How the Mashpee Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Same five members after the June 23, 2020 town election (held later than usual because of COVID-19). The June 29, 2020 agenda lists the reorganization, but the posted minutes do not record it; John Cotton chaired the board from July 13, 2020, so this term is shown from that date. The minutes do not name the Vice Chair or Clerk. Covers 21 meetings, July 13 to May 3, 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.
In Mashpee, 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 14 votes: 13 passed, 1 failed
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 (until 2022, Board of Selectmen) minutes from January 8, 2018 through July 13, 2026, from the Select Board folder of the town’s Laserfiche records archive, which holds minutes back to the 1950s (MassVoter has loaded 2018 on). Anyone can open these minutes page by page without signing in; the original files cannot be downloaded without an account, so MassVoter read the text the archive shows with each page. Most minutes from 2018 to early 2026 are scanned copies whose text was produced by text-recognition software, so names and numbers are sometimes damaged; we matched damaged names to members only when the match was clear. Not here: minutes the town has not posted, including February 23, 2026 and meetings after July 13, 2026; the minutes of April 8, 2019, April 12, 2021 and March 17, 2025, whose files in the archive hold other papers or have no readable text for the minutes pages; and executive-session minutes, except two released sets (April 11 and 17, 2018) that are the only minutes for those dates. Mashpee’s minutes record almost every vote as a roll call by name ("Roll Call Vote: Selectman O’Hara, yes ..."), and we show each member’s vote from it. Where the roll call cannot be fully read, leaves out a member who was there without a count that explains it, lists a member twice, or does not match the count, we show the count only, or the result only when no count can be read, and add a note. Votes taken by other boards at joint meetings (such as the Finance Committee or the Affordable Housing Trust) are not included; at joint votes we show only the Select Board members’ roll-call votes. Votes choosing between candidates show the result only. 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.
May 3Add Jessie "Little Doe" Baird to the Committee for…Motion: to add Jessie "Little Doe" Baird to the Committee for the…Passed 4–1 · No: O'Hara
May 3, 2021: Add Jessie "Little Doe" Baird to the Committee for the Prevention of Violence Against Women & Children as recommended
ApprovePassed · 4–1
To add Jessie "Little Doe" Baird to the Committee for the Prevention of Violence Against Women & Children as recommended
Yes: Cotton, Gottlieb, Sherman, WeedenNo: O'Hara
From the minutes
“Motion made by Selectman Cotton to add Jessie "Little Doe" Baird to the Committee for the Prevention of Violence Against Women & Children as recommended. Motion seconded by Selectman Weeden. VOTE: 4-1. Motion carries. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Cotton, yes Selectman O'Hara, no Selectman Sherman, yes Selectman Gottlieb, yes Selectman Weeden, yes Opposed, (1).” (Motion: Cotton, second: Weeden)
Feb 22Include and recommend the appropriation to the Injured-on Duty…Motion: to include and recommend the appropriation to the Injured-on Duty FundPassed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
February 22, 2021: Include and recommend the appropriation to the Injured-on Duty Fund
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
To include and recommend the appropriation to the Injured-on Duty Fund
The minutes name Carol Sherman as both the mover and the seconder, so no seconder is shown.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Selectman Sherman to include and recommend the appropriation to the Injured-on Duty Fund. Motion seconded by Selectman Sherman. VOTE: Unanimous. 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Cotton, yes Selectman O'Hara,yes Selectman Sherman, yes Selectman Gottlieb, yes Selectman Weeden, yes Opposed, none.” (Motion: Sherman)
Feb 22Include and support engineering/permitting/dredging for navigational purposesMotion: to include and support engineering/permitting/dredging for navigational purposesPassed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
February 22, 2021: Include and support engineering/permitting/dredging for navigational purposes
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
To include and support engineering/permitting/dredging for navigational purposes
The minutes name Carol Sherman as both the mover and the seconder, so no seconder is shown.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Selectman Sherman to include and support engineering/permitting/dredging for navigational purposes. Motion seconded by Selectman Sherman. VOTE: Unanimous. 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Cotton, yes Selectman O'Hara, yes Selectman Sherman, yes Selectman Gottlieb, yes Selectman Weeden, yes Opposed, none.” (Motion: Sherman)
Dec 21Vote to authorize the Human Services Department to implement…Motion: to vote to authorize the Human Services Department to implement a…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
December 21, 2020: Vote to authorize the Human Services Department to implement a Housing Assistance Program as outlined in Draft H of the Housing Assistance Proposal with an initial authorization not to exceed...
