← Ashland

Municipal votes · 2022–2023 Board

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. The same five members served after the May 17, 2022 town election. On May 18, 2022 the board chose Brandi Kinsman as Chair, Rob Scherer as Vice Chair and Steve Mitchell as Clerk. Steve Mitchell’s last meeting was April 26, 2023; Claudia Bennett joined the board after the May 16, 2023 town election (her first meeting was May 17, 2023). Covers 31 meetings, May 18 to May 17, 2023.

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 budget
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

Your Ashland 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.

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)

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Special Town Meeting (STM1) · November 19, 2025 17 votes: 12 passed, 5 withdrawn

Source: Town Clerk: Special Town Meeting minutes, November 19, 2025 - STM1 section (Agenda Center PDF; covers STM1 and STM2).

Special Town Meeting (STM2) · November 19, 2025 1 votes: 1 passed

Sessions: November 19, 2025 (one-article warrant, held the same night as STM1)

Source: Town Clerk: Special Town Meeting minutes, November 19, 2025 - STM2 section (Agenda Center PDF; covers STM1 and STM2).

Annual Town Meeting · May 7, 2025 20 votes: 16 passed, 1 failed, 2 withdrawn, 1 no action

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

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

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

Claudia BennettMember · At-large · at 1 of 1 meetings · from May 2023Yolanda GreavesMember · At-large · at 29 of 31 meetingsJoseph MagnaniMember · At-large · at 29 of 31 meetingsSteve MitchellClerk · At-large · at 29 of 30 meetings · until May 2023

"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.

Wednesday, May 17, 2023 · Regular meeting12 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAbsent: Yolanda GreavesThursday, May 11, 2023 · Joint meeting6 recorded votes, 5 with disagreementAbsent: Yolanda GreavesWednesday, May 3, 2023 · Regular meeting4 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAbsent: Steve MitchellWednesday, April 26, 2023 · Regular meeting10 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAbsent: Robert SchererWednesday, April 12, 2023 · Regular meeting11 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 6 members present

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 11Appoint the representatives stated so far to the Comprehensive…Motion: Ms. Tesmenitsky motioned to appoint the representatives stated so far to…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

May 11, 2023 (Joint meeting): Appoint the representatives stated so far to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee

AppointPassed · Unanimous, 4 present

Ms. Tesmenitsky motioned to appoint the representatives stated so far to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. Ms. Jurczyk seconded. No discussion. Planning Board: Venkat-aye, Tesmenitsky-aye, Arjona-aye, Jurczyk-aye, and Kendall-aye. Select Board: Magnani-aye, Mitchell- aye, Scherer-aye, and Kinsman-aye, with a vote of 9-9.

Joint vote of the Select Board and the other board at this joint meeting; only the Select Board members’ votes are shown. The motion was made by Ms. Tesmenitsky, who is not a member of the Select Board. It was seconded by Ms. Jurczyk, who is not a member of the Select Board.

From the minutes

“Ms. Tesmenitsky motioned to appoint the representatives stated so far to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. Ms. Jurczyk seconded. No discussion. Planning Board: Venkat-aye, Tesmenitsky-aye, Arjona-aye, Jurczyk-aye, and Kendall-aye. Select Board: Magnani-aye, Mitchell- aye, Scherer-aye, and Kinsman-aye, with a vote of 9-9..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

May 11Appoint the representatives stated so far to the Comprehensive…Motion: Ms. Tesmenitsky motioned to appoint the representatives stated so far to…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

May 11, 2023 (Joint meeting): Appoint the representatives stated so far to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee

AppointPassed · Unanimous, 4 present

Ms. Tesmenitsky motioned to appoint the representatives stated so far to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. Mr. Arjona seconded. No discussion. Planning Board: Venkat-aye, Tesmenitsky-aye, Arjona-aye, Jurczyk-aye, and Kendall-aye. Select Board: Magnani-aye, Mitchell- aye, Scherer-aye, and Kinsman-aye, with a vote of 9-9.

Joint vote of the Select Board and the other board at this joint meeting; only the Select Board members’ votes are shown. The motion was made by Ms. Tesmenitsky, who is not a member of the Select Board. It was seconded by Mr. Arjona, who is not a member of the Select Board.

