MassVoter.com← BerkleyMunicipal votes · 2026–2027 Board
Berkley Board of Selectmen
How the Berkley Board of Selectmen voted, from the Board of Selectmen’s official minutes. 3 Selectmen elected townwide. Robert Longton is first listed in June 2026. Minutes loaded through August 18, 2026. Covers 10 meetings so far, May 13 to August 18, 2026.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Board of Selectmen 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 Board of Selectmen, votes the town budget and town bylaws.
Sources: Massachusetts Select Board Handbook (MMA) · Mass. Division of Local Services: the town budgetVote Transparency Score
Berkley Board of Selectmen: 6 out of 10 · Partly open
How easy Berkley makes it to see, online, how each member votes. It scores the town’s records, not any official. Checked October 3, 2026.
- Minutes postedMinutes are posted for most, but not all, meetings in the past year.Part points: 1/2
- Each vote namedThe minutes name the Selectmen who voted no or abstained, but not each member’s yes vote.Part points: 2/3
- Posted quicklyMinutes usually go up within about three weeks.Full points: 2/2
- Past years onlineBoard of Selectmen minutes from 2018 to today are online.Full points: 1/1
- Readable textThe minutes are scanned images, so you can’t search or copy the text.No points: 0/1
- Member photosThe Board of Selectmen page shows no member photos.No points: 0/1
How the town can raise its score
- Minutes posted (+1): Post approved minutes for every meeting on the town website. Don’t require a sign-in to view them.
- 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
MassVoter can’t read Berkley’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
What Town Meeting decided
In Berkley, Town Meeting — not the Board of Selectmen — 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.
Annual Town Meeting · June 1, 2026 18 votes: 13 passed, 1 passed as amended, 1 failed, 1 no action, 1 tabled, 1 other
- Art. 3 Appropriate from free cash: $181,758 snow and ice, $50,000 personnel reserve, $460,731 capital items, $1,275 past due bills, $650 planning revolving fund Other “Motion carried unanimously for the past due bills. Approved”
- Art. 4 Borrow up to $900,000 to buy a fire apparatus Passed “Motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 5 Override stabilization fund and appropriation (only if the override ballot question passed) No action “Motion carried unanimously”
- Art. 6 FY2027 town operating budget, amended to $7,194,515 from taxation plus $140,000 free cash and $535,000 ambulance fees Passed as amended “motion approved unanimously.”
- Art. 7 FY2027 debt service: $3,867,340 Passed “Motion approved unanimously.”
- Art. 8 FY2027 school budgets (Berkley K-8, Bristol-Plymouth, Bristol Aggie): $12,821,271 from taxation Passed “Motion approved unanimously.”
- Art. 9 Somerset-Berkley Regional School District assessment: $3,123,111 from district stabilization fund Passed “Motion approved unanimously.”
- Art. 10 Set FY2027 spending limits for revolving funds Passed “Motion approved unanimously.”
- Art. 11 Let the Board of Selectmen accept and contract for state and federal road funds Passed “Motion approved unanimously.”
- Art. 12 Let assessors hire their own members for annual tax maintenance at $15 per parcel Passed “Motion approved unanimously.”
- Art. 13 Accept additional property tax exemptions (up to 100%) for qualifying residents for FY2027 Passed “Motion approved unanimously.”
- Art. 14 Set Board of Health agent inspection fees Passed “Motion approved unanimously.”
- Art. 15 Rezone 31 Padelford Street and parts of 33, 35 and 35R Padelford Street to General Business Failed “Vote on the article, Motion is defeated.”
- Art. 16 Accept M.G.L. c.200A s.9A: simpler process for abandoned or unclaimed funds Passed “Motion approved unanimously.”
- Art. 17 Raise the senior tax deferral income limit (Clause 41A) and cut its interest rate from 8% to 6% Passed “Motion approved unanimously”
- Art. 18 Amend the Zoning Bylaw use table for Bed & Breakfast (Planning Board special permit) Tabled “Voted to table the article, motion passed to table.”
