MassVoter.com← ArlingtonMunicipal votes · 2019–2020 Board
Arlington Select Board
How the Arlington Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. Stephen DeCourcey joined the board after the April 6, 2019 town election; Clarissa Rowe’s interim term ended. On April 8, 2019 the board chose Diane Mahon as Chair and Daniel Dunn as Vice Chair (each 5-0). The 2020 town election was moved to June 6, 2020 because of COVID-19, and on April 13, 2020 the board put off its reorganization until after that election, so this board served until June 2020; most meetings from March 2020 on were held remotely, with every vote taken by roll call. Covers 31 meetings, April 8 to June 1, 2020.
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 budgetYour Arlington ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.
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Coming up
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Under the state Open Meeting Law, boards post notice at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays.
Members
ChairDiane MahonChair · At-large · at 30 of 31 meetingsVice-ChairDaniel DunnVice Chair · At-large · at 30 of 31 meetings
Stephen DeCourceyMember · At-large · at 31 of 31 meetingsLen DigginsMember · At-large · at 0 of 0 meetings
John HurdMember · At-large · at 31 of 31 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: Arlington Select Board minutes (the board was called the Board of Selectmen until 2018; the minutes use the new name from September 2018) from January 8, 2018 through September 14, 2026: 249 meetings and 2,454 votes. The town’s PrimeGov portal holds the board’s minutes back to January 2014 (MassVoter has loaded 2018 on). All the minutes are typed documents with searchable text; the March 30, 2026 minutes were posted as a web page instead of a PDF. Where the only minutes posted for a date are released executive-session minutes, the meeting is listed as Special. Emergency-addendum minutes for October 19, 2020, January 25, 2021 and January 23, 2023 are shown with that night’s meeting. Not here: 2018–2025 meetings that have an agenda but no posted minutes (August 7 and November 26, 2018; August 1 and November 4, 2019; September 10, 2020; June 7, November 1, December 9 and December 15, 2021; June 15, 2022; August 21, 2025), the September 10, 2026 goal-setting session, and meetings after September 14, 2026 (the September 28 and October 5, 2026 minutes are not posted yet). How votes were read: since 2026 the minutes list every member’s vote by name; from 2018 to 2025 they give the mover and a count (“SO VOTED (5-0)”), naming any member who voted no or abstained, and during remote meetings (2020–2022) a roll call by name. A count that equals the members present is shown as each member voting yes; a split where the minutes name who voted which way is shown by name. Where the count does not add up to the members present, a roll call leaves out or adds a member, or a split gives no names, we show the count only, with a note (25 votes); 5 votes give no count and show the result only. Where the Town Manager or members of another board voted with the Select Board (joint meetings and a few items the Town Manager votes on by law), only the Select Board members’ 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 18Approve: Appointment of New Election Worker: (1) Savannah Curro,…Motion: Mr. DeCourcey moved approval.Passed 4–0 · see note
May 18, 2020: Approve: Appointment of New Election Worker: (1) Savannah Curro, 21 Millett Street, U,
Mr. DeCourcey moved approval.
Yes: DeCourcey, Dunn, Hurd, MahonJoseph Curro stepped aside (recused) and is not shown as voting (the minutes say: “Mr. Curro is recusing himself due to a conflict of interest”).
From the minutes
“Mr. DeCourcey moved approval. A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. DeCourcey: yes Mr. Hurd: yes Mr. Dunn: yes Mrs. Mahon: yes SO VOTED (4-0).” (Motion: DeCourcey)
May 4Approval of the amendment as written in all regards…Motion: Mr. Dunn moved approval of the amendment as written in all…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
May 4, 2020: Approval of the amendment as written in all regards with the exception of adjusting it to the rental program to be aimed at low income as opposed to low/moderate income
Mr. Dunn moved approval of the amendment as written in all regards with the exception of adjusting it to the rental program to be aimed at low income as opposed to low/moderate income.
This vote included Mr. Chapdelaine (yes), who is not on the Select Board; the minutes’ count (6-0) includes this vote. Only the Select Board members’ votes are shown.
From the minutes
“Mr. Dunn moved approval of the amendment as written in all regards with the exception of adjusting it to the rental program to be aimed at low income as opposed to low/moderate income. A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. Chapdelaine: yes Mr. DeCourcey: yes Mr. Hurd: yes Mr. Curro: yes Mr. Dunn: yes Mrs. Mahon: yes SO VOTED (6-0).” (Motion: Dunn)
May 4Approval of the Citizen Participation Plan as amended on…Motion: Mr. Dunn moved approval of the Citizen Participation Plan as amended…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
May 4, 2020: Approval of the Citizen Participation Plan as amended on May 4, 2020
Mr. Dunn moved approval of the Citizen Participation Plan as amended on May 4, 2020.
This vote included Mr. Chapdelaine (yes), who is not on the Select Board; the minutes’ count (6-0) includes this vote. Only the Select Board members’ votes are shown.
