Winthrop Council Shifts November Meeting, Defers Three Appointments Amid Transparency Fight

WINTHROP — October 7, 2025 — Winthrop Town Council defers three appointments and defeats a transparency appeal in a contentious October 7 session. Vice President Belcher reported that the Firehouse Building Committee has awarded a $2.34 million demolition and asbestos-removal contract — chosen from a bid range of $2.3 million to $5.2 million — with a pre-construction meeting set for October 20 and full demolition targeted by year's end. The council unanimously voted to shift its November 4 meeting to November 5 to avoid Election Day and referred a $1.1 million water system appropriation to the Finance Committee. A motion by Councilor Tassanari appealing Council President McTerry's ruling that Board of Registrars communications were out of order during the town manager's report failed 2-3; Tassanari later told the council from the public comment podium that a public records request he filed September 9 seeking emails and recordings related to the recall process remains unanswered.