Winchester board approves grants, appointments and a bid waiver; forms Pearson School building committee

At the May 4 Winchester Board of Selectmen meeting, the board handled several routine but substantive administrative items, voting unanimously on grant acceptances, appointments and a contract waiver.

Grant acceptance and bid waiver: The board adopted Resolution 26‑01 to accept a $17,450 "Building Healthier Communities" grant from the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation to support development and maintenance of guidebooks for the Winchester Fire Department. The manager told the board the grant requires no local match. The board also approved a bid waiver to continue with the vendor named in the grant proposal (variously spelled in the transcript as "Analine"/"Annaline") and authorized the town manager to execute the related contract.

Appointments and reappointments: The board reappointed Allan Ketchio to the Economic Development Committee and Beth Whitney to the Recreation Commission, accepted a resignation from the Zoning Board of Appeals, and appointed Candy Perez to the Winchester Housing Authority (terms and party affiliation noted on the record). The board also appointed Dennis Drestell to serve as moderator for the May 11 annual town meeting.

Pearson School building committee: Following a referendum on the Pearson School roof project, the board appointed six members to the building committee (including two selectmen and four public applicants) and directed the manager to notify appointees so they can schedule an initial meeting and elect a chair.

What comes next: Town staff will finalize the fire department guidebook contract and send appointment letters to new committee and commission members. The building committee will set its first meeting and elect a chair, and the manager said staff will provide a bond‑spending update at a future meeting.