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Municipal votes · 2018–2019 Board

Belmont Select Board

How the Belmont Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 3 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. Tom Caputo joined the board after the April 3, 2018 town election, succeeding Jim Williams. At the April 4, 2018 organizational meeting the board chose Adam Dash as Chair and Mark Paolillo as Vice Chair (each 3-0) and discussed a rotating order for the officer posts, which the board later adopted in its operational rules. Mark Paolillo’s last meeting in this period was April 1, 2019. Covers 40 meetings, April 4 to April 1, 2019.

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

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Board years

Coming up

From the agendas Belmont posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.

What Town Meeting decided

In Belmont, 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. Town Meeting members are elected by precinct; counts are from the town’s electronic voting.

Special Town Meeting · October 20, 2025 16 votes: 13 passed, 1 failed, 2 no action

Sessions: October 20 and October 22, 2025

Source: Town of Belmont 2025 Annual Town Report, Appendix A: Special Town Meeting, October 20, 2025 - motions and votes (PDF pp. 396-402).

Special Town Meeting · July 23, 2025 3 votes: 3 passed

Sessions: July 23, 2025 (held by remote access)

Source: Town of Belmont 2025 Annual Town Report, Appendix A: Special Town Meeting, July 23, 2025 - motions and votes (PDF p. 378).

Special Town Meeting · May 21, 2025 4 votes: 2 passed, 1 indefinitely postponed, 1 no action

Source: Town of Belmont 2025 Annual Town Report, Appendix A: Special Town Meeting, May 21, 2025 - motions and votes (PDF pp. 352-353).

Annual Town Meeting · May 5, 2025 43 votes: 39 passed, 3 indefinitely postponed, 1 no action

Sessions: May 5, 7, 12, 19 and 21, 2025 (session dates as stated in the record)

Source: Town of Belmont 2025 Annual Town Report, Appendix A: Annual Town Meeting, May 2025 - motions and votes (PDF pp. 257-269).

Special Town Meeting · March 3, 2025 3 votes: 1 passed, 1 passed as amended, 1 no action

Sessions: March 3, 2025 (held by remote access)

Source: Town of Belmont 2025 Annual Town Report, Appendix A: Special Town Meeting, March 3, 2025 - motions and votes (PDF pp. 196-198).

Special Town Meeting · November 18, 2024 11 votes: 9 passed, 1 passed as amended, 1 indefinitely postponed

Sessions: Opened November 18, 2024; session dates after the first are not listed in the record

Source: Town of Belmont 2024 Annual Town Report, Appendix A: Special Town Meeting, November 18, 2024 - motions and votes (PDF pp. 334-388).

Special Town Meeting · June 26, 2024 2 votes: 1 passed, 1 no action

Sessions: June 26, 2024 (held by remote access)

Source: Town of Belmont 2024 Annual Town Report, Appendix A: Special Town Meeting, June 26, 2024 - motions and votes, attested by the Town Clerk (PDF pp. 275-276).

Special Town Meeting · June 5, 2024 3 votes: 2 passed, 1 no action

Source: Town of Belmont 2024 Annual Town Report, Appendix A: Special Town Meeting, June 5, 2024 - motions and votes (PDF p. 267).

Annual Town Meeting · April 29, 2024 48 votes: 44 passed, 2 passed as amended, 2 no action

Sessions: Opened April 29, 2024 (Segment A) with a later budget segment (Segment B); session dates are not listed in the record

Source: Town of Belmont 2024 Annual Town Report, Appendix A: Annual Town Meeting, April 29, 2024 - motions and votes (PDF pp. 249-262).

Special Town Meeting · January 22, 2024 2 votes: 2 passed

Sessions: January 22, 2024 (held by remote access)

Source: Town of Belmont 2024 Annual Town Report, Appendix A: Special Town Meeting, January 22, 2024 - motions and votes, attested by the Town Clerk (PDF p. 230).

Not here yet: Belmont's 2026 meetings (March 4 Special, May 4 Annual and May 18 Special Town Meetings) are not here because the Town Clerk has posted only electronic roll-call tallies for them, which do not say whether each motion passed; the November 16, 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

