MassVoter.com← AshlandMunicipal votes · 2018 Board (March–June)
Ashland Select Board
How the Ashland Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. On March 15, 2018 the board reorganized: Rob Scherer thanked Carl Hakansson for his service as Chair, and the board unanimously elected Rob Scherer as Chair, Steve Mitchell as Vice-Chair and Yolanda Greaves as Clerk. Rob Scherer and Yolanda Greaves were re-elected at the May 2018 town election. Covers 8 meetings, March 15 to May 30, 2018.
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
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.
What Town Meeting decided
In Ashland, Town Meeting — not the Select Board — votes the town budget, bylaws and zoning. Here is what it did with each article, in the Town Clerk’s own words. Any registered voter can take part, and most votes are by voice or show of hands, so there is no list of who voted which way.
Annual Town Meeting · May 6, 2026 10 votes: 8 passed, 1 failed, 1 no action
Sessions: May 6, 2026; adjourned to June 3, 2026 (dissolved, no further votes)
- Art. 1 Hear reports of town committees No action “There was no vote required so the meeting moved on.”
- Art. 2 Transfer $1,640,256 from the General Stabilization Fund to support the FY2027 budget Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 2: Motion passed overwhelmingly by the required two-thirds majority.”
- Art. 3 Transfer $300,000 from the Special Education Stabilization Fund to the General Fund Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 3: Motion passed overwhelmingly by the required two-thirds majority.”
- Art. 4 Adopt FY2027 budget: raise $85,243,865 for the General Fund plus water, sewer, trash and other enterprise budgets Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 4: Passed”
- Art. 5 Transfer $375,000 to the OPEB (retiree health) Trust Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 5: Passed”
- Art. 6 Annual consent article: grants, road contracts, multi-year contracts, lease-purchase, revolving fund limits and more Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 6: The Moderator declared a 2/3 vote”
- Art. 7 Community Preservation Act consent article: FY2027 CPA appropriations Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 7: Passed”
- Art. 8 Buy or take by eminent domain 11.4 acres at 41 Lincoln Road for the Town Forest (up to $845,000 plus $40,000 in CPA funds) Failed “The motion failed to achieve a majority and therefore failed. · Yes: 140 No: 157”
- Art. 9 Add Secondary Suite rules to the Building Construction bylaw (Chapter 98) Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 9: Passed”
- Art. 10 Amend zoning section 9.6 Design Plan Review (committee makeup and where review applies) Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 10: The Moderator declared a 2/3 majority”
Source: Town Clerk: Annual Town Meeting minutes, May 6, 2026 (Agenda Center PDF).
Special Town Meeting (STM1) · November 19, 2025 17 votes: 12 passed, 5 withdrawn
- Art. 17 Citizen petition: resolution against town business with Musk-owned companies (petitioners asked to withdraw) Withdrawn “VOTE ON ARTICLE 17: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 1 Transfer $3,022,461 from free cash to stabilization, OPEB, special education stabilization and capital accounts Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 1: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 2 Amend FY2026 budget: net increase of $154,236 (schools, conservation, inspections, treasurer; Keefe Tech reduced) Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 2: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 3 Set senior property tax exemption (Clause 41C1/2) at 12% for FY2026 Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 3: Passed Unanimously”
- Art. 4 Appropriate CPA funds to create Nature’s Edge at MetroWest YMCA Withdrawn “WITHDRAWN: No action required.”
- Art. 5 Appropriate up to $40,000 in CPA funds for Town Forest survey work and appraisals Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 5: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 6 Appropriate CPA funds to buy 11 acres for the Town Forest Withdrawn “WITHDRAWN: No action required.”
- Art. 7 Appropriate up to $50,000 in CPA funds for invasive plant management at Beaverdam Brook conservation area Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 7: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 8 Appropriate up to $25,000 in CPA funds to replace the high school softball field surface Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 8: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 9 Accept MGL c. 272 s. 73A to allow removal of gravestones for repair by approved teams Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 9: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 10 Accept MGL c. 138 s. 12D to allow trading wine and malt licenses for all-alcohol licenses Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 10: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 11 Update In-law bylaw Withdrawn “WITHDRAWN: No action required.”
