The Town of Winthrop conducted its swearing-in ceremony for its newly elected officials Tuesday night in the Neil Shapiro Center for the Performing Arts at Winthrop High School.
Town Clerk Denise Quist administered the oaths of office individually to Town Council President James Letterie, Councilor-at-Large Max Tassinari, Precinct 2 Councilor John Munson, Precinct 4 Councilor Suzanne Swope, Precinct 6 Councilor John DaRos, School Committtee Members Layne Petrie and Zachary Purinton (Member Gus Martucci received his oath earlier) Winthrop Housing Commissioners Frank Ferrara and Roseann Trionfi Mazzuchelli, and Library Trustees Anne Ferreira, Gary Skomro, and Alyson Casey Dewar.
Marino, Turco Offer Congratulations to Officials
Town Manager Tony Marino, who took office on May 26, 2022, congratulated the newly officials, noting that this was “my first [Winthrop] swearing-in ceremony.”
State Rep. Jeff Turco also offered his personal congratulations to the elected officials who were being sworn-in at the ceremony.
“I just wanted to take a few minutes to congratulate those that are taking their oath again and those that are taking it for the first time,” said Turco. “For those of you that are taking it again, you recognize that your job is often thankless. Sometimes you wonder whether it’s worth the headache or not, but in a town like this, we can’t run the town or the town government without good people being willing to step up and run for office.”
Turco took the time to recognize distinguished guests seated in the audience, former Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo, former State Sen. Joseph Boncore, former Council President Peter Gill, former Town Councilor Nick DelVento, Supt. of Schools Lisa Howard, Police Chief Terence Delehanty, and Fire Chief Scott Wiley.
Turco then concluded his remarks with a quote he said he often cites, “Although benevolent men and women cannot do all the good they would, they do need to do all the good they can.”
Precinct 3 Town Councilor Hannah Belcher added, “I’m thankful that my colleagues unanimously put their faith in me to help President Letterie lead the council this year. The council has some tough work to do this session, and I’m excited to continue pushing forward for the benefit of our community. From big ticket items like the fire station to pragmatic, incremental changes that increase participation and transparency, I’m ready to continue to roll up my sleeves and get to work. It is an honor and a privilege to do so in a leadership capacity.”
President Letterie Delivers His Inaugural Address
James “Jim” Letterie was re-elected town council president in November without opposition. He becomes the third president to serve a second term in office, joining Tom Reilly and Peter Gill in that category. The other residents who held the highest elected position in town government are Jeff Turco, Ron Vecchia, Bob Driscoll, Russ Sanford, and Phil Boncore.
Letterie, whose wife, Dawn Letterie, and daughter, Jenna Letterie, attended the ceremony, delivered an inspiring and optimistic vision for the town in 2024 and beyond. Following is the text of President Letterie’s remarks:
“Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished members of our community, esteemed guests, and fellow citizens, welcome to the Town of Winthrop’s 10th swearing in ceremony under this Council form of government.
There are a few individuals that I would like to recognize before I begin… First, Speaker Bob DeLeo, I can go on and on about all Bob has done for his beloved Winthrop, but to try and keep it brief, Bob has dedicated over a half century of service to this town in various capacities, including the longest serving Speaker of the House in the history of Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Bob, I thank you for your wisdom, service and dedication to the town you love. Secondly, Tom Reilly. Tom has also served this town for many years in various capacities including as our first Council President. Tom’s wisdom and mild demeanor was the perfect fit, and his 2 terms gave us that stable foundation on which to build. Thank you, Tom. I would also like to recognize and thank Dave Hubbard for his many years of service to our town including as Town Moderator and his incredible work and dedication to preserving the history of our town. Peter and Richard Gill, you have both always been there with words of wisdom, always putting our town first, and always willing to serve in whatever capacity is needed, I thank you both. Karin Chavis, I cannot even list all the committees, building projects, elections, search committees you have served on. Your wisdom, sincerity, thoughtfulness and love of this town is immeasurable. I thank you for all you do and, more importantly, for your friendship.
I also need to thank my family for their support. My wife, Dawn, has always been there, not always willingly, but always there. No one puts their name on a ballot to make friends. There are definitely times when you make decisions that are unpopular or mis understood, and I am so fortunate to be able to go home and have someone who understands my passion for Winthrop and will take the time to hear me out and understand why and how I feel something will help our town. I appreciate her support more than she will ever know. Jake and Jenna, who were 5 and 3 when I first ran, now 23 and 25, and have grown up understanding the importance of civic involvement and what an important lesson that is. I am so grateful and proud of them every day. Also, my mom, who I’ve thanked every day for over 63 years for always being there.