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
To vote to authorize the Human Services Department to implement a Housing Assistance Program as outlined in Draft H of the Housing Assistance Proposal with an initial authorization not to exceed $75,000, and further, the Trust establishes the program grant details and eligibility parameters and authorizes the Human Services Department to refine and modify implementation procedures consistent with the limits of the parameters to assure fair, timely and efficient implementation of the program. And further, it is required the program adhere to the reporting that was expected of the Mashpee Housing Authority to inform the Affordable Housing Trust of the program within the limits of confidentiality
Seconded by Mr. Richardson, a member of another board at a joint meeting. Joint vote with the Affordable Housing Trust (the minutes give the combined count as 7-0); only the Select Board members’ votes are shown.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Selectman Gottlieb to vote to authorize the Human Services Department to implement a Housing Assistance Program as outlined in Draft H of the Housing Assistance Proposal with an initial authorization not to exceed $75,000, and further, the Trust establishes the program grant details and eligibility parameters and authorizes the Human Services Department to refine and modify implementation procedures consistent with the limits of the parameters to assure fair, timely and efficient implementation of the program. And further, it is required the program adhere to the reporting that was expected of the Mashpee Housing Authority to inform the Affordable Housing Trust of the program within the limits of confidentiality. Motion seconded by Mr. Richardson. VOTE: Unanimous. 7-0. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Cotton,yes Selectman O'Hara,yes Selectman Sherman,yes Selectman Gottlieb,yes Selectman Weeden,yes Mr. Richardson,yes Mr. Isbitz,yes Opposed, none.” (Motion: Gottlieb)
Dec 7Terminate the Memorandum of Agreement between the Town and…Motion: to terminate the Memorandum of Agreement between the Town and Mashpee…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
December 7, 2020: Terminate the Memorandum of Agreement between the Town and Mashpee Housing Authority for the administration of the Housing Assistance Program II, sending a letter of disappointment for their...
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
To terminate the Memorandum of Agreement between the Town and Mashpee Housing Authority for the administration of the Housing Assistance Program II, sending a letter of disappointment for their decision to end this program
Moved by Mr. Richardson, a member of another board at a joint meeting. Joint vote with the Affordable Housing Trust (the minutes give the combined count as 7-0); only the Select Board members’ votes are shown.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Mr. Richardson to terminate the Memorandum of Agreement between the Town and Mashpee Housing Authority for the administration of the Housing Assistance Program II, sending a letter of disappointment for their decision to end this program. Motion seconded by Selectman O'Hara. VOTE: Unanimous. 7-0. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Cotton,yes Selectman O'Hara,yes Selectman Sherman,yes Selectman Gottlieb,yes Selectman Weeden,yes Mr. Isbitz,yes Mr. Richardson,yes Opposed, none.” (second: O'Hara)
Dec 7Authorize the Town Manager on behalf of the Municipal…Motion: to authorize the Town Manager on behalf of the Municipal Affordable…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
December 7, 2020: Authorize the Town Manager on behalf of the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust to solicit proposals for the provisions of service related to the Mashpee Housing Assistance Program II for the...
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
To authorize the Town Manager on behalf of the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust to solicit proposals for the provisions of service related to the Mashpee Housing Assistance Program II for the benefit of Mashpee residents offering short term rental assistance, mortgage assistance for short term and to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic for Calendar Year 2021 for an amount not to exceed $75,000 (total value of contract)
Joint vote with the Affordable Housing Trust (the minutes give the combined count as 7-0); only the Select Board members’ votes are shown.
