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Bridgewater Town Council
How the Bridgewater Town Council voted, from the Town Council’s official minutes. 9 members. Sean Kennedy and Marilee Hunt joined in May 2025; Johnny Loreti presides. Sonya Striggles’s last recorded vote was January 20, 2026. Covers 25 meetings, May 6 to April 7, 2026.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Town Council do? It is the town’s lawmaking body (this town has no Town Meeting). It passes local laws (bylaws or ordinances), votes on the yearly budget, and approves borrowing and zoning changes.
The council hires the town manager or administrator, who runs the town day to day and proposes the budget.
Sources: Mass. General Laws c. 44 § 32 (city budgets)Your Bridgewater ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →Board years
Coming up
- Tue, Oct 20Town Council →
From the agendas Bridgewater posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.
Members
Adelene EllenbergTown Member · Town Council · at 24 of 25 meetings
Marilee HuntTown Member · Town Council · at 24 of 25 meetings
Sean KennedyTown Member · Town Council · at 22 of 25 meetings
Mark LindeTown Member · Town Council · at 24 of 25 meetings
Mary McGrathTown Member · Town Council · at 24 of 25 meetings
Dr. Paul MurphyTown Member · Town Council · at 24 of 25 meetings
Dr. Kevin PerryTown Member · Town Council · at 23 of 25 meetingsSonya StrigglesTown Member · Town Council · at 16 of 18 meetings · until Jan 2026"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
Not here yet: we have loaded the Town Council’s minutes from January 2020 on. The town has not posted minutes for March 15 to July 2022. Five meetings from early 2022 are scanned documents; we read them with text recognition. Almost every vote is recorded by name. Some votes in 2020 were recorded only as a count and are not listed. Where the names in the minutes do not match the recorded count, we show only the count and note it. 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.
Apr 7Approve the 24/7 request for Smit Bev dba Tropical…Motion: to approve the 24/7 request for Smit Bev dba Tropical SmoothieFailed 3–5 · No: Hunt, Loreti, McGrath, Murphy, Perry
April 7, 2026 · Item P-2026-021: Approve the 24/7 request for Smit Bev dba Tropical Smoothie
To approve the 24/7 request for Smit Bev dba Tropical Smoothie
Yes: Ellenberg, Kennedy, LindeNo: Hunt, Loreti, McGrath, Murphy, Perry
From the minutes
“Councilor Kennedy made a motion to approve the 24/7 request for Smit Bev dba Tropical Smoothie, which was duly seconded by Councilor Ellenberg. results as follows: Kennedy - Yea; Ellenberg - Yea; McGrath - No; Loreti - No; Perry - No; Murphy - No; Hunt - No; Linde - Yes. Motion fails 3-5.” (Motion: Kennedy, second: Ellenberg)
Apr 7Extend the meeting past 10pmMotion: to extend the meeting past 10pmPassed 7–1 · No: Murphy
April 7, 2026: Extend the meeting past 10pm
To extend the meeting past 10pm
Yes: Ellenberg, Hunt, Kennedy, Linde, Loreti, McGrath, PerryNo: Murphy
From the minutes
“Councilor Linde made a motion to extend the meeting past 10pm, which was duly seconded by Councilor Perry. results as follows: Kennedy - Yea; Ellenberg - Yea; McGrath - Yea; Loreti - Yea; Perry - Yea; Murphy - No; Hunt - Yea; Linde - Yes. Motion passes: 7-1.” (Motion: Linde, second: Perry)
Mar 17Approve Order O-FY26-053 and send the question to the…Motion: to approve Order O-FY26-053 and send the question to the votersPassed 6–1 · No: Murphy
March 17, 2026 · Item O-FY26-053: Approve Order O-FY26-053 and send the question to the voters
To approve Order O-FY26-053 and send the question to the voters
Yes: Ellenberg, Hunt, Kennedy, Linde, Loreti, PerryNo: MurphyAbsent: McGrath
From the minutes
“Councilor Perry made a motion to approve Order O-FY26-053 and send the question to the voters. This was duly seconded by Councilor Linde. A voice vote was taken with the results as follows: Kennedy - Yea; Ellenberg - Yea; McGrath - Absent; Loreti - Yea; Perry - Yea; Murphy - No; Hunt - Yea; Linde - Yea. Motion passed 6-1.” (Motion: Perry, second: Linde)
Mar 10Approve Order O-FY26-034Motion: to approve Order O-FY26-034Passed 8–0 · see note
March 10, 2026 · Item O-FY26-034: Approve Order O-FY26-034
To approve Order O-FY26-034
The minutes record the result as 8–0, but the list of names does not match that count, so individual votes are not shown.
