MassVoter.com← East BridgewaterMunicipal votes · 2019–2020 Board
East Bridgewater Select Board
How the East Bridgewater Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 3 Select Board members elected townwide. Same three members. On April 8, 2019 the board chose William Dowling as Chair, Carole Julius as Vice Chair and David Sheedy as Clerk. Covers 37 meetings, April 8 to March 26, 2020.
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 budgetYour East Bridgewater ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →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 East Bridgewater, 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.
Special Town Meeting · November 10, 2025 1 votes: 1 passed
- Art. 1 Appropriate $125,227,912 to design and build a new Central Elementary School at 107 Central Street Passed “the motion passed by a 2/3rds majority · Yes: 289, No: 86”
Special Town Meeting · October 27, 2025 22 votes: 17 passed, 2 passed as amended, 3 no action
- Art. 1 Move $8,500 within the Board of Health budget from personnel to professional services Passed “the Moderator declared Article 1 passes Unanimously.”
- Art. 2 $26,552 from free cash for sick leave buyback for one retiring firefighter (amended from $69,181.18 for three) Passed as amended “the Moderator declared the amended motion for Article 2 passed unanimously”
- Art. 3 $1,000,000 capital stabilization and $200,000 ambulance receipts for a new fire engine Passed “the Moderator declared that Article 3 passed by the required 2/3rds vote”
- Art. 4 $10,869 from free cash for Fire Department document archive shelving No action “unanimously voted to allow Article 4 to be passed over”
- Art. 5 Contract up to five years for ambulance billing and collection services Passed “the Moderator declared that Article 5 passed”
- Art. 6 $7,500 from free cash for a Fire Department promotional assessment center No action “unanimously voted to allow Article 6 to be passed over”
- Art. 7 $17,986 from free cash for a retiring patrol officer's buyout Passed “the Moderator declared that Article 7 passed”
- Art. 8 $18,860 from free cash for police promotional assessment centers No action “unanimously voted to allow Article 8 to be passed over”
- Art. 9 Set FY2026 salaries of elected town officers Passed “the Moderator declared Article 9 passed unanimously”
- Art. 10 $3,000 from free cash for the FY2026 animal control contract Passed “the Moderator declared the motion passed”
- Art. 11 $5,500 from free cash for library department head salaries Passed “the Moderator declared Article 11 passed unanimously”
- Art. 12 $12,000 from free cash for town-wide user device replacement Passed “the Moderator declared Article 12 passed unanimously”
- Art. 13 New bylaw authorizing criminal history checks for certain licenses Passed “the Moderator declared Article 13 passed unanimously”
- Art. 14 Lease-purchase two DPW dump trucks (up to five years) Passed “the Moderator declared Article 14 passed”
- Art. 15 Accept MGL c.59 s.5N: veterans' property tax work-off program Passed “the Moderator declared Article 15 passed”
- Art. 16 Bylaw amendment on the Conservation Commission Passed “the Moderator declared Article 16 passed”
- Art. 17 Change the bylaw on the annual innholder/common victualler license fee Passed “the Moderator declared Article 17 passed”
- Art. 18 Amend special permit uses in the B-2 business zoning district Passed “the Moderator declared Article 18 passed”
- Art. 19 Allow second-floor apartments (mixed use) by special permit in the B-3 business district Passed “the Moderator declared Article 19 passed”
- Art. 20 Accept MGL c.138 s.33B: allow Sunday and holiday alcohol sales on premises from 10 a.m. Passed “the Moderator declared Article 20 passed”
- Art. 21 Ask the Legislature for two more all-alcohol and two more wine/malt package store licenses (amended from four) Passed as amended “the Moderator declared Article 21 passed”
- Art. 22 Accept MGL c.138 s.12: let wine and malt restaurant licensees also sell liqueurs and cordials Passed “the Moderator declared that Article 22 passed”
Annual Town Meeting · May 12, 2025 17 votes: 15 passed, 2 failed
- Art. 1 Accept the reports of town officers, boards and committees (consent agenda) Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 2 Let the Select Board apply for and spend state and federal grants (consent agenda) Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 3 Set FY2026 spending limits for revolving funds (consent agenda) Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 4 FY2026 omnibus budget and elected officials' salaries, as printed in the warrant Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED 2/3”
- Art. 5 Zoning: MBTA Communities North single- and multi-family overlay district Failed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION DEFEATED · YES 59 NO 72”
- Art. 6 Add the MBTA Communities North overlay district map to the zoning bylaws Failed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION DEFEATED · YES 59 NO 72”
- Art. 7 Replace the accessory dwelling unit zoning bylaw to match new state rules Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED MAJORITY”
