MassVoter.com← Acton Select Board
Acton Member
Dean A. Charter
At-large · 8 terms in this record
Dean Charter
A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.
Board years
Record at a glance · 2023–2024 Board
On split votes, Charter voted the same way as…
- David D. Martin67% (4 of 6)
- Alissa Nicol40% (2 of 5)
- Francesca Arsenault33% (2 of 6)
- Jim Snyder-Grant33% (2 of 6)
How these numbers work
- Counted from the official minutes, for 2023–2024 Board only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
- Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Charter as present or absent at the start.
- Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
- Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
- A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
- “Whole board” combines every member’s record for the same term.
These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.
In the news
No recent stories found that name Dean A. Charter in the headline or opening.
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Attendance
At the start of 29 of 31 Select Board meetings in 2023–2024 Board.
Missed
- Nov 15, 2023 · Regular: Absent
- Aug 8, 2023 · Regular: Absent
Every meeting (31)
- May 7, 2024 · Regular: Present
- May 6, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Apr 29, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Apr 12, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Apr 1, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Mar 18, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Mar 13, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Mar 4, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Feb 26, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Feb 5, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Jan 22, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Jan 11, 2024 · Joint: Present
- Jan 10, 2024 · Joint: Present
- Jan 8, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Dec 18, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Dec 4, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Nov 20, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Nov 15, 2023 · Regular: Absent
- Nov 6, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Oct 16, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Oct 2, 2023 · Regular: Present (Dean A. Charter arrived after the meeting began (at 7:48PM).)
- Sep 27, 2023 · Special: Present
- Sep 18, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Sep 11, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Aug 21, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Aug 8, 2023 · Regular: Absent
- Jul 24, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Jul 10, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Jun 26, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Jun 12, 2023 · Regular: Present
- Jun 5, 2023 · Regular: Present
Votes where members disagreed · 2023–2024 Board
May 7Approve the letter as editedMotion: Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to approve the letter…Passed 4–1 · Charter: No
May 7, 2024: Approve the letter as edited
Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to approve the letter as edited
Voted: No
Yes: Arsenault, Martin, Nicol, Snyder-GrantNo: Charter
From the minutes
“Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to approve the letter as edited and approved 4-1 (Charter).” (Motion: Nicol, second: Martin)
Apr 12Recommend article 7, the Acton Boxborough Regional School District…Motion: Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to recommend article 7,…Passed 3–1 · Charter: No
April 12, 2024: Recommend article 7, the Acton Boxborough Regional School District Assessment
Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to recommend article 7, the Acton Boxborough Regional School District Assessment
Voted: No
Yes: Arsenault, Martin, Snyder-GrantNo: CharterThe minutes say Alissa Nicol stepped aside (recused), so that member is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to recommend article 7, the Acton Boxborough Regional School District Assessment and approved 3- 1 (Charter).” (Motion: Snyder-Grant, second: Martin)
Apr 12Recommend article 16Motion: Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to recommend article 16Passed 3–2 · Charter: No
April 12, 2024: Recommend article 16
Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to recommend article 16
Voted: No
Yes: Arsenault, Nicol, Snyder-GrantNo: Charter, Martin
From the minutes
“Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to recommend article 16 and approved 3-2 by roll call vote (Martin/Charter).” (Motion: Snyder-Grant, second: Nicol)
Apr 12Approve plan for next steps for sewer extension project…Motion: Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve plan for…Passed 4–0 · Charter: Yes
April 12, 2024: Approve plan for next steps for sewer extension project which includes rebidding the project, seeking additional grant funds, and committing approximately $175,000 from ARPA reallocations as a...
Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve plan for next steps for sewer extension project which includes rebidding the project, seeking additional grant funds, and committing approximately $175,000 from ARPA reallocations as a grant match for MassWorks funding if the amendment requesting additional funding is approved
Voted: Yes
Yes: Arsenault, Charter, Martin, Snyder-GrantAbstained: Nicol
From the minutes
“Mr. Snyder-Grant moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve plan for next steps for sewer extension project which includes rebidding the project, seeking additional grant funds, and committing approximately $175,000 from ARPA reallocations as a grant match for MassWorks funding if the amendment requesting additional funding is approved and approved 4-0-1 (Nicol).” (Motion: Snyder-Grant, second: Arsenault)
Apr 1Not recommend article one for the Special Town MeetingMotion: Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Mr. Charter to not recommend article…Passed 4–1 · Charter: Yes
April 1, 2024: Not recommend article one for the Special Town Meeting
Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Mr. Charter to not recommend article one for the Special Town Meeting
Voted: Yes
Yes: Arsenault, Charter, Martin, Snyder-GrantNo: Nicol
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Mr. Charter to not recommend article one for the Special Town Meeting and approved 4-1-0 (Nicol).” (Motion: Martin, second: Charter)
Mar 18Ask the Town Manager to move forward with an…Motion: Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to ask the Town…Passed 4–1 · Charter: Yes
March 18, 2024: Ask the Town Manager to move forward with an grant application for a partial breach for the Bellows Farm Dam and authorize the chair to sign a letter of support…
Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to ask the Town Manager to move forward with an grant application for a partial breach for the Bellows Farm Dam and authorize the chair to sign a letter of support for dam and seawall grant application
Voted: Yes
Yes: Arsenault, Charter, Martin, NicolNo: Snyder-Grant
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to ask the Town Manager to move forward with an grant application for a partial breach for the Bellows Farm Dam and authorize the chair to sign a letter of support for dam and seawall grant application and approved 4-1-0 (Snyder-Grant).” (Motion: Martin, second: Nicol)
Mar 18Publish the format of the document the Town Manager…Motion: Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to publish the format…Passed 4–0 · Charter: Abstained
March 18, 2024: Publish the format of the document the Town Manager had on the screen with word improvements made by the Town Manager
Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to publish the format of the document the Town Manager had on the screen with word improvements made by the Town Manager
Voted: Abstained
Yes: Arsenault, Martin, Nicol, Snyder-GrantAbstained: Charter
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to publish the format of the document the Town Manager had on the screen with word improvements made by the Town Manager and approved 4-0-1 (Charter).” (Motion: Martin, second: Arsenault)
Jan 8Direct the Town Manager to reduce the level service…Motion: Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol that the Board direct…Passed 4–0 · Charter: Abstained
January 8, 2024: Direct the Town Manager to reduce the level service budget after having heard feedback from the budget workshop and contingent on the outcome of the ALG
Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol that the Board direct the Town Manager to reduce the level service budget after having heard feedback from the budget workshop and contingent on the outcome of the ALG
Voted: Abstained
Yes: Arsenault, Martin, Nicol, Snyder-GrantAbstained: Charter
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol that the Board direct the Town Manager to reduce the level service budget after having heard feedback from the budget workshop and contingent on the outcome of the ALG and approved 4-0-1 (Charter).” (Motion: Martin, second: Nicol)
Dec 18Authorize the Town Manager to sign the memorandum of…Motion: Mr. Martin moved. Seconded by Ms. Arsenault to authorize the Town…Passed 4–0 · Charter: Yes
December 18, 2023: Authorize the Town Manager to sign the memorandum of agreement between the schools and the Health Insurance Trust an
Mr. Martin moved. Seconded by Ms. Arsenault to authorize the Town Manager to sign the memorandum of agreement between the schools and the Health Insurance Trust an
Voted: Yes
Yes: Arsenault, Charter, Martin, Snyder-GrantAbstained: Nicol
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moved. Seconded by Ms. Arsenault to authorize the Town Manager to sign the memorandum of agreement between the schools and the Health Insurance Trust an approved 4-0-1 (Nicol abstain).” (Motion: Martin, second: Arsenault)
Nov 20Approve Site Plan Special Permit Application 2-27-2023-490, including the…Motion: Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Mr. Martin approve Site Plan Special…Passed 4–1 · Charter: Yes
November 20, 2023: Approve Site Plan Special Permit Application 2-27-2023-490, including the waivers under section 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 as amended tonight; and further, the Board determines the plan proposes 2.26 - 2.31
Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Mr. Martin approve Site Plan Special Permit Application 2-27-2023-490, including the waivers under section 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 as amended tonight; and further, the Board determines the plan proposes 2.26 - 2.31
Voted: Yes
Yes: Charter, Martin, Nicol, Snyder-GrantNo: Arsenault
From the minutes
“Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Mr. Martin approve Site Plan Special Permit Application 2-27-2023-490, including the waivers under section 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 as amended tonight; and further, the Board determines the plan proposes 2.26 - 2.31 and approved 4-1-0 (Arsenault).” (Motion: Charter, second: Martin)
Votes with no disagreement (134)
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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