Select Board votes to remove Main Street shade tree

Select Board · Meeting of August 24, 2026

WINCHESTER — The Winchester Select Board voted 4-0 to remove a Main Street shade tree after an accessibility dispute pitted DPW and the property owner against tree preservation advocates. DPW Director Robert LaBossiere said root damage left sidewalk bricks heaved up to five and one-eighth inches, while property manager David Errico argued the site violated ADA slope standards. "The arborist was afraid that that tree would come over in a heavy wind," LaBossiere said.

The board also voted 4-0 to extend Town Manager Christopher Senior's contract through December 31, 2027, and appointed Brian Gantez and Sachin Mallya to the Energy Management Committee and Paul Puzzanghera to the new Long Range Financial Planning Committee. Comptroller Stacie Ward reported a $3.4 million revenue surplus but flagged roughly $600,000 in unresolved Eversource billing problems.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
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• The complete report — 2,536 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of August 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.