From the minutes
“Motion made by Selectman Gottlieb to authorize the Town Manager on behalf of the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust to solicit proposals for the provisions of service related to the Mashpee Housing Assistance Program II for the benefit of Mashpee residents offering short term rental assistance, mortgage assistance for short term and to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic for Calendar Year 2021 for an amount not to exceed $75,000 (total value of contract). Motion seconded by Selectman O'Hara. VOTE: Unanimous. 7-0. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Cotton,yes Selectman O'Hara,yes Selectman Sherman,yes Selectman Gottlieb,yes Selectman Weeden,yes Mr. Isbitz,yes Mr. Richardson,yes Opposed, none.” (Motion: Gottlieb, second: O'Hara)
Nov 16Move that the Town of Mashpee adopt a Tax…Motion: to move that the Town of Mashpee adopt a Tax Rate…Passed 3–2 · No: Gottlieb, Weeden
November 16, 2020: Move that the Town of Mashpee adopt a Tax Rate Factor of 111" for all classes of property with no discount for Open Space, no Residential Exemption and no Small…
ApprovePassed · 3–2
To move that the Town of Mashpee adopt a Tax Rate Factor of 111" for all classes of property with no discount for Open Space, no Residential Exemption and no Small Commercial Exemption
Yes: Cotton, O'Hara, ShermanNo: Gottlieb, Weeden
From the minutes
“Motion made by Selectman Sherman to move that the Town of Mashpee adopt a Tax Rate Factor of 111" for all classes of property with no discount for Open Space, no Residential Exemption and no Small Commercial Exemption. Motion seconded by Selectman O'Hara. VOTE: 3-2. Motion carries. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Cotton,yes Selectman O'Hara,yes Selectman Sherman,yes Selectman Gottlieb, no Selectman Weeden, no Opposed, (2).” (Motion: Sherman, second: O'Hara)
Nov 2Adopt the Ban on the Sale of Alcohol Nips…Motion: to adopt the Ban on the Sale of Alcohol Nips (50…Passed 4–1 · No: O'Hara
November 2, 2020: Adopt the Ban on the Sale of Alcohol Nips (50 mil) (50 milliliter (ml) container), and further Ban the Sale of Alcohol Nips in Containers of up to 100 mil…
ApprovePassed · 4–1
To adopt the Ban on the Sale of Alcohol Nips (50 mil) (50 milliliter (ml) container), and further Ban the Sale of Alcohol Nips in Containers of up to 100 mil in size, as a Condition of any New, Renewed and/or Transferred License for Establishments Licensed pursuant to G.L. c. 138, §15 based on Considerations of Public Health, Welfare and Safety. The Ban is applicable with the License Renewals for 2021,with an effective date of July 1,2021. If there is no serious issue of good faith to develop a solution, the ban will take effect. In the event a solution is developed there is time for the Board of Selectmen to re-consider an amendment to the license condition
Yes: Cotton, Gottlieb, Sherman, WeedenNo: O'Hara
From the minutes
“Motion made by Selectman Gottlieb to adopt the Ban on the Sale of Alcohol Nips (50 mil) (50 milliliter (ml) container), and further Ban the Sale of Alcohol Nips in Containers of up to 100 mil in size, as a Condition of any New, Renewed and/or Transferred License for Establishments Licensed pursuant to G.L. c. 138, §15 based on Considerations of Public Health, Welfare and Safety. The Ban is applicable with the License Renewals for 2021,with an effective date of July 1,2021. If there is no serious issue of good faith to develop a solution, the ban will take effect. In the event a solution is developed there is time for the Board of Selectmen to re-consider an amendment to the license condition. Motion seconded by Selectman Sherman. VOTE: Motion carries. 4-1. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Cotton,yes Selectman O'Hara, no Selectman Sherman,yes Selectman Gottlieb,yes Selectman Weeden,yes Opposed, (1).” (Motion: Gottlieb, second: Sherman)
Sep 14That the Select Board support the passage of Article…Motion: that the Select Board support the passage of Article 20 as…Passed 4–1 · No: O'Hara
September 14, 2020: That the Select Board support the passage of Article 20 as it now appears on the October Town Meeting warrant
ApprovePassed · 4–1
That the Select Board support the passage of Article 20 as it now appears on the October Town Meeting warrant
Yes: Cotton, Gottlieb, Sherman, WeedenNo: O'Hara
From the minutes
“Motion made by Selectman Gottlieb that the Select Board support the passage of Article 20 as it now appears on the October Town Meeting warrant. Motion seconded by Selectman Sherman. VOTE: 4-1. Motion carries. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Cotton,yes Selectman O'Hara, no Selectman Sherman,yes Selectman Gottlieb,yes Selectman Weeden,yes Opposed, (1).” (Motion: Gottlieb, second: Sherman)
Aug 24Support Article 410 for placement on the October Town…Motion: to support Article 410 for placement on the October Town Meeting…Passed 4–1 · No: O'Hara
August 24, 2020: Support Article 410 for placement on the October Town Meeting Warrant
ApprovePassed · 4–1
To support Article 410 for placement on the October Town Meeting Warrant
Yes: Cotton, Gottlieb, Sherman, WeedenNo: O'Hara
From the minutes
“Motion made by Selectman Gottlieb to support Article 410 for placement on the October Town Meeting Warrant. Motion seconded by Selectman Sherman. VOTE: 4-1. Motion carries. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Cotton,yes Selectman O'Hara, no Selectman Sherman,yes Selectman Gottlieb,yes Selectman Weeden,yes Opposed, (1).” (Motion: Gottlieb, second: Sherman)
From the Mashpee Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Laserfiche records archive (linked as “View Most Recent Minutes” on the town’s Select Board page). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Town of Mashpee (Select Board page)