- Art. 19 Let the Board of Selectmen sell surplus town land at 34 and 44RR Green Street Passed “motion approved unanimously.”
- Art. 20 Let the Board of Selectmen sell other listed surplus town parcels Passed “article approved unanimously.”
Source: Town Clerk's minutes, Annual Town Meeting June 1, 2026.
Special Town Meeting · November 15, 2025 9 votes: 6 passed, 1 withdrawn, 1 no action, 1 other
- Art. 3 Move $15,617.28 within the FY2026 budget to the elected treasurer and collector salary lines Passed “Motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 4 Add a Residential Development Overlay District (RDOD) to the Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map Passed “carried unanimously.”
- Art. 5 Allow some business uses by Planning Board special permit for mixed-use development in the RDOD Passed “Motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 6 Ask the Legislature to increase the Board of Selectmen from three to five members Passed “Motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 7 Accept an easement at 52 Anthony Street at no cost No action “Motion carried unanimously”
- Art. 8 Accept 2 Riverside Drive (Map 8, Lot 92-1) by gift for municipal purposes Withdrawn “Motion to withdraw Article 8 carried unanimously.”
- Art. 9 Transfer $3,000 from Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund income for cemetery operations Passed “Motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 10 Transfer $85,000 from the PEG Access and Cable Related Fund for FY2026 cable operations Passed “Motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 11 Citizen petition: accept 42nd Street (40B development) as a public way and dissolve its homeowners association Other “Moton carried unanimously.”
Source: Town Clerk's minutes, Special Town Meeting November 15, 2025.
Annual Town Meeting · June 2, 2025 22 votes: 18 passed, 2 failed, 2 tabled
- Art. 3 Appropriate $190,697 from free cash for snow and ice and transfer $60,000 from the post-retirement buyout account to fire chief salaries Passed “Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 4 FY2026 town operating budget: $7,776,834 ($7,025,820 taxation, $266,014 general stabilization, $485,000 ambulance fees) Passed “Motion to approve Article 4 was”
- Art. 5 FY2026 debt service: $1,856,510 from taxation Passed “Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 6 FY2026 school budgets (Berkley K-8, Bristol-Plymouth, Bristol Aggie): $12,873,930 Passed “Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 7 Somerset-Berkley Regional School District assessment: $3,013,899 from high school stabilization Passed “Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 8 Set FY2026 spending limits for revolving funds Passed “Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 9 Let the Board of Selectmen accept and contract for state and federal road funds Passed “Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 10 Let assessors hire their own members for annual tax maintenance at $15 per parcel Passed “Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 11 Accept additional property tax exemptions (up to 100%) for qualifying residents for FY2026 Passed “Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 12 Set Board of Health agent inspection fees Passed “Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 13 Amend the Capital Improvement Planning Committee bylaw (membership, $10,000 review threshold) Passed “Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 14 Ask the Legislature for a law allowing recall of elected Berkley officials Passed “unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 15 Amend the Zoning Bylaw use table and Section 4.2.2 (two-, three- and multifamily dwellings) Failed “Motion defeated unanimously.”
- Art. 16 Rezone 33, 35 and 35R Padelford Street to General Business Tabled “Motion to table the article carried”
- Art. 17 Ask the Legislature for five more all-alcohol on-premises liquor licenses Passed “Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 18 Citizen petition: exempt town buildings and property from the state “prohibited areas” firearm rule Passed “Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 19 Remove the General Bylaws requirement for a Selectmen public hearing before bylaw changes go to Town Meeting Passed “Motion Carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 20 Accept M.G.L. c.60 s.3D: property tax relief fund and Taxation Aid Committee for elderly and disabled residents Passed “Motion passed unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 21 Accept M.G.L. c.59 s.5K: senior property tax work-off program from FY2026 Passed “Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 22 Accept M.G.L. c.59 s.5N: veterans property tax work-off program from FY2026 Passed “Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
- Art. 23 Citizen petition: adopt a “Berkley Noise Law” bylaw Failed “Motion failed”
- Art. 24 Discontinue part of Cotley Street (railroad crossing to the Taunton line) as a public way Tabled “Motion to table, No further discussion, Motion carried unanimously. Approved”
Source: Town Clerk's minutes, Annual Town Meeting June 2, 2025.
