MassVoter.com← PembrokeMunicipal votes · 2019–2020 Board
Pembroke Select Board
How the Pembroke Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Jessica M. Rushing joined the board after the May 2019 town election; Matthew J. Furlong left. On May 21, 2019 the board chose Willard J. Boulter, Jr. as Chair, Arthur P. Boyle, Jr. as Vice Chair and John G. Brown, Jr. as Clerk (each unanimous by roll call). Covers 44 meetings, May 21 to June 17, 2020.
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 budgetYour Pembroke ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →Board years
Coming up
No upcoming meeting is posted yet. Check the official calendar →
Under the state Open Meeting Law, boards post notice at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays.
What Town Meeting decided
In Pembroke, 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 · October 21, 2025 12 votes: 11 passed, 1 failed
- Art. 1 Balance the FY2026 budget: $467,000 ($15,000 for police assessment centers, $452,000 for Pembroke Public Schools) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 2 Capital items totaling $679,000 from free cash (library expansion and roof, culvert design, public safety fiber, school items) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 3 Ask the Legislature to make the Town Clerk an appointed position instead of elected Failed “FAILED”
- Art. 4 Bylaw change: take consent calendar articles out of the lottery for the order of Town Meeting articles Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 5 Bylaw change: let the Moderator declare a 2/3 or 4/5 vote as allowed by state law Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 6 Join the South Shore Vocational Technical High School district, only if an override and debt exclusion pass at a town election Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 7 Zoning change: update kennel definitions and rules to match the state kennel safety law Passed “2/3RD MAJORITY”
- Art. 8A Community Preservation: $11,000 to the First Church for roof and door at the Sewing Circle Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 8B Community Preservation: $20,000 to the Pembroke Historical Society for the Friends Quaker Meeting House Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 8C Community Preservation: $6,000 to the Pembroke Historical Society for the building at 116 Center Street Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 8D Community Preservation: $30,000 for painting and exterior repairs at Bethel Chapel Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 9 Fund first-year costs of new AFSCME union contracts (public works, clerical, water) Passed “MAJORITY”
Annual Town Meeting · May 13, 2025 36 votes: 32 passed, 3 failed, 1 no action
- Art. 1 Amend the wage and classification schedules A, B and C and fund the changes Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 2 FY2026 town operating budget (Appendix B) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 3 FY2026 Water Enterprise Fund operating budget Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 4 FY2026 Solid Waste Enterprise Fund operating budget Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 5 Capital budget: fund capital projects and equipment from taxes, enterprise and stabilization funds, borrowing or leasing Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 6 Transfer $500,000 from free cash into OPEB, separation pay, stabilization, injury leave and workers' comp funds (consent agenda) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 7 Community Preservation: reserve $50,000 each for historic, housing and open space, and $20,000 for admin (consent agenda) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 8 Set FY2026 spending limits for the town's revolving funds (consent agenda) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 9 Fund first-year costs of a new firefighters' union contract Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 10 Accept state law allowing school bus stop-arm violation cameras Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 11 Transfer closed Fire Station #3 at 380 Washington Street to the Select Board so it can be sold or leased Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 12 Swap small pieces of town water land at 161 Pleasant Street for nearby parcels to square up the Water Department lot Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 13A Zoning change to the Medical Marijuana Overlay District Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 13B Bylaw change: allow marijuana retail stores and delivery in town (other marijuana businesses stay banned), if approved at a town election Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 13C Accept a 3% local tax on retail adult-use marijuana sales Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 14 Bylaw change: update the rule against using marijuana in public places Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 15 Bylaw change: remove Section 14B, the ban on possessing marijuana Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 16 Eliminate the Drainage Commission, Town Landing Committee and Cemetery Restoration Committee Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 17 New bylaw banning black plastic in restaurant carry-out packaging Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 18 Bylaw change: roof repairs and replacements in historic districts need Historic District Commission review Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 19 Bylaw change: rewrite the Advisory Committee bylaw Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 20 Bylaw change: allow alcohol at events at the new Community Center that have a one-day liquor license Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 21 Zoning change: update accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules to match the state Affordable Homes Act Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 22 Zoning change: extend the Washington Street Business B district rear line from 450 to 800 feet Failed “FAILED”
