How the Dennis Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Carlyn Carey joined the board after the May 2023 town election; Chris Flanagan, by then a state representative, left. On May 16, 2023 "the Board voted unanimously" to make Paul McCormick Vice Chair and John Terrio Clerk; Chris Lambton stayed on as Chair and Jim Plath as Licensing Chair. Covers 27 meetings, May 16 to May 21, 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.
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
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).
"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.
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Apr 23Place and support Article 21 to raise and appropriate…Motion: to place and support Article 21 to raise and appropriate or…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
April 23, 2024: Place and support Article 21 to raise and appropriate or transfer from free cash $144,000 for security improvements and upgrades or any other action relative thereto
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
To place and support Article 21 to raise and appropriate or transfer from free cash $144,000 for security improvements and upgrades or any other action relative thereto
The minutes name Paul McCormick as both the mover and the seconder, so no seconder is shown.
From the minutes
“Paul McCormick moved to place and support Article 21 to raise and appropriate or transfer from free cash $144,000 for security improvements and upgrades or any other action relative thereto. Paul McCormick seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously.” (Motion: McCormick)
Apr 23Approve the amendments to The Sea View Entertainment License…Motion: to approve the amendments to The Sea View Entertainment License to…Passed 4–0 · see note
April 23, 2024: Approve the amendments to The Sea View Entertainment License to include outdoor entertainment Monday through Sunday between 10am and 10pm, limited to 4 instruments with live music
ApprovePassed · 4–0
To approve the amendments to The Sea View Entertainment License to include outdoor entertainment Monday through Sunday between 10am and 10pm, limited to 4 instruments with live music
The minutes give only the count (4-0-1), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Jim Plath moved to approve the amendments to The Sea View Entertainment License to include outdoor entertainment Monday through Sunday between 10am and 10pm, limited to 4 instruments with live music. John Terrio seconded. The Board voted unanimously in favor. VOTE: 4-0-1.” (Motion: Plath, second: Terrio)
Apr 9Continue the 5pm Licensing Hearing until June 4, 2024Motion: to continue the 5pm Licensing Hearing until June 4, 2024Passed 5–0 · see note
April 9, 2024: Continue the 5pm Licensing Hearing until June 4, 2024
ApprovePassed · 5–0
To continue the 5pm Licensing Hearing until June 4, 2024
The minutes give the count as 5-0-0, but 4 members were present for this vote (Chris Lambton, Paul McCormick, Jim Plath and Carlyn Carey). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Carlyn Carey moved to continue the 5pm Licensing Hearing until June 4, 2024. Jim Plath seconded. The Board voted unanimously in favor. VOTE: 5-0-0.” (Motion: Carey, second: Plath)
Apr 9Continue the 5:05pm Licensing Hearing until June 4, 2024Motion: to continue the 5:05pm Licensing Hearing until June 4, 2024Passed 5–0 · see note
April 9, 2024: Continue the 5:05pm Licensing Hearing until June 4, 2024
ApprovePassed · 5–0
To continue the 5:05pm Licensing Hearing until June 4, 2024
The minutes give the count as 5-0-0, but 4 members were present for this vote (Chris Lambton, Paul McCormick, Jim Plath and Carlyn Carey). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Carlyn Carey moved to continue the 5:05pm Licensing Hearing until June 4, 2024. Jim Plath seconded. The Board voted unanimously in favor. VOTE: 5-0-0.” (Motion: Carey, second: Plath)
Apr 9Appoint Adam Dunn as a full-time member of the…Motion: to appoint Adam Dunn as a full-time member of the Planning…Passed 5–0 · see note
April 9, 2024: Appoint Adam Dunn as a full-time member of the Planning Board with a term to expire on 3-31-2027
AppointPassed · 5–0
To appoint Adam Dunn as a full-time member of the Planning Board with a term to expire on 3-31-2027
The minutes give the count as 5-0-0, but 4 members were present for this vote (Chris Lambton, Paul McCormick, Jim Plath and Carlyn Carey). Showing the count only. The minutes name John Terrio as the seconder, but John Terrio is not on the attendance line, so no seconder is shown.
From the minutes
“Paul McCormick moved to appoint Adam Dunn as a full-time member of the Planning Board with a term to expire on 3-31-2027. John Terrio seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor. VOTE: 5-0-0.” (Motion: McCormick)
Apr 9Appoint Carol Terrio as a full-time member to the…Motion: to appoint Carol Terrio as a full-time member to the Board…Passed 4–0 · see note
April 9, 2024: Appoint Carol Terrio as a full-time member to the Board of Health with a term to expire 3-31-27
AppointPassed · 4–0
To appoint Carol Terrio as a full-time member to the Board of Health with a term to expire 3-31-27
The minutes give only the count (4-0-1), not how each member voted. 4 members were present.
