MassVoter.com← ArlingtonMunicipal votes · 2021–2022 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. Eric Helmuth joined the board after the April 10, 2021 town election; Daniel Dunn’s interim term ended. On April 12, 2021 the board chose Stephen DeCourcey as Chair and Diane Mahon as Vice Chair. Covers 30 meetings, April 12 to March 30, 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 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
ChairStephen DeCourceyChair · At-large · at 30 of 30 meetings
Vice-ChairDiane MahonVice Chair · At-large · at 30 of 30 meetings
Eric HelmuthMember · At-large · at 30 of 30 meetings
John HurdMember · At-large · at 30 of 30 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.
Mar 30No action for warrant article 19Motion: Mr. Diggins moved no action for warrant article 19.Passed 3–2 · No: Helmuth, Hurd
March 30, 2022: No action for warrant article 19
Mr. Diggins moved no action for warrant article 19.
Yes: DeCourcey, Diggins, MahonNo: Helmuth, Hurd
From the minutes
“Mr. Diggins moved no action for warrant article 19. A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. Hurd: no Mr. Diggins: yes Mr. Helmuth: no Mrs. Mahon: yes Mr. DeCourcey: yes (SO VOTED 3-2).” (Motion: Diggins)
Mar 21Approve: National Grid Petition/Ravine StreetMotion: Mr. Helmuth moved approval.Passed 4–0 · see note
March 21, 2022: Approve: National Grid Petition/Ravine Street
Mr. Helmuth moved approval.
Yes: Diggins, Helmuth, Hurd, MahonStephen DeCourcey stepped aside (recused) and is not shown as voting (the minutes say: “Mr. DeCourcey recused himself from the following public hearings regarding National Grid and turned o”).
From the minutes
“Mr. Helmuth moved approval. A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. Hurd: yes Mr. Diggins: yes Mr. Helmuth: yes Mrs. Mahon: yes SO VOTED (4-0).” (Motion: Helmuth)
Mar 21Favorable action: Article 26 Endorsement of CDBG ApplicationMotion: Mr. Hurd moved favorable action.Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
March 21, 2022: Favorable action: Article 26 Endorsement of CDBG Application
Mr. Hurd moved favorable action.
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. Hurd moved favorable action. A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. Hurd: yes Mr. Diggins: yes Mr. Helmuth: yes Mrs. Mahon: yes Mr. DeCourcey: yes Mr. Chapdelaine yes SO VOTED (6-0).” (Motion: Hurd)
Mar 7Favorable action: Articles for ReviewMotion: Mr. Hurd moved favorable action.Passed 3–2 · No: DeCourcey, Mahon
March 7, 2022: Favorable action: Articles for Review
Mr. Hurd moved favorable action.
Yes: Diggins, Helmuth, HurdNo: DeCourcey, Mahon
From the minutes
“Mr. Hurd moved favorable action. A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. Hurd: yes Mr. Diggins: yes Mr. Helmuth: yes Mrs. Mahon: no Mr. DeCourcey: no SO VOTED (3-2).” (Motion: Hurd)
Feb 23Approve: Approval of Sale of $196,000 Sewer Bond dated…Motion: Mr. Helmuth moved approval.Passed 4–0 · see note
February 23, 2022: Approve: Approval of Sale of $196,000 Sewer Bond dated February 28, 2022 to
Mr. Helmuth moved approval.
Yes: Diggins, Helmuth, Hurd, MahonThe roll call does not list Stephen DeCourcey, who was at the meeting; this member is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“Mr. Helmuth moved approval. A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. Hurd: yes Mr. Diggins: yes Mr. Helmuth: yes Mrs. Mahon: yes.” (Motion: Helmuth)
Feb 23Amend the motion by adding "exclude any current members…Motion: Mr. Hurd moved to amend the motion by adding "exclude any…Passed 4–1 · No: Diggins
February 23, 2022: Amend the motion by adding "exclude any current members of a police department or any former members of the Arlington Police Department."
Mr. Hurd moved to amend the motion by adding "exclude any current members of a police department or any former members of the Arlington Police Department."
Yes: DeCourcey, Helmuth, Hurd, MahonNo: Diggins
From the minutes
“Mr. Hurd moved to amend the motion by adding "exclude any current members of a police department or any former members of the Arlington Police Department." A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. Hurd: yes Mr. Diggins: no Mr. Helmuth: yes Mrs. Mahon: yes Mr. DeCourcey: yes SO VOTED (4-1).” (Motion: Hurd)
Jan 10Approve: National Grid Petition/Oakland AvenueMotion: Mr. Diggins moved approval.Passed 4–0 · see note
January 10, 2022: Approve: National Grid Petition/Oakland Avenue
Mr. Diggins moved approval.
Yes: Diggins, Helmuth, Hurd, MahonStephen DeCourcey stepped aside (recused) and is not shown as voting (the minutes say: “Mr. DeCourcey recused himself from the following public hearings and turned over the meeting to Mrs.”).
From the minutes
“Mr. Diggins moved approval. A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. Hurd: yes Mr. Diggins: yes Mr. Helmuth: yes Mrs. Mahon: yes SO VOTED (4-0).” (Motion: Diggins)
Jan 10Approval subject to conditions laid out in Engineering Memo…Motion: Mr. Helmuth moved approval subject to conditions laid out in Engineering…Passed 4–0 · see note
January 10, 2022: Approval subject to conditions laid out in Engineering Memo within the public right of way
Mr. Helmuth moved approval subject to conditions laid out in Engineering Memo within the public right of way.
Yes: Diggins, Helmuth, Hurd, MahonStephen DeCourcey stepped aside (recused) and is not shown as voting (the minutes say: “Mr. DeCourcey recused himself from the following public hearings and turned over the meeting to Mrs.”).
From the minutes
“Mr. Helmuth moved approval subject to conditions laid out in Engineering Memo within the public right of way. A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. Hurd: yes Mr. Diggins: yes Mr. Helmuth: yes Mrs. Mahon: yes SO VOTED (4-0).” (Motion: Helmuth)
Oct 13Approval and revisit this intersection no later than February…Motion: Mr. Diggins moved approval and revisit this intersection no later than…Passed 4–0 · see note
October 13, 2021: Approval and revisit this intersection no later than February 2022
Mr. Diggins moved approval and revisit this intersection no later than February 2022.
Yes: Diggins, Helmuth, Hurd, MahonStephen DeCourcey stepped aside (recused) and is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“Mr. Diggins moved approval and revisit this intersection no later than February 2022. A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. Hurd: yes Mr. Diggins: yes Mr. Helmuth: yes Mrs. Mahon: yes Mr. DeCourcey: recused SO VOTED (4-0).” (Motion: Diggins)
Oct 13Maintain the number of precincts at 21Motion: Mr. Hurd moved to maintain the number of precincts at 21.Passed 4–1 · No: Diggins
October 13, 2021: Maintain the number of precincts at 21
Mr. Hurd moved to maintain the number of precincts at 21.
Yes: DeCourcey, Helmuth, Hurd, MahonNo: Diggins
From the minutes
“Mr. Hurd moved to maintain the number of precincts at 21. A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. Heim. Mr. Hurd: yes Mr. Diggins: no Mr. Helmuth: yes Mrs. Mahon: yes Mr. DeCourcey: yes SO VOTED (4-1).” (Motion: Hurd)
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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