How the Dunstable Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 3 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. After the May 18, 2021 town election the board returned to rotating the chair: on May 25, 2021 it kept Leah D. Basbanes as Chair and made Kieran D. Meehan Vice Chair. Covers 31 meetings, May 25 to May 14, 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.
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 10Authorize the execution of the contract the authorized signatory…Motion: A motion was made by Mr. Mikol to authorize the execution…Passed · see note
May 10, 2022: Authorize the execution of the contract the authorized signatory to be the Interim Town Administrator
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Mikol to authorize the execution of the contract the authorized signatory to be the Interim Town Administrator. The motion was seconded by Mr. Meehan 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 Mr. Mikol to authorize the execution of the contract the authorized signatory to be the Interim Town Administrator. The motion was seconded by Mr. Meehan and passed without objection..” (Motion: Mikol, second: Meehan)
May 10Designate the signatory as the Interim Town Administrator for…Motion: A motion was made by Mr. Mikol to designate the signatory…Passed · see note
May 10, 2022: Designate the signatory as the Interim Town Administrator for the MassDOT paperwork with the Board's chair as the secondary signatory authority
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Mikol to designate the signatory as the Interim Town Administrator for the MassDOT paperwork with the Board's chair as the secondary signatory authority. A motion was seconded by Mr. Meehan 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 Mr. Mikol to designate the signatory as the Interim Town Administrator for the MassDOT paperwork with the Board's chair as the secondary signatory authority. A motion was seconded by Mr. Meehan and passed without objection..” (Motion: Mikol, second: Meehan)
May 10Approve the list of Annual Appointments as enumerated and…Motion: A motion was made by Mr. Mikol to approve the list…Passed · see note
May 10, 2022: Approve the list of Annual Appointments as enumerated and dated May 10th, 2022, and to dispense with reading of the list
AppointPassed · No count or names in the minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Mikol to approve the list of Annual Appointments as enumerated and dated May 10th, 2022, and to dispense with reading of the list. The motion was seconded by Mr. Meehan 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 Mr. Mikol to approve the list of Annual Appointments as enumerated and dated May 10th, 2022, and to dispense with reading of the list. The motion was seconded by Mr. Meehan and passed without objection..” (Motion: Mikol, second: Meehan)
Apr 12Accept the donation of a sign for Swallow-Union Elementary…Motion: A motion was made by Ronald J. Mikol to accept the…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
April 12, 2022: Accept the donation of a sign for Swallow-Union Elementary School as proposed and provided by the 4th Grade Class
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present
A motion was made by Ronald J. Mikol to accept the donation of a sign for Swallow-Union Elementary School as proposed and provided by the 4th Grade Class. The motion as seconded by Kieran D. Meehan and passed by majority vote of Leah D. Basbanes, Kieran D. Meehan, and Ronald J. Mikol.
The minutes list the members voting for the motion (“passed by majority vote of Leah D. Basbanes, Kieran D. Meehan, and Ronald J. Mikol”).
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Ronald J. Mikol to accept the donation of a sign for Swallow-Union Elementary School as proposed and provided by the 4th Grade Class. The motion as seconded by Kieran D. Meehan and passed by majority vote of Leah D. Basbanes, Kieran D. Meehan, and Ronald J. Mikol..” (Motion: Mikol, second: Meehan)
Apr 12Accept the warrant as amended by the Board and…Motion: A motion was made by Ronald J. Mikol to accept the…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
April 12, 2022: Accept the warrant as amended by the Board and to authorize signing of the warrant
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present
A motion was made by Ronald J. Mikol to accept the warrant as amended by the Board and to authorize signing of the warrant. The motion as seconded by Kieran D. Meehan and passed by majority vote of Leah D. Basbanes, Kieran D. Meehan, and Ronald J. Mikol.
The minutes list the members voting for the motion (“passed by majority vote of Leah D. Basbanes, Kieran D. Meehan, and Ronald J. Mikol”).
