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Municipal votes · 2022–2023 Board

Hanson Select Board

How the Hanson Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Ann Rein and Edwin Heal joined the board after the May 2022 election; Matthew Dyer and Kenny Mitchell left. On May 24, 2022 the board chose Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett as Chair (4-0, one member abstaining), Joseph Weeks as Vice Chair and Ann Rein as Clerk (each 5-0). Covers 39 meetings, May 24 to May 16, 2023.

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
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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What Town Meeting decided

In Hanson, 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 · May 4, 2026 4 votes: 4 passed

Source: Town Clerk's record of the May 4, 2026 Special Town Meeting (scanned).

Annual Town Meeting · May 4, 2026 33 votes: 28 passed, 1 passed as amended, 4 no action

Source: Town Clerk's record of the May 4, 2026 Annual Town Meeting (scanned).

Special Town Meeting · October 6, 2025 29 votes: 27 passed, 1 passed as amended, 1 no action

Source: Town Clerk's record of the October 6, 2025 Special Town Meeting (scanned).

Special Town Meeting · June 25, 2025 1 votes: 1 passed
  • Art. 1 Transfer $262,669 from free cash to meet the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District assessment Passed “Voted Aye, voice”

Source: Town Clerk's record of the June 25, 2025 Special Town Meeting.

Special Town Meeting · May 5, 2025 7 votes: 6 passed, 1 no action

Source: Town Clerk's record of the May 5, 2025 Special Town Meeting.

Annual Town Meeting · May 5, 2025 29 votes: 18 passed, 6 passed as amended, 4 failed, 1 no action

Source: Town Clerk's record of the May 5, 2025 Annual Town Meeting.

Special Town Meeting · October 7, 2024 26 votes: 21 passed, 1 passed as amended, 4 failed

Source: Town Clerk's record of the October 7, 2024 Special Town Meeting.

Special Town Meeting · June 17, 2024 1 votes: 1 passed
  • Art. 1 Rescind the May 2024 budget vote and adopt a revised FY2025 operating budget, total $35,983,337 Passed “Voted Aye, Voice”

Source: Town Clerk's record in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

Special Town Meeting · May 6, 2024 5 votes: 5 passed

Source: Town Clerk's record in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

Annual Town Meeting · May 6, 2024 29 votes: 24 passed, 1 passed as amended, 2 failed, 2 no action

Source: Town Clerk's record in the 2024 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

Edwin HealMember · Elected townwide · at 38 of 39 meetingsJames HickeyMember · Elected townwide · at 36 of 39 meetingsAnn ReinClerk · Elected townwide · at 36 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: Select Board minutes from January 9, 2018 through April 28, 2026, as posted on the town website (the board was called the Board of Selectmen until 2022). Not here yet: minutes before 2018 (online back to 2014, not loaded), and any minutes after April 28, 2026 (the town has not posted them yet). The town's links for the April 7 and April 14, 2020 minutes open a "Page Not Found" page, and its September 9, 2025 link opens the agenda instead of the minutes, so those meetings are missing. About one in five files are scanned images; we read them with text recognition and checked the hard-to-read counts against the page. Hanson's minutes record most votes as a count, such as "Voted 5 – 0" or "5 members vote in the affirmative", and since about 2023 often add a roll call by name. When the count equals the members present and no one voted no or abstained, we show every member present as voting yes; when a roll call lists each member, we show each vote as recorded. When a count is split, or does not match the members listed present, and the minutes do not say who voted which way, we show only the count. Where a roll call names a member the minutes list as absent, lists a member twice, or does not match the stated count, we show the count only and add a note. A few votes recorded only as "motion carried" show the result only and are not treated as unanimous. Members who stepped aside (recused) or left the room are left out of that vote. Joint votes with other boards (Planning Board, Board of Health, School Committee) are not included. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023 · Regular meeting4 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAbsent: Edwin HealTuesday, May 9, 2023 · Regular meeting7 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentMonday, May 1, 2023 · Special meeting1 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, April 25, 2023 · Regular meeting13 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAbsent: James HickeyTuesday, April 18, 2023 · Joint meeting2 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.

Apr 25Appoint Jason Green as a Camp Kiwanee CaretakersMotion: to appoint Jason Green as a Camp Kiwanee CaretakersPassed 3–1 · see note

April 25, 2023: Appoint Jason Green as a Camp Kiwanee Caretakers

AppointPassed · 3–1

To appoint Jason Green as a Camp Kiwanee Caretakers

The minutes give only the count (3-1), not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“MOTION by Mr. Heal, seconded by Ms. Rein, to appoint Jason Green as a Camp Kiwanee Caretakers. Voted 3 – 1.” (Motion: Heal, second: Rein)

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

Apr 18Increase its contribution by using one time funding of…Motion: to increase its contribution by using one time funding of $160,000…Passed 3–2 · No: Heal, Rein

April 18, 2023 (Joint meeting): Increase its contribution by using one time funding of $160,000 to close the gap of the WHRSD assessment

ApprovePassed · 3–2

To increase its contribution by using one time funding of $160,000 to close the gap of the WHRSD assessment

Yes: FitzGerald-Kemmett, Hickey, WeeksNo: Heal, Rein

From the minutes

“MOTION by Mr. Hickey, seconded by Mr. Weeks, to increase its contribution by using one time funding of $160,000 to close the gap of the WHRSD assessment. Voted 3 – 2 Roll call – Hickey -Aye; Rein-Nay; FitzGerald-Kemmett-Aye; Weeks-Aye; Heal-Nay.” (Motion: Hickey, second: Weeks)

