How the Stow Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. The same five members served after the May 15, 2018 town election. On May 16, 2018 the board unanimously chose James Salvie as Chair and Ingeborg Hegemann as Clerk. Ingeborg Hegemann’s last meeting of this period was May 6, 2019 (she returned to the board in 2022). Covers 23 meetings, May 16 to May 6, 2019.
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.
From the agendas Stow posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.
What Town Meeting decided
In Stow, 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 · May 9, 2026 72 votes: 64 passed, 3 failed, 2 no action, 3 advisory
Art. 1Accept the reports of the Select Board and other officers and committeesPassed“PASSED”
Art. 2Accept the reports of special committeesPassed“PASSED”
Art. 3Adopt FY2027 salary and wage schedulesPassed“PASSED”
Not here yet: The full Town Clerk record of the May 9, 2026 Annual Town Meeting is not posted yet (it usually appears in the next Annual Town Report), so 2026 rows use the town's one-page results list; no Town Meeting after May 9, 2026 is posted.
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: Stow Select Board minutes from January 9, 2018 through August 25, 2026: 215 meetings and 1,946 votes. Minutes from 2014 to 2024 are in the town’s Document Center (Select Board year folders); since January 2025 they are in the Agenda Center. MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. Until May 2021 the board was the Board of Selectmen; the May 22, 2021 Annual Town Meeting changed the name to Select Board (the board had voted 4-1 on May 11, 2021 to support the article), and the minutes use “Select Board” from May 25, 2021. Most minutes are typed documents with searchable text; 26 minutes files from December 2018 to July 2020 are scanned images, which MassVoter read with text recognition and checked against the page images where votes were split. Not here: executive-session minutes; cancelled meetings; votes of other boards at joint meetings (Board of Assessors, Library Trustees, Finance Committee, the Stow members of the Nashoba Regional School Committee); meetings with an agenda but no posted minutes (among them April 28, 2020; the February 16, 2021 special meeting; the February 9, 2022 joint meeting with the Planning Board; the January 3, 2024 open session; and the board’s sessions at the May 14, 2022 and May 11, 2024 Town Meetings, if it met); and meetings after August 25, 2026 (September 8, 2026 and the September 22, 2026 work session have agendas but no posted minutes yet). Stow’s minutes name the mover and seconder. Most votes read “Mr. Hawkes moved … Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously” or “The motion carried unanimously (5-0)”, shown as every member present voting yes. When a member takes part remotely the board votes by roll call, naming each member (“Salvie -aye; Burns -no; Frecha -aye”), shown as each member’s vote. Split votes give a count with the members who voted no or abstained named (“it passed 4-1 with Chair Toole opposed”), shown with the other members present voting yes. Members who recused themselves, left the room or arrived late are not shown in the votes they missed. Votes recorded only as “it was passed” (sometimes naming one abstainer) show the result only (16 votes), and one roll call that does not match its count shows the count only. Where the minutes first summarize a vote (“The Board voted unanimously to appoint Mr. Putnam”) and then record the formal motion, the vote is counted once. A motion with no recorded outcome is not counted as a vote. 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.
Apr 23Authorize the Chair to draft a letter to the…Motion: Mr. Burke moved to authorize the Chair to draft a letter…Passed 3–0 · see note
April 23, 2019: Authorize the Chair to draft a letter to the Town of Acton and the MBTA regarding parking at the South Acton Train Station and also parking on private property
ApprovePassed · 3–0
Mr. Burke moved to authorize the Chair to draft a letter to the Town of Acton and the MBTA regarding parking at the South Acton Train Station and also parking on private property. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Yes: Burke, Ryan, SalvieIngeborg Hegemann had left the meeting for a few moments and returned after this vote; the other members present are shown voting yes.
From the minutes
“Mr. Burke moved to authorize the Chair to draft a letter to the Town of Acton and the MBTA regarding parking at the South Acton Train Station and also parking on private property. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously..” (Motion: Burke, second: Ryan)
Apr 9Support the Conservation Commission salaries portion of the Town…Motion: Ms. Hegemann made a motion to support the Conservation Commission salaries…Passed · see note
April 9, 2019: Support the Conservation Commission salaries portion of the Town Administrator's FY-2020 budget as presented
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
Ms. Hegemann made a motion to support the Conservation Commission salaries portion of the Town Administrator's FY-2020 budget as presented. Mr. Burke seconded the motion and it was passed.