- Art. 8 $189,597 from free cash for the police union contract and $33,000 for a DPW retirement Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 9 $25,390 from free cash for sick leave buyback for a retiring patrol officer Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 10 $1,000 from the Opioid Stabilization Fund for Plymouth County Outreach dues Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED 2/3 SUPER MAJORITY”
- Art. 11 $10,000 from the Opioid Stabilization Fund for Plymouth County Outreach IT costs Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED 2/3 MAJORITY”
- Art. 12 $35,000 from free cash for the FY2026 five-year property revaluation Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED MAJORITY”
- Art. 13 Capital outlay: $208,038 free cash, $400,000 ambulance receipts, $350,000 library roof/HVAC account Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 14 Accept MGL c.59 s.5 clause 22I: yearly cost-of-living increase to veterans' property tax exemptions Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 15 Accept MGL c.59 s.5 clause 22J: increase veterans' property tax exemptions by 100% Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 16 Lease-purchase two police cruisers; first-year payment of $52,335.22 Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED 2/3”
- Art. 17 Accept donation of about 5 acres on Hudson (Map 15, Lot 2) Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED 2/3”
Special Town Meeting · May 12, 2025 5 votes: 5 passed
- Art. 1 $174,982 from free cash for the FY2024-FY2025 police union contract Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 2 $12,000 from ambulance receipts for repairs to Ambulance 2 Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 3 $10,000 from ambulance receipts for EMS recertification and license costs Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 4 $12,860 from free cash for police body-worn camera training Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED MAJORITY”
- Art. 5 Move $49,250 from two school assessment accounts to Central Elementary School repairs Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED MAJORITY”
Special Town Meeting · January 13, 2025 3 votes: 3 passed
- Art. 1 $60,000 from free cash to replace the fence around the Bridge Street landfill Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY MAJORITY”
- Art. 2 $6,600 from free cash for FY2025 animal control services Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY”
- Art. 3 $120,000 for a feasibility study/schematic design for school roof, door and window replacement Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY HAND COUNT 24 YES/4 NO · 24 YES/4 NO”
Special Town Meeting · October 7, 2024 18 votes: 13 passed, 5 failed
- Art. 1 $37,200 for union and personal contracts (library, IT, Select Board clerical, health insurance) Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY MAJORITY”
- Art. 2 Rescind $1,770,197 of unused borrowing authority from 2020 and 2022 town meetings Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY 2/3RD”
- Art. 3 Rescind water ($500,000) and EBCAM ($20,361) retained-earnings funding voted in the May 2024 budget Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY MAJORITY”
- Art. 4 Re-fund FY2025 water ($500,000) and EBCAM ($20,361) budgets from certified retained earnings Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY MAJORITY”
- Art. 5 $2,800 for a special longevity payment for a Council on Aging staff member Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY MAJORITY”
- Art. 6 $11,000 for added clerical hours for Chapter 40B hearings Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY MAJORITY”
- Art. 7 $2,200 for added library part-time staff hours Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY MAJORITY”
- Art. 8 $19,031.41 from free cash to pay a prior-year heating bill Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY 9/10th”
- Art. 9 $3,000 for police details at the Christmas Parade Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY MAJORITY”
- Art. 10 $83.02 from free cash to pay a prior-year computer bill Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY 9/10th”
- Art. 11 $1,000 from the Opioid Stabilization Fund for Plymouth County Outreach dues Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY 2/3rd”
- Art. 12 $50,000 from free cash for public safety injury medical expenses (MGL c.41 s.100/100B) Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY MAJORITY”
- Art. 13 $42,000 from free cash for netting at Strong Field Failed “THE MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION WAS NOT PASSED BY HAND COUNT OF 86-50 · 86-50”
- Art. 14 Zoning: MBTA Communities North single- and multi-family overlay district Failed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION NOT PASSED BY HANDCOUNT 91-39 · 91-39”
- Art. 15 Zoning: MBTA Communities Downtown single- and multi-family overlay district Failed “MODERATOR DECLARED ARTICLE 15 DOES NOT PASSED”
- Art. 16 Add the MBTA Downtown Overlay District map to the zoning bylaws Failed “MODERATOR DECLARED ARTICLE 16 FAILS”
- Art. 17 Add the MBTA Zoning District North map to the zoning bylaws Failed “MODERATOR DECLARED ARTICLE 17 FAILS”
- Art. 18 Amend the accessory dwelling unit zoning bylaw Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSES BY HANDCOUT MAJORITY 64-47 · 64-47”
