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Stoughton Select Board
How the Stoughton Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. Scott Carrara joined the board after the April 2021 town election; Robert O’Regan left the board. Joseph Mokrisky chaired the board, with Debra Roberts as Vice Chair (the reorganization minutes are not online; the first posted minutes for this board are the released executive-session minutes of April 13, 2021). Louis (Lou) Gitto won the June 22, 2021 special election for Christine Howe’s seat and was sworn in on June 28, 2021; until then the board had four members. Covers 36 meetings, April 13 to April 4, 2022.
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 Stoughton ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →Board years
Coming up
From the agendas Stoughton posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.
Members
ChairJoseph MokriskyChair · Elected townwide · at 33 of 36 meetings
Vice-ChairDebra RobertsVice Chair · Elected townwide · at 36 of 36 meetings
Scott CarraraMember · Elected townwide · at 33 of 36 meetings
Stephen CaveyMember · Elected townwide · at 34 of 36 meetingsLouis GittoMember · Elected townwide · at 31 of 31 meetings · from Jul 2021"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: Stoughton Select Board (formerly the Board of Selectmen) minutes from January 2, 2018 through August 28, 2026, from the town’s Agenda Center. Big gap: the town’s website has minutes for only 2 of the board’s 2019 meetings and 13 of its 2020 meetings, plus more than 20 other meetings from 2018 to 2024 that have an agenda but no minutes; MassVoter is asking the town for them. A few files on the website are filed under the wrong date or hold a different meeting’s minutes; we load each file under the meeting it really records and list these for the town. Meetings after August 28, 2026 are not posted yet. Forums and information sessions listed with the board’s agendas have no minutes and are not shown. Nearly every minutes file is a scanned image, which MassVoter read with text recognition and checked by hand. Stoughton’s minutes name who made and seconded each motion and give a count (for example “the motion passed 5 - yes 0 - no”). When the count covers every member present with no one voting no or abstaining, or the minutes say the vote was unanimous, every member present is shown voting yes. When some members voted no or abstained and the minutes do not say who, we show the count only, with a note; we never guess who voted which way from the discussion. Older minutes (2018 to 2021) often list each member’s roll-call vote, and those are shown by name. Where the minutes give no count or names, we show the result only. Votes taken by other boards at joint meetings (for example the School Committee or the Board of Assessors) are left out, and members who recused themselves are left out of that vote. 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.
Mar 22Adopt the hiring processMotion: Mr. Cavey made the motion to adopt the hiring process, seconded…Passed 3–2 · No: Carrara, Gitto
March 22, 2022: Adopt the hiring process
Mr. Cavey made the motion to adopt the hiring process, seconded by Ms. Roberts. Mr. Gitto asked what would happen to comments made by Board members. Ms. Roberts suggested amendment to the motion that the input from Board members would be considered, Mr. Gitto asked Mr. Cavey if Ms. Roberts sentiments would be part of Mr. Cavey's motion. Understanding that these sentiments would not be included on the motion, Mr. Gitto Select Board Open Meeting Minutes March 22, 2022 7 P.M. voted-no. Ms. Roberts yes, Mr. Cavey -yes, Mr. Carrara -no, Mr. Mokrisky -yes. The motion passed 3 yes 2 no, 7.
Yes: Cavey, Mokrisky, RobertsNo: Carrara, Gitto
From the minutes
“Mr. Cavey made the motion to adopt the hiring process, seconded by Ms. Roberts. Mr. Gitto asked what would happen to comments made by Board members. Ms. Roberts suggested amendment to the motion that the input from Board members would be considered, Mr. Gitto asked Mr. Cavey if Ms. Roberts sentiments would be part of Mr. Cavey's motion. Understanding that these sentiments would not be included on the motion, Mr. Gitto Select Board Open Meeting Minutes March 22, 2022 7 P.M. voted-no. Ms. Roberts yes, Mr. Cavey -yes, Mr. Carrara -no, Mr. Mokrisky -yes. The motion passed 3 yes 2 no, 7..” (Motion: Cavey, second: Roberts)
Mar 22Send comments and the evaluation to the town managerMotion: Mr. Gitto made the motion to send comments and the evaluation…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Carrara
March 22, 2022: Send comments and the evaluation to the town manager
Mr. Gitto made the motion to send comments and the evaluation to the town manager, seconded by Mr. Cavey. Before the vote, Dr. Grimm requested to make her feedback in a public forum. On the motion, the Board approved 4 yes, | abstention (Mr. Carrara).
Yes: Cavey, Gitto, Mokrisky, RobertsAbstained: Carrara
From the minutes
“Mr. Gitto made the motion to send comments and the evaluation to the town manager, seconded by Mr. Cavey. Before the vote, Dr. Grimm requested to make her feedback in a public forum. On the motion, the Board approved 4 yes, | abstention (Mr. Carrara)..” (Motion: Gitto, second: Cavey)
Mar 15ApproveMotion: The motion was made and seconded to approve. The vote was…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
March 15, 2022: Approve
The motion was made and seconded to approve. The vote was unanimous. The Board voted unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda, A, C, D, E, F exempting February 2, 2022 minutes.
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“The motion was made and seconded to approve. The vote was unanimous. The Board voted unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda, A, C, D, E, F exempting February 2, 2022 minutes..”
Feb 22Place the matter on the next agendaMotion: Mr. Gitto made the motion to place the matter on the…Failed 2–3 · No: Cavey, Mokrisky, Roberts
February 22, 2022: Place the matter on the next agenda
Mr. Gitto made the motion to place the matter on the next agenda, seconded by Mr. Carrara. Mr. Cavey to the issue raised by Mr. Carrara reminded the Board members that the letter referenced a violation of the Charter, when in fact, it was a violation of the By-laws. Mr. Cavey said he did not support further discussion. On the motion to place the matter on the next agenda, Ms. Roberts -no, Mr. Cavey -no, Mr. Moktrisky -no, Mr. Carrara -yes, Mr. Gitto -yes. The motion failed yes-2, no-3.
Yes: Carrara, GittoNo: Cavey, Mokrisky, Roberts
From the minutes
“Mr. Gitto made the motion to place the matter on the next agenda, seconded by Mr. Carrara. Mr. Cavey to the issue raised by Mr. Carrara reminded the Board members that the letter referenced a violation of the Charter, when in fact, it was a violation of the By-laws. Mr. Cavey said he did not support further discussion. On the motion to place the matter on the next agenda, Ms. Roberts -no, Mr. Cavey -no, Mr. Moktrisky -no, Mr. Carrara -yes, Mr. Gitto -yes. The motion failed yes-2, no-3..” (Motion: Gitto, second: Carrara)
Feb 22Stanton was appointedMotion: Stanton was appointed by a vote of 3- yes to 2-no.Passed 3–2 · see note
February 22, 2022: Stanton was appointed
Stanton was appointed by a vote of 3- yes to 2-no.
The minutes give only the count (3-2), not who voted no or abstained. The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Stanton was appointed by a vote of 3- yes to 2-no..”
Feb 22Approve the nomination of Ms. CivilMotion: On the motion to approve the nomination of Ms. Civil, the…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
February 22, 2022: Approve the nomination of Ms. Civil
On the motion to approve the nomination of Ms. Civil, the Board voted 5 -yes 0-no.
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“On the motion to approve the nomination of Ms. Civil, the Board voted 5 -yes 0-no..”
Feb 22Endorse the vote taken by the town meetingMotion: On the motion to endorse the vote taken by the town…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
February 22, 2022: Endorse the vote taken by the town meeting
On the motion to endorse the vote taken by the town meeting, the Board voted unanimously 5 yes 0 no.
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“On the motion to endorse the vote taken by the town meeting, the Board voted unanimously 5 yes 0 no..”
Feb 8Accept the Annual Policy and Evaluation Presentation of the…Motion: Mr. Carrara made the motion to accept the Annual Policy and…Passed 4–0 · see note
February 8, 2022: Accept the Annual Policy and Evaluation Presentation of the Stoughton Public Health
Mr. Carrara made the motion to accept the Annual Policy and Evaluation Presentation of the Stoughton Public Health, motion seconded by Mr. Gitto. On the motion, the board voted 4 yes.
The minutes say 4-0, but 5 members were present (Joseph Mokrisky, Debra Roberts, Stephen Cavey, Scott Carrara and Louis Gitto). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr. Carrara made the motion to accept the Annual Policy and Evaluation Presentation of the Stoughton Public Health, motion seconded by Mr. Gitto. On the motion, the board voted 4 yes..” (Motion: Carrara, second: Gitto)
Feb 8Approve the applicationMotion: Mr. Carrara made the motion to approve the application, seconded by…Passed 4–0 · see note
February 8, 2022: Approve the application
Mr. Carrara made the motion to approve the application, seconded by Ms. Roberts. On the motion to approve the application, the Board voted 4 yes to 0 no.
The minutes say 4-0, but 5 members were present (Joseph Mokrisky, Debra Roberts, Stephen Cavey, Scott Carrara and Louis Gitto). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr. Carrara made the motion to approve the application, seconded by Ms. Roberts. On the motion to approve the application, the Board voted 4 yes to 0 no..” (Motion: Carrara, second: Roberts)
Feb 1Insert article 16 minus item 2 (6 -wheel Ford…Motion: Mr. Cavey made the motion to insert article 16 minus item…Passed 4–1 · No: Gitto
February 1, 2022: Insert article 16 minus item 2 (6 -wheel Ford 650 diesel dump with hot box) and item 4 (dump body)
Mr. Cavey made the motion to insert article 16 minus item 2 (6 -wheel Ford 650 diesel dump with hot box) and item 4 (dump body). Mr. Gitto seconded the motion. Ms. Roberts asked for a definition of a hot box. Mr. Mokrisky explained that the hot box keeps asphalt hot. Mr. Mokrisky said a better plan is needed for rotating attachments and equipment. Dr. Grimm asked the Board to remember that the town maintains its own equipment, and that the public has expectations that the town will be well served during storms. She said attachments are important to the maximum utility of the trucks. Mr. Carrara asked the importance of the 350, Dr. Grimm responded that the 350 trucks are important to clearing smaller lots, such as the school parking lots. She said these are not frivolous requests. She explained that the town is able to save by not calling in outside vendors during smaller storms if the DPW is able to handle the snowfall with adequate equipment of their own. Ms. Roberts asked if approved, when would the truck be delivered. Dr. Grimm said there are no guarantees as to delivery dates. On the vote to insert article 16, minus items 2 and 4, the Board voted 4 yes, with Mr. Gitto voting no.
Yes: Carrara, Cavey, Mokrisky, RobertsNo: Gitto
From the minutes
“Mr. Cavey made the motion to insert article 16 minus item 2 (6 -wheel Ford 650 diesel dump with hot box) and item 4 (dump body). Mr. Gitto seconded the motion. Ms. Roberts asked for a definition of a hot box. Mr. Mokrisky explained that the hot box keeps asphalt hot. Mr. Mokrisky said a better plan is needed for rotating attachments and equipment. Dr. Grimm asked the Board to remember that the town maintains its own equipment, and that the public has expectations that the town will be well served during storms. She said attachments are important to the maximum utility of the trucks. Mr. Carrara asked the importance of the 350, Dr. Grimm responded that the 350 trucks are important to clearing smaller lots, such as the school parking lots. She said these are not frivolous requests. She explained that the town is able to save by not calling in outside vendors during smaller storms if the DPW is able to handle the snowfall with adequate equipment of their own. Ms. Roberts asked if approved, when would the truck be delivered. Dr. Grimm said there are no guarantees as to delivery dates. On the vote to insert article 16, minus items 2 and 4, the Board voted 4 yes, with Mr. Gitto voting no..” (Motion: Cavey, second: Gitto)
From the Stoughton Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Select Board member photos: video stills from Stoughton Media Access Corporation (SMAC, Stoughton’s local cable TV), each from a program that names the member on screen: Joseph Mokrisky from “Community Forum - Joe Mokrisky - Chairman of Select Board” (2021); Debra Roberts from “Stoughton Politics with...This Guy: Talking with Debra Roberts” (2025); Stephen Cavey from “Stoughton Politics with... This Guy: Interview with Select Board Chair Stephen Cavey” (2025); Scott Carrara from “Community Forum - Scott Carrara - Running for Stoughton Board of Selectmen” (2021); Lori Jacques from “A Lioness & You on the Watch: Interview with Select Board Candidate Lori Jacques” (2026). Former members show initials.
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