- Art. 23 Zoning change: add a "Public Utility" use allowed by Planning Board special permit in several districts Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 24A Community Preservation: $500,000 to restore the Hobomock Elementary School playground Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 24B Community Preservation: $20,000 to the Kiwanis Club to restore the Kiwanis building at Herring Run Park Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 24C Community Preservation: $110,000 for a new playground at the Community Center Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 24D Community Preservation: $50,000 more for Magoun Park Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 24E Community Preservation: $21,000 to restore the entry and porch of the Lydia Drake Library Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 25 Accept Bristol Road (Bristol Estates) as a town way Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 26 Accept the reports of town officers and committees (consent agenda) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 27 Hold the annual town election for listed offices (consent agenda) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 28 Citizen petition: stop fluoridating the public water supply Failed “FAILED”
- Art. 29 Citizen petition: repeal Section 26 of Article XXIII of the general bylaws Failed “FAILED”
- Art. 30 Citizen petition: add $1,053,000 to FY2026 department budgets (including $904,950 for schools), contingent on a Proposition 2½ override No action “TAKE NO ACTION”
Annual Town Meeting · May 14, 2024 23 votes: 23 passed
- Art. 1 Amend the wage and classification schedules A, B and C and fund the changes Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 2 FY2025 town operating budget (Appendix B) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 3 FY2025 Water Enterprise Fund operating budget Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 4 FY2025 Solid Waste Enterprise Fund operating budget Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 5 Capital budget: fund capital projects and equipment from taxes, enterprise and stabilization funds, borrowing or leasing Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 6 Transfer money into OPEB, separation pay, injury leave, workers' comp and stabilization funds (consent agenda) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 7 Community Preservation: reserve $50,000 each for historic, housing and open space, and $20,000 for admin (consent agenda) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 8 Set FY2025 spending limits for the town's revolving funds (consent agenda) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 9 Fund first-year costs of new union contracts (AFSCME clerical, public works, water; police superior officers) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 10 Ask the Legislature for one more all-alcohol package store license at 295 Old Oak Street Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 11 Ask the Legislature for one more all-alcohol package store license at 256 Church Street Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 12 Bylaw change: close local election polls at 5:00 PM instead of 7:00 PM Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 13 Bylaw change: move the dog license deadline from February 28 to April 1 Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 14 New Fire Department bylaw (fire code violations, penalties, lock boxes) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 15 New bylaw setting up the Pembroke Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 16 Bylaw change: update the membership of the Community Preservation Committee Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 17 Create Lieutenant/Paramedic positions; transfer $15,427.84 from the Ambulance Fund to promote four firefighter/paramedics Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 18A Community Preservation: $162,000 for new outdoor fitness courts at 128 Center Street Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 18B Community Preservation: $49,000 to pave the Bryantville Meetinghouse parking area Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 18C Community Preservation: $13,000 for painting and exterior repairs at Bethel Chapel Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 18D Community Preservation: $25,000 to the First Church for roof replacement at 105 Center Street Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 19 Accept the reports of town officers and committees (consent agenda) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 20 Hold the annual town election for listed offices (consent agenda) Passed “MAJORITY”
Special Town Meeting · May 14, 2024 3 votes: 2 passed, 1 failed
Sessions: May 14, 2024 (within the Annual Town Meeting)
- Art. 1 FY2024 budget transfers between departments ($101,000 in total) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 2 Fund first-year costs of new union contracts (AFSCME clerical, public works, water; police superior officers) Passed “MAJORITY”
- Art. 3 Citizen petition: give the Firehouse Pantry first refusal to run a town pantry if the current senior center building is offered to the town Failed “FAILED”
Not here yet: the May 13, 2025 Special Town Meeting held within the Annual Town Meeting (3 articles; its votes are not printed in the 2025 Annual Town Report) and the May 12, 2026 Annual and Special Town Meetings (only the warrant is posted; results will be in the 2026 Annual Town Report).
