MassVoter.com← AyerMunicipal votes · 2021–2022 Board
Ayer Select Board
How the Ayer Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 3 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. Scott Houde was re-elected at the May 11, 2021 town election. On May 18, 2021 the board kept Shaun Copeland as Chair (2-0-1, Shaun Copeland abstaining), with Scott Houde as Vice-Chair and Jannice Livingston as Clerk. Covers 24 meetings, May 18 to May 3, 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 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 Ayer, 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.
Special Fall Town Meeting · October 27, 2025 10 votes: 10 passed
- Art. 1 Remove the site plan review unit calculation (Sec. 3.5.8) from the zoning bylaw Passed “Moderator declared article passed by 2/3 vote.”
- Art. 2 Correct the Flood Plain zoning bylaw sections on scope of authority and variances (Secs. 8.2.3 and 8.2.8) Passed “Moderator declared Article passed by 2/3 vote.”
- Art. 3 Reduce required parking from 1 to 0.5 space in the Downtown/Park Street Form-Based Code District (Sec. 9.1.2.A.B) Passed “Moderator declared Article passed by 2/3 vote.”
- Art. 4 Amend the density bonus rules for Open Space Residential Development (Sec. 10.1.5) Passed “Moderator declared motion passed by 2/3 votes.”
- Art. 5 Grant National Grid an electric easement on town land at 1 Main Street (Habitat for Humanity site) Passed “Moderator declared article passed by 2/3 vote.”
- Art. 6 Grant Catania-Spagna Corporation an easement for a storage container on town land at 0 Nemco Way Passed “Moderator declared article passed by 2/3 vote.”
- Art. 7 Grant National Grid an electric easement on town land at 99 Barnum Road (Grove Pond clear well) Passed “Moderator declared article passed by 2/3 vote.”
- Art. 8 Transfer $400,000 in CPA funds to support affordable housing at the Devenscrest Apartments, 35 Littleton Road Passed “Moderator declared motion passed unanimously.”
- Art. 9 Transfer $250,000 in CPA funds for two generators at the Ayer Housing Authority, 18 Pond Street Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously.”
- Art. 10 Appropriate $13,550,000 for a new Senior Center: $11,550,000 borrowed (if a debt exclusion passes), $2,000,000 Capital Stabilization Passed “Moderator declared vote passed unanimously by voice vote.”
Special Town Meeting · April 28, 2025 2 votes: 2 passed
- Art. 1 Transfer $275,000 from Water retained earnings to add to the FY2025 water budget Passed “Article passed unanimously by Moderator.”
- Art. 2 Transfer $20,000 from Ambulance retained earnings to add to the FY2025 ambulance budget Passed “Article passed unanimously by Moderator.”
Annual Town Meeting · April 28, 2025 32 votes: 32 passed
- Art. 1 Set the salaries of elected officials for FY2026 (2% increase) Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously.”
- Art. 2 Appropriate $60,725 for first-year costs of the DPW union contract (AFSCME Local 1703) Passed “Moderator declared article passed unaniously.”
- Art. 3 Appropriate $104,208 for first-year costs of the firefighters' union contract (Local 2544) Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously.”
- Art. 4 Appropriate $37,458 for first-year costs of the police superior officers' union contract (NEPBA 32) Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously.”
- Art. 5 Appropriate $20,024,408 for the FY2026 town operating (omnibus) budget Passed “Moderator passed article by majority vote.”
- Art. 6 Appropriate $14,108,177 for the FY2026 Ayer Shirley Regional School District assessment and $1,195,303 for school building debt Passed “Moderator passed article unanimously.”
- Art. 7 Appropriate $936,772 for the FY2026 Nashoba Valley Technical High School assessment Passed “Moderator passed article unanimously.”
- Art. 8 Fund the solid waste enterprise budget ($434,219 direct and $138,794 indirect costs) Passed “Brief discussion. Moderator passed unanimously.”
- Art. 9 Fund the ambulance enterprise budget ($219,230 direct and $458,674 indirect costs) Passed “Brief discussion. Moderator passed unanimously.”
- Art. 10 Fund the sewer enterprise budget ($3,548,008 direct and $494,160 indirect costs) Passed “Brief discussion. Moderator passed unanimously.”
- Art. 11 Fund the water enterprise budget ($2,635,648 direct and $386,477 indirect costs) Passed “Brief discussion. Moderator passed unanimously.”
