← Bridgewater Town Council

Bridgewater Former Select Board Member

Matthew Rushton

Town Council · 2 terms in this record

A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.

Board years

2021–2022 Council2020–2021 Council
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Record at a glance · 2021–2022 Council

25 of 29meetings attended (86%) · whole board 93%
282votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
2no votes (<1% of votes cast) · whole board 1%
1 of 16split votes where Rushton was in the minority (6%) · whole board 21%
0abstained
2terms in this record

On split votes, Rushton voted the same way as…

How these numbers work
  • Counted from the official minutes, for 2021–2022 Council only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
  • Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Rushton as present or absent at the start.
  • Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
  • Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
  • A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
  • “Whole board” combines every member’s record for the same term.

These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.

Attendance

At the start of 25 of 29 Town Council meetings in 2021–2022 Council.

Missed

Every meeting (29)

Votes where members disagreed · 2021–2022 Council

Dec 6Approve Order O-FY23-032Motion: to approve Order O-FY23-032Passed 7–0 · Rushton: Absent

December 6, 2022 · Item O-FY23-032: Approve Order O-FY23-032

Adopt orderPassed · 7–0

To approve Order O-FY23-032

Voted: Absent

Yes: Chase, Colombotos, Gallagher, George, Moore, Perry, WoodAbstained: SousaAbsent: RushtonFrancis Sousa recused (shown as abstained).

From the minutes

“Councilor Gallagher made a motion to approve Order O-FY23-032, which was duly seconded. results recorded as follows: Perry - Yea; Sousa - Recused; George - Yea; Moore - Yea; Chase - Yea; Gallagher -Yea; Colombotos - Yea; Wood - Yea; Rushton - Absent. The motion passed 7-0.” (Motion: Gallagher)

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

Nov 15Amend Ordinance D-FY23-002 by adding as the last paragraph:…Motion: to amend Ordinance D-FY23-002 by adding as the last paragraph: “Business…Passed 4–3 · Rushton: Yes

November 15, 2022 · Item D-FY23-002: Amend Ordinance D-FY23-002 by adding as the last paragraph: “Business Owners and Real Property Owners Notwithstanding the foregoing, the owner of record of a business, real property or leasehold inter

ApprovePassed · 4–3

To amend Ordinance D-FY23-002 by adding as the last paragraph: “Business Owners and Real Property Owners Notwithstanding the foregoing, the owner of record of a business, real property or leasehold interest in real property located within the Town who is a non-resident of the Town shall be permitted to address the Town Council.” This amendment

Voted: Yes

Yes: George, Perry, Rushton, SousaNo: Chase, Moore, WoodAbsent: Colombotos, Gallagher

From the minutes

“Councilor Perry made a motion to amend Ordinance D-FY23-002 by adding as the last paragraph: “Business Owners and Real Property Owners Notwithstanding the foregoing, the owner of record of a business, real property or leasehold interest in real property located within the Town who is a non-resident of the Town shall be permitted to address the Town Council.” This amendment was duly seconded. results recorded as follows on the first amendment made by Councilor Wood: Perry - Yea; Sousa - Yea; George - Yea; Moore - No; Chase - No; Gallagher -Absent; Colombotos - Absent; Wood - No; Rushton - Yea. The motion passed 4-3-0.” (Motion: Perry)

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

Nov 15Refer Ordinance D-FY23-002 to advertisingMotion: to refer Ordinance D-FY23-002 to advertisingPassed 6–1 · Rushton: Yes

November 15, 2022 · Item D-FY23-002: Refer Ordinance D-FY23-002 to advertising

ApprovePassed · 6–1

To refer Ordinance D-FY23-002 to advertising

Voted: Yes

Yes: Chase, George, Perry, Rushton, Sousa, WoodNo: MooreAbsent: Colombotos, Gallagher

From the minutes

“Councilor George made a motion to refer Ordinance D-FY23-002 to advertising, which was duly seconded. results recorded as follows: Perry - Yea; Sousa - Yea; George - Yea; Moore - No; Chase - Yea; Gallagher -Absent; Colombotos - Absent; Wood - Yea; Rushton - Yea. The motion passed 6-1.” (Motion: George)

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

Nov 15Refer Order O-FY23-031 to Budget & Finance and FinComMotion: to refer Order O-FY23-031 to Budget & Finance and FinComPassed 6–0 · Rushton: Yes

November 15, 2022 · Item O-FY23-031: Refer Order O-FY23-031 to Budget & Finance and FinCom

Adopt orderPassed · 6–0

To refer Order O-FY23-031 to Budget & Finance and FinCom

Voted: Yes

Yes: Chase, George, Moore, Perry, Rushton, WoodAbstained: SousaAbsent: Colombotos, GallagherFrancis Sousa recused (shown as abstained).

