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Photo of Shawn D. McDonald

Dartmouth Select Board Member

Shawn D. McDonald

Elected townwide · 9 terms in this record

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

Board years

2026–2027 Board2025–2026 Board2024–2025 Board2023–2024 Board2022–2023 Board2021–2022 Board2020–2021 Board2019–2020 Board2018–2019 Board
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Record at a glance · 2024–2025 Board

31 of 31meetings attended (100%) · whole board 99%
293votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
5no votes (2% of votes cast) · whole board <1%
5 of 9split votes where McDonald was in the minority · whole board 27%
0abstained
9terms in this record

On split votes, McDonald 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 McDonald 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 Shawn D. McDonald in the headline or opening.

Stories that name Shawn D. McDonald 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 31 of 31 Select Board meetings in 2024–2025 Board.

Missed none.

Every meeting (31)

Votes where members disagreed · 2024–2025 Board

Feb 24Town Administrator Status UpdateMotion: to appoint Gary Carreiro as Interim Town AdministratorPassed 3–2 · McDonald: Not recorded

February 24, 2025 · Item K: Town Administrator Status Update

AppointPassed · 3–2

To appoint Gary Carreiro as Interim Town Administrator

The minutes give only the count (3–2), not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“After a motion is made by Vice Chair Stanley Mickelson, and seconded by David Tatelbaum, it is voted 3-2 to appoint Gary Carreiro as Interim Town Administrator.” (Motion: Mickelson, second: Tatelbaum)

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

Dec 16Town Administrator AppointmentMotion: to select Bridget Almon as Town Administrator It is voted 4-1…Passed 4–1 · McDonald: No

December 16, 2024 · Item J: Town Administrator Appointment

ApprovePassed · 4–1

To select Bridget Almon as Town Administrator It is voted 4-1 to hire Bridget Almon as Town Administrator

Voted: No

Yes: Brooks, Mickelson, O’Neil, TatelbaumNo: McDonald

From the minutes

“A motion is made by David Tatelbaum, and seconded by Christopher O'Neil, to select Bridget Almon as Town Administrator. … It is voted 4-1 to hire Bridget Almon as Town Administrator, with Chair Shawn McDonald opposed.” (Motion: Tatelbaum, second: O’Neil)

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

Nov 18Host Community Agreement with Solar Therapeutics for a Retail…Motion: to approve the host community agreement with Solar TherapeuticsPassed 3–2 · McDonald: No

November 18, 2024 · Item G: Host Community Agreement with Solar Therapeutics for a Retail Marijuana

ApprovePassed · 3–2

To approve the host community agreement with Solar Therapeutics

Voted: No

Yes: Brooks, O’Neil, TatelbaumNo: McDonald, Mickelson

From the minutes

“After a motion is made by David Tatelbaum, and seconded by Christopher O'Neil, it is voted 3-2 to approve the host community agreement with Solar Therapeutics, with Chair Shawn McDonald and Vice Chair Stanley Mickelson opposed.” (Motion: Tatelbaum, second: O’Neil)

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

Aug 26To discuss and potentially approve new host community agreements…Motion: to approve both new Host Community Agreements for Apotho Therapeutics at…Passed 3–2 · McDonald: No

August 26, 2024 · Item E: To discuss and potentially approve new host community agreements for Apotho

ApprovePassed · 3–2

To approve both new Host Community Agreements for Apotho Therapeutics at 747 State Road and 757 State Road

Voted: No

Yes: Mickelson, O’Neil, TatelbaumNo: Brooks, McDonald

From the minutes

“After a motion was made by David Tatelbaum, and seconded by Christopher O'Neil, it was voted 3-2 to approve both new Host Community Agreements for Apotho Therapeutics at 747 State Road and 757 State Road, with Heidi Silva Brooks and Chair Shawn McDonald opposed.” (Motion: Tatelbaum, second: O’Neil)

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

Jul 22Fay's Restaurant – Request to Add Outdoor Live Entertainment…Motion: to approve the request from Fay's to add outdoor live entertainment…Passed 4–0 · McDonald: Yes

July 22, 2024 · Item A: Fay's Restaurant – Request to Add Outdoor Live Entertainment to Current License

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To approve the request from Fay's to add outdoor live entertainment to the current license

Voted: Yes

Yes: Brooks, McDonald, Mickelson, TatelbaumAbstained: O’Neil

From the minutes

“After a motion was made by Vice Chair Stanley Mickelson, and seconded by Heidi Silva Brooks, it was voted 4-0 to approve the request from Fay's to add outdoor live entertainment to the current license, with Christopher O'Neil abstaining.” (Motion: Mickelson, second: Brooks)