- Art. 12 Fund the stormwater enterprise budget ($196,638 direct and $75,456 indirect costs) Passed “Brief discussion. Moderator passed unanimously.”
- Art. 13 Authorize borrowing $7,151,668 for capital projects and equipment Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously by 2/3 vote.”
- Art. 14 Transfer $285,000 from Capital Stabilization for capital projects and equipment Passed “Moderator declared the article passed unanimously.”
- Art. 15 Fund retiree health benefits (OPEB) with $300,000: $175,000 raised and $125,000 from free cash Passed “Brief discussion. Moderator passed unanimously.”
- Art. 16 Transfer $10,000 from free cash to the reserve for accrued leave owed to departing employees Passed “Brief discussion. Moderator passed unanimously.”
- Art. 17 Transfer $300,000 from free cash to pay part of the pension assessment in advance Passed “Brief discussion. Moderator passed unanimously.”
- Art. 18 Transfer $65,000 from free cash to repay the UDAG fund for the Spectacle Pond chemical skid project Passed “Brief discussion. Moderator passed unanimously.”
- Art. 19 Transfer $2,761,808 from free cash: $761,808 to Stabilization and $2,000,000 to Capital Stabilization Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously.”
- Art. 20 Set FY2026 spending limits for revolving funds Passed “Brief discussion. Moderator passed unanimously.”
- Art. 21 Appropriate $12,500 for first-year interest on General Fund borrowing Passed “Brief discussion. Moderator passed unanimously.”
- Art. 22 Appropriate $20,000 for aquatic weed control in town ponds Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously.”
- Art. 23 Appropriate estimated FY2026 Community Preservation funds to administration, reserves and fund balance Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously.”
- Art. 24 Transfer $214,250 in CPA historic funds to replace and repair the Ayer Library roof Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously.”
- Art. 25 Transfer $200,000 in CPA housing funds to the Ayer Affordable Housing Trust Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously.”
- Art. 26 Add a general bylaw allowing tax title payment agreements (G.L. c.60 s.62A) Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously.”
- Art. 27 Update the zoning map and Flood Plain Overlay District bylaw (Sec. 320-8.2) Passed “Moderator declared the article passed unanimously by 2/3 majority vote.”
- Art. 28 Amend zoning definitions for the Flood Plain Overlay District (Sec. 2.0) Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously by 2/3 majority vote.”
- Art. 29 Amend the zoning bylaw on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to match state law (Sec. 320-5.3) Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously by 2/3 majority vote.”
- Art. 30 Add accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to the zoning Table of Use Regulations Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously by 2/3 majority.”
- Art. 31 Rezone Lot 25-23 from the Devens Enterprise Zone to General Residence on the zoning map Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously by 2/3 majority.”
- Art. 32 Home rule petition to amend the Ayer Library act (nine elected trustees; remove the 1894 limit on funds) Passed “moderator declared Article 32 passed unanimously.”
Special Fall Town Meeting · October 28, 2024 10 votes: 10 passed
- Art. 1 Accept G.L. c.44 s.54(b) so town trust funds can be invested under the Prudent Investor Rule Passed “Moderator declared Article 1 passed unanimously.”
- Art. 2 Rescind unissued borrowing authorized at past Town Meetings that is no longer needed Passed “Moderator declared Article 2 passed unanimously.”
- Art. 3 Establish a stormwater utility enterprise fund starting in FY2026 (G.L. c.44 s.53F 1/2) Passed “Moderator declared Article 3 passed with majority vote.”
- Art. 4 Accept G.L. c.83 ss.16A-16F for collecting stormwater utility fees Passed “Moderator declared Article 4 passed unanimously.”
- Art. 5 Add an MBTA Multifamily Overlay District to the zoning bylaw (new Sec. 320-8.7) Passed “Moderator declared Article 5 passed by 2/3 vote unanimously.”
- Art. 6 Replace the inclusionary housing zoning bylaw (Sec. 320-10.3) Passed “Moderator declared Article 6 passed by 2/3 vote unanimously.”
- Art. 7 Amend the zoning definition of "Affordable Housing" and add "Ayer Affordable Housing Trust" Passed “Moderator declared Article 7 passed by 2/3 vote unanimously.”
