MassVoter.com← GrotonMunicipal votes · 2019–2020 Board
Groton Select Board
How the Groton Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. John Reilly joined the board after the May 2019 town election (first meeting June 3, 2019); Barry Pease had resigned from the board in the spring of 2019 (the May 15, 2019 minutes report his resignation; his last meeting was April 22, 2019). On June 3, 2019 the board chose Alison Manugian as Chair and Joshua Degen as Vice Chair (each unanimously) and John Reilly as Clerk (4-1, Reilly voting against). From March 2020 the board met remotely. Covers 39 meetings, June 3 to June 8, 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 budgetBoard years
Coming up
MassVoter can’t read Groton’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Members
Becky PineMember · At-large · at 38 of 39 meetings
John ReillyClerk · At-large · at 38 of 39 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: Groton Select Board minutes (the board was called the Board of Selectmen until the 2018 Spring Town Meeting renamed it) from January 16, 2018 through August 31, 2026: 315 meetings and 2,132 votes. The town’s meeting portal holds the board’s minutes back to June 2001; MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. Nearly all the minutes are typed documents with searchable text; five files are scans, which we read with text recognition. Not here: executive-session minutes; about 100 dates on the portal that have an agenda but no minutes (many are executive-session-only sessions, Saturday budget sessions with the Finance Committee, joint meetings in neighboring towns and meetings held at Town Meeting); the December 15, 2025 file, which holds only the meeting’s attachments; the April 4, 2023 file, which holds the School Committee’s minutes; and meetings after August 31, 2026 (the September 14 and 28 and October 3, 2026 minutes are not posted yet). Groton’s minutes give the mover, the seconder and the result. About two votes in five are roll calls by name (“Roll Call: Pine-aye; Degaitas-aye; Reilly-aye; Cunningham-aye; Pisani-aye”), most of all during the remote meetings of 2020 and 2021; other votes read “The motion carried unanimously,” shown as every member present voting yes, or give the count and name the member who voted no or abstained (“4 in Favor, 1 Against- Manugian”), shown member by member when the count matches the members present. Where the count does not match the members present or a split names no one, we show the count only, with a note (5 votes); 11 votes record the result only (“The motion carried”). When members chose between two nominees for Chair or Vice Chair, we show the result only and quote who chose whom. Members who stepped aside (recused) or left the room are not shown as voting. At joint meetings (the Finance Committee, School Committee, Park, Planning and other boards) only the Select Board’s own votes are shown; when the Select Board voted together with another board to fill a vacancy, only the Select Board members’ votes are shown. Select Board positions on Town Meeting articles that the minutes list without a motion are not shown as votes. 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.
Jun 8Nominate John EllenbergerMotion: Ms. Manugian nominated John Ellenberger.Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
June 8, 2020: Nominate John Ellenberger
Ms. Manugian nominated John Ellenberger.
This was a joint vote with another board (to fill a vacancy or as a joint meeting); only the Select Board members’ votes are shown.
From the minutes
“Ms. Manugian nominated John Ellenberger. Mr. Degen seconded the nomination. Mr. Kauppi closed the period for nominations. Mr. Ellenberger said he was interested in serving as he had gotten to know and appreciate what they did in his years covering their meetings. Mr. Reilly asked if he had served on other town committees. Mr. Ellenberger said that he had served on the original Cable Committee. Ms. Pine said it sounded like he was a good fit and thanked him for expressing his interest. Roll Call: Degen-aye; Giger-aye; Manugian-aye; Pine-aye; Reilly-aye; Cronin-aye; Gilbert-aye; Kubick-aye; Raynor-aye; Kauppi-aye.” (Motion: Manugian, second: Degen)
Jun 8Designate John Giger to continue signing the warrant through…Motion: Mr. Degen moved to designate John Giger to continue signing the…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Giger
June 8, 2020: Designate John Giger to continue signing the warrant through July 11, 2020 along with the Town Manager
Mr. Degen moved to designate John Giger to continue signing the warrant through July 11, 2020 along with the Town Manager.
Yes: Degen, Manugian, Pine, ReillyAbstained: Giger
From the minutes
“Mr. Degen moved to designate John Giger to continue signing the warrant through July 11, 2020 along with the Town Manager. Ms. Manugian seconded the motion. Roll Call: Pine-aye; Manugian-aye; Reilly-aye; Degen-aye; Giger-abstain.” (Motion: Degen, second: Manugian)
Jun 1Allow the pool to open following protocols discussed tonight…Motion: Ms. Pine moved to allow the pool to open following protocols…Failed 2–3 · No: Degen, Giger, Manugian
June 1, 2020: Allow the pool to open following protocols discussed tonight with changes in food and the need for waivers as discussed
Ms. Pine moved to allow the pool to open following protocols discussed tonight with changes in food and the need for waivers as discussed.
Yes: Pine, ReillyNo: Degen, Giger, Manugian
From the minutes
“Ms. Pine moved to allow the pool to open following protocols discussed tonight with changes in food and the need for waivers as discussed. Mr. Reilly seconded the motion. Mr. Haddad asked that it be subject to NABH guidance and state guidelines. Mr. Degen said this was opening a virtual can of worms. Manugian-nay; Degen-nay; Reilly-aye; Pine-aye; Giger-nay.” (Motion: Pine, second: Reilly)
May 18Vote to not offer a camp program at the…Motion: Ms. Pine moved that they vote to not offer a camp…Passed 4–1 · No: Reilly
May 18, 2020: Vote to not offer a camp program at the Country Club during the summer of 2020
Ms. Pine moved that they vote to not offer a camp program at the Country Club during the summer of 2020.
