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Halifax Board of Selectmen
How the Halifax Board of Selectmen voted, from the Board of Selectmen’s official minutes. 3 Select Board members elected townwide. After the May 2026 town election (Jonathan Selig re-elected), the board chose Thomas Pratt as Chair, William Smith as Vice Chair and Jonathan Selig as Clerk on May 26, 2026. Minutes are posted through August 11, 2026; later meetings are not posted yet. Covers 11 meetings so far, May 26 to August 11, 2026.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Board of Selectmen 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 Board of Selectmen, votes the town budget and town bylaws.
Sources: Massachusetts Select Board Handbook (MMA) · Mass. Division of Local Services: the town budgetVote Transparency Score
Halifax Board of Selectmen: 7 out of 10 · Mostly open
How easy Halifax makes it to see, online, how each member votes. It scores the town’s records, not any official. Checked October 4, 2026.
- Minutes postedMinutes are posted for nearly every meeting more than three months old.Full points: 2/2
- Each vote namedSplit votes usually say who voted no, but not always each member’s vote.Part points: 2/3
- Posted quicklyMinutes take about a month or more to go up.Part points: 1/2
- Past years onlineBoard of Selectmen minutes from 2017 to today are online.Full points: 1/1
- Readable textThe minutes are text you can search and copy.Full points: 1/1
- Member photosThe Board’s page shows no member photos.No points: 0/1
How the town can raise its score
- Each vote named (+1): On any vote that isn’t unanimous, write how each member voted. For example: “Motion passed 3–2. Yes: Smith, Jones, Lee. No: Brown, Silva.” A roll call on split votes is the simplest way to do this.
- Posted quickly (+1): Post minutes within 30 days. If approval takes longer, post a draft marked “Draft – not yet approved” and replace it later.
- Member photos (+1): Show a photo of each member on the board’s web page, with their name, the date their term ends and how to contact them. A group photo of the members, with everyone named in the caption or on the same page, earns half a point.
How we score · Something wrong, or has the town made a change? Email info@massvoter.com and we’ll re-check.
A monthly email on its votes, starting in November. We'll also tell you if this score changes.
Board years
Coming up
- Tue, Oct 13Board of Selectmen Meeting Agenda (PDF) →
From the agendas Halifax posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.
What Town Meeting decided
In Halifax, Town Meeting — not the Board of Selectmen — 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 12, 2025 31 votes: 17 passed, 1 passed as amended, 4 failed, 9 no action
- Art. 7 Street acceptance (one of five street-acceptance Articles 7-11; paperwork not completed) No action “Articles 7-11 PASSED.”
- Art. 8 Street acceptance (one of five street-acceptance Articles 7-11; paperwork not completed) No action “Articles 7-11 PASSED.”
- Art. 9 Street acceptance (one of five street-acceptance Articles 7-11; paperwork not completed) No action “Articles 7-11 PASSED.”
- Art. 10 Street acceptance (one of five street-acceptance Articles 7-11; paperwork not completed) No action “Articles 7-11 PASSED.”
- Art. 11 Street acceptance (one of five street-acceptance Articles 7-11; paperwork not completed) No action “Articles 7-11 PASSED.”
- Art. 1 · motion 1 Wage and Personnel Bylaw: 2% cost-of-living adjustment for non-union positions (about $21,000) Passed “The motion PASSED unanimously.”
- Art. 1 · motion 2 Wage and Personnel Bylaw: move the Veterans Services Officer from a stipend to a Grade 6 position Passed “The motion PASSED unanimously.”
- Art. 1 · motion 3 Replace the Wage and Personnel Bylaw, making the Board of Selectmen the personnel board Passed “The motion PASSED unanimously.”
- Art. 2 Set FY2026 salaries of elected town officers Passed “The motion PASSED unanimously.”
- Art. 3 FY2026 operating budget of $31,051,728, with an amendment to the PEG access funding line Passed as amended “Amendment PASSED”
- Art. 21 Adopt a proclamation opposing the state's MBTA Communities zoning requirement Passed “The motion PASSED.”
- Art. 24 Citizen petition: thorough audit of all town departments, committees, assets and liabilities No action “The motion to pass over Article 24 PASSED.”