Special Town Meeting · November 14, 2024 9 votes: 8 passed, 1 tabled
- Art. 2 Accept Ridge Street, part of Shore Road and Cross Road (Pierce’s Point Estates) as public ways and allow acquiring the roads Passed “the Article was approved. · Yes 239 and No 139”
- Art. 3 Add a “Right to Farm” bylaw to the General Bylaws Passed “Motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 4 Ask the Legislature to combine treasurer and collector into one position appointed by the Board of Selectmen Passed “Motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 5 Borrow $89,852,556 to design and build a new Berkley Community School, with possible state (MSBA) grant Passed “Motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 6 Accept M.G.L. c.44 s.53F¾ and set up a PEG Access and Cable Related Fund starting FY2026 Passed “Motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 7 End the Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund and put opioid settlement money in a special revenue fund Passed “Motion carried unanimously”
- Art. 8 Let the Board of Selectmen sell or dispose of surplus town vehicles and equipment Passed “Motion carried unanimously”
- Art. 9 Amend the Town Contracts bylaw: written contracts at $10,000, advertising above $50,000, surplus sale limit Passed “Motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 10 Amend the Zoning Bylaw use table and Section 4.2.2 (two-, three- and multifamily dwellings) Tabled “made a motion to table the article. No further”
Source: Town Clerk's minutes, Special Town Meeting November 14, 2024.
Annual Town Meeting · June 3, 2024 15 votes: 12 passed, 2 passed as amended, 1 tabled
- Art. 3 Appropriate $46,438 from free cash: $33,838 snow and ice deficit and $12,600 unpaid bills Passed “Motion carried unanimously”
- Art. 4 FY2025 town operating budget: $7,351,801 as amended ($6,801,801 taxation, $450,000 ambulance fees, $100,000 general stabilization for EMS) Passed as amended “Motion to approve Article 4 with amendments was carried unanimously.”
- Art. 5 FY2025 debt service: $1,268,564 from taxation Passed “Motion carried unanimously”
- Art. 6 FY2025 school budgets (Berkley K-8, Bristol-Plymouth, Bristol Aggie): $12,287,735, amended to add $30,000 from stabilization for Berkley school spending Passed as amended “to approve Article 6 with amendments carried unanimously.”
- Art. 7 Somerset-Berkley Regional School District assessment: $3,026,221 ($2,779,717 high school stabilization, $246,504 taxation) Passed “Motion carried unanimously”
- Art. 8 Set FY2025 spending limits for revolving funds Passed “Motion carried unanimously”
- Art. 9 Let the Board of Selectmen accept and contract for state and federal road funds Passed “Motion carried unanimously”
- Art. 10 Let assessors hire their own members for annual tax maintenance at $15 per parcel Passed “Motion carried unanimously”
- Art. 11 Accept additional property tax exemptions (up to 25%) for qualifying residents for FY2025 Passed “Motion carried unanimously”
- Art. 12 Set Board of Health agent inspection fees Passed “Motion carried unanimously”
- Art. 13 Accept M.G.L. c.53 s.18B: mail ballot question information to each voter household Passed “Motion carried unanimously”
- Art. 14 Library construction grant planning: up to $150,000 ($75,000 free cash, $75,000 library gifts) if the state grant is approved Passed “Motion carried unanimously”
- Art. 15 Accept Ridge Street and part of Shore Road (Pierce’s Point Estates) as public ways Tabled “table Article 15, motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 16 Amend the Zoning Bylaw (home occupation permits, clerical fixes, marijuana definition, site plan wording) Passed “Motion carried”
- Art. 17 Amend the Zoning Bylaw to follow the Attorney General’s decision (define “reasonable accommodation”) Passed “Motion carried unanimously.”
Source: Town Clerk's minutes, Annual Town Meeting June 3, 2024.
