MassVoter.com← Canton Select Board
Canton Clerk
John R. McCourt
Elected townwide · 4 terms in this record
JR McCourt
A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.
Board years
Record at a glance · 2026–2027 Board
How these numbers work
- Counted from the official minutes, for 2026–2027 Board only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
- Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list McCourt 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.
In the news
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Attendance
At the start of 10 of 11 Select Board meetings in 2026–2027 Board.
Missed
- Jul 14, 2026 · Regular: Absent (It was noted that Member John R. McCourt was not present)
Every meeting (11)
- Aug 25, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Aug 11, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Jul 28, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Jul 14, 2026 · Regular: Absent (It was noted that Member John R. McCourt was not present)
- Jun 30, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Jun 16, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Jun 2, 2026 · Regular: Present
- May 19, 2026 · Regular: Present
- May 11, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Apr 28, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Apr 14, 2026 · Regular: Present
Votes where members disagreed · 2026–2027 Board
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 · McCourt: Not recorded
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 · McCourt: Not recorded
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 · McCourt: Abstained
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
Voted: Abstained
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 · McCourt: Yes
June 2, 2026: Waive the administrative code
The Board waive the administrative code
Voted: Yes
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 · McCourt: No
June 2, 2026: Accept the Zero Emission Vehicle First Policy
To accept the Zero Emission Vehicle First Policy
Voted: No
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 2Appoint the Canton Housing Representative to the Community Preservation…Motion: the Board appoint the Canton Housing Representative to the Community Preservation…Passed 4–0 · McCourt: Not recorded
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 · McCourt: Yes
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
Voted: Yes
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 14Postpone the re -appointments of members to Boards and…Motion: to postpone the re -appointments of members to Boards and CommitteesPassed 3–2 · McCourt: No
April 14, 2026: Postpone the re -appointments of members to Boards and Committees
To postpone the re -appointments of members to Boards and Committees
Voted: No
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)
Votes with no disagreement (138)
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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