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Municipal votes · 2019–2020 Board

Burlington Select Board

How the Burlington Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. Joseph Morandi served as Chairman and James Tigges as Vice-Chairman, with Robert Hogan, Michael Runyan and Nicholas Priest. MassVoter has loaded this board’s minutes from January 13, 2020 (the first minutes online). The board was called the Board of Selectmen. From late March 2020 it met remotely, with roll-call votes. The start date is a placeholder. Covers 12 meetings, January 13 to June 8, 2020.

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

Your Burlington ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.

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Board years

Coming up

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Under the state Open Meeting Law, boards post notice at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays.

What Town Meeting decided

In Burlington, 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.

Annual Town Meeting (May) · May 12, 2025 35 votes: 25 passed, 2 passed as amended, 1 failed, 6 withdrawn, 1 no action

Sessions: May 12, 14 and 19, 2025

Source: Town Clerk: Annual Town Meeting May 2025 Minutes (PDF, linked as "May 2025 Minutes").

Town Meeting (January) · January 27, 2025 19 votes: 14 passed, 2 passed as amended, 1 failed, 1 no action, 1 other

Sessions: January 27 and 29, 2025

Source: Town Clerk: January 27, 2025 Town Meeting Minutes (PDF, linked as "January 2025 Minutes").

Town Meeting (September) · September 23, 2024 24 votes: 14 passed, 1 passed as amended, 4 failed, 1 indefinitely postponed, 2 withdrawn, 1 no action, 1 other

Sessions: September 23, 25 and 30, 2024

Source: Town Clerk: September 2024 Town Meeting Minutes (PDF, linked as "September 2024 Minutes").

Annual Town Meeting (May) · May 13, 2024 35 votes: 28 passed, 1 passed as amended, 4 withdrawn, 2 no action

Sessions: May 13, 15, 20 and 22, 2024

Source: Town Clerk: May 2024 Annual Town Meeting Minutes (PDF, linked as "May 2024 Minutes").

Town Meeting (January) · January 22, 2024 18 votes: 11 passed, 1 passed as amended, 2 failed, 1 no action, 3 other

Source: Town Clerk: January 22, 2024 Town Meeting Minutes (PDF, linked as "January 2024 Minutes").

Not here yet: Burlington's September 29, 2025, January 26, 2026, May 11, 2026 and September 28, 2026 Town Meetings are not here because the Town Clerk has not posted their minutes; only warrants are posted.

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 HoganMember · At-large · at 10 of 12 meetingsNicholas PriestMember · At-large · at 12 of 12 meetingsMichael RunyanMember · At-large · at 12 of 12 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: Burlington Select Board minutes from January 13, 2020 through August 20, 2026: 140 meetings and 1,587 votes. The town posts the board’s minutes online from January 2020; older minutes are not online. Until 2021 the board was the Board of Selectmen; on January 20, 2021 it approved Town Meeting articles asking the Legislature to change the name to Select Board, and the minutes use “Select Board” from April 2021. The minutes are typed documents with searchable text. Not here: meetings of the board’s subcommittees (Alcohol, Water, Class 2 Automobile, DPW, Building Department, Town Clerk advisory and Design Advisory Group), which are filed in the same Agenda Center list; strategic planning sessions where the minutes say no votes were taken; executive-session minutes; cancelled or postponed meetings; votes of the Housing Authority, Planning Board and Library Trustees at joint meetings (only the Select Board members’ votes are shown); meetings with an agenda but no posted minutes (among them November 30 and December 14, 2020; August 15, November 14 and December 1, 2022; August 21, 2023; May 6, 2024; May 12 and June 18, 2025; September 30, 2025, whose minutes the board approved on November 3, 2025; June 22, 2026; and August 17, 2026); February 24, 2020, where the agenda is posted in the minutes slot; and meetings after August 20, 2026 (the minutes of September 14, September 28 and October 5, 2026 are not posted yet). Burlington’s minutes name the mover and seconder and give a count of yes, no and abstaining votes (“Motion: Member Tigges moved to approve. Seconded by Member Priest and approved. (5-0-0)”). A count equal to the members present with no no votes or abstentions is shown as every member present voting yes. In 2020 and 2021 the board met remotely and the minutes list each member’s roll-call vote, shown by name; some counts name the member who voted no or abstained (“(4-1-0 with Member Morandi voting against)”), shown by name when they add up. Since 2022 split votes give only the count (“failed (2-3-0)”, “approved. (3-1-0)”) without saying who voted which way, and some counts do not match the members listed as present (“(4-0-0)” with five present); those votes show the count only (144 votes). 16 votes show the result only (no count, a count that cannot be read, or a joint vote counted with another board). Where a member who moved or seconded motions is missing from the attendance line and the counts include that member, the member is counted present with a note. A motion with no recorded outcome is not counted as a vote. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.

