← Needham Select Board

Needham Former Select Board member

Marcus Nelson

Elected townwide · 3 terms in this record

A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.

Board years

Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

Your Needham ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.

Start my ballot →

Record at a glance · 2023–2024 Board

26 of 30meetings attended (87%) · whole board 96%
183votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
1no votes (<1% of votes cast) · whole board <1%
1 of 2split votes where Nelson was in the minority · whole board 20%
0abstained
3terms in this record
How these numbers work
  • Counted from the official minutes, for 2023–2024 Board only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
  • Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Nelson 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 26 of 30 Select Board meetings in 2023–2024 Board.

Missed

Every meeting (30)

Votes where members disagreed · 2023–2024 Board

Apr 2Approve the Appointment Calendar item 5Motion: the Board vote to approve the Appointment Calendar item 5.Passed 4–0 · Nelson: Not recorded

April 2, 2024: Approve the Appointment Calendar item 5

AppointPassed · 4–0

The Board vote to approve the Appointment Calendar item 5.

The minutes say "Approved 4-0.", but 5 members were present for this vote (Marianne B. Cooley, Kevin Keane, Heidi Frail, Marcus Nelson and Catherine Reid Dowd). Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Motion by Mr. Keane that the Board vote to approve the Appointment Calendar item 5. Second: Mr. Nelson. Approved 4-0..” (Motion: Keane, second: Nelson)

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

Mar 26Approve the Appointment Calendar and Consent Agenda as presentedMotion: the Board vote to approve the Appointment Calendar and Consent Agenda…Passed 4–0 · Nelson: Not recorded

March 26, 2024: Approve the Appointment Calendar and Consent Agenda as presented

AppointPassed · 4–0

The Board vote to approve the Appointment Calendar and Consent Agenda as presented.

The minutes say "Unanimously approved 4-0.", but 5 members were present for this vote (Marianne B. Cooley, Kevin Keane, Heidi Frail, Marcus Nelson and Catherine Reid Dowd). Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Motion by Mr. Keane that the Board vote to approve the Appointment Calendar and Consent Agenda as presented. Second: Ms. Dowd. Unanimously approved 4-0..” (Motion: Keane, second: Dowd)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Feb 27Approve the Appointment Calendar and Consent Agenda as presentedMotion: the Select Board vote to approve the Appointment Calendar and Consent…Passed 3–0 · Nelson: Not recorded

February 27, 2024: Approve the Appointment Calendar and Consent Agenda as presented

AppointPassed · 3–0

The Select Board vote to approve the Appointment Calendar and Consent Agenda as presented.

The minutes say "Unanimously approved 3-0.", but 4 members were present for this vote (Kevin Keane, Heidi Frail, Marcus Nelson and Catherine Reid Dowd). Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Motion by Ms. Dowd that the Select Board vote to approve the Appointment Calendar and Consent Agenda as presented. Second: Ms. Frail. Unanimously approved 3-0..” (Motion: Dowd, second: Frail)

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

Nov 14Approve and sign a petition from Eversource Energy to…Motion: the Select Board approve and sign a petition from Eversource Energy…Passed 4–0 · Nelson: Not recorded

November 14, 2023: Approve and sign a petition from Eversource Energy to install approximately 45 feet of conduit in South Street

ApprovePassed · 4–0

The Select Board approve and sign a petition from Eversource Energy to install approximately 45 feet of conduit in South Street.

The minutes say "Unanimously approved 4-0.", but 5 members were present for this vote (Marianne B. Cooley, Kevin Keane, Heidi Frail, Marcus Nelson and Catherine Reid Dowd). Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Motion by Ms. Frail that the Select Board approve and sign a petition from Eversource Energy to install approximately 45 feet of conduit in South Street. Second: Ms. Dowd. Unanimously approved 4-0..” (Motion: Frail, second: Dowd)

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

Nov 14Approve and sign a petition from Eversource Energy to…Motion: the Select Board approve and sign a petition from Eversource Energy…Passed 4–0 · Nelson: Not recorded

November 14, 2023: Approve and sign a petition from Eversource Energy to install approximately 8 feet of conduit in La Salle Road

ApprovePassed · 4–0

The Select Board approve and sign a petition from Eversource Energy to install approximately 8 feet of conduit in La Salle Road.

The minutes say "Unanimously approved 4-0.", but 5 members were present for this vote (Marianne B. Cooley, Kevin Keane, Heidi Frail, Marcus Nelson and Catherine Reid Dowd). Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Motion by Ms. Dowd that the Select Board approve and sign a petition from Eversource Energy to install approximately 8 feet of conduit in La Salle Road. Second: Ms. Frail. Unanimously approved 4-0..” (Motion: Dowd, second: Frail)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Nov 14Approve the Appointments and Consent Agenda as presentedMotion: the Select Board vote to approve the Appointments and Consent Agenda…Passed 4–0 · Nelson: Not recorded

November 14, 2023: Approve the Appointments and Consent Agenda as presented

AppointPassed · 4–0

The Select Board vote to approve the Appointments and Consent Agenda as presented.

The minutes say "Unanimously approved 4-0.", but 5 members were present for this vote (Marianne B. Cooley, Kevin Keane, Heidi Frail, Marcus Nelson and Catherine Reid Dowd). Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Motion by Mr. Keane that the Select Board vote to approve the Appointments and Consent Agenda as presented. Second: Ms. Frail. Unanimously approved 4-0..” (Motion: Keane, second: Frail)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Nov 14Approve and sign an application for a Change of…Motion: the Select Board, as Liquor Licensing Authority, approve and sign an…Passed 4–0 · Nelson: Not recorded

November 14, 2023: Approve and sign an application for a Change of Manager to Brian McGrath for Sheraton Boston Needham Hotel, 100 Cabot Street, Needham and to forward this application to the ABCC…

ApprovePassed · 4–0

The Select Board, as Liquor Licensing Authority, approve and sign an application for a Change of Manager to Brian McGrath for Sheraton Boston Needham Hotel, 100 Cabot Street, Needham and to forward this application to the ABCC for approval.

The minutes say "Unanimously approved 4-0.", but 5 members were present for this vote (Marianne B. Cooley, Kevin Keane, Heidi Frail, Marcus Nelson and Catherine Reid Dowd). Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“Motion by Ms. Dowd that the Select Board, as Liquor Licensing Authority, approve and sign an application for a Change of Manager to Brian McGrath for Sheraton Boston Needham Hotel, 100 Cabot Street, Needham and to forward this application to the ABCC for approval. Second: Mr. Keane. Unanimously approved 4-0..” (Motion: Dowd, second: Keane)

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

Oct 10Approve the sale of $2,282,000 in bond anticipation notes…Motion: the Board approve the sale of $2,282,000 4.00 percent General Obligation…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · Nelson: Yes

October 10, 2023: Approve the sale of $2,282,000 in bond anticipation notes and related votes (Motions A-F)

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

The Board approve the sale of $2,282,000 4.00 percent General Obligation Bond Anticipation Notes of the Town dated October 16, 2023 and payable July 30, 2024 (the "Notes"), to Fidelity Capital Markets, a Division of National Financial Services LLC, at par and accrued interest, if any, plus a premium of $2,418.92.

Voted: Yes

The minutes list six motions (A-F) made by different members (Mr. Keane, Mr. Nelson, Ms. Frail and Ms. Dowd) and record one vote for all of them ("Second for all motions: Ms. Frail. Unanimously approved 5-0."), so no single mover is shown.

