Winthrop Town Council elects vice president, honors two new Eagle Scouts

WINTHROP -- January 6, 2026, Winthrop Town Council honored two Eagle Scouts, elected a vice president, and addressed a wave of resident confusion over spiking real estate tax bills at its January 6 organizational meeting. Town Manager Tony Marino explained that a school construction override could not be billed until the town set its tax rate in January, meaning the full annual increase, roughly $951 for an average home assessed at $738,500, was compressed into the third and fourth quarter bills rather than spread evenly across all four. The council unanimously elected Councilor Suzanne Swope as vice president and voted unanimously to designate all town interns as special municipal employees, a housekeeping measure to keep student interns in compliance with state ethics law. In public comment, Citizens Advisory Commission on Climate representative Celesta Vera Hewitt warned that the commission was suspending some activity pending a "meaningful engagement" from the council on resources for Morton Street flood infrastructure. Stella Pelletier of Troop 79 was recognized as Winthrop's first female Eagle Scout, and Scott Bui of Troop 75 was honored alongside her.