How the Dunstable Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 3 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. Walter F. Alterisio served as Chair and Leah D. Basbanes as Vice Chair, with Ronald J. Mikol (chosen in 2017, before the loaded years). MassVoter’s record starts with the January 2, 2018 meeting. The minutes call the board the “Selectboard,” though its legal name was the Board of Selectmen. Walter Alterisio’s last meeting was May 15, 2018, the day of the annual town election. Covers 14 meetings, January 2 to May 15, 2018.
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.
In Dunstable, 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 11, 2026 26 votes: 22 passed, 2 failed, 2 no action
Not here yet: No Town Meeting after May 11, 2026 is posted.
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: Dunstable Select Board minutes from January 2, 2018 through September 8, 2026: 289 meetings and 1,422 votes. The town’s Select Board minutes page lists the board’s minutes from 2017 on, and its older minutes archive (linked from that page) has Board of Selectmen minutes from 2010; MassVoter loaded 2018 on, including the December 18 and December 21, 2018 minutes, which are only in the older archive. The board was the Board of Selectmen (its 2018–2021 minutes call it the “Selectboard”) until the Legislature renamed it the Select Board (Chapter 208 of the Acts of 2024, signed September 20, 2024); its minutes are headed “Select Board” from September 24, 2024. The minutes are typed documents with searchable text. Not here: executive-session minutes; Insurance Advisory Committee minutes filed in the Select Board list; votes of the Advisory Board, Board of Health, Affordable Housing Committee, Groton boards and other bodies at joint meetings; meetings with an agenda but no posted minutes (March 25 and April 5, 2019; January 15, 2020; January 26, 2023, whose minutes the board approved on February 9, 2023; April 23, 2024, where the file posted is a second copy of the April 16, 2024 minutes; December 17, 2024; and September 30, 2025, whose minutes the board approved on October 15, 2025); and meetings after September 8, 2026 (the September 24 and October 8, 2026 minutes are not posted yet). Dunstable’s minutes have used several forms. From 2018 to mid-2022 a motion “passed unanimously,” “passed without objection” or “passed by majority vote,” sometimes naming a member who abstained, and votes to enter executive session list the members voting (“adopted by majority vote by Leah D. Basbanes, Ronald J. Mikol, and James E. Tully”). In fall 2022 the minutes gave counts (“Voted to approve 3-0”). Since late 2022 they read “it was VOTED … The vote was unanimous,” with roll calls by name for executive sessions and, in 2025–2026, for many other votes. Unanimous wording, or a count equal to the members present, is shown as every member present voting yes; a roll call or list of names is shown by name; on this three-member board, a vote that passed with one named member abstaining or voting no shows the other members voting yes. “Passed without objection” (313 votes), “passed by majority vote” with no names (135 votes) and “it was VOTED” or “the meeting was adjourned” with no count or names (39 votes) show the result only; one vote that passed with an unnamed abstention shows the count only. Members who recused themselves are left out of that vote, with a note. Where the attendance list leaves out a member who made or seconded a motion, that member is counted present, with a note. A motion with no recorded outcome is not counted as a vote. 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.
May 15Retroactively approve the application by the Lake Massapoag Rod…Motion: A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to retroactively approve the…Passed · see note
May 15, 2018: Retroactively approve the application by the Lake Massapoag Rod & Gun Club for use of the Town Hall on May 9th, 2018
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to retroactively approve the application by the Lake Massapoag Rod & Gun Club for use of the Town Hall on May 9th, 2018. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection.
The minutes say the motion passed “without objection,” with no count or names. Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to retroactively approve the application by the Lake Massapoag Rod & Gun Club for use of the Town Hall on May 9th, 2018. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection..” (Motion: Basbanes, second: Mikol)
May 15Approve the banner application submitted by the organizers of…Motion: A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the banner…Passed · see note
May 15, 2018: Approve the banner application submitted by the organizers of the Memorial Day Parade event for the hanging of a banner across Main Street from May 21st until May 28th, 2018
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the banner application submitted by the organizers of the Memorial Day Parade event for the hanging of a banner across Main Street from May 21st until May 28th, 2018. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection.
The minutes say the motion passed “without objection,” with no count or names. Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the banner application submitted by the organizers of the Memorial Day Parade event for the hanging of a banner across Main Street from May 21st until May 28th, 2018. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection..” (Motion: Basbanes, second: Mikol)
A motion was made to adopt the fee inspection schedule by Ms. Basbanes. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection.
