MassVoter.com← BellinghamMunicipal votes · 2025–2026 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. Cody Spencer joined the board after the June 2025 town election; Sahan Sahin left. On June 16, 2025 the board chose Mike Hennessy as Chairman (roll call, all in favor). A nomination of Don Martinis as Vice Chairman failed 2-3, and the board then chose Jennifer Altomonte as Vice Chair 4-1. Covers 29 meetings, June 16 to June 1, 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.
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Coming up
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Under the state Open Meeting Law, boards post notice at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays.
Members
Vice-ChairJennifer AltomonteVice Chair · Elected townwide · at 28 of 29 meetings
Don MartinisMember · Elected townwide · at 28 of 29 meetingsAnn OdabashianMember · Elected townwide · at 25 of 29 meetingsCody SpencerMember · Elected townwide · at 28 of 29 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: 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.
Jun 1Appoint Joseph Altomonte to the Cemetery Commission to fill…Motion: On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board voted 4-0-1 with one abstention…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Altomonte
June 1, 2026: Appoint Joseph Altomonte to the Cemetery Commission to fill the unexpired term
On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board voted 4-0-1 with one abstention from Mrs. Altomonte, to appoint Joseph Altomonte to the Cemetery Commission to fill the unexpired term.
Yes: Cody Spencer, Hennessy, Martinis, OdabashianAbstained: Altomonte
From the minutes
“On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board voted 4-0-1 with one abstention from Mrs. Altomonte, to appoint Joseph Altomonte to the Cemetery Commission to fill the unexpired term..” (Motion: Odabashian, second: Martinis)
Jun 1Approve the installation of a new pole for plan…Motion: On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board voted 4-0-1 with one abstention…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Cody Spencer
June 1, 2026: Approve the installation of a new pole for plan number 31284987 as presented
On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board voted 4-0-1 with one abstention from Mr. Spencer to approve the installation of a new pole for plan number 31284987 as presented.
Yes: Altomonte, Hennessy, Martinis, OdabashianAbstained: Cody Spencer
From the minutes
“On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board voted 4-0-1 with one abstention from Mr. Spencer to approve the installation of a new pole for plan number 31284987 as presented..” (Motion: Odabashian, second: Martinis)
Jun 1Support the Local Action Unit Application and assign Unit…Motion: On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board unanimously voted 4-0-1 with one…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Cody Spencer
June 1, 2026: Support the Local Action Unit Application and assign Unit 2 (Building 1) and Unit 10 (Building 2) of Whitman Acres 267 Blackstone Street as low income/affordable units and for the…
On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board unanimously voted 4-0-1 with one abstention from Mr. Spencer to support the Local Action Unit Application and assign Unit 2 (Building 1) and Unit 10 (Building 2) of Whitman Acres 267 Blackstone Street as low income/affordable units and for the Chairman to sign the application.
Yes: Altomonte, Hennessy, Martinis, OdabashianAbstained: Cody Spencer
From the minutes
“On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board unanimously voted 4-0-1 with one abstention from Mr. Spencer to support the Local Action Unit Application and assign Unit 2 (Building 1) and Unit 10 (Building 2) of Whitman Acres 267 Blackstone Street as low income/affordable units and for the Chairman to sign the application..” (Motion: Odabashian, second: Martinis)
May 18Grant John's Used Auto a second 90-day temporary Class…Motion: On a Spencer/Odabashian motion the Board agreed to grant John's Used…Passed · see note
May 18, 2026: Grant John's Used Auto a second 90-day temporary Class III License and will continue the discussion at the end of the 90 days at which time Chief Miller will make…
On a Spencer/Odabashian motion the Board agreed to grant John's Used Auto a second 90-day temporary Class III License and will continue the discussion at the end of the 90 days at which time Chief Miller will make another recommendation.
The minutes record the result only, not a count or how each member voted.
From the minutes
“On a Spencer/Odabashian motion the Board agreed to grant John's Used Auto a second 90-day temporary Class III License and will continue the discussion at the end of the 90 days at which time Chief Miller will make another recommendation..” (Motion: Cody Spencer, second: Odabashian)
May 18Approve pole petition number 31282407 and install a new…Motion: On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board voted 4 in favor with…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Cody Spencer
May 18, 2026: Approve pole petition number 31282407 and install a new pole on Pulaski Blvd as presented
On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board voted 4 in favor with 1 abstention from Mr. Spencer to approve pole petition number 31282407 and install a new pole on Pulaski Blvd as presented.
