MassVoter.com← NeedhamMunicipal votes · 2022–2023 Board
Needham Select Board
How the Needham Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Heidi Frail joined the board after the April 2022 town election; Daniel P. Matthews left. On April 13, 2022 the board chose Marianne Cooley as Chair, Marcus Nelson as Vice-Chair and Kevin Keane as Secretary/Clerk (each 5-0). Covers 30 meetings, April 13 to April 7, 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 budgetBoard years
Coming up
MassVoter can’t read Needham’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Members
Heidi FrailMember · Elected townwide · at 29 of 30 meetings
Kevin KeaneClerk · Elected townwide · at 30 of 30 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 (called the Board of Selectmen until 2019) from January 9, 2018 through August 3, 2026, from the town’s online Archive Center, which holds Select Board minutes back to 2006 (MassVoter has loaded 2018 on). Joint meetings with other boards are included, but only the Select Board’s own votes. Not here: executive-session minutes; minutes of the board’s two-member subcommittees; minutes the town has not posted for 23 other meeting dates that have an agenda in the Archive Center: March 13, April 9 and April 24, 2018; March 26, 2019; April 29, 2020 (joint meeting with the Council of Economic Advisors), August 11, 2020 (joint meeting with the Affordable Housing Trust), November 3, 2020 (executive session) and November 19, 2020; March 15, April 27, October 21, October 25, November 16 (executive session), November 23, November 30 and December 14, 2021; October 24 and November 9, 2022; January 9, January 18 and October 30, 2023; November 25, 2024; and June 23, 2025; and every meeting after August 3, 2026 (the town usually posts minutes about two months after a meeting). The minutes are typed PDFs with a text layer, except 2 scanned files from 2018–2019 that MassVoter read with text recognition. Needham’s minutes give the mover and seconder of each motion and the result, almost always with a count (“Unanimously approved 5-0”, “Approved 4-1, with Mr. Levy against”), and sometimes a roll call by name. When the minutes say the vote was unanimous and the count matches the members present, we show every member present as voting yes; when they name the members who voted no or abstained and the count adds up, everyone else present is shown voting yes. Where a count does not match the members the minutes show as present, or a split count does not say who voted which way, we show the count only and add a note. Members who stepped aside (recused), had not yet arrived or had left are left out of that vote. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Mar 14Approve the Appointments as presented. 1. Alison Borrelli Single…Motion: the Select Board vote to approve the Appointments as presented. 1.…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Borrelli
March 14, 2023: Approve the Appointments as presented. 1. Alison Borrelli Single Parcel Historic District Study Committee Term Exp: 6/30/2026 2. Adam Block Single Parcel Historic District Study Committee Term...
The Select Board vote to approve the Appointments as presented. 1. Alison Borrelli Single Parcel Historic District Study Committee Term Exp: 6/30/2026 2. Adam Block Single Parcel Historic District Study Committee Term Exp: 6/30/2026
Yes: Cooley, Frail, Keane, NelsonAbstained: Borrelli
From the minutes
“Motion by Ms. Frail that the Select Board vote to approve the Appointments as presented. 1. Alison Borrelli Single Parcel Historic District Study Committee Term Exp: 6/30/2026 2. Adam Block Single Parcel Historic District Study Committee Term Exp: 6/30/2026 Second: Mr. Keane. Approved 4-0-1. Mr. Borrelli abstained..” (Motion: Frail, second: Keane)
Jan 24Approve and sign the Public Shade Tree Hearing form…Motion: the Board vote to approve and sign the Public Shade Tree…Passed 4–1 · No: Keane
January 24, 2023: Approve and sign the Public Shade Tree Hearing form for the removal of three, Red Oak trees in the front berm of 1191 Greendale Ave
The Board vote to approve and sign the Public Shade Tree Hearing form for the removal of three, Red Oak trees in the front berm of 1191 Greendale Ave.
Yes: Borrelli, Cooley, Frail, NelsonNo: Keane
From the minutes
“Motion by Mr. Borrelli that the Board vote to approve and sign the Public Shade Tree Hearing form for the removal of three, Red Oak trees in the front berm of 1191 Greendale Ave. Second: Mr. Nelson. Approved 4-1. Mr. Keane voted nay..” (Motion: Borrelli, second: Nelson)
Nov 22Approve the updated ARPA Proposal Budget dated November 18,…Motion: the Board approve the updated ARPA Proposal Budget dated November 18,…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
November 22, 2022: Approve the updated ARPA Proposal Budget dated November 18, 2022
The Board approve the updated ARPA Proposal Budget dated November 18, 2022.
Matthew D. Borrelli had left the meeting.
From the minutes
“Motion by Mr. Keane that the Board approve the updated ARPA Proposal Budget dated November 18, 2022. Second: Mr. Nelson. Unanimously approved 4-0..” (Motion: Keane, second: Nelson)
Nov 22Adopt the revised Fuel Storage Application Procedures Policy, dated…Motion: the Board vote to adopt the revised Fuel Storage Application Procedures…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
November 22, 2022: Adopt the revised Fuel Storage Application Procedures Policy, dated November 22, 2022
The Board vote to adopt the revised Fuel Storage Application Procedures Policy, dated November 22, 2022.
Matthew D. Borrelli had left the meeting.
