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Municipal votes · 2020–2021 Board

Falmouth Select Board

How the Falmouth Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Nancy Taylor joined the board after the 2020 town election; Susan Moran left. On June 1, 2020 the board kept Megan English Braga as Chair and Doug Brown as Vice Chair (the minutes say Co-Chair); each was chosen 4-0 by roll call, with the nominee stepping aside from the vote. Covers 33 meetings, June 1 to May 10, 2021.

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 budget
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What Town Meeting decided

In Falmouth, 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. Town Meeting members are elected by precinct; counts are from the town’s electronic voting.

Annual Town Meeting · April 6, 2026 35 votes: 31 passed, 1 passed as amended, 1 failed, 2 indefinitely postponed

Sessions: April 6 and 7, 2026

Source: Town Clerk's certified votes, April 6-7, 2026 Annual Town Meeting.

Annual Town Meeting · November 17, 2025 24 votes: 17 passed, 1 passed as amended, 3 failed, 3 indefinitely postponed

Source: Town Clerk's certified votes, November 17, 2025 Annual Town Meeting.

Annual Town Meeting · April 7, 2025 42 votes: 40 passed, 1 passed as amended, 1 failed

Source: Town Clerk's certified votes, April 7, 2025 Annual Town Meeting.

Annual Town Meeting · November 18, 2024 36 votes: 31 passed, 1 failed, 4 indefinitely postponed

Source: Town Clerk's certified votes, November 18, 2024 Annual Town Meeting.

Annual Town Meeting · April 8, 2024 37 votes: 32 passed, 2 passed as amended, 1 failed, 2 indefinitely postponed

Source: Town Clerk's certified votes, April 8, 2024 Annual Town Meeting.

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

Doug JonesMember · Elected townwide · at 33 of 33 meetingsSam PattersonMember · Elected townwide · at 33 of 33 meetingsNancy TaylorMember · Elected townwide · at 33 of 33 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: Select Board minutes (called the Board of Selectmen until 2020) from January 2, 2018 through August 17, 2026, from the town’s CivicClerk meeting portal, which holds the same minutes files as the town’s old Agenda Center (minutes back to August 2004; MassVoter has loaded January 2018 on). Also loaded: joint meetings (Finance Committee, Board of Health, Planning Board, School Committee, Zoning Board of Appeals), strategic-planning workshops and two public meetings. Not here: minutes the town has not posted (about 39 calendar dates since 2018 have an agenda but no minutes, most of them workshops, executive sessions or community events, but also business meetings such as December 19, 2024 and March 5, 2025); two files posted as minutes that are the board’s Strategic Plan (June 28, 2018 and July 1, 2019); released executive-session minutes; and every meeting after August 17, 2026 (Falmouth usually posts minutes about six weeks after a meeting). Falmouth’s minutes are typed. Most give the mover and seconder and a count (“Vote: Yes-5. No-0.”); during the remote meetings of 2020-2021 and for executive-session votes they give a roll call by name (“Roll Call Vote: Ms. Moran, aye; Mr. Jones, aye; ...”). 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 (“Yes-4. No-1 (Mr. Jones)”), everyone else present as voting yes. Where the minutes give only a split count without names, a roll call leaves out a member who was there or names one who was not, or the count does not match the members present, we show the count only and add a note. Motions with no vote written down are shown with no count. Members who stepped aside (recused) or were out of the room are left out of that vote. Votes taken by other boards at joint meetings are not included. A few meetings have no attendance list; there the members present are taken from the roll calls, with a note. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.

Monday, May 10, 2021 · Regular meeting27 recorded votes, 2 with disagreementAll 5 members presentMonday, April 26, 2021 · Regular meeting24 recorded votes, 25 with disagreementAll 5 members presentMonday, April 12, 2021 · Regular meeting3 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, April 6, 2021 · Joint meeting2 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 5 members presentMonday, April 5, 2021 · Regular meeting27 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 5 members present

Votes where members disagreed

Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.

May 10Convene the executive session under 1Motion: To convene the executive session under 1. M.G.L. c.30A s.21(a)(3) -…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note

May 10, 2021: Convene the executive session under 1

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 3 present

To convene the executive session under 1. M.G.L. c.30A s.21(a)(3) - Discussion on potential settlement of litigation involving Town wastewater facilities 2. M.G.L. c.30A s.21(a)(3) - To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining - Falmouth Firefighters Union Local 1397 because to not go into executive session could prejudice ongoing negotiations.

The count lists Doug Brown as absent for this vote, so Doug Brown is left out of it. The count lists Doug Jones as absent for this vote, so Doug Jones is left out of it.

From the minutes

“Chair English Braga called the open session to order at 6:00 p.m. and motioned to convene the executive session under 1. M.G.L. c.30A s.21(a)(3) - Discussion on potential settlement of litigation involving Town wastewater facilities 2. M.G.L. c.30A s.21(a)(3) - To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining - Falmouth Firefighters Union Local 1397 because to not go into executive session could prejudice ongoing negotiations. Mr. Patterson seconded the motion. It was followed by a unanimous roll call vote in Open Session to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the above-listed items, and to return to Open Session after discussion. Roll Call Vote: Chair English Braga aye; Sam Patterson, aye; Nancy Taylor, aye. Absent: Mr. Brown and Mr. Jones..” (Motion: Braga, second: Patterson)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

May 10Authorize Town Manager to sign Mill Pond Notice of…Motion: To authorize.Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

May 10, 2021: Authorize Town Manager to sign Mill Pond Notice of Intent with the Conservation Commission

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present

To authorize.

Doug Brown stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.

From the minutes

“Mr. Patterson motion to authorize. Second Mr. Jones. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Patterson, aye; Ms. Taylor, aye; Mr. Jones, aye; Chair English Braga, aye. Abstain: Mr. Brown..” (Motion: Patterson, second: Jones)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Apr 26In the packet as a motionMotion: in the packet as a motion.Passed 4–0 · see note

April 26, 2021: In the packet as a motion

ApprovePassed · 4–0

In the packet as a motion.

The roll call does not give a vote for Doug Jones, who was at the meeting. Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Chair English Braga read the proclamation in the packet as a motion. Second Mr. Patterson. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Brown, aye; Mr. Patterson, aye; Ms. Taylor, aye; Chair English Braga, aye..” (Motion: Braga, second: Patterson)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Apr 26Approve application for a Change of Manager of a…Motion: approval.Passed 4–0 · see note

April 26, 2021: Approve application for a Change of Manager of a Second-Hand Dealer License - Hand in Hand Thrift Shop, 141 Sandwich Road, East Falmouth

ApprovePassed · 4–0

Approval.

The roll call does not give a vote for Doug Jones, who was at the meeting. Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Mr. Patterson motion approval. Second Ms. Taylor. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Brown, aye; Mr. Patterson, aye; Ms. Taylor, aye; Chair English Braga, aye..” (Motion: Patterson, second: Taylor)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Apr 26Approve Warrant for Annual Town Election on May 18,…Motion: approval.Passed 4–0 · see note

April 26, 2021: Approve Warrant for Annual Town Election on May 18, 2021

ApprovePassed · 4–0

Approval.

The roll call does not give a vote for Doug Jones, who was at the meeting. Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Mr. Brown motion approval. Second Mr. Jones. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Brown, aye; Mr. Patterson, aye; Ms. Taylor, aye; Chair English Braga, aye..” (Motion: Brown, second: Jones)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Apr 26Layout Winthrop Road and refer to the Planning Board…Motion: approval.Passed 4–0 · see note

April 26, 2021: Layout Winthrop Road and refer to the Planning Board for recommendation

ApprovePassed · 4–0

Approval.

The roll call does not give a vote for Doug Jones, who was at the meeting. Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Mr. Brown motion approval. Second Mr. Jones. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Brown, aye; Mr. Patterson, aye; Ms. Taylor, aye; Chair English Braga, aye..” (Motion: Brown, second: Jones)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Apr 26Approve Memorandum of Understanding with Friends of Falmouth Dogs…Motion: approval.Passed 4–0 · see note

April 26, 2021: Approve Memorandum of Understanding with Friends of Falmouth Dogs and Grant of License for 150 Blacksmith Shop Road

ApprovePassed · 4–0

Approval.

The roll call does not give a vote for Doug Jones, who was at the meeting. Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Ms. Taylor motion approval. Second Mr. Patterson. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Brown, aye; Mr. Patterson, aye; Ms. Taylor, aye; Chair English Braga, aye..” (Motion: Taylor, second: Patterson)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Apr 26Approve a two year extension with 60 spacesMotion: To approve a two year extension with 60 spaces. The SSA…Passed 4–0 · see note

April 26, 2021: Approve a two year extension with 60 spaces

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To approve a two year extension with 60 spaces. The SSA keeps threatening to cut off the bike path.

The roll call does not give a vote for Doug Jones, who was at the meeting. Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Mr. Jones motion to approve a two year extension with 60 spaces. The SSA keeps threatening to cut off the bike path. Second Mr. Patterson. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Brown, aye; Mr. Patterson, aye; Ms. Taylor, aye; Chair English Braga, aye..” (Motion: Jones, second: Patterson)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Apr 26Approve to 12/31/23Motion: To approve to 12/31/23.Passed 4–0 · see note

April 26, 2021: Approve to 12/31/23

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To approve to 12/31/23.

The roll call does not give a vote for Doug Jones, who was at the meeting. Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Mr. Patterson motion to approve to 12/31/23. Second Ms. Taylor. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Brown, aye; Mr. Patterson, aye; Ms. Taylor, aye; Chair English Braga, aye..” (Motion: Patterson, second: Taylor)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Apr 26In the packet to implement the water restrictions, adding…Motion: in the packet to implement the water restrictions, adding the newly…Passed 4–0 · see note

April 26, 2021: In the packet to implement the water restrictions, adding the newly installed lawns and plantings exemption effective 5/1/21

ApprovePassed · 4–0

In the packet to implement the water restrictions, adding the newly installed lawns and plantings exemption effective 5/1/21.

The roll call does not give a vote for Doug Jones, who was at the meeting. Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Mr. Patterson read the motion in the packet to implement the water restrictions, adding the newly installed lawns and plantings exemption effective 5/1/21. Second Mr. Brown. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Brown, aye; Mr. Patterson, aye; Ms. Taylor, aye; Chair English Braga, aye..” (Motion: Patterson, second: Brown)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

From the Falmouth Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town’s Agenda and Meeting Management portal (CivicClerk), linked from the Select Board page. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: The Falmouth Enterprise (capenews.net), by Gene M. Marchand and Devin Ankeney, and an Enterprise campaign photo of Heather Goldstone.

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