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Sudbury Select Board
How the Sudbury Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. Charles G. Russo joined the board after the postponed 2020 town election (first meeting September 15, 2020), replacing Patricia A. Brown. On September 15, 2020 the board unanimously chose Janie W. Dretler as Chairman and Jennifer S. Roberts as Vice-Chair (roll calls 5-0). The board became the “Select Board” when the state act changing its name was signed; the minutes are titled “Select Board” from January 5, 2021, when Chair Dretler announced the change. Covers 29 meetings, September 15 to May 22, 2021.
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 budgetBoard years
Coming up
MassVoter can’t read Sudbury’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Members
ChairJanie W. DretlerChair · At-large · at 29 of 29 meetingsVice-ChairJennifer S. RobertsVice-Chair · At-large · at 29 of 29 meetings
Daniel E. CartyMember · At-large · at 28 of 29 meetings
Charles G. RussoMember · At-large · at 29 of 29 meetingsWilliam J. SchinellerMember · At-large · at 29 of 29 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: Sudbury Select Board minutes from January 9, 2018 through July 14, 2026: 303 meetings and 2,989 votes. The town’s website holds the board’s minutes back to 1963 (every year from 1973); MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. The board was the Board of Selectmen until the state act renaming it was signed; its minutes are titled “Select Board” from January 5, 2021, when the Chair announced the change. All the minutes loaded are typed documents with searchable text. Not here: executive-session minutes and meetings held only in executive session; Town Meeting sessions; subcommittee meetings; town forums and information sessions where the board took no votes; votes of other boards at joint meetings; meetings with an agenda but no posted minutes (the open session of March 26, 2019, and the board’s meetings before Annual Town Meeting on May 4, 5 and 6, 2026); and meetings after July 14, 2026 (the August 11, September 1, 15 and 29, 2026 minutes are not posted yet). Since 2020 Sudbury’s minutes record nearly every vote as a roll call by name (“It was on motion 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, …”); before that they usually say “It was on motion unanimously VOTED,” which is shown as every member present voting yes, and name each member when the vote was split. When a motion fails, the minutes often record the result the other way round (“VOTED: Not to support Article 9”); this page shows the motion as it was made, with each member’s aye or no on it, and quotes the minutes’ wording in a note. Where a roll call names a member twice, or its count does not match the names, we show the count only (16 votes); where the minutes give no count or names we show the result only (7 votes). Members a roll call leaves out (because they had recused themselves, left early or had not yet arrived) are not shown in that vote, with a note. At joint meetings only the Select Board members’ votes are shown. 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.
May 18Reappoint Jeff Levine to the Council on Aging for…Motion: Vice-Chair Roberts moved in the words of the Chair. Board Member…Passed 4–1 · No: Schineller
May 18, 2021: Reappoint Jeff Levine to the Council on Aging for a term to expire 5/31/24
Vice-Chair Roberts moved in the words of the Chair. Board Member Russo seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-1; Russo-aye, Roberts-aye, Carty-aye, Schineller-no, Dretler-aye VOTED: To reappoint Jeff Levine to the Council on Aging for a term to expire 5/31/24.
Yes: Carty, Dretler, Roberts, RussoNo: Schineller
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Roberts moved in the words of the Chair. Board Member Russo seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-1; Russo-aye, Roberts-aye, Carty-aye, Schineller-no, Dretler-aye VOTED: To reappoint Jeff Levine to the Council on Aging for a term to expire 5/31/24..” (Motion: Roberts, second: Russo)
May 18Conduct the brief Select Board meeting at 12:00 p.mMotion: Board Member Schineller motioned to conduct the brief Select Board meeting…Failed 2–3 · No: Dretler, Roberts, Russo
May 18, 2021: Conduct the brief Select Board meeting at 12:00 p.m
Board Member Schineller motioned to conduct the brief Select Board meeting at 12:00 p.m. on May 22 prior to the start of Town Meeting. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion 2-3; Carty-aye, Schineller-aye, Russo-no, Roberts-no, Dretler-no VOTED: To conduct the brief Select Board meeting at 12:00 p.m. on May 22 prior to the start of Town Meeting.
Yes: Carty, SchinellerNo: Dretler, Roberts, RussoThe minutes record the decision as “To conduct the brief Select Board meeting at 12:00 p.m. on May 22 prior to the start of Town Meeting”; this page shows the motion as made, which failed.
