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Municipal votes · 2024–2025 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. Mark Leonard joined the board after the April 2024 town election; Jason Balboni left. Gail Barmakian chaired the board. Covers 38 meetings, April 23 to April 1, 2025.

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

Dion AlleyMember · Elected townwide · at 35 of 38 meetingsEmma Green-BeachMember · Elected townwide · at 33 of 38 meetingsTom HallahanMember · Elected townwide · at 36 of 38 meetingsMark LeonardMember · Elected townwide · at 38 of 38 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 1, 2025 · Regular meeting7 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, March 25, 2025 · Regular meeting17 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, March 25, 2025 · Joint meeting17 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, March 18, 2025 · Regular meeting3 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAbsent: Gail BarmakianTuesday, March 11, 2025 · Regular meeting21 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.

Mar 25Approve donation of $2100.00 from Dion Alley for the…Motion: approve donation of $2100.00 from Dion Alley for the 2025/26 OB…Passed 4–0 · see note

March 25, 2025 (Joint meeting): Approve donation of $2100.00 from Dion Alley for the 2025/26 OB COA bowling program

ApprovePassed · 4–0

Approve donation of $2100.00 from Dion Alley for the 2025/26 OB COA bowling program

The minutes list each member’s vote but the tally in brackets (4 Aye, 1 Abstain) does not match, so individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Select Person Hallahan made a motion to approve donation of $2100.00 from Dion Alley for the 2025/26 OB COA bowling program Roll Call Vote: Hallahan - Aye, Alley - Abstain, Barmakian - Aye, Green-Beach ~ Aye, Leonard - Aye (4 - Aye, 1 - Abstain) Select Person Green-Beach asked about the possibility of.” (Motion: Hallahan, second: Green-Beach)

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

Mar 25Approve donation of $2100.00 from Dion Alley for the…Motion: approve donation of $2100.00 from Dion Alley for the 2025/26 OB…Passed 4–0 · see note

March 25, 2025: Approve donation of $2100.00 from Dion Alley for the 2025/26 OB COA bowling program

ApprovePassed · 4–0

Approve donation of $2100.00 from Dion Alley for the 2025/26 OB COA bowling program

The minutes list each member’s vote but the tally in brackets (4 Aye, 1 Abstain) does not match, so individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Select Person Hallahan made a motion to approve donation of $2100.00 from Dion Alley for the 2025/26 OB COA bowling program Roll Call Vote: Hallahan - Aye, Alley - Abstain, Barmakian - Aye, Green-Beach ~ Aye, Leonard - Aye (4 - Aye, 1 - Abstain) Select Person Green-Beach asked about the possibility of.” (Motion: Hallahan, second: Green-Beach)

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

Mar 3Remove article X from the warrantMotion: remove article X from the warrantPassed 3–1 · No: Hallahan

March 3, 2025: Remove article X from the warrant

ApprovePassed · 3–1

Remove article X from the warrant

Yes: Alley, Green-Beach, LeonardNo: Hallahan

From the minutes

“Select Person Leonard made a motion to remove article X from the warrant Roll Call Vote: Leonard - Aye, Hallahan - Nay, Barmakian - Abstain, Alley - Aye, Green-Beach - Aye (3 - Aye, 1- Nay, 1- Abstain) Free Cash FC1 $400,000 to Stablization Fund. Town.” (Motion: Leonard, second: Green-Beach)

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

Mar 3Keep this article on the warrantMotion: keep this article on the warrantPassed 3–1 · see note

March 3, 2025: Keep this article on the warrant

ApprovePassed · 3–1

Keep this article on the warrant

The minutes list each member’s vote but the tally in brackets (3 Aye, 1 Nay) does not match, so individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Chair Barmakian made a motion to keep this article on the warrant Roll Call Vote: Leonard - Nay, Hallahan - Nay, Barmakian - Aye, Alley - Nay (3 - Aye, 1- Nay) C9 $65,000 Mini Loader Parks and Highway Dept. All good, no c.” (Motion: Barmakian, second: Leonard)

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

Mar 3Reduce the amount to pay for the purchase cost,…Motion: reduce the amount to pay for the purchase cost, delivery and…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

March 3, 2025: Reduce the amount to pay for the purchase cost, delivery and set up of one study pod

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present

Reduce the amount to pay for the purchase cost, delivery and set up of one study pod

The roll call does not list Emma Green-Beach.

