MassVoter.com← SudburyMunicipal votes · 2023–2024 Board
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. Same five members after the March 2023 town election. On May 16, 2023 the board chose Janie W. Dretler as Chair (5-0) and Lisa V. Kouchakdjian as Vice-Chair (4-1, Daniel E. Carty voting no). Covers 33 meetings, May 16 to May 7, 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 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 33 of 33 meetings
Vice-ChairLisa V. KouchakdjianVice-Chair · At-large · at 33 of 33 meetings
Daniel E. CartyMember · At-large · at 33 of 33 meetingsJennifer S. RobertsMember · At-large · at 32 of 33 meetings
Charles G. RussoMember · At-large · at 32 of 33 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 6Support Article 28 - Electric Vehicle Charging Stations -…Motion: Board Member Carty motioned to support Article 28 - Electric Vehicle…Failed 1–4 · No: Dretler, Kouchakdjian, Roberts, Russo
May 6, 2024: Support Article 28 - Electric Vehicle Charging Stations - Goodnow Library
Board Member Carty motioned to support Article 28 - Electric Vehicle Charging Stations - Goodnow Library. Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian seconded the motion. It was on motion 1-4; Kouchakdjian-no, Roberts-no, Carty-aye, Russo-no, Dretler-no VOTED: Not to support Article 28 - Electric Vehicle Charging Stations - Goodnow Library.
Yes: CartyNo: Dretler, Kouchakdjian, Roberts, RussoThe minutes record the decision as “Not to support Article 28 - Electric Vehicle Charging Stations - Goodnow Library”; this page shows the motion as made, which failed.
From the minutes
“Board Member Carty motioned to support Article 28 - Electric Vehicle Charging Stations - Goodnow Library. Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian seconded the motion. It was on motion 1-4; Kouchakdjian-no, Roberts-no, Carty-aye, Russo-no, Dretler-no VOTED: Not to support Article 28 - Electric Vehicle Charging Stations - Goodnow Library..” (Motion: Carty, second: Kouchakdjian)
May 6Indefinitely Postpone (IP) the Bylaw ArticleMotion: Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to IP the Bylaw Article. Chair Dretler seconded…Failed 2–3 · No: Carty, Roberts, Russo
May 6, 2024: Indefinitely Postpone (IP) the Bylaw Article
Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to IP the Bylaw Article. Chair Dretler seconded the motion. It was on motion 2-3; Roberts-no, Carty-no, Kouchakdjian-aye, Russo-no, Dretler-aye VOTED: Not to Indefinitely Postpone (IP) the Bylaw Article
Yes: Dretler, KouchakdjianNo: Carty, Roberts, RussoThe minutes record the decision as “Not to Indefinitely Postpone (IP) the Bylaw Article”; this page shows the motion as made, which failed.
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to IP the Bylaw Article. Chair Dretler seconded the motion. It was on motion 2-3; Roberts-no, Carty-no, Kouchakdjian-aye, Russo-no, Dretler-aye VOTED: Not to Indefinitely Postpone (IP) the Bylaw Article.” (Motion: Kouchakdjian, second: Dretler)
Apr 30Approve a new Class 1 License to Buy, Sell,…Motion: Board Member Russo seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-0;…Passed 4–0 · see note
April 30, 2024: Approve a new Class 1 License to Buy, Sell, Exchange or Assemble Second Hand Motor Vehicles or Parts Thereof for Mercedes Benz of Sudbury, 141 Boston Post Road, as requested…
Board Member Russo seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-0; Carty-aye, Russo-aye, Roberts-aye, Dretler-aye VOTED: To approve a new Class 1 License to Buy, Sell, Exchange or Assemble Second Hand Motor Vehicles or Parts Thereof for Mercedes Benz of Sudbury, 141 Boston Post Road, as requested in an application dated April 4, 2024
Yes: Carty, Dretler, Roberts, RussoThe minutes say Lisa V. Kouchakdjian was recused, so that member is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“Board Member Russo seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-0; Carty-aye, Russo-aye, Roberts-aye, Dretler-aye VOTED: To approve a new Class 1 License to Buy, Sell, Exchange or Assemble Second Hand Motor Vehicles or Parts Thereof for Mercedes Benz of Sudbury, 141 Boston Post Road, as requested in an application dated April 4, 2024.” (second: Russo)
Apr 23Support opposing expansion of private jet hangar space at…Motion: Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to support opposing expansion of private jet hangar…Passed 4–1 · No: Carty
April 23, 2024: Support opposing expansion of private jet hangar space at the Hanscom Field, as presented by Mr. Alwan
Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to support opposing expansion of private jet hangar space at the Hanscom Field, as presented by Mr. Alwan. Board Member Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-1; Kouchakdjian-aye, Roberts-aye, Russo-aye, Carty-no, Dretler-aye VOTED: To support opposing expansion of private jet hangar space at the Hanscom Field, as presented by Mr. Alwan
Yes: Dretler, Kouchakdjian, Roberts, RussoNo: Carty
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to support opposing expansion of private jet hangar space at the Hanscom Field, as presented by Mr. Alwan. Board Member Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-1; Kouchakdjian-aye, Roberts-aye, Russo-aye, Carty-no, Dretler-aye VOTED: To support opposing expansion of private jet hangar space at the Hanscom Field, as presented by Mr. Alwan.” (Motion: Kouchakdjian, second: Roberts)
