Winthrop committee leans toward local consultant while waiting for one more proposal

Members of the Winthrop Downtown Revitalization Committee said June 29 they prefer a smaller, local firm to lead the town’s downtown revitalization plan but will wait for one more proposal before recommending a contractor to the town council.

Committee members compared two proposals under review and repeatedly cited responsiveness, community ties and cost as advantages for a local planner. Several members contrasted that approach with a higher‑priced packet from a larger firm, Northstar, which they said appeared more templated and carried a longer timeline.

"I really lean towards the La Relle consulting. It feels more personable," one committee member said during the meeting, adding that proximity and a vested interest in Winthrop were advantages. Members noted Northstar’s proposal had typographical errors, which reduced confidence in its attention to detail.

Don, who circulated materials to the group, agreed to request a formal proposal from a local planner identified in the packet as Isabelle of IOB Community Planning and Consulting. Isabelle confirmed in the discussion, "I own IOB," indicating she operates the firm that submitted the recent submission.

The committee set an informal two‑week window to receive and review the additional proposal. Members said the deadline for deciding on a consultant is self‑imposed and not tied to an outside grant. If the new submission meets expectations, members planned to make a recommendation to the council by email; no formal vote was held at the meeting.

Why it matters: choosing a consultant will set the schedule and scope for Winthrop’s downtown plan and affect how quickly the town can align infrastructure and permitting rules with the revitalization effort. Committee members said they want a consultant who can deliver a thorough plan on a relatively fast timeline and who understands local context.

Next steps: Don will circulate Isabelle's full proposal to committee members when it is available; the committee intends to reach consensus by email and present a recommendation to the town council.