WEYMOUTH - October 27 - The Weymouth Town Council held a brief special meeting Monday evening to advance the appointment of Lisa VanWinkle as the town’s next town clerk, marking the end of an era as current Town Clerk Kathy Deree prepares to retire after 31 years of service. The council also moved forward eight other board and commission appointments in what proved to be one of the final meetings for Council President Mike Molisse, who was acknowledged as the town’s acting mayor ahead of an upcoming election where he’s running unopposed.
The Full Story
The October 27th special meeting, held at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, focused primarily on procedural appointments but carried significant symbolic weight as Weymouth prepares for multiple leadership transitions. All measures presented were referred to the Budget Management Committee for further review, following standard council protocol.
The most significant action of the evening was the referral of measure 25091, which would appoint Lisa VanWinkle of Oaken Bucket Road, Norwell, as Weymouth’s new town clerk for a three-year term. The appointment comes as longtime Town Clerk Kathy Deree prepares to retire after more than three decades of service to the community.
Council President Mike Molisse took time during the announcements section to publicly thank Deree for her years of dedication. “I want to congratulate her moving on to her next chapter in retirement. She’ll be enjoying herself after 31 years of serving the town of Weymouth,” Molisse said. “So we thank you for your years of commitment to Weymouth and being here at the council meeting with us all the time.”
Councilor Arthur Mathews echoed these sentiments later in the meeting, stating, “Just want to, again, reiterate kind of what you said earlier about Kathy... just want to thank her for all her years of service. And congratulations on your retirement and best of luck.”
The council also advanced measure 25092, the reappointment of Lee Hultin of Mount Vernon Road, Weymouth, as assistant town clerk for a three-year term. Hultin will serve continuously with the town clerk, providing continuity during the leadership transition.
Director of Administrative Services TJ Lacey presented six additional appointments for various town boards and commissions. These included Jason Benjamin to the Weymouth Cultural Council, filling a vacancy created by Gina O’Leary’s resignation; Harrison Carter to the Historical Commission, replacing Zachary Gerg; and Linda Glennon to the Board of Elder Services, taking over for Ashley Eckenberg.
Rebecca Haugh was nominated to join the Recreation Commission, filling the seat vacated by Arthur Del Russo. Brian Kintz received two nominations: one to the Cultural Council replacing Marie Stokov, and another to the Scholarship Committee replacing Michael Grafton. All appointments were referred to the Budget Management Committee with favorable action recommendations.
The meeting also marked a personal milestone for Council President Molisse, who is transitioning from the council to the mayor’s office. Councilor Mathews acknowledged this change during the announcements portion of the meeting. “I just wanted to acknowledge you Mr. President as this is your last town council meeting with us on this side of the seats here and look forward to working with you as the next Mayor of Weymouth,” Mathews said. “I want to acknowledge the 25 plus years that you’ve done as a town councilor and look forward to working with you in the future.”
Molisse responded with appreciation for his colleagues. “Thank you so much. I appreciate that. I appreciate working with everybody here. It’s been a great team,” he said.
Vice President Pascale Burga also used the announcements section to detail the town’s upcoming Veterans Day commemoration scheduled for November 11th. The day will begin with a 9:30 a.m. Korean War Memorial Ceremony in Jackson Square, followed by a 10:15 a.m. parade from Jackson Square via Broad Street to Middle Street to Town Hall. Veterans Day services will take place at 11 a.m. at the Ralph Talbot Amphitheater, with a special performance by the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team above the amphitheater and Libby Baseball Field following the ceremony.
The meeting was notably brief, lasting less than 10 minutes, and was attended by most council members. Councilors Happel and Kiely were absent due to prior commitments. Director Lacey opened his presentation by wishing all council members luck in the upcoming election, noting the significance of the timing.
All motions to refer appointments to the Budget Management Committee were made by Vice President Burga and passed unanimously without opposition or extended discussion. The procedural efficiency reflected the routine nature of most appointments, though the town clerk position carries particular weight given the office’s responsibility for maintaining official town records, conducting elections, and serving as a key administrative hub.
Why It Matters
The appointment of a new town clerk directly affects every resident who interacts with vital town records, from birth and death certificates to property documents and voting registration. The transition from Deree to VanWinkle represents a significant shift after more than three decades of institutional knowledge and continuity. Residents can expect the new clerk to maintain the same level of service while potentially bringing fresh approaches to the office. The simultaneous leadership changes in both the town clerk’s office and the mayor’s position signal a broader period of transition for Weymouth’s municipal government.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Refer measure 25093 (appointment of Jason Benjamin to Weymouth Cultural Council) to Budget Management Committee. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 09:13)
Motion: Refer measure 25094 (appointment of Harrison Carter to Historical Commission) to Budget Management Committee. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 09:57)
Motion: Refer measure 25095 (appointment of Linda Glennon to Board of Elder Services) to Budget Management Committee. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 10:38)
Motion: Refer measure 25096 (appointment of Rebecca Haugh to Recreation Commission) to Budget Management Committee. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 11:17)
Motion: Refer measure 25097 (appointment of Brian Kintz to Cultural Council) to Budget Management Committee. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 11:57)
Motion: Refer measure 25098 (appointment of Brian Kintz to Scholarship Committee) to Budget Management Committee. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 12:37)
Motion: Refer measure 25091 (appointment of Lisa VanWinkle as town clerk) to Budget Management Committee with favorable action. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 13:53)
Motion: Refer measure 25092 (reappointment of Lee Hultin as assistant town clerk) to Budget Management Committee with favorable action. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 14:35)
Motion: Adjourn meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 14:55)
Public Comment
No public comment period was held during this special meeting.
What’s Next
The Budget Management Committee will review all eight appointments referred during this meeting. The next regularly scheduled town council meeting will be held on November 10th, 2025, in the council chambers. The town will also host its Veterans Day Parade and ceremonies on November 11th, 2025, beginning at 9:30 a.m.