MassVoter.com← CantonMunicipal votes · 2026–2027 Board
Canton Select Board
How the Canton Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Julie Beckham joined the board after the April 7, 2026 town election; Christopher M. Albert left. John R. McCourt stayed Chair until May 19, 2026, when the board chose Susan M. Harrington as Chair, Patricia M. Boyden as Vice-Chair and John R. McCourt as Clerk. Covers 11 meetings so far, April 14 to August 25, 2026.
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 budgetVote Transparency Score
Canton Select Board: 7 out of 10 · Mostly open
How easy Canton makes it to see, online, how each member votes. It scores the town’s records, not any official. Checked October 5, 2026.
- Minutes postedMinutes are posted for most meetings more than three months old, but not all.Part points: 1/2
- Each vote namedThe minutes name the members who vote no or abstain.Part points: 2/3
- Posted quicklyMinutes are posted for every meeting more than a month old.Full points: 2/2
- Past years onlineSelect Board minutes going back to 2002 are online.Full points: 1/1
- Readable textThe minutes are text you can search and copy.Full points: 1/1
- Member photosThe town’s website lists the members by name only, with no 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.
- 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 Canton’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Members
ChairSusan M. HarringtonChair · Elected townwide · at 10 of 11 meetings
Vice-ChairPatricia M. BoydenVice Chair · Elected townwide · at 11 of 11 meetings
Julie BeckhamMember · Elected townwide · at 10 of 11 meetings
Michael C. LoughranMember · Elected townwide · at 8 of 11 meetings
John R. McCourtClerk · Elected townwide · at 10 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.
Attendance
17 full-board meetings so far this year, through August 25. Ties share a rank.
1Patricia M. Boyden16 of 17 meetings94%1Susan M. Harrington16 of 17 meetings94%1John R. McCourt16 of 17 meetings94%4Julie Beckham10 of 11 meetings · served from Apr91%5Michael C. Loughran13 of 17 meetings76%6Christopher M. Albert4 of 6 meetings · served until Mar67%29 full-board meetings in 2025. Ties share a rank.
1John J. Connolly8 of 8 meetings · served until Mar Every meeting100%2Susan M. Harrington20 of 21 meetings · served from Apr95%3John R. McCourt27 of 29 meetings93%4Patricia M. Boyden25 of 29 meetings86%4Michael C. Loughran25 of 29 meetings86%6Christopher M. Albert21 of 29 meetings72%28 full-board meetings in 2024. Ties share a rank.
1Thomas W. Theodore7 of 7 meetings · served until Mar Every meeting100%2John R. McCourt27 of 28 meetings96%3Patricia M. Boyden20 of 21 meetings · served from Apr95%4Michael C. Loughran26 of 28 meetings93%5John J. Connolly25 of 28 meetings89%6Christopher M. Albert23 of 28 meetings82%19 full-board meetings in 2023. Ties share a rank.
1John J. Connolly19 of 19 meetings Every meeting100%2Michael C. Loughran18 of 19 meetings95%3John R. McCourt14 of 15 meetings · served from May93%4Thomas W. Theodore17 of 19 meetings89%5Christopher J. Connolly3 of 4 meetings · served until Mar75%5Lisa R. Lopez3 of 4 meetings · served until Mar75%7Christopher M. Albert11 of 15 meetings · served from May73%19 full-board meetings in 2022. Ties share a rank.
1John J. Connolly19 of 19 meetings Every meeting100%1Lisa R. Lopez19 of 19 meetings Every meeting100%3Michael C. Loughran18 of 19 meetings95%3Thomas W. Theodore18 of 19 meetings95%5Christopher J. Connolly17 of 19 meetings89%27 full-board meetings in 2021. Ties share a rank.
1Lisa R. Lopez27 of 27 meetings Every meeting100%1Michael C. Loughran27 of 27 meetings Every meeting100%1Mark J. Porter7 of 7 meetings · served until Mar Every meeting100%4John J. Connolly25 of 27 meetings93%5Thomas W. Theodore18 of 20 meetings · served from Apr90%6Christopher J. Connolly23 of 27 meetings85%28 full-board meetings in 2020. Ties share a rank.
1Christopher J. Connolly28 of 28 meetings Every meeting100%1Mark J. Porter28 of 28 meetings Every meeting100%1Lisa R. Lopez15 of 15 meetings · served from Jun Every meeting100%1Thomas W. Theodore13 of 13 meetings · served until Jun Every meeting100%5Michael C. Loughran27 of 28 meetings96%6John J. Connolly23 of 28 meetings82%28 full-board meetings in 2019. Ties share a rank.