From the minutes
“Paul McCormick moved to appoint Carol Terrio as a full-time member to the Board of Health with a term to expire 3-31-27. Carlyn Carey seconded the motion. John Terrio was recused from the vote. The Board voted 4-0-1.” (Motion: McCormick, second: Carey)
Apr 9Renew the Seasonal All Alcohol Restaurant Licenses for Chapin's…Motion: to renew the Seasonal All Alcohol Restaurant Licenses for Chapin's Bayside,…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
April 9, 2024: Renew the Seasonal All Alcohol Restaurant Licenses for Chapin's Bayside, Chapin's Fish and Chips, Ebb Tide Restaurant, Joey's Pizzeria, Kream N' Kone, Sailing Cow Deli & Café, The Sea View,…
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
To renew the Seasonal All Alcohol Restaurant Licenses for Chapin's Bayside, Chapin's Fish and Chips, Ebb Tide Restaurant, Joey's Pizzeria, Kream N' Kone, Sailing Cow Deli & Café, The Sea View, South Side Cantina, The Restaurant and Pub Next Door, Summer Shanty Inc., Swan River Restaurant, Wee Packet, West Dennis Sand Bar and Wooden Shoe Restaurant until November 30, 2024
The minutes name John Terrio as the seconder, but John Terrio is not on the attendance line, so no seconder is shown.
From the minutes
“Carlyn Carey moved to renew the Seasonal All Alcohol Restaurant Licenses for Chapin's Bayside, Chapin's Fish and Chips, Ebb Tide Restaurant, Joey's Pizzeria, Kream N' Kone, Sailing Cow Deli & Café, The Sea View, South Side Cantina, The Restaurant and Pub Next Door, Summer Shanty Inc., Swan River Restaurant, Wee Packet, West Dennis Sand Bar and Wooden Shoe Restaurant until November 30, 2024. John Terrio seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor. VOTE: 4-0-0.” (Motion: Carey)
Apr 9Renew the Seasonal All Alcohol Package Store Licenses for…Motion: to renew the Seasonal All Alcohol Package Store Licenses for Dennis…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
April 9, 2024: Renew the Seasonal All Alcohol Package Store Licenses for Dennis Food & Package Store, Dennis Public Market, Northside Liquors and Paradise Liquors until November 30, 2024
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
To renew the Seasonal All Alcohol Package Store Licenses for Dennis Food & Package Store, Dennis Public Market, Northside Liquors and Paradise Liquors until November 30, 2024
The minutes name John Terrio as the seconder, but John Terrio is not on the attendance line, so no seconder is shown.
From the minutes
“Carlyn Carey moved to renew the Seasonal All Alcohol Package Store Licenses for Dennis Food & Package Store, Dennis Public Market, Northside Liquors and Paradise Liquors until November 30, 2024. John Terrio seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor. VOTE: 4-0-0.” (Motion: Carey)
Apr 9Authorize the Town Administrator to execute Sea Street and…Motion: to authorize the Town Administrator to execute Sea Street and Sea…Passed 5–0 · see note
April 9, 2024: Authorize the Town Administrator to execute Sea Street and Sea Street Beach Parking lot construction contract in the amount of $923,634.24
ApprovePassed · 5–0
To authorize the Town Administrator to execute Sea Street and Sea Street Beach Parking lot construction contract in the amount of $923,634.24
The minutes give the count as 5-0-0, but 4 members were present for this vote (Chris Lambton, Paul McCormick, Jim Plath and Carlyn Carey). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Paul McCormick moved to authorize the Town Administrator to execute Sea Street and Sea Street Beach Parking lot construction contract in the amount of $923,634.24. Jim Plath seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor. VOTE: 5-0-0.” (Motion: McCormick, second: Plath)
Apr 9Approve the request to apply for a CPC grant…Motion: to approve the request to apply for a CPC grant to…Passed 5–0 · see note
April 9, 2024: Approve the request to apply for a CPC grant to fund restoration of facilities at Johnny Kelley Park
ApprovePassed · 5–0
To approve the request to apply for a CPC grant to fund restoration of facilities at Johnny Kelley Park
The minutes give the count as 5-0-0, but 4 members were present for this vote (Chris Lambton, Paul McCormick, Jim Plath and Carlyn Carey). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Jim Plath moved to approve the request to apply for a CPC grant to fund restoration of facilities at Johnny Kelley Park. Paul McCormick seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor. VOTE: 5-0-0.” (Motion: Plath, second: McCormick)
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)