MassVoter.com← CantonMunicipal votes · 2023–2024 Board
Canton Select Board
How the Canton Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Christopher M. Albert and John R. McCourt joined the board after the April 2023 town election; Lisa R. Lopez and Christopher J. Connolly left. The minutes from March to September 2023 are not posted; from October 2023 the minutes list Thomas W. Theodore as Chair, John J. Connolly as Vice Chair and Michael C. Loughran as Clerk. Covers 22 meetings, May 23 to March 19, 2024.
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 budgetBoard years
Coming up
MassVoter can’t read Canton’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Members
Michael C. LoughranClerk · Elected townwide · at 21 of 22 meetings
John R. McCourtMember · Elected townwide · at 21 of 22 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: 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.
Feb 20Approve the Personal Action Form for Library Page -Lisa…Motion: the Board approve the Personal Action Form for Library Page -Lisa…Passed · see note
February 20, 2024: Approve the Personal Action Form for Library Page -Lisa Quinn
The Board approve the Personal Action Form for Library Page -Lisa Quinn
The minutes do not give a count or say how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board approve the Personal Action Form for Library Page -Lisa Quinn Motion: Mr. Loughran Second: Mr. J. McCourt Vote: 5-❑.” (Motion: Loughran, second: McCourt)
Jan 23Authorize the Town Administrator to be the decision -maker…Motion: the Board authorize the Town Administrator to be the decision -maker…Passed 3–2 · No: John J. Connolly, McCourt
January 23, 2024: Authorize the Town Administrator to be the decision -maker regarding the voluntary percentage and type of renewable energy credits to be included in the Canton Electricity Choice program...
The Board authorize the Town Administrator to be the decision -maker regarding the voluntary percentage and type of renewable energy credits to be included in the Canton Electricity Choice program consistent with the Mass DPU's approved aggregation plan
Yes: Albert, Loughran, TheodoreNo: John J. Connolly, McCourt
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board authorize the Town Administrator to be the decision -maker regarding the voluntary percentage and type of renewable energy credits to be included in the Canton Electricity Choice program consistent with the Mass DPU's approved aggregation plan Motion: Mr. M. Loughran Second: Mr. C. Albert Vote: 3-2 (Mr. J. Connolly and Mr. J. McCourt opposed).” (Motion: Loughran, second: Albert)
Jan 23Authorize the Town Administrator to sign the applicable electricity…Motion: the Board authorize the Town Administrator to sign the applicable electricity…Passed 3–2 · No: John J. Connolly, McCourt
January 23, 2024: Authorize the Town Administrator to sign the applicable electricity supply contract on behalf of the Canton Electricity Choice Program
The Board authorize the Town Administrator to sign the applicable electricity supply contract on behalf of the Canton Electricity Choice Program
Yes: Albert, Loughran, TheodoreNo: John J. Connolly, McCourt
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board authorize the Town Administrator to sign the applicable electricity supply contract on behalf of the Canton Electricity Choice Program Motion: Mr. M. Loughran Second: Mr. J. McCourt Vote: 3-2 (Mr. J. Connolly and Mr. J. McCourt opposed).” (Motion: Loughran, second: McCourt)
Dec 27Approve the Common Victuallers License for D and E…Motion: the Board approve the Common Victuallers License for D and E…Passed 4–0 · see note
December 27, 2023: Approve the Common Victuallers License for D and E Pizza, 618 Washington Street
The Board approve the Common Victuallers License for D and E Pizza, 618 Washington Street
The minutes give only the count (4-0-1), not how each member voted. 4 members were present. Christopher M. Albert stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board approve the Common Victuallers License for D and E Pizza, 618 Washington Street Motion: Mr. M. Loughran Second: Mr, J. McCourt Vote: 4-0-1 Mr. Albert abstain.” (Motion: Loughran, second: McCourt)