1Christopher J. Connolly28 of 28 meetings Every meeting100%1Thomas W. Theodore28 of 28 meetings Every meeting100%3John J. Connolly27 of 28 meetings96%4Michael C. Loughran20 of 21 meetings · served from Apr95%5Mark J. Porter24 of 28 meetings86%30 full-board meetings in 2018. Ties share a rank.
1Thomas W. Theodore30 of 30 meetings Every meeting100%1Kevin T. Feeney24 of 24 meetings · served until Oct Every meeting100%3Christopher J. Connolly29 of 30 meetings97%3John J. Connolly29 of 30 meetings97%5Mark J. Porter28 of 30 meetings93%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.
A monthly email on its votes and who was there, starting in November.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: Select Board minutes (called the Board of Selectmen until 2020) from January 9, 2018 through August 25, 2026, from the town’s Laserfiche records archive, which holds Select Board minutes back to 2002 (MassVoter has loaded 2018 on). The town has not posted open-session minutes for 62 meeting dates from 2021 to August 2026 that are listed in its Agenda Center (most of them from June to December 2021, February to December 2022 and February to September 2023, plus three in 2024, six in 2025 and two in 2026), or for any meeting after August 25, 2026. For 27 of those dates the town has posted only the executive-session minutes; we load those as the record of that meeting and say so. Joint meetings with other boards are included, but only the Select Board’s own votes. The minutes are scanned pages with a text layer; ten 2021 files had no text layer, so MassVoter read them with text recognition. Canton’s minutes give the mover, the seconder and the count for almost every vote (“Motion: Mr. J. McCourt Second: Ms. T. Boyden Vote: 5-0”), and split votes name the members who voted no, abstained or stepped aside in brackets (“Vote: 3-2 (Ms. Harrington and Ms. Boyden opposed)”). Remote meetings in 2020–2021 and executive-session votes use roll calls listing each member’s vote. When the count matches the members present, or every member answered in the affirmative, we show every member present as voting yes; when the minutes name the members who voted no or abstained and the count adds up, everyone else present as voting yes. Where the minutes give a split count without names, a roll call leaves out a member who was there or names one the attendance line does not show, or the count does not match the members present, we show the count only and add a note. Motions written down with no vote are shown with the result only. Two members named Connolly (John J. and Christopher J.) served together until 2023; where the minutes say only “Mr. Connolly” we do not guess which one. Members who stepped aside (recused), had not yet arrived or had left are left out of that vote. 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.
Aug 11Accept the grant in the amount of $2,852.00 from…Motion: the Board accept the grant in the amount of $2,852.00 from…Passed 5–0 · see note
August 11, 2026: Accept the grant in the amount of $2,852.00 from MA DCR to pay for the forest steward management plan portion of the Ward Well Master Plan
The Board accept the grant in the amount of $2,852.00 from MA DCR to pay for the forest steward management plan portion of the Ward Well Master Plan
The minutes give the vote as 5-0, but 4 members were present (Susan M. Harrington, Patricia M. Boyden, John R. McCourt and Michael C. Loughran). Showing the count only. Julie Beckham stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board accept the grant in the amount of $2,852.00 from MA DCR to pay for the forest steward management plan portion of the Ward Well Master Plan Motion: Mr. J. McCourt Second: Ms. T. Boyden Vote: 5-0.” (Motion: McCourt, second: Boyden)
Jul 14Approve the Personnel Action Form for Police Detective James…Motion: the Board approve the Personnel Action Form for Police Detective James…Passed 3–0 · see note
July 14, 2026: Approve the Personnel Action Form for Police Detective James Galanis
The Board approve the Personnel Action Form for Police Detective James Galanis
The minutes give only the count (3-0-1), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board approve the Personnel Action Form for Police Detective James Galanis Motion: Ms. P. Boyden Second: Mr. M. Loughran Vote: 3-0-1 Ms. Beckham.” (Motion: Boyden, second: Loughran)
Jun 16Appoint a member to the Canton Housing Authority -Agnes…Motion: the Board appoint a member to the Canton Housing Authority -Agnes…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: McCourt
June 16, 2026: Appoint a member to the Canton Housing Authority -Agnes Hagan
The Board appoint a member to the Canton Housing Authority -Agnes Hagan
Yes: Beckham, Boyden, Harrington, LoughranAbstained: McCourt
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board appoint a member to the Canton Housing Authority -Agnes Hagan Motion: Mr. J. McCourt Second: Ms. T. Boyden Vote: 4-0-1 (Mr. McCourt abstain).” (Motion: McCourt, second: Boyden)
