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Municipal votes · 2026–2027 Board

Oak Bluffs Select Board

How the Oak Bluffs Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. William (Bill) Cleary joined the board after the April 2026 town election; Tom Hallahan left. Dion Alley chairs the board, with Sean DeBettencourt as Vice Chair. Minutes loaded through September 22, 2026. Covers 17 meetings so far, April 21 to September 22, 2026.

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 budget
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

Your Oak Bluffs ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.

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Vote Transparency Score

Oak Bluffs Select Board: 8 out of 10 · Mostly open

How easy Oak Bluffs makes it to see, online, how each member votes. It scores the town’s records, not any official. Checked October 4, 2026.

  • Minutes postedMinutes are posted for nearly every Select Board meeting in the past year.Full points: 2/2
  • Each vote namedNearly every vote is a roll call naming how each member voted.Full points: 3/3
  • Posted quicklyMinutes go up within a few weeks of each meeting.Full points: 2/2
  • Past years onlineSelect Board minutes from 2008 to today are online.Full points: 1/1
  • Readable textMost minutes are scanned images, so you can’t search or copy the text.No points: 0/1
  • Member photosThe Select Board page has no member photos.No points: 0/1
How the town can raise its score
  • Readable text (+1): Save minutes straight from Word or Google Docs as a PDF instead of printing and scanning them. If a scan is needed, turn on the scanner’s “searchable PDF” or text-recognition setting.
  • Member photos (+1): Show a photo of each member on the board’s web page, with their name, the date their term ends and how to contact them. A group photo of the members, with everyone named in the caption or on the same page, earns half a point.

How we score · Something wrong, or has the town made a change? Email info@massvoter.com and we’ll re-check.

A monthly email on its votes, starting in November. We'll also tell you if this score changes.

Board years

Coming up

From the agendas Oak Bluffs posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.

What Town Meeting decided

In Oak Bluffs, 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. Any registered voter can take part, and most votes are by voice or show of hands, so there is no list of who voted which way.

Special Town Meeting · November 4, 2025 14 votes: 13 passed, 1 passed as amended

Source: Town Clerk's Town Meeting report in the 2025 Annual Town Report.

Special Town Meeting · April 8, 2025 9 votes: 9 passed

Source: Town Clerk's Town Meeting report in the 2025 Annual Town Report.

Annual Town Meeting · April 8, 2025 68 votes: 63 passed, 4 passed as amended, 1 other

Source: Town Clerk's Town Meeting report in the 2025 Annual Town Report.

Special Town Meeting · October 29, 2024 8 votes: 8 passed

Source: Town Clerk's Town Meeting report in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

Special Town Meeting · June 25, 2024 2 votes: 2 passed
  • Art. 1 Borrow up to $6,900,000 as cost share to stabilize the East Chop Bluff Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 2 Borrow up to $26,000,000 to design and upgrade the wastewater treatment facility (reconfirmation) Passed “seconded and voted”

Source: Town Clerk's Town Meeting report in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

Special Town Meeting · April 9, 2024 15 votes: 15 passed
  • Art. 1 Appropriate $11,985.90 from the transportation surcharge account for wayfinding signage on North Bluff Sea View Ave Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 2 Transfer $25,000 from Free Cash to offset FY2024 general fund shortfalls Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 3 Transfer $200,000 from Free Cash for FY2024 shortfalls in building maintenance and self-insurance accounts Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 4 Appropriate $400,000 from Free Cash to replenish the Municipal Housing Trust Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 5 Transfer $50,000 from Free Cash for the August fireworks Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 6 Transfer up to $57,000 from Free Cash as cost share for the Hospital Roads Resilience Assessment grant Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 7 Transfer $25,000 from Free Cash to replace two shellfish upwellers Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 8 Transfer $300,000 from Free Cash for unanticipated building repairs and renovations Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 9 Transfer $25,000 from Free Cash to remove abandoned boiler equipment at the library Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 10 Transfer $20,000 from Free Cash to dispose of old equipment and metal debris at the Highway Barn Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 11 Transfer $30,000 from Free Cash to re-establish the Town Hall archive system and buy a shredder Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 12 Transfer $25,000 from Free Cash for trash cans, bike racks and other equipment Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 13 Transfer $15,000 from Free Cash for Senior Center furniture Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 14 Transfer $17,523 from Free Cash to replace iPads and laptops for Fire/EMS Passed “seconded and voted”
  • Art. 15 Borrow up to $1,600,000 for additional wastewater treatment facility components Passed “seconded and voted”

Source: Town Clerk's Town Meeting report in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

Annual Town Meeting · April 9, 2024 67 votes: 59 passed, 2 passed as amended, 4 failed, 2 withdrawn

Source: Town Clerk's Town Meeting report in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

Not here yet: the April 14, 2026 Special and Annual Town Meetings (the 2026 Annual Town Report is not out yet and the Town Clerk posts only the warrants online).

