How the Carver Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. John Cotter joined the board after the spring 2022 town election; Robert Belbin left. On April 26, 2022 the board chose Mark Townsend as Chair (by roll call: Cotter, Townsend and Hoffman for Townsend; Bogart and Hewins for Hewins) and Sarah Hewins as Vice Chair (5-0). Covers 34 meetings, April 26 to April 18, 2023.
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.
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
Art. 9Set revolving fund spending limits and add a Council on Aging (GATRA) revolving fund with a $250,000 limitPassed“PASSES · 115 YES/ 6 NO”
Art. 10Community Preservation FY2027 budget of $932,000, incl. $50,000 for 44 Lakeview Street and $2,500 for 250th anniversary flagsPassed“PASSES · 108 YES/ 11 NO”
Art. 11Let the School Committee sign an agreement with state agencies for student transportation reimbursementPassed“PASSES · 111 YES/ 6 NO”
Art. 12Swap Town land off South Main Street with the South Carver Union Society, gaining land for Union CemeteryPassed“PASSES · 107 YES/ 7 NO”
Art. 2Add $9,268 to FY2026 Fire Department salaries; amended to take the sum from the Town Planner salary linePassed as amended“PASSES · 275 YES/65 NO”
Art. 3Appropriate $37,630.25 for alarms and chemical pumps at municipal and school wellsPassed“PASSES · 372 YES/44 NO”
Art. 4Accept veterans' property tax exemption for homes held in trust (Clause 22G)Passed“PASSES · 379 YES/40 NO”
Art. 5Approve a battery energy storage PILOT agreement with Cranberry Point Energy Storage, LLCPassed“PASSES · 347 YES/ 64 NO”
Art. 9Non-binding: recommend the regional refuse district start the process to sell the Rochester landfill propertyPassed“PASSES · 211 YES/ 37 NO”
Art. 10Non-binding: recommend starting the process to dissolve the Carver-Marion-Wareham Regional Refuse Disposal DistrictPassed“PASSES · 228 YES/ 21 NO”
Art. 11Citizen petition: rezone three Shoestring Road parcels from Residential-Agricultural to General Business and add them to the tourist overlay districtFailed“FAILS BY 2/3RDS VOTE · 33 YES/ 216 NO”
Art. 12Citizen petition: ask the Select Board to challenge the 40B affordable housing lawFailed“FAILS · 53 YES/ 104 NO”
Art. 2Transfer $1,675,918 from free cash to reserves and funds (stabilization, OPEB, water district subsidy and others)Passed“ARTICLE 2 PASSES · 138 YES/ 17 NO”
Art. 5ACapital budget part A: $1,300,000 from free cash for 18 items and $350,000 from ambulance receipts for a new ambulancePassed“PART A PASSES · 169 YES/ 25 NO”
Art. 26Zoning: raise minimum residential lot size from 60,000 to 80,000 sq. ft. and frontage from 150 to 200 feetFailed“ARTICLE 26 FAILS · 32 YES/ 115 NO”
Art. 4Capital improvements budget of $1,260,000 (fire, police, schools, IT, maintenance) from free cash, capital balances and solar revenuePassed“ARTICLE PASSES · 145 YES/18 NO”
Art. 6Community Preservation FY2025 budget: $1,004,750 in appropriations and reserves, incl. $105,425 for cleanup at 11 Green StreetPassed“ARTICLE PASSES · YES 146/12 NO”
Art. 8Raise the maximum senior and veteran tax work-off credit from $1,000 to $1,500Passed“PASSES · 157 YES/ 5 NO”
Art. 9Ask the Legislature to let the Town keep paying 75% (instead of 50%) of health insurance premiums for employees retiring after June 30, 2025Passed“PASSES · 127 YES/ 35 NO”
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).
"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.