Monday, June 8, 2020 · Regular meeting5 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 5 members presentThursday, May 28, 2020 · Special meeting3 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentMonday, May 18, 2020 · Joint meeting11 recorded votes, 4 with disagreementAll 5 members presentMonday, May 11, 2020 · Regular meeting9 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 5 members presentMonday, April 27, 2020 · Regular meeting7 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 5 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.

May 18Joint appointment of Brian Curtin to the Burlington Housing…Motion: Motion: With the selection of six to two, Selectman Tigges moved…Passed 4–0 · see note

May 18, 2020 (Joint meeting): Joint appointment of Brian Curtin to the Burlington Housing Authority (with the Housing Authority)

AppointPassed · 4–0

Motion: With the selection of six to two, Selectman Tigges moved to appoint Brian Curtin as a member of the Burlington Housing Authority. Seconded by Burlington Housing Member Bernice Ferguson with Selectman Hogan voting aye, BHA member Howard voting aye, Selectman Tigges voting aye, BHA member Wells-Bean voting aye, Selectman Runyan voting aye, BHA Member Ferguson voting aye, Selectman Priest voting aye, and BHA Member Fay voting aye.

Yes: Hogan, Priest, Runyan, TiggesJoint roll call with the Burlington Housing Authority. Before the motion the two boards chose between two candidates by a tally (Brian Curtin six, Kerry Donahue two; Selectmen Tigges, Hogan and Runyan chose Curtin, Selectman Priest chose Donahue). The minutes say the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen would vote only to break a tie, so Joseph Morandi is not shown voting. Only the Select Board members’ votes are shown.

From the minutes

“Motion: With the selection of six to two, Selectman Tigges moved to appoint Brian Curtin as a member of the Burlington Housing Authority. Seconded by Burlington Housing Member Bernice Ferguson with Selectman Hogan voting aye, BHA member Howard voting aye, Selectman Tigges voting aye, BHA member Wells-Bean voting aye, Selectman Runyan voting aye, BHA Member Ferguson voting aye, Selectman Priest voting aye, and BHA Member Fay voting aye..” (Motion: Tigges)

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

May 18Approve the article and backup as submittedMotion: Motion: Selectman moved to approve the article and backup as submitted.…Passed · see note

May 18, 2020 (Joint meeting): Approve the article and backup as submitted

ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes

Motion: Selectman moved to approve the article and backup as submitted. Seconded by Selectman Tigges and approved

The minutes say the motion was approved but give no count, so the result only is shown.

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman moved to approve the article and backup as submitted. Seconded by Selectman Tigges and approved.” (second: Tigges)

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

May 18Approve the minutes of April 27, 2020 as submittedMotion: Motion: Selectman Priest moved to approve the minutes of April 27,…Passed 4–0 · see note

May 18, 2020 (Joint meeting): Approve the minutes of April 27, 2020 as submitted

Approve minutesPassed · 4–0

Motion: Selectman Priest moved to approve the minutes of April 27, 2020 as submitted. Seconded by Selectman Tigges with Selectman Hogan voting aye, Selectman Runyan voting aye, Selectman Tigges voting aye, Selectman Priest voting aye and Chairman Morandi voting aye and approved. (4-0-0)

The roll call lists Robert Hogan aye; Michael Runyan aye; James Tigges aye; Nicholas Priest aye; Joseph Morandi aye, but the minutes record the vote as (4-0-0); the count and the names do not match, so the count only is shown.

