Town of Winchester Boards and Committees

Has a mandate to “provide for the preservation and creation of affordable housing in the Town of Winchester for the benefit of low and moderate income households.” Adopted mission is "to support and sustain an inclusive and socioeconomically diverse community consistent with the policy objectives of the most recent Winchester Housing Production Plan through investment, education, and advocacy."

Advises the Archivist and assists with the Archival Center, repository of the town's historical documents.

Assists the Select Board in their oversight of the annual financial audit.

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) hears and decides applications for special permits, petitions for variances from the terms of the zoning bylaws, site plan approvals as mandated by the zoning ordinance, and appeals from decisions of the zoning enforcement officer (building commissioner).

The Assessors annually make a valuation of all property, both real and personal, with the Town and compute the tax rate for each year. The Board is part-time and meet weekly at Town Hall. Assessors are required by Massachusetts law to value all real and personal property within their community. They also have responsibility for motor vehicle excise tax bills originated by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. See also www.winchester.us/1061/Board-of-Assessors

Responsible for the formulation and enforcement of rules and regulations affecting the environment and public health. The Board appoints the Director of the Health Department as its Agent. The Director of Public Health ensures compliance with State public health mandates and implements policies set by the Board 

Has the custody and management of the library and of all property of the town related thereto.

In addition to registering all voters, the registrars verify all signatures on nomination papers or petitions.

Advises the Select Board about cable television services and contract issues.

Assists the town manager annually in the preparation of a capital improvement program.  Makes recommendations on the capital expenditure requests from town boards and departments to the Select Board and the Finance Committee. The capital program and recommendations become an integral part of the Finance Committee’s budget report to Town Meeting.

Gives advice and assistance to the Select Board in the ongoing development and implementation of the Town of Winchester 2020 Climate Action Plan. See the CAAC Mission Statement.

The commissioners manage all trust funds given or bequeathed for the benefit of the town or its inhabitants, unless the donor has otherwise provided.

Studies the needs, possibilities, and resources of the town regarding community preservation. Makes recommendations to Town Meeting for the acquisition, creation and preservation of open space; for the acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of historic resources; for the acquisition, creation, preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of land for recreational use; for the acquisition, creation, preservation and support of community housing; and for the rehabilitation or restoration of open space and community housing that is acquired or created with Community Preservation Funds.

This committee is the successor of a committee established by the Select Board to support town-wide adoption of the Community Preservation Act. Further resources on the Community Preservation Act can be found online at the Community Preservation Coalition website.

Contact is through a form on the town website.

A standing committee of the Town Meeting, the committee reviews and recommends revisions to the bylaws as needed (every 10 years in any case) and reviews and reports on all warrant articles that would, if adopted, affect the bylaws or charter of the town.

The committee evaluates suggestions for the naming of public places and structures (except street names).

A standing committee of the Town Meeting, this committee provides continuing oversight of the business, conduct, and procedures of the Town Meeting, proposing changes as it is deems necessary.

Has responsibility for preservation of open space and implementation of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Winchester Wetlands Bylaw.

Assists in serving official documents from the Town of Winchester, and may serve to deliver official court documents on civil issues. May be non resident of Winchester.

Mandated by the State Executive Office of Elder Affairs and the Federal Administration on Aging, the Council

• identifies the needs and resources of the town’s aging population and designs services in response to these needs,
• provides resources such as social and health services, financial and legal consultation, transportation, and educational program, and
• educates the community and enlists community support for its programs.

Supports cultural activities in Winchester through the state Cultural Council grants program, a local microgrant program, and other local arts initiatives, including collaboration and support for Arts Winchester, a separate organization which manages the Winchester Cultural District.

Inactive

Provides design review services to Town boards, committees or departments, including the Zoning Board, Planning Board, Engineering Department, and Select Board. Advises on site improvements, visual design, and façade changes within the town, and makes recommendations on all sign permit applications. It assists the Department of Public Works in the implementation of visual improvements when requested by the Select Board.

Protects the rights and facilitates the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of community life within Winchester.

Charged with the preparation and periodic adjustment of the the School Facilities Master Plan. The committee makes recommendations for each school building and oversees design and construction.

Advises and assists the town in the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy related cost-saving measures for municipal buildings, facilities, and infrastructure.

Reviews and oversees the use and maintenance of the play fields, makes recommendations for improvements to the fields and recreational green space, reviews scheduling of events, and makes recommendations to the Recreation Department on issuing field use permits.

