The Finance Committee of the Winchester City Council voted to forward an ordinance that amends sections 14-1, 14-50, 14-55 and 14-77 of the Winchester City Code, consolidating fee language and setting the ordinance to take effect July 1, 2025.

Mary Blow, the presenter, said the draft removes an ambiguous paragraph and consolidates the amount-due language into section 14-55(b)(1) so readers can see the first-payment amount and subsequent deadlines in one place. "We want to make this change effective July 1, 2025," Blow said, noting staff wanted to exhaust an existing supply of citation books before switching forms.

The committee discussed inconsistent wording in the draft about whether the schedule described a single total amount due at each milestone or cumulative penalties. Committee members described the intended schedule as: $20 if paid within 48 hours of issuance; $30 if not paid within 48 hours; and $50 after 15 days for a first citation, with a different flat schedule for a second citation (examples discussed included $25 within 48 hours, $50 after 48 hours and $60 after 15 days). Committee members asked staff to ensure the ordinance language and the citation/matrix presented to the public match and to standardize use of the terms "fine" and "penalty."

No changes to the numeric amounts were reported at the meeting; the edits were described as clarifying and reorganizing existing provisions. The committee moved to forward the ordinance with a recommendation for approval and approved that motion with an affirmative voice vote.

The minutes from the committee's Dec. 3 meeting were also approved at the start of the session.