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Acton Select Board
How the Acton Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. Jim Snyder-Grant joined the board in August 2020 (first meeting August 10, 2020); Peter J. Berry left it (his last meeting was July 20, 2020). Jon Benson served as Chair, Dean A. Charter as Vice Chair and David D. Martin as Clerk (as the July 12, 2021 minutes recall); the minutes of the meeting where these officers were chosen (the July 6, 2020 agenda lists a “Board Reorganization”) are not posted. The board was renamed the Select Board during this term, after the March 2021 town election ratified the change. Most meetings were held remotely. Covers 32 meetings, August 10 to June 21, 2021.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Select Board do? It is the town’s executive board. It prepares the Town Meeting warrant (the list of articles voters decide), appoints members of many town boards, hires the town’s top staff, signs warrants to pay town bills, and grants licenses and permits.
Town Meeting, not the Select Board, votes the town budget and town bylaws.
Sources: Massachusetts Select Board Handbook (MMA) · Mass. Division of Local Services: the town budgetBoard years
Coming up
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Members
Vice-ChairDean A. CharterVice Chair · At-large · at 32 of 32 meetings
David D. MartinClerk · At-large · at 32 of 32 meetingsJim Snyder-GrantMember · At-large · at 31 of 32 meetings"At X of Y meetings" counts the members the minutes list as present at the start of each meeting in this record. Members who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: Acton Select Board minutes (the board was called the Board of Selectmen until April 2021) from January 8, 2018 through September 14, 2026: 290 meetings and 2,028 votes. The town’s Archive Center holds the board’s minutes back to 1994; MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. All the minutes loaded are typed documents with searchable text. Where the town posted more than one version of a meeting’s minutes (originals and amended versions), we use the latest version. Not here: executive-session minutes; meetings whose files say “Meeting Canceled” (May 1, 2024 and January 26, 2026); meetings with an agenda but no posted minutes, among them the regular meetings of July 6, 2020, April 3, May 8 and May 22, 2023, and February 23, 2026, several workshops and short sessions, and executive-session-only meetings; and meetings after September 14, 2026 (the September 28 and October 5, 2026 minutes are not posted yet). Acton’s minutes give the mover, the seconder and the count (“Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol … and approved 4-1-0 (Arsenault)”), and name in brackets the member who voted no or abstained; in 2020 and 2021, when the board met remotely, most votes were roll calls by name. When the count and the names add up to the members present, each member is shown voting as recorded; “approved unanimously” and “All Ayes” are shown as every member present voting yes. Where the count does not match the members present, a split count names no one, or a roll call has a typing slip, we show the count only, with a note (60 votes); 6 votes record the result only. At the March 2, March 16 and April 6, 2026 meetings a name in brackets after a Town Meeting article marks the member assigned to present it, not a dissenter; split votes there show the count only. When members chose between two nominees for an office, we show the result only and quote who chose whom. Members who stepped aside (recused) are not shown as voting. Eight sets of minutes (mid-2022 and mid-2023) have no attendance list; all five members are named taking part, so all five are shown present. At joint meetings (Finance Committee budget workshops, Library Trustees, other boards) only the Select Board’s own votes are shown. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
May 17Amend the minutes from April 5, 2021Motion: Ms. Gardner moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to amend the minutes…Passed 3–0 · see note
May 17, 2021: Amend the minutes from April 5, 2021
Ms. Gardner moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to amend the minutes from April 5, 2021
The minutes give the count as 3-0-2 but do not say who voted no or abstained. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Ms. Gardner moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to amend the minutes from April 5, 2021and voted 3-0-2 by roll call.” (Motion: Gardner, second: Martin)
Apr 26Elect Dean Charter as Select Board ChairMotion: Mr. Martin moved to elect Dean Charter as Select Board Chair,…Failed 2–3 · No: Benson, Charter, Gardner
April 26, 2021: Elect Dean Charter as Select Board Chair
Mr. Martin moved to elect Dean Charter as Select Board Chair, seconded by Mr. Snyder-Grant, and failed to pass
Yes: Martin, Snyder-GrantNo: Benson, Charter, Gardner
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moved to elect Dean Charter as Select Board Chair, seconded by Mr. Snyder-Grant, and failed to pass by roll call vote: (Nay: Mr. Benson, Mr. Charter and Ms. Gardner; Aye: Mr. Martin, Mr. Snyder-Grant).” (Motion: Martin, second: Snyder-Grant)
Feb 1Ask Town Manager to work with town staff and…Motion: Mr. Snyder-Grant moved to ask Town Manager to work with town…Passed 3–2 · No: Charter, Gardner
February 1, 2021: Ask Town Manager to work with town staff and town counsel to bring back to the Board a more formal warrant article for the Home Rule Petition
Mr. Snyder-Grant moved to ask Town Manager to work with town staff and town counsel to bring back to the Board a more formal warrant article for the Home Rule Petition, seconded by Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin
Yes: Benson, Martin, Snyder-GrantNo: Charter, Gardner
From the minutes
“Mr. Snyder-Grant moved to ask Town Manager to work with town staff and town counsel to bring back to the Board a more formal warrant article for the Home Rule Petition, seconded by Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin called roll: Mr. Snyder-Grant - aye Ms. Gardner - nay Mr. Charter - nay Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Martin - aye The Board voted 3-2, the motion carries.” (Motion: Snyder-Grant, second: Martin)
Dec 14Discuss 2021 Restaurant Liquor License Fee WaiverMotion: Discuss 2021 Restaurant Liquor License Fee WaiverPassed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
December 14, 2020: Discuss 2021 Restaurant Liquor License Fee Waiver
Discuss 2021 Restaurant Liquor License Fee Waiver
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Discuss 2021 Restaurant Liquor License Fee Waiver The Board voted unanimously.”