I would also like to thank these individuals who day in, and day out help make Winthrop a great place to live, work and raise a family.
State Representative and former Council President Jeff Turco, Jeff over the past 14 years you have grown, figuratively not literally, to understand this town and help us in so many ways, I thank you.
• State Senator Lydia Edwards
• Town Manager Tony Marino
• Police Chief Delahanty
• Fire Chief Wiley
• Superintendent Lisa Howard
• Director Calla, and all our incredible department heads
• Former Council Presidents … Reilly, Turco, Gill, Vecchia, Driscoll, Sanford, Boncore
I must also recognize someone who has done so much for myself and so many others, someone who knows the ins and out of all that is Winthrop, someone that the Town Council would be lost without and that is our Town Clerk, our Council Clerk, basically our Clerk of the Works, Denise Quist.
Today marks a momentous occasion as I stand before you, deeply honored and privileged to assume the role of your Town Council President. As we embark on this journey together, I am acutely aware of the weight of responsibility that comes with this position—a responsibility that extends to each of the nearly 20,000 citizens who call our town home.
In our community, we are not merely a Town Council; we are a collective force working towards a common purpose. Winthrop is a mosaic of diverse perspectives, and as we face the future, we recognize that challenges will inevitably come our way. It is crucial to acknowledge that we may not always agree on the best course of action, but it is in these differences that the potential for growth and progress lies.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the invaluable town employees who form the backbone of our community. Their dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment contribute immeasurably to the well-being of our town. These individuals often work behind the scenes, but their impact on our daily lives is profound. As we move forward, I am committed to ensuring that our town employees feel valued, supported, and appreciated for their tireless efforts.
My first goal 2 years ago was to hire a town manager that would be that stabilizing influence. Someone who was a blue-collar kind of person, someone who would never ask anything of anyone that he would not do himself. Someone that was a presence that would understand our town and our people. We hit the jackpot with Tony, I thank the Council for their unanimous support, and I thank Tony for just being you.
Our public safety personnel, our guardians, and deserve a special acknowledgment. To the brave men and women who serve on the front lines, ensuring our safety and security, I extend my deepest gratitude. Their commitment to our community goes beyond duty, and we are indebted to them for their courage and sacrifice. Recognizing the incredible need for a modern fire and police station, I pledge to work tirelessly to provide our first responders with the facilities and resources they require to continue their vital work effectively. Although unsuccessful this past fall, I commit we will be ready to present by mid-March, for your consideration multiple options to consider. We will offer MANY opportunities for your questions and FULL understanding of what we are trying to accomplish. It is my wish to have a ballot ready project, fully vetted, transparent, and worthy of your vote by the end of May.
Equally significant is my commitment to education, the foundation upon which our community’s future is built. Our school department plays a pivotal role in shaping the minds and values of our youth. I emphasize the incredible importance of education and pledge to work collaboratively to ensure our schools have the resources, support, and infrastructure necessary to foster an environment where every student can thrive.
As we navigate the complexities of governance, I want to acknowledge that challenges will arise, and there will be moments when consensus may seem elusive. However, in these moments, we must remember the power of compromise. Compromise is not a concession of principles but a bridge to understanding, a pathway to common ground that ensures the well-being of our entire community.
I extend an invitation to each and every one of you to actively engage in the democratic process. We are a Town Council of nine, but our decisions resonate with close to 20,000 community members. Your involvement, understanding, and perspectives are crucial. Attend town meetings, participate in discussions, and stay informed about the issues which will shape our town’s future. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient community.
We still have much to do, The old Middle School Site, whether it be a sports complex, a public safety building, a hotel or whatever, we cannot stop moving forward. We have an RFI out, which will be open until late January and has already garnered interest. We are constantly working on that site while remaining focused on any potential impacts to Parks & Rec, as well as the economic vitality and density of the town.
We have the TIP project getting under way in earnest this spring, which will bring disruptions, but ultimately will be a significant improvement that will provide needed infrastructure improvements, better access to the Gorman Fort Banks as well as a very attractive visual upgrade.
We have mitigation agreements with Massport and the MWRA which will be expiring in January of 2025 and we will soon begin the negotiation process.
I say now, as I have said before, we as a Council always appreciate your thoughts, ideas, suggestions and yes even criticisms. We are not perfect, we will make mistakes, but I again guarantee you our mistakes will not be born from laziness, mediocre effort or lack of transparency. I promise 100% effort because that is what you deserve. So let us embark on this journey of collaboration, understanding that our shared efforts will shape the destiny of our town. With gratitude for the past, commitment to the present, and vision for the future, let us work hand in hand to create a town we are all proud to call home. May God bless you and may God bless out beautiful town of Winthrop.