How the Hingham Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 3 Select Board members elected townwide. Same three members. On May 17, 2022 the board chose William Ramsey as Chair. Covers 61 meetings, May 17 to April 26, 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.
In Hingham, 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.
Annual Town Meeting · April 27, 2026 38 votes: 29 passed, 2 passed as amended, 3 failed, 1 withdrawn, 3 no action
Art. 1Elect a member of the Hannah Lincoln Whiting Fund committeePassed“Passed”
Art. 2Assume liability for state DCR work on rivers, harbors and shoresPassed“Passed”
Art. 3Receive committee reports; continue committees and discharge threePassed“Passed”
Art. 4Accept the Personnel Board report and pay plan changesPassed“Passed”
Art. 5Set FY2027 salaries of elected Town officersPassed“Passed”
Art. 24Remove the Fire Department from Civil ServicePassed“Passed”
Art. 25Remove the Police Department from Civil ServicePassed“Passed”
Art. 26Appropriate $2,667,956 from the PFAS Fund for the Weir River Water SystemPassed“Passed”
Art. 27Borrow up to $5,000,000 for Weir River Water System capital projectsPassed“Passed”
Art. 28Borrow up to $70,000,000 for Municipal Light Plant capital improvementsWithdrawn“Withdrawn”
Art. 29Transfer funds for an employee health insurance cost subsidy and/or study (amended; final terms not on the results page)Passed as amended“Passed as Amended”
Art. 30Route 3A project: acquire and grant land and easements along Route 3A for MassDOT reconstructionPassed“Passed”
Art. 31Citizen petition: establish a Youth CommissionNo action“No Action”
Art. 32Citizen petition: transfer a parcel of school land to the Conservation CommissionNo action“No Action”
Art. 33Citizen petition: amend the noise by-lawNo action“No Action”
Art. 34Up to $100,000 from Unassigned Fund Balance for electronic voting devices for Town MeetingPassed“Passed”
Art. 35Zoning: correct the "Height, Building" definition referencePassed“Passed”
Art. 36Zoning: site plan review updatesPassed“Passed”
Art. 37Zoning: rezone 230 North Street from Official and Open Space to Business A (fire station district)Passed“Passed”
Art. 38Allow the Select Board to accept and grant easements through FY2027Passed“Passed”
Art. 7Transfer $178,836 from the Stabilization Fund to pay interest on excluded debtPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 8Give Municipal Light Plant receipts to the plant, with at least $450,000 PILOT to the General FundPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 9Set a $255,000 FY2026 limit for the Building Department Revolving FundPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 10Transfer $387,293 to the FY2025 Reserve FundPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 11Transfer $1,611,404 from Unassigned Fund Balance for DPW vehicles and equipmentPassed“Motion Adopted”
Art. 12Put FY2025 tax title sale proceeds into the Capital Stabilization FundPassed“Motion Adopted”
Art. 13Transfer $2,200,000 from the Capital Project Cost and Debt Service Stabilization Fund for debt paymentsPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 14Set an $80,000 FY2026 limit for the Center for Active Living Revolving FundPassed“Motion Adopted”
Art. 15Transfer up to $2,500,000 to design and bid a new Center for Active Living at Bare Cove Park DrivePassed“Motion Adopted · Yes: 420, No: 177”
Art. 16Ask the Legislature to use about 5.4 acres off Bare Cove Park Drive for the Center for Active Living, with 7 acres as replacement landPassed“Motion Adopted · Yes: 372, No: 168”
Art. 17Accept the HERO Act yearly cost-of-living increase for veterans' tax exemptionsPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 18Appropriate $1,407,887 ($957,887 borrowed) for country club mowers and equipment and pool demolitionPassed“Motion Adopted”
Art. 19Recreation Commission by-law and a Recreation Department Revolving Fund ($2,700,000 FY2026 limit)Passed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 20Transfer $1,278,010 from Unassigned Fund Balance for new pickleball courts at Bare Cove Park DrivePassed“Motion Adopted · Yes: 221, No: 205”
Annual Town Meeting · April 24, 2024 40 votes: 37 passed, 2 passed as amended, 1 tabled
Sessions: April 24, 25 and 29, 2024
Art. 1Elect members of the Hannah Lincoln Whiting Fund committeePassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 2Assume liability for state DCR work on rivers, harbors and shoresPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 3Receive committee reports; continue committees and discharge four study committeesPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 4Accept the Personnel Board report and pay plan changes; raise $781,671Passed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 5Set FY2025 salaries of elected Town officersPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 6FY2025 operating budget, amended to add $2,000,000 for schools from Unassigned Fund Balance (amendment: Yes 202, No 171)Passed as amended“Motion Adopted”
