How the Lexington Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. On May 8, 2023 the board voted 5-0 to elect Joseph Pato Chair and Suzanne Barry Vice Chair. Covers 49 meetings, May 8 to April 24, 2024.
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 Lexington, 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. Town Meeting members are elected by precinct; counts are from the town’s electronic voting.
Annual Town Meeting · March 30, 2026 61 votes: 56 passed, 2 passed as amended, 1 failed, 2 indefinitely postponed
Sessions: March 30, April 6, 8, 13, 15, 27, 29 and May 4, 2026
Art. 27Resolution on financial transparency for major capital projects, with a report at the fall 2026 STM (citizen petition, as amended)Passed as amended“MOTION CARRIES · Yes 162, No 11, Abstain 1”
Art. 8Resolution asking the state school building authority (MSBA) to fund the high school project in two phases (citizen petition)Failed“MOTION FAILS · Yes 11, No 157, Abstain 8”
Not here yet: the Town Clerk's minutes of Special Town Meeting 2025-2 (November 3, 2025); its results here come from the Town's posted actions table and electronic vote totals. Special Town Meeting 2026-1 meets November 9, 2026.
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: Lexington Select Board minutes from January 8, 2018 through August 31, 2026: 428 meetings (including joint meetings, budget summits and retreats) and 2,640 votes. The town’s Laserfiche archive holds the board’s minutes back to the 1920s; MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. The 2019 Annual Town Meeting voted to rename the Board of Selectmen the Select Board; the special act was signed January 14, 2020, and the minutes use the new name from January 16, 2020. All minutes are typed documents with searchable text. Not here: executive-session minutes; cancelled meetings and executive-session-only meetings; votes of the School Committee, Planning Board, Appropriation Committee, Capital Expenditures Committee and other boards at joint meetings; meetings with no posted minutes: August 2020 through January 2021 and April 2021 (no minutes are posted for these months), and, with an agenda posted but no minutes, the board’s short meetings before Town Meeting on November 3, 2022, November 14, 2024, April 16, 2025 and November 4, 2025, February 16, 2023 (FY2024 budget vote), November 4, 2024 (summit), and the retreats of August 31, 2022, January 11, 2023, October 11, 2023 and August 25, 2026; February 23, 2026 (the board approved these minutes on March 30, 2026, but the file posted for that date is a copy of the January 27, 2025 minutes); and meetings after August 31, 2026 (the September and October 2026 minutes are not posted yet). Lexington’s minutes usually read “VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to …” (by roll call when the meeting is remote or hybrid), with the members present listed at the top; when the count matches the members present, every member present is shown voting yes. Mover and seconder are not named. A member who votes no or abstains is often named (“Mr. Lucente cast the dissenting vote”, “with Ms. Hai against”) and is then shown by name; where a split count names no one (“voted 3-2”) we show the count only, with a note (54 votes), and where the minutes give no count or names we show the result only (7 votes). The board also takes positions on Town Meeting articles, recorded in position charts, tables or lists in the minutes (support, oppose, wait, recused); MassVoter shows each article position as a vote (417 positions), leaving out members who were waiting or recused, with a note. Members who recused themselves are not shown in that vote; members who arrived late or left early are shown only in the votes they were there for. A motion with no recorded outcome is not counted as a vote. 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 24Install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Lights (RRFBs) as proposed in…Motion: VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board…Passed 4–1 · see note
April 24, 2024: Install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Lights (RRFBs) as proposed in option 2 in the memo dated April 12, 2024 at the following street intersections: Merriam Street, Revere Street, Woburn Street,...
ApprovePassed · 4–1
VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 4-1 to install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Lights (RRFBs) as proposed in option 2 in the memo dated April 12, 2024 at the following street intersections: Merriam Street, Revere Street, Woburn Street, Fletcher Avenue, Westview Street, Bow Street and Fottler Avenue.
The minutes give the count as 4-1 but do not say who voted no or abstained. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 4-1 to install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Lights (RRFBs) as proposed in option 2 in the memo dated April 12, 2024 at the following street intersections: Merriam Street, Revere Street, Woburn Street, Fletcher Avenue, Westview Street, Bow Street and Fottler Avenue..”
Apr 1Proceed with the following actions recommended by the Town…Motion: VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board…Passed 4–0 · see note
April 1, 2024: Proceed with the following actions recommended by the Town Engineer and DPW director in relation to the Battle Streetscape design: A light dimming plan, Screening from the rear of the…
Adopt orderPassed · 4–0
VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 4-0 to proceed with the following actions recommended by the Town Engineer and DPW director in relation to the Battle Streetscape design: A light dimming plan, Screening from the rear of the lights has been ordered, Visitors Center gravel path will be lined up with the road crossing, Extend the fence and paint entirety of fence (existing and new) to match, Support the HDC application/fee for the fence extension and painting and the walkway and Add a grass strip along the Bedford Street side of the Battle Green.
Yes: Hai, Lucente, Pato, SandeenThe minutes say “Ms. Barry recused herself from this item.” The count (4-0) matches the 4 other members present, so that member is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 4-0 to proceed with the following actions recommended by the Town Engineer and DPW director in relation to the Battle Streetscape design: A light dimming plan, Screening from the rear of the lights has been ordered, Visitors Center gravel path will be lined up with the road crossing, Extend the fence and paint entirety of fence (existing and new) to match, Support the HDC application/fee for the fence extension and painting and the walkway and Add a grass strip along the Bedford Street side of the Battle Green..”
Apr 1Remove the bike ramps and crosswalk on the Hancock…Motion: VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board…Failed 2–2 · see note
April 1, 2024: Remove the bike ramps and crosswalk on the Hancock Street leg of the roundabout
ApproveFailed · 2–2
VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 2-2 to remove the bike ramps and crosswalk on the Hancock Street leg of the roundabout.
