How the Oak Bluffs Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Dion Alley and Tom Hallahan joined the board after the April 2023 town election; Brian Packish and Ryan Ruley left. Emma Green-Beach chaired the board. Covers 32 meetings, April 25 to March 26, 2024.
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.
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
Art. 1Amend the Personnel By-Laws to change references to the Personnel OfficePassed“seconded and voted”
Art. 2Amend Personnel By-Laws Section 6.2 on adding new positionsPassed“seconded and voted”
Art. 3Amend Personnel By-Laws Section 7.3 on new hire starting payPassed“seconded and voted”
Art. 4Amend Personnel By-Laws Sections 8.1 and 8.2 on hiring and advertisingPassed“seconded and voted”
Art. 5Delete Personnel By-Laws Section 9.1.4 on the work week for paramedic shift supervisorsPassed“seconded and voted”
Art. 6Amend Personnel By-Laws Section 12.2 on holiday payPassed“seconded and voted”
Art. 7Amend Personnel By-Laws Section 13 on vacation timePassed“seconded and voted”
Art. 8Amend Personnel By-Laws Section 18.1 on longevity payPassed“seconded and voted”
Art. 9Amend Personnel Bylaws Schedule A classification schedulePassed“seconded and voted”
Art. 10Amend General Bylaw Section 304, Finance and Advisory CommitteePassed“seconded and voted”
Art. 11Amend General Bylaw 201-7, Mopeds / Motor ScootersPassed as amended“voted”
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).
"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.
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Mar 26Reconsider the location of the ceremonial flagpoleMotion: reconsider the location of the ceremonial flagpoleFailed 2–3 · No: Alley, Balboni, Barmakian
March 26, 2024: Reconsider the location of the ceremonial flagpole
ApproveFailed · 2–3
Reconsider the location of the ceremonial flagpole
“Select Person Hallahan made a motion to reconsider the location of the ceremonial flagpole Vote: Hallahan - Aye, Barmakian - Nay, Balboni - Nay, Alley - Nay, Green-Beach - Aye (3 - Nay, 2 - Aye) Discussion and possible vote regarding the location and styl.” (Motion: Hallahan, second: Green-Beach)
“Select Person Barmakian made a motion to remove article 11 from the ATM warrant Vote: Hallahan - Aye, Barmakian - Aye, Balboni - Nay, Alley - Nay, Green-Beach - Aye (3 - Aye, 2 - Nay) Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to fix the compensa.” (Motion: Barmakian, second: Alley)
“Select Person Alley made a motion to remove article 47 from the ATM warrant Vote: Hallahan - Aye, Barmakian - Nay, Balboni - Nay, Alley - Aye, Green-Beach - Aye (3 - Aye, 2 - Nay) TOWN OF OAK BLUFFS OAK BLUFFS SELECT BOARD SPECIAL MEETING M.” (Motion: Alley, second: Hallahan)
Feb 27Approve a $200.00 resident fee for boat slip use…Motion: approve a $200.00 resident fee for boat slip use during the…Failed 0–5 · No: Alley, Balboni, Barmakian, Green-Beach, Hallahan
February 27, 2024: Approve a $200.00 resident fee for boat slip use during the MV striped Bass and Bluefish fishing derby, this does not apply to the eight residents who were approved for…
ApproveFailed · 0–5
Approve a $200.00 resident fee for boat slip use during the MV striped Bass and Bluefish fishing derby, this does not apply to the eight residents who were approved for the lottery slip program
“Select Person Balboni made a motion to approve a $200.00 resident fee for boat slip use during the MV striped Bass and Bluefish fishing derby, this does not apply to the eight residents who were approved for the lottery slip program Roll Call Vote: Hallahan - Nay, Green-Beach - Nay, Balboni - Nay, Alley - Nay, Barmakian - Nay (5 - Nay) 4 TOWN OF OAK BLUFFS OAK BLUFFS SELECT BOARD MINUTES Tuesday February.” (Motion: Balboni, second: Alley)
Feb 27Approve a $200.00 resident fee for boat slip use…Motion: approve a $200.00 resident fee for boat slip use during the…Passed 3–2 · No: Alley, Balboni
February 27, 2024: Approve a $200.00 resident fee for boat slip use during the MV striped Bass and Bluefish fishing derby with proof of derby registration, this does not apply to the eight…
ApprovePassed · 3–2
Approve a $200.00 resident fee for boat slip use during the MV striped Bass and Bluefish fishing derby with proof of derby registration, this does not apply to the eight residents who approved for the lottery slip program
“Select Person Balboni made a motion to approve a $200.00 resident fee for boat slip use during the MV striped Bass and Bluefish fishing derby with proof of derby registration, this does not apply to the eight residents who approved for the lottery slip program Roll Call Vote: Hallahan - Aye, Green-Beach - Aye, Balboni - Nay, Alley - Nay, Barmakian - Aye (3 - Aye, 2 - Nay) Chair Santoro advised the Select Board of Shellfish Constabl.” (Motion: Balboni, second: Alley)
Feb 27Ratify and accept Unit A and B contracts as…Motion: ratify and accept Unit A and B contracts as presentedPassed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
February 27, 2024: Ratify and accept Unit A and B contracts as presented
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
Ratify and accept Unit A and B contracts as presented
The roll call does not list Gail Barmakian.