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).

Members

✓ Every meeting 2026William ClearyMember · Elected townwide · at 17 of 17 meetingsEmma Green-BeachMember · Elected townwide · at 16 of 17 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026Mark LeonardMember · Elected townwide · at 17 of 17 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.

Attendance

From the official minutes: full-board meetings only (committee meetings are not counted). Members are counted only for meetings held while they served, and arriving late counts as attending. The minutes rarely say why a member was absent.

A monthly email on its votes and who was there, starting in November.

Meetings

About missing minutes

Loaded: Select Board (Board of Selectmen until 2021) minutes from January 12, 2021 through September 22, 2026, from the town’s Agenda Center. Executive session minutes and subcommittee meetings are not included; many minutes are scanned, so we read them with text recognition and checked the votes. Nearly every vote is a roll call naming each member, such as “Roll Call Vote: Cleary - Aye, Leonard - Nay, Alley - Nay… (1 - Aye, 4 - Nay)”. In 2022 some votes give only a count such as “(4 - Aye)”; when the count equals the members present, each is shown voting yes. When a roll call leaves out a member who was at the meeting (for example after they left the room or recused), we show the votes as recorded and say who is not listed. Counts that don’t match the members present show the count only. A few motions with no vote recorded are left out. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 · Regular meeting21 recorded votes, 2 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, September 8, 2026 · Joint meeting13 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, August 25, 2026 · Regular meeting16 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, August 11, 2026 · Regular meeting8 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, July 28, 2026 · Regular meeting15 recorded votes, 2 with disagreementAll 5 members present

Votes where members disagreed

Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.

Sep 22Table Article # 3 Economic Development Council bylawMotion: table Article # 3 Economic Development Council bylawPassed 3–2 · No: Cleary, Leonard

September 22, 2026: Table Article # 3 Economic Development Council bylaw

ApprovePassed · 3–2

Table Article # 3 Economic Development Council bylaw

Yes: Alley, DeBettencourt, Green-BeachNo: Cleary, Leonard

From the minutes

“Select Person DeBettencourt made a motion to table Article # 3 Economic Development Council bylaw Roll Call Vote: Leonard - Nay, Cleary - Nay, Alley - Aye, DeBettencourt - Aye, Green-Beach - Aye (3 - Aye, 2 - Nay) Article # 4 Roads and Byways Committee Select Person Leonard.” (Motion: DeBettencourt, second: Green-Beach)

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

Sep 22Move article #6 forward for appropriate reviews with public…Motion: move article #6 forward for appropriate reviews with public outreachFailed 2–3 · No: Alley, DeBettencourt, Green-Beach

September 22, 2026: Move article #6 forward for appropriate reviews with public outreach

ApproveFailed · 2–3

Move article #6 forward for appropriate reviews with public outreach

Yes: Cleary, LeonardNo: Alley, DeBettencourt, Green-Beach

From the minutes

“Select Person DeBetlencourt made a motion to move article #6 forward for appropriate reviews with public outreach Roll Call Vote: Leonard - Aye, Cleary - Aye, Alley - Nay, DeBettencourt - Nay, Green-Beach - Nay (2 - Aye, 3 - Nay) Article #7 State of Emergency Chair Alley explained this pro.” (Motion: DeBettencourt, second: Green-Beach)

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

Jul 28Form a small working group for I Circuit Avenue…Motion: form a small working group for I Circuit Avenue (Island Theatre)Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

July 28, 2026: Form a small working group for I Circuit Avenue (Island Theatre)

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present

Form a small working group for I Circuit Avenue (Island Theatre)

The roll call does not list William Cleary.

From the minutes

“Select Person DeBettencourt made a motion to form a small working group for I Circuit Avenue (Island Theatre) Vote: Green-Beach - Aye, Leonard - Aye, Alley - Aye, DeBettencourt - Aye (4 - Aye) * Cleary out of the room Discussion and possible vote to stipulate ef.” (Motion: DeBettencourt, second: Green-Beach)

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

Jul 28Approve the application for storage fuel license YMCA 111R…Motion: approve the application for storage fuel license YMCA 111R Edgartown Vineyard…Passed 5–0 · see note

July 28, 2026: Approve the application for storage fuel license YMCA 111R Edgartown Vineyard Haven Road

ApprovePassed · 5–0

Approve the application for storage fuel license YMCA 111R Edgartown Vineyard Haven Road