James Salvie recused himself from this vote, so James Salvie is not shown voting. The minutes record the outcome (“it was passed.”) without a count or the word unanimous, so the result only is shown.
From the minutes
“Ms. Hegemann made a motion to support the Conservation Commission salaries portion of the Town Administrator's FY-2020 budget as presented. Mr. Burke seconded the motion and it was passed..” (Motion: Hegemann, second: Burke)
Apr 9Support the Nashoba Regional School District portion of the…Motion: Mr. Ryan made a motion to support the Nashoba Regional School…Passed · see note
April 9, 2019: Support the Nashoba Regional School District portion of the Town Administrator's FY- 2020 budget as presented
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
Mr. Ryan made a motion to support the Nashoba Regional School District portion of the Town Administrator's FY- 2020 budget as presented. Ms. Hegemann seconded the motion and it was passed.
Brian Burke recused himself from this vote, so Brian Burke is not shown voting. The minutes record the outcome (“it was passed.”) without a count or the word unanimous, so the result only is shown.
From the minutes
“Mr. Ryan made a motion to support the Nashoba Regional School District portion of the Town Administrator's FY- 2020 budget as presented. Ms. Hegemann seconded the motion and it was passed..” (Motion: Ryan, second: Hegemann)
Feb 19Recognize Boy Scouts Connor Bernklow and Edmund Burke for…Motion: Mr. Ryan moved to recognize Boy Scouts Connor Bernklow and Edmund…Passed 4–0 · see note
February 19, 2019: Recognize Boy Scouts Connor Bernklow and Edmund Burke for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and to sign the letters and proclamations for their recognition ceremony on Saturday, March 2,…
ApprovePassed · 4–0
Mr. Ryan moved to recognize Boy Scouts Connor Bernklow and Edmund Burke for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and to sign the letters and proclamations for their recognition ceremony on Saturday, March 2, 2019. Mr. Hawkes seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Yes: Hawkes, Hegemann, Ryan, SalvieBrian Burke recused himself from this matter (the Eagle Scout letters), so Brian Burke is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“Mr. Ryan moved to recognize Boy Scouts Connor Bernklow and Edmund Burke for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and to sign the letters and proclamations for their recognition ceremony on Saturday, March 2, 2019. Mr. Hawkes seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously..” (Motion: Ryan, second: Hawkes)
Jan 22Accept the meeting minutes of the December 11, 2018…Motion: Mr. Ryan moved to accept the meeting minutes of the December…Passed · see note
January 22, 2019: Accept the meeting minutes of the December 11, 2018 meeting with amendments
Approve minutesPassed · No count or names in the minutes
Mr. Ryan moved to accept the meeting minutes of the December 11, 2018 meeting with amendments. Mr. Hawkes seconded the motion and it was passed. Mr. Burke abstained.
The minutes say the motion passed and name Brian Burke abstaining but give no count; the result only is shown.
From the minutes
“Mr. Ryan moved to accept the meeting minutes of the December 11, 2018 meeting with amendments. Mr. Hawkes seconded the motion and it was passed. Mr. Burke abstained..” (Motion: Ryan, second: Hawkes)
Oct 9Accept the meeting minutes of the September 11, 2018…Motion: Mr. Hawkes moved to accept the meeting minutes of the September…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Ryan
October 9, 2018: Accept the meeting minutes of the September 11, 2018 meeting as drafted
Approve minutesPassed · 4–0
Mr. Hawkes moved to accept the meeting minutes of the September 11, 2018 meeting as drafted. Mr. Burke seconded the motion and it was passed 4:0. Mr. Ryan abstained.