Yes: Degen, Giger, Manugian, PineNo: Reilly
From the minutes
“Ms. Pine moved that they vote to not offer a camp program at the Country Club during the summer of 2020. Mr. Degen seconded the motion. Mr. Degen said that they needed to consider opening the parks if they were not opening the camp. Roll Call: Manugian-aye; Degen-aye; Pine-aye; Giger-aye; Reilly-nay.” (Motion: Pine, second: Degen)
May 4Approve option 3 as part of the Town Manager…Motion: Ms. Pine moved that they approve option 3 as part of…Passed 3–2 · No: Giger, Reilly
May 4, 2020: Approve option 3 as part of the Town Manager Review Process
Ms. Pine moved that they approve option 3 as part of the Town Manager Review Process.
Yes: Degen, Manugian, PineNo: Giger, Reilly
From the minutes
“Ms. Pine moved that they approve option 3 as part of the Town Manager Review Process. Mr. Degen seconded the motion. Roll Call: Pine-aye; Degen-aye; Reilly-nay; Manugian-aye; Giger-nay.” (Motion: Pine, second: Degen)
Apr 27Support the Friends of Prescott CPC application for $125K…Motion: Mr. Degen moved that the Select Board support the Friends of…Passed 3–2 · No: Giger, Manugian
April 27, 2020: Support the Friends of Prescott CPC application for $125K for the Prescott School sprinkler system
Mr. Degen moved that the Select Board support the Friends of Prescott CPC application for $125K for the Prescott School sprinkler system.
Yes: Degen, Pine, ReillyNo: Giger, Manugian
From the minutes
“Mr. Degen moved that the Select Board support the Friends of Prescott CPC application for $125K for the Prescott School sprinkler system. Ms. Pine seconded the motion. Roll Call: Pine-aye, Reilly-aye, Giger-nay, Degen-aye, Manugian-nay. The motion carried 3-2 in favor..” (Motion: Degen, second: Pine)
Apr 27Adopt the proposed leash law languageMotion: Ms. Pine made a motion to adopt the proposed leash law…Passed 4–1 · No: Giger
April 27, 2020: Adopt the proposed leash law language
Ms. Pine made a motion to adopt the proposed leash law language.
Yes: Degen, Manugian, Pine, ReillyNo: Giger
From the minutes
“Ms. Pine made a motion to adopt the proposed leash law language. Ms. Manugian seconded the motion. Roll Call: Giger-nay; Manugian-aye; Pine-aye; Degen-aye; Reilly-aye.” (Motion: Pine, second: Manugian)
Apr 6Authorize Mr. Giger and Mr. Haddad to sign warrants…Motion: Mr. Degen moved to authorize Mr. Giger and Mr. Haddad to…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Giger
April 6, 2020: Authorize Mr. Giger and Mr. Haddad to sign warrants on behalf of the Board through May 11th
Mr. Degen moved to authorize Mr. Giger and Mr. Haddad to sign warrants on behalf of the Board through May 11th.
Yes: Degen, Manugian, Pine, ReillyAbstained: Giger
From the minutes
“Mr. Degen moved to authorize Mr. Giger and Mr. Haddad to sign warrants on behalf of the Board through May 11th. Ms. Pine seconded the motion. Roll Call: Pine-aye; Reilly-aye; Degen-aye; Giger-abstain; Manugian-aye.” (Motion: Degen, second: Pine)
Apr 6Approve a fuel storage license for AL PrimeMotion: Ms. Manugian made a motion to approve a fuel storage license…Passed 4–1 · No: Degen
April 6, 2020: Approve a fuel storage license for AL Prime
Ms. Manugian made a motion to approve a fuel storage license for AL Prime.
Yes: Giger, Manugian, Pine, ReillyNo: Degen
From the minutes
“Ms. Manugian made a motion to approve a fuel storage license for AL Prime. Ms. Pine seconded. Roll Call: Pineaye; Reilly-aye; Degen-nay; Giger-aye; Manugian-aye.” (Motion: Manugian, second: Pine)
Mar 30Were Not AllowedMotion: Manugian said she would entertain a motion to adopt locally the…Passed 4–1 · No: Degen
March 30, 2020: Were Not Allowed
Manugian said she would entertain a motion to adopt locally the Governor's Order and subsequent clarification letter issued by Town Counsel, Attorney Ross. Ms. Pine made the motion.
Yes: Giger, Manugian, Pine, ReillyNo: Degen
From the minutes
“Ms. Pine made the motion. Mr. Reilly seconded the motion. Mr. Degen said that this was an unfunded mandate asking who it would fall on. Mr. Haddad said that the permit could be pulled if found in violation by the Building Department. Mr. Degen said there were a lot of permits out there. Mr. Haddad said that they were doing the best they could. Mr. Degen said that they took on more liability within the Town if they adopted this. He said he would rather see the State take on the responsibility. Ms. Manugian said that there would be no enforcement if they left it up to the state. Mr. Degen said that they could follow Boston, Cambridge and Somerville and shut down construction. Ms. Pine said that there was the possibility that new guidelines could be issued tomorrow by the Governor. Ms. Pine said that they should allow people to seal things up if they went down that road. She said they should adopt this that day and see what the Governor said. Mr. Giger said that for the short term, they could accept this. Mr. Reilly asked who was going to enforce social distancing. He said that everyone needed to be responsible and take this seriously. He said that until the Governor fixed this, they would be nailing themselves into the ground. He said that they could drive themselves crazy with this adding everyone needed to be responsible and take care of themselves and for the sake of the people around them. Roll Call: Manugian-aye; Giger-aye; Pine-aye; Reilly-aye; Degen-nay.” (Motion: Pine, second: Reilly)
From the Groton Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town’s public meeting portal (Select Board). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Town of Groton, Select Board page (Peter Cunningham, Becky Pine, John Reilly).
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 →