From the minutes
“Motion by Mr. Nelson that the Board vote to adopt the revised Fuel Storage Application Procedures Policy, dated November 22, 2022. Second: Mr. Keane. Unanimously approved 4-0..” (Motion: Nelson, second: Keane)
Oct 11Adopt ARTICLE 14: AUTHORIZE COMMUNITY ENERGY AGGREGATION in the…Motion: the Select Board vote to adopt ARTICLE 14: AUTHORIZE COMMUNITY ENERGY…Passed 4–1 · No: Borrelli
October 11, 2022: Adopt ARTICLE 14: AUTHORIZE COMMUNITY ENERGY AGGREGATION in the Special Town Meeting Warrant
The Select Board vote to adopt ARTICLE 14: AUTHORIZE COMMUNITY ENERGY AGGREGATION in the Special Town Meeting Warrant.
Yes: Cooley, Frail, Keane, NelsonNo: Borrelli
From the minutes
“Motion by Mr. Nelson that the Select Board vote to adopt ARTICLE 14: AUTHORIZE COMMUNITY ENERGY AGGREGATION in the Special Town Meeting Warrant. Second: Ms. Frail. Approved 4-1. Mr. Borrelli voted nay..” (Motion: Nelson, second: Frail)
Aug 9A dog by the name of "Axel" residing at…Motion: the Select Board vote that a dog by the name of…Passed 3–2 · No: Borrelli, Cooley
August 9, 2022: A dog by the name of "Axel" residing at 233 West Street in Needham be euthanized and that the date be one month, with an order to be crafted by…
The Select Board vote that a dog by the name of "Axel" residing at 233 West Street in Needham be euthanized and that the date be one month, with an order to be crafted by Town Counsel to that effect and to be served by the Town Manager's office at the conclusion of the public hearing.
Yes: Frail, Keane, NelsonNo: Borrelli, Cooley
From the minutes
“Motion by Mr. Keane that the Select Board vote that a dog by the name of "Axel" residing at 233 West Street in Needham be euthanized and that the date be one month, with an order to be crafted by Town Counsel to that effect and to be served by the Town Manager's office at the conclusion of the public hearing. Second: Ms. Frail. Approved 3-2 by roll call vote. Mr. Borrelli and Ms. Cooley voted "no.".” (Motion: Keane, second: Frail)
Aug 3The consent agenda and appointments be movedMotion: the consent agenda and appointments be moved.Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
August 3, 2022 (Special meeting): The consent agenda and appointments be moved
The consent agenda and appointments be moved.
Marianne B. Cooley had not yet arrived.
From the minutes
“Motion by Mr. Borrelli that the consent agenda and appointments be moved. Second: Mr. Keane. Unanimously approved 4-0..” (Motion: Borrelli, second: Keane)
Jul 26Appoint Frederica Lalonde to the Park and Recreation Commission…Motion: the Select Board and Park and Recreation Commission vote to appoint…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
July 26, 2022: Appoint Frederica Lalonde to the Park and Recreation Commission until the next Town Election to be held on April 11, 2023
The Select Board and Park and Recreation Commission vote to appoint Frederica Lalonde to the Park and Recreation Commission until the next Town Election to be held on April 11, 2023.
A joint vote of the Select Board and the Park and Recreation Commission ("Unanimously approved 6-0 by roll call vote."); the count includes the Park and Recreation Commission. The minutes call it unanimous, so each Select Board member present is shown voting yes. Kevin Keane stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote. Heidi Frail stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Motion by Mr. Nelson that the Select Board and Park and Recreation Commission vote to appoint Frederica Lalonde to the Park and Recreation Commission until the next Town Election to be held on April 11, 2023. Second: Mr. Borrelli. Unanimously approved 6-0 by roll call vote..” (Motion: Nelson, second: Borrelli)
May 2Support the Finance Committee's amendment to the Free Cash…Motion: the Board vote to support the Finance Committee's amendment to the…Passed 4–1 · No: Nelson
May 2, 2022 (Special meeting): Support the Finance Committee's amendment to the Free Cash portion of the funding for the Emery Grover project from $4,500,000 to $2,250,000 and to increase the borrowing amount commensurately
The Board vote to support the Finance Committee's amendment to the Free Cash portion of the funding for the Emery Grover project from $4,500,000 to $2,250,000 and to increase the borrowing amount commensurately.
Yes: Borrelli, Cooley, Frail, KeaneNo: Nelson
From the minutes
“Motion: by Mr. Borrelli that the Board vote to support the Finance Committee's amendment to the Free Cash portion of the funding for the Emery Grover project from $4,500,000 to $2,250,000 and to increase the borrowing amount commensurately. Second: Ms. Frail. The motion carried 4 - 1 with Mr. Nelson voting no..” (Motion: Borrelli, second: Frail)
Apr 13Approve and sign the Memorandum of Agreement between the…Motion: the Board approve and sign the Memorandum of Agreement between the…Passed 4–1 · No: Nelson
April 13, 2022: Approve and sign the Memorandum of Agreement between the Town and the Needham Police Union for FY2022 and FY 2023-2025
The Board approve and sign the Memorandum of Agreement between the Town and the Needham Police Union for FY2022 and FY 2023-2025.
Yes: Borrelli, Cooley, Frail, KeaneNo: Nelson
From the minutes
“Motion by Mr. Borrelli that the Board approve and sign the Memorandum of Agreement between the Town and the Needham Police Union for FY2022 and FY 2023-2025. Second: Mr. Keane. Approved 4-1-0. Mr. Nelson voted nay..” (Motion: Borrelli, second: Keane)
From the Needham Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Archive Center. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Town of Needham, “Needham Select Board, April 2026–April 2027” member sheet.
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