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Municipal votes · 2023–2024 Board

Chatham Select Board

How the Chatham Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Same five members; Shareen Davis was re-elected in May 2023. At its reorganization on May 12, 2023 the board elected Cory Metters Chair, Michael Schell Vice Chair and Jeffrey Dykens Clerk. Covers 47 meetings, May 12 to May 14, 2024.

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 Chatham ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.

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Board years

Coming up

MassVoter can’t read Chatham’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →

What Town Meeting decided

In Chatham, 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.

Annual Town Meeting · May 10, 2025 59 votes: 51 passed, 4 failed, 4 no action

Source: Town Clerk's minutes of the May 10, 2025 Annual Town Meeting.

Special Town Meeting · September 16, 2024 1 votes: 1 passed

Source: Town Clerk's minutes of the September 16, 2024 Special Town Meeting.

Annual Town Meeting · May 13, 2024 47 votes: 37 passed, 4 failed, 1 indefinitely postponed, 4 no action, 1 advisory

Source: Town Clerk's minutes of the May 13, 2024 Annual Town Meeting.

Not here yet: the May 11, 2026 Annual Town Meeting (the Town Clerk's minutes are not posted yet; only an unofficial scorecard is online).

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

Shareen DavisMember · Elected townwide · at 44 of 47 meetingsJeffrey DykensClerk · Elected townwide · at 45 of 47 meetingsDean NicastroMember · Elected townwide · at 46 of 47 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: 398 meetings from January 8, 2018 to September 15, 2026, with 4,081 votes, from the board’s official minutes on mytowngovernment.org/02633, the town’s minutes site. Not online: 21 meetings since January 2018 with no usable minutes online: for 8 the site says the minutes are “on record with the Town Clerk” (paper only), and for 13 the posted file is empty, belongs to another town or board, or is an attachment rather than the minutes. MassVoter is asking the Town Clerk for these. Released minutes of closed (executive) sessions are loaded as their own Special meetings in 5 cases: where they are the only minutes for that date (December 10, 2018; January 5, 2021; July 5, 2023) and the two sessions on the Town Manager’s contract (January 13 and February 17, 2026). At joint meetings only the Select Board’s own votes are shown; votes of the other board, including the Affordable Housing Trust trustees, are left out. How votes were read: Chatham’s minutes give each motion with its mover and seconder, then either a count (“Vote: 5-0”, sometimes naming who voted no or abstained) or, since 2020, a roll call with each member’s vote. A roll call, or a count that adds up to the members present with any no votes or abstentions named, shows each member’s vote (98% of votes). A count that does not add up, or does not say who voted no, is shown as a count only. Choices between nominees (each member names a person) show the result only, with the roll call quoted in the note. Members and officers for each year come from the board’s reorganization minutes. Discussion settled “by consensus”, without a vote, is not shown as a vote. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote. On October 7, 2026 the Town Clerk’s office answered our questions about roll calls that did not match the members present (public records request #26-297): name typos, an attendance line that was not updated, roll calls with no votes written in, and the joint Affordable Housing Trust votes. The 24 votes affected now show each member’s vote, with the answer quoted in the vote’s note. Thank you to the Chatham Town Clerk’s office for its help.

Tuesday, May 14, 2024 · Regular meeting5 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, May 7, 2024 · Regular meeting10 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, April 30, 2024 · Joint meeting7 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAbsent: Shareen DavisTuesday, April 23, 2024 · Regular meeting7 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, April 16, 2024 · Regular meeting8 recorded votes, 0 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 2Approve the Town Manager to execute the contract with…Motion: to approve the Town Manager to execute the contract with AGM…Passed 3–2 · No: Metters, Nicastro

April 2, 2024: Approve the Town Manager to execute the contract with AGM Marine Contractors

ApprovePassed · 3–2

To approve the Town Manager to execute the contract with AGM Marine Contractors

Yes: Davis, Dykens, SchellNo: Metters, Nicastro

From the minutes

“Mr. Dykens made a motion to approve the Town Manager to execute the contract with AGM Marine Contractors. Second: Mr. Schell Roll Call Dean Nicastro: no Shareen Davis: yes Jeffrey Dykens: yes Michael Schell: yes Cory Metters: No.” (Motion: Dykens, second: Schell)