Art. 7Transfer $178,836 from the Stabilization Fund to pay interest on excluded debtPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 8Give Municipal Light Plant receipts to the plant, with at least $450,000 PILOT to the General FundPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 9Set a $280,000 FY2025 limit for the Building Department Revolving FundPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 10Create a Center for Active Living Revolving Fund ($80,000 FY2025 limit); rename the Senior Center Building CommitteePassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 11Transfer $468,533 to the FY2024 Reserve FundPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 12Put FY2024 harbor fees and half of boat excise taxes into the Municipal Waterways Improvement and Maintenance FundPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 13Transfer $2,500,000 from Unassigned Fund Balance to the Tax Mitigation Stabilization FundPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 14Transfer $1,000,000 from the Capital Project Cost and Debt Service Stabilization Fund for school and public safety debtPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 15Transfer $28,000 from the Capital Stabilization Fund for repairs at 30 Summer StreetPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 16Community Preservation: $1,055,229 for the Community Playground, $40,000 admin, $237,397 debt and housing/historic set-asidesPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 17Allow long-term leases of listed town and school properties for solar energy and storagePassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 18Borrow up to $13,000,000 to replace sewer mains in Route 3APassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 19Set the Development and Industrial Commission at 5 to 15 membersPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 20Raise the retirees' cost-of-living base from $14,000 to $15,000Passed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 21Accept the law allowing a stipend of up to $3,000 to the Town Accountant for retirement board workPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 22Borrow up to $21,005,000 for Weir River Water System improvementsPassed“Motion Adopted”
Art. 23Accept the law letting veterans exceed civil service age limits for police and fire jobs (M.G.L. c. 31, § 58A)Passed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 33Zoning: EV charging in parking lots of 20+ spaces, amended to require at least level 2 chargersPassed as amended“Motion Adopted · Yes: 140, No: 43”
Art. 34Zoning: create an MBTA Communities Multifamily Overlay DistrictPassed“Motion Adopted”
Art. 35Zoning: confirm Business Recreation zoning of the Country Club Road parcelPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 36Zoning: abandonment or discontinuance of nonconforming conditionsPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 37Zoning: special requirements in the Official and Open Space DistrictPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 38Zoning: lower the maximum building height in the Harbor Overlay District from 35 to 28 feetPassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 39Zoning: update the nursing home and assisted living usePassed“A Unanimous Vote”
Art. 40Allow the Select Board to accept easements through FY2025Passed“A Unanimous Vote”
Not here yet: the full Town Clerk record of the April 2026 Annual Town Meeting (only the Clerk's one-line result list is posted; the 2026 Town Report is not out yet).
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).
"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 2, 2018 through September 8, 2026, as posted in the town’s Agenda Center (the board was called the Board of Selectmen until 2021). Not here yet: minutes before 2018 (the town posts minutes back to 2012, and older ones in its document center), minutes after September 8, 2026, and meetings the town lists with an agenda but no minutes (mostly workshops, interviews and sessions where the board attended another group’s event). Hingham’s minutes are typed. Most votes say “All were in favor” or list a roll call by name; for those we show every member present as voting yes, or each member’s vote as recorded. Where a count or roll call does not match the members the minutes list as present (for example “All were in favor, 3-0” when only two members are listed, or a roll call naming a member the attendance line leaves out), we show the count only and add a note. A few motions are recorded with a second but no vote; those show the result only. Members who stepped aside (recused) are left out of that vote. Votes by other boards at joint meetings (School Committee, Advisory Committee, Recreation Commission, Board of Assessors and others) are not included. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Apr 19Recommend favorable action on Article 27Motion: to recommend favorable action on Article 27.Passed 2–1 · No: Klein
April 19, 2023: Recommend favorable action on Article 27
ApprovePassed · 2–1
To recommend favorable action on Article 27.
Yes: Fisher, RamseyNo: Klein
From the minutes
“Vote: Mr. Ramsey made a motion to recommend favorable action on Article 27. Mr. Fisher seconded. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Fisher: yes Ms. Klein: no Mr. Ramsey: yes.” (Motion: Ramsey, second: Fisher)
Apr 19Recommend favorable action on Article 11Motion: to recommend favorable action on Article 11.Passed 2–0 · see note
April 19, 2023: Recommend favorable action on Article 11
ApprovePassed · 2–0
To recommend favorable action on Article 11.
Yes: Fisher, RamseyThe roll call lists Liz Klein as not present for this vote, so Liz Klein is left out.
From the minutes
“Vote: Mr. Fisher made a motion to recommend favorable action on Article 11. Mr. Ramsey seconded. Roll Call Vote: Ms. Klein: absent Mr. Fisher: yes Mr. Ramsey: yes.” (Motion: Fisher, second: Ramsey)
Apr 19Adopt the Municipal Single-Use Plastic Water Bottle PolicyMotion: to adopt the Municipal Single-Use Plastic Water Bottle Policy. Seconded.Passed 2–0 · see note
April 19, 2023: Adopt the Municipal Single-Use Plastic Water Bottle Policy
ApprovePassed · 2–0
To adopt the Municipal Single-Use Plastic Water Bottle Policy. Seconded.
Yes: Fisher, RamseyThe roll call lists Liz Klein as not present for this vote, so Liz Klein is left out.