From the minutes
“Councilor Perry made a motion to approve Order O-FY26-034, which was duly seconded by Councilor Hunt. results as follows: Kennedy - Yea: Ellenberg - Yea; McGrath - Yea (via Zoom); Loreti - Yea: Perry - Yea; Murphy - Yea; Hunt - Yea; Linde - Yea. Motion passed 8-0.” (Motion: Perry, second: Hunt)
Feb 17Amend Ordinance D-FY26-007 by removing Section 3 all together.…Motion: to amend Ordinance D-FY26-007 by removing Section 3 all together. This…Passed 7–1 · see note
February 17, 2026 · Item D-FY26-007: Amend Ordinance D-FY26-007 by removing Section 3 all together. This failed for a lack of a second. Council Linde notes that the Rules & Procedures Committee should be discussing that,…
To amend Ordinance D-FY26-007 by removing Section 3 all together. This failed for a lack of a second. Council Linde notes that the Rules & Procedures Committee should be discussing that, should not be wordsmithing at the meeting. Councilor Loreti noted that he was not going to vote to approve this when there is vague language. Councilor Murphy noted that they followed the process outlined up until Section 6 which would trigger a special election which would require a special election. Councilor Loreti noted that his concern was the we do not even get to section 6 unless we vote yes. Councilor Kennedy noted that there is no changes in the Charter from this, has the same vague language. You could add the 90 day requirement in there as well. Councilor Perry noted that the Charter gets into specifics about the seat involved. The line is saying if the seat is not voted it will remain vacant u
The minutes record the result as 7–1, but the list of names does not match that count, so individual votes are not shown.
From the minutes
“Councilor Loreti made a motion to amend Ordinance D-FY26-007 by removing Section 3 all together. This failed for a lack of a second. Council Linde notes that the Rules & Procedures Committee should be discussing that, should not be wordsmithing at the meeting. Councilor Loreti noted that he was not going to vote to approve this when there is vague language. Councilor Murphy noted that they followed the process outlined up until Section 6 which would trigger a special election which would require a special election. Councilor Loreti noted that his concern was the we do not even get to section 6 unless we vote yes. Councilor Kennedy noted that there is no changes in the Charter from this, has the same vague language. You could add the 90 day requirement in there as well. Councilor Perry noted that the Charter gets into specifics about the seat involved. The line is saying if the seat is not voted it will remain vacant until the next election if the next election is close or a special election. Leaving a little bit of room for the Council to make that call gives the council the ability to make that call. But goes back to the vote if the council wants to fill the seat or not. Councilor Loreti asked if Section 6 #2, is this a majority of those present or the full council and Councilor Perry noted as long as there is a quorum of the council. Councilor Kennedy noted that if we have a situation where there are two out at a time it still allows this process to move forward, still need to reach a majority of who is present. Councilor Ellenberg noted that maybe add special election cannot be called 120 days prior to an election. Councilor Perry noted that say something happened in May we could add to a November election. The council would be more inclined to fill the seat so it is not empty for a long period time. The only issue is when it is right after an election. 90 days would be sufficient time for a special election. Councilor Linde asked about the Charter and the next candidate in line and Councilor Perry noted it all depends on when the councilor vacates the seat. Council President Loreti closed the public hearing at 7:44pm. Councilor Kennedy made a motion to approve Ordinance D-FY26-007, which was duly second by Councilor Ellenberg. A voice vote was taken with the results as follows: Kennedy - Yea; Ellenberg - Yea; McGrath - Yea; Loreti - No Perry - Yea Murphy - Yea; Hunt - Yea; Linde - Yea. Motion passed 7-1.” (Motion: Loreti, second: Ellenberg)
