How the Natick Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. Linda Wollschlager was elected at the March 2024 town election, succeeding Paul Joseph. On March 27, 2024 the board chose Kathryn Coughlin as Chair, Bruce Evans as Vice Chair and Richard Sidney as Clerk (each unanimous, 5-0-0). Covers 37 meetings, March 27 to March 19, 2025.
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 Natick, 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.
Spring Annual Town Meeting, April 30 session (electronic votes only) · April 30, 2026 10 votes: 10 passed
Not here yet: Natick's 2026 Spring Annual Town Meeting has no Town Clerk minutes posted yet, so only its electronic votes from April 28 and April 30, 2026 are here; the 2026 Fall Annual Town Meeting starts October 20, 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: Natick Select Board minutes from January 16, 2018 through August 11, 2026: 339 meetings and 2,671 votes. The town posts the board’s minutes on yearly pages (2013–2026) linked from its Minutes page; MassVoter loaded January 2018 on. The board was the Board of Selectmen until 2020; its minutes are headed “Select Board” from July 15, 2020. The minutes are typed documents with searchable text. A few files carry the wrong date: two 2026 files are titled “February 25, 2025” and “February 4, 2025,” and others repeat an earlier meeting’s date in the heading (the May 27, 2026 minutes are headed May 13; the July 9, 2026 minutes are headed July 8). MassVoter dated each meeting from its contents and the town’s meeting list. Not here: executive-session minutes (27 released executive-session files on the yearly pages are not loaded); the votes of the School Committee and other boards at joint meetings; and meetings on the town’s video and agenda list (Granicus) with no minutes posted – about 150 sessions from 2018 to September 2026, some of them executive-session-only meetings, site walks or events where no business was done, and, since July 2025, the meetings of July 14 and October 7, 2025 (a workshop on the Johnson School), March 9 and May 6, 2026 (board retreats) and June 24, 2026. MassVoter is asking the town for the missing minutes. Minutes after August 11, 2026 are not posted yet (July 22, August 18, August 19, August 24, September 2 (two sessions), September 9, September 16 and September 30, 2026). Natick’s minutes name the mover and seconder; most votes read “The motion passed unanimously” or give a count (“Motion approved 5-0-0”), shown as every member present voting yes when the count equals the members present. Roll calls by name (the 2020–2021 remote meetings and many 2025–2026 votes: “Roll call vote: Ms. Coughlin: Yes, Mr. Sidney: Yes, …”) are shown by name; split votes usually name the members who voted no or abstained (“Motion passed 4-1-0 … with Ms. Coughlin opposed”), shown with the other members present voting yes. Where the count does not fit the members present or the minutes do not say who voted no or abstained (“4-0-1”), we show the count only (23 votes); where the minutes give no count and no unanimity wording, and for choices between candidates by ballot, we show the result only (51 votes). Failed motions are shown member by member when the minutes name the voters (6 failed votes). Members who arrived late or left early are not shown in the votes they missed. 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.
Mar 5Approve an abatement amount of $2,646.96. 4-1-0 Roll Call:…Motion: On a motion made by Mr. Evans and seconded by Ms.…Passed 4–1 · No: Sidney
March 5, 2025: Approve an abatement amount of $2,646.96. 4-1-0 Roll Call: Ms. Coughlin - yes Mr. Evans - yes Mr. Sidney - no Ms. Wollschlager -yes Ms. Pope - yes
ApprovePassed · 4–1
On a motion made by Mr. Evans and seconded by Ms. Wollschlager, the Board voted to approve an abatement amount of $2,646.96. 4-1-0 Roll Call: Ms. Coughlin - yes Mr. Evans - yes Mr. Sidney - no Ms. Wollschlager -yes Ms. Pope - yes
“On a motion made by Mr. Evans and seconded by Ms. Wollschlager, the Board voted to approve an abatement amount of $2,646.96. 4-1-0 Roll Call: Ms. Coughlin - yes Mr. Evans - yes Mr. Sidney - no Ms. Wollschlager -yes Ms. Pope - yes.” (Motion: Evans, second: Wollschlager)
The motion was made by Mr. Sidney and seconded by Mr. Evans - 4:0:0 (Roll Call: Ms. Coughlin - Aye; Ms. Pope - Aye; Mr. Sidney - Aye; Mr. Evans - Aye.)
Yes: Coughlin, Evans, Pope, SidneyLinda Wollschlager arrived, after this vote, and is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“The motion was made by Mr. Sidney and seconded by Mr. Evans - 4:0:0 (Roll Call: Ms. Coughlin - Aye; Ms. Pope - Aye; Mr. Sidney - Aye; Mr. Evans - Aye.).” (Motion: Sidney, second: Evans)
Jan 15Grant the Town Administrator approval to sign the 21…Motion: On a motion made by Mr. Sidney and seconded by Mr.…Passed · see note
January 15, 2025: Grant the Town Administrator approval to sign the 21 Summer Street LIP (Local Initiative Program) Application
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
On a motion made by Mr. Sidney and seconded by Mr. Evans, the Board voted to grant the Town Administrator approval to sign the 21 Summer Street LIP (Local Initiative Program) Application.
The minutes record the result but no count or names.
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Mr. Sidney and seconded by Mr. Evans, the Board voted to grant the Town Administrator approval to sign the 21 Summer Street LIP (Local Initiative Program) Application..” (Motion: Sidney, second: Evans)
Jan 8Approve: Approve Request to Occupy a Public Way Saturdays…Motion: E. Approve Request to Occupy a Public Way Saturdays from 1/10/25-4/26/25,…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
January 8, 2025: Approve: Approve Request to Occupy a Public Way Saturdays from 1/10/25-4/26/25, 9
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
E. Approve Request to Occupy a Public Way Saturdays from 1/10/25-4/26/25, 9:00 am- 1:00 pm for the Farmers' Market Motion passed 5-0-0.
