How the Provincetown Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. David Abramson joined the board after the 2019 town election; Cheryl Andrews left. On June 20, 2019 the board chose David Abramson as Chair and Robert Anthony as Vice Chair (each 5-0). Covers 55 meetings, June 20 to July 9, 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.
In Provincetown, 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.
Annual Town Meeting · April 6, 2026 55 votes: 47 passed, 1 passed as amended, 5 failed, 2 indefinitely postponed
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 minutes (called the Board of Selectmen in early 2018) from January 2, 2018 through September 14, 2026, from the town’s online Select Board agendas and minutes archive, which holds minutes back to late 1998 (MassVoter has loaded 2018 on). All of these minutes are typed. Not here: released executive-session minutes when open-session minutes exist for the same date; two files that are not full-board meetings (a March 2018 forum the board did not convene, and a July 2, 2018 two-member subcommittee meeting); minutes the town has not posted, including February 23 and March 30, 2026; and every meeting after September 14, 2026. Provincetown’s minutes give the mover, the seconder and a count for each motion, most often written as “Vote: 4-0-0” (yes-no-abstain). In 2018 and 2019 the minutes usually name the members who voted no or abstained by their initials, as in “Opposed: 1 (ca)”, and in 2020-2021, when the board met remotely, most votes were roll calls that list each member’s vote by name; roll calls return in some 2024-2026 minutes. When the count matches the members present, we show every member present as voting yes; when the minutes name the members who voted no or abstained, we show everyone else present as voting yes. Where the minutes give only a split count without names, a roll call leaves out a member who was there or names one who was not, or the count does not match the members present, we show the count only and add a note. Consent agendas the minutes say were approved “without objection,” motions with blank vote lines and motions with no vote written down are shown with no count. Members who stepped aside (recused), had not yet arrived or had left are left out of that vote. Votes taken by other boards at joint meetings (such as the Board of Health or the Finance Committee) are not included. 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.
Jul 9Not entertain or offer an extension of the probationary…Motion: Move that the Select Board not entertain or offer an extension…Passed 4–1 · No: Anthony
July 9, 2020 (Special meeting): Not entertain or offer an extension of the probationary period and move forward with severance of the employment contract
ApprovePassed · 4–1
Move that the Select Board not entertain or offer an extension of the probationary period and move forward with severance of the employment contract.
Yes: Abramson, Golden, King, VendenNo: Anthony
From the minutes
“Move that the Select Board not entertain or offer an extension of the probationary period and move forward with severance of the employment contract. Motion: Lise King Seconded: Louise Venden David Abramson: aye Robert Anthony: no John Golden: aye Lise King: aye Louise Venden: aye Motion passed..” (Motion: King, second: Venden)
Jul 2And the Board of Health vote to amend the…Motion: Move that the Select Board and the Board of Health vote…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
July 2, 2020: And the Board of Health vote to amend the Joint Emergeny Order Dining (Indoor and Outdoor Seating) #14 to: The hours of alcohol sales allwed to businesses with pouring licenses…
Adopt orderPassed · Unanimous, 5 present
Move that the Select Board and the Board of Health vote to amend the Joint Emergeny Order Dining (Indoor and Outdoor Seating) #14 to: The hours of alcohol sales allwed to businesses with pouring licenses shall be between 8:00 am - 11pm on Monday - Saturday and 10:00 am - 11 pm on Sunday. All the other regualtiosn and permits conditions, including hours of operations, shall remain in effect, and the the service areas shall be subject to inspection by agents of the Board of Health and Licensing Agent to be effective immediately. Select Board
The minutes do not say who made or seconded this motion.
From the minutes
“Move that the Select Board and the Board of Health vote to amend the Joint Emergeny Order Dining (Indoor and Outdoor Seating) #14 to: The hours of alcohol sales allwed to businesses with pouring licenses shall be between 8:00 am - 11pm on Monday - Saturday and 10:00 am - 11 pm on Sunday. All the other regualtiosn and permits conditions, including hours of operations, shall remain in effect, and the the service areas shall be subject to inspection by agents of the Board of Health and Licensing Agent to be effective immediately. Select Board Roll Call Vote David Abramson: Aye Robert Anthony: Aye John Golden: Aye Lise King: Aye Louise Venden: Aye.”
Jun 22Approve Economic Development Permit 20-01 for Xavier Palmer based…Motion: Move that the Select Board vote to approve Economic Development Permit…Failed 0–5 · No: Abramson, Anthony, Golden, King, Venden
June 22, 2020: Approve Economic Development Permit 20-01 for Xavier Palmer based on findings that the proposed use is consistent with the criteria set forth in Selectmen's Policy 2019-09-23, subject to the...
ApproveFailed · 0–5
Move that the Select Board vote to approve Economic Development Permit 20-01 for Xavier Palmer based on findings that the proposed use is consistent with the criteria set forth in Selectmen's Policy 2019-09-23, subject to the attached permit with conditions [as submitted] [as revised].
