Residents Skepticism Aired at Town Meeting

The Winthrop Town Council brought back the feeling of a town meeting Tuesday night when they invited residents to the annual spring forum to discuss the Center Business District, the old Middle School and the town operated ferry service.

Over 50 people attended the forum, held in the auditorium of the new high school.

“I offer this forum as a town meeting,” said Council President Ron Vecchia.

The forum began with a discussion of the center business district and the $12.5 project being floated to address an aging infrastructure. Initially it was projected that the project would cost around $3 million.

“The last upgrade was 30 years ago and the drainage problem in the Center has only increased,” said Steve Calla, director of Public Works. “It needs immediate action.”

He added that the increasing scope of the project has led to increasing costs. Adding to the confusion was the Hagman Road temporary closure and a possible $700,000 landscape architect plan.

Vecchia said the new council and the interim town manager inherited the issues discussed Tuesday. Several times people asked about the participation with former Town Manager Jim McKenna, who was a strong supporter of the Center Business District work and the creation of the town ferry service. McKenna resigned last spring and was to finish out the final year of his contract as a consultant to the down. People were disappointed he wasn’t available for questions.

The town officers have not made final decisions on the infrastructure work, funding or the future of the town ferry. Delehanty said much of the information is on the town’s website at www.town.winthrop.ma.us.

Resident Frank Constantino gave a lengthy remark about the direction for town development.

“What our town needs first is not developer’s moneyed visions of what they see feasible for them, but what the town can strongly establish as the collective vision for the town,” Constantino said.

Business owner Paul Lucerto said he attended many meetings about the center and at the end of each meeting he asked where the money was coming from and was told it was there.

“It’s a little dishearting,” Lucerto said, adding “We’re losing faith in our government.”

Business owner Jim Murray said it looked like the previous town manager and councilors had under bid the costs in order to have a lower cost on a sheet of paper to “be lulled back with a sense of security.”

“It seems like something was afoot. The costs rose and I think Mr. Calla was hung out to dry,” Murray said. “We go from $4 million to $12 million without hesitation. We need to fix the center. We need to do what we can afford. I would say we moved to fast.”

“It feels like we’re chasing our tails,” said Julia Wallerce, chair of the Transportation Committee. “It’s hard to support what they don’t understand and this is part of the process.”

“Winthrop is a wonderful town, but we cannot close our eyes to the fact that we are struggling terribly,” said Lisa Albergini in a prepared statement. “We need to get our house in order. We need experienced outside professionals.”

Resident Kathleen Cappuccio came to the microphone: “I think I’m the first to say his name tonight. Our former town manager’s name is Jim McKenna. He told us how much money we had, and his CFO told us how much money we had. And they couldn’t contribute to Miller Field because they had so much money,” Cappuccio said. “I voted in the last two debt exclusions and an override, and I firmly believe in everything we did. I would not work on another override again with the distrust that I have. McKenna misled this town, he was irresponsible. Numerous meetings I could go back to when he and the CFO told us how much money we had. How great we were. How wonderful our standing was. It wasn’t Steven Calla’s fault we were misled. Most of the citizens have lost trust.”

Residents attending the forum also were presented with the master plan for the middle school site. Currently, there are four options in the master plan and a fifth for a citizens group that would bring in a new ice rink and community center. So far 20 developers have toured the site.

Resident Joe Aiello, who has worked on the fifth idea, noted the current rink has some structural issues and the repairs done more than 20 years ago were intended to be temporary.

“Whatever we do on this site we need professionals,” Aiello said. “Water and sewer work also has to be integrated into the Center Business District work.”

As for the town’s ferry service, Delehanty said the ferry budget for FY19 has not been approved yet by the council. However, it is operating and there are a couple of changes. First, the cost of a one-way fare during commuting hours has been reduced to $6 from $8. This is to bring the ticket price more in line with taking the commuter rail. There will also be a push for more sunset cruises and pleasure cruises.

Tanji Cifani, who heads up the ferry service, said they are increasing marketing on the Red Line riders, and they are able to dock at the New England Aquarium saving $14,000 from docking at Rowe’s Wharf.

“We are currently the only ferry going to the Seaport,” she said, adding that Quincy is shutting down two Red Line stops and she hopes to see an increase in ridership.