MassVoter.com← Dracut Board of SelectmenDracut Board of Selectmen · 2025–2026 Board · Regular meeting
October 28, 2025
14 recorded votes, 3 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Note on these minutes: The minutes list Josh Taylor as absent.
Present: Heather Santiago-Hutchings, Alison Genest, Tony Archinski, Don Plummer
Absent: Josh Taylor
Every vote, in order
Special Permit Submittal
Accept the Special Permit Application
Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Accept the Special Permit Application. Motion seconded by Ms. Genest. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Accept the Special Permit Application. Motion seconded by Ms. Genest. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Archinski, second: Genest)
Agenda Items
Allow two, 9th through 12th graders to participate on the Dracut Cultural Council, they must be Dracut residents and cannot vote on monetary issues
Motion made by Ms. Genest to allow two, 9th through 12th graders to participate on the Dracut Cultural Council, they must be Dracut residents and cannot vote on monetary issues. Motion seconded by Mr. Archinski. Under Discussion: Mr. Plummer thanked Mrs. Hodges for her memorandum and stated that the Dracut Cultural Council is not a Regional Council, it is a Local Council and suggested maybe allowing up to one non-resident member. Mrs. McGary discussed her concerns with the residency requirement and suggested a majority of the members would need to be Dracut residents. Mr. Archinski stated that he was o.k. with having youth members but they have never appointed an out of Town person to a Committee. Mrs. Hodges stated that per the Town Charter, Committee members must be registered voters, and the youth members could be non-advisory members. Mr. Phil Thibault appeared before the Board and explained that section of the Town Charter only references elected officials and the need for the wording to be cleaned up. Mrs. Hodges explained how she interprets the Town Charter. Mrs. McGary discussed excluding youth members from voting on grants and allowing non-resident members. Mrs. Santiago-Hutchings stated that based on the current Town Charter, the youth members would need to be non-voting members. Mrs. Hodges explained that they could have youth members appointed by the Dracut Cultural Council. Mrs. McGary discussed the information provided by previous Town Counsel. Motion passed 3 t
Yes: Archinski, Genest, PlummerNo: Santiago-Hutchings
From the minutes
“Motion made by Ms. Genest to allow two, 9th through 12th graders to participate on the Dracut Cultural Council, they must be Dracut residents and cannot vote on monetary issues. Motion seconded by Mr. Archinski. Under Discussion: Mr. Plummer thanked Mrs. Hodges for her memorandum and stated that the Dracut Cultural Council is not a Regional Council, it is a Local Council and suggested maybe allowing up to one non-resident member. Mrs. McGary discussed her concerns with the residency requirement and suggested a majority of the members would need to be Dracut residents. Mr. Archinski stated that he was o.k. with having youth members but they have never appointed an out of Town person to a Committee. Mrs. Hodges stated that per the Town Charter, Committee members must be registered voters, and the youth members could be non-advisory members. Mr. Phil Thibault appeared before the Board and explained that section of the Town Charter only references elected officials and the need for the wording to be cleaned up. Mrs. Hodges explained how she interprets the Town Charter. Mrs. McGary discussed excluding youth members from voting on grants and allowing non-resident members. Mrs. Santiago-Hutchings stated that based on the current Town Charter, the youth members would need to be non-voting members. Mrs. Hodges explained that they could have youth members appointed by the Dracut Cultural Council. Mrs. McGary discussed the information provided by previous Town Counsel. Motion passed 3 to 1. Mrs. Santiago-Hutchings voted no..” (Motion: Genest, second: Archinski)
Not allow non-Dracut Residents to be Appointed to the Dracut Cultural Council
Motion made by Ms. Genest to not allow non-Dracut Residents to be Appointed to the Dracut Cultural Council. Motion seconded by Mr. Archinski. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Ms. Genest to not allow non-Dracut Residents to be Appointed to the Dracut Cultural Council. Motion seconded by Mr. Archinski. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Genest, second: Archinski)
Reduce the Number of Appointees to the Town Charter Review Committee to Five
Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Reduce the Number of Appointees to the Town Charter Review Committee to Five. Motion seconded by Ms. Genest. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Reduce the Number of Appointees to the Town Charter Review Committee to Five. Motion seconded by Ms. Genest. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Archinski, second: Genest)
Alison Manugian, Assistant Town Manager/Community Development Director - Review,
Accept the Easement along Spring Road
Motion made by Mr. Plummer to Accept the Easement along Spring Road. Motion seconded by Ms. Genest. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Mr. Plummer to Accept the Easement along Spring Road. Motion seconded by Ms. Genest. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Plummer, second: Genest)
