Councilor Suzanne Swope Holds Coffee Hour on Special Election

Courtesy Photos

Last Thursday, March 13, Town Councilor Suzanne Swope held a coffee hour at Seal Harbor to inform local residents about the upcoming town special election on Saturday, April 5th. The ballot will include three questions about building a new fire station and funding a school budget override.

The coffee hour featured presentations by Town Council President Jim Letterie, Fire Chief Scott Wiley and School Superintendent Lisa Howard. Council President Letterie stressed the need for both a new firehouse and critical funding for the Winthrop Public Schools to maintain appropriate school standards. Chief Wiley talked about the deteriorating and dangerous conditions at the two existing fire stations in the town. Superintendent Howard discussed the implications of service cuts including staff and program reductions, increased class sizes and student user fees for athletics and other activities if the ballot questions on the schools are not approved.

There was very good attendance at the coffee hour, both in person and on Zoom, and several members in the audience asked excellent questions of the three leaders who provided very informed answers. Among those present at the coffee hour were former Town Council President Peter Gill and former Fire Chief Paul Flanagan.

Future coffee hours about the special election will be held on Tuesday, March 25th at 1:00PM at the DeLeo Senior Center, 35 Harvard Street, and on Wednesday, March 26th from 9:00-11:00AM at Selva Coffee House, 530 Shirley Street.