Yes: Burke, Hawkes, Hegemann, SalvieAbstained: Ryan
From the minutes
“Mr. Hawkes moved to accept the meeting minutes of the September 11, 2018 meeting as drafted. Mr. Burke seconded the motion and it was passed 4:0. Mr. Ryan abstained..” (Motion: Hawkes, second: Burke)
Aug 14Accept a sidewalk easement from Alice Cushing (Walcott Street)…Motion: No abutters were present and there was no opposition expressed. The…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
August 14, 2018: Accept a sidewalk easement from Alice Cushing (Walcott Street) and place it on the October 1, 2018 Special Town Meeting warrant
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
No abutters were present and there was no opposition expressed. The Board voted unanimously to accept the easement and to place this item on the Special Town Meeting Warrant for the October 1, 2018 Special Town Meeting.
The minutes record this vote as “The Board voted unanimously to accept the easement and to place this item on the Special Town Meeting Warrant”; Mr. Hawkes’s written motion to accept the easement follows later in the minutes with no separate outcome.
From the minutes
“No abutters were present and there was no opposition expressed. The Board voted unanimously to accept the easement and to place this item on the Special Town Meeting Warrant for the October 1, 2018 Special Town Meeting..” (Motion: Hawkes)
Aug 14Accept the warrant as presented, except for the order.…Motion: Mr. Burke moved that the Selectmen accept the warrant as presented,…Failed 1–3 · No: Hawkes, Ryan, Salvie
August 14, 2018: Accept the warrant as presented, except for the order. With respect to that Articles 1through 3would stay in place and Article 11 would be moved to where Article 4 is…
Adopt orderFailed · 1–3
Mr. Burke moved that the Selectmen accept the warrant as presented, except for the order. With respect to that Articles 1through 3would stay in place and Article 11 would be moved to where Article 4 is now. All other articles would get bumped down. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and there was discussion The motion failed 1:3. . Mr. Burke, aye.
Yes: BurkeNo: Hawkes, Ryan, SalvieThe minutes record “The motion failed 1:3. . Mr. Burke, aye.”; with four members present, the three others are shown voting no.
From the minutes
“Mr. Burke moved that the Selectmen accept the warrant as presented, except for the order. With respect to that Articles 1through 3would stay in place and Article 11 would be moved to where Article 4 is now. All other articles would get bumped down. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and there was discussion The motion failed 1:3. . Mr. Burke, aye..” (Motion: Burke, second: Ryan)
Jul 10Accept the minutes of June 26, 2018 as amendedMotion: Mr. Hawkes moved to accept the minutes of June 26, 2018…Passed 3–0 · see note
July 10, 2018: Accept the minutes of June 26, 2018 as amended
Approve minutesPassed · 3–0
Mr. Hawkes moved to accept the minutes of June 26, 2018 as amended. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Yes: Burke, Hawkes, RyanIngeborg Hegemann arrived at 7:15 p.m., after this vote.
From the minutes
“Mr. Hawkes moved to accept the minutes of June 26, 2018 as amended. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously..” (Motion: Hawkes, second: Ryan)
Jul 10Allow the inter-account transfer of FY18 excess funds from…Motion: Mr. Hawkes moved to allow the inter-account transfer of FY18 excess…Passed 3–0 · see note
July 10, 2018: Allow the inter-account transfer of FY18 excess funds from the property & casualty insurance and telephone accounts to offset the deficit in the Snow & Ice account
ApprovePassed · 3–0
Mr. Hawkes moved to allow the inter-account transfer of FY18 excess funds from the property & casualty insurance and telephone accounts to offset the deficit in the Snow & Ice account. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Yes: Burke, Hawkes, RyanIngeborg Hegemann arrived at 7:15 p.m., after this vote.
From the minutes
“Mr. Hawkes moved to allow the inter-account transfer of FY18 excess funds from the property & casualty insurance and telephone accounts to offset the deficit in the Snow & Ice account. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously..” (Motion: Hawkes, second: Ryan)
From the Stow Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Document Center (Agendas/Minutes > Minutes > Select Board, 2014–2024) and Agenda Center (Select Board, 2025 on). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos (the town’s website has no Select Board photos): Stow TV meeting videos — Hector Constantzos (May 2026), JT Toole (July 2026) and Ingeborg Hegemann (August 2026); Stow TV and The Stow Independent Candidates Night — Dan Petersen (May 2025). Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.