- Art. 12 Amend Dog Kennel and animal control bylaw (Chapter 87) Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 12: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 13 Add Municipal Tax Payment Agreement bylaw (MGL c. 60 s. 62A) Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 13: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 14 Accept Donnelly gift parcel (moved to STM2 because of a drafting error) Withdrawn “WITHDRAWN: No action required.”
- Art. 15 Allow a conservation restriction with The Trustees of Reservations on up to 27 acres gifted near Pond Street Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 15: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 16 Resolution endorsing the 2025 Comprehensive Plan, Envision Ashland Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 16: Passed unanimously”
Special Town Meeting (STM2) · November 19, 2025 1 votes: 1 passed
Sessions: November 19, 2025 (one-article warrant, held the same night as STM1)
- Art. 1 Acquire 14.26 acres at 0 Oregon Road (Donnelly gift parcel) to expand the Town Forest Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 1: Passed unanimously”
Annual Town Meeting · May 7, 2025 20 votes: 16 passed, 1 failed, 2 withdrawn, 1 no action
- Art. 1 Hear reports of town committees No action “There was no vote required so the meeting moved on.”
- Art. 3 Transfer $300,000 from the Special Education Stabilization Fund to the General Fund Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 3: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 4 Adopt FY2026 budget: raise $79,331,386 for the General Fund plus water, sewer, trash and other enterprise budgets Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 4: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 2 Transfer $2,256,720 from the General Stabilization Fund to support the FY2026 budget Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 2: The Moderator declared a 2/3 vote.”
- Art. 5 Transfer $375,000 to the OPEB (retiree health) Trust Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 5: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 6 Annual consent article: grants, road contracts, multi-year contracts, lease-purchase, revolving fund limits and more Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 6: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 7 Community Preservation Act consent article: FY2026 CPA appropriations and bond payments Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 7: Passed”
- Art. 8 Appropriate $500,000 in CPA funds to create the Ashland Arboretum Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 8: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 9 Appropriate up to $110,000 in CPA funds to digitize town records for historic preservation Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 9: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 10 Appropriate up to $60,000 in CPA funds for Ashland Bark Park (dog park) improvements Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 10: Passed”
- Art. 11 Accept Sec. 40 of Ch. 653 of the Acts of 1989 to tax new construction finished Jan. 1-June 30 in the current year Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 11: Passed Unanimously”
- Art. 12 Borrow $2,000,000 more for the water treatment plant ozone system replacement Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 12: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 13 Borrow $3,000,000 more for water main replacement projects Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 13: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 14 Borrow $1,214,000 for sewer infiltration and inflow improvements (MWRA program) Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 14: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 15 Create a Local Historic District (Ashland Centre) and Historic District Commission bylaw Failed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 15: Failed (111-66) · 111-66”
- Art. 16 Buy or take land at 81 and 0 Pond Street for a multi-modal trail Withdrawn “WITHDRAWN: No action required.”
- Art. 17 Replace zoning section 7.6 with a new Accessory Dwelling Unit bylaw Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 17: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 18 Replace zoning section 8.1 Floodplain Overlay District Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 18: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 19 Amend site plan review procedures (zoning section 9.4.5.3) to require a public hearing Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 19: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 20 Amend Dog Kennel bylaw (Chapter 87) Withdrawn “WITHDRAWN: No action needed.”
Source: Town Clerk: Annual Town Meeting minutes, May 7, 2025, True Copy Attest (Agenda Center PDF).
Special Town Meeting · November 19, 2024 9 votes: 8 passed, 1 withdrawn
- Art. 1 Transfer $2,792,803 from free cash to stabilization, OPEB, special education stabilization and capital accounts Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 1: Article 1 passed unanimously”
- Art. 2 Raise FY2025 capital outlay budget by $1,033,925 to $3,723,925 Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 2: Article 2 passed unanimously”
- Art. 3 Set senior property tax exemption (Clause 41C1/2) at 12% Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 3: Article 3 passed unanimously”
- Art. 4 Correct a lot number in the May 2024 vote accepting a gift of land (Map 18 to Map 27 Lot 0100) Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 4: Article 4 passed unanimously”
- Art. 5 Borrow $1,000,000 for water main replacement projects Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 5: Article 5 passed unanimously”
- Art. 6 Appropriate up to $18,750 in CPA funds for a Waushakum Pond restoration study with Framingham Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 6: Article 6 passed unanimously”
- Art. 7 Add a new Blight bylaw (Chapter 266) Withdrawn “VOTE ON ARTICLE 7: Withdrawn”
- Art. 8 Add MBTA Communities Multi-family Overlay District to zoning bylaw and map Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 8: Article 8 passed”
- Art. 9 Buy or take about 52 acres at 0 Winter Street for the Town Forest, paid from the capital account Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 9: Article 9 passed unanimously”
Source: Town Clerk: Special Town Meeting minutes, November 19, 2024, True Copy Attest (Agenda Center PDF).
