MassVoter.com← Carver Select BoardCarver Select Board · 2020–2021 Board · Regular meeting
November 5, 2020
12 recorded votes, 2 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF)
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Sarah Hewins, Robert Belbin, Jen Bogart, Jim Hoffman, Mark Townsend
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Public Hearing
Approve: Public Hearing
Approve
From the minutes
“Motion to approve by Townsend, second by Belbin. Roll call- affirmative: Belbin, Bogart, Hoffman, Townsend, Hewins.” (Motion: Townsend, second: Belbin)
Host Community Agreement
Amend contract to have $5,000 of the annual charitable donation under section C be dedicated to Area 58
Amend contract to have $5,000 of the annual charitable donation under section C be dedicated to Area 58. Bogart appreciates that Belbin has compared the contract to other towns and would like the Board to research if there are other items in the contract that could be negotiated as well and asks that the Board delay the vote for that reason, as well as have the contract looked over carefully as there are many typos
From the minutes
“Motion by Belbin to amend contract to have $5,000 of the annual charitable donation under section C be dedicated to Area 58, second by Townsend. Bogart appreciates that Belbin has compared the contract to other towns and would like the Board to research if there are other items in the contract that could be negotiated as well and asks that the Board delay the vote for that reason, as well as have the contract looked over carefully as there are many typos. Roll Call: Affirmative - Belbin, Townsend, Bogart, Hoffman, Hewins.” (Motion: Belbin, second: Townsend)
Keep the agreement for 5 years
Keep the agreement for 5 years
Yes: Hewins, Hoffman, TownsendNo: Belbin, Bogart
From the minutes
“Motion by Hoffman to keep the agreement for 5 years. Roll Call: affirmative - Hoffman, Townsend, Hewins Negative: Belbin, Bogart.” (Motion: Hoffman)
Negative
Have all amendments and corrections to be reviewed through a red-lined copy and a clean final copy at the 11/17/20 meeting
Have all amendments and corrections to be reviewed through a red-lined copy and a clean final copy at the 11/17/20 meeting
From the minutes
“Motion to have all amendments and corrections to be reviewed through a red-lined copy and a clean final copy at the 11/17/20 meeting by Belbin, second by Hoffman Roll Call: affirmative: Belbin, Hoffman, Townsend, Bogart, Hewins.” (Motion: Belbin, second: Hoffman)
Table until the next meeting
Table until the next meeting
From the minutes
“Motion to table until the next meeting by Townsend, second by Hoffman Roll call: affirmative- Beblin, Bogart, Hoffman, Townsend, Hewins.” (Motion: Townsend, second: Hoffman)
Town Counsel -possible new counsel/new lead counsel
Submit a new RFP for Town Counsel
Submit a new RFP for Town Counsel. Hewins stated this was done back in 2009-2010 and a legal review committee was appointed. An RFP was done and it was concluded that KP Law was the only firm that supplied all of the requirements the Town listed on the RFP. LaFond stated that when this issue came up previously, it was requested that Town Counsel be available for this conversation. Concerns and criticism were brought up and LaFond has gone through the process in the last few years and it is the continuity that is the advantage to the town. There is no other firm that has the experience, breadth and economic value of KP Law. There are sole practitioners, however work would be subbed out due to the lack of specialized resources within one firm. Hewins' concerns were alleviated during a meeting with Corbo, LaFond and Belbin. Town Counsel has always followed the quorum of the board. Board members change and cases continue and continuity is important. Townsend has been pleased with the range of law knowledge and specialists that exist within the firm. Cost is not necessarily the deciding factor either. Hoffman was not aware of the issues Belbin has with the Board. There was confusion with the By-Law when he and Bogart joined the Board and Corbo clarified that for them. He is in favor of the continuity as well. Bogart did not speak to Town Counsel, but when Bogart was elected, she was informed by a Town Employee that Kwessel said that she could remain on the Planning Board and Corbo
Yes: Belbin, BogartNo: Hewins, Hoffman, Townsend
From the minutes