From the minutes
“Board Member Schineller motioned to conduct the brief Select Board meeting at 12:00 p.m. on May 22 prior to the start of Town Meeting. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion 2-3; Carty-aye, Schineller-aye, Russo-no, Roberts-no, Dretler-no VOTED: To conduct the brief Select Board meeting at 12:00 p.m. on May 22 prior to the start of Town Meeting..” (Motion: Schineller, second: Carty)
May 4Open continuation of 4/6/21 Public Hearing: Vote whether to…Motion: Board Member Russo moved in the words of the Chair. Vice-Chair…Passed 4–0 · see note
May 4, 2021: Open continuation of 4/6/21 Public Hearing: Vote whether to approve a request by NSTAR
Board Member Russo moved in the words of the Chair. Vice-Chair Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-0; Schineller-aye, Roberts-aye, Russo-aye, Dretler-aye VOTED: To open continuation of 4/6/21 Public Hearing: Vote whether to approve a request by NSTAR
Yes: Dretler, Roberts, Russo, SchinellerThe roll call does not list Daniel E. Carty; earlier in the meeting the minutes say “Board Member Carty stated he would recuse himself from the Eversource hearing. Citizens comments on items not…”, so Daniel E. Carty is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Board Member Russo moved in the words of the Chair. Vice-Chair Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-0; Schineller-aye, Roberts-aye, Russo-aye, Dretler-aye VOTED: To open continuation of 4/6/21 Public Hearing: Vote whether to approve a request by NSTAR.” (Motion: Russo, second: Roberts)
May 4Include Grant of Location conditioning that Eversource shall obtain…Motion: Board Member Schineller motioned to include Grant of Location conditioning that…Failed 1–3 · No: Dretler, Roberts, Russo
May 4, 2021: Include Grant of Location conditioning that Eversource shall obtain and provide to the Town of Sudbury, written acknowledgement from ISO New England, states in lease agreement with Eversource,...
Board Member Schineller motioned to include Grant of Location conditioning that Eversource shall obtain and provide to the Town of Sudbury, written acknowledgement from ISO New England, states in lease agreement with Eversource, that Eversource shall relocate the transmission line, if requested by the MBTA. Vice-Chair Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 1-3; Schineller-aye, Russo-no, Roberts-no, Dretler-no VOTED: Not to include Grant of Location conditioning that Eversource shall obtain and provide to the Town of Sudbury, written acknowledgement from ISO New England, states in lease agreement with Eversource, that Eversource shall relocate the transmission line, if requested by the MBTA.
Yes: SchinellerNo: Dretler, Roberts, RussoThe roll call does not list Daniel E. Carty; earlier in the meeting the minutes say “Board Member Carty stated he would recuse himself from the Eversource hearing. Citizens comments on items not…”, so Daniel E. Carty is left out of this vote. The minutes record the decision as “Not to include Grant of Location conditioning that Eversource shall obtain and provide to the Town of Sudbury…”; this page shows the motion as made, which failed.
From the minutes
“Board Member Schineller motioned to include Grant of Location conditioning that Eversource shall obtain and provide to the Town of Sudbury, written acknowledgement from ISO New England, states in lease agreement with Eversource, that Eversource shall relocate the transmission line, if requested by the MBTA. Vice-Chair Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 1-3; Schineller-aye, Russo-no, Roberts-no, Dretler-no VOTED: Not to include Grant of Location conditioning that Eversource shall obtain and provide to the Town of Sudbury, written acknowledgement from ISO New England, states in lease agreement with Eversource, that Eversource shall relocate the transmission line, if requested by the MBTA..” (Motion: Schineller, second: Roberts)
May 4Work with Town Counsel after Town Counsel studied other…Motion: Board Member Schineller motioned that the Board work with Town Counsel…Failed 1–3 · No: Dretler, Roberts, Russo
May 4, 2021: Work with Town Counsel after Town Counsel studied other relevant Grant of Locations and the EMF issue and craft a related condition that would protect the Town of Sudbury from…
Board Member Schineller motioned that the Board work with Town Counsel after Town Counsel studied other relevant Grant of Locations and the EMF issue and craft a related condition that would protect the Town of Sudbury from harmful EMF effects to be addressed with a bond. Vice-Chair Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 1-3; Roberts-no, Russo-no, Schineller-aye, Dretler-no VOTED: Not to work with Town Counsel after Town Counsel studied other relevant Grant of Locations and the EMF issue and craft a related condition that would protect the Town of Sudbury from harmful EMF effects to be addressed with a bond.
Yes: SchinellerNo: Dretler, Roberts, RussoThe roll call does not list Daniel E. Carty; earlier in the meeting the minutes say “Board Member Carty stated he would recuse himself from the Eversource hearing. Citizens comments on items not…”, so Daniel E. Carty is left out of this vote. The minutes record the decision as “Not to work with Town Counsel after Town Counsel studied other relevant Grant of Locations and the EMF issue a…”; this page shows the motion as made, which failed.