- Art. 8 Approve a revised zoning map showing the MBTA Multifamily Overlay District Passed “Moderator declared Article 8 passed by 2/3 vote unanimously.”
- Art. 9 Accept Shaker Pond Road as a public way Passed “Moderator declared Article 9 passed unanimously.”
- Art. 10 Home rule petition for a special disability pension and benefits for an Ayer police sergeant injured on duty Passed “Moderator declared Article 10 passed unanimously.”
Annual Town Meeting · April 22, 2024 31 votes: 31 passed
- Art. 1 Set the salaries of elected officials for FY2025 (2% increase) Passed “Vote passed with 1 No. Moderator declared article passed. · 1 No”
- Art. 2 Appropriate $63,828 for first-year costs of the police patrol officers' union contract Passed “Moderator declared motion passed.”
- Art. 3 Appropriate $35,793 for first-year costs of the police dispatchers' union contract Passed “Moderator declared motion passed.”
- Art. 4 Appropriate $18,962,257 for the FY2025 town operating (omnibus) budget Passed “Article declared passed unanimous by Moderator.”
- Art. 5 Appropriate $13,379,402 for the FY2025 Ayer Shirley Regional School District assessment and $992,710 for school building debt Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously.”
- Art. 6 Appropriate $1,074,675 for the FY2025 Nashoba Valley Technical High School assessment Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously.”
- Art. 7 Fund the solid waste enterprise budget ($435,018 direct and $134,658 indirect costs) Passed “Moderator declared articles 7,8,9,&10 were passed unanimously by consent.”
- Art. 8 Fund the ambulance enterprise budget ($193,720 direct and $412,621 indirect costs) Passed “Moderator declared articles 7,8,9,&10 were passed unanimously by consent.”
- Art. 9 Fund the sewer enterprise budget ($3,079,602 direct and $470,005 indirect costs) Passed “Moderator declared articles 7,8,9,&10 were passed unanimously by consent.”
- Art. 10 Fund the water enterprise budget ($2,257,239 direct and $362,782 indirect costs) Passed “Moderator declared articles 7,8,9,&10 were passed unanimously by consent.”
- Art. 11 Authorize borrowing $7,635,103 for capital projects (wastewater plant, water, stormwater, ambulance and other items) Passed “Article declared passed unanimously by two-thirds vote by Moderator.”
- Art. 12 Transfer $228,000 from Capital Stabilization for capital items (stormwater, town hall, parking lots, library, parks) Passed “Article declared passed unanimously by two-thirds vote by Moderator.”
- Art. 13 Fund retiree health benefits (OPEB) with $300,000: $165,000 raised and $135,000 from free cash Passed “Moderator declared articles 13 & 14 were passed unanimously by consent.”
- Art. 14 Transfer $300,000 from free cash to pay part of the pension assessment in advance Passed “Moderator declared articles 13 & 14 were passed unanimously by consent.”
- Art. 15 Transfer $7,924.25 from free cash to the opioid settlement special revenue fund Passed “Article passed unanimously by Moderator.”
- Art. 16 Transfer $1,234,740.75 from free cash: $584,740.75 to Stabilization and $650,000 to Capital Stabilization Passed “Passed unanimously by the Moderator.”
- Art. 17 Set FY2025 spending limits for revolving funds Passed “Articles 17 &18 were moved by consent agenda by Scott Houde. Seconded from the stage. No discussion. Passed unanimously by Moderator.”
- Art. 18 Appropriate $48,700 for first-year interest on General Fund borrowing Passed “Articles 17 &18 were moved by consent agenda by Scott Houde. Seconded from the stage. No discussion. Passed unanimously by Moderator.”
- Art. 19 Appropriate $25,000 for aquatic weed control in town ponds Passed “Article declared passed by moderator.”
- Art. 20 Appropriate $7,105.23 as the town match for a federal firefighters grant Passed “Article passed unanimous by Moderator.”
- Art. 21 Appropriate estimated FY2025 Community Preservation funds to administration, reserves and fund balance Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously.”
- Art. 22 Move $190,000 unspent from the Old Fire Station CPA project: $150,000 to housing and $40,000 to historic reserves Passed “Article passed unanimously declared by Moderator.”
- Art. 23 Transfer $150,000 in CPA housing funds for a Habitat for Humanity duplex at 12 Newton Street Passed “Article passed unanimously declared by Moderator.”
