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Municipal votes · 2020–2021 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. Minutes are loaded from January 12, 2021. Jason Balboni chaired the Board of Selectmen (renamed the Select Board in 2021). Covers 9 meetings, January 12 to April 13, 2021.

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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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

Gail BarmakianMember · Elected townwide · at 9 of 9 meetingsGregory CooganMember · Elected townwide · at 9 of 9 meetingsBrian PackishMember · Elected townwide · at 9 of 9 meetingsRyan RuleyMember · Elected townwide · at 9 of 9 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 (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, April 13, 2021 · Regular meeting9 recorded votes, 3 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, March 23, 2021 · Regular meeting11 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, March 9, 2021 · Regular meeting16 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 5 members presentMonday, March 1, 2021 · Regular meeting1 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, February 23, 2021 · Regular meeting9 recorded votes, 0 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.

Apr 13Approve seventy five seats, deliveries only on Uncas Street,…Motion: approve seventy five seats, deliveries only on Uncas Street, and a…Passed 3–2 · No: Balboni, Barmakian

April 13, 2021: Approve seventy five seats, deliveries only on Uncas Street, and a review and site visit in June

ApprovePassed · 3–2

Approve seventy five seats, deliveries only on Uncas Street, and a review and site visit in June

Yes: Coogan, Packish, RuleyNo: Balboni, Barmakian

From the minutes

“Selectman Packish motioned to approve seventy five seats, deliveries only on Uncas Street, and a review and site visit in June Vote was: Chairman Balboni No Selectman Barmakian No Selectman Coogan Aye Selectman Packish Aye Selectman Ruley Aye Coop deVille The Selectmen reviewed the application and allowed that it was the.” (Motion: Packish, second: Ruley)

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

Apr 13Accept a donation of $3,000 from Lagoon Pond Association…Motion: accept a donation of $3,000 from Lagoon Pond Association to support…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

April 13, 2021: Accept a donation of $3,000 from Lagoon Pond Association to support a town employee who will assist the Shellfish Department and the Harbormaster

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present

Accept a donation of $3,000 from Lagoon Pond Association to support a town employee who will assist the Shellfish Department and the Harbormaster

The roll call does not list Brian Packish.

From the minutes

“Selectman Coogan motioned to accept a donation of $3,000 from Lagoon Pond Association to support a town employee who will assist the Shellfish Department and the Harbormaster Vote was: Chairman Balboni Aye Selectman Barmakian Aye Selectman Coogan Aye Selectman Ruley Aye Acting Town Administrator's Report (Attached) Selectmen's Update Selectman Pack.” (Motion: Coogan, second: Barmakian)

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

Mar 9Approve the request for the Art Stroll on July…Motion: approve the request for the Art Stroll on July 10, August…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

March 9, 2021: Approve the request for the Art Stroll on July 10, August 7 and September 4

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present

Approve the request for the Art Stroll on July 10, August 7 and September 4

The roll call does not list Brian Packish.

From the minutes

“Selectman Ruley motioned to approve the request for the Art Stroll on July 10, August 7 and September 4 , seconded by Selectman Barmakian. Chairman Balboni Aye Selectman Barmakian Aye Selectman Coogan Aye Selectman Ruley Aye Review and Possible vote on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant and the Special Tow.” (Motion: Ruley, second: Barmakian)

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

Feb 9Close the HearingMotion: close the HearingPassed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

February 9, 2021: Close the Hearing

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present

Close the Hearing

The roll call does not list Brian Packish.

From the minutes

“Selectman Coogan motioned to close the Hearing Vote was Chairman Balboni Aye Selectman Barmakian Aye Selectman Coogan Aye Selectman Ruley Aye .” (Motion: Coogan, second: Ruley)

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

Feb 9Approve the transfer the Annual Malt and Wine Package…Motion: approve the transfer the Annual Malt and Wine Package Store license…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

February 9, 2021: Approve the transfer the Annual Malt and Wine Package Store license of Tony's Market from Tony's Market, Inc. to Cottage City Market Place, Corp. dba Tony's Market

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present

Approve the transfer the Annual Malt and Wine Package Store license of Tony's Market from Tony's Market, Inc. to Cottage City Market Place, Corp. dba Tony's Market

The roll call does not list Brian Packish.

From the minutes

“Selectman Coogan motioned to approve the transfer the Annual Malt and Wine Package Store license of Tony's Market from Tony's Market, Inc. to Cottage City Market Place, Corp. dba Tony's Market Vote was: Chairman Balboni Aye Selectman Barmakian Aye Selectman Coogan Aye Selectman Ruley Aye Request for appointments to the Police Department. Noah Stobie as a full time o.” (Motion: Coogan, second: Barmakian)

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

Jan 26Approve the CVEC letter of IntentMotion: approve the CVEC letter of IntentPassed 4–1 · No: Barmakian

January 26, 2021: Approve the CVEC letter of Intent

ApprovePassed · 4–1

Approve the CVEC letter of Intent

Yes: Balboni, Coogan, Packish, RuleyNo: Barmakian

From the minutes

“Selectman Ruley motioned to approve the CVEC letter of Intent Vote was: Chairman Balboni Aye Selectman Barmakian No Selectman Coogan Yes Selectman Packish Aye Selectman Ruley Aye Discussion and possible vote on appointment to County Advisory Board There were.” (Motion: Ruley, second: Packish)

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

Jan 12Refer the Budget to the Finance CommitteeMotion: refer the Budget to the Finance CommitteePassed 4–1 · No: Barmakian

January 12, 2021: Refer the Budget to the Finance Committee

ApprovePassed · 4–1

Refer the Budget to the Finance Committee

Yes: Balboni, Coogan, Packish, RuleyNo: Barmakian

From the minutes

“Selectman Coogan motioned to refer the Budget to the Finance Committee Vote was: Chairman Balboni Aye Selectman Barmakian No Selectman Coogan Aye Selectman Packish Aye Selectman Ruley Aye Meeting called to order at 4:57p.m. Minutes December 8, 2020 December 22, 2020 .” (Motion: Coogan, second: Ruley)

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

Jan 12Appoint Mark Leonard as Oak Bluffs representative to the…Motion: appoint Mark Leonard as Oak Bluffs representative to the Dukes County…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

January 12, 2021: Appoint Mark Leonard as Oak Bluffs representative to the Dukes County Housing Authority

AppointPassed · Unanimous, 4 present

Appoint Mark Leonard as Oak Bluffs representative to the Dukes County Housing Authority

The roll call does not list Gail Barmakian.

From the minutes

“Selectman Packish motioned to appoint Mark Leonard as Oak Bluffs representative to the Dukes County Housing Authority Vote was: Chairman Balboni Aye Selectman Coogan Aye Selectman Packish Aye Selectman Ruley Aye Selectmen's Update Selectman Coogan commented on the large puddle near the Hosp.” (Motion: Packish, second: Coogan)

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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