MassVoter.com← Plympton Board of SelectmenPlympton Former Select Board member
Mark Russo
Elected townwide · 9 terms in this record
A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.
Board years
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Start my ballot →Record at a glance · 2020–2021 Board
How these numbers work
- Counted from the official minutes, for 2020–2021 Board only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
- Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Russo as present or absent at the start.
- Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
- Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
- A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
- “Whole board” combines every member’s record for the same term.
These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.
Attendance
At the start of 27 of 27 Board of Selectmen meetings in 2020–2021 Board.
Missed none.
Every meeting (27)
- May 12, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Apr 26, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Apr 12, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Apr 6, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Mar 29, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Mar 22, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Mar 8, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Feb 22, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Feb 8, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Feb 5, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Jan 25, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Jan 11, 2021 · Regular: Present
- Dec 21, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Dec 15, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Dec 8, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Nov 16, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Nov 2, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Oct 26, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Oct 19, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Oct 5, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Sep 21, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Sep 8, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Aug 10, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Jul 20, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Jul 6, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Jun 25, 2020 · Regular: Present
- Jun 22, 2020 · Regular: Present
Votes where members disagreed · 2020–2021 Board
Apr 26Ratify the recommendation of article 35Motion: To ratify the recommendation of article 35Passed 2–1 · Russo: Not recorded
April 26, 2021: Ratify the recommendation of article 35
To ratify the recommendation of article 35
The minutes give only the count (2-1), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“MR made a motion to ratify the recommendation of article 35. Seconded, CJ. Roll-Call Vote: 2/1..” (Motion: Russo, second: Joy)
Apr 6Not record the meeting for posting on Area 58's…Motion: To not record the meeting for posting on Area 58's website…Passed 2–1 · Russo: Yes
April 6, 2021: Not record the meeting for posting on Area 58's website and YouTube
To not record the meeting for posting on Area 58's website and YouTube
Voted: Yes
Yes: Joy, RussoNo: TraynorThe minutes do not say who made the motion.
From the minutes
“Voted: To not record the meeting for posting on Area 58's website and YouTube. Roll Call Vote: Joy: Aye; Russo: Aye; Traynor: Nay..”
Apr 6Proceed with Mr. Russo's proposed alternate language, as follows:…Motion: To proceed with Mr. Russo's proposed alternate language, as follows: 'At…Passed 2–1 · Russo: Yes
April 6, 2021: Proceed with Mr. Russo's proposed alternate language, as follows: 'At the first BOS meeting after annual Town elections, the first order of business will be the election of Chair, Vice…
To proceed with Mr. Russo's proposed alternate language, as follows: 'At the first BOS meeting after annual Town elections, the first order of business will be the election of Chair, Vice Chair and Clerk for one-year terms by majority vote of the BOS. The Clerk will preside over the election of the Chair. The newly elected Chair will preside over the election of Vice Chair and Clerk."
Voted: Yes
Yes: Joy, RussoNo: TraynorThe minutes do not say who made the motion.
From the minutes
“Voted: To proceed with Mr. Russo's proposed alternate language, as follows: 'At the first BOS meeting after annual Town elections, the first order of business will be the election of Chair, Vice Chair and Clerk for one-year terms by majority vote of the BOS. The Clerk will preside over the election of the Chair. The newly elected Chair will preside over the election of Vice Chair and Clerk." Roll Call Vote: Joy: Aye; Russo: Aye; Traynor: Nay..”
Apr 6Adopt Ms. Joy's alternate language: open session meetings will…Motion: To read: "All open session meetings will be video recorded and…Passed 2–1 · Russo: Yes
April 6, 2021: Adopt Ms. Joy's alternate language: open session meetings will be recorded and posted whenever possible, and the minutes remain the official record
To read: "All open session meetings will be video recorded and posted". There being no second, Ms. Joy suggested alternate language and Mr. Russo made a new motion. Voted: To proceed with Ms. Joy's proposed alternate language, as follows: "Whenever possible, and as a courtesy to the public, open session BOS meetings will be recorded and posted. The Minutes of the meeting shall remain the official record of the proceedings."
Voted: Yes
Yes: Joy, RussoNo: TraynorMr. Traynor's motion to record and post all open session meetings got no second; Mr. Russo then moved Ms. Joy's alternate language. No seconder is recorded.