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

Apr 4Article 15: Place and defer to Town Meeting for…Motion: to place and defer to Town Meeting for recommendationPassed 4–1 · see note

April 4, 2023: Article 15: Place and defer to Town Meeting for recommendation

ApprovePassed · 4–1

To place and defer to Town Meeting for recommendation

The minutes give only the count (4-1), not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“MOTION by Mr. Weeks, seconded by Ms. Rein, to place and defer to Town Meeting for recommendation. Voted 4 – 1.” (Motion: Weeks, second: Rein)

Read it in the official minutes, page 6 (PDF)

Mar 14Approve the one-day liquor licenses as printed on the…Motion: to approve the one-day liquor licenses as printed on the agendaPassed 4–0 · see note

March 14, 2023: Approve the one-day liquor licenses as printed on the agenda

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To approve the one-day liquor licenses as printed on the agenda

The minutes give only the count (4-0-1), not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“MOTION by Mr. Hickey, seconded by Ms. Rein, to approve the one-day liquor licenses as printed on the agenda. Voted 4 – 0; 1 abstain.” (Motion: Hickey, second: Rein)

Read it in the official minutes, page 8 (PDF)

Jan 31Post the Veterans Service Officer position as fulltime at…Motion: to post the Veterans Service Officer position as fulltime at 32…Passed 3–0 · see note

January 31, 2023: Post the Veterans Service Officer position as fulltime at 32 hours with a salary range of $55,000 - $60,000

ApprovePassed · 3–0

To post the Veterans Service Officer position as fulltime at 32 hours with a salary range of $55,000 - $60,000

The minutes give only the count (3-0) with 5 members shown present, not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“MOTION by Mr. Hickey, seconded by Mr. Weeks, to post the Veterans Service Officer position as fulltime at 32 hours with a salary range of $55,000 - $60,000. Voted 3-0.” (Motion: Hickey, second: Weeks)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Dec 6Approve repairing the EV charging stations, if the cost…Motion: to approve repairing the EV charging stations, if the cost of…Passed 4–0 · see note

December 6, 2022: Approve repairing the EV charging stations, if the cost of running the unit is less than the cost to repair/maintaining

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To approve repairing the EV charging stations, if the cost of running the unit is less than the cost to repair/maintaining

The minutes give only the count (4-0) with 5 members shown present, not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“MOTION by Mr. Hickey, seconded by Mr. Heal, to approve repairing the EV charging stations, if the cost of running the unit is less than the cost to repair/maintaining. Voted 4-0.” (Motion: Hickey, second: Heal)

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

Dec 6Accept Mr. Milisi's disclosure statementMotion: to accept Mr. Milisi's disclosure statementPassed 4–0 · see note

December 6, 2022: Accept Mr. Milisi's disclosure statement

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To accept Mr. Milisi's disclosure statement

The minutes give only the count (4-0) with 5 members shown present, not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“MOTION by Ms. Rein, seconded by Mr. Hickey, to accept Mr. Milisi's disclosure statement. Voted 4-0.” (Motion: Rein, second: Hickey)

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

Dec 6Approve waiving of fees for the Hanson Community Christmas…Motion: to approve waiving of fees for the Hanson Community Christmas to…Passed 4–0 · see note

December 6, 2022: Approve waiving of fees for the Hanson Community Christmas to use the lodge on December 15, 2022 from 1pm to 8pm to sort Christmas gifts at no charge

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To approve waiving of fees for the Hanson Community Christmas to use the lodge on December 15, 2022 from 1pm to 8pm to sort Christmas gifts at no charge

The minutes give only the count (4-0-1), not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“MOTION by Mr. Hickey, seconded by Mr. Weeks, to approve waiving of fees for the Hanson Community Christmas to use the lodge on December 15, 2022 from 1pm to 8pm to sort Christmas gifts at no charge. Voted 4-0; 1 abstain.” (Motion: Hickey, second: Weeks)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Nov 15Vote Mr. Buckley as a full member of the…Motion: to vote Mr. Buckley as a full member of the Zoning…Passed 4–0 · see note

November 15, 2022: Vote Mr. Buckley as a full member of the Zoning Board of Appeals with term to end June 30, 2024

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To vote Mr. Buckley as a full member of the Zoning Board of Appeals with term to end June 30, 2024

The minutes give only the count (4-0) with 5 members shown present, not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“MOTION by Mr. Hickey, seconded by Mr. Rein, to vote Mr. Buckley as a full member of the Zoning Board of Appeals with term to end June 30, 2024. Voted 4 -0.” (Motion: Hickey, second: Rein)

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

Nov 10Remove Mr. Perkins from the Zoning Board of AppealsMotion: to remove Mr. Perkins from the Zoning Board of AppealsPassed 4–1 · see note

November 10, 2022: Remove Mr. Perkins from the Zoning Board of Appeals

ApprovePassed · 4–1

To remove Mr. Perkins from the Zoning Board of Appeals

The minutes give only the count (4-1), not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“MOTION by Mr. Weeks, seconded by Mr. Heal, to remove Mr. Perkins from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Voted 4 – 1.” (Motion: Weeks, second: Heal)

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

From the Hanson Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town website. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos of current members: stills from WHCA-TV interviews (Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, Municipal Focus, July 2023; Ann Rein, Joe Weeks and Frank Milisi, Bring It On, April 2024). Members without a photo show initials.

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