Winthrop Town Council Deadlocks 4-4 on MBTA 3A Exemption Case Motion

WINTHROP -- February 3, 2026, Winthrop Town Council deadlocks 4-4 on motion to join MBTA Communities Act exemption case. The council split evenly Tuesday night on an amended motion that would have directed Town Manager Anthony Marino to join a Superior Court exemption case, docket 2484-CBO-2351-A, filed by the "Winthrop Says No to 3A" group on grounds that the law's application is uniquely harmful to the densely built, flood-prone peninsula town. Councilors Costigan, Romano, Wearden, and Vice President Suzanne Swope voted yes; Councilors Tassaneri, Malau, Dines, and Council President James LaTerry voted no. Dissenting members argued the 2024 case contains language already ruled non-constitutional and called for the town's own general counsel to draft a fresh exemption filing, while supporters noted the attorneys are working pro bono and that the town has paid nothing toward the case. LaTerry announced a meeting with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is scheduled for the following week. In other action, the council unanimously approved consolidating five standing committees into two and referred more than $2.5 million in free cash appropriations to the Finance Committee.