The minutes say the motion passed “without objection,” with no count or names. Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“A motion was made to adopt the fee inspection schedule by Ms. Basbanes. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection..” (Motion: Basbanes, second: Mikol)
May 1Approve the application by the Dunstable Grange for use…Motion: A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the application…Passed · see note
May 1, 2018: Approve the application by the Dunstable Grange for use of the Town Common and Bandstand on August 18th, 2018, with a setup date of August 17th, 2018
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the application by the Dunstable Grange for use of the Town Common and Bandstand on August 18th, 2018, with a setup date of August 17th, 2018. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection.
The minutes say the motion passed “without objection,” with no count or names. Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the application by the Dunstable Grange for use of the Town Common and Bandstand on August 18th, 2018, with a setup date of August 17th, 2018. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection..” (Motion: Basbanes, second: Mikol)
Apr 18Accept the report of the committee and support the…Motion: A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to accept the report…Passed · see note
April 18, 2018: Accept the report of the committee and support the stewardship plan and designation, as well as sign the letter of formal support
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to accept the report of the committee and support the stewardship plan and designation, as well as sign the letter of formal support. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection.
The minutes say the motion passed “without objection,” with no count or names. Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to accept the report of the committee and support the stewardship plan and designation, as well as sign the letter of formal support. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection..” (Motion: Basbanes, second: Mikol)
Apr 18Approve the application by the Dunstable Democratic Town Committee…Motion: A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the application…Passed · see note
April 18, 2018: Approve the application by the Dunstable Democratic Town Committee for use of the Town Hall on May 22nd, 2018
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the application by the Dunstable Democratic Town Committee for use of the Town Hall on May 22nd, 2018. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection.
The minutes say the motion passed “without objection,” with no count or names. Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the application by the Dunstable Democratic Town Committee for use of the Town Hall on May 22nd, 2018. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection..” (Motion: Basbanes, second: Mikol)
Apr 13Find the petitions untimely; but the content is in…Motion: A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to find the petitions…Passed · see note
April 13, 2018: Find the petitions untimely; but the content is in the spirit with what the Planning Board is proposing and what the town intends to put forward for consideration of the…
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to find the petitions untimely; but the content is in the spirit with what the Planning Board is proposing and what the town intends to put forward for consideration of the voters. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol, and the motion passed without objection.
The minutes say the motion passed “without objection,” with no count or names. Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to find the petitions untimely; but the content is in the spirit with what the Planning Board is proposing and what the town intends to put forward for consideration of the voters. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol, and the motion passed without objection..” (Motion: Basbanes, second: Mikol)
Apr 3Accept the transfer and to decline exercise of the…Motion: A motion was made by Mr. Alterisio to accept the transfer…Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Basbanes
April 3, 2018: Accept the transfer and to decline exercise of the right to first refusal of the purchase of the land
ApprovePassed · 2–0
A motion was made by Mr. Alterisio to accept the transfer and to decline exercise of the right to first refusal of the purchase of the land. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed by majority vote with one abstention.
Yes: Alterisio, MikolAbstained: BasbanesThe minutes say the motion passed “by majority vote with one abstention.” Earlier in the same item they say Ms. Basbanes, “due to an existing relationship to the property owner,” determined to abstain, so Leah Basbanes is shown abstaining and the other two members voting yes.
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Mr. Alterisio to accept the transfer and to decline exercise of the right to first refusal of the purchase of the land. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed by majority vote with one abstention..” (Motion: Alterisio, second: Mikol)
Apr 3Approve the application by the Dunstable Garden Group for…Motion: A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the application…Passed · see note
April 3, 2018: Approve the application by the Dunstable Garden Group for use of the Town Common on May 19th, 2018
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the application by the Dunstable Garden Group for use of the Town Common on May 19th, 2018. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection.
The minutes say the motion passed “without objection,” with no count or names. Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the application by the Dunstable Garden Group for use of the Town Common on May 19th, 2018. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection..” (Motion: Basbanes, second: Mikol)
Apr 3Approve the application by the American Cancer Society and…Motion: A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the application…Passed · see note
April 3, 2018: Approve the application by the American Cancer Society and local partners for the staging of a bicyclist event on a route in town scheduled for June 10th, 2018 with the…
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the application by the American Cancer Society and local partners for the staging of a bicyclist event on a route in town scheduled for June 10th, 2018 with the stipulation that the route be approved by the Fire and Police Chiefs. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection.
The minutes say the motion passed “without objection,” with no count or names. Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Ms. Basbanes to approve the application by the American Cancer Society and local partners for the staging of a bicyclist event on a route in town scheduled for June 10th, 2018 with the stipulation that the route be approved by the Fire and Police Chiefs. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection..” (Motion: Basbanes, second: Mikol)
From the Dunstable Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town’s Select Board minutes page and in its older minutes archive. 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): Town of Dunstable Select Board meeting video — Ron Mikol (May 2026). Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.