Special Town Meeting · May 13, 2024 4 votes: 4 passed
- Art. 1 $62,000 from free cash for the new dispatcher contract (retroactive pay and signing bonus) Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY MAJORITY”
- Art. 2 $2,646.08 from free cash to pay a prior-year Fire Department bill Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY”
- Art. 3 $12,000 from free cash for equipment to fight electric vehicle fires Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY MAJORITY”
- Art. 4 $30,000 from ambulance receipts to Fire Department military, injury and sick coverage lines Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
Annual Town Meeting · May 13, 2024 29 votes: 25 passed, 1 failed, 3 no action
- Art. 1 Accept the reports of town officers, boards and committees (consent agenda) Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 5 Let the Select Board apply for and spend state and federal grants (consent agenda) Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 6 Set FY2025 spending limits for revolving funds (consent agenda) Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 13 $11,500 for election equipment No action “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 14 Electrical upgrades to the Town Common No action “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 18 Create a North Bedford Street Sewer District enterprise fund No action “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 2 FY2025 omnibus budget and elected officials' salaries, total budget $62,514,869 Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY 2/3RD”
- Art. 3 $15,190 from free cash for a police signing bonus and an assessor stipend Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 4 Capital outlay: $491,887 free cash, $500,000 capital stabilization, $40,900 sewer revolving fund Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY 2/3RD SUPERMAJORITY”
- Art. 7 $164,766.93 from free cash for contractual costs of four retiring town employees Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 8 $125,000 from ambulance receipts to capital stabilization for Tower 1 Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 9 $5,552 from free cash for police bulletproof vests Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 10 $19,910 from EBCAM retained earnings for Apple Macs for EBCAM Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 11 $267.50 from free cash for telephone payments Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 12 $10,000 from the Opioid Stabilization Fund for Plymouth County Outreach IT costs Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY 2/3RD SUPERMAJORITY”
- Art. 15 Set a $20 fee for each written demand issued by the Tax Collector Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 16 $2,600 from free cash to appraise fine arts at the public library Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 17 $5,500 from free cash for restoration and archival framing at the public library Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 19 Bylaw banning sales of alcoholic beverages in containers of 100 ml or less (nips) Failed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION FAILED”
- Art. 20 New bylaw regulating door-to-door solicitation Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 21 Accept donation of about 1.5 acres off North Bedford Street (Map 119, Lot 2) Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED 2/3RD SUPERMAJORITY”
- Art. 22 Accept donation of about 6 acres on Washington Street (Map 37, Parcel 2) Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED 2/3RD SUPERMAJORITY”
- Art. 23 New poultry bylaw Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY MAJORITY”
- Art. 24 Amend R-5 adult retirement planned unit development zoning district Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 25 Zoning: create a Salvage Yard Overlay District (Z-1) for Thatcher Street Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED 2/3RD SUPERMAJORITY”
- Art. 26 Add the Thatcher Street Salvage Yard Overlay District to the zoning map Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED 2/3RD SUPERMAJORITY”
- Art. 27 Replace the Site Plan Approval section of the zoning bylaws Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED 2/3RD SUPERMAJORITY”
- Art. 28 Let the Select Board waive enforcement of the tax-delinquency permit bylaw for hardship cases Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 29 Amend the Enforcement section of the zoning bylaws Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED SUPERMAJORITY”
Special Town Meeting · February 20, 2024 3 votes: 3 passed
- Art. 1 Borrow $1,700,000 to replace the artificial turf field and track at the Jr/Sr High School Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED BY 2/3RD”
- Art. 2 Let the Select Board lease up to 20 acres of town land at Leland Farms for agriculture Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
- Art. 3 Move $58,023 from a 2023 sick-leave buyback article to the Fire Department cover-sick line Passed “MODERATOR DECLARED MOTION PASSED”
Not here yet: the May 11, 2026 Annual and Special Town Meetings and the October 7, 2026 Special Town Meeting (only warrants and agendas are posted; results should appear in the 2026 Annual Town Report).
