How the Belmont Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 3 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. On April 7, 2025 the board appointed Matthew Taylor as Chair and Taylor Yates as Vice-Chair as of July 1, 2025 (unanimous roll calls). Carol Berberian joined the board after the April 7, 2026 town election, succeeding Elizabeth Dionne, whose last meeting was April 6, 2026; Berberian’s first meeting was April 9, 2026. Covers 45 meetings, July 7 to June 29, 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.
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
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).
"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.
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Jun 15Joint vote with the Municipal Light Board: appoint Jeffrey…Motion: Mr. Beavers moved to nominate Jeffrey Lucas. The motion was seconded…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
June 15, 2026 (Joint meeting): Joint vote with the Municipal Light Board: appoint Jeffrey Lucas to fill a Light Board vacancy until the April 6, 2027 election
AppointPassed · Unanimous, 3 present
Mr. Beavers moved to nominate Jeffrey Lucas. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously via roll-call of the Light Board and Select Board.
Joint vote of the Select Board and the Municipal Light Board to fill a Light Board vacancy. Light Board Chair Dave Beavers made the motion; the minutes say it “passed unanimously via roll-call of the Light Board and Select Board,” so the three Select Board members are shown voting yes. The motion was made by Mr. Beavers, who is not a Select Board member.
From the minutes
“Mr. Beavers moved to nominate Jeffrey Lucas. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously via roll-call of the Light Board and Select Board..”
May 18Recommend unfavorable action on Article eight as amendedMotion: Mr. Yates moved to recommend unfavorable action on Article eight as…Passed 2–1 · No: Berberian
May 18, 2026: Recommend unfavorable action on Article eight as amended
ApprovePassed · 2–1
Mr. Yates moved to recommend unfavorable action on Article eight as amended. The motion was seconded by Ms. Berberian and passed 2-1 with Ms. Berberian voting in opposition.
Yes: Taylor, YatesNo: Berberian
From the minutes
“Mr. Yates moved to recommend unfavorable action on Article eight as amended. The motion was seconded by Ms. Berberian and passed 2-1 with Ms. Berberian voting in opposition..” (Motion: Yates, second: Berberian)
May 6Approve and sign the proclamation, with the public reading…Motion: The Board voted unanimously to approve and sign the proclamation, with…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
May 6, 2026: Approve and sign the proclamation, with the public reading of the proclamation deferred until the official presentation scheduled for a future meeting
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present
The Board voted unanimously to approve and sign the proclamation, with the public reading of the proclamation deferred until the official presentation scheduled for a future meeting
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“The Board voted unanimously to approve and sign the proclamation, with the public reading of the proclamation deferred until the official presentation scheduled for a future meeting.”
Apr 27Recommend favorable action on Article 7, as amended, concerning…Motion: The Board voted unanimously to recommend favorable action on Article 7,…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
April 27, 2026: Recommend favorable action on Article 7, as amended, concerning the dates and process for submitting Annual Town Meeting warrant articles; Article 22, funding for Senior Center improvements;...
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present
The Board voted unanimously to recommend favorable action on Article 7, as amended, concerning the dates and process for submitting Annual Town Meeting warrant articles; Article 22, funding for Senior Center improvements; Article 27, salaries of elected officials; Article 29, revolving fund expenditure limits; and Articles 32
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“The Board voted unanimously to recommend favorable action on Article 7, as amended, concerning the dates and process for submitting Annual Town Meeting warrant articles; Article 22, funding for Senior Center improvements; Article 27, salaries of elected officials; Article 29, revolving fund expenditure limits; and Articles 32.”
Apr 27Recommend unfavorable action on Articles 9, 10, and 12,…Motion: The Board voted unanimously to recommend unfavorable action on Articles 9,…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
April 27, 2026: Recommend unfavorable action on Articles 9, 10, and 12, whose petitioners had indicated they intended to withdraw them, and Article 17, the proposed increase to the retiree cost-of-living...