From the minutes
“Board Member Schineller motioned that the Board work with Town Counsel after Town Counsel studied other relevant Grant of Locations and the EMF issue and craft a related condition that would protect the Town of Sudbury from harmful EMF effects to be addressed with a bond. Vice-Chair Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 1-3; Roberts-no, Russo-no, Schineller-aye, Dretler-no VOTED: Not to work with Town Counsel after Town Counsel studied other relevant Grant of Locations and the EMF issue and craft a related condition that would protect the Town of Sudbury from harmful EMF effects to be addressed with a bond..” (Motion: Schineller, second: Roberts)
May 4Approve Grant of Location requested by NSTAR Electric company…Motion: Board Member Schineller seconded the motion. Board Member Schineller noted that…Passed 3–1 · No: Schineller
May 4, 2021: Approve Grant of Location requested by NSTAR Electric company d.b.a Eversource Energy to construct upon, along, under, or across the following public way(s) of the Town of Sudbury, wires, cables,...
Board Member Schineller seconded the motion. Board Member Schineller noted that the Town was basically opposed to this project in consideration of environmental concerns, especially the EMF issue. He added that an impending appeal was also a consideration. It was on motion 3-1; Schineller-no, Russo-aye, Roberts-aye Dretler-aye VOTED: To approve Grant of Location requested by NSTAR Electric company d.b.a Eversource Energy to construct upon, along, under, or across the following public way(s) of the Town of Sudbury, wires, cables, piers, abutments, conduits, or fixtures in accordance with plan(s) made by Eversource dated March 1, 2019, on file with said petition: Dutton Road (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor); Peakham Road (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor); Horse Pond Road (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor); Union Avenue (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor) as part of its work to construct a new underground electric transmission line with all the conditions as discussed at tonight's meeting as reviewed/edited edited by the Select Board, consistent with the final review and edit conducted tonight, subject to a final clean-up for grammar, spelling, consistency; without any substantive changes.
Yes: Dretler, Roberts, RussoNo: SchinellerThe roll call does not list Daniel E. Carty; earlier in the meeting the minutes say “Board Member Carty stated he would recuse himself from the Eversource hearing. Citizens comments on items not…”, so Daniel E. Carty is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Board Member Schineller seconded the motion. Board Member Schineller noted that the Town was basically opposed to this project in consideration of environmental concerns, especially the EMF issue. He added that an impending appeal was also a consideration. It was on motion 3-1; Schineller-no, Russo-aye, Roberts-aye Dretler-aye VOTED: To approve Grant of Location requested by NSTAR Electric company d.b.a Eversource Energy to construct upon, along, under, or across the following public way(s) of the Town of Sudbury, wires, cables, piers, abutments, conduits, or fixtures in accordance with plan(s) made by Eversource dated March 1, 2019, on file with said petition: Dutton Road (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor); Peakham Road (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor); Horse Pond Road (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor); Union Avenue (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor) as part of its work to construct a new underground electric transmission line with all the conditions as discussed at tonight's meeting as reviewed/edited edited by the Select Board, consistent with the final review and edit conducted tonight, subject to a final clean-up for grammar, spelling, consistency; without any substantive changes..” (Motion: Russo, second: Schineller)
Apr 6Continue the NSTAR ELECTRIC COMPANY d/b/a EVERSOURCE ENERGY Hearing…Motion: Vice-Chair Roberts motioned and Select Board Member Russo seconded the motion.…Passed 4–0 · see note
April 6, 2021: Continue the NSTAR ELECTRIC COMPANY d/b/a EVERSOURCE ENERGY Hearing to May 4, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom for the purpose of obtaining a Grant of Location to construct upon,…
Vice-Chair Roberts motioned and Select Board Member Russo seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-0; Schineller-aye, Russo-aye, Roberts-aye, Dretler-aye VOTED: To continue the NSTAR ELECTRIC COMPANY d/b/a EVERSOURCE ENERGY Hearing to May 4, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom for the purpose of obtaining a Grant of Location to construct upon, along, under, or across the following public way(s) of the Town of Sudbury, wires, cables, piers, abutments, conduits, or fixtures in accordance with plan(s) made by Eversource dated March 1, 2019, on file with said petition: Dutton Road (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor); Peakham Road (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor); Horse Pond Road (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor); Union Avenue (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor). This work is necessary to construct a new underground electric transmission line to May 4, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Yes: Dretler, Roberts, Russo, SchinellerThe minutes say Daniel E. Carty was recused, so that member is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Roberts motioned and Select Board Member Russo seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-0; Schineller-aye, Russo-aye, Roberts-aye, Dretler-aye VOTED: To continue the NSTAR ELECTRIC COMPANY d/b/a EVERSOURCE ENERGY Hearing to May 4, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom for the purpose of obtaining a Grant of Location to construct upon, along, under, or across the following public way(s) of the Town of Sudbury, wires, cables, piers, abutments, conduits, or fixtures in accordance with plan(s) made by Eversource dated March 1, 2019, on file with said petition: Dutton Road (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor); Peakham Road (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor); Horse Pond Road (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor); Union Avenue (at its intersection with the MBTA rail corridor). This work is necessary to construct a new underground electric transmission line to May 4, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom..” (Motion: Roberts, second: Russo)
Mar 30Approve inclusion of Article 18 - Front End Loader…Motion: Article 18 - Front End Loader with Plow Board Member Schineller…Passed 3–2 · No: Dretler, Roberts
March 30, 2021: Approve inclusion of Article 18 - Front End Loader with Plow on the Consent Calendar
Article 18 - Front End Loader with Plow Board Member Schineller motioned to vote to approve inclusion of Article 18 - Front End Loader with Plow on the Consent Calendar. Board Member Russo seconded the motion. It was on motion 3-2-0; Roberts-no, Carty-aye, Russo-aye, Schineller-aye, Dretler-no VOTED: To approve inclusion of Article 18 - Front End Loader with Plow on the Consent Calendar.
Yes: Carty, Russo, SchinellerNo: Dretler, Roberts
From the minutes
“Article 18 - Front End Loader with Plow Board Member Schineller motioned to vote to approve inclusion of Article 18 - Front End Loader with Plow on the Consent Calendar. Board Member Russo seconded the motion. It was on motion 3-2-0; Roberts-no, Carty-aye, Russo-aye, Schineller-aye, Dretler-no VOTED: To approve inclusion of Article 18 - Front End Loader with Plow on the Consent Calendar..” (Motion: Schineller, second: Russo)
Mar 30Approve inclusion of Article 19 - Multi-purpose Sidewalk Tractor…Motion: Article 19 - Multi-purpose Sidewalk Tractor Board Member Schineller motioned to…Passed 3–2 · No: Dretler, Roberts
March 30, 2021: Approve inclusion of Article 19 - Multi-purpose Sidewalk Tractor on the Consent Calendar
Article 19 - Multi-purpose Sidewalk Tractor Board Member Schineller motioned to vote to approve inclusion of Article 19 - Multi-purpose Sidewalk Tractor on the Consent Calendar. Board Member Russo seconded the motion. It was on motion 3-2-0; Roberts-no, Carty-aye, Russo-aye, Schineller-aye, Dretler-no VOTED: To approve inclusion of Article 19 - Multi-purpose Sidewalk Tractor on the Consent Calendar.
Yes: Carty, Russo, SchinellerNo: Dretler, Roberts
From the minutes
“Article 19 - Multi-purpose Sidewalk Tractor Board Member Schineller motioned to vote to approve inclusion of Article 19 - Multi-purpose Sidewalk Tractor on the Consent Calendar. Board Member Russo seconded the motion. It was on motion 3-2-0; Roberts-no, Carty-aye, Russo-aye, Schineller-aye, Dretler-no VOTED: To approve inclusion of Article 19 - Multi-purpose Sidewalk Tractor on the Consent Calendar..” (Motion: Schineller, second: Russo)
Mar 30Approve inclusion of Article 20 - Six-wheel Combo Dump…Motion: Article 20 - Six-wheel Combo Dump Truck with Plow and Wing…Passed 3–2 · No: Dretler, Roberts
March 30, 2021: Approve inclusion of Article 20 - Six-wheel Combo Dump Truck with Plow and Wing on the Consent Calendar
Article 20 - Six-wheel Combo Dump Truck with Plow and Wing Board Member Schineller motioned to vote to approve inclusion of Article 20 - Six-wheel Combo Dump Truck with Plow and Wing on the Consent Calendar. Board Member Russo seconded the motion. It was on motion 3-2-0; Roberts-no, Carty-aye, Russo-aye, Schineller-aye, Dretler-no VOTED: To approve inclusion of Article 20 - Six-wheel Combo Dump Truck with Plow and Wing on the Consent Calendar.
Yes: Carty, Russo, SchinellerNo: Dretler, Roberts
From the minutes
“Article 20 - Six-wheel Combo Dump Truck with Plow and Wing Board Member Schineller motioned to vote to approve inclusion of Article 20 - Six-wheel Combo Dump Truck with Plow and Wing on the Consent Calendar. Board Member Russo seconded the motion. It was on motion 3-2-0; Roberts-no, Carty-aye, Russo-aye, Schineller-aye, Dretler-no VOTED: To approve inclusion of Article 20 - Six-wheel Combo Dump Truck with Plow and Wing on the Consent Calendar..” (Motion: Schineller, second: Russo)
From the Sudbury Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town’s Select Board meetings page. 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): League of Women Voters of Sudbury voters’ guides (candidate-supplied photos) — Charles Russo (2026), Radha Gargeya and Lisa Kouchakdjian (2025), Janie Dretler and Daniel Carty (2024). Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.
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