- Art. 25 Citizen petition: study of the fiscal impact of the MBTA Communities zoning law on Halifax Failed “The motion FAILED.”
- Art. 6 Set FY2026 spending limits for the town's revolving funds Passed “The motion PASSED.”
- Art. 22 Citizen petition: sell two Vernon Street lots to an abutter for at least $500 plus legal fees No action “The motion to pass over Article 22 - PASSED.”
- Art. 27 Citizen petition: withdraw Halifax from the regional health board No action “The motion to pass over Article 27 - PASSED.”
- Art. 17 $3,500 for the South Shore Resource and Advocacy Center (domestic violence services) Passed “The motion PASSED.”
- Art. 26 Citizen petition: halt new housing building permits and new water services until voters lift it Failed “The motion FAILED.”
- Art. 14 Amend Town Meeting bylaws: allow meetings outside Halifax for capacity, non-resident department heads may speak, new rules guide Passed “The motion PASSED.”
- Art. 23 Citizen petition: allow body art (tattoo) establishments by right in the business zoning district Passed “The motion PASSED.”
- Art. 18 $150 for the County Cooperative Extension Service (4-H program) Passed “The motion PASSED.”
- Art. 28 Citizen petition: rescind Halifax's adoption of the Stretch Energy Code Failed “The motion FAILED.”
- Art. 13 FY2026 capital plan: $689,000 from free cash and $500,000 from water retained earnings Passed “The motion PASSED.”
- Art. 20 Replace the town's zoning bylaw (Chapter 167) with a revised version No action “The motion to pass over Article 20 PASSED.”
- Art. 5 $100,000 to the Reserve Fund and $50,000 to the Water Department Reserve Fund Passed “The motion PASSED.”
- Art. 16 Pay a $4,286.92 prior-year school transportation bill Passed “The motion PASSED with the required 4/5 majority.”
- Art. 19 Create a litter control bylaw with a $300 fine per violation Passed “The motion PASSED.”
- Art. 15 $3,500 for South Coastal Counties Legal Services Passed “The motion PASSED unanimously.”
- Art. 4 Add three revolving funds: school busing, full-day kindergarten and park maintenance Passed “The motion PASSED unanimously.”
- Art. 12 Move $32,901.14 from free cash to an opioid settlement special revenue fund; rescind two 2023 articles Passed “PASSED.”
- Art. 29 Citizen petition: zoning changes only at Annual Town Meeting, with a 2/3 vote and a ballot referendum Failed “The motion FAILED.”
Special Town Meeting · December 16, 2024 2 votes: 1 passed as amended, 1 failed
- Art. 2 Citizen petition: require a resident permit for personal watercraft (jet skis) on East and West Monponsett Pond, with limits Passed as amended “Article PASSES by Simple”
- Art. 1 Adopt an MBTA Communities multi-family overlay zoning district (about 194 acres) Failed “MOTION FAILED”
Source: Town Clerk's minutes of the December 16, 2024 Special Town Meeting.