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
John G. Brown, Jr.Clerk · Elected townwide · at 44 of 44 meetingsJessica M. RushingMember · Elected townwide · at 43 of 44 meetings
Daniel W. TrabuccoMember · Elected townwide · at 43 of 44 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: every Select Board meeting with minutes on the town website from January 2018 through April 1, 2026 (2018 to 2024 from the town's Document Center, 2025 and 2026 from its Agenda Center). Not here: minutes before 2018 (the Document Center has them back to 2010), executive-session minutes, and minutes the town has not posted yet (every meeting after April 1, 2026, so nothing yet for the board chosen in May 2026). Pembroke's minutes are typed and give the mover, the seconder and the result for each vote ("the motion passed unanimously"); votes in 2020 and 2021 remote meetings are roll calls by name. Two 2021 files and five 2026 files are scans, which we read by computer text recognition. When the minutes say a vote was unanimous we show every member present as voting yes; when they give a roll call, or a count with the members who voted no or abstained named, we show each member's vote as recorded. When the minutes only say a motion "passed", with no count, no names and no mention of a unanimous vote, we show the result only and never assume it was unanimous. Where the minutes give only a count without names, or a roll call names a member the minutes do not list as present, or the names and the count do not match, we show the count only and add a note. In early 2025 several sets of minutes leave a member off the attendance list even though that member made or seconded motions; those votes show the count only. Members who had not yet arrived or had left are left out of that vote. At joint meetings (Advisory Committee, School Committee, Board of Health, Planning Board appointments) only the Select Board members' votes are shown. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Jun 10Tentatively set June 30 as the town meeting date,…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
June 10, 2020: Tentatively set June 30 as the town meeting date, and advertise for a reduced quorum
The minutes run two motions together (Mr. Trabucco: tentatively make the town meeting date June 30; Ms. Rushing: advertise for a reduced quorum) with one seconder and one roll call. The mover is left blank.
From the minutes
“Ms. Rushing moved to Mr. Trabucco moved to tentatively make the town meeting date June 30; Ms. Rushing moved that the town advertise for a reduced quorum discussion starting tomorrow; Mr. Brown seconded the motion. By Roll Call Vote: Boyle - yes, Brown - yes, Rushing - yes, Trabucco - yes, Boulter - yes..” (second: Brown)
Jun 10Move annual town meeting to July 28, 2020Motion: To move annual town meeting to July 28, 2020Passed 4–1 · No: Brown
June 10, 2020: Move annual town meeting to July 28, 2020
To move annual town meeting to July 28, 2020
Yes: Boulter, Boyle, Rushing, TrabuccoNo: Brown
From the minutes
“Boulter requested a motion to move annual town meeting to July 28, 2020. Ms. Rushing so moved. Mr. Boyle seconded the motion. By Roll Call Vote: Boyle - yes, Brown - no, Rushing - yes, Trabucco - yes, Boulter - yes..” (Motion: Rushing, second: Boyle)
Jun 10Reappoint these board membersMotion: To reappoint these board membersPassed 4–1 · No: Brown
June 10, 2020: Reappoint these board members
To reappoint these board members
Yes: Boulter, Boyle, Rushing, TrabuccoNo: Brown
From the minutes
“Boulter requested a motion to reappoint these board members, Mr. Brown so moved. Mr. Boyle seconded the motion. By Roll Call Vote: Boyle - yes, Brown - no, Rushing - yes, Trabucco - yes, Boulter - yes..” (Motion: Brown, second: Boyle)
May 27Move Town Meeting to June 23, 2020, location to…Motion: To move Town Meeting to June 23, 2020, location to be…Passed 4–0 · see note
May 27, 2020: Move Town Meeting to June 23, 2020, location to be determined
To move Town Meeting to June 23, 2020, location to be determined
Yes: Boulter, Brown, Rushing, TrabuccoThe roll call does not list Arthur P. Boyle, Jr., who was present.
