Marino gives Update on Latest 3A, Fire Station Information

Town Manager Tony Marino briefly updated the town council on several big ongoing issues in Winthrop during his report at last week’s meeting.

At the next council meeting on Tuesday, July 16, Marino said he will be ready to give a presentation on proposed town water rates.

That meeting will also mark the official swearing-in ceremony for new Police Chief John Goodwin. Terence Delehanty’s last official day as chief is July 14.

Marino said the public works department was out cleaning up Yirrell Beach recently, and he thanked residents who have helped to continue the clean up efforts at the beach.

In addition to the town council meeting on July 16, there is also the next meeting with RKG Consultants scheduled for that day at the senior center to continue discussions on plans for the MBTA 3A Communities Act.

Last week, Marino said the town was looking to price out having Zoom capabilities put in at the senior center for the meeting so that more people could take part.

The town manager added that the meeting will be broadcast live on WCAT and taped for anyone who wants to watch the meeting later, as well.

The town is also looking to move forward with a survey to garner public input on potential sites for a new fire station.

At a recent council meeting, Marino said the town would be looking for feedback on potential sites including the old middle school, the Little League A field, and the Wadsworth Building. Last fall, voters defeated a proposal to locate a $40 million firehouse at the Wadsworth site.

In addition to the three sites presented to the council in June, Marino said the town is finalizing some information on the potential of the town basketball courts as a firehouse site, a suggestion made by Councilor Pat Costigan at the June meeting.

“We are taking a look at the depth of the lot,” said Marino.

The standard fire station the town proposed has a depth of 90 feet, and needs an additional apron space for the apparatus of 100 feet.

“We are looking at 190 feet, so we want to make sure we can make it with the depth of the lot and how tall that retaining wall would be,” said Marino.