Nov 16Approve the dog park location at 348 Main StreetMotion: Ms. Gardner moved to approve the dog park location at 348…Passed 4–1 · No: Benson
November 16, 2020: Approve the dog park location at 348 Main Street
Ms. Gardner moved to approve the dog park location at 348 Main Street, seconded by Mr. Snyder-Grant. Mr. Martin
Yes: Charter, Gardner, Martin, Snyder-GrantNo: Benson
From the minutes
“Ms. Gardner moved to approve the dog park location at 348 Main Street, seconded by Mr. Snyder-Grant. Mr. Martin called roll: Mr. Snyder-Grant - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Charter - aye Mr. Benson - nay Mr. Martin - aye The Board voted 4-1, the motion carried.” (Motion: Gardner, second: Snyder-Grant)
Oct 19Rescind it's October 5th statements and for the DEIC…Motion: Mr. Snyder-Grant moved that the Board rescind it's October 5th statements…Passed 4–1 · No: Martin
October 19, 2020: Rescind it's October 5th statements and for the DEIC to draft a statement on racial disparity for the Board's consideration
Mr. Snyder-Grant moved that the Board rescind it's October 5th statements and for the DEIC to draft a statement on racial disparity for the Board's consideration, seconded by Ms. Gardner. Mr. Martin
Yes: Benson, Charter, Gardner, Snyder-GrantNo: MartinThe roll call lists “Mr. Mr. Benson - aye” (a typing slip); the five votes match the count (4-1).
From the minutes
“Mr. Snyder-Grant moved that the Board rescind it's October 5th statements and for the DEIC to draft a statement on racial disparity for the Board's consideration, seconded by Ms. Gardner. Mr. Martin called roll: Mr. Snyder-Grant - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Charter - aye Mr. Martin - nay The Board voted 4-1, the motion carried.” (Motion: Snyder-Grant, second: Gardner)
Oct 5Express their opinion to the school committee to be…Motion: Mr. Charter moved that the Board of Selectmen express their opinion…Passed 3–2 · No: Martin, Snyder-Grant
October 5, 2020: Express their opinion to the school committee to be in support of the continuation of the mascot of the Acton-Boxborough Colonials
Mr. Charter moved that the Board of Selectmen express their opinion to the school committee to be in support of the continuation of the mascot of the Acton-Boxborough Colonials, seconded by Ms. Gardner. Mr. Martin
Yes: Benson, Charter, GardnerNo: Martin, Snyder-Grant
From the minutes
“Mr. Charter moved that the Board of Selectmen express their opinion to the school committee to be in support of the continuation of the mascot of the Acton-Boxborough Colonials, seconded by Ms. Gardner. Mr. Martin called roll: Mr. Snyder-Grant - nay Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Charter - aye Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Martin - nay The Board voted 3-2, the motion carried.” (Motion: Charter, second: Gardner)
Sep 14Declare "Yeagher" a dangerous dogMotion: Mr. Charter moved to declare "Yeagher" a dangerous dog, seconded by…Failed 1–4 · No: Benson, Gardner, Martin, Snyder-Grant
September 14, 2020: Declare "Yeagher" a dangerous dog
Mr. Charter moved to declare "Yeagher" a dangerous dog, seconded by Mr. Snyder-Grant. Mr. Martin
Yes: CharterNo: Benson, Gardner, Martin, Snyder-Grant
From the minutes
“Mr. Charter moved to declare "Yeagher" a dangerous dog, seconded by Mr. Snyder-Grant. Mr. Martin called roll: Mr. Snyder-Grant - nay Ms. Gardner - nay Mr. Charter - aye Mr. Benson - nay Mr. Martin - nay The Board voted 1-4, the motion failed.” (Motion: Charter, second: Snyder-Grant)
Sep 14Review Funding Proposal for New Sustainability DirectorMotion: Review Funding Proposal for New Sustainability DirectorPassed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
September 14, 2020: Review Funding Proposal for New Sustainability Director
Review Funding Proposal for New Sustainability Director
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
Aug 24Recommend (Discuss and Take Positions on the Warrant Articles…Motion: Mr. Charter moves to recommend, Mr. Snyder-Grant seconds. Mr. MartinPassed 3–2 · No: Charter, Gardner
August 24, 2020: Recommend (Discuss and Take Positions on the Warrant Articles for September 8, 2020 Special Town)
Mr. Charter moves to recommend, Mr. Snyder-Grant seconds. Mr. Martin
Yes: Benson, Martin, Snyder-GrantNo: Charter, Gardner
From the minutes
“Mr. Charter moves to recommend, Mr. Snyder-Grant seconds. Mr. Martin called roll: MR. Snyder-Grant - aye Ms. Gardner - nay Mr. Charter - nay Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Martin - aye The Board voted 3-2, to motion carries.” (Motion: Charter, second: Snyder-Grant)
From the Acton Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Archive Center (Select Board Minutes). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: The Acton Exchange candidate profiles (Francesca Arsenault, April 2024, photo courtesy of Barrett Sotheby’s Realty; David D. Martin, April 2025; Alissa Nicol, April 2026; Pam Nourse, April 2026, photo by Maddie Freeman); Dean A. Charter from the Town of Acton’s Select Board group photo (May 11, 2026).
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