MassVoter.com← Needham Select BoardNeedham Select Board · 2025–2026 Board · Regular meeting
March 24, 2026
6 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Heidi Frail, Catherine Reid Dowd, Joshua Levy, Marianne B. Cooley, Kevin Keane
Absent: None
During the meeting:
- Levy. Mr. Keane recused himself from the vote.
Every vote, in order
Babson College Scholarship
Award the Town of Needham Babson Scholarships to the following applicants: Isabella Farese - Rising Sophomore, Renewal Recipient; Rebecca Hwang - Rising Sophomore, Renewal Recipient; and Mark...
The Board vote to award the Town of Needham Babson Scholarships to the following applicants: Isabella Farese - Rising Sophomore, Renewal Recipient; Rebecca Hwang - Rising Sophomore, Renewal Recipient; and Mark Khudisman - Rising Junior, Renewal Recipient (Conditional Pending Application Receipt by Babson).
From the minutes
“Motion by Mr. Levy that the Board vote to award the Town of Needham Babson Scholarships to the following applicants: Isabella Farese - Rising Sophomore, Renewal Recipient; Rebecca Hwang - Rising Sophomore, Renewal Recipient; and Mark Khudisman - Rising Junior, Renewal Recipient (Conditional Pending Application Receipt by Babson). Second. Ms. Cooley. Unanimously approved 5-0..” (Motion: Levy, second: Cooley)
Appointment Calendar and Consent Agenda
Approve the Appointment Calendar and Consent Agenda
The Board vote to approve the Appointment Calendar and Consent Agenda.
Kevin Keane stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Motion by Ms. Dowd that the Board vote to approve the Appointment Calendar and Consent Agenda. Second: Mr. Levy. Mr. Keane recused himself from the vote. Unanimously approved 4-0..” (Motion: Dowd, second: Levy)
Town Manager
Approve the final 2026 Annual Town Meeting Warrant, subject to technical corrections to be made by the Town Manager, Town Counsel, and/or Bond Counsel
The Board vote to approve the final 2026 Annual Town Meeting Warrant, subject to technical corrections to be made by the Town Manager, Town Counsel, and/or Bond Counsel.
From the minutes
“Motion by Mr. Keane that the Board vote to approve the final 2026 Annual Town Meeting Warrant, subject to technical corrections to be made by the Town Manager, Town Counsel, and/or Bond Counsel. Second: Ms. Dowd. Unanimously approved 5-0..” (Motion: Keane, second: Dowd)
Close the Warrant for the May 11, 2026 Special Town Meeting, subject to minor technical corrections to be made by the Town Manager, Town Counsel and/or Bond Counsel
The Board vote to close the Warrant for the May 11, 2026 Special Town Meeting, subject to minor technical corrections to be made by the Town Manager, Town Counsel and/or Bond Counsel.
From the minutes
“Motion by Mr. Keane that the Board vote to close the Warrant for the May 11, 2026 Special Town Meeting, subject to minor technical corrections to be made by the Town Manager, Town Counsel and/or Bond Counsel. Second: Ms. Dowd. Unanimously approved 5-0..” (Motion: Keane, second: Dowd)
Board Discussion
Appoint Dennis A. Lonigro as a Registrar of Voters to a three-year term, which will expire on March 31, 2029
The Board vote to appoint Dennis A. Lonigro as a Registrar of Voters to a three-year term, which will expire on March 31, 2029.
From the minutes
“Motion by Mr. Levy that the Board vote to appoint Dennis A. Lonigro as a Registrar of Voters to a three-year term, which will expire on March 31, 2029. Second: Ms. Cooley. Unanimously approved 5-0..” (Motion: Levy, second: Cooley)
Adjourn
Enter into executive session pursuant to Exception 3: To discuss Ryan v. McCullough, U.S. District Court Case No. 1:24-cv-11111, where the Chair declares that an open meeting may have a...
The Select Board vote to enter into executive session pursuant to Exception 3: To discuss Ryan v. McCullough, U.S. District Court Case No. 1:24-cv-11111, where the Chair declares that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the public body [the chair so declares]; Exception 3: to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the Needham Firefighters Local 1706, Needham Police Union, the Police Superior Officers Association, and the Needham Building Custodian Trades Independent Association, where the Chair declares that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body [the chair so declares]; and Exception 7: To comply with, or act under the authority of, any general or special law or federal grant-in-aid requirements, namely M.G.L. c.30A, Sections 22(a), (f) and (g), for the purposes of reviewing any undisclosed executive session minutes from 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 to discuss whether continued non-disclosure is warranted, specifically the executive session minutes of March 26, 2024, September 10, 2024, February 25, 2025, March 11, 2025, April 22, 2025, June 10, 2025, December 2, 2025, January 13, 2026, January 27, 2026, February 24, 2026, and March 10, 2026. b. To adjourn at the conclusion of the executive session without returning to open session.
From the minutes
“Motion by Ms. Frail that the Select Board vote to enter into executive session pursuant to Exception 3: To discuss Ryan v. McCullough, U.S. District Court Case No. 1:24-cv-11111, where the Chair declares that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the public body [the chair so declares]; Exception 3: to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the Needham Firefighters Local 1706, Needham Police Union, the Police Superior Officers Association, and the Needham Building Custodian Trades Independent Association, where the Chair declares that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body [the chair so declares]; and Exception 7: To comply with, or act under the authority of, any general or special law or federal grant-in-aid requirements, namely M.G.L. c.30A, Sections 22(a), (f) and (g), for the purposes of reviewing any undisclosed executive session minutes from 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 to discuss whether continued non-disclosure is warranted, specifically the executive session minutes of March 26, 2024, September 10, 2024, February 25, 2025, March 11, 2025, April 22, 2025, June 10, 2025, December 2, 2025, January 13, 2026, January 27, 2026, February 24, 2026, and March 10, 2026. b. To adjourn at the conclusion of the executive session without returning to open session. Second: Mr. Levy. Unanimously approved 5-0 by roll call..” (Motion: Frail, second: Levy)
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.
How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →