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Board of Selectmen approves multiple budget transfers, authorizes EMPG grant application and asks to seek MIRA opt-out
Summary
At its Feb. 18 meeting the Winchester Board of Selectmen approved two line‑item transfers for public safety and training, authorized the town to apply for an EMPG grant and voted to request permission to opt out of a regional municipal service agreement for solid-waste disposal; several appointments and reappointments were also recorded.
The Winchester Board of Selectmen approved several administrative motions and budget adjustments during its Feb. 18 regular meeting, including two line‑item transfers for vehicle repairs and staff training, formal authorization to apply for an Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) and a vote to request that the regional MIRA authority permit Winchester to opt out of its municipal service agreement.
The board voted on the motions during the meeting. A transfer of $25,000 into the police department’s vehicle maintenance account passed after motion and second. A second transfer of $1,910 from the building official salary line to training, memberships and a vehicle allowance also passed. The board unanimously authorized town staff to apply for the EMPG grant by passing a resolution permitting the application. The selectmen then voted to direct the second selectman to draft a letter asking MIRA (Mirror Dissolution Authority) to allow Winchester to opt out of its municipal service agreement; that motion passed 5–1.
The meeting also included routine personnel actions: the board reappointed Linda Guapo to an RRDD No. 1 seat (term to expire December 2027) and approved an appointment of John Prebznik to RRDD No. 1 (term to expire December 2025). A public exchange recorded concern among some selectmen about how one of those appointments had been handled publicly.
The board closed the meeting after an executive session on pending litigation; members said no action followed the closed session.
Votes at a glance - Police vehicle maintenance transfer: Motion to move $25,000 from labor/skilled professional to maintenance of vehicles (account 1‑210‑821‑0000). Motion moved and seconded; vote: passed (recorded as passed after vote call). Referenced in meeting packet and motion language recorded on the transcript. - Building official training transfer: Motion to move $1,910 from account 1‑148‑190‑0001 (building official) into training/education (1‑148‑811‑0000), memberships/dues (1‑148‑814‑0000) and vehicle allowance (1‑148‑819‑0000). Motion moved and seconded; vote: passed. - EMPG grant resolution: Motion to authorize town to apply for Emergency Management Performance Grant funding and for the authorized official to sign application documents. Motion moved and seconded; vote: unanimous approval. - MIRA municipal service agreement opt‑out request: Motion directing the second selectman to draft a letter requesting that the town be allowed to opt out of its MSA with the Mirror Dissolution Authority. Motion moved and seconded; vote: 5–1 in favor. - Reappointments/appointments: Linda Guapo reappointed to RRDD No. 1 (term to expire Dec. 2027); John Prebznik appointed to RRDD No. 1 (term to expire Dec. 2025). Motion and seconds recorded; votes recorded in the minutes.
The transcript records the motions and the board’s recorded outcomes; detailed vote tallies are included above where the meeting recorded them.
Ending The motions approved at the meeting address routine operational funding, grant authorization and a strategic request on solid-waste procurement strategy. The selectmen directed staff to follow through on the transfers, the EMPG application and the MIRA opt‑out letter, and they closed the meeting after executive session with no action taken afterwards.
