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Concord Select Board
How the Concord Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. Linda Escobedo joined the board after the March 2018 town election (first meeting April 23, 2018), replacing Steven Ng. On April 23, 2018 the board unanimously elected Thomas McKean as Chair and Michael Lawson as Clerk. Thomas McKean’s and Alice Kaufman’s last meeting was April 10, 2019. Covers 40 meetings, April 23 to April 10, 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 budgetBoard years
Coming up
No upcoming meeting is posted yet. Check the official calendar →
Under the state Open Meeting Law, boards post notice at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays.
Members
Linda EscobedoMember · At-large · at 40 of 40 meetingsJane HotchkissMember · At-large · at 33 of 40 meetingsAlice KaufmanMember · At-large · at 36 of 40 meetingsMichael LawsonClerk · At-large · at 34 of 40 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: Concord Select Board minutes from January 8, 2018 through August 31, 2026: 342 meetings and 2,592 votes. The town’s Agenda Center holds the board’s minutes back to 2008; MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. The board was already called the Select Board throughout this period. All the minutes loaded are typed documents with searchable text. Not here: executive-session minutes (including released executive-session minutes that some files append after the open-session minutes); agendas posted in place of minutes; cancelled or postponed meetings; meetings of two-member Select Board subcommittees (the Committee Volunteer and Flag Policy subcommittees); the Concord Housing Roundtable, site visits, a liquor-licensing training session and other boards’ hearings that members attended, where the minutes record no Select Board deliberation or vote; meetings with an agenda but no posted minutes (among them the open session of March 26, 2018, April 11 and April 30, 2019, October 15, 2019, December 7, 2019, July 7, 2020, October 23 and November 6 and 17, 2021, and February 7, 2022); and meetings after August 31, 2026 (the September 14, 18 and 28, 2026 minutes are not posted yet). Concord’s minutes usually say “Upon a motion duly made and seconded, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED,” which is shown as every member present voting yes; they named the mover only from 2025 on. From 2020 to 2023 most votes were roll calls by name, and when a member voted no or abstained the minutes usually name the member (“The motion passed 4-1-0, with Ms. Ackerman voting nay”). Where the minutes say only “it was VOTED” or “MOVED” with no count or names (common in 2018 and 2019) we show the result only (155 votes); where a split count names no one (“by a margin of 3-1 with one member opposed”) we show the count only, with a note (37 votes). A few roll calls contradict the word “unanimously” in the same sentence; those show the result only, with a note. Members who stepped aside (recused) or whom a roll call lists as “Not Present” are not shown in that vote; members who arrived late or left early are shown only in the votes they were there for. In 2021 and 2024 several sets of minutes record the board’s positions on Town Meeting articles in a table (“Affirmative Action – 5-0-0”); each row is shown as a vote. At joint meetings only the Select Board members’ votes are shown. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
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 9Confirm that the final votes at Town Meeting would…Motion: Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED:…Passed 3–0 · Abstained: Kaufman, Lawson
April 9, 2019: Confirm that the final votes at Town Meeting would be subject to hand-count
Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to confirm that the final votes at Town Meeting would be subject to hand-count. TAKE POSITIONS ON WARRANT ARTICLES INCLUDING #25, 26, & 30 Mr. McKean provided an update on the Board's vote (3-2) to recommend no action on Article 30 - Zoning Article Amendment Personal Wireless Communications Facility Overlay District Map. The State Ethic's Commission recommended that Mr. Lawson and Ms. Kaufman abstain from taking a position on this Article because they are abutters to the Middlesex School.
Yes: Escobedo, Hotchkiss, McKeanAbstained: Kaufman, LawsonThe minutes write the count as 3-2; the member named abstained, so the second number is the abstention, not a no vote. The minutes call the vote unanimous; the member who abstained is shown abstaining. The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to confirm that the final votes at Town Meeting would be subject to hand-count. TAKE POSITIONS ON WARRANT ARTICLES INCLUDING #25, 26, & 30 Mr. McKean provided an update on the Board's vote (3-2) to recommend no action on Article 30 - Zoning Article Amendment Personal Wireless Communications Facility Overlay District Map. The State Ethic's Commission recommended that Mr. Lawson and Ms. Kaufman abstain from taking a position on this Article because they are abutters to the Middlesex School..”