From the minutes
“Mr. Dunn moved approval of the Citizen Participation Plan as amended on May 4, 2020. A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. Chapdelaine: yes Mr. DeCourcey: yes Mr. Hurd: yes Mr. Curro: yes Mr. Dunn: yes Mrs. Mahon: yes SO VOTED (6-0).” (Motion: Dunn)
Apr 27Approval subject to all conditions from departmentsMotion: Mr. Dunn moved approval subject to all conditions from departments.Passed 4–0 · see note
April 27, 2020: Approval subject to all conditions from departments
Mr. Dunn moved approval subject to all conditions from departments.
Yes: Curro, DeCourcey, Dunn, MahonJohn Hurd had left the meeting or had not yet arrived, according to the minutes, and is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“Mr. Dunn moved approval subject to all conditions from departments. A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. DeCourcey: yes Mr. Curro: yes Mr. Dunn: yes Mrs. Mahon: yes SO VOTED (4-0).” (Motion: Dunn)
Apr 27Approval of the recommendations for the CDBG fundingMotion: Mr. Dunn moved approval of the recommendations for the CDBG funding.Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
April 27, 2020: Approval of the recommendations for the CDBG funding
Mr. Dunn moved approval of the recommendations for the CDBG funding.
This vote included Mr. Chapdelaine (yes), who is not on the Select Board; the minutes’ count (6-0) includes this vote. Only the Select Board members’ votes are shown.
From the minutes
“Mr. Dunn moved approval of the recommendations for the CDBG funding. A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. DeCourcey: yes Mr. Hurd: yes Mr. Curro: yes Mr. Dunn: yes Mrs. Mahon: yes Mr. Chapdelaine: yes SO VOTED (6-0).” (Motion: Dunn)
Mar 9Favorable action: Article 13 Bylaw Amendment/Fossil Fuel InfrastructureMotion: Mr. Dunn moved favorable action.Passed 4–0 · see note
March 9, 2020: Favorable action: Article 13 Bylaw Amendment/Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
Mr. Dunn moved favorable action.
Yes: Curro, Dunn, Hurd, MahonStephen DeCourcey stepped aside (recused) and is not shown as voting (the minutes say: “Mr. DeCourcey recused himself from this warrant article.”).
From the minutes
“Mr. Dunn moved favorable action. SO VOTED (4-0).” (Motion: Dunn)
Feb 24Approve: Minutes of Meetings: February 10, 2020Motion: Mr. DeCourcey moved approval.Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Dunn
February 24, 2020: Approve: Minutes of Meetings: February 10, 2020
Mr. DeCourcey moved approval.
Yes: Curro, DeCourcey, Hurd, MahonAbstained: Dunn
From the minutes
“Mr. DeCourcey moved approval. SO VOTED (4-0) Mr. Dunn abstained..” (Motion: DeCourcey)
Feb 10Approve: National Grid Petition/Browning RoadMotion: Mr. Hurd moved approval.Passed 3–0 · see note
February 10, 2020: Approve: National Grid Petition/Browning Road
Mr. Hurd moved approval.
Yes: Curro, Hurd, MahonStephen DeCourcey stepped aside (recused) and is not shown as voting (the minutes say: “Mr. DeCourcey recused himself from this discussion as he does work for National Grid.”).
From the minutes
“Mr. Hurd moved approval. SO VOTED (3-0).” (Motion: Hurd)
Jan 6Approve: Food Vendor LicenseMotion: Mr. Dunn moved approval subject to all conditions as set forth.Passed 4–0 · see note
January 6, 2020: Approve: Food Vendor License
Mr. Dunn moved approval subject to all conditions as set forth.
Yes: Curro, DeCourcey, Dunn, MahonJohn Hurd stepped aside (recused) and is not shown as voting (the minutes say: “Mr. Hurd reclused himself because of his relationship with the current owner.”).
From the minutes
“Mr. Dunn moved approval subject to all conditions as set forth. SO VOTED (4-0).” (Motion: Dunn)
Dec 16Approve: Consent Agenda: Minutes of Meetings: October 28, 2019;…Motion: Mr. Curro moved approval subject to all conditions as set forth.Passed 4–0 · see note
December 16, 2019: Approve: Consent Agenda: Minutes of Meetings: October 28, 2019; December 2, 2019; Request: Contractor/Drainlayer License; Request: Contractor/Drainlayer License; Request: Contractor/Drainlayer License
Mr. Curro moved approval subject to all conditions as set forth.
Yes: Curro, DeCourcey, Hurd, MahonThe minutes say Daniel Dunn arrived late or left early (“Mr. Dunn arrived at 6:10 p.m”); the count (4-0) matches the 4 other members present, so Daniel Dunn is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“Mr. Curro moved approval subject to all conditions as set forth. SO VOTED (4-0).” (Motion: Curro)
From the Arlington Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town’s PrimeGov meeting portal (linked from the town’s Agendas and Minutes page). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Arlington Community Media (ACMi) candidate profile and news videos (John Hurd, 2018; Stephen DeCourcey, 2019); Arlington Patch candidate profile (Eric Helmuth, 2021, courtesy of the candidate); YourArlington (Joseph Solomon, June 2026, photo by Marjorie Howard; Diane Mahon, March 2026 candidate profile, photo submitted by the candidate).
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