MassVoter.com← ArlingtonMunicipal votes · 2025–2026 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. On April 7, 2025 the board chose Diane Mahon as Chair and Len Diggins as Vice Chair. Len Diggins resigned in October 2025 because he was moving out of town (his last meeting was October 6, 2025); on October 20, 2025 the board and the Town Moderator appointed Jane Morgan as interim member until the March 28, 2026 town election, and on November 3, 2025 the board chose John Hurd as Vice Chair (5-0). Covers 26 meetings, April 7 to March 23, 2026.
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.
Start my ballot →Board years
Coming up
No upcoming meeting is posted yet. Check the official calendar →
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 26 of 26 meetingsVice-ChairLen DigginsVice Chair · At-large · at 14 of 14 meetings · until Oct 2025
Stephen DeCourceyMember · At-large · at 24 of 26 meetings
Eric HelmuthMember · At-large · at 24 of 26 meetings
John HurdVice Chair · At-large · at 22 of 26 meetingsJane MorganMember · At-large · at 10 of 11 meetings · from Nov 2025
Joseph SolomonMember · At-large · at 0 of 0 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 23Favorable Action of Article 22 Bylaw Amendment / Use…Motion: Moved Favorable Action of Article 22 Bylaw Amendment / Use of…Passed 4–1 · No: Mahon
March 23, 2026: Favorable Action of Article 22 Bylaw Amendment / Use of Areas Under Control of Park Department
Moved Favorable Action of Article 22 Bylaw Amendment / Use of Areas Under Control of Park Department.
Yes: DeCourcey, Helmuth, Hurd, MorganNo: Mahon
From the minutes
“Motion: Moved Favorable Action of Article 22 Bylaw Amendment / Use of Areas Under Control of Park Department. Results: (4 - 1) Mover: John Hurd Seconder: Eric Helmuth Ayes: John Hurd, Stephen DeCourcey, Jane Morgan, Eric Helmuth Nays: Diane Mahon.” (Motion: Hurd, second: Helmuth)
Mar 23Favorable Action of Article 28 Home Rule Legislation /…Motion: Moved Favorable Action of Article 28 Home Rule Legislation / Additional…Passed 4–0 · see note
March 23, 2026: Favorable Action of Article 28 Home Rule Legislation / Additional On Premises All Alcohol Licenses
Moved Favorable Action of Article 28 Home Rule Legislation / Additional On Premises All Alcohol Licenses.
Yes: DeCourcey, Hurd, Mahon, MorganEric Helmuth stepped aside (recused) and is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“Motion: Moved Favorable Action of Article 28 Home Rule Legislation / Additional On Premises All Alcohol Licenses. Results: (4 - 0) Mover: Stephen DeCourcey Seconder: John Hurd Ayes: Diane Mahon, John Hurd, Stephen DeCourcey, Jane Morgan Recused: Eric Helmuth.” (Motion: DeCourcey, second: Hurd)
Mar 23No Action on Article 30 Home Rule Legislation /…Motion: Moved No Action on Article 30 Home Rule Legislation / Repeal…Passed 4–0 · see note
March 23, 2026: No Action on Article 30 Home Rule Legislation / Repeal MBTA Prohibition
Moved No Action on Article 30 Home Rule Legislation / Repeal MBTA Prohibition.
Yes: DeCourcey, Hurd, Mahon, MorganEric Helmuth stepped aside (recused) and is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“Motion: Moved No Action on Article 30 Home Rule Legislation / Repeal MBTA Prohibition. Results: (4 - 0) Mover: Stephen DeCourcey Seconder: John Hurd Ayes: Diane Mahon, John Hurd, Stephen DeCourcey, Jane Morgan Recused: Eric Helmuth.” (Motion: DeCourcey, second: Hurd)
Mar 23Favorable Action of Article 31 Home Rule Legislation /…Motion: Moved Favorable Action of Article 31 Home Rule Legislation / 61B…Passed 4–0 · see note
March 23, 2026: Favorable Action of Article 31 Home Rule Legislation / 61B Exemption
Moved Favorable Action of Article 31 Home Rule Legislation / 61B Exemption.
Yes: DeCourcey, Hurd, Mahon, MorganEric Helmuth stepped aside (recused) and is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“Motion: Moved Favorable Action of Article 31 Home Rule Legislation / 61B Exemption. Results: (4 - 0) Mover: John Hurd Seconder: Jane Morgan Ayes: Diane Mahon, John Hurd, Stephen DeCourcey, Jane Morgan Recused: Eric Helmuth.” (Motion: Hurd, second: Morgan)
Mar 9Authorize the Town Manager to sign the agreementMotion: Moved to authorize the Town Manager to sign the agreement.Passed 4–0 · see note
March 9, 2026: Authorize the Town Manager to sign the agreement
Moved to authorize the Town Manager to sign the agreement.
