← Carver

Municipal votes · 2018–2019 Board

Carver Select Board

How the Carver Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Mark Townsend joined the board after the spring 2018 town election; Helen Marrone left. On May 15, 2018 the board chose Alan Dunham as Chair and Ronald Clarke as Vice Chair (each 5-0). On January 15, 2019 Dunham resigned as Chair; the board then chose Clarke as Chair and Dave Robertson as Vice Chair. Covers 20 meetings, May 15 to April 16, 2019.

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 Carver ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.

Start my ballot →

Board years

Coming up

From the agendas Carver posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.

What Town Meeting decided

In Carver, 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. Any registered voter can take part, and most votes are by voice or show of hands, so there is no list of who voted which way.

Special Town Meeting · April 7, 2026 2 votes: 2 passed

Source: Town Clerk's minutes, April 7, 2026 Special Town Meeting (scanned).

Annual Town Meeting · April 7, 2026 20 votes: 17 passed, 1 passed as amended, 2 failed

Source: Town Clerk's minutes, 2026 Annual Town Meeting (scanned).

Special Town Meeting · October 7, 2025 12 votes: 7 passed, 1 passed as amended, 3 failed, 1 indefinitely postponed

Source: Town Clerk's minutes, October 7, 2025 Special Town Meeting.

Annual Town Meeting · April 8, 2025 29 votes: 24 passed, 3 passed as amended, 2 failed

Source: Town Clerk's minutes in the 2025 Annual Town Report.

Annual Town Meeting · June 4, 2024 16 votes: 12 passed, 1 failed, 3 indefinitely postponed

Source: Town Clerk's minutes in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

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

Sarah HewinsMember · Elected townwide · at 17 of 20 meetingsDave RobertsonMember · Elected townwide · at 18 of 20 meetingsMark TownsendMember · Elected townwide · at 20 of 20 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 from January 16, 2018 through September 8, 2026. Minutes from 2025 on come from the town’s online Agenda Center; earlier minutes come from the Select Board folder of the town’s Document Center, which holds minutes back to 2013 (MassVoter has loaded 2018 on). Not here: executive-session minutes; minutes of the board’s two-member subcommittee; minutes the town has not posted, including October 21, 2025, May 28, 2026 (an executive session) and July 9, 2026 (a dog hearing); and meetings after September 8, 2026. The archive holds fewer meetings for 2018 (16) and 2019 (24) than for later years, and none between August 15 and October 6, 2023. Most minutes are typed; 21 are scanned copies, which MassVoter read with text-recognition software and checked by hand. Carver’s minutes usually give a count such as “Vote 5-0” or “Vote 4 to 1 (Cotter)”; from mid-2024 many also list each member’s vote, and executive-session votes are roll calls. When the count matches the members present, we show every member present as voting yes, and when the minutes name the members who voted no or abstained, everyone else present as voting yes. Where the minutes give only a split count without names, list a member as absent who then makes or votes on motions, or the names and the count do not match, we show the count only and add a note. Votes taken by other boards at joint meetings (such as the Finance Committee and Planning Board), and joint votes of the Select Board with another board to fill a vacancy, are not included. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019 · Regular meeting10 recorded votes, 13 with disagreementAbsent: Alan DunhamThursday, April 11, 2019 · Regular meeting3 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAbsent: Sarah HewinsMonday, April 8, 2019 · Regular meeting3 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAbsent: Ronald ClarkeTuesday, April 2, 2019 · Joint meeting34 recorded votes, 8 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, March 19, 2019 · Joint meeting31 recorded votes, 9 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.

Apr 16Ratify above DunhamMotion: ratify above DunhamPassed · see note

April 16, 2019: Ratify above Dunham

ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes

Ratify above Dunham

The roll call lists Alan Dunham, but the minutes show this member as not taking part (Alan Dunham is not on the attendance list). Individual votes are not shown. Sarah Hewins recused and did not take part in this vote.

From the minutes

“Motion to ratify above Dunham, second by Robertson. Roll Call: Clarke, Dunham, Robertson, Townsend - Hewins recused herself.” (second: Robertson)

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

Apr 16Appoint Stephen Cole and Bruce MakiMotion: appoint Stephen Cole and Bruce MakiPassed 5–0 · see note

April 16, 2019: Appoint Stephen Cole and Bruce Maki

AppointPassed · 5–0

Appoint Stephen Cole and Bruce Maki

The minutes record the vote as 5-0, but 4 members were present (Ronald Clarke, Dave Robertson, Sarah Hewins and Mark Townsend), so it is not clear how each member voted. The minutes say Alan Dunham made the motion, but Alan Dunham is not on the attendance list for this vote.

From the minutes

“Motion to appoint Stephen Cole and Bruce Maki made by Dunham, second by Robertson. Vote 5-0.” (second: Robertson)

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

Apr 16Recommend to vote on it as writtenMotion: recommend to vote on it as writtenPassed 5–0 · see note

April 16, 2019: Recommend to vote on it as written

ApprovePassed · 5–0

Recommend to vote on it as written

The minutes record the vote as 5-0, but 4 members were present (Ronald Clarke, Dave Robertson, Sarah Hewins and Mark Townsend), so it is not clear how each member voted. The minutes say Alan Dunham made the motion, but Alan Dunham is not on the attendance list for this vote.

From the minutes

“Motion to recommend to vote on it as written by Dunham, second by Robertson. Vote 5-0.” (second: Robertson)

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

Apr 16Relative to this recommendation for discussion only: Dunham: Feels…Motion: relative to this recommendation for discussion only: Dunham: Feels that striking…Failed 2–3 · see note

April 16, 2019: Relative to this recommendation for discussion only: Dunham: Feels that striking that language would be taking away the residents prior votes Clarke: Believes that the residents at Town Meeting...

ApproveFailed · 2–3

Relative to this recommendation for discussion only: Dunham: Feels that striking that language would be taking away the residents prior votes Clarke: Believes that the residents at Town Meeting will be making the decisions, leaving the wording could condemn the station being built where the playground is currently Townsend: Residents at Town Meeting will have the opportunity to vote on this Hewins: Agrees with Dunham to leave the wording in, a promise was made to the residents Robertson: Feels the wording should stay in, he made a prior promise to the residents Clarke: Believes it makes a huge difference to have Town Meeting make this decision Vote to Strike the last line -

The minutes give the count (2-3) and name Ronald Clarke and Mark Townsend, but the names and the count do not match the members present (4 members were present), so individual votes are not shown. The minutes say Alan Dunham seconded it, but Alan Dunham is not on the attendance list for this vote.

From the minutes

“Motion relative to this recommendation by Townsend, second by Dunham for discussion only: Dunham: Feels that striking that language would be taking away the residents prior votes Clarke: Believes that the residents at Town Meeting will be making the decisions, leaving the wording could condemn the station being built where the playground is currently Townsend: Residents at Town Meeting will have the opportunity to vote on this Hewins: Agrees with Dunham to leave the wording in, a promise was made to the residents Robertson: Feels the wording should stay in, he made a prior promise to the residents Clarke: Believes it makes a huge difference to have Town Meeting make this decision Vote to Strike the last line - VOTE 2-3 (Clarke & Townsend for).” (Motion: Townsend)

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

Apr 16No action takenMotion: no action takenPassed 5–0 · see note

April 16, 2019: No action taken

ApprovePassed · 5–0

No action taken

The minutes record the vote as 5-0, but 4 members were present (Ronald Clarke, Dave Robertson, Sarah Hewins and Mark Townsend), so it is not clear how each member voted. The minutes say Alan Dunham made the motion, but Alan Dunham is not on the attendance list for this vote.

