MassVoter.com← Stow Select BoardStow Select Board · 2024–2025 Board · Regular meeting
October 8, 2024
8 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: John Toole, Megan Birch-McMichael, Hector Constantzos, Cortni Frecha
Absent: Ingeborg Hegemann
Every vote, in order
Recognize Boy Scout Thomas Hastings for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and to sign the letter and proclamation for his Court of Honor
Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to recognize Boy Scout Thomas Hastings for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and to sign the letter and proclamation for his Court of Honor. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to recognize Boy Scout Thomas Hastings for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and to sign the letter and proclamation for his Court of Honor. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion and it passed unanimously..” (Motion: Birch-McMichael, second: Constantzos)
Sign the November 2024 State Election Warrant
Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to sign the November 2024 State Election Warrant. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion. Town Clerk Linda Hathaway said there are six questions on the Stow ballot. There are five ballot questions statewide, as outlined in the pamphlet that is mailed to every household with a registered voter, but Stow has an additional question. A copy of the ballot will be posted on the Town's website. Chair Toole called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to sign the November 2024 State Election Warrant. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion. Town Clerk Linda Hathaway said there are six questions on the Stow ballot. There are five ballot questions statewide, as outlined in the pamphlet that is mailed to every household with a registered voter, but Stow has an additional question. A copy of the ballot will be posted on the Town's website. Chair Toole called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Birch-McMichael, second: Constantzos)
Accept and sign the lease agreements for the Lake Boon Dam project, namely Reynolds, 121 Barton Road, and Calbenal Family LLC, 105 Barton Road
Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to accept and sign the lease agreements for the Lake Boon Dam project, namely Reynolds, 121 Barton Road, and Calbenal Family LLC, 105 Barton Road. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion. Discussion ensued. Ms. Dembkoski said the Annual Town Meeting had authorized these leases pending the Select Board's approval and signature, and town counsel has fully vetted the leases and added legal requirements to protect both parties. Chair Toole thanked Mr. Fletcher for his work on this project. Chair Toole called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to accept and sign the lease agreements for the Lake Boon Dam project, namely Reynolds, 121 Barton Road, and Calbenal Family LLC, 105 Barton Road. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion. Discussion ensued. Ms. Dembkoski said the Annual Town Meeting had authorized these leases pending the Select Board's approval and signature, and town counsel has fully vetted the leases and added legal requirements to protect both parties. Chair Toole thanked Mr. Fletcher for his work on this project. Chair Toole called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Birch-McMichael, second: Constantzos)
Review the Sudbury Road Safety Zone previously approved at the January 23, 2024 meeting
Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to review the Sudbury Road Safety Zone previously approved at the January 23, 2024 meeting. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to review the Sudbury Road Safety Zone previously approved at the January 23, 2024 meeting. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion and it passed unanimously..” (Motion: Birch-McMichael, second: Constantzos)
Reaffirm the Sudbury Road Safety Zone as previously approved and install rumble strips on either side of the Pine Bluff Recreation Area
Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to reaffirm the Sudbury Road Safety Zone as previously approved and install rumble strips on either side of the Pine Bluff Recreation Area. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to reaffirm the Sudbury Road Safety Zone as previously approved and install rumble strips on either side of the Pine Bluff Recreation Area. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion and it passed unanimously..” (Motion: Birch-McMichael, second: Constantzos)
Approve the draft Public Comment Policy
Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to approve the draft Public Comment Policy. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion. Although public comment rules are announced at the beginning of the meeting, there is no formal policy. This policy includes the current rules, outlines the Open Meeting Law, and includes a disclaimer about free speech principles. Who is allowed to speak is still up to the discretion of the Chair. After discussion, it was agreed that the draft will state that the Chair will ask all persons to state their name and address prior to speaking as opposed to all persons addressing the Board shall state their name and address prior to speaking. Chair Toole called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to approve the draft Public Comment Policy. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion. Although public comment rules are announced at the beginning of the meeting, there is no formal policy. This policy includes the current rules, outlines the Open Meeting Law, and includes a disclaimer about free speech principles. Who is allowed to speak is still up to the discretion of the Chair. After discussion, it was agreed that the draft will state that the Chair will ask all persons to state their name and address prior to speaking as opposed to all persons addressing the Board shall state their name and address prior to speaking. Chair Toole called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Birch-McMichael, second: Constantzos)
Accept the minutes of the September 24, 2024 meeting with one change
Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to accept the meeting minutes of the September 24, 2024 meeting. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion. The Board wanted the word "original" added to the first vote for the letter of support for Masters Academy, to read: "Chair Toole called for a vote on the original motion and it failed 0-4." Chair Toole called for a vote on approving the meeting minutes with the one change and the motion passed unanimously.
The minutes quote the corrected wording of the September 24, 2024 vote (“it failed 0-4”) inside this motion; only the vote on the minutes is counted here.
From the minutes
“Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to accept the meeting minutes of the September 24, 2024 meeting. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion. The Board wanted the word "original" added to the first vote for the letter of support for Masters Academy, to read: "Chair Toole called for a vote on the original motion and it failed 0-4." Chair Toole called for a vote on approving the meeting minutes with the one change and the motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Birch-McMichael, second: Constantzos)
Adjourn
Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to adjourn. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Ms. Birch-McMichael moved to adjourn. Mr. Constantzos seconded the motion and it passed unanimously..” (Motion: Birch-McMichael, second: Constantzos)
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.
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 →