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
Vice-ChairCarole JuliusVice Chair · Elected townwide · at 37 of 37 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: every Select Board (Board of Selectmen) meeting with minutes on the town website from January 2018 through September 3, 2026 (2018 to 2024 from the town's Document Center, 2025 on from its Agenda Center). Not here: minutes before 2018, executive-session minutes, Board of Water Commissioners minutes, and minutes the town has not posted yet (every meeting after September 3, 2026). Most minutes from 2018 to 2021 are scanned paper copies, which we read by computer text recognition. The minutes usually give the mover, the seconder and the result in one line ("All were in favor 3-0", or "Vote 3-0-0" in 2019). When the minutes say all were in favor, or give a count equal to the members present with no one opposed or abstaining, we show every member present as voting yes. When a split count names who voted no or abstained and the numbers add up, we show each member's vote; when a split count does not say who voted which way, or the count and the members present do not match, we show the count only and add a note. Motions the minutes record with no vote at all are not included. Votes by other boards at joint meetings are not included. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Mar 14Declare a state of emergency for the Town of…Motion: to declare a state of emergency for the Town of East…Passed 3–0 · see note
March 14, 2020: Declare a state of emergency for the Town of East Bridgewater effective Saturday, March 14, 2020
To declare a state of emergency for the Town of East Bridgewater effective Saturday, March 14, 2020.
The minutes give a count of 3-0, but 2 members are listed as present, so we show the count only. The minutes name David Sheedy as the mover, but do not list this member as present at this point.
From the minutes
“Mr. Sheedy made a motion to declare a state of emergency for the Town of East Bridgewater effective Saturday, March 14, 2020. Ms. Julius seconded. All were in favor. 3-0.” (second: Julius)
Mar 14Sign a declaration of State of Emergency for the…Motion: to sign a declaration of State of Emergency for the Town…Passed 3–0 · see note
March 14, 2020: Sign a declaration of State of Emergency for the Town of East Bridgewater effective Saturday, March 14, 2020
To sign a declaration of State of Emergency for the Town of East Bridgewater effective Saturday, March 14, 2020.
The minutes give a count of 3-0, but 2 members are listed as present, so we show the count only. The minutes name David Sheedy as the mover, but do not list this member as present at this point.
From the minutes
“Mr. Sheedy made a motion to sign a declaration of State of Emergency for the Town of East Bridgewater effective Saturday, March 14, 2020. Ms. Julius seconded. All were in favor. 3-0.” (second: Julius)
Oct 7Approve the Fraud Risk Assessment PolicyMotion: to approve the Fraud Risk Assessment Policy.Passed 2–0 · see note
October 7, 2019: Approve the Fraud Risk Assessment Policy
To approve the Fraud Risk Assessment Policy.
The minutes give a count of 2-0, but 3 members are listed as present, so we show the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr. Sheedy made a motion to approve the Fraud Risk Assessment Policy. Ms. Julius seconded. All were in favor, 2-0.” (Motion: Sheedy, second: Julius)
Oct 7Approve the Taxi Operators License Application and PolicyMotion: to approve the Taxi Operators License Application and Policy.Passed 2–0 · see note
October 7, 2019: Approve the Taxi Operators License Application and Policy
To approve the Taxi Operators License Application and Policy.
The minutes give a count of 2-0, but 3 members are listed as present, so we show the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr. Sheedy made a motion to approve the Taxi Operators License Application and Policy. Ms. Julius seconded. All were in favor, 2-0.” (Motion: Sheedy, second: Julius)
Oct 7Approve not split the tax rate, and to keep…Motion: to approve not split the tax rate, and to keep it…Passed 2–0 · see note
October 7, 2019: Approve not split the tax rate, and to keep it at a single rate for the fiscal year 2020
To approve not split the tax rate, and to keep it at a single rate for the fiscal year 2020. Ms. i Julius.
The minutes give a count of 2-0, but 3 members are listed as present, so we show the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr. Sheedy made a motion to approve not split the tax rate, and to keep it at a single rate for the fiscal year 2020. Ms. i Julius seconded Vote 2-0.” (Motion: Sheedy, second: Julius)
Jun 3Approve the request from Dale Julius for the use…Motion: to approve the request from Dale Julius for the use of…Passed 2–0 · see note
June 3, 2019: Approve the request from Dale Julius for the use of the Town Common on June 13, 2019 from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
To approve the request from Dale Julius for the use of the Town Common on June 13, 2019 from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. For the annual Dale and the Duds event for the citizens of East Bridgewater.
The minutes give only the count (2-0-1), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“M/Sheedy, s/Julius to approve the request from Dale Julius for the use of the Town Common on June 13, 2019 from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. For the annual Dale and the Duds event for the citizens of East Bridgewater. Vote 2-0-1.” (Motion: Sheedy, second: Julius)
From the East Bridgewater Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center and Document Center. We check every vote against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos of current members: Town of East Bridgewater Select Board page. Former members show initials.
How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →