MassVoter.com← StoughtonMunicipal votes · 2023–2024 Board
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. After the April 4, 2023 town election the board reorganized on April 11, 2023: Debra Roberts was re-elected Chair unanimously and Stephen Cavey was re-elected Vice Chair over Louis Gitto. Covers 36 meetings, April 11 to March 27, 2024.
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
ChairDebra RobertsChair · Elected townwide · at 36 of 36 meetings
Vice-ChairStephen CaveyVice Chair · Elected townwide · at 33 of 36 meetings
Scott CarraraMember · Elected townwide · at 33 of 36 meetingsLouis GittoMember · Elected townwide · at 35 of 36 meetings
Joseph MokriskyMember · Elected townwide · at 30 of 36 meetings"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 19Grant the licenseMotion: Mr. Carrara made the motion to grant the license. Motion seconded…Passed 4–1 · see note
March 19, 2024: Grant the license
Mr. Carrara made the motion to grant the license. Motion seconded by Vice Chair Cavey. The Board voted 4 - yes | - no.
The minutes give only the count (4-1), not who voted no or abstained.
From the minutes
“Mr. Carrara made the motion to grant the license. Motion seconded by Vice Chair Cavey. The Board voted 4 - yes | - no..” (Motion: Carrara, second: Cavey)
Mar 19Set the date of May 6, 2024 for the…Motion: He made the motion to set the date of May 6,…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
March 19, 2024: Set the date of May 6, 2024 for the Special Town Meeting and to insert the two petitioned articles in the warrant
He made the motion to set the date of May 6, 2024 for the Special Town Meeting and to insert the two petitioned articles in the warrant. Mr. Mokrisky seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 yes 0 no.
The minutes say “Vice Chair Cavey amended his motion. He made the motion...”
From the minutes
“He made the motion to set the date of May 6, 2024 for the Special Town Meeting and to insert the two petitioned articles in the warrant. Mr. Mokrisky seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 yes 0 no..” (Motion: Cavey, second: Mokrisky)
Feb 6In accordance with G.L. c. 54 § 34 and…Motion: Vice Chair Cavey made the motion that the Select Board vote…Passed 4–0 · see note
February 6, 2024: In accordance with G.L. c. 54 § 34 and 950 CMR 50 to discontinue use of Accuvote voting machines effective on April 30, 2024 and to begin using Election Systems…
Vice Chair Cavey made the motion that the Select Board vote in accordance with G.L. c. 54 § 34 and 950 CMR 50 to discontinue use of Accuvote voting machines effective on April 30, 2024 and to begin using Election Systems & Software a/k/a/ ES&DS 200 voting machines effective as of August, 2024. Mr. Mokrisky 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
“Vice Chair Cavey made the motion that the Select Board vote in accordance with G.L. c. 54 § 34 and 950 CMR 50 to discontinue use of Accuvote voting machines effective on April 30, 2024 and to begin using Election Systems & Software a/k/a/ ES&DS 200 voting machines effective as of August, 2024. Mr. Mokrisky seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 yes 0 no,.” (Motion: Cavey, second: Mokrisky)
Feb 6Amend article #27 - to remove item #3, and…Motion: Scott Carrara made a motion to amend article #27 - to…Passed 3–2 · see note
February 6, 2024: Amend article #27 - to remove item #3, and to redefine item #1 from Cart and Equipment Storage Building to a Removable Tent with a cost of $30,000
Scott Carrara made a motion to amend article #27 - to remove item #3, and to redefine item #1 from Cart and Equipment Storage Building to a Removable Tent with a cost of $30,000. Motion seconded by Vice Chair Cavey. The Board voted 3 yes 2 no.
The minutes give only the count (3-2), not who voted no or abstained.
From the minutes
“Scott Carrara made a motion to amend article #27 - to remove item #3, and to redefine item #1 from Cart and Equipment Storage Building to a Removable Tent with a cost of $30,000. Motion seconded by Vice Chair Cavey. The Board voted 3 yes 2 no..” (Motion: Carrara, second: Cavey)
Jan 16ApproveMotion: Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to approve, seconded by Chair…Failed 2–2 · No: Gitto, Roberts
January 16, 2024: Approve
Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to approve, seconded by Chair Roberts. On the motion, the Board voted Gitto - no, Mokrisky - yes, Cavey ~ yes, Roberts - no. The motion failed.
Yes: Cavey, MokriskyNo: Gitto, Roberts
From the minutes
“Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to approve, seconded by Chair Roberts. On the motion, the Board voted Gitto - no, Mokrisky - yes, Cavey ~ yes, Roberts - no. The motion failed..” (Motion: Cavey, second: Roberts)
Dec 5Name the foyer of the public works building at…Motion: Mr. Carrara asked the Board to consider naming the foyer of…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
December 5, 2023: Name the foyer of the public works building at 950 Central Street in honor of the Williams family
Mr. Carrara asked the Board to consider naming the foyer of the public works building located at 950 Central Street in honor of the Williams Family. He explained the Williams family have devoted 88 years to the Town. Open Session Select Board Tuesday, December 5, 2023 7:00 PM Mr. Mokrisky commented that years ago, as a young member of the Select Board, he had caused Mr. Williams a lot of stress, for which he now apologizes. He seconded the motion and suggested that all three family members be honored in the foyer of the public works building. The Board passed the motion 5 yes 0 no.
Mr. Carrara asked the Board to consider the naming and Mr. Mokrisky seconded; the minutes do not record a formal motion.
From the minutes
“Mr. Carrara asked the Board to consider naming the foyer of the public works building located at 950 Central Street in honor of the Williams Family. He explained the Williams family have devoted 88 years to the Town. Open Session Select Board Tuesday, December 5, 2023 7:00 PM Mr. Mokrisky commented that years ago, as a young member of the Select Board, he had caused Mr. Williams a lot of stress, for which he now apologizes. He seconded the motion and suggested that all three family members be honored in the foyer of the public works building. The Board passed the motion 5 yes 0 no..” (second: Mokrisky)
Nov 30ApproveMotion: Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to approve, seconded by Mr.…Passed 4–0 · see note
November 30, 2023: Approve
Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to approve, seconded by Mr. Mokrisky. The Board voted 4 yes 1 abstention.
The minutes give only the count (4-0-1), not who voted no or abstained.
From the minutes
“Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to approve, seconded by Mr. Mokrisky. The Board voted 4 yes 1 abstention..” (Motion: Cavey, second: Mokrisky)
Nov 21Table item #5 To consider and retain Special Counsel…Motion: Vice Chair Cavey made a motion to table item #5 To…Passed 4–0 · see note
November 21, 2023: 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)
Nov 21Table until Tuesday, December 19, 2023Motion: Mr. Mokrisky made the motion to table until Tuesday, December 19,…Passed 4–0 · see note
November 21, 2023: 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)
Nov 21Adopt the recommendation of the assessors to not adopt…Motion: Vice Chair Cavey made the motion to adopt the recommendation of…Passed 4–0 · see note
November 21, 2023: 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)
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.
How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →