Winchester Select Board Votes to Formalize Town Manager Goals, Pursue Solar Purchase

WINCHESTER — March 2, 2026 — Winchester Select Board backs solar panel purchase and sets town manager goals ahead of spring warrant deadline. The board, led by Chair Michelle Pryor, unanimously formalized Town Manager Chris Senior's performance goals at its March 2 meeting, with a final version expected for approval at the March 16 session. Members also signaled strong support — with Member Mike Bannon Court declaring "purchased for me 100 percent" — for buying rather than leasing solar installations at the high school, McCall Middle School, Veo, and DPW sites at an estimated cost of $4.5 million net of tax credits, projecting roughly $2.8 million in savings over 25 years. A federal law enacted July 4, 2025, has reduced solar tax credits, making Spring Town Meeting the critical window for action. The board also approved a 14th amendment to the Waterfield development agreement extending key deadlines to June 11, reappointed Emily Clark to the Facilities, Planning and Budget Committee through March 1, 2029, and approved two Eversource underground electric service installations in Wendell Street and Winford Way. A proposed OPEB trust management warrant article was pulled as not yet ready, and a local lodging tax option — estimated to generate about $14,000 annually — was added to the Spring Town Meeting list.