Winthrop Swears In New Fire Chief, Passes ADU Rules, Shifts Polling Sites

WINTHROP — September 16, 2025 — Winthrop Town Council swore in a new fire chief and passed a restrictive ADU ordinance at its September 16 meeting. Stephen Calandra was sworn in as the department's seventh chief, succeeding retiring Chief William Scott Wiley; Paul Montgomery was sworn in as deputy chief, Michael O'Keefe as captain, and Aaron Smith and Devin Rackhouse as lieutenants. The council voted 7-0 to approve a local ADU ordinance — more restrictive than state defaults — banning ADUs in FEMA 100-year flood zones, multi-family buildings, and short-term rental use; an amendment by Councilor John Aiello to eliminate the option for a second ADU by special permit passed unanimously. Town Manager Tony Marino disclosed that a recall committee filed a petition in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on September 11 seeking to place a recall of Councilor Max Tassinari on the November 4 ballot, with an SJC ruling expected within 30 days. The council also voted unanimously to move precincts 1, 2, and 5 to the high school cafeteria and precincts 3 and 6 to the middle school cafeteria for that election, and approved naming the Veterans Field baseball diamond the Jim Evans Diamond, with Councilor DeMarco abstaining.