The minutes give the count as 2-2, but 5 members were present (Joseph Pato, Suzanne Barry, Douglas Lucente, Mark Sandeen and Jill Hai) and the minutes do not say who did not vote. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 2-2 to remove the bike ramps and crosswalk on the Hancock Street leg of the roundabout..”
VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 4-0 to approve Consent Agenda item #9.
Yes: Barry, Hai, Pato, SandeenThe minutes say “Mr. Lucente recused himself from this item.” The count (4-0) matches the 4 other members present, so that member is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 4-0 to approve Consent Agenda item #9..”
Mar 6Position on 2024 Annual Town Meeting Article 3 (Cary…Motion: 2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 3: Cary Lecture Series…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
March 6, 2024: Position on 2024 Annual Town Meeting Article 3 (Cary Lecture Series): support
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 3: Cary Lecture Series | JP Y | SB Y | DL Y | JH Y | MS Y
From the position chart appended to the March 6, 2024 minutes (the last chart posted for the 2024 Annual Town Meeting): each member’s position is marked Y (support), N (do not support), A (abstain), W (wait) or R (recused). “RB” means refer back. The members set these positions at meetings from February 2024 on; this is the chart’s final posted record.
From the minutes
“2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 3: Cary Lecture Series | JP Y | SB Y | DL Y | JH Y | MS Y.”
Mar 6Position on 2024 Annual Town Meeting Article 4 (Appropriate…Motion: 2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 4: Appropriate FY2025 Operating…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
March 6, 2024: Position on 2024 Annual Town Meeting Article 4 (Appropriate FY2025 Operating Budget): support
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 4: Appropriate FY2025 Operating Budget | JP Y | SB Y | DL Y | JH Y | MS Y
From the position chart appended to the March 6, 2024 minutes (the last chart posted for the 2024 Annual Town Meeting): each member’s position is marked Y (support), N (do not support), A (abstain), W (wait) or R (recused). “RB” means refer back. The members set these positions at meetings from February 2024 on; this is the chart’s final posted record.
From the minutes
“2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 4: Appropriate FY2025 Operating Budget | JP Y | SB Y | DL Y | JH Y | MS Y.”
Mar 6Position on 2024 Annual Town Meeting Article 5 (Appropriate…Motion: 2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 5: Appropriate FY2025 Enterprise…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
March 6, 2024: Position on 2024 Annual Town Meeting Article 5 (Appropriate FY2025 Enterprise Funds Budgets): support
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 5: Appropriate FY2025 Enterprise Funds Budgets | JP Y | SB Y | DL Y | JH Y | MS Y
From the position chart appended to the March 6, 2024 minutes (the last chart posted for the 2024 Annual Town Meeting): each member’s position is marked Y (support), N (do not support), A (abstain), W (wait) or R (recused). “RB” means refer back. The members set these positions at meetings from February 2024 on; this is the chart’s final posted record.
From the minutes
“2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 5: Appropriate FY2025 Enterprise Funds Budgets | JP Y | SB Y | DL Y | JH Y | MS Y.”
Mar 6Position on 2024 Annual Town Meeting Article 6 (Appropriate…Motion: 2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 6: Appropriate for Senior…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
March 6, 2024: Position on 2024 Annual Town Meeting Article 6 (Appropriate for Senior Services Program): support
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 6: Appropriate for Senior Services Program | JP Y | SB Y | DL Y | JH Y | MS Y
From the position chart appended to the March 6, 2024 minutes (the last chart posted for the 2024 Annual Town Meeting): each member’s position is marked Y (support), N (do not support), A (abstain), W (wait) or R (recused). “RB” means refer back. The members set these positions at meetings from February 2024 on; this is the chart’s final posted record.
From the minutes
“2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 6: Appropriate for Senior Services Program | JP Y | SB Y | DL Y | JH Y | MS Y.”
Mar 6Position on 2024 Annual Town Meeting Article 7 (Sustainable…Motion: 2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 7: Sustainable Capital Projects…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
March 6, 2024: Position on 2024 Annual Town Meeting Article 7 (Sustainable Capital Projects): support
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 7: Sustainable Capital Projects | JP Y | SB Y | DL Y | JH Y | MS Y
From the position chart appended to the March 6, 2024 minutes (the last chart posted for the 2024 Annual Town Meeting): each member’s position is marked Y (support), N (do not support), A (abstain), W (wait) or R (recused). “RB” means refer back. The members set these positions at meetings from February 2024 on; this is the chart’s final posted record.
From the minutes
“2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 7: Sustainable Capital Projects | JP Y | SB Y | DL Y | JH Y | MS Y.”
Mar 6Position on 2024 Annual Town Meeting Article 8 (Accept…Motion: 2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 8: Accept Tucker Ave.…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
March 6, 2024: Position on 2024 Annual Town Meeting Article 8 (Accept Tucker Ave. (Westernmost portion)): support
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 8: Accept Tucker Ave. (Westernmost portion) | JP Y | SB Y | DL Y | JH Y | MS Y
From the position chart appended to the March 6, 2024 minutes (the last chart posted for the 2024 Annual Town Meeting): each member’s position is marked Y (support), N (do not support), A (abstain), W (wait) or R (recused). “RB” means refer back. The members set these positions at meetings from February 2024 on; this is the chart’s final posted record.
From the minutes
“2024 Annual Town Meeting position chart, Article 8: Accept Tucker Ave. (Westernmost portion) | JP Y | SB Y | DL Y | JH Y | MS Y.”
From the Lexington Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Laserfiche records archive (Select Board minutes). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Select Board photos: Town of Lexington (lexingtonma.gov), from the official Select Board page. Former members show initials.