Town of Winchester Public Hearing: Camera Plan Draws Mixed Reactions
12/18/25, 6 PM
Present: Mayor Todd Arcelaschi, 2nd Selectman William Hester, Selectmen Paul Marino, Cheryl Heffernan McGlynn, William Pozzo, Troy Lamere, and Kevin Bishop, and Town Manager Paul Harrington.
The Winchester Board of Selectman faced mixed reactions from the community during a recent public hearing on a proposal to install traffic cameras at three sites in Winsted where speeding is a problem.
If approved, two-way cameras would be placed at Route 44 Main Street in the area of Railway Cafe and Mario’s Tuscany Grill; Route 44 heading toward Norfolk in the area of the dry dam; and North Main Street in the area between Wallens Street and Route 20 near the sewer plant.
During the nearly three-hour Dec. 18 hearing, several residents spoke against the measure, including one who likened the cameras to government overreach that “is not going to protect us.”
Another said he believes that eventually even more cameras would be installed in town and that he does not want “government looking at me everywhere I go.” He said he also believes that towns will lobby the state to increase the fines for violations — which currently would be set at $50 for a first violation and $75 for a subsequent violation.
Responding to some of those concerns, Mayor Arcelaschi cited several incidences of injuries and fatalities that occurred in the area due to speeding vehicles.
“I hope we make zero dollars, but we need to slow traffic down, and this is what it takes,” he said.
Those expressing support for the proposal saw the cameras as deterrents to speeders.
“I want to give you kudos for bringing this attention and having this tool to try to solve this problem,” one supporter said to the board. While the cameras are not expected to solve the speeding problem, they would give traffic enforcement “some teeth,” she said.
Another supporter questioned why the town should wait any longer to install the cameras: “We’ve been waiting long enough for this traffic to slow down,” she said.
If approved, camera installations would likely begin around the middle to end of April, Harrington said.
A video of the hearing and links to materials presented are available at the town’s website: townofwinchester.org.
Under state law for installing such cameras, the selectman must formally consider a draft ordinance in three meetings, hold a public hearing and obtain the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s approval of the ordinance before enacting it. The board has so far considered the draft ordinance at its Dec. 1 and 15 regular meetings.
Other business discussed during the regular meetings included Town Manager Harrington’s plan to hire a tech company to see why the livestream video of the board’s Dec. 1 meeting cut out before the meeting ended.
The Capital Committee is expected to create an FY27 budget that will be presented to the board on or before March 15.
The roof of Pearson School in Winsted, which is undergoing engineering work for solar arrays, needs to be replaced at a cost currently estimated at $2.8 million, Harrington said. Part of the cost will be reimbursed by the state, however, and the town’s share would likely be about $800,000 to $850,000, he said.
The board discussed establishing a Charter Revision Commission to review possible changes to the town’s charter. The board is calling for community members to serve on the commission. Those interested are encouraged to contact Harrington’s office at tmoffice@townofwinchester.org.
The selectman unanimously reappointed two members — Glenn Albanesius and John Prevuznak — to the board of directors. It also unanimously approved the appointment of Linda Groppo to serve as a Winchester Housing Authority Board member.