Special Town Meeting · May 13, 2024 1 votes: 1 no action
- Art. 1 School Committee placeholder article for a possible FY2024 school budget shortfall (not needed) No action “PASSOVER PASSES”
Annual Town Meeting · May 13, 2024 19 votes: 14 passed, 1 passed as amended, 1 failed, 2 no action, 1 other
- Art. 1 Accept the reports of town officers and committees Passed “ARTICLE PASSES”
- Art. 2 Amend the Wage and Personnel Bylaw (extra personal day, bereavement leave, 2% COLA for FY2025, wage adjustments) Failed “ARTICLE FAILS · 88-YES and 118-NO”
- Art. 3 Set FY2025 elected officers' salaries; amendment set Town Clerk, Treasurer-Collector and Highway Surveyor at 2% increases Other “AMENDMENT PASSES”
- Art. 4 FY2025 operating budget, voted line by line; three elected officers' salary lines reduced by amendment Passed as amended “Moved and Seconded Passes”
- Art. 9 Adopt the Community Preservation Act with a 1.5% property tax surcharge starting FY2026 (also needed ballot approval) Passed “ARTICLE PASSES”
- Art. 8 · motion 1 FY2025 capital plan, Fire: $174,400 for turnout gear and mold remediation from free cash Passed “ARTICLE PASSES”
- Art. 8 · motion 2 FY2025 capital plan, Police: $120,000 for two police vehicles from free cash Passed “ARTICLE PASSES”
- Art. 8 · motion 3 FY2025 capital plan, Highway: $300,000 for road maintenance from free cash Passed “ARTICLE PASSES”
- Art. 8 · motion 4 FY2025 capital plan, Water: $525,000 for treatment plant upgrades and a mini excavator from water retained earnings Passed “ARTICLE PASSES”
- Art. 5 Set FY2025 spending limits for the town's revolving funds Passed “ARTICLE PASSES”
- Art. 6 $75,000 to the Reserve Fund and $50,000 from water retained earnings to the Water Department Reserve Fund Passed “ARTICLE PASSES”
- Art. 13 Set a $15 fee for each written demand issued by the tax collector Passed “ARTICLE PASSES”
- Art. 10 $3,500 for South Coastal Counties Legal Services Passed “ARTICLE PASSES”
- Art. 14 $39,140 from free cash for a part-time School Resource Officer at Silver Lake Middle School Passed “ARTICLE PASSES · 52 – Yes and 30 – No”
- Art. 11 $3,500 for the South Shore Resource and Advocacy Center (domestic violence services) Passed “ARTICLE PASSES”
- Art. 15 $25,000 from the Stabilization Fund for a rooftop HVAC unit at Silver Lake Regional High School No action “PASSOVER PASSES”
- Art. 7 Approve a solar payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement with River Street Associates, LLC No action “PASSOVER PASSES”
- Art. 12 $150 for the County Cooperative Extension Service (4-H program) Passed “ARTICLE PASSES”
- Art. 16 $75,000 from free cash to the Unemployment Special Revenue Fund Passed “ARTICLE PASSES”
Not here yet: the May 11, 2026 Annual Town Meeting and the July 29, 2026 Special Town Meeting (only the warrants are posted; results will be in the 2026 Annual Town Report or the Clerk's minutes).
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
ChairThomas PrattChair · Elected townwide · at 11 of 11 meetings
Vice-ChairWilliam SmithVice Chair · Elected townwide · at 10 of 11 meetings
Jonathan SeligClerk · Elected townwide · at 10 of 11 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.
Attendance
24 full-board meetings so far this year, through August 11. Ties share a rank.
1Thomas Pratt24 of 24 meetings Every meeting100%2Jonathan Selig23 of 24 meetings96%2William Smith23 of 24 meetings96%35 full-board meetings in 2025. Ties share a rank.
1Jonathan Selig35 of 35 meetings Every meeting100%1John Bruno9 of 9 meetings · served until May Every meeting100%3Thomas Pratt33 of 35 meetings94%4William Smith24 of 26 meetings · served from May92%30 full-board meetings in 2024. Ties share a rank.
1Jonathan Selig30 of 30 meetings Every meeting100%1Thomas Pratt20 of 20 meetings · served from Jun Every meeting100%3John Bruno29 of 30 meetings97%4Naja R. Nessralla9 of 10 meetings · served until May90%33 full-board meetings in 2023. Ties share a rank.
1Jonathan Selig33 of 33 meetings Every meeting100%2John Bruno32 of 33 meetings97%3Naja R. Nessralla29 of 33 meetings88%39 full-board meetings in 2022. Ties share a rank.
1Ashley A. DiSesa28 of 28 meetings · served until Aug Every meeting100%1Jonathan Selig26 of 26 meetings · served from May Every meeting100%1Alexander Meade16 of 16 meetings · served from May · served until Aug Every meeting100%1Gordon C. Andrews13 of 13 meetings · served until May Every meeting100%1John Bruno4 of 4 meetings · served from Nov100%1Naja R. Nessralla4 of 4 meetings · served from Nov100%7Troy E. Garron7 of 8 meetings · served until Mar88%50 full-board meetings in 2021. Ties share a rank.
1Gordon C. Andrews50 of 50 meetings Every meeting100%2Ashley A. DiSesa31 of 32 meetings · served from May97%3Troy E. Garron47 of 50 meetings94%4Thomas Millias16 of 18 meetings · served until May89%55 full-board meetings in 2020. Ties share a rank.