From the minutes

“Motion A by Mr. Keane that the Board approve the sale of $2,282,000 4.00 percent General Obligation Bond Anticipation Notes of the Town dated October 16, 2023 and payable July 30, 2024 (the "Notes"), to Fidelity Capital Markets, a Division of National Financial Services LLC, at par and accrued interest, if any, plus a premium of $2,418.92. Motion B by Mr. Nelson that in connection with the marketing and sale of the Notes, the preparation and distribution of a Notice of Sale and Preliminary Official Statement dated September 20, 2023, and a final Official Statement dated September 27, 2023, each in such form as may be approved by the Town Treasurer, be and hereby are ratified, confirmed, approved and adopted. Motion C by Ms. Frail that the Town Treasurer and the Select Board be, and hereby are, authorized to execute and deliver a significant events disclosure undertaking in compliance with SEC Rule 15c2-12 in such form as may be approved by bond counsel to the Town, which undertaking shall be incorporated by reference in the Notes for the benefit of the holders of the Notes from time to time. Motion D by Ms. Dowd that we authorize and direct the Town Treasurer to establish post issuance federal tax compliance procedures and continuing disclosure procedures in such forms as the Town Treasurer and bond counsel deem sufficient, or if such procedures are currently in place, to review and update said procedures, in order to monitor and maintain the tax exempt status of the Notes and to comply with relevant securities laws. Motion E by Mr. Keane that any certificates or documents relating to the Notes (collectively, the "Documents"), may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be regarded as an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same document; delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to a Document by electronic mail in a ".pdf" file or by other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart signature page to such Document; and electronic signatures on any of the Documents shall be deemed original signatures for the purposes of the Documents and all matters relating thereto, having the same legal effect as original signatures. Motion F by Mr. Nelson that each member of the Select Board, the Town Clerk and the Town Treasurer be and hereby are, authorized to take any and all such actions, and execute and deliver such certificates, receipts or other documents as may be determined by them, or any of them, to be necessary or convenient to carry into effect the provisions of the foregoing votes. Second for all motions: Ms. Frail. Unanimously approved 5-0..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Jun 27Appoint Arthur Tzouros to the Board of Assessors until…Motion: the Select Board and Board of Assessors vote to appoint Arthur…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · Nelson: Not recorded

June 27, 2023: Appoint Arthur Tzouros to the Board of Assessors until the next Town Election

AppointPassed · Unanimous, 4 present

The Select Board and Board of Assessors vote to appoint Arthur Tzouros to the Board of Assessors until the next Town Election.

A joint vote of the Select Board and the Board of Assessors ("Unanimously approved 6-0 by roll call vote of both Boards."); the count includes the Board of Assessors. The minutes call it unanimous, so each Select Board member present is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“Motion by Mr. Keane that the Select Board and Board of Assessors vote to appoint Arthur Tzouros to the Board of Assessors until the next Town Election. Second: Ms. Frail. Unanimously approved 6-0 by roll call vote of both Boards..” (Motion: Keane, second: Frail)

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

Apr 25Withdraw Article 28 - APPROPRIATE FOR QUIET ZONE from…Motion: the Select Board vote to withdraw Article 28 - APPROPRIATE FOR…Passed 4–1 · Nelson: No

April 25, 2023: Withdraw Article 28 - APPROPRIATE FOR QUIET ZONE from the Annual Town Meeting Warrant

ApprovePassed · 4–1

The Select Board vote to withdraw Article 28 - APPROPRIATE FOR QUIET ZONE from the Annual Town Meeting Warrant.

Voted: No

Yes: Cooley, Dowd, Frail, KeaneNo: Nelson

From the minutes

“Motion by Mr. Keane that the Select Board vote to withdraw Article 28 - APPROPRIATE FOR QUIET ZONE from the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Second: Ms. Frail. Approved 4-1. Mr. Nelson voted nay..” (Motion: Keane, second: Frail)

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

Votes with no disagreement (192)

    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 →
    Get an email when new quizzes open

    MassVoter.com · nonpartisan match quiz · About · How the Legislature voted · Local Votes · Privacy · Support MassVoter

    Report an error on this page

    See something wrong? A wrong vote, name, date or number? Tell us and we’ll check it against the source and fix it. Fixes are listed on our corrections page.