MassVoter.com← GrotonMunicipal votes · 2020–2021 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. On June 15, 2020 the board chose Alison Manugian as Chair (5-0), Joshua Degen as Vice Chair (4-0, Degen abstaining) and Becky Pine as Clerk (5-0), each by roll call. The same five members served all year; the board met remotely. Covers 36 meetings, June 15 to May 24, 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 budgetBoard years
Coming up
MassVoter can’t read Groton’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Members
Becky PineClerk · At-large · at 36 of 36 meetings
John ReillyMember · At-large · at 36 of 36 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.
May 10Extend the warrant signing authority of the Town Manager…Motion: Mr. Degen moved to extend the warrant signing authority of the…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Reilly
May 10, 2021: Extend the warrant signing authority of the Town Manager and Member Reilly through June 10, 2021
Mr. Degen moved to extend the warrant signing authority of the Town Manager and Member Reilly through June 10, 2021.
Yes: Degen, Giger, Manugian, PineAbstained: Reilly
From the minutes
“Mr. Degen moved to extend the warrant signing authority of the Town Manager and Member Reilly through June 10, 2021. Ms. Pine seconded the motion. Ms. Manugian asked if Mr. Reilly was willing to continue doing this. Mr. Reilly said he was. Roll Call: Pine-aye; Manugian-aye; Degen-aye; Reilly-abstain; Giger-aye.” (Motion: Degen, second: Pine)
Apr 26Approve the alteration to the lease for the Friends…Motion: Ms. Pine moved to approve the alteration to the lease for…Passed 4–1 · No: Giger
April 26, 2021: Approve the alteration to the lease for the Friends of Prescott as outlined in their packet
Ms. Pine moved to approve the alteration to the lease for the Friends of Prescott as outlined in their packet.
Yes: Degen, Manugian, Pine, ReillyNo: Giger
From the minutes
“Ms. Pine moved to approve the alteration to the lease for the Friends of Prescott as outlined in their packet. Mr. Degen seconded the motion. Roll Call: Pine-aye; Manugian-aye; Degen-aye; Reilly-aye; Giger-nay.” (Motion: Pine, second: Degen)
Mar 29Haddad asked the Board to vote that they acknowledge…Motion: Haddad asked the Board to vote that they acknowledge the OML…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Degen
March 29, 2021: Haddad asked the Board to vote that they acknowledge the OML violation and accept the remedy as proposed by the Chair. Mr. Degen made that motion
Haddad asked the Board to vote that they acknowledge the OML violation and accept the remedy as proposed by the Chair. Mr. Degen made that motion.
Yes: Giger, Manugian, Pine, ReillyAbstained: Degen
From the minutes
“Mr. Degen made that motion. Ms. Pine seconded the motion. Roll Call: Degen-abstain; Giger-aye; Pine-aye; Manugian-aye; Reilly-aye.” (Motion: Degen, second: Pine)
Mar 22Approve the Traffic Rules and Orders as presented with…Motion: Ms. Pine made a motion to approve the Traffic Rules and…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Degen
March 22, 2021: Approve the Traffic Rules and Orders as presented with the addition of language as suggested by Mr. Giger
Ms. Pine made a motion to approve the Traffic Rules and Orders as presented with the addition of language as suggested by Mr. Giger.
Yes: Giger, Manugian, Pine, ReillyAbstained: Degen
From the minutes
“Ms. Pine made a motion to approve the Traffic Rules and Orders as presented with the addition of language as suggested by Mr. Giger. Ms. Manugian seconded the motion. Roll Call: Degen-abstain; Manugian-aye; Pine-aye; Giger-aye; Reilly-aye.” (Motion: Pine, second: Manugian)
Mar 15Waive their policy and post the Cable Director's position…Motion: Mr. Reilly made a motion to waive their policy and post…Passed 3–1 · No: Pine
March 15, 2021: Waive their policy and post the Cable Director's position internally for one week
Mr. Reilly made a motion to waive their policy and post the Cable Director's position internally for one week.
Yes: Degen, Giger, ReillyNo: Pine
From the minutes
“Mr. Reilly made a motion to waive their policy and post the Cable Director's position internally for one week. Mr. Degen seconded the motion. Ms. Pine said they had excellent employees and thought they should promote from within but thought they needed to add new ideas in on the occasion. She thought this position was one of those positions. Roll Call: Pine-nay; Degen-aye; Reilly-aye; Giger-aye.” (Motion: Reilly, second: Degen)
Mar 1Extend the signing authority for the Town Manager and…Motion: Ms. Manugian moved to extend the signing authority for the Town…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Reilly
March 1, 2021: Extend the signing authority for the Town Manager and Mr. Reilly on the warrants
Ms. Manugian moved to extend the signing authority for the Town Manager and Mr. Reilly on the warrants.