Feb 17Approve Order O-FY26-048Motion: to approve Order O-FY26-048Failed 2–6 · No: Ellenberg, Hunt, Linde, McGrath, Murphy, Perry
February 17, 2026 · Item O-FY26-048: Approve Order O-FY26-048
To approve Order O-FY26-048
Yes: Kennedy, LoretiNo: Ellenberg, Hunt, Linde, McGrath, Murphy, Perry
From the minutes
“Councilor Kennedy made a motion to approve Order O-FY26-048, which was duly second by Councilor Loreti. A voice vote was taken with the results as follows: Kennedy - Yea; Ellenberg - No; McGrath - No; Loreti - Yea; Perry - No; Murphy - No; Hunt - No; Linde - No. Motion failed 2-6.” (Motion: Kennedy, second: Loreti)
Feb 17Approve Resolution R-FY26-007Motion: to approve Resolution R-FY26-007Failed 3–5 · No: Kennedy, Loreti, McGrath, Murphy, Perry
February 17, 2026 · Item R-FY26-007: Approve Resolution R-FY26-007
To approve Resolution R-FY26-007
Yes: Ellenberg, Hunt, LindeNo: Kennedy, Loreti, McGrath, Murphy, Perry
From the minutes
“Councilor Ellenberg made a motion to approve Resolution R-FY26-007, which was duly seconded by Councilor Linde. results as follows: Kennedy - No; Ellenberg - Yea; McGrath - No; Loreti - No; Perry - No; Murphy - No; Hunt - Yea; Linde - Yea. Motion failed 3-5.” (Motion: Ellenberg, second: Linde)
Feb 3Postpone Order O-FY26-048 indefinitelyMotion: to postpone Order O-FY26-048 indefinitelyFailed 4–4 · No: Ellenberg, Kennedy, Loreti, McGrath
February 3, 2026 · Item O-FY26-048: Postpone Order O-FY26-048 indefinitely
To postpone Order O-FY26-048 indefinitely
Yes: Hunt, Linde, Murphy, PerryNo: Ellenberg, Kennedy, Loreti, McGrath
From the minutes
“Councilor Murphy made a motion to postpone Order O-FY26-048 indefinitely, which was duly seconded by Councilor Hunt. A roll call vote was taken for the motion to postpone with the results as follows: Kennedy - No; Ellenberg - No; McGrath - No; Loreti - No; Perry - Yea; Murphy - Yea; Hunt - Yea; Linde - Yea. Motion failed 4-4-0.” (Motion: Murphy, second: Hunt)
Dec 16Approve Petition P-2026-013Motion: to approve Petition P-2026-013Passed 7–1 · see note
December 16, 2025 · Item P-2026-013: Approve Petition P-2026-013
To approve Petition P-2026-013
The minutes record the result as 7–1, but the list of names does not match that count, so individual votes are not shown.
From the minutes
“Councilor Perry made a motion to approve Petition P-2026-013, which was duly seconded by Councilor McGrath. A voice vote was taken for the motion to amend with the results as follows: Kennedy - Yea; Ellenberg - No; Striggles - Absent; McGrath - Yea; Loreti - Yea; Perry - Yea; Murphy - Yea; Hunt - Yea; Linde - No. Motion passed 7-1.” (Motion: Perry, second: McGrath)
Dec 16Approve Zoning Ordinance D-FY26-001Motion: to approve Zoning Ordinance D-FY26-001Passed 7–2 · No: Ellenberg, Loreti
December 16, 2025 · Item D-FY26-001: Approve Zoning Ordinance D-FY26-001
To approve Zoning Ordinance D-FY26-001
Yes: Hunt, Kennedy, Linde, McGrath, Murphy, Perry, StrigglesNo: Ellenberg, Loreti
From the minutes
“Councilor Linde made a motion to approve Zoning Ordinance D-FY26-001, which was duly seconded by Councilor Linde. results as follows: Kennedy - Yea; Ellenberg - No; Striggles - Yea; McGrath - Yea; Loreti - No; Perry - Yea; Murphy - Yea; Hunt - Yea; Linde - Yea. Motion passed 7-2.” (Motion: Linde, second: Linde)
From the Bridgewater Town Council’s official minutes, posted on the town’s CivicClerk portal. We check every roll call against the recorded count and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades officials; votes and attendance are shown exactly as the minutes record them. Member photos: Town of Bridgewater Town Council page (bridgewaterma.gov); Paul Murphy from his MIT staff page. Mark Linde from a BTV (Bridgewater access TV) “Candidate’s Corner” video. Mary McGrath and Michaela Spagone from the Town of Bridgewater video of the September 15, 2026 Town Council meeting (identified by the nameplate in front of each member).
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