Tom CaputoMember · At-large · at 39 of 40 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: Belmont Select Board minutes from January 8, 2018 through September 21, 2026: 400 meetings and 3,612 votes. The town’s Agenda Center holds the board’s minutes back to 2012; MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. The board was the Board of Selectmen; the minutes switch to the name Select Board in the fall of 2019 (first on September 16, 2019), with both names used until the end of that year. Minutes from 2022 on are typed documents with searchable text; the 2018 to 2021 minutes are copier scans, and 219 of them had little or no text, so MassVoter read them with text recognition and checked where names or counts were unclear. Joint meetings with the School Committee, Warrant Committee, Board of Assessors and other boards are loaded when the Select Board voted as a board; only the Select Board’s votes are shown, and joint meetings where it took no vote of its own are left out. Not here: executive-session minutes; cancelled meetings and meetings without a quorum; site visits; meetings with an agenda but no posted minutes, among them May 11, June 3 and June 8, 2026; dates where the file posted belongs to another meeting or board (several 2018 Belmont High School Building Committee files, the April 30, 2018 evening slot, and repeated 2024 postings, each loaded once under its own date); and meetings after September 21, 2026 other than that one: the July 13, July 20, August 10, August 12 (with the Board of Assessors), August 31, September 9, September 28 and October 5, 2026 minutes are not posted yet. Belmont’s minutes usually say a motion “was seconded and passed unanimously” or “unanimously by roll call vote,” with an attendance list at the top (present, remote, absent); split votes give a count and name the member voting no or abstaining (“passed 2-1 with Ms. Berberian voting in opposition”). On a three-member board, a named no or abstention with the others voting yes names every vote. A count equal to the members present, or unanimous wording, is shown as every member present voting yes. Where the count and the names in the minutes disagree, or a split count names no one, we show the count only (17 votes), and where the minutes give no count or names (mostly 2018’s “The BOS voted in favor”) we show the result only (68 votes). Members who recused themselves or were out of the room are not shown in that vote; members who arrived late or left early are shown only in the votes they were there for. A motion with no recorded outcome is not counted as a vote. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.

Monday, April 1, 2019 · Regular meeting26 recorded votes, 26 with disagreementAll 3 members presentMonday, March 18, 2019 · Regular meeting20 recorded votes, 20 with disagreementAll 3 members presentMonday, March 11, 2019 · Regular meeting5 recorded votes, 5 with disagreementAll 3 members presentMonday, March 4, 2019 · Regular meeting6 recorded votes, 6 with disagreementAll 3 members presentFriday, March 1, 2019 · Regular meeting4 recorded votes, 4 with disagreementAll 3 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.

Apr 1Sponsor an Article on Town Meeting Warrant to change…Motion: Motion: To sponsor an Article on Town Meeting Warrant to change…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note

April 1, 2019: Sponsor an Article on Town Meeting Warrant to change the name of "Board of Selectmen" to "Select Board

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present

Motion: To sponsor an Article on Town Meeting Warrant to change the name of "Board of Selectmen" to "Select Board". (Vote passed 3-0)

The minutes do not say who made this motion.

From the minutes

“Motion: To sponsor an Article on Town Meeting Warrant to change the name of "Board of Selectmen" to "Select Board". (Vote passed 3-0).”

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Apr 1Accept the resignation of Jennifer D'Urso from the Community…Motion: The resignation was due to health issues. : Motion: To accept…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note

April 1, 2019: Accept the resignation of Jennifer D'Urso from the Community Path Project Committee

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present

The resignation was due to health issues. : Motion: To accept the resignation of Jennifer D'Urso from the Community Path Project Committee. (Vote passed 3-0)

The minutes do not say who made this motion.

From the minutes

“The resignation was due to health issues. : Motion: To accept the resignation of Jennifer D'Urso from the Community Path Project Committee. (Vote passed 3-0).”

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

Apr 1Appoint Phil Lawrence to the Community Path Project CommitteeMotion: R. Leino recommended Phil Lawrence due to his demonstrated interest in…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note

April 1, 2019: Appoint Phil Lawrence to the Community Path Project Committee

AppointPassed · Unanimous, 3 present

R. Leino recommended Phil Lawrence due to his demonstrated interest in the Path, as wellas his background : as civil engineer. _ Motion: To appoint Phil Lawrence to the Community Path Project Committee. (Vote passed 3-0)

The minutes do not say who made this motion.

From the minutes

“R. Leino recommended Phil Lawrence due to his demonstrated interest in the Path, as wellas his background : as civil engineer. _ Motion: To appoint Phil Lawrence to the Community Path Project Committee. (Vote passed 3-0).”

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

Apr 1Appoint Sarah Wynn to the Belmont Youth Commission to…Motion: Motion: To appoint Sarah Wynn to the Belmont Youth Commission to…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note

April 1, 2019: Appoint Sarah Wynn to the Belmont Youth Commission to aterm expiring in 2022

AppointPassed · Unanimous, 3 present

Motion: To appoint Sarah Wynn to the Belmont Youth Commission to aterm expiring in 2022. (Vote passed 3-0)

The minutes do not say who made this motion.

From the minutes

“Motion: To appoint Sarah Wynn to the Belmont Youth Commission to aterm expiring in 2022. (Vote passed 3-0).”

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

Apr 1Appoint RevMotion: Motion: To appoint Rev. Joseph Zarro to the Board of Registrars…Passed 2–0 · see note

April 1, 2019: Appoint Rev

AppointPassed · 2–0

Motion: To appoint Rev. Joseph Zarro to the Board of Registrars of Voters. (Vote passed 2-0; Mark Paolillo recused himself because he belongs to Rev. Zarro's church.)

Yes: Caputo, DashThe minutes say Mark Paolillo stepped aside (recused), so that member is not shown as voting. The minutes do not say who made this motion.

From the minutes

“Motion: To appoint Rev. Joseph Zarro to the Board of Registrars of Voters. (Vote passed 2-0; Mark Paolillo recused himself because he belongs to Rev. Zarro's church.).”

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

Apr 1Approve the FY20 water and sewer budget with no…Motion: This would draw down retained earnings (S800k from water; $1.1m from…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note

April 1, 2019: Approve the FY20 water and sewer budget with no increase to customer rates

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present

This would draw down retained earnings (S800k from water; $1.1m from sewer) but ; not below the recommended 90 day reserve level. i Motion: To approve the FY20 water and sewer budget with no increase to customer rates. (Vote passed 3-0)

The minutes do not say who made this motion.

From the minutes

“This would draw down retained earnings (S800k from water; $1.1m from sewer) but ; not below the recommended 90 day reserve level. i Motion: To approve the FY20 water and sewer budget with no increase to customer rates. (Vote passed 3-0).”

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

Apr 1Approve one hour parking restriction for four spaces located…Motion: Motion: To approve one hour parking restriction for four spaces located…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note

April 1, 2019: Approve one hour parking restriction for four spaces located at 458 Trapelo Rd

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present

Motion: To approve one hour parking restriction for four spaces located at 458 Trapelo Rd. (Vote i passed 3-0)

The minutes do not say who made this motion.

From the minutes

“Motion: To approve one hour parking restriction for four spaces located at 458 Trapelo Rd. (Vote i passed 3-0).”

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

Apr 1Approve the posting of 'No parking here to corner'…Motion: Motion: To approve the posting of 'No parking here to corner'…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note

April 1, 2019: Approve the posting of 'No parking here to corner' signs near the intersection of Beech Street and Upland Road

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present

Motion: To approve the posting of 'No parking here to corner' signs near the intersection of Beech Street and Upland Road. (Vote passed 3-0)

The minutes do not say who made this motion.

From the minutes

“Motion: To approve the posting of 'No parking here to corner' signs near the intersection of Beech Street and Upland Road. (Vote passed 3-0).”

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

Apr 1Approve adding a two hour restriction to 6 spaces…Motion: The recommendation was to designate six spaces as being two-hour to…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note

April 1, 2019: Approve adding a two hour restriction to 6 spaces along Belmont Street close to Payson Park Church

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present

The recommendation was to designate six spaces as being two-hour to help free up spots. : Motion: To approve adding a two hour restriction to 6 spaces along Belmont Street close to Payson Park Church, (Vote passed 3-0)

The minutes do not say who made this motion.

From the minutes

“The recommendation was to designate six spaces as being two-hour to help free up spots. : Motion: To approve adding a two hour restriction to 6 spaces along Belmont Street close to Payson Park Church, (Vote passed 3-0).”

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

Apr 1Send the Belmont Hill School proposed roadway improvements project…Motion: After further discussion, the Board recommended that the project be brought…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note

April 1, 2019: Send the Belmont Hill School proposed roadway improvements project to the Transportation i Advisory Committee for review and a public hearing

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present

After further discussion, the Board recommended that the project be brought before : TAC for further vetting and a public hearing, after which the Board could vote on whether or not to lend P| support. po Motion: To send the Belmont Hill School proposed roadway improvements project to the Transportation i Advisory Committee for review and a public hearing. (Vote passed 3-0)

The minutes do not say who made this motion.

From the minutes

“After further discussion, the Board recommended that the project be brought before : TAC for further vetting and a public hearing, after which the Board could vote on whether or not to lend P| support. po Motion: To send the Belmont Hill School proposed roadway improvements project to the Transportation i Advisory Committee for review and a public hearing. (Vote passed 3-0).”

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

From the Belmont 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): The Belmontonian — Matthew Taylor and Carol Berberian (April 2026); Yates for Belmont campaign website — Taylor Yates. Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.

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