From the minutes

“Motion no action taken by Dunham, second by Townsend. VOTE 5-0.” (second: Townsend)

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

Apr 16For discussion onlyMotion: for discussion onlyPassed 3–2 · see note

April 16, 2019: For discussion only

ApprovePassed · 3–2

For discussion only

The minutes give the count (3-2) and name Alan Dunham and Mark Townsend, but the names and the count do not match the members present (Alan Dunham is not on the attendance list for this vote; 4 members were present), so individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Motion by Robertson, second by Townsend for discussion only. VOTE 3-2 (Opposed Dunham & Townsend).” (Motion: Robertson, second: Townsend)

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

Apr 16K-P LawMotion: (The minutes do not give the wording of the motion.)Passed 4–1 · see note

April 16, 2019: K-P Law

Approve minutesPassed · 4–1

(The minutes do not give the wording of the motion.)

The minutes give the count (4-1) and name Sarah Hewins, but the names and the count do not match the members present (4 members were present), so individual votes are not shown. The minutes do not give the wording of this motion; the title is the agenda item it was made under. The minutes say Alan Dunham seconded it, but Alan Dunham is not on the attendance list for this vote.

From the minutes

“Motion by Townsend, second by Dunham. VOTE 4-1 (Hewins opposed).” (Motion: Townsend)

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

Apr 16Table: Approval of Town of Carver Cyber Use PolicyMotion: tablePassed 5–0 · see note

April 16, 2019: Table: Approval of Town of Carver Cyber Use Policy

ApprovePassed · 5–0

Table

The minutes record the vote as 5-0, but 4 members were present (Ronald Clarke, Dave Robertson, Sarah Hewins and Mark Townsend), so it is not clear how each member voted. The minutes say Alan Dunham made the motion, but Alan Dunham is not on the attendance list for this vote.

From the minutes

“Motion to table by Dunham, second by Robertson. VOTE 5-0.” (second: Robertson)

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

Apr 16Approve: Approval of Town of Carver Cyber Use PolicyMotion: approvePassed 5–0 · see note

April 16, 2019: Approve: Approval of Town of Carver Cyber Use Policy

ApprovePassed · 5–0

Approve

The minutes record the vote as 5-0, but 4 members were present (Ronald Clarke, Dave Robertson, Sarah Hewins and Mark Townsend), so it is not clear how each member voted. The minutes say Alan Dunham made the motion, but Alan Dunham is not on the attendance list for this vote.

From the minutes

“Motion to approve by Dunham, second by Townsend. VOTE 5-0.” (second: Townsend)

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

Apr 8Approve proposed changesMotion: approve proposed changes. Hewins asked how many homes would be affected…Passed 3–1 · see note

April 8, 2019: Approve proposed changes

ApprovePassed · 3–1

Approve proposed changes. Hewins asked how many homes would be affected by this bylaw. Hewins also asked what if someone needs a new roof but can't afford on. Hewins noted that we're an agricultural town and lots of old vehicles and machinery are used by farmers for parts. She also said One man's treasure is another man's trash. Hewins is not in agreement with the entire by-law since it may set up the town for potential lawsuits and it is up to a judgement call as well as depending on who is in the role of making the decisions. Dunham agreed

The minutes give only the count (3-1), not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Motion to approve proposed changes by Dunham, second by Townsend. Hewins asked how many homes would be affected by this bylaw. Hewins also asked what if someone needs a new roof but can't afford on. Hewins noted that we're an agricultural town and lots of old vehicles and machinery are used by farmers for parts. She also said One man's treasure is another man's trash. Hewins is not in agreement with the entire by-law since it may set up the town for potential lawsuits and it is up to a judgement call as well as depending on who is in the role of making the decisions. Dunham agreed. Vote 3-1.” (Motion: Dunham, second: Townsend)

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

From the Carver Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center (2025 on) and its Document Center archive (earlier years). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos of current members: Mark Townsend and Sarah Hewins from Wareham Week (January 2026); Jim Elliman from Area 58 video of the October 6, 2026 Select Board meeting (identified by the nameplate in front of each member). Members without a photo show initials.

How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →
Get an email when new quizzes open

MassVoter.com · nonpartisan match quiz · About · How the Legislature voted · Local Votes · Privacy · Support MassVoter

Report an error on this page

See something wrong? A wrong vote, name, date or number? Tell us and we’ll check it against the source and fix it. Fixes are listed on our corrections page.