How the Pembroke Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Steven Ciciotti joined the board after the May 2022 town election; Jessica M. Rushing left. On May 18, 2022 the board chose Daniel W. Trabucco as Chair (4-0-1, Rebecca Coletta abstaining), Tracy Marino as Vice Chair and John G. Brown, Jr. as Clerk. Covers 24 meetings, May 18 to May 3, 2023.
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.
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. 1Balance the FY2026 budget: $467,000 ($15,000 for police assessment centers, $452,000 for Pembroke Public Schools)Passed“MAJORITY”
Art. 2Capital items totaling $679,000 from free cash (library expansion and roof, culvert design, public safety fiber, school items)Passed“MAJORITY”
Art. 3Ask the Legislature to make the Town Clerk an appointed position instead of electedFailed“FAILED”
Art. 4Bylaw change: take consent calendar articles out of the lottery for the order of Town Meeting articlesPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 5Bylaw change: let the Moderator declare a 2/3 or 4/5 vote as allowed by state lawPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 6Join the South Shore Vocational Technical High School district, only if an override and debt exclusion pass at a town electionPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 7Zoning change: update kennel definitions and rules to match the state kennel safety lawPassed“2/3RD MAJORITY”
Art. 8ACommunity Preservation: $11,000 to the First Church for roof and door at the Sewing CirclePassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 8BCommunity Preservation: $20,000 to the Pembroke Historical Society for the Friends Quaker Meeting HousePassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 8CCommunity Preservation: $6,000 to the Pembroke Historical Society for the building at 116 Center StreetPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 8DCommunity Preservation: $30,000 for painting and exterior repairs at Bethel ChapelPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 9Fund 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. 1Amend the wage and classification schedules A, B and C and fund the changesPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 2FY2026 town operating budget (Appendix B)Passed“MAJORITY”
Art. 3FY2026 Water Enterprise Fund operating budgetPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 4FY2026 Solid Waste Enterprise Fund operating budgetPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 5Capital budget: fund capital projects and equipment from taxes, enterprise and stabilization funds, borrowing or leasingPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 6Transfer $500,000 from free cash into OPEB, separation pay, stabilization, injury leave and workers' comp funds (consent agenda)Passed“MAJORITY”
Art. 7Community Preservation: reserve $50,000 each for historic, housing and open space, and $20,000 for admin (consent agenda)Passed“MAJORITY”
Art. 8Set FY2026 spending limits for the town's revolving funds (consent agenda)Passed“MAJORITY”
Art. 9Fund first-year costs of a new firefighters' union contractPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 10Accept state law allowing school bus stop-arm violation camerasPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 11Transfer closed Fire Station #3 at 380 Washington Street to the Select Board so it can be sold or leasedPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 12Swap small pieces of town water land at 161 Pleasant Street for nearby parcels to square up the Water Department lotPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 13AZoning change to the Medical Marijuana Overlay DistrictPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 13BBylaw change: allow marijuana retail stores and delivery in town (other marijuana businesses stay banned), if approved at a town electionPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 13CAccept a 3% local tax on retail adult-use marijuana salesPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 14Bylaw change: update the rule against using marijuana in public placesPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 15Bylaw change: remove Section 14B, the ban on possessing marijuanaPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 16Eliminate the Drainage Commission, Town Landing Committee and Cemetery Restoration CommitteePassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 17New bylaw banning black plastic in restaurant carry-out packagingPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 18Bylaw change: roof repairs and replacements in historic districts need Historic District Commission reviewPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 19Bylaw change: rewrite the Advisory Committee bylawPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 20Bylaw change: allow alcohol at events at the new Community Center that have a one-day liquor licensePassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 21Zoning change: update accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules to match the state Affordable Homes ActPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 22Zoning change: extend the Washington Street Business B district rear line from 450 to 800 feetFailed“FAILED”
Art. 23Zoning change: add a "Public Utility" use allowed by Planning Board special permit in several districtsPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 24ACommunity Preservation: $500,000 to restore the Hobomock Elementary School playgroundPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 24BCommunity Preservation: $20,000 to the Kiwanis Club to restore the Kiwanis building at Herring Run ParkPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 24CCommunity Preservation: $110,000 for a new playground at the Community CenterPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 24DCommunity Preservation: $50,000 more for Magoun ParkPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 24ECommunity Preservation: $21,000 to restore the entry and porch of the Lydia Drake LibraryPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 25Accept Bristol Road (Bristol Estates) as a town wayPassed“MAJORITY”
Art. 26Accept the reports of town officers and committees (consent agenda)Passed“MAJORITY”
Art. 27Hold the annual town election for listed offices (consent agenda)Passed“MAJORITY”
Art. 28Citizen petition: stop fluoridating the public water supplyFailed“FAILED”
Art. 29Citizen petition: repeal Section 26 of Article XXIII of the general bylawsFailed“FAILED”
Art. 30Citizen petition: add $1,053,000 to FY2026 department budgets (including $904,950 for schools), contingent on a Proposition 2½ overrideNo action“TAKE NO ACTION”
Special Town Meeting · May 14, 2024 3 votes: 2 passed, 1 failed
Sessions: May 14, 2024 (within the Annual Town Meeting)
Art. 1FY2024 budget transfers between departments ($101,000 in total)Passed“MAJORITY”
Art. 2Fund first-year costs of new union contracts (AFSCME clerical, public works, water; police superior officers)Passed“MAJORITY”
Art. 3Citizen petition: give the Firehouse Pantry first refusal to run a town pantry if the current senior center building is offered to the townFailed“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).