“Motion to submit a new RFP for Town Counsel by Belbin, second by Bogart. Hewins stated this was done back in 2009-2010 and a legal review committee was appointed. An RFP was done and it was concluded that KP Law was the only firm that supplied all of the requirements the Town listed on the RFP. LaFond stated that when this issue came up previously, it was requested that Town Counsel be available for this conversation. Concerns and criticism were brought up and LaFond has gone through the process in the last few years and it is the continuity that is the advantage to the town. There is no other firm that has the experience, breadth and economic value of KP Law. There are sole practitioners, however work would be subbed out due to the lack of specialized resources within one firm. Hewins' concerns were alleviated during a meeting with Corbo, LaFond and Belbin. Town Counsel has always followed the quorum of the board. Board members change and cases continue and continuity is important. Townsend has been pleased with the range of law knowledge and specialists that exist within the firm. Cost is not necessarily the deciding factor either. Hoffman was not aware of the issues Belbin has with the Board. There was confusion with the By-Law when he and Bogart joined the Board and Corbo clarified that for them. He is in favor of the continuity as well. Bogart did not speak to Town Counsel, but when Bogart was elected, she was informed by a Town Employee that Kwessel said that she could remain on the Planning Board and Corbo further clarified that she could not be. Hewins pointed out that Atty. Kwessel is a land use lawyer and shouldn't have been consulted on that issue by a Town Employee. LaFond stated use of Town Counsel needs to go through the Town Administrator and should not be reached out to without his approval. Hewins pointed out she would refer a land use question to Atty. Kwessel and Open Meeting Law or General Counsel to Gregg Corbo. Beblin stated that the issues he had were with Corbo's opinions he has had in the past, dealing with Town Meeting as well as other issues. Corbo stated his job is to assist within the confines of the law and brings a broad range of experience. There are specialists for all areas of the town's needs: Real Estate (Katy Klein), Land Use (Amy Kwessel), General Law (Gregg Corbo) & Labor and Employment (Tim Zesson). This has worked across different Town Administrators as well as with the changing boards. This gives the town consistency. Roll call: Affirmative: Belbin, Bogart Negative: Hoffman, Townsend, Hewins.” (Motion: Belbin, second: Bogart)
Finance Committee By-law
Approve LaFond to work with Corbo on amending the By-Law for Town Meeting
Approve LaFond to work with Corbo on amending the By-Law for Town Meeting
From the minutes
“Motion to approve LaFond to work with Corbo on amending the By-Law for Town Meeting by Hoffman, second by Townsend. Roll call: affirmative - Belbin, Bogart, Hoffman, Townsend, Hewins..” (Motion: Hoffman, second: Townsend)
Shurtleff Park & Gazebo user fees
Approve: Shurtleff Park & Gazebo user fees
Approve
From the minutes
“Motion to approve by Townsend, second by Belbin. Roll call: Affirmative - Belbin, Bogart, Hoffman, Townsend, Hewins.” (Motion: Townsend, second: Belbin)
Filing Request for Determination of Applicability
Approve: Filing Request for Determination of Applicability
Approve
From the minutes
“Motion to approve by Belbin, second by Hoffman Roll Call: affirmative - Belbin, Bogart, Townsend, Hoffman, Hewins.” (Motion: Belbin, second: Hoffman)
Request for One Day Special License
Approve pursuant to the changing MA Governor's orders
Approve pursuant to the changing MA Governor's orders
From the minutes
“Motion to approve pursuant to the changing MA Governor's orders by Belbin, second by Hoffman. Roll call: affirmative - Belbin, Bogart, Townsend, Hoffman, Hewins.” (Motion: Belbin, second: Hoffman)
Request for Entertainment License
Approve, pursuant to the changing MA Governor's orders
Approve, pursuant to the changing MA Governor's orders
From the minutes
“Motion to approve by Belbin, second by Hoffman, pursuant to the changing MA Governor's orders. Roll call: affirmative - Belbin, Bogart, Townsend, Hoffman, Hewins..” (Motion: Belbin, second: Hoffman)
Select Board notes
Adjourn at 11:33 am
Adjourn at 11:33 am
From the minutes
“Motion to adjourn at 11:33 am by Townsend, second by Hoffman Roll call: Affirmative - Belbin, Bogart, Hoffman, Townsend, Hewins.” (Motion: Townsend, second: Hoffman)
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.
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