From the minutes

“Ms. Tesmenitsky motioned to appoint the representatives stated so far to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. Mr. Arjona seconded. No discussion. Planning Board: Venkat-aye, Tesmenitsky-aye, Arjona-aye, Jurczyk-aye, and Kendall-aye. Select Board: Magnani-aye, Mitchell- aye, Scherer-aye, and Kinsman-aye, with a vote of 9-9..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

May 11Appoint the representatives stated so far to the Comprehensive…Motion: Ms. Tesmenitsky motioned to appoint the representatives stated so far to…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

May 11, 2023 (Joint meeting): Appoint the representatives stated so far to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee

AppointPassed · Unanimous, 4 present

Ms. Tesmenitsky motioned to appoint the representatives stated so far to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. Ms. Jurczyk seconded. No discussion. Planning Board: Venkat-aye, Tesmenitsky-aye, Arjona-aye, Jurczyk-aye, and Kendall-aye. Select Board: Magnani-aye, Mitchell- aye, Scherer-aye, and Kinsman-aye, with a vote of 9-9.

Joint vote of the Select Board and the other board at this joint meeting; only the Select Board members’ votes are shown. The motion was made by Ms. Tesmenitsky, who is not a member of the Select Board. It was seconded by Ms. Jurczyk, who is not a member of the Select Board.

From the minutes

“Ms. Tesmenitsky motioned to appoint the representatives stated so far to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. Ms. Jurczyk seconded. No discussion. Planning Board: Venkat-aye, Tesmenitsky-aye, Arjona-aye, Jurczyk-aye, and Kendall-aye. Select Board: Magnani-aye, Mitchell- aye, Scherer-aye, and Kinsman-aye, with a vote of 9-9..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

May 11Appoint the precinct and high school representatives stated by…Motion: Ms. Tesmenitsky motioned to appoint the precinct and high school representatives…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

May 11, 2023 (Joint meeting): Appoint the precinct and high school representatives stated by Mr. Matchak to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee

AppointPassed · Unanimous, 4 present

Ms. Tesmenitsky motioned to appoint the precinct and high school representatives stated by Mr. Matchak to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. Mr. Arjona seconded. No discussion. Planning Board: Venkat-aye, Tesmenitsky-aye, Arjona-aye, Jurczyk-aye, and Kendall-aye. Select Board: Magnani-aye, Mitchell-aye, Scherer-aye, and Kinsman-aye, with a vote of 9-9.

Joint vote of the Select Board and the other board at this joint meeting; only the Select Board members’ votes are shown. The motion was made by Ms. Tesmenitsky, who is not a member of the Select Board. It was seconded by Mr. Arjona, who is not a member of the Select Board.

From the minutes

“Ms. Tesmenitsky motioned to appoint the precinct and high school representatives stated by Mr. Matchak to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. Mr. Arjona seconded. No discussion. Planning Board: Venkat-aye, Tesmenitsky-aye, Arjona-aye, Jurczyk-aye, and Kendall-aye. Select Board: Magnani-aye, Mitchell-aye, Scherer-aye, and Kinsman-aye, with a vote of 9-9..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

May 11Promote the Comprehensive Plan Project Management Group representatives stated…Motion: Mr. Arjona motioned to promote the Comprehensive Plan Project Management Group…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

May 11, 2023 (Joint meeting): Promote the Comprehensive Plan Project Management Group representatives stated by Ms. Kinsman to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present

Mr. Arjona motioned to promote the Comprehensive Plan Project Management Group representatives stated by Ms. Kinsman to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. Mr. Mitchell seconded. No discussion. Planning Board: Venkat-aye, Tesmenitsky-aye, Arjona-aye, Jurczyk-aye, and Kendall-aye. Select Board: Magnani-aye, Mitchell-aye, Scherer-aye, and Kinsman-aye, with a vote of 9-9.

Joint vote of the Select Board and the other board at this joint meeting; only the Select Board members’ votes are shown. The motion was made by Mr. Arjona, who is not a member of the Select Board.

From the minutes

“Mr. Arjona motioned to promote the Comprehensive Plan Project Management Group representatives stated by Ms. Kinsman to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. Mr. Mitchell seconded. No discussion. Planning Board: Venkat-aye, Tesmenitsky-aye, Arjona-aye, Jurczyk-aye, and Kendall-aye. Select Board: Magnani-aye, Mitchell-aye, Scherer-aye, and Kinsman-aye, with a vote of 9-9..” (second: Mitchell)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Apr 12Remove Items A and D from Consent Agenda and…Motion: C. Greaves made a motion remove Items A and D from…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note

April 12, 2023: Remove Items A and D from Consent Agenda and accept the remaining Consent Agenda items as presented

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

C. Greaves made a motion remove Items A and D from Consent Agenda and accept the remaining Consent Agenda items as presented seconded by Magnani vote of 5-0-0.