From the minutes
“Select Person Balboni made a motion to ratify and accept Unit A and B contracts as presented Roll Call Vote: Hallahan - Aye, Green-Beach - Aye, Balboni - Aye, Alley - Aye (4-Aye) Discussion and possible vote regarding location and style of ceremonial.” (Motion: Balboni, second: Alley)
Feb 6Accept the ACO findings with the stipulations set forth…Motion: accept the ACO findings with the stipulations set forth with Dewey…Passed 3–1 · No: Hallahan
February 6, 2024: Accept the ACO findings with the stipulations set forth with Dewey classified as a dangerous dog, Mr. Lowe will work with the ACO, and his homeowners associate in relation to…
ApprovePassed · 3–1
Accept the ACO findings with the stipulations set forth with Dewey classified as a dangerous dog, Mr. Lowe will work with the ACO, and his homeowners associate in relation to the installation of the fence
Yes: Alley, Barmakian, Green-BeachNo: Hallahan
From the minutes
“Select Person Alley made a motion to accept the ACO findings with the stipulations set forth with Dewey classified as a dangerous dog, Mr. Lowe will work with the ACO, and his homeowners associate in relation to the installation of the fence Vote: Hallahan - Nay, Barmakian - Aye, Alley - Aye, Green-Beach - Aye (3 - Aye, 1 - Nay) 5:12 pm .” (Motion: Alley, second: Barmakian)
January 23, 2024: Amend deed restriction 28 Sunset Road Map 7 Parcel 164-2 specifically on page 18 paragraph 6 which reduces the duration of the deed rider from 30 to 20 years with…
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
Amend deed restriction 28 Sunset Road Map 7 Parcel 164-2 specifically on page 18 paragraph 6 which reduces the duration of the deed rider from 30 to 20 years with the stipulation that final confirmation will be made upon review by our Town Legal
The roll call does not list Gail Barmakian.
From the minutes
“Select Person Hallahan made a motion amend deed restriction 28 Sunset Road Map 7 Parcel 164-2 specifically on page 18 paragraph 6 which reduces the duration of the deed rider from 30 to 20 years with the stipulation that final confirmation will be made upon review by our Town Legal Roll Call Vote: Alley - Aye, Balboni - Aye, Hallahan - Aye, Green-Beach - Aye, (4 - Aye) 5:08 pm Select Person Barmakian rejoined the meeting TOWN OF OAK BLU.” (Motion: Hallahan, second: Alley)
Jan 11Deny any further funding of litigation involving or relating…Motion: deny any further funding of litigation involving or relating to Land…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
January 11, 2024: Deny any further funding of litigation involving or relating to Land Court Case docket number 22 misc. 00294
DenyPassed · Unanimous, 3 present
Deny any further funding of litigation involving or relating to Land Court Case docket number 22 misc. 00294
The roll call does not list Emma Green-Beach, Gail Barmakian.
From the minutes
“Select Person Hallahan made a motion to deny any further funding of litigation involving or relating to Land Court Case docket number 22 misc. 00294 Vote: Hallahan - Aye, Balboni - Aye, Alley - Aye, Barmakian - Ney, Green-Beach - Ney (3 - Aye, 2 - Ney) Chair Green-Beach thanke.” (Motion: Hallahan, second: Alley)
Dec 12Vote to send a letter of support for County…Motion: vote to send a letter of support for County of Dukes…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
December 12, 2023: Vote to send a letter of support for County of Dukes County regarding changing the Treasurer to an appointed position
AppointPassed · Unanimous, 4 present
Vote to send a letter of support for County of Dukes County regarding changing the Treasurer to an appointed position
The roll call does not list Gail Barmakian.
From the minutes
“Select Person Balboni made a motion to vote to send a letter of support for County of Dukes County regarding changing the Treasurer to an appointed position Roll Call Vote: Balboni - Aye, Alley - Aye, Barmakian - Ney, Green-Beach - Aye, Hallahan - Aye (4 - Aye, 1 - Ney) Discussion and possible vote to send a letter of support for.” (Motion: Balboni, second: Alley)
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.