Yes: Altomonte, Hennessy, Martinis, OdabashianAbstained: Cody Spencer
From the minutes
“On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board voted 4 in favor with 1 abstention from Mr. Spencer to approve pole petition number 31282407 and install a new pole on Pulaski Blvd as presented..” (Motion: Odabashian, second: Martinis)
Apr 27Appoint Michael Forrest to the Board of RegistrarsMotion: On an Altomonte/Spencer motion the Board voted 3-1 with Mr. Martinis…Passed 3–1 · No: Martinis
April 27, 2026: Appoint Michael Forrest to the Board of Registrars
On an Altomonte/Spencer motion the Board voted 3-1 with Mr. Martinis opposing to appoint Michael Forrest to the Board of Registrars.
Yes: Altomonte, Cody Spencer, HennessyNo: Martinis
From the minutes
“On an Altomonte/Spencer motion the Board voted 3-1 with Mr. Martinis opposing to appoint Michael Forrest to the Board of Registrars..” (Motion: Altomonte, second: Cody Spencer)
Mar 16Put the School Committee’s proposed question on the 2026…Motion: On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board voted 4 in favor with…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Altomonte
March 16, 2026: Put the School Committee’s proposed question on the 2026 Annual Town Election warrant
On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board voted 4 in favor with 1 abstention to submit 2 the proposed question as requested by the Bellingham School Committee for the 2026 Annual Town Election Warrant pursuant to GL C.39, §10. Mrs. Altomonte stated that she would be abstaining from the vote as she awaits a letter from the State Ethics Commission.
Yes: Cody Spencer, Hennessy, Martinis, OdabashianAbstained: Altomonte
From the minutes
“On an Odabashian/Martinis motion the Board voted 4 in favor with 1 abstention to submit 2 the proposed question as requested by the Bellingham School Committee for the 2026 Annual Town Election Warrant pursuant to GL C.39, §10. Mrs. Altomonte stated that she would be abstaining from the vote as she awaits a letter from the State Ethics Commission..” (Motion: Odabashian, second: Martinis)
Mar 16Grant John's Used Auto a 60 Day Temporary Class…Motion: On a Martinis/Spencer motion the Board agreed to grant John's Used…Passed · see note
March 16, 2026: Grant John's Used Auto a 60 Day Temporary Class III License and continue the discussion at the May 18 meeting when Chief Miller determines his final recommendation
On a Martinis/Spencer motion the Board agreed to grant John's Used Auto a 60 Day Temporary Class III License and continue the discussion at the May 18 meeting when Chief Miller determines his final recommendation.
The minutes record the result only, not a count or how each member voted.
From the minutes
“On a Martinis/Spencer motion the Board agreed to grant John's Used Auto a 60 Day Temporary Class III License and continue the discussion at the May 18 meeting when Chief Miller determines his final recommendation..” (Motion: Martinis, second: Cody Spencer)
Jan 26Adopt the votes for the interim loan under financing…Motion: On a Martinis/Odabashian motion the Board was polled and by roll…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Hennessy
January 26, 2026: Adopt the votes for the interim loan under financing agreement DWPEC-24-89 from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust
On a Martinis/Odabashian motion the Board was polled and by roll call vote, voted 4 in favor and 1 abstention (Mr. Hennessy lost connection) that the votes presented at the January 26, 2026 Select Board meeting for the interim loan related to financing agreement DWPEC-24-89 from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust be adopted as written and incorporated into the minutes of this meeting.
Yes: Altomonte, Cody Spencer, Martinis, OdabashianAbstained: HennessyThe minutes count Mike Hennessy as the abstention because he had lost his Zoom connection ("Mr. Hennessy lost connection").
From the minutes
“On a Martinis/Odabashian motion the Board was polled and by roll call vote, voted 4 in favor and 1 abstention (Mr. Hennessy lost connection) that the votes presented at the January 26, 2026 Select Board meeting for the interim loan related to financing agreement DWPEC-24-89 from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust be adopted as written and incorporated into the minutes of this meeting..” (Motion: Martinis, second: Odabashian)
Jan 26Open the May 27, 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant,…Motion: On a Martinis/Spencer motion the Board was polled and by roll…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Hennessy
January 26, 2026: Open the May 27, 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant, closing Friday, February 27, 2026 at noon
On a Martinis/Spencer motion the Board was polled and by roll call vote, voted 4 in favor and 1 abstention (Mr. Hennessy lost connection) that pursuant to G.L. Chapter 39 Section 10 and Bellingham Code of Bylaws to open the May 27, 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant with a close date of Friday February 27, 2026 at noon.
Yes: Altomonte, Cody Spencer, Martinis, OdabashianAbstained: HennessyThe minutes count Mike Hennessy as the abstention because he had lost his Zoom connection ("Mr. Hennessy lost connection").
From the minutes
“On a Martinis/Spencer motion the Board was polled and by roll call vote, voted 4 in favor and 1 abstention (Mr. Hennessy lost connection) that pursuant to G.L. Chapter 39 Section 10 and Bellingham Code of Bylaws to open the May 27, 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant with a close date of Friday February 27, 2026 at noon..” (Motion: Martinis, second: Cody Spencer)
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.
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