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

Jul 22Fay's Restaurant – Request to Add Outdoor Live Entertainment…Motion: to select Helio Rosa for the Planning Board positionPassed 3–2 · McDonald: Not recorded

July 22, 2024 · Item A: Fay's Restaurant – Request to Add Outdoor Live Entertainment to Current License

AppointPassed · 3–2

To select Helio Rosa for the Planning Board position

A joint meeting with the Planning Board to fill a Planning Board vacancy. The minutes give only the Select Board’s count (3–2), not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“It was then voted by the Select Board 3-2 to select Helio Rosa for the Planning Board Position..”

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

Jul 22Town Counsel Re-Appointment and Contract – Anthony C. SavastanoMotion: to approve Attorney Anthony Savastano's contract from August 1, 2024 to…Passed 4–1 · McDonald: Yes

July 22, 2024 · Item G: Town Counsel Re-Appointment and Contract – Anthony C. Savastano

ApprovePassed · 4–1

To approve Attorney Anthony Savastano's contract from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 202,7 at the rate of $300.00 per hour It was voted 4-1 to approve Attorney Anthony Savastano's Town Counsel contract

Voted: Yes

Yes: Brooks, McDonald, Mickelson, TatelbaumNo: O’Neil

From the minutes

“A motion was made by Vice Chair Stanley Mickelson, and seconded by David Tatelbaum, to approve Attorney Anthony Savastano's contract from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 202,7 at the rate of $300.00 per hour. … It was voted 4-1 to approve Attorney Anthony Savastano's Town Counsel contract, with Christopher O'Neil opposed.” (Motion: Mickelson, second: Tatelbaum)

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

Jul 22Town Counsel Re-Appointment and Contract – Anthony C. SavastanoMotion: to approve Attorney Savastano's contract with the corrected dates of August…Passed 4–1 · McDonald: Yes

July 22, 2024 · Item G: Town Counsel Re-Appointment and Contract – Anthony C. Savastano

ApprovePassed · 4–1

To approve Attorney Savastano's contract with the corrected dates of August 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027 at the rate of $300.00 per hour

Voted: Yes

Yes: Brooks, McDonald, Mickelson, TatelbaumNo: O’Neil

From the minutes

“After a motion is made by Vice Chair Stanley Mickelson, and seconded by David Tatelbaum, it was voted 4-1 to approve Attorney Savastano's contract with the corrected dates of August 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027 at the rate of $300.00 per hour, with Christopher O'Neil opposed.” (Motion: Mickelson, second: Tatelbaum)

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

Jun 17ApproveMotion: to sign the new host community agreements for both the retail…Passed 3–2 · McDonald: No

June 17, 2024 · Item J

ApprovePassed · 3–2

To sign the new host community agreements for both the retail and the cultivation

Voted: No

Yes: Mickelson, O’Neil, TatelbaumNo: Brooks, McDonald

From the minutes

“After a motion was made by Vice Chair Stanley Mickelson, and seconded by David Tatelbaum, it was voted 3-2 to sign the new host community agreements for both the retail and the cultivation, with Chair Shawn McDonald and Heidi Silva Brooks opposed.” (Motion: Mickelson, second: Tatelbaum)

Read it in the official minutes, page 6 (PDF)

May 13Town Meeting Warrant Vote and SignMotion: to recommend Article 28Passed 4–1 · McDonald: Yes

May 13, 2024 · Item A: Town Meeting Warrant Vote and Sign

ApprovePassed · 4–1

To recommend Article 28

Voted: Yes

Yes: Brooks, McDonald, Mickelson, O’NeilNo: Tatelbaum

From the minutes

“After a motion was made by Vice Chair Stanley Mickelson, and seconded by David Tatelbaum, it was voted 4-1 to recommend Article 28, with David Tatelbaum opposed.” (Motion: Mickelson, second: Tatelbaum)

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

Votes with no disagreement (283)

    From the Dartmouth Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center. Minutes from 2018 to 2023 are mostly scanned documents, which we read with text recognition. We check every vote count against the members named and quote the exact sentence for each vote. Most votes are recorded as unanimous; when the minutes give a split count without saying who voted which way, we show only the count. MassVoter never grades officials; votes and attendance are shown exactly as the minutes record them. Member photos: Dartmouth Week candidate profiles.

    How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →
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