MassVoter.com← BellinghamMunicipal votes · 2026–2027 Board
Bellingham Select Board
How the Bellingham Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. Kim O’Neal joined the board after the June 2026 town election; Ann Odabashian left. On June 15, 2026 the board chose Mike Hennessy as Chairman (roll call, all in favor) and Don Martinis as Vice Chairman, 3-2 by roll call (Cody Spencer, Kim O’Neal and Don Martinis aye; Jennifer Altomonte and Mike Hennessy no). Minutes after August 24, 2026 are not posted yet. The end date is a placeholder. Covers 6 meetings so far, June 15 to August 24, 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 Bellingham ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →Vote Transparency Score
Bellingham Select Board: 7 out of 10 · Mostly open
How easy Bellingham makes it to see, online, how each member votes. It scores the town’s records, not any official. Checked October 6, 2026.
- Minutes postedMinutes are posted for every meeting more than three months old.Full points: 2/2
- Each vote namedThe minutes name the members who vote no; some votes list every member.Part points: 2/3
- Posted quicklyMinutes are posted for every meeting more than a month old.Full points: 2/2
- Past years onlineSelect Board minutes from 2021 to today are online.Full points: 1/1
- Readable textMost recent minutes are scanned images, not searchable text.No points: 0/1
- Member photosThe town’s website lists the members by name only, with no photos.No points: 0/1
How the town can raise its score
- Each vote named (+1): On any vote that isn’t unanimous, write how each member voted. For example: “Motion passed 3–2. Yes: Smith, Jones, Lee. No: Brown, Silva.” A roll call on split votes is the simplest way to do this.
- Readable text (+1): Save minutes straight from Word or Google Docs as a PDF instead of printing and scanning them. If a scan is needed, turn on the scanner’s “searchable PDF” or text-recognition setting.
- Member photos (+1): Show a photo of each member on the board’s web page, with their name, the date their term ends and how to contact them. A group photo of the members, with everyone named in the caption or on the same page, earns half a point.
How we score · Something wrong, or has the town made a change? Email info@massvoter.com and we’ll re-check.
A monthly email on its votes, starting in November. We'll also tell you if this score changes.
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
Vice-ChairDon MartinisVice Chair · Elected townwide · at 4 of 6 meetings
Jennifer AltomonteMember · Elected townwide · at 6 of 6 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026Kim O’NealMember · Elected townwide · at 6 of 6 meetingsCody SpencerMember · Elected townwide · at 6 of 6 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.
Attendance
19 full-board meetings so far this year, through August 24. Ties share a rank.
1Michael Hennessy19 of 19 meetings Every meeting100%1Kim O’Neal6 of 6 meetings · served from Jun Every meeting100%3Jennifer Altomonte18 of 19 meetings95%3Cody Spencer18 of 19 meetings95%5Don Martinis16 of 19 meetings84%6Ann Odabashian10 of 13 meetings · served until Jun77%27 full-board meetings in 2025. Ties share a rank.
1Jennifer Altomonte27 of 27 meetings Every meeting100%1Cody Spencer16 of 16 meetings · served from Jun Every meeting100%1Sahan Sahin11 of 11 meetings · served until Jun Every meeting100%4Don Martinis26 of 27 meetings96%5Ann Odabashian25 of 27 meetings93%6Michael Hennessy24 of 27 meetings89%24 full-board meetings in 2024. Ties share a rank.
1Ann Odabashian24 of 24 meetings Every meeting100%1Sahan Sahin24 of 24 meetings Every meeting100%1Jennifer Altomonte14 of 14 meetings · served from Jun Every meeting100%1Don Martinis14 of 14 meetings · served from Jun Every meeting100%1Michael Connor10 of 10 meetings · served until May Every meeting100%6Michael Hennessy22 of 24 meetings92%30 full-board meetings in 2023. Ties share a rank.
1Michael Connor30 of 30 meetings Every meeting100%1Michael Hennessy20 of 20 meetings · served from May Every meeting100%1Kelly Grant19 of 19 meetings · served until Aug Every meeting100%1Ann Odabashian11 of 11 meetings · served from Sep Every meeting100%1Don Martinis10 of 10 meetings · served until Apr Every meeting100%6Sahan Sahin28 of 30 meetings93%7Cynthia McNulty9 of 10 meetings · served until Apr90%22 full-board meetings in 2022. Ties share a rank.
1Kelly Grant22 of 22 meetings Every meeting100%1Don Martinis22 of 22 meetings Every meeting100%3Sahan Sahin15 of 16 meetings · served from May94%4Michael Connor20 of 22 meetings91%4Cynthia McNulty20 of 22 meetings91%23 full-board meetings in 2021. Ties share a rank.