From the minutes

“Councilor George made a motion to refer Order O-FY23-031 to Budget & Finance and FinCom, which was duly seconded. results recorded as follows: Perry - Yea; Sousa - Recused; George - Yea; Moore - Yea; Chase - Yea; Gallagher -Absent; Colombotos - Absent; Wood - Yea; Rushton - Yea. The motion passed 6-0.” (Motion: George)

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

Sep 13Approve the transfer of the Class II license for…Motion: to approve the transfer of the Class II license for Fritz…Passed 7–0 · Rushton: Yes

September 13, 2022 · Item P-2023-001: Approve the transfer of the Class II license for Fritz Auto Body located at 567 Main Street

ApprovePassed · 7–0

To approve the transfer of the Class II license for Fritz Auto Body located at 567 Main Street

Voted: Yes

Yes: Chase, Colombotos, Gallagher, George, Moore, Rushton, WoodAbstained: SousaAbsent: PerryFrancis Sousa recused (shown as abstained).

From the minutes

“Councilor George made a motion to approve the transfer of the Class II license for Fritz Auto Body located at 567 Main Street. The motion was duly seconded. results recorded as follows: Perry - Absent at the time of the hearing; Sousa - Recused; George - Yea; Moore - Yea; Chase - Yea; Gallagher - Yea; Colombotos - Yea; Wood - Yea; Rushton - Yea. The motion passed 7- 0.” (Motion: George)

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

Sep 13Approve the transfer of the Class II license for…Motion: to approve the transfer of the Class II license for Auto…Passed 7–0 · Rushton: Not recorded

September 13, 2022 · Item P-2023-004: Approve the transfer of the Class II license for Auto Nation located at 183 Old Plymouth Street

ApprovePassed · 7–0

To approve the transfer of the Class II license for Auto Nation located at 183 Old Plymouth Street

The minutes record the result as 7–0, but the list of names does not match that count, so individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Councilor George made a motion to approve the transfer of the Class II license for Auto Nation located at 183 Old Plymouth Street. The motion was duly seconded. results recorded as follows: Perry - Absent at the time of the hearing; Sousa - Yea; George - Yea; Moore - Yea; Chase - Yea; Gallagher - Yea; Colombotos - Yea; Wood - Yea; Rushton - Yea. The motion passed 7-0.” (Motion: George)

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

Sep 13Suspend the board rules so Order O-FY23-012 can be…Motion: to suspend the board rules so Order O-FY23-012 can be sent…Passed 8–1 · Rushton: Yes

September 13, 2022 · Item O-FY23-012: Suspend the council rules so Order O-FY23-012 can be sent to two different committees

Adopt orderPassed · 8–1

To suspend the council rules so Order O-FY23-012 can be sent to two different committees

Voted: Yes

Yes: Chase, Colombotos, Gallagher, George, Perry, Rushton, Sousa, WoodNo: Moore

From the minutes

“Councilor George made a motion to suspend the council rules so Order O-FY23-012 can be sent to two different committees. The motion was duly seconded. results recorded as follows: Perry - Yea; Sousa - Yea; George - Yea; Moore - No; Chase - Yea; Gallagher - Yea; Colombotos - Yea; Wood - Yea; Rushton - Yea. The motion passed 8-1.” (Motion: George)

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

Sep 13Retain Petition P-2023-005 at Town Council levelMotion: to retain Petition P-2023-005 at Town Council levelPassed 8–0 · Rushton: Not recorded

September 13, 2022 · Item P-2023-005: Retain Petition P-2023-005 at Town Council level

ApprovePassed · 8–0

To retain Petition P-2023-005 at Town Council level

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 Gallagher made a motion to retain Petition P-2023-005 at Town Council level, which was duly seconded. results recorded as follows: Perry - Yea; Sousa - Yea; George - Yea; Moore - No; Chase - Yea; Gallagher - Yea; Colombotos - Yea; Wood - Yea; Rushton - Absent. The motion passed 8-0.” (Motion: Gallagher)

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

Sep 13Retain Resolution R-FY23-001 at Town Council levelMotion: to retain Resolution R-FY23-001 at Town Council levelPassed 8–0 · Rushton: Not recorded

September 13, 2022 · Item R-FY23-001: Retain Resolution R-FY23-001 at Town Council level

Adopt resolutionPassed · 8–0

To retain Resolution R-FY23-001 at Town Council level

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 Moore made a motion to retain Resolution R-FY23-001 at Town Council level, which was duly seconded. results recorded as follows: Perry - Yea; Sousa - Yea; George - Yea; Moore - No; Chase - Yea; Gallagher - Yea; Colombotos - Yea; Wood - Yea; Rushton - Absent. The motion passed 8-0.” (Motion: Moore)

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

Aug 2Approve Order O-FY22-057Motion: to approve Order O-FY22-057Passed 6–0 · Rushton: Yes

August 2, 2022 · Item O-FY22-057: Approve Order O-FY22-057

Adopt orderPassed · 6–0

To approve Order O-FY22-057

Voted: Yes

Yes: Chase, Gallagher, George, Moore, Perry, RushtonAbstained: Colombotos, SousaAbsent: Wood

From the minutes

“Councilor George made a motion to approve Order O-FY22-057, which was duly seconded. results recorded as follows: Perry - Yea; Sousa - Abstained; George - Yea; Moore - Yea; Chase - Yea; Gallagher - Yea; Colombotos - Abstained; Wood - Absent; Rushton - Yea. The motion passed 6-0-2.” (Motion: George)

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

Votes with no disagreement (300)

    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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