean cuts or eliminations to commuter rail services. …

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