From the minutes
“Ms. Rushing makes a motion to move Town Meeting to June 23, 2020, location to be determined, Mr. Brown seconds. By rollcall; Ms. Rushing - yes, Mr. Brown - yes, Mr. Trabucco - yes, Mr. Boulter - yes..” (Motion: Rushing, second: Brown)
May 27Support the Town Manager's recommendation of raising the trash…Motion: To support the Town Manager's recommendation of raising the trash fee…Passed 4–0 · see note
May 27, 2020: Support the Town Manager's recommendation of raising the trash fee to $330.00 as well as the recommendation to support the use of $100,000.00 of retained earnings to sustain the fee
To support the Town Manager's recommendation of raising the trash fee to $330.00 as well as the recommendation to support the use of $100,000.00 of retained earnings to sustain the fee
Yes: Boulter, Brown, Rushing, TrabuccoThe roll call does not list Arthur P. Boyle, Jr., who was present.
From the minutes
“Mr. Trabucco makes a motion to support the Town Manager's recommendation of raising the trash fee to $330.00 as well as the recommendation to support the use of $100,000.00 of retained earnings to sustain the fee, Ms. Rushing seconds. By rollcall: Ms. Rushing - yes, Mr. Brown - yes, Mr. Trabucco - yes, Mr. Boulter - yes..” (Motion: Trabucco, second: Rushing)
May 27For favorable action on article 1Motion: For favorable action on article 1Passed 4–0 · see note
May 27, 2020: For favorable action on article 1
For favorable action on article 1
Yes: Boulter, Brown, Rushing, TrabuccoThe roll call does not list Arthur P. Boyle, Jr., who was present.
From the minutes
“Ms. Rushing makes a motion for favorable action on article 1, Mr. Brown seconds. By rollcall: Ms. Rushing - yes, Mr. Brown -yes, Mr. Trabucco - yes, Mr. Boulter - yes..” (Motion: Rushing, second: Brown)
May 27For favorable action on article 2Motion: For favorable action on article 2Passed 4–0 · see note
May 27, 2020: For favorable action on article 2
For favorable action on article 2
Yes: Boulter, Brown, Rushing, TrabuccoThe roll call does not list Arthur P. Boyle, Jr., who was present.
From the minutes
“Ms. Rushing makes a motion for favorable action on article 2, Mr. Trabucco seconds. By rollcall: Ms. Rushing - yes, Mr. Brown - yes, Mr. Trabucco - yes, Mr. Boulter - yes..” (Motion: Rushing, second: Trabucco)
May 27For favorable action on article 3Motion: For favorable action on article 3Passed 4–0 · see note
May 27, 2020: For favorable action on article 3
For favorable action on article 3
Yes: Boulter, Brown, Rushing, TrabuccoThe roll call does not list Arthur P. Boyle, Jr., who was present.
From the minutes
“Ms. Rushing makes a motion for favorable action on article 3, Mr. Trabucco seconds. By rollcall: Ms. Rushing - yes, Mr. Brown - yes, Mr. Trabucco - yes, Mr. Boulter - yes..” (Motion: Rushing, second: Trabucco)
May 27For favorable action on article 5Motion: For favorable action on article 5Passed 4–0 · see note
May 27, 2020: For favorable action on article 5
For favorable action on article 5
Yes: Boulter, Brown, Rushing, TrabuccoThe roll call does not list Arthur P. Boyle, Jr., who was present.
From the minutes
“Mr. Trabucco makes a motion for favorable action on article 5, Ms. Rushing seconds. By rollcall: Ms. Rushing - yes, Mr. Brown - yes, Mr. Trabucco - yes, Mr. Boulter - yes..” (Motion: Trabucco, second: Rushing)
May 27For favorable action on article 12Motion: For favorable action on article 12Passed 4–0 · see note
May 27, 2020: For favorable action on article 12
For favorable action on article 12
Yes: Boulter, Brown, Rushing, TrabuccoThe roll call does not list Arthur P. Boyle, Jr., who was present.
From the minutes
“Mr. Trabucco makes a motion for favorable action on article 12, Mr. Brown seconds. By rollcall: Ms. Rushing - yes, Mr. Brown - yes, Mr. Trabucco - yes, Mr. Boulter - yes..” (Motion: Trabucco, second: Brown)
From the Pembroke Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center and Document Center. We check every vote against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos of current members: Town of Pembroke Select Board page; Steven Ciciotti from WATD 95.9 (April 2025 candidate forum story). Former members show initials.
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