Read it in the official minutes, page 11 (PDF)

Mar 26Grant the entertainment permit for Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday,…Motion: to grant the entertainment permit for Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 1:00…Passed 4–0 · see note

March 26, 2024: Grant the entertainment permit for Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm for acoustic music only to Aplaya Kitchen and Tiki Bar at 483 Main Stret, Chatham

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To grant the entertainment permit for Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm for acoustic music only to Aplaya Kitchen and Tiki Bar at 483 Main Stret, Chatham

Yes: Davis, Dykens, Nicastro, SchellCory Metters is not listed in this roll call.

From the minutes

“Mr. Dykens made a motion to grant the entertainment permit for Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm for acoustic music only to Aplaya Kitchen and Tiki Bar at 483 Main Stret, Chatham. Second: Ms. Davis Roll Call Dean Nicastro: yes Shareen Davis: yes Jeffrey Dykens: yes Michael Schell: yes.” (Motion: Dykens, second: Davis)

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

Mar 19Place the article as presented on the 2024 Annual…Motion: to place the article as presented on the 2024 Annual Town…Passed 4–1 · No: Nicastro

March 19, 2024: Place the article as presented on the 2024 Annual Town Meeting warrant (Establish a Town of Chatham Adult Supportive Day Program – Vote to)

ApprovePassed · 4–1

To place the article as presented on the 2024 Annual Town Meeting warrant

Yes: Davis, Dykens, Metters, SchellNo: Nicastro

From the minutes

“Mr. Dykens made a motion to place the article as presented on the 2024 Annual Town Meeting warrant. Second: Ms. Davis Roll Call Dean Nicastro: no Shareen Davis: yes Jeffrey Dykens: yes Michael Schell: yes Cory Metters: yes.” (Motion: Dykens, second: Davis)

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

Mar 19Recommend the article (Establish a Town of Chatham Adult…Motion: to recommend the articlePassed 4–1 · No: Nicastro

March 19, 2024: Recommend the article (Establish a Town of Chatham Adult Supportive Day Program – Vote to)

ApprovePassed · 4–1

To recommend the article

Yes: Davis, Dykens, Metters, SchellNo: Nicastro

From the minutes

“Mr. Dykens made a motion to recommend the article. Second: Ms. Davis Roll Call Dean Nicastro: no Shareen Davis: yes Jeffrey Dykens: yes Michael Schell: yes Cory Metters: yes.” (Motion: Dykens, second: Davis)

Read it in the official minutes, page 8 (PDF)

Jan 30Approve the application of the waiver for the appearance…Motion: to approve the application of the waiver for the appearance of…Failed 1–4 · No: Davis, Dykens, Nicastro, Schell

January 30, 2024: Approve the application of the waiver for the appearance of a conflict of interest as submitted by Rick Leavitt

ApproveFailed · 1–4

To approve the application of the waiver for the appearance of a conflict of interest as submitted by Rick Leavitt

Yes: MettersNo: Davis, Dykens, Nicastro, Schell

From the minutes

“Mr. Schell made a motion to approve the application of the waiver for the appearance of a conflict of interest as submitted by Rick Leavitt. Second: Mr. Dykens Roll Call Dean Nicastro: no Shareen Davis: no Jeffrey Dykens: no Michael Schell: no Cory Metters: yes.” (Motion: Schell, second: Dykens)

Read it in the official minutes, page 9 (PDF)

Jan 30Choice vote between Johansen and ShererMotion: choice between nominees: Johansen; Sherer; abstainPassed · see note

January 30, 2024: Choice vote between Johansen and Sherer

AppointPassed · No count or names in the minutes

Choice between nominees: Johansen; Sherer; abstain

A choice between nominees, so no Yes/No votes are shown. The roll call reads: Dean Nicastro: Sherer; Shareen Davis: Sherer; Jeffrey Dykens: Sherer; Michael Schell: abstain; Cory Metters: Johansen. The second is recorded as “Mr. Nicastro”, not a Select Board member.