- Art. 24 Buy 71 Sandy Pond Road (2.29 acres) for open space and recreation: $700,000 total, $350,000 from CPA funds Passed “Moderator declared article passed by 2/3 votes.”
- Art. 25 Approve a revised zoning map rezoning 27 and 29 Harvard Road from General Residence to General Business Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously by 2/3 vote.”
- Art. 26 Amend the zoning bylaw on the number of Zoning Board of Appeals members (Sec. 320-3.2) Passed “Article declared passed by 2/3 vote by Moderator.”
- Art. 27 Amend the zoning Table of Use Regulations to allow more types of housing (Sec. 320-5.2) Passed “Moderator declared article passed by 2/3 vote.”
- Art. 28 Add design guidelines for affordable multifamily construction to the inclusionary housing rules (Sec. 320-10.3.3) Passed “Moderator declared article passed by 2/3 vote.”
- Art. 29 Authorize the Select Board to acquire easements on or near West Main Street for the bridge project Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously”
- Art. 30 Allow 254-260 Ayer Road, Littleton, to run a sewer service line across Ayer Road to an Ayer sewer line Passed “Article declared passed unanimously by Moderator.”
- Art. 31 Update the Senior Tax Work-Off Program (allow representatives; maximum credit per MGL c.59 s.5K, now $2,000) Passed “Moderator declared article passed unanimously.”
Not here yet: The April 27, 2026 Annual Town Meeting and the July 13, 2026 Special Town Meeting are not here yet because the Town Clerk's record of their votes is not posted online; the Fall Special Town Meeting is set for October 26, 2026.
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
ChairShaun C. CopelandChair · At-large · at 22 of 24 meetingsVice-ChairScott A. HoudeVice-Chair · At-large · at 23 of 24 meetings
Jannice L. LivingstonClerk · At-large · at 22 of 24 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: Ayer Select Board minutes from January 9, 2018 through September 15, 2026: 179 meetings and 1,496 votes. Minutes from 2025 on are in the town’s Agenda Center; minutes for 1990–2024 are in the town’s Document Center (Agendas, Minutes and Packets › Minutes › Select Board), and the old town website’s archive also has Board of Selectmen minutes for 2009–2015; MassVoter loaded January 2018 on. The board was the Board of Selectmen until 2020; its minutes are headed “Ayer Select Board” from June 17, 2020. The town also posts one-page “Select Board Meeting Highlights,” which say they are not the official record or the minutes; MassVoter does not use them. Not online: the minutes of nearly every 2019 meeting (only January 15 and February 5, 2019 are posted, though agendas and Highlights show about 20 more meetings that year), and of the meetings of August 14 and October 16, 2018, September 21, 2021, and November 19 and December 3, 2024 (agendas posted; later minutes approve most of them); MassVoter is asking the town for them. Also not here: executive-session minutes; cancelled meetings (October 18, 2022 and December 2, 2025); the board’s joint budget forums with the Finance Committee, which mostly have no minutes (the town notes for March 25, 2026 that minutes were not recorded); and the votes of the Finance Committee, Planning Board, Board of Health and other boards at joint meetings. Minutes after September 15, 2026 are not posted yet. The minutes are scanned, signed copies; MassVoter read them with text recognition, compared that reading with the text layer the town’s scanner added (2018 to March 2026), and checked the page images where the two differed. Ayer’s minutes name the mover and seconder and give a count (“Motion passed 3-0.”); a count that equals the members present, with no one voting no or abstaining, is shown as each of them voting yes. Executive-session votes and the 2020–2022 remote meetings use roll calls by name (“Roll Call: S. Copeland, aye; S. Houde, aye; J. Livingston, aye”), shown by name, including the two split votes and four named abstentions in the record. Members who arrived late or stepped out are not shown in the votes they missed. Where the count does not fit the members present or the minutes do not say who abstained (“Motion passed 2-0-1”), we show the count only (8 votes); where a joint vote with another board gives one combined count, we show the result only (4 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.
Apr 5Approve the meeting minutes of March 1, 2022; March…Motion: Motion: A motion was made by J. Livingston and seconded by…Passed 3–0 · see note
April 5, 2022: Approve the meeting minutes of March 1, 2022; March 15, 2022; March 16, 2022; March 22, 2022
Motion: A motion was made by J. Livingston and seconded by S. Copeland to approve the meeting minutes of March 1, 2022; March 15, 2022; March 16, 2022; March 22, 2022. Motion passed 3-0.