Yes: DeCourcey, Helmuth, Mahon, MorganThe minutes list John Hurd as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“Motion: Moved to authorize the Town Manager to sign the agreement. Results: (4 - 0) Mover: Stephen DeCourcey Seconder: Eric Helmuth Ayes: Diane Mahon, Stephen DeCourcey, Jane Morgan, Eric Helmuth Absent: John Hurd.” (Motion: DeCourcey, second: Helmuth)
Mar 9Approve: Letter of Support for Housing Corporation of Arlington's…Motion: ApprovePassed 4–0 · see note
March 9, 2026: Approve: Letter of Support for Housing Corporation of Arlington's Proposal
Approve
Yes: DeCourcey, Helmuth, Mahon, MorganThe minutes list John Hurd as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“Motion: Approve Results: Passed (4 - 0) Mover: Eric Helmuth Seconder: Jane Morgan Ayes: Diane Mahon, Stephen DeCourcey, Jane Morgan, Eric Helmuth Absent: John Hurd.” (Motion: Helmuth, second: Morgan)
Mar 9Favorable Action of Article 9 Bylaw Amendment / Native…Motion: Moved Favorable Action of Article 9 Bylaw Amendment / Native Plantings…Passed 3–2 · No: DeCourcey, Morgan
March 9, 2026: Favorable Action of Article 9 Bylaw Amendment / Native Plantings on Public Lands
Moved Favorable Action of Article 9 Bylaw Amendment / Native Plantings on Public Lands
Yes: Helmuth, Hurd, MahonNo: DeCourcey, Morgan
From the minutes
“Motion: Moved Favorable Action of Article 9 Bylaw Amendment / Native Plantings on Public Lands Results: (3 - 2) Mover: Eric Helmuth Seconder: John Hurd Ayes: Diane Mahon, John Hurd, Eric Helmuth Nays: Stephen DeCourcey, Jane Morgan.” (Motion: Helmuth, second: Hurd)
Mar 2Favorable Action of Article 29 Home Rule Legislation /…Motion: Moved Favorable Action of Article 29 Home Rule Legislation / Recall…Passed 4–0 · see note
March 2, 2026: Favorable Action of Article 29 Home Rule Legislation / Recall Elections
Moved Favorable Action of Article 29 Home Rule Legislation / Recall Elections
Yes: DeCourcey, Hurd, Mahon, MorganEric Helmuth stepped aside (recused) and is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“Motion: Moved Favorable Action of Article 29 Home Rule Legislation / Recall Elections Results: (4 - 0) Mover: John Hurd Seconder: Stephen DeCourcey Ayes: Diane Mahon, John Hurd, Stephen DeCourcey, Jane Morgan Recused: Eric Helmuth.” (Motion: Hurd, second: DeCourcey)
Mar 2Favorable Action of Article 32 Home Rule Legislation /…Motion: Moved Favorable Action of Article 32 Home Rule Legislation / Prohibit…Passed 4–0 · see note
March 2, 2026: Favorable Action of Article 32 Home Rule Legislation / Prohibit First Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticide in Arlington
Moved Favorable Action of Article 32 Home Rule Legislation / Prohibit First Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticide in Arlington
Yes: DeCourcey, Hurd, Mahon, MorganEric Helmuth stepped aside (recused) and is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“Motion: Moved Favorable Action of Article 32 Home Rule Legislation / Prohibit First Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticide in Arlington Results: (4 - 0) Mover: John Hurd Seconder: Stephen DeCourcey Ayes: Diane Mahon, John Hurd, Stephen DeCourcey, Jane Morgan Recused: Eric Helmuth.” (Motion: Hurd, second: DeCourcey)
Mar 2Favorable Action of Article 35 Endorsement of CDBG ApplicationMotion: Moved Favorable Action of Article 35 Endorsement of CDBG Application. This…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
March 2, 2026: Favorable Action of Article 35 Endorsement of CDBG Application
Moved Favorable Action of Article 35 Endorsement of CDBG Application. This vote includes the Town Manager and is a 6-0 vote.
The minutes say the Town Manager also voted on this item. Only the Select Board members’ votes are shown.
From the minutes
“Motion: Moved Favorable Action of Article 35 Endorsement of CDBG Application. This vote includes the Town Manager and is a 6-0 vote. Results: (5 - 0) Mover: John Hurd Seconder: Jane Morgan Ayes: Diane Mahon, John Hurd, Stephen DeCourcey, Jane Morgan, Eric Helmuth.” (Motion: Hurd, second: Morgan)
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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