Annual Town Meeting · May 1, 2024 14 votes: 11 passed, 1 passed as amended, 2 no action
- Art. 1 Hear reports of town committees No action “There was no vote required so the meeting moved on to Article 2.”
- Art. 2 Adopt the FY2025 balanced budget of $94,027,947 Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 2: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 3 Transfer $350,000 to the OPEB (retiree health) Trust Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 3: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 4 Transfer $250,000 from the Special Education Stabilization Fund to the General Fund Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 4: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 5 Annual consent article: grants, road contracts, multi-year contracts, lease-purchase, revolving fund limits, easements Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 5: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 6 Community Preservation Act consent article: FY2025 CPA appropriations and CPA bond payments Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 6: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 14 Zoning bylaw for MBTA Communities multi-family housing No action “Town Meeting can’t consider the article and no action will be taken on it.”
- Art. 7 Appropriate $40,000 in CPA funds to paint and preserve the Library interior Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 7: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 8 Accept gift of land from the Hopkinton Land Trust (Map 18 lots) for conservation and municipal use Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 8: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 9 Raise 2022 borrowing for Middle School locker rooms and fire tower truck by $264,092.27 to $1,964,092.27 Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 9: The Moderator declared a 2/3 majority.”
- Art. 10 Reauthorize Public Safety Building borrowing to include land acquisition Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 10: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 11 Borrow $4,000,000 to replace the ozone system at the Howe Street water treatment plant Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 11: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 12 Amend Demolition Delay bylaw for historically or architecturally significant buildings Passed as amended “VOTE ON ARTICLE 12: Passed”
- Art. 13 Adopt the Specialized Energy Code in the General Bylaws (effective January 1, 2025) Passed “VOTE ON ARTICLE 13: Passed”
Source: Town Clerk: Annual Town Meeting minutes, May 1, 2024, True Copy Attest (Agenda Center PDF).
Not here yet: The November 10, 2026 Special Town Meeting has not happened yet.
Titles are short descriptions of each article from the official record; the quoted words are the Town Clerk’s. A vote at Town Meeting is not the final word on everything: some articles also need a ballot vote (such as a tax override) or the Attorney General’s approval (bylaws).
Members
Yolanda GreavesClerk · At-large · at 8 of 8 meetingsCarl HakanssonMember · At-large · at 8 of 8 meetings
Joseph MagnaniMember · At-large · at 8 of 8 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: Ashland Select Board minutes from January 3, 2018 through September 23, 2026: 240 meetings and 1,669 votes. The town’s Agenda Center has the board’s minutes from 2008 on; MassVoter loaded 2018 on. The board was the Board of Selectmen until June 5, 2019, when it voted 3-2 to call itself the Select Board; its minutes are headed “Select Board” from June 19, 2019. Nearly all minutes are posted as scanned images, usually together with the meeting packet; MassVoter read the minutes pages with text recognition and checked names and counts against the page images where they were unclear. Not here: executive-session minutes (including released executive-session minutes posted on separate rows); the board’s sub-committees (Scholarship, BAA and community grant review, Valentine Property, Upper Charles Trail); cancelled meetings and public forums where no votes were taken; votes of the Planning Board, Board of Health, School Committee and Finance Committee at joint and Tri-Board meetings (only the Select Board members’ votes are shown, and joint votes with one combined count show the