Dec 27Approve the Common Victuallers License for Canton Town Club,…Motion: the Board approve the Common Victuallers License for Canton Town Club,…Passed 3–0 · see note
December 27, 2023: Approve the Common Victuallers License for Canton Town Club, 300 Bailey Street
The Board approve the Common Victuallers License for Canton Town Club, 300 Bailey Street
The minutes give only the count (3-0-2), not how each member voted. 3 members were present. Thomas W. Theodore stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote. John R. McCourt stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board approve the Common Victuallers License for Canton Town Club, 300 Bailey Street Motion: Mr. M. Loughran Second: Mr. C. Albert Vote: 3-0-2 Mr. Theodore, Mr..” (Motion: Loughran, second: Albert)
Dec 27Approve the Liquor License for Canton Town Club, 300…Motion: the Board approve the Liquor License for Canton Town Club, 300…Passed 3–0 · see note
December 27, 2023: Approve the Liquor License for Canton Town Club, 300 Bailey Street
The Board approve the Liquor License for Canton Town Club, 300 Bailey Street
The minutes give only the count (3-0-2), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board approve the Liquor License for Canton Town Club, 300 Bailey Street Motion: Mr. M. Loughran Second: Mr. C. Albert Vote: 3-0-2 Mr. Theodore, Mr..” (Motion: Loughran, second: Albert)
Dec 5Approve: Annual renewals of Amusement Permits, Entertainment Permits and…Motion: the Board Approve: Annual renewals of Amusement Permits, Entertainment Permits and…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
December 5, 2023: Approve: Annual renewals of Amusement Permits, Entertainment Permits and Sunday Entertainment Permits; Class 11 and Class III Dealer licenses contingent upon payment all taxes and feeds owed
The Board Approve: Annual renewals of Amusement Permits, Entertainment Permits and Sunday Entertainment Permits; Class 11 and Class III Dealer licenses contingent upon payment all taxes and feeds owed
Thomas W. Theodore stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote. John R. McCourt stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board Approve: Annual renewals of Amusement Permits, Entertainment Permits and Sunday Entertainment Permits; Class 11 and Class III Dealer licenses contingent upon payment all taxes and feeds owed Motion: Mr. M. Loughran Second: Mr. J. Connolly Vote: 3-0-2 (Mr. Theodore and Mr. McCourt recused).” (Motion: Loughran, second: John J. Connolly)
Dec 5Appoint: Parks and Recreation Winter Program Staff: James Bulman,…Motion: the Board Appoint: Parks and Recreation Winter Program Staff: James Bulman,…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
December 5, 2023: Appoint: Parks and Recreation Winter Program Staff: James Bulman, Kayla Albert, Maya Aldrich, Elizabeth Bickett, Mary Donovan, Brenna French, Kayley Furbush, Sydney Gallery, Grace Giglio, Sarah...
The Board Appoint: Parks and Recreation Winter Program Staff: James Bulman, Kayla Albert, Maya Aldrich, Elizabeth Bickett, Mary Donovan, Brenna French, Kayley Furbush, Sydney Gallery, Grace Giglio, Sarah Hoban, Kate Kelleher, Kerry Kilduff, Veronica Lykov, Kylie Martone, Edward McDonough, Abigail Mulkern, Carmen Robles, Sydney Silverman, Viviana Truglia, Joanna Vigevani
Christopher M. Albert stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Motion was made that the Board Appoint: Parks and Recreation Winter Program Staff: James Bulman, Kayla Albert, Maya Aldrich, Elizabeth Bickett, Mary Donovan, Brenna French, Kayley Furbush, Sydney Gallery, Grace Giglio, Sarah Hoban, Kate Kelleher, Kerry Kilduff, Veronica Lykov, Kylie Martone, Edward McDonough, Abigail Mulkern, Carmen Robles, Sydney Silverman, Viviana Truglia, Joanna Vigevani Motion: Mr. M. Loughran Second: Mr. J. McCourt Vote: 4-0-1 (Mr. Albert recused).” (Motion: Loughran, second: McCourt)
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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