From the minutes

“Select Person Leonard made a motion to reduce the amount to pay for the purchase cost, delivery and set up of one study pod Roll Call Vote: Leonard - Aye, Hallahan - Aye, Barmakian - Aye, Alley - Aye (4 - Aye) BORROWING ARTICLES B1 $2.5 million Chair Barmakian commented that thi.” (Motion: Leonard, second: Hallahan)

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

Feb 24Remove article X relative to the Town Clerks position…Motion: remove article X relative to the Town Clerks position becoming appointedPassed 4–1 · No: Hallahan

February 24, 2025: Remove article X relative to the Town Clerks position becoming appointed

AppointPassed · 4–1

Remove article X relative to the Town Clerks position becoming appointed

Yes: Alley, Barmakian, Green-Beach, LeonardNo: Hallahan

From the minutes

“Select Person Green-Beach made a motion to remove article X relative to the Town Clerks position becoming appointed Vote: Leonard - Aye, Barmakian - Aye, Hallahan - Nay, Green-Beach - Aye, Alley - Aye, (4 - Aye. 1 - Nay) Free Cash Articles FC 1. $400,000 Select Person Alley had f.” (Motion: Green-Beach, second: Alley)

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

Jan 28Identify the maximum useful life of equipment to be…Motion: identify the maximum useful life of equipment to be purchased with…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

January 28, 2025: Identify the maximum useful life of equipment to be purchased with bond proceeds as authorized by ATM April 9, 2024, Article 44 pursuant to M.G.L. C44 Section 7(1) Fire Attack…

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present

Identify the maximum useful life of equipment to be purchased with bond proceeds as authorized by ATM April 9, 2024, Article 44 pursuant to M.G.L. C44 Section 7(1) Fire Attack pumper for a maximum useful life of twenty years and EMS Ambulance for maximum useful life of ten years

The roll call does not list Gail Barmakian.

From the minutes

“Select Person Leonard made a motion to identify the maximum useful life of equipment to be purchased with bond proceeds as authorized by ATM April 9, 2024, Article 44 pursuant to M.G.L. C44 Section 7(1) Fire Attack pumper for a maximum useful life of twenty years and EMS Ambulance for maximum useful life of ten years Roll Call Vote: Leonard - Aye, Hallahan - Aye, Green-Beach - Aye, Alley - Aye (4 - Aye) Discussion and possible vote to approve Select Board meeting minutes .” (Motion: Leonard, second: Hallahan)

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

Jan 28Approve expenditure warrant 25-15REF $3061.27Motion: approve expenditure warrant 25-15REF $3061.27Passed 3–0 · see note

January 28, 2025: Approve expenditure warrant 25-15REF $3061.27

ApprovePassed · 3–0

Approve expenditure warrant 25-15REF $3061.27

Yes: Green-Beach, Hallahan, LeonardThe roll call does not list Gail Barmakian.

From the minutes

“Select Person Hallahan made a motion to approve expenditure warrant 25-15REF $3061.27 Roll Call Vote: Leonard - Aye, Hallahan - Aye, Green-Beach - Aye, Alley - Abstain (3 - Aye, 1 - Abstain) 01/23/2025 25-15EXP $1,232,837.53 .” (Motion: Hallahan, second: Leonard)

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

Jan 28Approve expenditure warrant 25-15EXP for $1,232,837.53Motion: approve expenditure warrant 25-15EXP for $1,232,837.53Passed 3–0 · see note

January 28, 2025: Approve expenditure warrant 25-15EXP for $1,232,837.53

ApprovePassed · 3–0

Approve expenditure warrant 25-15EXP for $1,232,837.53

Yes: Green-Beach, Hallahan, LeonardThe roll call does not list Gail Barmakian.

From the minutes

“Select Person Hallahan made a motion to approve expenditure warrant 25-15EXP for $1,232,837.53 Roll Call Vote: Leonard - Aye, Hallahan - Aye, Green-Beach - Aye, Alley - Abstain (3 - Aye, 1 - Abstain) TOWN OF OAK BLUFFS OAK BLUFFS SELECT BOARD MEETING MINUT.” (Motion: Hallahan, second: Leonard)

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

Jan 28Approve expenditure warrant 25-I15SCH for $36,578.97Motion: approve expenditure warrant 25-I15SCH for $36,578.97Passed 3–0 · see note

January 28, 2025: Approve expenditure warrant 25-I15SCH for $36,578.97

ApprovePassed · 3–0

Approve expenditure warrant 25-I15SCH for $36,578.97

Yes: Green-Beach, Hallahan, LeonardThe roll call does not list Gail Barmakian.

From the minutes

“Select Person Hallahan made a motion to approve expenditure warrant 25-I15SCH for $36,578.97 Roll Call Vote: Leonard - Aye, Hallahan - Aye, Green-Beach - Aye, Alley - Abstain (3 - Aye, 1 - Abstain) 01/23/2025 25-15STU $4,953.32 .” (Motion: Hallahan, second: Leonard)

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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