By Adam Swift
Voters rejected a ballot question for a debt exclusion that would have allowed the town to move forward with the building of a new fire station at the location of the Wadsworth Building and Kirby Funeral Home.
The total cost of the project was expected to fall between $36-$40 million.
There were 2,584 no votes cast for the debt exclusion for the fire station compared to 1,439 yes votes.
Overall, 4,135 of Winthrop’s 13,816 registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s town election. The turnout of just under 30 percent was less than the 40 percent predicted by some town officials.
Town Council President Jim Letterie said he was disappointed in the turnout and in the results of the debt exclusion vote, but thanked those who did make it to the polls on Tuesday so their voices could be heard.
“I just wish that as many people as we had at the first council meeting about this continued to come so we could explain,” said Letterie. “I wish people didn’t only get their information from social media, but I don’t shy away from responsibility, and ultimately put the blame on myself on not getting enough education out, not educating enough people about everything that is involved.”
Letterie said there were concerns about the location, cost, and scope of the project. In his next term as council president, Letterie said he will continue to advocate for a new fire station, putting more effort into providing more information about other potential sites and plans while highlighting why the Wadsworth Building location makes the most sense financially and as a suitable site.
In the other contested races on the ballot, Max Tassinari defeated Todd Sacco for an open councilor-at-large seat. Tassinari garnered 2,652 votes to 1,368 for Sacco.
“I think it would probably take me all night to thank everybody here by name,” said Tassinari, speaking to supporters at the Drop Zone Brewery. “Lots and lots of help came out from this community for me tonight and I really appreciate it. It wasn’t just tonight, though. It’s been the past three, four, five months that you have been out there propping me up, spreading the word, saying all these kinds of good things about me.
“I appreciate it. I appreciate every minute you walked for me, talked for me – every minute you were on emails for me multiple times a day – coming out for events, getting out to vote, and pulling out your friends, your family, and all the people that you’ve had a relationship in this town with.”
Tassinari said he will work to make the town a better place for everyone.
In Precinct 2, incumbent John Munson was returned to office in a three-way race against Marc Chapdelaine and Kurt Millar. Munson ended the night with 391 votes, with Chapdelaine coming in with 249 and Millar with 164.
In an uncontested race, Letterie returns to office as Council President.
Although he ran unopposed, Letterie said he was humbled that voters supported him for a sixth term on the council.
In addition to addressing the fire station and public safety facility, Letterie said he will also continue to work on a plan for the old middle school site and seek to address infrastructure concerns in the town.
“We’re going to have to address issues with the middle school and come to some sort of closure on that, and I think we have to look at the finances of the town and make sure we are on stable footing and continue infrastructure work that is going to help move the town forward,” said Letterie.
In Precinct 4, incumbent Suzanne Swope ran unopposed for Town Council.
In Precinct 6, John Daros ran unopposed and is the new councilor for that district.
The School Committee race saw three candidates for three positions, with Layne Petrie, Zachary Purinton, and incumbent Gus Martucci all moving onto the committee.
Frank Ferrera won a close three-way race for the Winthrop Housing Authority, totalling 2,235 votes to 2,174 for Roseann Trionfi-Mazzuchelli and 1,264 for John Tranfaglia.
Anne Ferreira was elected as a library trustee, with two additional open spots on the ballot. There were 625 write-in ballots for the position that will be tabulated.
Voters also approved four ballot questions seeking changes to the town’s charter.