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Ronald J. Mikol to accept the warrant as amended by the Board and to authorize signing of the warrant. The motion as seconded by Kieran D. Meehan and passed by majority vote of Leah D. Basbanes, Kieran D. Meehan, and Ronald J. Mikol..” (Motion: Mikol, second: Meehan)
Apr 12Approve this request for $10,000 from the Wetland Protection…Motion: A motion was made by Ronald J. Mikol to approve this…Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Basbanes
April 12, 2022: Approve this request for $10,000 from the Wetland Protection Act Funds for the purposes proposed by the Conservation Commission in their memorandum dated March 29, 2022
ApprovePassed · 2–0
A motion was made by Ronald J. Mikol to approve this request for $10,000 from the Wetland Protection Act Funds for the purposes proposed by the Conservation Commission in their memorandum dated March 29, 2022. The motion was seconded by Kieran D. Meehan and passed by majority vote of Kieran D. Meehan and Ronald J. Mikol with Leah D. Basbanes abstaining.
Yes: Meehan, MikolAbstained: BasbanesThe minutes list the members voting for the motion (“passed by majority vote of Kieran D. Meehan and Ronald J. Mikol with Leah D. Basbanes abstaining”).
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Ronald J. Mikol to approve this request for $10,000 from the Wetland Protection Act Funds for the purposes proposed by the Conservation Commission in their memorandum dated March 29, 2022. The motion was seconded by Kieran D. Meehan and passed by majority vote of Kieran D. Meehan and Ronald J. Mikol with Leah D. Basbanes abstaining..” (Motion: Mikol, second: Meehan)
Mar 16Authorize the signing of the contract by the Board's…Motion: A motion was made by Mr. Mikol to authorize the signing…Passed · see note
March 16, 2022: Authorize the signing of the contract by the Board's vice chair
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Mikol to authorize the signing of the contract by the Board's vice chair. The motion was seconded by Mr. Meehan and passed by majority vote.
The minutes say the motion passed “by majority vote,” without a count or names. Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Mr. Mikol to authorize the signing of the contract by the Board's vice chair. The motion was seconded by Mr. Meehan and passed by majority vote..” (Motion: Mikol, second: Meehan)
Mar 16Ms. Martins. David DeManche appointed Interim Town Administrator Term…Motion: Ms. Martins. David DeManche appointed Interim Town Administrator Term Expires December…Passed · see note
March 16, 2022: Ms. Martins. David DeManche appointed Interim Town Administrator Term Expires December 31st, 2022
AppointPassed · No count or names in the minutes
Ms. Martins. David DeManche appointed Interim Town Administrator Term Expires December 31st, 2022 Motion by Mr. Mikol, second by Mr. Meehan, passed by majority vote
The minutes say the motion passed “by majority vote,” without a count or names. Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“Ms. Martins. David DeManche appointed Interim Town Administrator Term Expires December 31st, 2022 Motion by Mr. Mikol, second by Mr. Meehan, passed by majority vote.” (Motion: Mikol, second: Meehan)
Mar 3Approve the February 1 st, 2022 minutes as amendedMotion: A motion was made by Mr. Meehan to approve the February…Passed · see note
March 3, 2022: Approve the February 1 st, 2022 minutes as amended
Approve minutesPassed · No count or names in the minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Meehan to approve the February 1 st, 2022 minutes as amended. 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 Mr. Meehan to approve the February 1 st, 2022 minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection..” (Motion: Meehan, second: Mikol)
Mar 3Approve the February 14th and February 15th, 2022 minutes…Motion: A motion was made by Mr. Meehan to approve the February…Passed · see note
March 3, 2022: Approve the February 14th and February 15th, 2022 minutes as written
Approve minutesPassed · No count or names in the minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Meehan to approve the February 14th and February 15th, 2022 minutes as written. 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 Mr. Meehan to approve the February 14th and February 15th, 2022 minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mikol and passed without objection..” (Motion: Meehan, 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.