Apr 9Recommend Affirmative Action on Article 30 - Zoning Article…Motion: Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board VOTED: 2-1…Passed 2–1 · No: Escobedo · Abstained: Kaufman, Lawson
April 9, 2019: Recommend Affirmative Action on Article 30 - Zoning Article Amendment Personal Wireless Communications Facility Overlay District Map. (Ms. Hotchkiss and Mr. McKean in favor, Ms. Escobedo opposed,...
Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board VOTED: 2-1 to recommend Affirmative Action on Article 30 - Zoning Article Amendment Personal Wireless Communications Facility Overlay District Map. (Ms. Hotchkiss and Mr. McKean in favor, Ms. Escobedo opposed, Mr. Lawson and Ms. Kaufman abstained)
Yes: Hotchkiss, McKeanNo: EscobedoAbstained: Kaufman, LawsonThe minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board VOTED: 2-1 to recommend Affirmative Action on Article 30 - Zoning Article Amendment Personal Wireless Communications Facility Overlay District Map. (Ms. Hotchkiss and Mr. McKean in favor, Ms. Escobedo opposed, Mr. Lawson and Ms. Kaufman abstained).”
Apr 9Recommend Affirmative Action on Article 25 - Authorize Special…Motion: Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED:…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
April 9, 2019: Recommend Affirmative Action on Article 25 - Authorize Special Legislation - Real Estate Transfer Tax for Affordable Housing and on Article 26 - Authorize Special Legislation - Building Permit Fee...
Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to recommend Affirmative Action on Article 25 - Authorize Special Legislation - Real Estate Transfer Tax for Affordable Housing and on Article 26 - Authorize Special Legislation - Building Permit Fee Surcharge for Affordable Housing, as written in the motion handouts drafted by Town Counsel.
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to recommend Affirmative Action on Article 25 - Authorize Special Legislation - Real Estate Transfer Tax for Affordable Housing and on Article 26 - Authorize Special Legislation - Building Permit Fee Surcharge for Affordable Housing, as written in the motion handouts drafted by Town Counsel..”
Apr 9Appoint Katharine Mast of 38 Blueberry Lane to the…Motion: Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED:…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
April 9, 2019: Appoint Katharine Mast of 38 Blueberry Lane to the Historic Districts Commission as associate member for a term to expire January 1, 2024; Kate McEneaney of 30 Union Street to…
Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to appoint Katharine Mast of 38 Blueberry Lane to the Historic Districts Commission as associate member for a term to expire January 1, 2024; Kate McEneaney of 30 Union Street to the Planning Board for a term to expire May 31, 2024 (effective June 1, 2019); Kimberly Burns of 1165 Monument Street and Maria Madison of 165 Cambridge Turnpike to the Concord Center Cultural District Committee for terms to expire May 31, 2020
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to appoint Katharine Mast of 38 Blueberry Lane to the Historic Districts Commission as associate member for a term to expire January 1, 2024; Kate McEneaney of 30 Union Street to the Planning Board for a term to expire May 31, 2024 (effective June 1, 2019); Kimberly Burns of 1165 Monument Street and Maria Madison of 165 Cambridge Turnpike to the Concord Center Cultural District Committee for terms to expire May 31, 2020.”
Apr 9Confirm Town Manager appointment of Janet Beyer of 52…Motion: Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED:…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
April 9, 2019: Confirm Town Manager appointment of Janet Beyer of 52 Authors Road to the Commission on Disability for a term to expire May 31, 2022
Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to confirm Town Manager appointment of Janet Beyer of 52 Authors Road to the Commission on Disability for a term to expire May 31, 2022
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to confirm Town Manager appointment of Janet Beyer of 52 Authors Road to the Commission on Disability for a term to expire May 31, 2022.”
Apr 8Approve the consent agendaMotion: Upon a motion duly made and seconded the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED:…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
April 8, 2019: Approve the consent agenda
Upon a motion duly made and seconded the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: To approve the consent agenda.