Approve the No Parking Here to Corner Signage, 20 feet from the Intersection of Old Meadow Road and Textile Avenue, East, at the Rock Wall of 384 Textile Avenue
Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Approve the No Parking Here to Corner Signage, 20 feet from the Intersection of Old Meadow Road and Textile Avenue, East, at the Rock Wall of 384 Textile Avenue. Motion seconded by Mr. Plummer. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Approve the No Parking Here to Corner Signage, 20 feet from the Intersection of Old Meadow Road and Textile Avenue, East, at the Rock Wall of 384 Textile Avenue. Motion seconded by Mr. Plummer. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Archinski, second: Plummer)
Approve the Stop Signs at Camden Street at Methuen Street, North and Nassau Street at Methuen Street, North
Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Approve the Stop Signs at Camden Street at Methuen Street, North and Nassau Street at Methuen Street, North. Motion seconded by Ms. Genest. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Approve the Stop Signs at Camden Street at Methuen Street, North and Nassau Street at Methuen Street, North. Motion seconded by Ms. Genest. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Archinski, second: Genest)
Approve the Stop Signs at Lantern Lane at Donahue Road (Both Ends), South
Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Approve the Stop Signs at Lantern Lane at Donahue Road (Both Ends), South. Motion seconded by Ms. Genest. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Approve the Stop Signs at Lantern Lane at Donahue Road (Both Ends), South. Motion seconded by Ms. Genest. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Archinski, second: Genest)
Katherine Foster, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director - Requesting Acceptance of
Accept the Donations from the Old Home Day Committee for the Festival of Lights ($500.00), Public Safety Night ($2,000.00) and the Board of Health Opioid Program ($500.00)
Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Accept the Donations from the Old Home Day Committee for the Festival of Lights ($500.00), Public Safety Night ($2,000.00) and the Board of Health Opioid Program ($500.00). Motion seconded by Mr. Plummer. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Accept the Donations from the Old Home Day Committee for the Festival of Lights ($500.00), Public Safety Night ($2,000.00) and the Board of Health Opioid Program ($500.00). Motion seconded by Mr. Plummer. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Archinski, second: Plummer)
Selectman Alison Genest, Co-Chair, Economic Development Committee - Continued
Take No Action on Warrant Article #2
Motion made by Ms. Genest to Take No Action on Warrant Article #2. Motion seconded by Mr. Archinski. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Ms. Genest to Take No Action on Warrant Article #2. Motion seconded by Mr. Archinski. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Genest, second: Archinski)
Recommend Warrant Article #10
Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Recommend Warrant Article #10. Motion seconded by Mrs. Santiago- Hutchings. Motion failed 2 to 2. Mr. Archinski and Mrs. Santiago-Hutchings voted yes with Mr. Plummer and Ms. Genest voting no.
Yes: Archinski, Santiago-HutchingsNo: Genest, Plummer
From the minutes
“Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Recommend Warrant Article #10. Motion seconded by Mrs. Santiago- Hutchings. Motion failed 2 to 2. Mr. Archinski and Mrs. Santiago-Hutchings voted yes with Mr. Plummer and Ms. Genest voting no..” (Motion: Archinski, second: Santiago-Hutchings)
Take No Position on Warrant Article #16
Motion made by Ms. Genest to Take No Position on Warrant Article #16. Motion seconded by Mr. Plummer. Motion passed 3 to 0. Mr. Archinski voted present.
Yes: Genest, Plummer, Santiago-HutchingsAbstained: ArchinskiThe minutes say Tony Archinski “voted present”; Tony Archinski is shown as abstaining.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Ms. Genest to Take No Position on Warrant Article #16. Motion seconded by Mr. Plummer. Motion passed 3 to 0. Mr. Archinski voted present..” (Motion: Genest, second: Plummer)
Take No Action on Warrant Article #18
Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Take No Action on Warrant Article #18. Motion seconded by Mr. Plummer. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Mr. Archinski to Take No Action on Warrant Article #18. Motion seconded by Mr. Plummer. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Archinski, second: Plummer)
Table until November 17, 2025
Motion made by Ms. Genest to Table until November 17, 2025. Motion seconded by Mr. Archinski. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Ms. Genest to Table until November 17, 2025. Motion seconded by Mr. Archinski. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Genest, second: Archinski)
From the Dracut Board of Selectmen’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center (Board of Selectmen). We check every vote against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos (the town’s website has no Board of Selectmen photos): The Lowell Sun — Kristie Wohlander and Heather Santiago-Hutchings (courtesy photos, April 2026), Don Plummer and Josh Taylor (courtesy photos, May 2024), Tony Archinski (Cameron Morsberger, May 2023). Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.
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