The minutes do not say who made this motion. The minutes do not name a seconder.
From the minutes
“E. Approve Request to Occupy a Public Way Saturdays from 1/10/25-4/26/25, 9:00 am- 1:00 pm for the Farmers' Market Motion passed 5-0-0..”
Dec 18Authorize the Chair to sign the letter and file…Motion: On a motion made Mr. Evans and seconded by Mr. Sidney…Passed · see note
December 18, 2024: Authorize the Chair to sign the letter and file the packet with Representative Linsky's office
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
On a motion made Mr. Evans and seconded by Mr. Sidney the Board voted to authorize the Chair to sign the letter and file the packet with Representative Linsky's office.
The minutes record the result but no count or names. The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“On a motion made Mr. Evans and seconded by Mr. Sidney the Board voted to authorize the Chair to sign the letter and file the packet with Representative Linsky's office..” (second: Sidney)
Nov 20Appoint Nicholas Arthur to the Historic District Commission for…Motion: On a motion made by Ms. Wollschlager and seconded by Ms.…Passed · see note
November 20, 2024: Appoint Nicholas Arthur to the Historic District Commission for a term expiring on June 30, 2027
AppointPassed · No count or names in the minutes
On a motion made by Ms. Wollschlager and seconded by Ms. Pope the Board voted to appoint Nicholas Arthur to the Historic District Commission for a term expiring on June 30, 2027
The minutes record the result but no count or names.
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Ms. Wollschlager and seconded by Ms. Pope the Board voted to appoint Nicholas Arthur to the Historic District Commission for a term expiring on June 30, 2027.” (Motion: Wollschlager, second: Pope)
On a motion made by Mr. Sidney and seconded by Ms. Wollschlager the Board voted to approve Item C of the Consent Agenda.
The minutes record the result but no count or names.
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Mr. Sidney and seconded by Ms. Wollschlager the Board voted to approve Item C of the Consent Agenda..” (Motion: Sidney, second: Wollschlager)
Nov 13Keep the fees the same as is as stated…Motion: On a motion made by Mr. Sidney and seconded by Mr.…Passed · see note
November 13, 2024: Keep the fees the same as is as stated on the chart attached to Novus with the following changes: change the title of the first category to new and transfer…
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
On a motion made by Mr. Sidney and seconded by Mr. Evans the Board voted to keep the fees the same as is as stated on the chart attached to Novus with the following changes: change the title of the first category to new and transfer application, Restaurant All Alcohol fees will be the following by seat capacity 1-50 $2800 / 51-100 $3200, eliminate All Alcohol with Lounge and eliminate Restaurant wine/malt with lounge categories
The minutes record the result but no count or names.
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Mr. Sidney and seconded by Mr. Evans the Board voted to keep the fees the same as is as stated on the chart attached to Novus with the following changes: change the title of the first category to new and transfer application, Restaurant All Alcohol fees will be the following by seat capacity 1-50 $2800 / 51-100 $3200, eliminate All Alcohol with Lounge and eliminate Restaurant wine/malt with lounge categories.” (Motion: Sidney, second: Evans)
Oct 18Approve the request to occupy a public way for…Motion: On a motion made by Mr. Evans and seconded by Mr.…Passed 5–0 · see note
October 18, 2024: Approve the request to occupy a public way for the Wethersfield Block Party. 5-0-0 Roll Call: Ms. Coughlin - yes Mr. Evans - yes Mr. Sidney- yes Ms. Wollschlager- yes
ApprovePassed · 5–0
On a motion made by Mr. Evans and seconded by Mr. Sidney the Board voted to approve the request to occupy a public way for the Wethersfield Block Party. 5-0-0 Roll Call: Ms. Coughlin - yes Mr. Evans - yes Mr. Sidney- yes Ms. Wollschlager- yes
The minutes give the count as 5-0-0 but the roll call lists Kathryn M. Coughlin (yes), Bruce T. Evans (yes), Richard Sidney (yes) and Linda Wollschlager (yes). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Mr. Evans and seconded by Mr. Sidney the Board voted to approve the request to occupy a public way for the Wethersfield Block Party. 5-0-0 Roll Call: Ms. Coughlin - yes Mr. Evans - yes Mr. Sidney- yes Ms. Wollschlager- yes.” (Motion: Evans, second: Sidney)
Oct 18Approve the Request to occupy a public way for…Motion: On a motion made Mr. Evans by and seconded by Ms.…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
October 18, 2024: Approve the Request to occupy a public way for the Whittier Road Block Party. 4-0-0 Roll Call: Ms. Coughlin - yes Mr. Evans - yes Mr. Sidney- yes Ms. Wollschlager-…
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
On a motion made Mr. Evans by and seconded by Ms. Wollschlager the Board voted to approve the Request to occupy a public way for the Whittier Road Block Party. 4-0-0 Roll Call: Ms. Coughlin - yes Mr. Evans - yes Mr. Sidney- yes Ms. Wollschlager- yes
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“On a motion made Mr. Evans by and seconded by Ms. Wollschlager the Board voted to approve the Request to occupy a public way for the Whittier Road Block Party. 4-0-0 Roll Call: Ms. Coughlin - yes Mr. Evans - yes Mr. Sidney- yes Ms. Wollschlager- yes.” (second: Wollschlager)
From the Natick Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the yearly minutes pages linked from the town’s Minutes page. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos (the town’s website has no Select Board photos): Natick Report — Kristen Pope and Cody Jacobs (March 2026), Bruce Evans (March 2025) and Linda Wollschlager (March 2024 swearing-in, captioned); Natick Patch — Kathryn Coughlin (March 2022, courtesy of the candidate). Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.