Jun 2Waive the administrative codeMotion: the Board waive the administrative codePassed 4–1 · No: Loughran
June 2, 2026: Waive the administrative code
The Board waive the administrative code
Yes: Beckham, Boyden, Harrington, McCourtNo: Loughran
From the minutes
“Motion was made to that the Board waive the administrative code Motion: Mr. J. McCourt Loughran opposed) Second: Ms. T. Boyden Motion was made to accept the Zero Emission Vehicle First Policy Motion: Mr. J. McCourt Second: Ms. T. Boyden Loughran and Mr. McCourt opposed) Vote: 4-1 (Mr..” (Motion: McCourt, second: Boyden)
Jun 2Accept the Zero Emission Vehicle First PolicyMotion: to accept the Zero Emission Vehicle First PolicyPassed 3–2 · No: Loughran, McCourt
June 2, 2026: Accept the Zero Emission Vehicle First Policy
To accept the Zero Emission Vehicle First Policy
Yes: Beckham, Boyden, HarringtonNo: Loughran, McCourt
From the minutes
“Motion was made to accept the Zero Emission Vehicle First Policy Motion: Mr. J. McCourt Second: Ms. T. Boyden Loughran and Mr. McCourt opposed) Vote: 4-1 (Mr. Vote: 3-2 (Mr..” (Motion: McCourt, second: Boyden)
Jun 2Authorize the request for the use of mitigation in…Motion: the Board authorize the request for the use of mitigation in…Passed · see note
June 2, 2026: Authorize the request for the use of mitigation in the amount of $185,000 for the additional cost to construct the retaining wall at the Hansen
The Board authorize the request for the use of mitigation in the amount of $185,000 for the additional cost to construct the retaining wall at the Hansen
The minutes do not give a count or say how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board authorize the request for the use of mitigation in the amount of $185,000 for the additional cost to construct the retaining wall at the Hansen Motion: Mr. J. McCourt Second: Ms. T. Boyden Vote: 5-C.” (Motion: McCourt, second: Boyden)
Jun 2Appoint the Canton Housing Representative to the Community Preservation…Motion: the Board appoint the Canton Housing Representative to the Community Preservation…Passed 4–0 · see note
June 2, 2026: Appoint the Canton Housing Representative to the Community Preservation Committee -Agnes Hagan
The Board appoint the Canton Housing Representative to the Community Preservation Committee -Agnes Hagan
The minutes give only the count (4-0-1), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board appoint the Canton Housing Representative to the Community Preservation Committee -Agnes Hagan Motion: Mr. J. McCourt Second: Ms. T. Boyden Vote: 4-0-1.” (Motion: McCourt, second: Boyden)
May 11Re -appointment the Members of Boards and committees as…Motion: the Board re -appointment the Members of Boards and committees as…Passed 3–2 · No: Boyden, Harrington
May 11, 2026: Re -appointment the Members of Boards and committees as listed on the Agenda
The Board re -appointment the Members of Boards and committees as listed on the Agenda
Yes: Beckham, Loughran, McCourtNo: Boyden, Harrington
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board re -appointment the Members of Boards and committees as listed on the Agenda Motion: Mr. M. Loughran Second: Ms. J. Beckham Vote: 3-2 (Ms. Harrington and Ms. Boyden opposed).” (Motion: Loughran, second: Beckham)
Apr 14Approve the application for a Class II Auto Dealer's…Motion: the Board approve the application for a Class II Auto Dealer's…Passed · see note
April 14, 2026: Approve the application for a Class II Auto Dealer's License for Urban Auto Group LLC, DBA Urban Motors, 1033 Turnpike St, Canton, MA 02021
The Board approve the application for a Class II Auto Dealer's License for Urban Auto Group LLC, DBA Urban Motors, 1033 Turnpike St, Canton, MA 02021
The minutes record this motion but no vote on it.
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board approve the application for a Class II Auto Dealer's License for Urban Auto Group LLC, DBA Urban Motors, 1033 Turnpike St, Canton, MA 02021.”
Apr 14Postpone the re -appointments of members to Boards and…Motion: to postpone the re -appointments of members to Boards and CommitteesPassed 3–2 · No: Loughran, McCourt
April 14, 2026: Postpone the re -appointments of members to Boards and Committees
To postpone the re -appointments of members to Boards and Committees
Yes: Beckham, Boyden, HarringtonNo: Loughran, McCourt
From the minutes
“Motion was made to postpone the re -appointments of members to Boards and Committees Motion: Ms. S. Harrington Second: Ms. T. Boyden Vote: 3-2 (Mr. Loughran and Mr. McCourt opposed).” (Motion: Harrington, second: Boyden)
From the Canton Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Laserfiche records archive. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: The Canton Citizen (Susan M. Harrington, John R. McCourt, Michael C. Loughran and Julie Beckham, from their candidacy announcements; Patricia M. Boyden cropped from a captioned photo of the board by Moira Sweetland, February 2026).
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