From the minutes
“motion to read: "All open session meetings will be video recorded and posted". There being no second, Ms. Joy suggested alternate language and Mr. Russo made a new motion. Voted: To proceed with Ms. Joy's proposed alternate language, as follows: "Whenever possible, and as a courtesy to the public, open session BOS meetings will be recorded and posted. The Minutes of the meeting shall remain the official record of the proceedings." Roll Call Vote: Joy: Aye; Russo: Aye; Traynor: Nay..” (Motion: Russo)
Apr 6Proceed with Mr. Traynor's proposed language, as follows: "These…Motion: To proceed with Mr. Traynor's proposed language, as follows: "These operating…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · Russo: Yes
April 6, 2021: Proceed with Mr. Traynor's proposed language, as follows: "These operating principles will be reviewed, discussed and revoted at the first BOS meeting after annual Town elections."
To proceed with Mr. Traynor's proposed language, as follows: "These operating principles will be reviewed, discussed and revoted at the first BOS meeting after annual Town elections."
Voted: Yes
The minutes do not say who made the motion.
From the minutes
“Voted: To proceed with Mr. Traynor's proposed language, as follows: "These operating principles will be reviewed, discussed and revoted at the first BOS meeting after annual Town elections." Roll Call Vote: Joy: Aye; Russo: Aye; Traynor: Aye. All in favor..”
Mar 29Offer the Town Accountant position to Melanie Whitney (executive…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · Russo: Yes
March 29, 2021: Offer the Town Accountant position to Melanie Whitney (executive session vote, announced)
Voted: Yes
Announced in open session after executive session; the minutes say the board "had voted unanimously." No mover or seconder is recorded.
From the minutes
“Chairman Russo announced that the Board of Selectmen had voted unanimously to offer the position of Town Accountant to Melanie Whitney, upon the retirement of present Town Accountant Barbara Gomez, pending final negotiations led by Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy..”
Mar 29End the open meetingMotion: To end the open meetingPassed Unanimous, 3 present · Russo: Yes
March 29, 2021: End the open meeting
To end the open meeting
Voted: Yes
The minutes do not say who made the motion.
From the minutes
“motion was made and seconded to end the open meeting. Roll Call Vote: Joy: Aye; Russo: Aye; Traynor: Aye.”
Jan 11Approve the 2021 Common Victualler license for Just Right…Motion: To approve the 2021 Common Victualler license for Just Right FarmPassed 2–0 · Russo: Not recorded
January 11, 2021: Approve the 2021 Common Victualler license for Just Right Farm
To approve the 2021 Common Victualler license for Just Right Farm
Yes: Joy, TraynorMark Russo recused and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“CJ made a motion to approve the 2021 Common Victualler license for Just Right Farm. Seconded, JT. Roll-Call Vote: 2/0/1 MR recused himself from the vote..” (Motion: Joy, second: Traynor)
Oct 19Appoint Lukasz Kowalski to the Silver Lake Regional School…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · Russo: Yes
October 19, 2020: Appoint Lukasz Kowalski to the Silver Lake Regional School Committee to fill the vacant seat until June 30, 2021
Voted: Yes
Joint vacancy vote: "Roll-Call Vote of 3 Selectmen and Silver Lake Committee member Michael Antoine: 4/0." Only the Select Board members' votes are shown.
From the minutes
“MR made motion to appoint Lukasz Kowalski to the Silver Lake Regional School Committee to fill the vacant seat until 6/30/21. Seconded, CJ. Roll-Call Vote of 3 Selectmen and Silver Lake Committee member Michael Antoine: 4/0..” (Motion: Russo, second: Joy)
Jun 22Appoint Jason Fraser to the Dennett School CommitteeMotion: To appoint Jason Fraser to the Dennett School CommitteePassed Unanimous, 2 present · Russo: Yes
June 22, 2020: Appoint Jason Fraser to the Dennett School Committee
To appoint Jason Fraser to the Dennett School Committee
Voted: Yes
Christine Joy had not yet arrived, so is not counted in this vote.
From the minutes
“MR made a motion to appoint Jason Fraser to the Dennett School Committee, seconded JT. Vote: 2/0..” (Motion: Russo, second: Traynor)
Votes with no disagreement (93)
From the Plympton Board of Selectmen’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: Dana Smith cropped from a captioned Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express photo (June 2025); Nathaniel Sides and Daniel Cadogan from Area 58 video of the May 18 and June 29, 2026 Board of Selectmen meetings (identified by the nameplate in front of each member).
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