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present
The Board voted unanimously to recommend unfavorable action on Articles 9, 10, and 12, whose petitioners had indicated they intended to withdraw them, and Article 17, the proposed increase to the retiree cost-of-living adjustment base.
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“The Board voted unanimously to recommend unfavorable action on Articles 9, 10, and 12, whose petitioners had indicated they intended to withdraw them, and Article 17, the proposed increase to the retiree cost-of-living adjustment base..”
Apr 17Recommend favorable action on Article 37Motion: Mr. Yated moved to recommend favorable action on Article 37. The…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
April 17, 2026: Recommend favorable action on Article 37
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present
Mr. Yated moved to recommend favorable action on Article 37. The motion was seconded by Ms. Berberian and passed unanimously via voice vote.
The motion was made by Mr. Yated, who is not a Select Board member.
From the minutes
“Mr. Yated moved to recommend favorable action on Article 37. The motion was seconded by Ms. Berberian and passed unanimously via voice vote..” (second: Berberian)
Apr 17Recommend favorable action on Article 16 motion EMotion: Mr. Yates moved to recommend favorable action on Article 16 motion…Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Berberian
April 17, 2026: Recommend favorable action on Article 16 motion E
ApprovePassed · 2–0
Mr. Yates moved to recommend favorable action on Article 16 motion E. The motion was seconded by Mr. Taylor and passed unanimously via voice vote, with Ms. Berberian abstaining.
Yes: Taylor, YatesAbstained: BerberianThe minutes say Carol Berberian abstained and record the motion as passed; the other members present are shown voting yes. The minutes call the vote unanimous; the member who abstained is shown abstaining.
From the minutes
“Mr. Yates moved to recommend favorable action on Article 16 motion E. The motion was seconded by Mr. Taylor and passed unanimously via voice vote, with Ms. Berberian abstaining..” (Motion: Yates, second: Taylor)
Mar 23Accept the resignation of Michael Marotta from the Age-Friendly…Motion: Move to accept the resignation of Michael Marotta from the Age-Friendly…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
March 23, 2026: Accept the resignation of Michael Marotta from the Age-Friendly Action Plan Committee
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present
Move to accept the resignation of Michael Marotta from the Age-Friendly Action Plan Committee. The motion was seconded by Ms. Dionne and passed unanimously via roll-call vote.
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Move to accept the resignation of Michael Marotta from the Age-Friendly Action Plan Committee. The motion was seconded by Ms. Dionne and passed unanimously via roll-call vote..” (second: Dionne)
Mar 23Accept the resignation of Susan Pollet from the Age-Friendly…Motion: Move to accept the resignation of Susan Pollet from the Age-Friendly…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
March 23, 2026: Accept the resignation of Susan Pollet from the Age-Friendly Action Plan Committee
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present
Move to accept the resignation of Susan Pollet from the Age-Friendly Action Plan Committee. The motion was seconded by Ms. Dionne and passed unanimously via roll-call vote.
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Move to accept the resignation of Susan Pollet from the Age-Friendly Action Plan Committee. The motion was seconded by Ms. Dionne and passed unanimously via roll-call vote..” (second: Dionne)
Oct 6Accept donations for the Belmont Sports Complex in the…Motion: Ms. Dionne moved to accept donations for the Belmont Sports Complex…Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Yates
October 6, 2025: Accept donations for the Belmont Sports Complex in the total amount of $15,650
ApprovePassed · 2–0
Ms. Dionne moved to accept donations for the Belmont Sports Complex in the total amount of $15,650. The motion was seconded and passed 2-0-1 by voice vote with Mr. Yates abstaining.
Yes: Dionne, TaylorAbstained: Yates
From the minutes
“Ms. Dionne moved to accept donations for the Belmont Sports Complex in the total amount of $15,650. The motion was seconded and passed 2-0-1 by voice vote with Mr. Yates abstaining..” (Motion: Dionne)
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.