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Municipal votes · 2020–2021 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. The 2020 town election was moved from April 4 to June 6, 2020 because of COVID-19; James Tigges was re-elected and the same five members served. On June 22, 2020 the board unanimously chose Joseph Morandi as Chairman and James Tigges as Vice-Chairman (roll calls). The board, then called the Board of Selectmen, met remotely with roll-call votes. Covers 11 meetings, June 22 to March 22, 2021.

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

No upcoming meeting is posted yet. Check the official calendar →

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Annual Town Meeting (May) · May 12, 2025 35 votes: 25 passed, 2 passed as amended, 1 failed, 6 withdrawn, 1 no action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(September) · September 23, 2024 24 votes: 14 passed, 1 passed as amended, 4 failed, 1 indefinitely postponed, 2 withdrawn, 1 no action, 1 other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 11 of 11 meetingsNicholas PriestMember · At-large · at 11 of 11 meetingsMichael RunyanMember · At-large · at 11 of 11 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, March 22, 2021 · Regular meeting22 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentMonday, March 15, 2021 · Special meeting9 recorded votes, 3 with disagreementAll 5 members presentMonday, March 8, 2021 · Regular meeting10 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentMonday, February 22, 2021 · Regular meeting6 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentMonday, February 8, 2021 · Regular meeting8 recorded votes, 0 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.

Mar 15Approve the FY22 operating budgets for the Disability Access…Motion: Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the FY22 operating budgets for…Passed 4–0 · see note

March 15, 2021 (Special meeting): Approve the FY22 operating budgets for the Disability Access Commission

ApprovePassed · 4–0

Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the FY22 operating budgets for the Disability Access Commission. Seconded by Selectman Priest and approved with Selectman Hogan voting aye, Selectman Runyan voting aye, Selectman Tigges voting aye, Selectman Priest voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (4-0-1 with Selectman Tigges abstaining)

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 (4-0-1); the count and the names do not match, so the count only is shown.

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the FY22 operating budgets for the Disability Access Commission. Seconded by Selectman Priest and approved with Selectman Hogan voting aye, Selectman Runyan voting aye, Selectman Tigges voting aye, Selectman Priest voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (4-0-1 with Selectman Tigges abstaining).” (Motion: Hogan, second: Priest)

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

Mar 15Approve the FY22 operating budgets for Youth and Family…Motion: Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the FY22 operating budgets for…Passed 4–0 · see note

March 15, 2021 (Special meeting): Approve the FY22 operating budgets for Youth and Family Services

ApprovePassed · 4–0

Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the FY22 operating budgets for Youth and Family Services. Seconded by Selectman Runyan and approved with Selectman Hogan voting aye, Selectman Runyan voting aye, Selectman Tigges voting aye, Selectman Priest voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (4-0-1 with Selectman Priest abstaining)

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 (4-0-1); the count and the names do not match, so the count only is shown.

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the FY22 operating budgets for Youth and Family Services. Seconded by Selectman Runyan and approved with Selectman Hogan voting aye, Selectman Runyan voting aye, Selectman Tigges voting aye, Selectman Priest voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (4-0-1 with Selectman Priest abstaining).” (Motion: Hogan, second: Runyan)

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

Mar 15Approve the FY22 operating budgets for the Department of…Motion: Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the FY22 operating budgets for…Passed 4–0 · see note

March 15, 2021 (Special meeting): Approve the FY22 operating budgets for the Department of Public Works

ApprovePassed · 4–0

Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the FY22 operating budgets for the Department of Public Works. Seconded by Selectman Priest and approved with Selectman Hogan voting aye, Selectman Runyan voting aye, Selectman Tigges voting aye, Selectman Priest voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (4-0-1 with Selectman Runyan abstaining)

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 (4-0-1); the count and the names do not match, so the count only is shown.

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the FY22 operating budgets for the Department of Public Works. Seconded by Selectman Priest and approved with Selectman Hogan voting aye, Selectman Runyan voting aye, Selectman Tigges voting aye, Selectman Priest voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (4-0-1 with Selectman Runyan abstaining).” (Motion: Hogan, second: Priest)

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

Oct 26Approve the request for the trail adjustment as requestedMotion: Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the request for the trail…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note

October 26, 2020: Approve the request for the trail adjustment as requested

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the request for the trail adjustment as requested. Seconded by Selectman Priest with Selectman Hogan voting aye; Selectman Runyan voting aye; Selectman Tigges voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (5-0-0)

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

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the request for the trail adjustment as requested. Seconded by Selectman Priest with Selectman Hogan voting aye; Selectman Runyan voting aye; Selectman Tigges voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (5-0-0).” (Motion: Hogan, second: Priest)

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

Oct 26Approve the signing of the warrant for the November…Motion: Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the signing of the warrant…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note

October 26, 2020: Approve the signing of the warrant for the November 3, 2020 elections

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the signing of the warrant for the November 3, 2020 elections. Seconded by Selectman Priest with Selectman Hogan voting aye; Selectman Runyan voting aye; Selectman Tigges voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (5-0-0)

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

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the signing of the warrant for the November 3, 2020 elections. Seconded by Selectman Priest with Selectman Hogan voting aye; Selectman Runyan voting aye; Selectman Tigges voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (5-0-0).” (Motion: Hogan, second: Priest)

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

Oct 26Approve the 2021 health insurance rates as submitted and…Motion: Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the 2021 health insurance rates…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note

October 26, 2020: Approve the 2021 health insurance rates as submitted and discussed

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the 2021 health insurance rates as submitted and discussed. Seconded by Selectman Priest with Selectman Hogan voting aye; Selectman Runyan voting aye; Selectman Tigges voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (5-0-0)

