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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. Francesca Arsenault and Himaja Nagireddy joined the board after the June 29, 2021 election (first meeting July 12, 2021); Jon Benson and Joan Gardner left it (their last meeting was June 21, 2021). On July 12, 2021 the board chose David D. Martin as Chair (3-2), Dean A. Charter as Vice Chair (5-0, after a motion to choose Jim Snyder-Grant failed) and Jim Snyder-Grant as Clerk (5-0). Covers 27 meetings, July 12 to May 16, 2022.
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
ChairDavid D. MartinChair · At-large · at 27 of 27 meetings
Vice-ChairDean A. CharterVice Chair · At-large · at 26 of 27 meetings
Francesca ArsenaultMember · At-large · at 26 of 27 meetingsHimaja NagireddyMember · At-large · at 27 of 27 meetingsJim Snyder-GrantClerk · At-large · at 26 of 27 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 9Not recommend article 42Motion: Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to not recommend article…Passed 2–1 · No: Snyder-Grant · Abstained: Arsenault, Nagireddy
May 9, 2022: Not recommend article 42
Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to not recommend article 42 and voted 2 aye, 1 nay (Snyder-Grant), 2 abstain (Nagireddy and Arsenault). The motion
Yes: Charter, MartinNo: Snyder-GrantAbstained: Arsenault, NagireddyThe minutes say the board “voted 2 aye, 1 nay (Snyder-Grant), 2 abstain (Nagireddy and Arsenault)”; with all five members present, the two yes votes were Dean A. Charter and David D. Martin.
From the minutes
“Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to not recommend article 42 and voted 2 aye, 1 nay (Snyder-Grant), 2 abstain (Nagireddy and Arsenault). The motion carries..” (Motion: Charter, second: Martin)
May 9Not recommend article 43Motion: Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to not recommend article…Passed 3–2 · No: Nagireddy, Snyder-Grant
May 9, 2022: Not recommend article 43
Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to not recommend article 43. Mr. Snyder-Grant requested comment from other Board members before a final vote. Mr. Mangiaratti noted that the Planning staff and Planning Board did not recommend the article. Mr. Snyder-Grant noted the PCRC Bylaw is complex, but if passed there would be a reduction of developmental availability, but would like to have more public comment, and education. Mr. Charter noted several issues regarding the proposal and change to the PCRC Bylaw and mentioned several concerns including the long-term environmental impact.
Yes: Arsenault, Charter, MartinNo: Nagireddy, Snyder-Grant
From the minutes
“Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to not recommend article 43. Mr. Snyder-Grant requested comment from other Board members before a final vote. Mr. Mangiaratti noted that the Planning staff and Planning Board did not recommend the article. Mr. Snyder-Grant noted the PCRC Bylaw is complex, but if passed there would be a reduction of developmental availability, but would like to have more public comment, and education. Mr. Charter noted several issues regarding the proposal and change to the PCRC Bylaw and mentioned several concerns including the long-term environmental impact. and voted 3-2 (Snyder-Grant and Nagireddy).” (Motion: Charter, second: Martin)
May 9Discuss Annual Town Meeting and Consider Article RecommendationsMotion: Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Ms. ArsenaultPassed 4–0 · Abstained: Charter
May 9, 2022: Discuss Annual Town Meeting and Consider Article Recommendations
Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault
Yes: Arsenault, Martin, Nagireddy, Snyder-GrantAbstained: Charter
From the minutes
“Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault and voted 4-0-1 (4 aye, 1 abstain Charter).” (Motion: Snyder-Grant, second: Arsenault)
May 9Move forward with the MassWorks GrantMotion: Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Mr. Snyder-Grant to move forward with…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Nagireddy
May 9, 2022: Move forward with the MassWorks Grant
Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Mr. Snyder-Grant to move forward with the MassWorks Grant
Yes: Arsenault, Charter, Martin, Snyder-GrantAbstained: Nagireddy
From the minutes
“Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Mr. Snyder-Grant to move forward with the MassWorks Grant and voted 4-0-1 (Nagireddy abstain).” (Motion: Charter, second: Snyder-Grant)
Apr 25Not recommend this articleMotion: Mr Charter moved, and Mr. Martin seconded, to not recommend this…Failed 2–3 · see note
April 25, 2022: Not recommend this article
Mr Charter moved, and Mr. Martin seconded, to not recommend this article. Motion
The minutes give the count as 2-3 but do not say who voted no or abstained. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr Charter moved, and Mr. Martin seconded, to not recommend this article. Motion was defeated 2-3.” (Motion: Charter, second: Martin)
Apr 25Recommend citizen petition article 44Motion: Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault, to recommend citizen petition…Passed 3–1 · see note
April 25, 2022: Recommend citizen petition article 44
Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault, to recommend citizen petition article 44,
The minutes give the count as 3-1 but do not say who voted no or abstained. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault, to recommend citizen petition article 44, and approved 3-1 by roll call vote.” (Motion: Charter, second: Arsenault)
Apr 25Recommend Article 49Motion: Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault, to recommend Article 49,Passed 4–1 · see note
April 25, 2022: Recommend Article 49
Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault, to recommend Article 49,
The minutes give the count as 4-1 but do not say who voted no or abstained. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault, to recommend Article 49, and approved 4-1 by roll call vote.” (Motion: Snyder-Grant, second: Arsenault)
Apr 25Not recommend citizen petition article 53Motion: Mr. Charter moved seconded by Mr. Charter, to not recommend citizen…Failed 2–3 · see note
April 25, 2022: Not recommend citizen petition article 53
Mr. Charter moved seconded by Mr. Charter, to not recommend citizen petition article 53,
The minutes give the count as 2-3 but do not say who voted no or abstained. Showing the count only. The minutes name Dean A. Charter as both the mover and the seconder, so no seconder is shown.
From the minutes
“Mr. Charter moved seconded by Mr. Charter, to not recommend citizen petition article 53, failed 2-3 by roll call vote.” (Motion: Charter)
Apr 4Approve the gas main petition for National GridMotion: It was moved and seconded to approve the gas main petition…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
April 4, 2022: Approve the gas main petition for National Grid
It was moved and seconded to approve the gas main petition for National Grid
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“It was moved and seconded to approve the gas main petition for National Grid and voted unanimously.”
Apr 4Ask the Town Manager to produce a Memorandum of…Motion: Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Ms. Nagireddy to ask the Town…Passed 4–1 · No: Snyder-Grant
April 4, 2022: Ask the Town Manager to produce a Memorandum of Understanding with Parker Street Apartments to allow them to hook into the sewer system with all infrastructure provided by them and…
Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Ms. Nagireddy to ask the Town Manager to produce a Memorandum of Understanding with Parker Street Apartments to allow them to hook into the sewer system with all infrastructure provided by them and a fee in lieu of privilege to cover twice the rate of Inflow and Infiltration ("I&I") of the expected discharge dependent upon the Department of Housing and Community Development certificate accepting units into the subsidized housing
Yes: Arsenault, Charter, Martin, NagireddyNo: Snyder-Grant
From the minutes
“Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Ms. Nagireddy to ask the Town Manager to produce a Memorandum of Understanding with Parker Street Apartments to allow them to hook into the sewer system with all infrastructure provided by them and a fee in lieu of privilege to cover twice the rate of Inflow and Infiltration ("I&I") of the expected discharge dependent upon the Department of Housing and Community Development certificate accepting units into the subsidized housing and voted 4-1 (nay - Mr. Snyder-Grant).” (Motion: Charter, second: Nagireddy)
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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