The minutes name the mover as “C. Greaves”, which does not match a Select Board member’s name, so no mover is shown.

From the minutes

“C. Greaves made a motion remove Items A and D from Consent Agenda and accept the remaining Consent Agenda items as presented seconded by Magnani vote of 5-0-0..” (second: Magnani)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Mar 29Call the meeting to orderMotion: Call Meeting to Order Brandi called the meeting to order seconded…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note

March 29, 2023: Call the meeting to order

Adopt orderPassed · Unanimous, 5 present

Call Meeting to Order Brandi called the meeting to order seconded by Magnani with roll-call vote of Greaves-aye, Magnani-aye, Mitchell-aye, Scherer-aye and Kinsman-aye 5-0-0.

The minutes do not say who made this motion.

From the minutes

“Call Meeting to Order Brandi called the meeting to order seconded by Magnani with roll-call vote of Greaves-aye, Magnani-aye, Mitchell-aye, Scherer-aye and Kinsman-aye 5-0-0..” (second: Magnani)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Mar 1Call the meeting to orderMotion: Call Meeting to Order Brandi called the meeting to order seconded…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

March 1, 2023: Call the meeting to order

Adopt orderPassed · Unanimous, 4 present

Call Meeting to Order Brandi called the meeting to order seconded by Joe Magnani with roll-call vote of Greaves-aye, Magnani-aye, Mitchell-aye and Kinsman-aye 4-0-0.

The minutes do not say who made this motion.

From the minutes

“Call Meeting to Order Brandi called the meeting to order seconded by Joe Magnani with roll-call vote of Greaves-aye, Magnani-aye, Mitchell-aye and Kinsman-aye 4-0-0..” (second: Magnani)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Feb 17Call the meeting to orderMotion: Call Meeting to Order Brandi called the Select Board Meeting to…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note

February 17, 2023: Call the meeting to order

Adopt orderPassed · Unanimous, 3 present

Call Meeting to Order Brandi called the Select Board Meeting to order at 9:30 am seconded by Steve with a vote of 3-0-0.

The minutes do not say who made this motion.

From the minutes

“Call Meeting to Order Brandi called the Select Board Meeting to order at 9:30 am seconded by Steve with a vote of 3-0-0..” (second: Mitchell)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Dec 7Hanto be required to have Police Details on the…Motion: Yolanda made a motion that Hanto be required to have Police…Passed 4–1 · No: Magnani

December 7, 2022: Hanto be required to have Police Details on the busy nights including Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eves

Adopt orderPassed · 4–1

Yolanda made a motion that Hanto be required to have Police Details on the busy nights including Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eves. They are required to fix the camera and keep them in working order. The Fire Department is to make a determination on the head count for the bar area and Hanto keeps the count at or below capacity. Everyone is carded prior to entering the bar area. These are all conditional of the License renewal. This motion was seconded by Steve with a vote of 4-1-0 (Magnani) Tax Classification Hearing

Yes: Greaves, Kinsman, Mitchell, SchererNo: MagnaniThe minutes give the count followed by the minority in brackets (“4-1-0 (Magnani)”); Joseph Magnani is shown as voting no and the other members present as voting yes.

From the minutes

“Yolanda made a motion that Hanto be required to have Police Details on the busy nights including Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eves. They are required to fix the camera and keep them in working order. The Fire Department is to make a determination on the head count for the bar area and Hanto keeps the count at or below capacity. Everyone is carded prior to entering the bar area. These are all conditional of the License renewal. This motion was seconded by Steve with a vote of 4-1-0 (Magnani) Tax Classification Hearing.” (Motion: Greaves, second: Mitchell)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

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.

How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →
Get an email when new quizzes open

MassVoter.com · nonpartisan match quiz · About · How the Legislature voted · Local Votes · Privacy · Support MassVoter

Report an error on this page

See something wrong? A wrong vote, name, date or number? Tell us and we’ll check it against the source and fix it. Fixes are listed on our corrections page.