result only); the file posted as the November 28, 2018 minutes, which is another meeting’s minutes; and meetings with an agenda but no posted minutes (August 9, 2018; December 10, 2018; June 29, 2020; January 4, 2022; September 23, 2024; the March 1 and April 5, 2025 Tri-Board meetings; September 30, 2025; the October 23, 2025 joint meeting with the Planning Board, whose minutes the board approved on December 3, 2025; November 19, 2025; the February 2, 2026 budget workshop; the March 10, 2026 Tri-Board meeting; May 28, 2026; and the August 5, 2026 budget workshop). Minutes after September 23, 2026 are not posted yet. Ashland’s minutes name the mover and seconder and end each motion with a count (“Vote: 5-0-0. Motion approved.”); a count that equals the members present, with no one voting no or abstaining, is shown as each of them voting yes. When members take part remotely, and at every 2020–2021 remote meeting, votes are roll calls naming each member (“Greaves-aye, Kinsman-aye, Magnani-aye ...”), shown by name. Members who vote no or abstain are named: from 2018 to 2022 in brackets after the count (“with a vote of 4-1-0 (Magnani)”, the minority side), and since 2023 with a label (“Vote: 4-1-0. Motion approved (J. Magnani, opposed)”). Members out of the room, recused or not yet arrived are not shown in those votes. Where the count and the members present or named do not match, we show the count only (15 votes); where the minutes give the result alone, we show the result only (6 votes). A motion with no recorded outcome is not counted as a vote. 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 16Approve the consent agenda with pulling items A and…Motion: Yolanda Greaves made a motion to approve the consent agenda with…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Mitchell
May 16, 2018: Approve the consent agenda with pulling items A and B, therefore leaving C, D, E and F for approval
Yolanda Greaves made a motion to approve the consent agenda with pulling items A and B, therefore leaving C, D, E and F for approval. This motion was seconded by Joe Magnani with a vote of 4-0- 1(Mitchell) Rob Scherer thanked Hillary Waite for volunteering for serve on the Storm Water Advisory Committee.
Yes: Greaves, Hakansson, Magnani, SchererAbstained: MitchellThe minutes give the count followed by the minority in brackets (“4-0- 1(Mitchell)”); Steve Mitchell is shown as abstaining and the other members present as voting yes.
From the minutes
“Yolanda Greaves made a motion to approve the consent agenda with pulling items A and B, therefore leaving C, D, E and F for approval. This motion was seconded by Joe Magnani with a vote of 4-0- 1(Mitchell) Rob Scherer thanked Hillary Waite for volunteering for serve on the Storm Water Advisory Committee..” (Motion: Greaves, second: Magnani)
May 16Approve the request for a One-Day License to be…Motion: Yolanda Greaves made a motion to approve the request for a…Passed 5–1 · see note
May 16, 2018: Approve the request for a One-Day License to be issued to Wine Empire to hold a Summer Night Beer Fest on August 4, 2018 from 7:00 pm to midnight
Yolanda Greaves made a motion to approve the request for a One-Day License to be issued to Wine Empire to hold a Summer Night Beer Fest on August 4, 2018 from 7:00 pm to midnight. This motion was seconded by Steve Mitchell with a vote of 5-1-0 (Magnani).
The minutes give the count as 5-1-0 but name Joseph Magnani (no), which does not add up with the 5 members present. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Yolanda Greaves made a motion to approve the request for a One-Day License to be issued to Wine Empire to hold a Summer Night Beer Fest on August 4, 2018 from 7:00 pm to midnight. This motion was seconded by Steve Mitchell with a vote of 5-1-0 (Magnani)..” (Motion: Greaves, second: Mitchell)
Apr 18Go past 10:00 pmMotion: Yolanda Greaves made a motion to go past 10:00 pm. This…Passed 4–1 · No: Hakansson
April 18, 2018: Go past 10:00 pm
Yolanda Greaves made a motion to go past 10:00 pm. This motion was seconded by Joe Magnani with a vote of 4-1-0 (Hakansson).
Yes: Greaves, Magnani, Mitchell, SchererNo: HakanssonThe minutes give the count followed by the minority in brackets (“4-1-0 (Hakansson)”); Carl Hakansson is shown as voting no and the other members present as voting yes.