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Priest moved to approve the minutes of April 27, 2020 as submitted. Seconded by Selectman Tigges with Selectman Hogan voting aye, Selectman Runyan voting aye, Selectman Tigges voting aye, Selectman Priest voting aye and Chairman Morandi voting aye and approved. (4-0-0).” (Motion: Priest, second: Tigges)

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

May 11Approve the Minutes of February 24, 2020 and March…Motion: Motion: Selectman Runyan moved to approve the Minutes of February 24,…Passed 4–0 · see note

May 11, 2020: Approve the Minutes of February 24, 2020 and March 9, 2020 as submitted

Approve minutesPassed · 4–0

Motion: Selectman Runyan moved to approve the Minutes of February 24, 2020 and March 9, 2020 as submitted. Seconded by Selectman Priest with Selectman Runyan voting aye, Selectman Tigges voting aye, Selectman Priest voting aye and Chairman Morandi voting aye and approved. (4-0-1 with Selectman Hogan abstaining)

The roll call lists Michael Runyan aye; James Tigges aye; Nicholas Priest aye; Joseph Morandi aye, but the minutes record the vote as (4-0-1); the count and the names do not match, so the count only is shown.

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Runyan moved to approve the Minutes of February 24, 2020 and March 9, 2020 as submitted. Seconded by Selectman Priest with Selectman Runyan voting aye, Selectman Tigges voting aye, Selectman Priest voting aye and Chairman Morandi voting aye and approved. (4-0-1 with Selectman Hogan abstaining).” (Motion: Runyan, second: Priest)

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

Apr 13Approve the following warrant articles (as numbered during the…Motion: Motion: Selectman Priest moved to approve the following warrant articles (as…Passed 3–2 · No: Priest, Runyan

April 13, 2020 (Special meeting): Approve the following warrant articles (as numbered during the April 13, 2020 Meeting) (7-10) Drainage and Stream Cleaning (7-12) Tyco Dry Valves (7-13) Facility Upgrades-Energy Conservation...

ApprovePassed · 3–2

Motion: Selectman Priest moved to approve the following warrant articles (as numbered during the April 13, 2020 Meeting) (7-10) Drainage and Stream Cleaning (7-12) Tyco Dry Valves (7-13) Facility Upgrades-Energy Conservation (7-14) Pine Haven Roof and Cupola Repair (7-15) Town Hall Generator (7-16) Vinebrook Filter Repair (7-30) Francis Wyman Pump Station Design (7-31)Pump Station Maintenance (11) MWRA I/I Debt Service (14) Road and Parking Lot Construction (16) Acceptance of Chapter 90 (19) Transfer from Water Stabilization Fund Seconded by Selectman Tigges with Selectman Hogan voting aye, Selectman Runyan voting no, Selectman Tigges voting aye, Selectman Priest voting no and Chairman Morandi voting aye and approved. (3-2-0 with Selectman Runyan and Priest voting against)

Yes: Hogan, Morandi, TiggesNo: Priest, Runyan

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Priest moved to approve the following warrant articles (as numbered during the April 13, 2020 Meeting) (7-10) Drainage and Stream Cleaning (7-12) Tyco Dry Valves (7-13) Facility Upgrades-Energy Conservation (7-14) Pine Haven Roof and Cupola Repair (7-15) Town Hall Generator (7-16) Vinebrook Filter Repair (7-30) Francis Wyman Pump Station Design (7-31)Pump Station Maintenance (11) MWRA I/I Debt Service (14) Road and Parking Lot Construction (16) Acceptance of Chapter 90 (19) Transfer from Water Stabilization Fund Seconded by Selectman Tigges with Selectman Hogan voting aye, Selectman Runyan voting no, Selectman Tigges voting aye, Selectman Priest voting no and Chairman Morandi voting aye and approved. (3-2-0 with Selectman Runyan and Priest voting against).” (Motion: Priest, second: Tigges)

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

Apr 13Approve the February 10, 2020 minutes as submittedMotion: Motion: Selectman Tigges moved to approve the February 10, 2020 minutes…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Hogan

April 13, 2020 (Special meeting): Approve the February 10, 2020 minutes as submitted

Approve minutesPassed · 4–0

Motion: Selectman Tigges moved to approve the February 10, 2020 minutes as submitted. Seconded by Selectman Runyan with Selectman Hogan voting to abstain, Selectman Runyan voting aye, Selectman Tigges voting aye, Selectman Priest voting aye and Chairman Morandi voting aye and approved. (4-0-1 with Selectman Hogan abstaining)

Yes: Morandi, Priest, Runyan, TiggesAbstained: Hogan

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Tigges moved to approve the February 10, 2020 minutes as submitted. Seconded by Selectman Runyan with Selectman Hogan voting to abstain, Selectman Runyan voting aye, Selectman Tigges voting aye, Selectman Priest voting aye and Chairman Morandi voting aye and approved. (4-0-1 with Selectman Hogan abstaining).” (Motion: Tigges, second: Runyan)

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

Apr 6Approve the Police Patrol Contract for FY21 and FY22…Motion: Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the Police Patrol Contract for…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Tigges

April 6, 2020: Approve the Police Patrol Contract for FY21 and FY22 as presented

ApprovePassed · 4–0

Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the Police Patrol Contract for FY21 and FY22 as presented. Seconded by Selectman Priest and approved. Roll call vote: Selectmen J. Tigges, abstained; Selectman R. Hogan, aye; Selectman M. Runyan, aye; Selectman N. Priest, aye. (4-0-1 with Selectman Tigges abstaining)

Yes: Hogan, Morandi, Priest, RunyanAbstained: TiggesThe roll call does not list Joseph Morandi; the count (4-0-1) matches all five members present with Joseph Morandi voting yes, so that member is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the Police Patrol Contract for FY21 and FY22 as presented. Seconded by Selectman Priest and approved. Roll call vote: Selectmen J. Tigges, abstained; Selectman R. Hogan, aye; Selectman M. Runyan, aye; Selectman N. Priest, aye. (4-0-1 with Selectman Tigges abstaining).” (Motion: Hogan, second: Priest)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Apr 6Approve the Burlington, MA Declaration of Emergency as presentedMotion: Motion: Selectman Priest moved to approve the Burlington, MA Declaration of…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note

April 6, 2020: Approve the Burlington, MA Declaration of Emergency as presented

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

Motion: Selectman Priest moved to approve the Burlington, MA Declaration of Emergency as presented. Seconded by Selectman Tigges and approved. Roll call vote: Selectmen J. Tigges, aye; Selectman R. Hogan, aye; Selectman M. Runyan, aye; Selectman N. Priest, aye. (5-0-0)

The roll call does not list Joseph Morandi; the count (5-0-0) matches all five members present with Joseph Morandi voting yes, so that member is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Priest moved to approve the Burlington, MA Declaration of Emergency as presented. Seconded by Selectman Tigges and approved. Roll call vote: Selectmen J. Tigges, aye; Selectman R. Hogan, aye; Selectman M. Runyan, aye; Selectman N. Priest, aye. (5-0-0).” (Motion: Priest, second: Tigges)

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

Apr 6Approve the changing of the date for Town Meeting…Motion: Motion: Selectman Tigges moved to approve the changing of the date…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note

April 6, 2020: Approve the changing of the date for Town Meeting from Monday, May 11, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. to Wednesday, June 10, 2020

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

Motion: Selectman Tigges moved to approve the changing of the date for Town Meeting from Monday, May 11, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. to Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 7:30. Seconded by Selectman Priest and approved. Roll call vote: Selectmen J. Tigges, aye; Selectman R. Hogan, aye; Selectman M. Runyan, aye; Selectman N. Priest, aye. (5-0-0)

The roll call does not list Joseph Morandi; the count (5-0-0) matches all five members present with Joseph Morandi voting yes, so that member is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Tigges moved to approve the changing of the date for Town Meeting from Monday, May 11, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. to Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 7:30. Seconded by Selectman Priest and approved. Roll call vote: Selectmen J. Tigges, aye; Selectman R. Hogan, aye; Selectman M. Runyan, aye; Selectman N. Priest, aye. (5-0-0).” (Motion: Tigges, second: Priest)

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

Apr 6Approve the placement of a memorial bench at Mill…Motion: Motion: Selectman Tigges moved to approve the placement of a memorial…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note

April 6, 2020: Approve the placement of a memorial bench at Mill Pond Reservoir

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

Motion: Selectman Tigges moved to approve the placement of a memorial bench at Mill Pond Reservoir. Seconded by Selectman Runyan and approved. Roll call vote: Selectman J. Tigges, aye; Selectman R. Hogan, aye; Selectman M. Runyan, aye; Selectman N. Priest, aye. (5-0-0)

The roll call does not list Joseph Morandi; the count (5-0-0) matches all five members present with Joseph Morandi voting yes, so that member is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Tigges moved to approve the placement of a memorial bench at Mill Pond Reservoir. Seconded by Selectman Runyan and approved. Roll call vote: Selectman J. Tigges, aye; Selectman R. Hogan, aye; Selectman M. Runyan, aye; Selectman N. Priest, aye. (5-0-0).” (Motion: Tigges, second: Runyan)

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

From the Burlington 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: Town of Burlington, Select Board page (captioned group photo). Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.

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