MassVoter.com← Stoughton Select BoardStoughton Select Board · 2023–2024 Board · Regular meeting
November 21, 2023
12 recorded votes, 12 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
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Present: Debra Roberts, Stephen Cavey, Joseph Mokrisky, Scott Carrara, Louis Gitto
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Accept the Consent Agenda, and the minutes of October 31, 2023 as amended
Mr. Mokrisky made the motion to accept the Consent Agenda, and the minutes of October 31, 2023 as amended. Vice Chair Cavey seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 yes 0 no.
The minutes say 4-0, but 5 members were present (Debra Roberts, Stephen Cavey, Joseph Mokrisky, Scott Carrara and Louis Gitto). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr. Mokrisky made the motion to accept the Consent Agenda, and the minutes of October 31, 2023 as amended. Vice Chair Cavey seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 yes 0 no..” (Motion: Mokrisky, second: Cavey)
Table item #5 To consider and retain Special Counsel regarding PFAS litigation, to the next meeting
Vice Chair Cavey made a motion to table item #5 To consider and retain Special Counsel regarding PFAS litigation, to the next meeting. Mr. Gitto said that there are 351 Towns in Massachusetts that must be faced with the same issue. He asked why the Towns are paying for litigation and asked for more information. Atty. Winner agreed and offered to assist by providing answers to the questions. Several law firms are involved, offering services working on a contingency-fee basis. Stoughton can get legal assistance and pay nothing. Mr. Gitto seconded the motion. The Board voted 4 yes 0 no to table.
The minutes say 4-0, but 5 members were present (Debra Roberts, Stephen Cavey, Joseph Mokrisky, Scott Carrara and Louis Gitto). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Vice Chair Cavey made a motion to table item #5 To consider and retain Special Counsel regarding PFAS litigation, to the next meeting. Mr. Gitto said that there are 351 Towns in Massachusetts that must be faced with the same issue. He asked why the Towns are paying for litigation and asked for more information. Atty. Winner agreed and offered to assist by providing answers to the questions. Several law firms are involved, offering services working on a contingency-fee basis. Stoughton can get legal assistance and pay nothing. Mr. Gitto seconded the motion. The Board voted 4 yes 0 no to table..” (Motion: Cavey, second: Gitto)
Table until Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Mr. Mokrisky made the motion to table until Tuesday, December 19, 2023. Chair Roberts added at 7:30 p.m. Vice Chair Cavey seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 yes 0 no.
The minutes say 4-0, but 5 members were present (Debra Roberts, Stephen Cavey, Joseph Mokrisky, Scott Carrara and Louis Gitto). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr. Mokrisky made the motion to table until Tuesday, December 19, 2023. Chair Roberts added at 7:30 p.m. Vice Chair Cavey seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 yes 0 no..” (Motion: Mokrisky, second: Cavey)
Open the public hearing
Mr. Mokrisky made the motion to open the public hearing, seconded by Vice Chair Cavey. The motion passed 4 yes 0 no.
The minutes say 4-0, but 5 members were present (Debra Roberts, Stephen Cavey, Joseph Mokrisky, Scott Carrara and Louis Gitto). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr. Mokrisky made the motion to open the public hearing, seconded by Vice Chair Cavey. The motion passed 4 yes 0 no..” (Motion: Mokrisky, second: Cavey)
Close the public hearing
Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Mr. Mokrisky. The motion passed 4 yes to 0 no.
The minutes say 4-0, but 5 members were present (Debra Roberts, Stephen Cavey, Joseph Mokrisky, Scott Carrara and Louis Gitto). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Mr. Mokrisky. The motion passed 4 yes to 0 no..” (Motion: Cavey, second: Mokrisky)
Adopt the recommendation of the assessors to not adopt the open space discount
Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to adopt the recommendation of the assessors to not adopt the open space discount, seconded by Mr. Mokrisky. The Board voted 4 yes to 0 no.
The minutes say 4-0, but 5 members were present (Debra Roberts, Stephen Cavey, Joseph Mokrisky, Scott Carrara and Louis Gitto). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to adopt the recommendation of the assessors to not adopt the open space discount, seconded by Mr. Mokrisky. The Board voted 4 yes to 0 no..” (Motion: Cavey, second: Mokrisky)
Not adopt the residential exemption
Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to not adopt the residential exemption, seconded by Mr. Mokrisky. The Board voted 4 yes to 0 no.
The minutes say 4-0, but 5 members were present (Debra Roberts, Stephen Cavey, Joseph Mokrisky, Scott Carrara and Louis Gitto). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to not adopt the residential exemption, seconded by Mr. Mokrisky. The Board voted 4 yes to 0 no..” (Motion: Cavey, second: Mokrisky)
Not adopt the small commercial exemption
Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to not adopt the small commercial exemption, seconded by Mr. Gitto. The motion passed 4 yes to 0 no.
The minutes say 4-0, but 5 members were present (Debra Roberts, Stephen Cavey, Joseph Mokrisky, Scott Carrara and Louis Gitto). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to not adopt the small commercial exemption, seconded by Mr. Gitto. The motion passed 4 yes to 0 no..” (Motion: Cavey, second: Gitto)
Approve the recommendation of 1.48% of the Board of Assessors
He made the motion to approve the recommendation of 1.48% of the Board of Assessors, seconded by Mr. Mokrisky. On the motion, Mr. Gitto - no, Mr. Mokrisky - yes, Vice Chair Cavey - yes, Chair Roberts - yes. The motion passed on a vote of 3 yes and | no.
The minutes say “He made the motion” right after Vice Chair Cavey’s comment. The minutes say 3-1, but 5 members were present (Debra Roberts, Stephen Cavey, Joseph Mokrisky, Scott Carrara and Louis Gitto). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“He made the motion to approve the recommendation of 1.48% of the Board of Assessors, seconded by Mr. Mokrisky. On the motion, Mr. Gitto - no, Mr. Mokrisky - yes, Vice Chair Cavey - yes, Chair Roberts - yes. The motion passed on a vote of 3 yes and | no..” (Motion: Cavey, second: Mokrisky)
Passed 4 yes 0 no
The motion passed 4 yes 0 no.
The minutes say 4-0, but 5 members were present (Debra Roberts, Stephen Cavey, Joseph Mokrisky, Scott Carrara and Louis Gitto). Showing the count only. The minutes do not say who made this motion.
Approve
Mr. Gitto made the motion to approve, seconded by Mr. Mokrisky. Mr. Mokrisky commented that the Old County Way goes nowhere, and approval of this request will permit the Town to improve the roadway. Attorney Winner agreed with Mr. Mokrisky, pointing out that it is a letter of support, and it is a county way. Town Manager Calter added that all documents had been reviewed by Mr. Tisdelle and had his approval. The Board voted 4 yes 0 no to approve.
The minutes say 4-0, but 5 members were present (Debra Roberts, Stephen Cavey, Joseph Mokrisky, Scott Carrara and Louis Gitto). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr. Gitto made the motion to approve, seconded by Mr. Mokrisky. Mr. Mokrisky commented that the Old County Way goes nowhere, and approval of this request will permit the Town to improve the roadway. Attorney Winner agreed with Mr. Mokrisky, pointing out that it is a letter of support, and it is a county way. Town Manager Calter added that all documents had been reviewed by Mr. Tisdelle and had his approval. The Board voted 4 yes 0 no to approve..” (Motion: Gitto, second: Mokrisky)
Adjourn
Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Mokrisky. The motion passed.
The minutes record the result only, not a count or how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Mokrisky. The motion passed..” (Motion: Cavey, second: Mokrisky)
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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