No: Abramson, Anthony, Golden, King, Venden
From the minutes
“Move that the Select Board vote to approve Economic Development Permit 20-01 for Xavier Palmer based on findings that the proposed use is consistent with the criteria set forth in Selectmen's Policy 2019-09-23, subject to the attached permit with conditions [as submitted] [as revised]. Motion: David Abramson Seconded: Lise King Roll Call Vote Chair David Abramson: No Vice Chair Robert Anthony: No John Golden: No Lise King: No Louise Venden: No.” (Motion: Abramson, second: King)
Move that the Select Board vote to allow a test of Commercial Street closures for June 4, 5, 6, and 7.
Yes: Anthony, Golden, VendenNo: Abramson, King
From the minutes
“Move that the Select Board vote to allow a test of Commercial Street closures for June 4, 5, 6, and 7. Motion David Abramson Second Louise Venden Roll Call Vote David Abramson No Robert Anthony Aye John Golden Aye Lise King No Louise Aye 3-2-0 Motion Passes..” (Motion: Abramson, second: Venden)
Member Venden requested 00C be pulled from the consent agenda. Without objection Chair Abramson waived the reading of the consent items 00A and 00B and without further objection declared the consent agenda approved.
The minutes say this was approved "without objection" and do not record a count or how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Member Venden requested 00C be pulled from the consent agenda. Without objection Chair Abramson waived the reading of the consent items 00A and 00B and without further objection declared the consent agenda approved..”
Move that the Select Board have weekly meeting in Town Hall.
Yes: King, VendenNo: Abramson, Anthony, Golden
From the minutes
“Move that the Select Board have weekly meeting in Town Hall. Motion Louise Venden Seconded Lise King Roll Call DA -no RA - no JG - no Lk - yes LV - yes Motion fails..” (Motion: Venden, second: King)
Move the Select Board to mandate wearing masks in any building. Up for discussion would be commercial street.
The minutes record this motion but no vote on it.
From the minutes
“Move the Select Board to mandate wearing masks in any building. Up for discussion would be commercial street. Motion: John Golden Seconded: Lise King Select Board Member Louise Venden opposed taking a vote without proper notification, staff reports and input from the Board of Health. Members John Golden, Lise King and Robert Anthony support mandating masks for the safety of the community. Chair Abramson supports mandating masks for inside stores where it is difficult to maintain the 6ft but not outdoors. The Board discussed the areas of Town where the masks should be worn outdoors. The Board of Health Chair, Board of Health Vice Chair and the Health Director talked about the importance of social distancing, hand washing and making decisions based on science verse fear. The three supporting members stressed their decision was based on the protection of the towns people and concern about the number of increased visitors as the weather continues to improve..” (Motion: Golden, second: King)
Apr 27Require mask be worn by persons not in a…Motion: Move that the Select Board require mask be worn by persons…Passed 3–2 · No: Abramson, Venden
April 27, 2020: Require mask be worn by persons not in a vehicle on Commercial Street from Bangs Street to Pleasant Street and in any business that is operating in enclosed spaces, and…
ApprovePassed · 3–2
Move that the Select Board require mask be worn by persons not in a vehicle on Commercial Street from Bangs Street to Pleasant Street and in any business that is operating in enclosed spaces, and businesses must post and police their customers effective Friday, May 1, 2020
Yes: Anthony, Golden, KingNo: Abramson, Venden
From the minutes
“Move that the Select Board require mask be worn by persons not in a vehicle on Commercial Street from Bangs Street to Pleasant Street and in any business that is operating in enclosed spaces, and businesses must post and police their customers effective Friday, May 1, 2020 Motion: John Golden Seconded: Lise King Roll Call Vote David Abramson: no Robert Anthony: yes John Golden: yes Lise King: yes Louise Venden: no Motion passes.” (Motion: Golden, second: King)
Apr 27Meet on a weekly basis to discuss the recovery…Motion: Move to meet on a weekly basis to discuss the recovery…Passed 3–2 · No: Anthony, Golden
April 27, 2020: Meet on a weekly basis to discuss the recovery coalition and anything related to the COVID crisis
ApprovePassed · 3–2
Move to meet on a weekly basis to discuss the recovery coalition and anything related to the COVID crisis.
Yes: Abramson, King, VendenNo: Anthony, Golden
From the minutes
“Move to meet on a weekly basis to discuss the recovery coalition and anything related to the COVID crisis. Motion: Lise King Seconded: Louise Venden DA - yes RA - no JG - no Lk - yes LV - yes Motion passes.” (Motion: King, second: Venden)
From the Provincetown Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Select Board agendas and minutes archive. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: The Provincetown Independent (courtesy of the members, or by Paul Benson). John Golden: Provincetown Banner (Wicked Local), photo by Vincent Guadazno, February 2019.