The minutes give the count as 3-0, but 2 members were at the meeting (Shaun C. Copeland and Jannice L. Livingston), and they do not say who did not vote. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Motion: A motion was made by J. Livingston and seconded by S. Copeland to approve the meeting minutes of March 1, 2022; March 15, 2022; March 16, 2022; March 22, 2022. Motion passed 3-0..” (Motion: Livingston, second: Copeland)
Feb 15Approve the January 18, 2022 meeting minutes, as amendedMotion: Motion: A motion was made by J. Livingston and seconded by…Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Copeland
February 15, 2022: Approve the January 18, 2022 meeting minutes, as amended
Motion: A motion was made by J. Livingston and seconded by S. Houde to approve the January 18, 2022 meeting minutes, as amended. By Roll Call Vote: S. Copeland, abstain; J. Livingston, aye; S. Houde, aye; Motion passed 2-0-1.
Yes: Houde, LivingstonAbstained: Copeland
From the minutes
“Motion: A motion was made by J. Livingston and seconded by S. Houde to approve the January 18, 2022 meeting minutes, as amended. By Roll Call Vote: S. Copeland, abstain; J. Livingston, aye; S. Houde, aye; Motion passed 2-0-1..” (Motion: Livingston, second: Houde)
Oct 5Approve the meeting minutes from September 7, 2021Motion: Motion: A motion was made by S. Houde and seconded by…Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Copeland
October 5, 2021: Approve the meeting minutes from September 7, 2021
Motion: A motion was made by S. Houde and seconded by J. Livingston to approve the meeting minutes from September 7, 2021. By Roll Call Vote: J. Livingston, aye; S. Houde, aye; S. Copeland, abstain. Motion passed 2-0-1.
Yes: Houde, LivingstonAbstained: Copeland
From the minutes
“Motion: A motion was made by S. Houde and seconded by J. Livingston to approve the meeting minutes from September 7, 2021. By Roll Call Vote: J. Livingston, aye; S. Houde, aye; S. Copeland, abstain. Motion passed 2-0-1..” (Motion: Houde, second: Livingston)
Jun 15Advertise the vacancy in the newspaperMotion: Motion: A motion was made by S. Houde and seconded by…Passed 2–1 · No: Livingston
June 15, 2021: Advertise the vacancy in the newspaper
Motion: A motion was made by S. Houde and seconded by S. Copeland to advertise the vacancy in the newspaper. Roll Call: S. Houde, aye; J. Livingston, no; S. Copeland, aye.. Motion passed by Roll Call Vote 2-1.
Yes: Copeland, HoudeNo: Livingston
From the minutes
“Motion: A motion was made by S. Houde and seconded by S. Copeland to advertise the vacancy in the newspaper. Roll Call: S. Houde, aye; J. Livingston, no; S. Copeland, aye.. Motion passed by Roll Call Vote 2-1..” (Motion: Houde, second: Copeland)
May 18Reappoint S. Copeland as ChairMotion: Motion: A motion was made by J. Livingston and seconded by…Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Copeland
May 18, 2021: Reappoint S. Copeland as Chair
Motion: A motion was made by J. Livingston and seconded by S. Houde to reappoint S. Copeland as Chair. Roll Call: S. Copeland, abstain; S. Houde, aye; J. Livingston, aye. Motion passed by Roll Call Vote 2-0-1
Yes: Houde, LivingstonAbstained: Copeland
From the minutes
“Motion: A motion was made by J. Livingston and seconded by S. Houde to reappoint S. Copeland as Chair. Roll Call: S. Copeland, abstain; S. Houde, aye; J. Livingston, aye. Motion passed by Roll Call Vote 2-0-1.” (Motion: Livingston, second: Houde)
From the Ayer Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center (2025 on) and Document Center (Agendas, Minutes and Packets › Minutes › Select Board, 2018–2024). 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): stills from Ayer Public Access Corporation (APAC) videos — Chris Tavares (June 24, 2026 Select Board meeting, behind his nameplate), Jannice Livingston (August 31, 2026 Select Board meeting, behind her nameplate) and Shaun Copeland (APAC’s “Scout Finds Out” episode titled with his name, about 2019–20). Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.
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