1Gordon C. Andrews54 of 55 meetings98%1Troy E. Garron54 of 55 meetings98%1Thomas Millias54 of 55 meetings98%35 full-board meetings in 2019. Ties share a rank.
1Gordon C. Andrews21 of 21 meetings · served from May Every meeting100%1Kim R. Roy14 of 14 meetings · served until May Every meeting100%3Troy E. Garron34 of 35 meetings97%4Thomas Millias33 of 35 meetings94%31 full-board meetings in 2018. Ties share a rank.
1Troy E. Garron30 of 31 meetings97%1Thomas Millias30 of 31 meetings97%3Kim R. Roy29 of 31 meetings94%From the official minutes: full-board meetings only (committee meetings are not counted). Members are counted only for meetings held while they served, and arriving late counts as attending. The minutes rarely say why a member was absent.
A monthly email on its votes and who was there, starting in November.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: every Board of Selectmen meeting with minutes on the town website from January 2018 through August 11, 2026 (2018 to 2024 from the town's Document Center, December 2024 on from its Agenda Center). Not here: minutes before 2018, executive-session minutes, and minutes the town has not posted yet (every meeting after August 11, 2026). Halifax's minutes are typed and usually give the mover, the seconder and the result in one sentence ("the Board unanimously voted to..."); many votes, especially from 2020 to 2022, are roll calls by name. Most minutes from January to October 2024 are scans, which we read by computer text recognition. When the minutes say a vote was unanimous we show every member present as voting yes; when they give a roll call, or a count with the members who voted no named, we show each member's vote as recorded. When the minutes only say the Board "voted" or "approved" something, with no count, no names and no mention of a unanimous vote, we show the result only and never assume it was unanimous. Where the minutes give only a count (for example 2-1) without names, or a roll call names a member the minutes do not list as present, or the names and the count do not match, we show the count only and add a note. Members who had not yet arrived, had left, or stepped aside (recused) are left out of that vote. From August 30 to October 25, 2022 Jonathan Selig was the only member in office; those actions are shown as results only. A few dog-hearing votes come from word-for-word transcripts in the minutes. Votes by other boards at joint meetings (Planning Board, Finance Committee, School Committee, Board of Health, Library Trustees) are not included; where the board voted together with another board, only the Select Board members' votes are shown. Finance Committee and Wage & Personnel Board appointments made by the Chair together with the Finance Committee and the Town Moderator 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.
Jul 28Appoint Krystal Kingsley to the Halifax Elementary School Committee,…Motion: To appoint Krystal Kingsley to the Halifax Elementary School Committee, term…Passed 1–0 · Abstained: Pratt
July 28, 2026: Appoint Krystal Kingsley to the Halifax Elementary School Committee, term to expire May 15, 2027
To appoint Krystal Kingsley to the Halifax Elementary School Committee, term to expire May 15, 2027.
Yes: SmithAbstained: PrattJoint vote with the Halifax Elementary School Committee (counting everyone, 4 yes, 0 no and 1 abstention). Only the Select Board members' votes are shown. Jonathan Selig was not at this meeting. The motion was made by Goyette, who was not a Select Board member at the time.
From the minutes
“Moved by Goyette and seconded by Smith the following vote was taken to appoint Krystal Kingsley to the Halifax Elementary School Committee, term to expire May 15, 2027. Board of Selectmen Thomas Pratt - Abstained William Smith - Yes.” (second: Smith)
Jul 28Accept Officer Campbell's resignationMotion: To accept Officer Campbell's resignation. A letter will be sent to…Passed · see note
July 28, 2026: Accept Officer Campbell's resignation
To accept Officer Campbell's resignation. A letter will be sent to him thanking him for his service.
The minutes record this action but do not say it was unanimous, give a count, or name how members voted.
From the minutes
“The Board accepted Officer Campbell's resignation. A letter will be sent to him thanking him for his service..”
From the Halifax Board of Selectmen’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: Jonathan Selig from the Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express (December 2017); Thomas Pratt and William Smith from Area 58 video of the June 23, 2026 Select Board meeting (identified by the nameplate in front of each member).
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 →