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
Robert LongtonSelectman · Elected townwide · at 5 of 8 meetings · from Jun 2026
Jennifer VincentSelectman · Elected townwide · at 8 of 10 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
25 full-board meetings so far this year, through August 18. Ties share a rank.
1Tabitha K. McCrohan24 of 25 meetings96%2Mark Horsfall14 of 15 meetings · served until Apr93%3Jennifer Vincent21 of 25 meetings84%4Robert Longton5 of 8 meetings · served from Jun63%33 full-board meetings in 2025. Ties share a rank.
1Tabitha K. McCrohan33 of 33 meetings Every meeting100%1Joe Freitas5 of 5 meetings · served until Feb Every meeting100%1Mark Horsfall4 of 4 meetings · served from Nov100%4Jennifer Vincent32 of 33 meetings97%24 full-board meetings in 2023. Ties share a rank.
1Tabitha K. McCrohan17 of 17 meetings · served from May Every meeting100%1George F. Miller7 of 7 meetings · served until May Every meeting100%3Joe Freitas16 of 17 meetings · served from May94%4Wendy F. Cochrane22 of 24 meetings92%5Dean R. Larabee5 of 7 meetings · served until May71%38 full-board meetings in 2022. Ties share a rank.
1Wendy F. Cochrane36 of 38 meetings95%1Dean R. Larabee36 of 38 meetings95%1George F. Miller36 of 38 meetings95%33 full-board meetings in 2021. Ties share a rank.
1Dean R. Larabee33 of 33 meetings Every meeting100%2Wendy F. Cochrane32 of 33 meetings97%3George F. Miller31 of 33 meetings94%28 full-board meetings in 2020. Ties share a rank.
1George F. Miller28 of 28 meetings Every meeting100%1Dean R. Larabee17 of 17 meetings · served from Jul Every meeting100%3Wendy F. Cochrane26 of 28 meetings93%26 full-board meetings in 2019. Ties share a rank.
1George F. Miller26 of 26 meetings Every meeting100%2Wendy F. Cochrane23 of 26 meetings88%3Heather Martin-Sterling20 of 23 meetings · served until Oct87%32 full-board meetings in 2018. Ties share a rank.
1George F. Miller32 of 32 meetings Every meeting100%1Heather Martin-Sterling20 of 20 meetings · served from May Every meeting100%1Gil Pontes12 of 12 meetings · served until May Every meeting100%4Wendy F. Cochrane29 of 32 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: 2024, 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
Covers January 2018 to August 2026. The minutes are scanned documents; we read them with text recognition, so some item titles may read awkwardly; each vote quotes the minutes and links to the page. Most votes are recorded only as “voted,” with the mover and seconder but no count, so we show the result and do not say how each Selectman voted (the same rule we use for every town). Where the minutes name a Selectman voting no or abstaining, the vote’s note says so. Votes where the minutes give each Selectman’s vote are shown by name. Where the minutes name a mover or seconder who is not listed as attending, the vote is noted and individual votes are not shown. Joint votes with other officials (hiring committees, the Personnel Board) are left out. Not here yet: minutes for October 2024 to January 2025 (except January 8 and 23, 2025) are not posted, and the town’s link for November 13, 2023 opens the September 13, 2023 minutes. We will ask the town to confirm the noted votes.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Aug 18The Animal Control Intermunicipal Agreement discussion centered on clarifying…Passed · see note
August 18, 2026: The Animal Control Intermunicipal Agreement discussion centered on clarifying how Dighton and Berkley will share animal control serviccs and costs
The minutes record this only as “voted”; they do not give a count or say how each Selectman voted.
From the minutes
“TMcCrohan motioned JViacent second Roil Call Vote: MecCrohan - Aye Vincent - Ape Motion approved.” (Motion: McCrohan)
Jun 29The Board discussed the status of Tanker 2, noting…Motion: to declare surplusPassed · see note
June 29, 2026: The Board discussed the status of Tanker 2, noting that the vehicle is a 1983 unit with the body rotted off, on its second engine and third transmission, and with…
To declare surplus
The minutes record this only as “voted”; they do not give a count or say how each Selectman voted.