From the minutes

“Mr. Dykens made a motion to appoint Frank Sherer as member of the Planning Board until June 30, 2024 unless sooner revoked or successor is appointed. Second: Mr. Schell Mr. Schell moved to appoint Roy Johansen as a member of the Planning Board until June, 30, 2024 unless sooner revoked or successor is appointed. Second: Mr. Nicastro Roll Call Dean Nicastro: Sherer Shareen Davis: Sherer Jeffrey Dykens: Sherer Michael Schell: abstain Cory Metters: Johansen.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 17 (PDF)

Jan 16Adopt the Select Board Meeting Public Participation Policy and…Motion: to adopt the Select Board Meeting Public Participation Policy and Public…Passed 4–1 · No: Metters

January 16, 2024: Adopt the Select Board Meeting Public Participation Policy and Public Announcement and Agenda Request Policy as edited and amended

ApprovePassed · 4–1

To adopt the Select Board Meeting Public Participation Policy and Public Announcement and Agenda Request Policy as edited and amended

Yes: Davis, Dykens, Nicastro, SchellNo: Metters

From the minutes

“Ms. Davis made a motion to adopt the Select Board Meeting Public Participation Policy and Public Announcement and Agenda Request Policy as edited and amended. Second: Mr. Dykens Roll Call: Dean Nicastro: yes Shareen Davis: yes Jeffrey Dykens: yes Michael Schell: yes Cory Metters: no.” (Motion: Davis, second: Dykens)

Read it in the official minutes, page 11 (PDF)

Dec 19Approve the request to construct a permanent outdoor seating…Motion: to approve the request to construct a permanent outdoor seating area…Failed 1–4 · No: Davis, Dykens, Metters, Nicastro

December 19, 2023: Approve the request to construct a permanent outdoor seating area with tables, counter seating, and firepit with the considerations indicated by the Planning Board with the amendment of the 3rd...

ApproveFailed · 1–4

To approve the request to construct a permanent outdoor seating area with tables, counter seating, and firepit with the considerations indicated by the Planning Board with the amendment of the 3rd condition to extend the closing of the outdoor area until midnight every night

Yes: SchellNo: Davis, Dykens, Metters, Nicastro

From the minutes

“Mr. Schell made a motion to approve the request to construct a permanent outdoor seating area with tables, counter seating, and firepit with the considerations indicated by the Planning Board with the amendment of the 3rd condition to extend the closing of the outdoor area until midnight every night. Second: Mr. Nicastro Roll Call Dean Nicastro: no Shareen Davis: no Jeffrey Dykens: no Michael Schell: yes Cory Metters: no.” (Motion: Schell, second: Nicastro)

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

Dec 19Approve the 2024 renewals of Common Victualler/Sunday Dessert licenses…Motion: to approve the 2024 renewals of Common Victualler/Sunday Dessert licenses as…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

December 19, 2023: Approve the 2024 renewals of Common Victualler/Sunday Dessert licenses as recommended by the licensing agent

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present

To approve the 2024 renewals of Common Victualler/Sunday Dessert licenses as recommended by the licensing agent

Cory Metters stepped aside (recused).

From the minutes

“Ms. Davis made a motion to approve the 2024 renewals of Common Victualler/Sunday Dessert licenses as recommended by the licensing agent. Second: Mr. Dykens Roll Call Dean Nicastro: yes Shareen Davis: yes Jeffrey Dykens: yes Michael Schell: yes.” (Motion: Davis, second: Dykens)

Read it in the official minutes, page 10 (PDF)

Dec 12Disband the Aunt Lydia’s Cove CommitteeMotion: to disband the Aunt Lydia’s Cove CommitteeFailed 0–4 · No: Davis, Metters, Nicastro, Schell

December 12, 2023: Disband the Aunt Lydia’s Cove Committee

ApproveFailed · 0–4

To disband the Aunt Lydia’s Cove Committee

No: Davis, Metters, Nicastro, Schell

From the minutes

“Mr. Schell made a motion to disband the Aunt Lydia’s Cove Committee. Second: Mr. Nicastro Roll call Dean Nicastro: no Shareen Davis: no Michael Schell: no Cory Metters: no.” (Motion: Schell, second: Nicastro)

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

From the Chatham Select Board’s official minutes on mytowngovernment.org, where the town posts them. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Town of Chatham (town website, Select Board Members).

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