From the minutes
“Yolanda Greaves made a motion to go past 10:00 pm. This motion was seconded by Joe Magnani with a vote of 4-1-0 (Hakansson)..” (Motion: Greaves, second: Magnani)
Apr 18Accept the 2018 BAA grant funding recommendations and thanks…Motion: Yolanda Greaves made a motion to accept the 2018 BAA grant…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Magnani
April 18, 2018: Accept the 2018 BAA grant funding recommendations and thanks to the sub-committee for their work and presenting them
Yolanda Greaves made a motion to accept the 2018 BAA grant funding recommendations and thanks to the sub-committee for their work and presenting them. This motion was seconded by Joe Magnani with a unanimous vote of 4-0-1 (Magnani).
Yes: Greaves, Hakansson, Mitchell, SchererAbstained: MagnaniThe minutes name Joe Magnani both as the seconder and, in brackets after the count, as the member who abstained; the vote is shown as recorded. The minutes give the count followed by the minority in brackets (“4-0-1 (Magnani)”); Joseph Magnani is shown as abstaining and the other members present as voting yes. The minutes call the vote unanimous; the member who abstained is shown abstaining.
From the minutes
“Yolanda Greaves made a motion to accept the 2018 BAA grant funding recommendations and thanks to the sub-committee for their work and presenting them. This motion was seconded by Joe Magnani with a unanimous vote of 4-0-1 (Magnani)..” (Motion: Greaves, second: Magnani)
Apr 4Go past 10:00 pmMotion: Joe Magnani made a motion to go past 10:00 pm. This…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Hakansson
April 4, 2018: Go past 10:00 pm
Joe Magnani made a motion to go past 10:00 pm. This motion was seconded by Yolanda Greaves with a vote of 4-0-1 (Hakansson).
Yes: Greaves, Magnani, Mitchell, SchererAbstained: HakanssonThe minutes give the count followed by the minority in brackets (“4-0-1 (Hakansson)”); Carl Hakansson is shown as abstaining and the other members present as voting yes.
From the minutes
“Joe Magnani made a motion to go past 10:00 pm. This motion was seconded by Yolanda Greaves with a vote of 4-0-1 (Hakansson)..” (Motion: Magnani, second: Greaves)
Mar 15Approve the meeting minutes of February 7, 2018 and…Motion: Yolanda Greaves made a motion to approve the meeting minutes of…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Magnani
March 15, 2018: Approve the meeting minutes of February 7, 2018 and February 21, 2018 as amended
Yolanda Greaves made a motion to approve the meeting minutes of February 7, 2018 and February 21, 2018 as amended. This motion was seconded by Steve Mitchell with a vote of 4-0-1 (Magnani).
Yes: Greaves, Hakansson, Mitchell, SchererAbstained: MagnaniThe minutes give the count followed by the minority in brackets (“4-0-1 (Magnani)”); Joseph Magnani is shown as abstaining and the other members present as voting yes.
From the minutes
“Yolanda Greaves made a motion to approve the meeting minutes of February 7, 2018 and February 21, 2018 as amended. This motion was seconded by Steve Mitchell with a vote of 4-0-1 (Magnani)..” (Motion: Greaves, second: Mitchell)
Mar 15Approve the new sign installationMotion: Yolanda Greaves made a motion to approve the new sign installation.…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Hakansson
March 15, 2018: Approve the new sign installation
Yolanda Greaves made a motion to approve the new sign installation. This motion was seconded by Joe Magnani with a vote of 4-0-1 (Hakansson).
Yes: Greaves, Magnani, Mitchell, SchererAbstained: HakanssonThe minutes give the count followed by the minority in brackets (“4-0-1 (Hakansson)”); Carl Hakansson is shown as abstaining and the other members present as voting yes.
From the minutes
“Yolanda Greaves made a motion to approve the new sign installation. This motion was seconded by Joe Magnani with a vote of 4-0-1 (Hakansson)..” (Motion: Greaves, second: Magnani)
From the Ashland Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center (Select Board). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos (the town’s website has no Select Board photos): WACA-TV Ashland videos — Brandi Kinsman (July 2026), Makeda Keegan (September 2026), Joseph Magnani (May 2026), Yolanda Greaves (May 2025) and Claudia Bennett (March 2025). Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.
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