A standing committee of Town Meeting. The Finance Committee must recommend a balanced budget at Spring town Meeting (projected expenditures must not exceed projected revenues).

Works to create a bike path system in the town through analysis, planning, and distributing grant funds.

Implements the Winchester Heritage Districts Bylaw, which primarily involves review of projects in the Rangeley Heritage District.

Works for the preservation, protection, and development of our town’s historical or archeological assets, and the establishment of protective measures of these assets for future generations.

Authorized to manage the construction, financing, maintenance, and rental policies of low-cost housing for low-income families and the elderly. The WHA owns and operates 112 Ch. 689 public housing units for senior citizens and 9 units of chapter 705 state-aided housing for families, and it administers 143 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Recommends overall strategies and specific proposals for the development of affordable housing and applications for, and allocation of, federal and state housing development subsidies and grants, and it reviews and makes recommendations on the inclusion of affordable housing in proposals for privately financed multiple-unit developments.

State Appointee

Established by the Massachusetts legislature to promote the restoration and public use of the Middlesex Canal. Website: http://middlesexcanal.org/commission/

Town Engineer

A Regional Committee to facilitate cooperative regional planning.

An advisory committee to assist the town in the planning, funding, and implementation of street-tree planting and maintenance. The committee advocates for street trees in the town; provides policy recommendations to the Select Board, Planning Board, and Capital Planning Committee; and assists in the annual determination of funding from the Peter Van Aken Permanent Street Tree Fund.

Acts as a central authority for personnel conditions, wage and salary adjustments, and job classification. It assists in the coordination of collective bargaining activities with all the organized groups, except the school staff.

Responsible for administering the Subdivision Control Law, drafting zoning bylaw revisions, undertaking planning studies within the town, and revising and updating the town's comprehensive master plan. The Planning Board also makes recommendations to the Winchester Zoning Board of Appeals on petitions before the Zoning Board of Appeals for consideration of zoning relief.

The Board reports annually to the town, giving information regarding the condition of the town and any plans or proposals known to it.

Advises on developments regarding health insurance premium matters and health care plans for Town retirees; informs Town retirees about changes in health insurance at both the state and the municipal level; advises municipal officials and Town Meeting about opportunities to improve municipal insurance and to manage OPEB liabilities without unduly burdening employees or retirees.

Administers the Town of Winchester employee retirement system in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and provides information to all covered current and former employees.

Our Mission: To provide all students with an outstanding education in a nurturing yet challenging environment that fosters academic achievement, healthy social and emotional development, enthusiasm for education, and a life-long love for learning.

Annual Town Election

Administers a special taxation fund to assist low-income elderly and disabled persons to meet their property tax obligations. 

Convened by the Select Board to design a comprehensive fiscal plan that can guide the Town broadly across six areas:

• Town and School Operating Needs
• Capital Needs and Asset Strategy
• Non-Property Tax Revenue
• Structural Costs & Efficiencies
• Tax Fairness
• Fiscal Stewardship

We anticipate this work will lead to a number of policy actions, designed to put the town on strong fiscal footing, protect and strategically enhance Town and School services and capital, and minimize impact on taxpayers.

Annual Town Election. See also the Winchester Town Meeting Members Association.

Spring Town Meeting

Spring Town Meeting

Committee was dissolved in 2023, with a letter of explanation to the Select Board.

The Traffic and Transportation Committee (TTAC) advises the Select Board and Town Manager about Winchester’s interdepartmental Traffic and Transportation Program. The Program aims to steadily improve Winchester’s transportation facilities, operations, and services for all users and all modes of travel so that even the most vulnerable users can move throughout town more safely, comfortably, and expeditiously, year-round.

Apparently there is no town committee for veterans (perhaps one once existed). State statute requires each Massachusetts municipality to administer the State's General Assistance to a veterans program rather than require this assistance to filter through the regional general welfare service offices located in various areas of the state. The Veterans Agent assists Winchester veterans in obtaining payments they are permitted to receive under various State and Federal laws.

Advises the cemetery commissioners (the Select Board) on the condition of Wildwood Cemetery and makes recommendations with respect to its care and maintenance.

Operates a community television studio for public, educational and municipal access, and provides the residents, students and organizations of Winchester with training in the use of community television facilities, channels.and related media and technology, so as to enhance community information and communication.

Manages, operates and stewards certain land, buildings, assets and resources sited on and constituting Wright-Locke Farm.