← Needham Select Board

Needham Former Select Board member

Daniel P. Matthews

Elected townwide · 5 terms in this record

Dan Matthews

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Board years

2021–2022 Board2020–2021 Board2019–2020 Board2018–2019 Board2017–2018 Board
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Record at a glance · 2019–2020 Board

35 of 35meetings attended (100%) · whole board 97%
181votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
0no votes (0% of votes cast) · whole board <1%
0 of 3split votes where Matthews was in the minority · whole board 20%
0abstained
5terms in this record
How these numbers work
  • Counted from the official minutes, for 2019–2020 Board only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
  • Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Matthews as present or absent at the start.
  • Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
  • Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
  • A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
  • “Whole board” combines every member’s record for the same term.

These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.

Attendance

At the start of 35 of 35 Select Board meetings in 2019–2020 Board.

Missed none.

Every meeting (35)

Votes where members disagreed · 2019–2020 Board

Jan 14Appoint Bruce Eisenhut to the Planning Board until the…Motion: the Select Board and the Planning Board vote to appoint Bruce…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · Matthews: Yes

January 14, 2020 (Joint meeting): Appoint Bruce Eisenhut to the Planning Board until the next Town Election to be held on April 14, 2020

AppointPassed · Unanimous, 5 present

The Select Board and the Planning Board vote to appoint Bruce Eisenhut to the Planning Board until the next Town Election to be held on April 14, 2020.

Voted: Yes

A joint vote of the Select Board and the Planning Board ("Unanimously approved 9-0."); the count includes the Planning Board. The minutes call it unanimous, so each Select Board member present is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“Motion by Mr. Handel that the Select Board and the Planning Board vote to appoint Bruce Eisenhut to the Planning Board until the next Town Election to be held on April 14, 2020. Second: Mr. Borrelli. Unanimously approved 9-0..” (Motion: Handel, second: Borrelli)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Oct 16Support Article 5 - Amend Zoning By-Law - Highway…Motion: the Board vote to support Article 5 - Amend Zoning By-Law…Passed 4–1 · Matthews: Yes

October 16, 2019: Support Article 5 - Amend Zoning By-Law - Highway Commercial 1 Zoning District in the Special Town Meeting Warrant

ApprovePassed · 4–1

The Board vote to support Article 5 - Amend Zoning By-Law - Highway Commercial 1 Zoning District in the Special Town Meeting Warrant.

Voted: Yes

Yes: Bulian, Cooley, Handel, MatthewsNo: Borrelli

From the minutes

“Motion by Mr. Handel that the Board vote to support Article 5 - Amend Zoning By-Law - Highway Commercial 1 Zoning District in the Special Town Meeting Warrant. Second: Ms. Cooley. Approved 4-1. Mr. Borrelli voted nay..” (Motion: Handel, second: Cooley)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Oct 16Support Article 6 - Amend Zoning By-Law - Map…Motion: the Board vote to support Article 6 - Amend Zoning By-Law…Passed 4–1 · Matthews: Yes

October 16, 2019: Support Article 6 - Amend Zoning By-Law - Map Change to Highway Commercial 1 in the Special Town Meeting Warrant

ApprovePassed · 4–1

The Board vote to support Article 6 - Amend Zoning By-Law - Map Change to Highway Commercial 1 in the Special Town Meeting Warrant.

Voted: Yes

Yes: Bulian, Cooley, Handel, MatthewsNo: Borrelli

From the minutes

“Motion by Mr. Handel that the Board vote to support Article 6 - Amend Zoning By-Law - Map Change to Highway Commercial 1 in the Special Town Meeting Warrant. Second: Ms. Cooley. Approved 4-1. Mr. Borrelli voted nay..” (Motion: Handel, second: Cooley)

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

Jul 2Approve plans for the Roadway Improvements at Third Avenue…Motion: the Board vote to approve plans for the Roadway Improvements at…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · Matthews: Yes

July 2, 2019 (Joint meeting): Approve plans for the Roadway Improvements at Third Avenue and B Street as submitted by Normandy Real Estate for Major Site Plan Special Permit No. 2015-05, which has already been…

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present

The Board vote to approve plans for the Roadway Improvements at Third Avenue and B Street as submitted by Normandy Real Estate for Major Site Plan Special Permit No. 2015-05, which has already been reviewed and approved by the Department of Public Works.

Voted: Yes

Marianne B. Cooley had not yet arrived.

From the minutes

“Motion: Mr. Handel moved that the Board vote to approve plans for the Roadway Improvements at Third Avenue and B Street as submitted by Normandy Real Estate for Major Site Plan Special Permit No. 2015-05, which has already been reviewed and approved by the Department of Public Works. Mr. Borrelli seconded the motion. Unanimous: 4-0..” (Motion: Handel, second: Borrelli)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

May 13Oppose a motion to amend Article 37 with respect…Motion: the Board oppose a motion to amend Article 37 with respect…Passed 5–0 · Matthews: Not recorded

May 13, 2019 (Special meeting): Oppose a motion to amend Article 37 with respect to reducing the appropriation for Library furniture

ApprovePassed · 5–0

The Board oppose a motion to amend Article 37 with respect to reducing the appropriation for Library furniture.

The minutes say "Unanimous: 5-0.", but 4 members were present for this vote (John A. Bulian, Matthew D. Borrelli, Marianne B. Cooley and Daniel P. Matthews). Showing the count only. The minutes name Maurice P. Handel as the mover, but Maurice P. Handel is not on the attendance line, so no mover is shown.

From the minutes

“Motion: Mr. Handel moved that the Board oppose a motion to amend Article 37 with respect to reducing the appropriation for Library furniture. Ms. Cooley seconded the motion. Unanimous: 5-0..” (second: Cooley)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Apr 10Not to support Article 26 - Amend Zoning By-Law…Motion: the Board vote not to support Article 26 - Amend Zoning…Passed 4–1 · Matthews: Yes

April 10, 2019: Not to support Article 26 - Amend Zoning By-Law - Map Change to Chestnut Street Business District and Lower Chestnut Street Overlay District in the Annual Town Meeting Warrant

ApprovePassed · 4–1

The Board vote not to support Article 26 - Amend Zoning By-Law - Map Change to Chestnut Street Business District and Lower Chestnut Street Overlay District in the Annual Town Meeting Warrant.

Voted: Yes

Yes: Borrelli, Bulian, Handel, MatthewsNo: Cooley

From the minutes

“Motion by Mr. Borrelli that the Board vote not to support Article 26 - Amend Zoning By-Law - Map Change to Chestnut Street Business District and Lower Chestnut Street Overlay District in the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Second: Mr. Handel. Approved 4-1. Ms. Cooley voted nay..” (Motion: Borrelli, second: Handel)

Read it in the official minutes, page 9 (PDF)

Votes with no disagreement (176)

    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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