1Michael Connor23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Kelly Grant23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Don Martinis23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%4Daniel M. Spencer19 of 20 meetings · served until Nov95%5Cynthia McNulty21 of 23 meetings91%From the official minutes: full-board meetings only (committee meetings are not counted). Members are counted only for meetings held while they served, and arriving late counts as attending. The minutes rarely say why a member was absent. Not shown: 2018, because too many of that year’s meetings are missing from the posted minutes.
A monthly email on its votes and who was there, starting in November.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: Bellingham Select Board (the town writes “Selectboard”; earlier called the Board of Selectmen) minutes from January 25, 2021 through August 24, 2026, from the town’s Agenda Center, which holds the board’s minutes from 2021 on, plus six meetings from January 22 to April 23, 2018 kept in an archived copy of the town’s old website. Not here: minutes from May 2018 through December 2020 and for January 2021 before January 25, which are not online (MassVoter is asking the town for them); the April 11, 2023 meeting (the file posted for it is a copy of the April 11, 2022 minutes); the February 16, 2022 and May 15, 2023 meetings (agenda only); and meetings after August 24, 2026 (the town usually posts minutes about six weeks after a meeting). Most minutes from 2021 to early 2026 (128 files) are scanned images, which MassVoter read with text recognition and checked by hand; 17 are typed files. Bellingham’s minutes give the mover and seconder of each motion (“On a Spencer/Altomonte motion”) and usually a count (“the Board unanimously voted 5-0”), naming any member who votes no or abstains (“voted 3-1 with Mr. Martinis opposing”); some votes are roll calls by name. When the count matches the members present, each member is shown voting as recorded; when the minutes say “unanimously” without a count, every member present is shown voting yes. Where a count does not match the members present, or a split count does not say who voted which way, we show the count only and add a note; where the minutes give no count at all, we show the result only. Joint votes with the Planning Board, Housing Authority or Library Trustees show only the Select Board members’ votes. 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.
Jul 20Cut in-person early voting to half of regular business…Motion: Mrs. O'Neal made a motion to reduce the in-person early voting…Passed 4–1 · No: Martinis
July 20, 2026: Cut in-person early voting to half of regular business hours in the first week before the November election (regular hours in the second week)
Mrs. O'Neal made a motion to reduce the in-person early voting to 50% of the regular business hours in the first week and to hold regular business hours, as required by the State, for the second week of the November election. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Altomonte, and the roll call vote was made as follows: Mr. Spencer aye Mrs. Altomonte aye Mrs. O'Neal aye Mr. Hennessy aye Mr. Martinis nay The motion passes 4-1.
Yes: Altomonte, Cody Spencer, Hennessy, O’NealNo: Martinis
From the minutes
“Mrs. O'Neal made a motion to reduce the in-person early voting to 50% of the regular business hours in the first week and to hold regular business hours, as required by the State, for the second week of the November election. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Altomonte, and the roll call vote was made as follows: Mr. Spencer aye Mrs. Altomonte aye Mrs. O'Neal aye Mr. Hennessy aye Mr. Martinis nay The motion passes 4-1..” (Motion: O’Neal, second: Altomonte)
Jul 20Appoint Timothy Mezzadri as the Associate Member of the…Motion: Mr. Hennessy made a motion to appoint Mr. Timothy Mezzadri as…Passed 4–1 · No: Altomonte
July 20, 2026: Appoint Timothy Mezzadri as the Associate Member of the Planning Board (joint vote with the Planning Board)
Mr. Hennessy made a motion to appoint Mr. Timothy Mezzadri as the Associate Member of the Planning Board. The motion was seconded by Mr. Devine of the Planning Board. … A roll call vote was taken on the motion to appoint Mr. Timothy Mezzadri as the Associate Member of the Planning Board and the result was as follows: Mr. Spencer aye Mrs. Altomonte nay Mr. Hennessy aye Mrs. O'Neal aye Mr. Martinis aye Mr. Roche (PB) aye Mr. Devine (PB) aye Mr. Sullivan (PB) aye Ms. Pogue (PB) nay Mr. Goyette (PB) nay The vote passed 7-3
Yes: Cody Spencer, Hennessy, Martinis, O’NealNo: AltomonteA joint roll call of the Select Board and the Planning Board, 7-3 in all (Select Board 4-1, Planning Board 3-2). The motion was seconded by Mr. Devine of the Planning Board. Only the Select Board members’ votes are shown.
From the minutes
“Mr. Hennessy made a motion to appoint Mr. Timothy Mezzadri as the Associate Member of the Planning Board. The motion was seconded by Mr. Devine of the Planning Board. … A roll call vote was taken on the motion to appoint Mr. Timothy Mezzadri as the Associate Member of the Planning Board and the result was as follows: Mr. Spencer aye Mrs. Altomonte nay Mr. Hennessy aye Mrs. O'Neal aye Mr. Martinis aye Mr. Roche (PB) aye Mr. Devine (PB) aye Mr. Sullivan (PB) aye Ms. Pogue (PB) nay Mr. Goyette (PB) nay The vote passed 7-3.” (Motion: Hennessy)
Jul 20Authorize the agreement with the Collins CenterMotion: On an Altomonte/Spencer motion the Board was polled and by roll…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
July 20, 2026: Authorize the agreement with the Collins Center
On an Altomonte/Spencer motion the Board was polled and by roll call vote unanimously voted 4-0 to authorize the agreement with the Collins Center.
Don Martinis had left the meeting.
From the minutes
“On an Altomonte/Spencer motion the Board was polled and by roll call vote unanimously voted 4-0 to authorize the agreement with the Collins Center..” (Motion: Altomonte, second: Cody Spencer)
Jul 6Raise the trash rate by 12.5% for FY27, without…Motion: Mr. Martinis made a motion to increase the trash rate by…Passed 4–1 · No: O’Neal
July 6, 2026: Raise the trash rate by 12.5% for FY27, without setting increases for later years until further studies are done
Mr. Martinis made a motion to increase the trash rate by 12.5% for FY27 but not to set the rate increase for future years until further studies have been completed. The motion was seconded by Mr. Spencer, and the roll call vote was made as follows: … Mr. Spencer aye Mr. Hennessy aye Mr. Martinis aye Mrs. O'Neal no Mrs. Altomonte aye The motion passes 4-1.
Yes: Altomonte, Cody Spencer, Hennessy, MartinisNo: O’Neal
From the minutes
“Mr. Martinis made a motion to increase the trash rate by 12.5% for FY27 but not to set the rate increase for future years until further studies have been completed. The motion was seconded by Mr. Spencer, and the roll call vote was made as follows: … Mr. Spencer aye Mr. Hennessy aye Mr. Martinis aye Mrs. O'Neal no Mrs. Altomonte aye The motion passes 4-1..” (Motion: Martinis, second: Cody Spencer)
Jun 15Choose Don Martinis as Vice Chairman of the Select…Motion: Mr. Spencer made a motion to nominate Mr. Martinis as Vice…Passed 3–2 · No: Altomonte, Hennessy
June 15, 2026: Choose Don Martinis as Vice Chairman of the Select Board
Mr. Spencer made a motion to nominate Mr. Martinis as Vice Chairman, seconded by Mrs. O'Neal. … Mrs. Allie called for a roll call vote for Mr. Martinis as Vice Chair and the vote was as follows: Mr. Spencer - Aye, Mrs. O'Neal - Aye, Mr. Martinis - Aye, Mrs. Altomonte - No, & Mr. Hennessy - No. The vote passed 3-2
Yes: Cody Spencer, Martinis, O’NealNo: Altomonte, HennessyJennifer Altomonte had also nominated herself; no vote was taken on that nomination after this one passed.
From the minutes
“Mr. Spencer made a motion to nominate Mr. Martinis as Vice Chairman, seconded by Mrs. O'Neal. … Mrs. Allie called for a roll call vote for Mr. Martinis as Vice Chair and the vote was as follows: Mr. Spencer - Aye, Mrs. O'Neal - Aye, Mr. Martinis - Aye, Mrs. Altomonte - No, & Mr. Hennessy - No. The vote passed 3-2.” (Motion: Cody Spencer, second: O’Neal)
Jun 15Authorize the removal of trees as indicated by National…Motion: On an O'Neal/Altomonte motion the Board voted 4-0-1 with one abstention…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Cody Spencer
June 15, 2026: Authorize the removal of trees as indicated by National Grid and for the Chairman to sign the tree and bush removal permits
On an O'Neal/Altomonte motion the Board voted 4-0-1 with one abstention from Mr. Spencer to authorize the removal of trees as indicated by National Grid and for the Chairman to sign the tree and bush removal permits.
Yes: Altomonte, Hennessy, Martinis, O’NealAbstained: Cody Spencer
From the minutes
“On an O'Neal/Altomonte motion the Board voted 4-0-1 with one abstention from Mr. Spencer to authorize the removal of trees as indicated by National Grid and for the Chairman to sign the tree and bush removal permits..” (Motion: O’Neal, second: Altomonte)
From the Bellingham Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials.
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 →