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Municipal votes · 2021–2022 Board

Dennis Select Board

How the Dennis Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Same five members. On May 18, 2021 the board chose Chris Flanagan as Chair, John Terrio as Vice Chair and Licensing Vice Chair, Chris Lambton as Licensing Chair and Paul McCormick as Clerk (each by a 5-0 roll call). Covers 34 meetings, May 18 to May 3, 2022.

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

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Board 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.

What Town Meeting decided

In Dennis, 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 5, 2026 47 votes: 44 passed, 2 failed, 1 indefinitely postponed

Source: Town Clerk's Annual Town Meeting results (quantum of vote), May 5, 2026.

Special Town Meeting · October 21, 2025 21 votes: 17 passed, 3 indefinitely postponed, 1 other

Source: Town Clerk's Special Town Meeting results (quantum of vote), October 21, 2025.

Annual Town Meeting · May 6, 2025 37 votes: 33 passed, 2 failed, 1 indefinitely postponed, 1 no action

Source: Town Clerk's minutes of the May 6, 2025 Annual Town Meeting.

Special Town Meeting · October 1, 2024 19 votes: 18 passed, 1 failed

Source: Town Clerk's minutes of the October 1, 2024 Special Town Meeting.

Annual Town Meeting · May 7, 2024 28 votes: 25 passed, 1 failed, 2 no action

Source: Town Clerk's minutes of the May 7, 2024 Annual Town Meeting.

Special Town Meeting · February 29, 2024 5 votes: 5 passed

Source: Town Clerk's minutes of the February 29, 2024 Special Town Meeting.

Not here yet: the October 6, 2026 Special Town Meeting (results not posted yet).

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

Chris LambtonLicensing Chair · Elected townwide · at 31 of 34 meetingsPaul McCormickClerk · Elected townwide · at 30 of 34 meetingsSheryl McMahonMember · Elected townwide · at 26 of 34 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: Select Board minutes from January 9, 2018 through September 8, 2026. Minutes from February 28, 2023 on come from the town’s online Agenda Center; earlier minutes come from the Select Board folder of the town’s Laserfiche records archive, which holds minutes back to the 1960s (MassVoter has loaded 2018 on). Not here: executive-session minutes; minutes the town has not posted online, including February 7 to November 5, 2018, June 26 to September 23, 2019, October 22, 2019, June 13 to August 10, 2020, 18 meetings from 2023 to 2025 that have an agenda but no minutes online (mostly workshops and joint sessions), and meetings after September 8, 2026 (the August 11, 2026 minutes are not posted yet either). The 2018 to 2022 minutes are scanned copies, which MassVoter read with text-recognition software; a few unclear numbers were checked against the page images. Dennis’s minutes usually give a count such as “The Board voted 4-1-0 (McMahon)” or “VOTE: 4-0-1 (Paul McCormick abstained)”, and many votes, especially in 2020 and 2021, are roll calls listing each member’s vote. 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. Members the minutes say stepped aside (recused), left or had not yet arrived are left out of those votes. Where the minutes give only a split count without names, the count does not match the members present, a roll call lists a member the minutes do not show as present, or the names and the count do not match, we show the count only and add a note. A few votes have no count written down; we show those as passed with no count. Votes taken by other boards at joint meetings (such as the Finance Committee) are not included. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.

Tuesday, May 3, 2022 · Regular meeting3 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 5 members presentFriday, April 29, 2022 · Regular meeting13 recorded votes, 2 with disagreementAbsent: Sheryl McMahonFriday, April 8, 2022 · Regular meeting3 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAbsent: Sheryl McMahon, Paul McCormickTuesday, April 5, 2022 · Regular meeting26 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAbsent: Sheryl McMahon, Chris LambtonTuesday, March 29, 2022 · Regular meeting30 recorded votes, 7 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.

May 3Support the new motion as presentedMotion: to support the new motion as presentedPassed 4–0 · Abstained: McMahon

May 3, 2022: Support the new motion as presented

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To support the new motion as presented

Yes: Flanagan, Lambton, McCormick, TerrioAbstained: McMahon

From the minutes

“Mr. Lambton moved to support the new motion as presented; Mr. Terrio seconded. The Board voted: 4-0-1, with Ms. McMahon abstained.” (Motion: Lambton, second: Terrio)

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

Apr 29Support Article 23: Senior Center Repairs to Existing Structure…Motion: to support Article 23: Senior Center Repairs to Existing Structure for…Passed 3–1 · No: Lambton

April 29, 2022: Support Article 23: Senior Center Repairs to Existing Structure for a total of $6,000,052

ApprovePassed · 3–1

To support Article 23: Senior Center Repairs to Existing Structure for a total of $6,000,052

Yes: Flanagan, McCormick, TerrioNo: Lambton

From the minutes

“Mr. Terrio moved to support Article 23: Senior Center Repairs to Existing Structure for a total of $6,000,052; Mr. McCormick seconded. Mr. Plath asked for assurance that monies for this project would not go on the taxpayers' bills, but rather come from Capital funds which will be replenished next year. Mr. Flanagan and the Board confirmed Mr. Plath's assurances. The Board voted: 3-1-0, with Mr. Lambton opposed.” (Motion: Terrio, second: McCormick)

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

Apr 29Forward the application to the Community Preservation Committee and…Motion: to forward the application to the Community Preservation Committee and authorize…Passed · see note

April 29, 2022: Forward the application to the Community Preservation Committee and authorize the Town Administrator to sign the application

ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes

To forward the application to the Community Preservation Committee and authorize the Town Administrator to sign the application

The minutes say the board voted but do not give a count or say how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Mr. Lambton moved to forward the application to the Community Preservation Committee and authorize the Town Administrator to sign the application; Mr. McCormick seconded. The Board voted.” (Motion: Lambton, second: McCormick)

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

Mar 29Support the article - Capital Outlay - Raise &…Motion: to support the article - Capital Outlay - Raise & Appropriate-…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note

March 29, 2022: Support the article - Capital Outlay - Raise & Appropriate- on the town meeting warrant

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

To support the article - Capital Outlay - Raise & Appropriate- on the town meeting warrant

The minutes name John Terrio as both the mover and the seconder, so no seconder is shown.