From the minutes
“Motion to declare surplus: TMcCrohan motioned: Robert Longton second: Motion approved.” (Motion: McCrohan, second: Longton)
Jun 29Following discussion, the Board voted to declare Tanker 2…Motion: to authorizePassed · see note
June 29, 2026: Following discussion, the Board voted to declare Tanker 2 surplus equipment, and to authorize Chief Perry to negotiate and execute, subject to applicable procurement and funding requirements, agreements for the…
To authorize
The minutes record this only as “voted”; they do not give a count or say how each Selectman voted.
From the minutes
“Motion to authorize: TMcCrohan motioned: Robert Longton second; Motion approved.” (Motion: McCrohan, second: Longton)
Jun 17Appoint various Boards and Committees (list attached)Motion: to appointPassed · see note
June 17, 2026: Appoint various Boards and Committees (list attached)
To appoint
The minutes record this only as “voted”; they do not give a count or say how each Selectman voted.
From the minutes
“Motion to appoint: TMcCrohan motioned: JVincent second; Motion approved.” (Motion: McCrohan, second: Vincent)
Jun 17Appoint various positions within the Police Department (list attached)Motion: to appointPassed · see note
June 17, 2026: Appoint various positions within the Police Department (list attached)
To appoint
The minutes record this only as “voted”; they do not give a count or say how each Selectman voted.
From the minutes
“Motion to appoint: TMcCrohan motioned: JVincent second; Motion approved.” (Motion: McCrohan, second: Vincent)
Jun 17Appoint Jeff Anderson to the position of Veterans Graves…Motion: to appointPassed · see note
June 17, 2026: Appoint Jeff Anderson to the position of Veterans Graves Officer
To appoint
The minutes record this only as “voted”; they do not give a count or say how each Selectman voted.
From the minutes
“Motion to appoint: TMcCrohan motioned: RLongton second: Motion approved.” (Motion: McCrohan, second: Longton)
Jun 17Appoint Emma as part time dispatcherMotion: to acceptPassed · see note
June 17, 2026: Appoint Emma as part time dispatcher
To accept
The minutes record this only as “voted”; they do not give a count or say how each Selectman voted.
From the minutes
“Motion to accept: TMcCrohan motioned: RLongton second: Motion approved.” (Motion: McCrohan, second: Longton)
Jun 17Appoint William Kinsman to the position of Full-time DispatcherMotion: to appointPassed · see note
June 17, 2026: Appoint William Kinsman to the position of Full-time Dispatcher
To appoint
The minutes record this only as “voted”; they do not give a count or say how each Selectman voted.
From the minutes
“Motion to appoint: TMcCrohan motioned: RLongton second; Motion approved.” (Motion: McCrohan, second: Longton)
Jun 17Accept resignation of Marc Oliveira from the Berkley Planning…Motion: to acceptPassed · see note
June 17, 2026: Accept resignation of Marc Oliveira from the Berkley Planning Board
To accept
The minutes record this only as “voted”; they do not give a count or say how each Selectman voted.
From the minutes
“Motion to accept: TMcCrohan motioned: RLongton second; Motion approved.” (Motion: McCrohan, second: Longton)
Jun 17Appoint David Benevides to the position of assistant plumbing…Motion: to appointPassed · see note
June 17, 2026: Appoint David Benevides to the position of assistant plumbing inspector
To appoint
The minutes record this only as “voted”; they do not give a count or say how each Selectman voted.
From the minutes
“Motion to appoint: TMcCrohan motioned: RLongton second; Motion approved.” (Motion: McCrohan, second: Longton)
From the Berkley Board of Selectmen’s official minutes, posted on the town website. We quote the exact wording of each vote. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Member photos: Taunton Daily Gazette (candidate forums, April 2022 and April 2024; Berkley Board of Selectmen meeting, April 2026). Members without a photo show initials.
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