The minutes list each member’s vote but the tally in brackets (5 Aye) does not match, so individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Select Person DeBettencourt made a motion to approve the application for storage fuel license YMCA 111R Edgartown Vineyard Haven Road Vote: Green-Beach - Aye, Cleary - Aye, Leonard ~ Aye, Alley - Aye, DeBettencourt - Aye (5 - Aye) Discussion and possible vote to approve waiver for the building morat.” (Motion: DeBettencourt, second: Green-Beach)

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

Jul 14Deny the application for the reinstatement of the taxi…Motion: deny the application for the reinstatement of the taxi permit for…Failed 1–4 · No: Alley, DeBettencourt, Green-Beach, Leonard

July 14, 2026: Deny the application for the reinstatement of the taxi permit for Chanderpaul Simms

DenyFailed · 1–4

Deny the application for the reinstatement of the taxi permit for Chanderpaul Simms

Yes: ClearyNo: Alley, DeBettencourt, Green-Beach, Leonard

From the minutes

“Select Person Cleary made a motion to deny the application for the reinstatement of the taxi permit for Chanderpaul Simms Roll Call Vote: Cleary - Aye, Leonard - Nay, Alley - Nay, DeBettencourt - Nay, Green-Beach - Nay, (1 - Aye, 4 - Nay) .” (Motion: Cleary, second: DeBettencourt)

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

Jul 14Approve the application for the reinstatement of the taxi…Motion: approve the application for the reinstatement of the taxi permit for…Passed 4–1 · No: Cleary

July 14, 2026: Approve the application for the reinstatement of the taxi permit for Chanderpaul Simms for Blue Fish Taxi

ApprovePassed · 4–1

Approve the application for the reinstatement of the taxi permit for Chanderpaul Simms for Blue Fish Taxi

Yes: Alley, DeBettencourt, Green-Beach, LeonardNo: Cleary

From the minutes

“Select Person DeBettencourt made a motion to approve the application for the reinstatement of the taxi permit for Chanderpaul Simms for Blue Fish Taxi Roll Call Vote: Cleary - Nay, Leonard - Aye, Alley - Aye, DeBettencourt - Aye, Green-Beach - Aye, (4 - Aye, 1 - Nay) 6:03 pm Chief Searle departed the meeting Discussion and po.” (Motion: DeBettencourt, second: Green-Beach)

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

Jun 23Approve -the display of 250 birthday American 3 x…Motion: approve -the display of 250 birthday American 3 x 5 flag…Failed 0–5 · No: Alley, Cleary, DeBettencourt, Green-Beach, Leonard

June 23, 2026: Approve -the display of 250 birthday American 3 x 5 flag on the fence at the Niantic Park courts from June 29" to July 6, 2026

ApproveFailed · 0–5

Approve -the display of 250 birthday American 3 x 5 flag on the fence at the Niantic Park courts from June 29" to July 6, 2026

No: Alley, Cleary, DeBettencourt, Green-Beach, Leonard

From the minutes

“Select Person DeBettencourt made a motion to approve -the display of 250 birthday American 3 x 5 flag on the fence at the Niantic Park courts from June 29" to July 6, 2026 Roll Call Vote: Green-Beach - Nay, Cleary - Nay, Leonard - Nay, Alley - Nay, DeBettencourt - Nay (5 - Nay) Discussion and possible vote to approve an intermunicipal agreement w.” (Motion: DeBettencourt, second: Leonard)

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

May 26Film permit application for Wednesday May 27" and Thursday…Motion: film permit application for Wednesday May 27" and Thursday May 28"…Passed 4–0 · see note

May 26, 2026: Film permit application for Wednesday May 27" and Thursday May 28" from 10:00am until 8:00pm and Friday May 29, 2026, from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm for The Real Housewives…

ApprovePassed · 4–0

Film permit application for Wednesday May 27" and Thursday May 28" from 10:00am until 8:00pm and Friday May 29, 2026, from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm for The Real Housewives of New York

The minutes list each member’s vote but the tally in brackets (4 Aye) does not match, so individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Select Person Leonard made a motion to film permit application for Wednesday May 27" and Thursday May 28" from 10:00am until 8:00pm and Friday May 29, 2026, from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm for The Real Housewives of New York Vote: Alley - Aye, Cleary - Aye, Leonard - Aye, Green-Beach - Aye, DeBettencourt - Nay (4 - Aye, | - Nay) Discussion and possible vote to send a letter of support for.” (Motion: Leonard, second: Green-Beach)

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

From the Oak Bluffs Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center. We check every vote against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Dion Alley, Mark Leonard and Sean DeBettencourt (Ray Ewing) and Tom Hallahan (Jeanna Shepard), Vineyard Gazette; William Cleary and Emma Green-Beach (2024 election day) and Gail Barmakian, The Martha’s Vineyard Times.

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