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

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Hogan moved to approve the 2021 health insurance rates as submitted and discussed. Seconded by Selectman Priest with Selectman Hogan voting aye; Selectman Runyan voting aye; Selectman Tigges voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (5-0-0).” (Motion: Hogan, second: Priest)

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

Oct 26The sale of the $277,500 Sewer Bond of the…Motion: Motion: Selectman Hogan voted that the sale of the $277,500 Sewer…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note

October 26, 2020: The sale of the $277,500 Sewer Bond of the Town dated November 16, 2020, to Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (the "Authority") is hereby approved and the Town Treasurer or other…

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

Motion: Selectman Hogan voted that the sale of the $277,500 Sewer Bond of the Town dated November 16, 2020, to Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (the "Authority") is hereby approved and the Town Treasurer or other appropriate Town official is authorized to execute on behalf of the Town a Loan Agreement and a Financial Assistance Agreement with the Authority with respect to the bond. The bond shall be payable without interest on November 15 of the years and in the principal amounts as follows: Year Installment Year Installment 2021 27,750 2026 27,750 2022 27,750 2027 27,750 2023 27,750 2028 27,750 2024 27,750 2029 27,750 2025 27,750 2030 27,750 Further voted: that each member of the Board of Selectmen, the Town Clerk and the Town Treasurer be and hereby are, authorized to take any and all such actions, and execute and deliver such certificates, receipts or other documents as may be determined by them, or any of them, to be necessary or convenient to carry into effect the provisions of the foregoing vote. Seconded by Selectman Priest with Selectman Hogan voting aye; Selectman Runyan voting aye; Selectman Tigges voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (5-0-0)

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

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Hogan voted that the sale of the $277,500 Sewer Bond of the Town dated November 16, 2020, to Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (the "Authority") is hereby approved and the Town Treasurer or other appropriate Town official is authorized to execute on behalf of the Town a Loan Agreement and a Financial Assistance Agreement with the Authority with respect to the bond. The bond shall be payable without interest on November 15 of the years and in the principal amounts as follows: Year Installment Year Installment 2021 27,750 2026 27,750 2022 27,750 2027 27,750 2023 27,750 2028 27,750 2024 27,750 2029 27,750 2025 27,750 2030 27,750 Further voted: that each member of the Board of Selectmen, the Town Clerk and the Town Treasurer be and hereby are, authorized to take any and all such actions, and execute and deliver such certificates, receipts or other documents as may be determined by them, or any of them, to be necessary or convenient to carry into effect the provisions of the foregoing vote. Seconded by Selectman Priest with Selectman Hogan voting aye; Selectman Runyan voting aye; Selectman Tigges voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (5-0-0).” (Motion: Hogan, second: Priest)

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

Oct 26Approve the Grant of Location as requested by Nationalgrid…Motion: Motion: Selectman Runyan moved to approve the Grant of Location as…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note

October 26, 2020: Approve the Grant of Location as requested by Nationalgrid for the transmission and distribution of gas to install approximately 200 feet of 2-inch plastic gas main down Mill Pond Lane…

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

Motion: Selectman Runyan moved to approve the Grant of Location as requested by Nationalgrid for the transmission and distribution of gas to install approximately 200 feet of 2-inch plastic gas main down Mill Pond Lane from an existing 4-inch main in Chandler Road, Burlington to service three lots. Seconded by Selectman Tigges with Selectman Hogan voting aye; Selectman Runyan voting aye; Selectman Tigges voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (5-0-0)

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

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Runyan moved to approve the Grant of Location as requested by Nationalgrid for the transmission and distribution of gas to install approximately 200 feet of 2-inch plastic gas main down Mill Pond Lane from an existing 4-inch main in Chandler Road, Burlington to service three lots. Seconded by Selectman Tigges with Selectman Hogan voting aye; Selectman Runyan voting aye; Selectman Tigges voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (5-0-0).” (Motion: Runyan, second: Tigges)

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

Oct 26Approve the Grant of Location to trench along Burlington…Motion: Motion: Selectman Runyan moved to approve the Grant of Location to…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note

October 26, 2020: Approve the Grant of Location to trench along Burlington Mall Rd from an existing RCN manhole to the proposed concrete handhole to be placed near the intersection of Burlington Mall…

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

Motion: Selectman Runyan moved to approve the Grant of Location to trench along Burlington Mall Rd from an existing RCN manhole to the proposed concrete handhole to be placed near the intersection of Burlington Mall Road and Middlesex Turnpike; a distance of approximately 165 feet, as shown on plan "Proposed Conduit Placement, Burlington Mall Rd at Middlesex Turnpike - Burlington, MA" dated July 30, 2020, as submitted. Seconded by Selectman Hogan with Selectman Hogan voting aye; Selectman Runyan voting aye; Selectman Tigges voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (5-0-0)

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

From the minutes

“Motion: Selectman Runyan moved to approve the Grant of Location to trench along Burlington Mall Rd from an existing RCN manhole to the proposed concrete handhole to be placed near the intersection of Burlington Mall Road and Middlesex Turnpike; a distance of approximately 165 feet, as shown on plan "Proposed Conduit Placement, Burlington Mall Rd at Middlesex Turnpike - Burlington, MA" dated July 30, 2020, as submitted. Seconded by Selectman Hogan with Selectman Hogan voting aye; Selectman Runyan voting aye; Selectman Tigges voting aye, and Chairman Morandi voting aye and the motion passed. (5-0-0).” (Motion: Runyan, second: Hogan)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (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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