"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.
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Feb 22Include article 13, Recycling Committee name change, in the…Motion: To include article 13, Recycling Committee name change, in the annual…Passed 4–1 · No: Ciciotti
February 22, 2023: Include article 13, Recycling Committee name change, in the annual town meeting warrant
ApprovePassed · 4–1
To include article 13, Recycling Committee name change, in the annual town meeting warrant
Yes: Brown, Coletta, Marino, TrabuccoNo: Ciciotti
From the minutes
“Ms. Coletta moved to include article 13, Recycling Committee name change, in the annual town meeting warrant, Ms. Marino seconded, Mr. Ciciotti opposed, the motion passed in favor 4-1..” (Motion: Coletta, second: Marino)
Yes: Brown, Ciciotti, Marino, TrabuccoAbstained: ColettaJoint vote with the School Committee: 8 in favor, none opposed, Ms. Coletta abstaining. Nine members of the two boards were present, so the eight yes votes include every Select Board member present except Ms. Coletta. School Committee member Susan Bollinger made the motion; Ms. Coletta's nomination of Mr. Murphy was not seconded. Only the Select Board members' votes are shown.
From the minutes
“Ms. Bollinger made a motion to nominate Mr. Quinn, Mr. Ciciotti seconded. Ms. Coletta made a motion to nominate Mr. Murphy, the motion was not seconded, Mr. Trabucco declared the motion dead. Mr. Trabucco stated that there was a nomination for Mr. Quinn made and seconded, the motion passed with eight votes in favor, no votes opposed, and Ms. Coletta abstained..” (second: Ciciotti)
Dec 7Renew Common Victualer Licenses for A Fork in the…Motion: To renew Common Victualer Licenses for A Fork in the Road,…Passed 3–0 · Abstained: Brown, Coletta
December 7, 2022: Renew Common Victualer Licenses for A Fork in the Road, Somewhere Else Tavern and Gather
ApprovePassed · 3–0
To renew Common Victualer Licenses for A Fork in the Road, Somewhere Else Tavern and Gather
“Trabucco asked for motion to renew Common Victualer Licenses for A Fork in the Road, Somewhere Else Tavern and Gather, Ms. Chilcott read the motion into the record, Ms. Marino seconded, the motion passed three votes in favor, with Ms. Coletta and Mr. Brown abstaining, by roll call..” (second: Marino)
Dec 7Renew eligible Somewhere Else Tavern's Liquor License as listed…Motion: To renew eligible Somewhere Else Tavern's Liquor License as listed on…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Coletta
December 7, 2022: Renew eligible Somewhere Else Tavern's Liquor License as listed on the public agenda for the year 2023, subject to the approval of the DMI, Fire Chief, Town Manager and Town…
ApprovePassed · 4–0
To renew eligible Somewhere Else Tavern's Liquor License as listed on the public agenda for the year 2023, subject to the approval of the DMI, Fire Chief, Town Manager and Town Treasurer
“Trabucco asked for a motion to renew eligible Somewhere Else Tavern's Liquor License as listed on the public agenda for the year 2023, subject to the approval of the DMI, Fire Chief, Town Manager and Town Treasurer, Ms. Chilcott read the motion into the record, Mr. Brown seconded, Ms. Coletta abstained, the motion passed four in favor with one abstaining by roll call..” (second: Brown)
The minutes say the motion passed and that Steven Ciciotti abstained, but they do not give a count or say how the other members voted.
From the minutes
“Ms. Marino moved favorable action on Article 7, recommendation A, , Ms. Coletta seconded, the motion passed with Mr. Ciciotti abstaining..” (Motion: Marino, second: Coletta)
The minutes say the motion passed and that Steven Ciciotti abstained, but they do not give a count or say how the other members voted.
From the minutes
“Ms. Coletta moved favorable action on article 7, recommendation B, Ms. Marino seconded; the motion passed with Mr. Ciciotti abstaining..” (Motion: Coletta, second: Marino)
The minutes say the motion passed and that Steven Ciciotti abstained, but they do not give a count or say how the other members voted.
From the minutes
“Ms. Marino moved favorable action on article 7, recommendation C, Ms. Coletta seconded, the motion passed with Mr. Ciciotti abstaining..” (Motion: Marino, second: Coletta)
The minutes say the motion passed and that Steven Ciciotti abstained, but they do not give a count or say how the other members voted.
From the minutes
“Ms. Marino moved favorable action on article 7, recommendation D, Mr. Brown seconded, the motion passed with Mr. Ciciotti abstaining..” (Motion: Marino, second: Brown)
Jun 8Transfer $8700 from Camp Pembroke Fund to the fireworks…Motion: To transfer $8700 from Camp Pembroke Fund to the fireworks displayPassed 3–1 · No: Ciciotti
June 8, 2022: Transfer $8700 from Camp Pembroke Fund to the fireworks display
ApprovePassed · 3–1
To transfer $8700 from Camp Pembroke Fund to the fireworks display
Yes: Brown, Marino, TrabuccoNo: Ciciotti
From the minutes
“Ms. Marino moved to transfer $8700 from Camp Pembroke Fund to the fireworks display. Mr. Brown seconded the motion. The vote was 3/1 with Ciciotti opposed..” (Motion: Marino, second: Brown)
“Mr. Ciciotti moved to dissolve the DEI Committee; Mr. Trabucco seconded the motion. The vote was 3/2 in favor with Brown and Coletta opposing the motion..” (Motion: Ciciotti, second: Trabucco)
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.