Yes: Degen, Giger, Manugian, PineAbstained: Reilly
From the minutes
“Ms. Manugian moved to extend the signing authority for the Town Manager and Mr. Reilly on the warrants. Ms. Pine seconded the motion. Roll Call: Pine-aye; Manugian-aye; Degen-aye; Reilly-abstain; Giger-aye.” (Motion: Manugian, second: Pine)
Feb 22Appoint Charlotte Weigel to the Invasive Species Committee through…Motion: Ms. Manugian moved to appoint Charlotte Weigel to the Invasive Species…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Degen
February 22, 2021: Appoint Charlotte Weigel to the Invasive Species Committee through June 30, 2021
Ms. Manugian moved to appoint Charlotte Weigel to the Invasive Species Committee through June 30, 2021.
Yes: Giger, Manugian, Pine, ReillyAbstained: Degen
From the minutes
“Ms. Manugian moved to appoint Charlotte Weigel to the Invasive Species Committee through June 30, 2021. Ms. Pine seconded the motion. Roll Call: Roll Call: Pine-aye; Manugian-aye; Reilly-aye; Giger-aye; Degen abstain.” (Motion: Manugian, second: Pine)
Feb 22Authorize the Town Manager to work with Mr. Lindemer…Motion: Ms. Pine moved that they authorize the Town Manager to work…Passed 3–2 · No: Degen, Manugian
February 22, 2021: Authorize the Town Manager to work with Mr. Lindemer to draft an article to be include on the warrant for Spring Town Meeting
Ms. Pine moved that they authorize the Town Manager to work with Mr. Lindemer to draft an article to be include on the warrant for Spring Town Meeting.
Yes: Giger, Pine, ReillyNo: Degen, Manugian
From the minutes
“Ms. Pine moved that they authorize the Town Manager to work with Mr. Lindemer to draft an article to be include on the warrant for Spring Town Meeting. Mr. Giger seconded the motion. Mr. Haddad asked that all legal costs for the easement be borne by the applicant. Ms. Pine accepted the wording addition. Mr. Giger said that there would be no cost to the Town for this. Ms. Pine said this vote allowed it to be added to the warrant. Ms. Manugian said there was too much information unknown and was uncomfortable moving this forward. Mr. Reilly said he didn't have a problem bringing this forward to the Town but agreed there was some value to be discussed further here. Ms. Pine said that gathering more information was a good idea and could be something they end up not supporting at Town Meeting. Roll Call: Manugian-no; Degen-no; Pine-aye; Reilly-aye; Giger-aye.” (Motion: Pine, second: Giger)
Feb 8Deny this alcohol licenseMotion: Ms. Pine moved to deny this alcohol license.Passed 4–1 · No: Manugian
February 8, 2021: Deny this alcohol license
Ms. Pine moved to deny this alcohol license.
Yes: Degen, Giger, Pine, ReillyNo: Manugian
From the minutes
“Ms. Pine moved to deny this alcohol license. Mr. Giger seconded the motion. Mr. Degen said he understood capitalism and understood being a business owner. He said he wanted to see this store thrive and fit in the community. He said that the only way he saw this being a success there was a major investment by the applicant. He said that until the Planning Board reviewed the property, he was apprehensive about granting a liquor license. He said if the applicant wanted to sell beer and wine along with consignment, that would be unique. Mr. Degen said he didn't see this being a success without lottery, snacks, etc. Mr. Degen said he couldn't grant the license at this time. Ms. Manugian said that she was struggling with traffic and parking concerns were going to prohibit this use, that would prohibit any use of that building. Mr. Reilly said that Mr. Leung had done a great job answering the questions and was embarrassed by some of the questions asked during the hearings. He said that he had to stay consistent with how he voted on the Mobil Station application that recently came to them. He said that this had been an icon of West Groton to the people of West Groton. Mr. Reilly said he could not support this. Mr. Giger said he did not support this adding he agreed with Mr. Reilly and how they voted on the Mobil stores license request. He said that the Town declared a park and couldn't see it turning into a parking lot. Mr. Haddad said he would draft a decision if the Board voted to deny this application. Roll Call: Manugian-nay; Pine-aye; Degen-aye; Giger-aye; Reilly-aye.” (Motion: Pine, second: Giger)
Feb 8Ratify the Patrolmen's Union AgreementMotion: Ms. Pine moved to ratify the Patrolmen's Union Agreement.Passed 4–1 · No: Giger
February 8, 2021: Ratify the Patrolmen's Union Agreement
Ms. Pine moved to ratify the Patrolmen's Union Agreement.
Yes: Degen, Manugian, Pine, ReillyNo: Giger
From the minutes
“Ms. Pine moved to ratify the Patrolmen's Union Agreement. Mr. Degen seconded the motion. Roll Call: Giger-nay; Pine-aye; Degen-aye; Manugian-aye; Reilly-aye.” (Motion: Pine, second: Degen)
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).
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