← Carver Select Board

Carver Member

John Cotter

Elected townwide · 5 terms in this record

John J. Cotter

A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.

Board years

2026–2027 Board2025–2026 Board2024–2025 Board2023–2024 Board2022–2023 Board
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Record at a glance · 2024–2025 Board

29 of 30meetings attended (97%) · whole board 83%
212votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
9no votes (4% of votes cast) · whole board 2%
8 of 12split votes where Cotter was in the minority (67%) · whole board 28%
0abstained
5terms in this record

On split votes, Cotter voted the same way as…

How these numbers work
  • Counted from the official minutes, for 2024–2025 Board only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
  • Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Cotter 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

No recent stories found that name John Cotter in the headline or opening.

Stories that name John Cotter in the headline or opening, newest first, from 25 free news outlets (see the list). Headlines appear as each outlet published them; MassVoter does not write, choose or rate them. Only stories that are free to read are listed.

Disclosure: MassVoter’s founder, Michael Silvia, is the publisher of Fall River Reporter and New Bedford Guide.

Attendance

At the start of 29 of 30 Select Board meetings in 2024–2025 Board.

Missed

Every meeting (30)

Votes where members disagreed · 2024–2025 Board

Apr 15Approve this policyMotion: approve this policyPassed 3–1 · Cotter: Yes

April 15, 2025: Approve this policy

ApprovePassed · 3–1

Approve this policy

Voted: Yes

Yes: Cotter, Hoffman, TownsendNo: Hewins

From the minutes

“Motion was made by Mr. Hoffman to approve this policy and seconded by Mr. Townsend. Vote: 3 to 1 (Ms. Hewins opposed).” (Motion: Hoffman, second: Townsend)

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

Apr 15Approve to update Section 25-5Motion: approve to update Section 25-5Passed 3–1 · Cotter: Yes

April 15, 2025: Approve to update Section 25-5

ApprovePassed · 3–1

Approve to update Section 25-5

Voted: Yes

Yes: Cotter, Hoffman, TownsendNo: Hewins

From the minutes

“Motion to approve to update Section 25-5 by Mr. Hoffman and seconded by Mr. Townsend. Vote: 3 to 1 (Ms. Hewins opposed).” (Motion: Hoffman, second: Townsend)

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

Mar 18Recommend Article 4Motion: recommend Article 4Passed 3–1 · Cotter: No

March 18, 2025: Recommend Article 4

ApprovePassed · 3–1

Recommend Article 4

Voted: No

Yes: Hewins, Ryan, TownsendNo: Cotter

From the minutes

“Motion to recommend Article 4 by Ryan, second by Hewins. Vote 3-1 (Cotter).” (Motion: Ryan, second: Hewins)

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

Mar 18Add the article as amendedMotion: add the article as amendedPassed 3–1 · Cotter: No

March 18, 2025: Add the article as amended

ApprovePassed · 3–1

Add the article as amended

Voted: No

Yes: Hewins, Ryan, TownsendNo: Cotter

From the minutes

“Motion to add the article as amended by Ryan, second by Hewins. Vote 3-1 (Cotter).” (Motion: Ryan, second: Hewins)

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

Mar 18Recommend the article: Article 2 Free CashMotion: recommend the articlePassed 3–1 · Cotter: No

March 18, 2025: Recommend the article: Article 2 Free Cash

ApprovePassed · 3–1

Recommend the article

Voted: No

Yes: Hewins, Ryan, TownsendNo: Cotter

From the minutes

“Motion to recommend the article by Hewins, second by Townsend. Vote 3-1 (Cotter).” (Motion: Hewins, second: Townsend)

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

Mar 18Recommend the Town Operating Budget, Fixed Liabilities & School…Motion: recommend the Town Operating Budget, Fixed Liabilities & School Budget calculations…Passed 3–1 · Cotter: No

March 18, 2025: Recommend the Town Operating Budget, Fixed Liabilities & School Budget calculations that Cannon confirmed as well as editing the information summary

ApprovePassed · 3–1

Recommend the Town Operating Budget, Fixed Liabilities & School Budget calculations that Cannon confirmed as well as editing the information summary

Voted: No

Yes: Hewins, Ryan, TownsendNo: Cotter

From the minutes

“Motion to recommend the Town Operating Budget, Fixed Liabilities & School Budget calculations that Cannon confirmed as well as editing the information summary by Ryan, second by Hewins. Vote 3-1 (Cotter).” (Motion: Ryan, second: Hewins)

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

Mar 11Authorize the Town Administrator to signMotion: authorize the Town Administrator to signPassed 3–0 · Cotter: Yes

March 11, 2025: Authorize the Town Administrator to sign

ApprovePassed · 3–0

Authorize the Town Administrator to sign

Voted: Yes

Yes: Cotter, Hewins, RyanAbstained: Townsend

From the minutes

“Motion to authorize the Town Administrator to sign by Hewins, second by Ryan. Vote 3-0-1, Townsend abstained..” (Motion: Hewins, second: Ryan)

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

Mar 4Approve the rate increase for FY 2026 for Clifford…Motion: approve the rate increase for FY 2026 for Clifford and KennyPassed 4–1 · Cotter: Not recorded

March 4, 2025: Approve the rate increase for FY 2026 for Clifford and Kenny

ApprovePassed · 4–1

Approve the rate increase for FY 2026 for Clifford and Kenny

The minutes give the count (4-1) and name John Cotter, 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 Mark Townsend made the motion, but Mark Townsend is not on the attendance list for this vote.

From the minutes

“Mr. Townsend made a motion to approve the rate increase for FY 2026 for Clifford and Kenny and it was seconded by Mr. Hewins. Vote 4 to 1 (Mr. Cotter opposed).” (second: Hewins)

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

Mar 4Approve the one-day licenseMotion: approve the one-day licensePassed 5–0 · Cotter: Not recorded

March 4, 2025: Approve the one-day license

ApprovePassed · 5–0

Approve the one-day license

The minutes record the vote as 5-0, but 4 members were present (John Cotter, Jim Hoffman, Dan Ryan and Sarah Hewins), so it is not clear how each member voted. The minutes say Mark Townsend made the motion, but Mark Townsend is not on the attendance list for this vote.

From the minutes

“Mr. Townsend made a motion to approve the one-day license and was seconded by Ms. Hewins. Vote: 5 to 0.” (second: Hewins)

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

Feb 25Accept Article 30 as writtenMotion: accept Article 30 as writtenPassed 3–1 · Cotter: Not recorded

February 25, 2025: Accept Article 30 as written

ApprovePassed · 3–1

Accept Article 30 as written

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

From the minutes

“Mr. Ryan made a motion to accept Article 30 as written and was second by Mr. Townsend. Vote 3 to 1.” (Motion: Ryan, second: Townsend)

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

Votes with no disagreement (189)

    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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