From the minutes

“Mr. Terrio moved to support the article - Capital Outlay - Raise & Appropriate- on the town meeting warrant; Mr. Terrio seconded. The Board voted: 5-0-0.” (Motion: Terrio)

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

Mar 29The BoardMotion: The BoardPassed Unanimous, 5 present · see note

March 29, 2022: The Board

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

The Board

The minutes do not say who made or seconded this motion.

From the minutes

“The Board voted: 5-0-0.”

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

Mar 29Reappoint Steve Drowne, Jeffrey Doyle, Carl Howard and John…Motion: to reappoint Steve Drowne, Jeffrey Doyle, Carl Howard and John ;…Passed 4–0 · see note

March 29, 2022: Reappoint Steve Drowne, Jeffrey Doyle, Carl Howard and John ; Lowell to the Shellfish Committee as full members, with a term to expire March 31, 2023

AppointPassed · 4–0

To reappoint Steve Drowne, Jeffrey Doyle, Carl Howard and John ; Lowell to the Shellfish Committee as full members, with a term to expire March 31, 2023

The minutes give only the count (4-0-1), not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Mr. Terrio moved to reappoint Steve Drowne, Jeffrey Doyle, Carl Howard and John ; Lowell to the Shellfish Committee as full members, with a term to expire March 31, 2023. Ms. McMahon seconded. The Board voted: 4-0-1.” (Motion: Terrio, second: McMahon)

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

Mar 29Support the article - Town of Dennis Wastewater Phase…Motion: to support the article - Town of Dennis Wastewater Phase I…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: McMahon

March 29, 2022: Support the article - Town of Dennis Wastewater Phase I Design - . and the funding mechanisms as outlined, on the town meeting warrant

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To support the article - Town of Dennis Wastewater Phase I Design - . and the funding mechanisms as outlined, on the town meeting warrant

Yes: Flanagan, Lambton, McCormick, TerrioAbstained: McMahon

From the minutes

“Mr. McCormick moved to support the article - Town of Dennis Wastewater Phase I Design - . and the funding mechanisms as outlined, on the town meeting warrant; Mr. Lambton seconded. , The Board voted: 4-0-1 with Ms. McMahon abstained.” (Motion: McCormick, second: Lambton)

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

Mar 29Place the article - CPC Tobey Woods ~ on…Motion: to place the article - CPC Tobey Woods ~ on the…Passed 3–1 · see note

March 29, 2022: Place the article - CPC Tobey Woods ~ on the town meeting warrant

ApprovePassed · 3–1

To place the article - CPC Tobey Woods ~ on the town meeting warrant

The minutes give the count (3-1-1) and name Sheryl McMahon (voting no), but the names and the count do not match the 5 members present. Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Mr. Lambton moved to place the article - CPC Tobey Woods ~ on the town meeting warrant; Mr. Terrio seconded. The Board voted: 3-1-1 with Ms. McMahon opposed.” (Motion: Lambton, second: Terrio)

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

Mar 29Support the article -- CPC Tobey Woods - article…Motion: to support the article -- CPC Tobey Woods - article on…Passed 3–1 · see note

March 29, 2022: Support the article -- CPC Tobey Woods - article on the town meeting warrant

ApprovePassed · 3–1

To support the article -- CPC Tobey Woods - article on the town meeting warrant

The minutes give the count (3-1-1) and name Sheryl McMahon (voting no), but the names and the count do not match the 5 members present. Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Mr. Lambton moved to support the article -- CPC Tobey Woods - article on the town meeting warrant; Mr. Terrio seconded. The Board voted: 3-1-1 with Ms. McMahon opposed.” (Motion: Lambton, second: Terrio)

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

Mar 1Reappoint Amber Salvage as Dennis Shellfish Constable/Assistant Natural Resource…Motion: to reappoint Amber Salvage as Dennis Shellfish Constable/Assistant Natural Resource Officer…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note

March 1, 2022: Reappoint Amber Salvage as Dennis Shellfish Constable/Assistant Natural Resource Officer for a three (3) year term ending 2025

AppointPassed · Unanimous, 3 present

To reappoint Amber Salvage as Dennis Shellfish Constable/Assistant Natural Resource Officer for a three (3) year term ending 2025

John Terrio had left the meeting.

From the minutes

“Mr. McCormick moved to reappoint Amber Salvage as Dennis Shellfish Constable/Assistant Natural Resource Officer for a three (3) year term ending 2025; Mr. Lambton seconded. The Board voted: 3-0-0.” (Motion: McCormick, second: Lambton)

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

From the Dennis Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center (2023 on) and its Laserfiche records 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: Town of Dennis (Select Board page)

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