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Upon a motion duly made and seconded the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: To approve the consent agenda..”
Apr 8Recommend Affirmative Action on Article 16 - Concord-Carlisle Regional…Motion: Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board VOTED: to…Passed 3–2 · No: Kaufman, McKean
April 8, 2019: Recommend Affirmative Action on Article 16 - Concord-Carlisle Regional High School Capital Projects in the amount of $1,785,618. (Mr. McKean and Ms. Kaufman opposed)
Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board VOTED: to recommend Affirmative Action on Article 16 - Concord-Carlisle Regional High School Capital Projects in the amount of $1,785,618. (Mr. McKean and Ms. Kaufman opposed)
Yes: Escobedo, Hotchkiss, LawsonNo: Kaufman, McKeanThe minutes name Thomas McKean (no) and Alice Kaufman (no) and record the motion as passed; with 5 members present, the other members are shown voting yes. The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board VOTED: to recommend Affirmative Action on Article 16 - Concord-Carlisle Regional High School Capital Projects in the amount of $1,785,618. (Mr. McKean and Ms. Kaufman opposed).”
Apr 8Recommend No Action on Article 30 - Zoning Article…Motion: Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board VOTED: to…Passed 3–2 · No: Hotchkiss, McKean
April 8, 2019: Recommend No Action on Article 30 - Zoning Article Amendment Personal Wireless Communications Facility Overlay District Map. (No Action: Mr. Lawson, Ms. Kaufman, Ms. Escobedo; Affirmation Action:...
Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board VOTED: to recommend No Action on Article 30 - Zoning Article Amendment Personal Wireless Communications Facility Overlay District Map. (No Action: Mr. Lawson, Ms. Kaufman, Ms. Escobedo; Affirmation Action: Ms. Hotchkiss, Mr. McKean)
Yes: Escobedo, Kaufman, LawsonNo: Hotchkiss, McKeanThe minutes list the positions by name: “No Action: Mr. Lawson, Ms. Kaufman, Ms. Escobedo; Affirmation Action: Ms. Hotchkiss, Mr. McKean.” Those for no action are shown voting yes on this motion. The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board VOTED: to recommend No Action on Article 30 - Zoning Article Amendment Personal Wireless Communications Facility Overlay District Map. (No Action: Mr. Lawson, Ms. Kaufman, Ms. Escobedo; Affirmation Action: Ms. Hotchkiss, Mr. McKean).”
Apr 1Authorize the Town Manager to enter into settlement agreement…Motion: Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED:…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
April 1, 2019: Authorize the Town Manager to enter into settlement agreement with Harvard College in the form and on the terms and conditions as set forth in the document titled Settlement Agreement…
Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the Board authorize the Town Manager to enter into settlement agreement with Harvard College in the form and on the terms and conditions as set forth in the document titled Settlement Agreement Between the Town of Concord and President and Fellows of Harvard College for Limited Public Access to a Portion of Estabrook Trail, and in accordance therewith to dismiss without prejudice the claims against Harvard College brought by the Town in litigation titled Town of Concord v.
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the Board authorize the Town Manager to enter into settlement agreement with Harvard College in the form and on the terms and conditions as set forth in the document titled Settlement Agreement Between the Town of Concord and President and Fellows of Harvard College for Limited Public Access to a Portion of Estabrook Trail, and in accordance therewith to dismiss without prejudice the claims against Harvard College brought by the Town in litigation titled Town of Concord v..”
Apr 1Approve the consent agendaMotion: Upon a motion duly made and seconded the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED:…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
April 1, 2019: Approve the consent agenda
Upon a motion duly made and seconded the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: To approve the consent agenda.
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Upon a motion duly made and seconded the Board UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: To approve the consent agenda..”
From the Concord Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center (Select Board). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos (the town’s website has no Select Board photos): The Concord Bridge — Wendy Rovelli and Cameron McKennitt (Celeste Katz Marston, April 2024), Paul Boehm and Mary Hartman (January 2025), Dean Banfield (courtesy photo, March 2026). Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.
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