From the minutes
“Vote: Mr. Ramsey made a motion to adopt the Municipal Single-Use Plastic Water Bottle Policy. Seconded. Mr. Fisher seconded. Roll Call Vote: Ms. Klein: absent Mr. Fisher: yes Mr. Ramsey: yes.” (Motion: Ramsey, second: Fisher)
Mar 15Recommend an FY24 Culture & Recreation balanced budget of…Motion: to recommend an FY24 Culture & Recreation balanced budget of $2,362,373.Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Ramsey
March 15, 2023: Recommend an FY24 Culture & Recreation balanced budget of $2,362,373
ApprovePassed · 2–0
To recommend an FY24 Culture & Recreation balanced budget of $2,362,373.
Yes: Fisher, KleinAbstained: Ramsey
From the minutes
“Vote: Ms. Klein made a motion to recommend an FY24 Culture & Recreation balanced budget of $2,362,373. Mr. Fisher seconded. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Fisher: yes Mr. Ramsey: abstain Ms. Klein: yes.” (Motion: Klein, second: Fisher)
Mar 15Authorize remote participation by public bodies of the Town…Motion: to authorize remote participation by public bodies of the Town of…Passed 2–0 · see note
March 15, 2023: Authorize remote participation by public bodies of the Town of Hingham in accordance with the provisions of 940 CMR 29.10
ApprovePassed · 2–0
To authorize remote participation by public bodies of the Town of Hingham in accordance with the provisions of 940 CMR 29.10.
Yes: Klein, RamseyThe roll call lists Joseph Fisher as not present for this vote, so Joseph Fisher is left out.
From the minutes
“Vote: Mr. Ramsey made a motion to authorize remote participation by public bodies of the Town of Hingham in accordance with the provisions of 940 CMR 29.10. Ms. Klein seconded. Roll Call Vote: Ms. Klein: yes Mr. Fisher: not available (Mr. Fisher was participating remotely and had to step away from the Zoom meeting during this agenda item.) Mr. Ramsey: yes.” (Motion: Ramsey, second: Klein)
Mar 9Recommend a FY24 Public Safety balanced budget of $16,924,899Motion: to recommend a FY24 Public Safety balanced budget of $16,924,899.Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Ramsey
March 9, 2023: Recommend a FY24 Public Safety balanced budget of $16,924,899
ApprovePassed · 2–0
To recommend a FY24 Public Safety balanced budget of $16,924,899.
Yes: Fisher, KleinAbstained: Ramsey
From the minutes
“Vote: Ms. Klein made a motion to recommend a FY24 Public Safety balanced budget of $16,924,899. Mr. Fisher seconded. Roll Call Vote: Ms. Klein: yes Mr. Fisher: yes Mr. Ramsey: abstain.” (Motion: Klein, second: Fisher)
Mar 9Recommend a FY24 Culture and Recreation balanced budget of…Motion: to recommend a FY24 Culture and Recreation balanced budget of $2,295,873.Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Ramsey
March 9, 2023: Recommend a FY24 Culture and Recreation balanced budget of $2,295,873
ApprovePassed · 2–0
To recommend a FY24 Culture and Recreation balanced budget of $2,295,873.
Yes: Fisher, KleinAbstained: Ramsey
From the minutes
“Vote: Mr. Fisher made a motion to recommend a FY24 Culture and Recreation balanced budget of $2,295,873. Ms. Klein seconded. Roll Call Vote: Ms. Klein: yes Mr. Fisher: yes Mr. Ramsey: abstain.” (Motion: Fisher, second: Klein)
Mar 9Recommend a FY24 Public Safety recommended budget of $17,817,682Motion: to recommend a FY24 Public Safety recommended budget of $17,817,682.Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Ramsey
March 9, 2023: Recommend a FY24 Public Safety recommended budget of $17,817,682
ApprovePassed · 2–0
To recommend a FY24 Public Safety recommended budget of $17,817,682.
Yes: Fisher, KleinAbstained: Ramsey
From the minutes
“Vote: Mr. Fisher made a motion to recommend a FY24 Public Safety recommended budget of $17,817,682. Ms. Klein seconded. Roll Call Vote: Ms. Klein: yes Mr. Fisher: yes Mr. Ramsey: abstain.” (Motion: Fisher, second: Klein)
Mar 9Recommend a FY24 Culture and Recreation recommended budget of…Motion: to recommend a FY24 Culture and Recreation recommended budget of $2,765,203.Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Ramsey
March 9, 2023: Recommend a FY24 Culture and Recreation recommended budget of $2,765,203
ApprovePassed · 2–0
To recommend a FY24 Culture and Recreation recommended budget of $2,765,203.
Yes: Fisher, KleinAbstained: Ramsey
From the minutes
“Vote: Mr. Fisher made a motion to recommend a FY24 Culture and Recreation recommended budget of $2,765,203. Ms. Klein seconded. Roll Call Vote: Ms. Klein: yes Mr. Fisher: yes Mr. Ramsey: abstain.” (Motion: Fisher, second: Klein)
The minutes name Liz Klein as both making and seconding this motion.
From the minutes
“Vote: Ms. Klein made a motion to recommend favorable action on Article DD. Ms. Klein seconded. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Fisher: yes Ms. Klein: yes Mr. Ramsey: yes.” (Motion: Klein)
From the Hingham Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center. 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: Hingham Anchor candidate stories (William Ramsey 2020, Liz Klein 2021, Julie Strehle 2024). Former members show initials.