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Apr 4Approve KP Law rate increase of $10/hour to $235/hour…Motion: approve KP Law rate increase of $10/hour to $235/hour for general…Passed 3–2 · No: Bogart, Cotter
April 4, 2023: Approve KP Law rate increase of $10/hour to $235/hour for general counsel legal fees for FY 24
ApprovePassed · 3–2
Approve KP Law rate increase of $10/hour to $235/hour for general counsel legal fees for FY 24
Yes: Hewins, Hoffman, TownsendNo: Bogart, Cotter
From the minutes
“Motion by Hewins to approve KP Law rate increase of $10/hour to $235/hour for general counsel legal fees for FY 24, second by Hoffman. Vote 3-2 (Cotter, Bogart).” (Motion: Hewins, second: Hoffman)
Mar 28Recommend category #1 of article 5 (which includes bonding)Motion: recommend category #1 of article 5 (which includes bonding)Passed 3–2 · No: Bogart, Hoffman
March 28, 2023: Recommend category #1 of article 5 (which includes bonding)
ApprovePassed · 3–2
Recommend category #1 of article 5 (which includes bonding)
Yes: Cotter, Hewins, TownsendNo: Bogart, Hoffman
From the minutes
“Motion to recommend category #1 of article 5 (which includes bonding) by Hewins, second by Cotter. Vote 3-2 (Bogart and Hoffman).” (Motion: Hewins, second: Cotter)
Mar 28Recommend this article Discussion: Hewins stated that if the…Motion: recommend this article Discussion: Hewins stated that if the first three…Passed 4–1 · No: Bogart
March 28, 2023: Recommend this article Discussion: Hewins stated that if the first three agreements fail at Town Meeting, they will revert back to the original PILOT programs which will not be beneficial…
ApprovePassed · 4–1
Recommend this article Discussion: Hewins stated that if the first three agreements fail at Town Meeting, they will revert back to the original PILOT programs which will not be beneficial to the Town. If the last agreement fails it will be taxed as personal property taxes. The value of the panels will depreciate over the years and will raise the levy. This will result in the tax payers dealing with the burden and she feels it is in the best interest for these to be recommended and approved
Yes: Cotter, Hewins, Hoffman, TownsendNo: Bogart
From the minutes
“Motion to recommend this article by Hewins, second by Hoffman Discussion: Hewins stated that if the first three agreements fail at Town Meeting, they will revert back to the original PILOT programs which will not be beneficial to the Town. If the last agreement fails it will be taxed as personal property taxes. The value of the panels will depreciate over the years and will raise the levy. This will result in the tax payers dealing with the burden and she feels it is in the best interest for these to be recommended and approved. Vote 4-1 (Bogart).” (Motion: Hewins, second: Hoffman)
Mar 21Recommend Part C. Bogart asked if a sound study…Motion: recommend Part C. Bogart asked if a sound study has been…Passed 4–1 · No: Bogart
March 21, 2023: Recommend Part C. Bogart asked if a sound study has been done
ApprovePassed · 4–1
Recommend Part C. Bogart asked if a sound study has been done. She stated there are multiple towns having issues and a town is being sued. Bentley stated a sound study has not been done, but it has been discussed that due to the location, it is not heavily housed area. Hoffman asked if there are lights for evening use. Moore stated no. Fennessy stated that will limit the use of the courts. Cotter asked about previous discussions on the use of the land and if there is a master plan on the use of the land. Hewins stated that the Conservation Commission is working on that with the Recreation Committee and the Council on Aging. Fennessy stated there are plans for a site plan on the area. Moore stated they are waiting on the outcome of Town Meeting on the pickle ball courts and the restrictions on 44 Lakeview makes it limited for uses. It cannot be used to add access to the beach area. Townsend asked if the conservation restriction prohibited parking for use of the conservation land. Moore stated they can add some parking for the use of walking trails, etc
Yes: Cotter, Hewins, Hoffman, TownsendNo: Bogart
From the minutes
“Motion to recommend Part C by Hewins, second by Hoffman. Bogart asked if a sound study has been done. She stated there are multiple towns having issues and a town is being sued. Bentley stated a sound study has not been done, but it has been discussed that due to the location, it is not heavily housed area. Hoffman asked if there are lights for evening use. Moore stated no. Fennessy stated that will limit the use of the courts. Cotter asked about previous discussions on the use of the land and if there is a master plan on the use of the land. Hewins stated that the Conservation Commission is working on that with the Recreation Committee and the Council on Aging. Fennessy stated there are plans for a site plan on the area. Moore stated they are waiting on the outcome of Town Meeting on the pickle ball courts and the restrictions on 44 Lakeview makes it limited for uses. It cannot be used to add access to the beach area. Townsend asked if the conservation restriction prohibited parking for use of the conservation land. Moore stated they can add some parking for the use of walking trails, etc. Vote 4-1 (Bogart).” (Motion: Hewins, second: Hoffman)
Recommend. Bogart stated that she is comes from a veteran family, however she has concerns about the setup of the committee and how it will be controlled. Cotter asked how many flags need to be purchased. Bentley stated several hundred. Cotter asked the size of the flags. Bentley presented a picture of the flag for an example. They are the same size that would hang on the side of a street light. Cotter asked who would be hanging the flags. Bentley stated the Operations and Maintenance Department would be hanging the flags. Cotter asked if the family needs to sign a release if their family member is going to be acknowledged through a flag. Bentley stated that it is the intention that the family would be notified
Yes: Cotter, Hewins, Hoffman, TownsendNo: Bogart
From the minutes
“Motion to recommend by Hewins, second by Hoffman. Bogart stated that she is comes from a veteran family, however she has concerns about the setup of the committee and how it will be controlled. Cotter asked how many flags need to be purchased. Bentley stated several hundred. Cotter asked the size of the flags. Bentley presented a picture of the flag for an example. They are the same size that would hang on the side of a street light. Cotter asked who would be hanging the flags. Bentley stated the Operations and Maintenance Department would be hanging the flags. Cotter asked if the family needs to sign a release if their family member is going to be acknowledged through a flag. Bentley stated that it is the intention that the family would be notified. Vote 4-1 (Bogart).” (Motion: Hewins, 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.