Apr 23Support Article 38 - Community Preservation Act Fund -…Motion: Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to support Article 38 - Community Preservation Act…Passed 4–1 · No: Russo
April 23, 2024: Support Article 38 - Community Preservation Act Fund - Sudbury Housing Trust Allocation
Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to support Article 38 - Community Preservation Act Fund - Sudbury Housing Trust Allocation. Board Member Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-1; Kouchakdjian-aye, Carty-aye, Roberts-aye, Russo-no, Dretler-aye
Yes: Carty, Dretler, Kouchakdjian, RobertsNo: Russo
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to support Article 38 - Community Preservation Act Fund - Sudbury Housing Trust Allocation. Board Member Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-1; Kouchakdjian-aye, Carty-aye, Roberts-aye, Russo-no, Dretler-aye.” (Motion: Kouchakdjian, second: Roberts)
Apr 2Withdraw Article 16Motion: Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to withdraw Article 16. Chair Dretler seconded the…Failed 2–3 · No: Carty, Roberts, Russo
April 2, 2024: Withdraw Article 16
Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to withdraw Article 16. Chair Dretler seconded the motion. It was on motion 2-3; Carty-no, Roberts-no, Russo-no, Kouchakdjian-aye, Dretler-aye. VOTED: To keep Article 16 on the 2024 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Yes: Dretler, KouchakdjianNo: Carty, Roberts, RussoThe minutes record the decision as “To keep Article 16 on the 2024 Annual Town Meeting Warrant”; this page shows the motion as made, which failed.
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to withdraw Article 16. Chair Dretler seconded the motion. It was on motion 2-3; Carty-no, Roberts-no, Russo-no, Kouchakdjian-aye, Dretler-aye. VOTED: To keep Article 16 on the 2024 Annual Town Meeting Warrant.” (Motion: Kouchakdjian, second: Dretler)
Mar 26Support Town Meeting Article 40, as presented in tonight's…Motion: Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to support Town Meeting Article 40, as presented…Passed 4–1 · No: Carty
March 26, 2024: Support Town Meeting Article 40, as presented in tonight's meeting packet
Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to support Town Meeting Article 40, as presented in tonight's meeting packet. Board Member Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-1; Kouchakdjian-aye, Russo-aye, Carty-no, Roberts-aye, Dretler-aye VOTED: To support Town Meeting Article 40, as presented in tonight's meeting packet
Yes: Dretler, Kouchakdjian, Roberts, RussoNo: Carty
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to support Town Meeting Article 40, as presented in tonight's meeting packet. Board Member Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-1; Kouchakdjian-aye, Russo-aye, Carty-no, Roberts-aye, Dretler-aye VOTED: To support Town Meeting Article 40, as presented in tonight's meeting packet.” (Motion: Kouchakdjian, second: Roberts)
Mar 12Include ATM 2024 articles enumerated as "Y" within the…Motion: Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to include ATM 2024 articles enumerated as "Y"…Passed 4–1 · No: Carty
March 12, 2024: Include ATM 2024 articles enumerated as "Y" within the "ATM 2024 Articles" spreadsheet, as found in tonight's Select Board packet
Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to include ATM 2024 articles enumerated as "Y" within the "ATM 2024 Articles" spreadsheet, as found in tonight's meeting packet. Board Member Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-1; Kouchakdjian-aye, Russo-aye, Carty-no, Roberts-aye, Dretler-aye VOTED: To include ATM 2024 articles enumerated as "Y" within the "ATM 2024 Articles" spreadsheet, as found in tonight's Select Board packet
Yes: Dretler, Kouchakdjian, Roberts, RussoNo: Carty
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to include ATM 2024 articles enumerated as "Y" within the "ATM 2024 Articles" spreadsheet, as found in tonight's meeting packet. Board Member Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-1; Kouchakdjian-aye, Russo-aye, Carty-no, Roberts-aye, Dretler-aye VOTED: To include ATM 2024 articles enumerated as "Y" within the "ATM 2024 Articles" spreadsheet, as found in tonight's Select Board packet.” (Motion: Kouchakdjian, second: Roberts)
Mar 12Support Article 16 - Amend Zoning Bylaw: Firearms Safety…Motion: Board Member Carty motioned to support Article 16 - Amend Zoning…Passed 3–2 · No: Dretler, Kouchakdjian
March 12, 2024: Support Article 16 - Amend Zoning Bylaw: Firearms Safety Business Use
Board Member Carty motioned to support Article 16 - Amend Zoning Bylaw: Firearms Safety Business Use. Board Member Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 3-2; Roberts-aye, Kouchakdjian-no, Russo-aye, Carty-aye, Dretler-no VOTED: To support Article 16 - Amend Zoning Bylaw: Firearms Safety Business Use
Yes: Carty, Roberts, RussoNo: Dretler, Kouchakdjian
From the minutes
“Board Member Carty motioned to support Article 16 - Amend Zoning Bylaw: Firearms Safety Business Use. Board Member Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 3-2; Roberts-aye, Kouchakdjian-no, Russo-aye, Carty-aye, Dretler-no VOTED: To support Article 16 - Amend Zoning Bylaw: Firearms Safety Business Use.” (Motion: Carty, second: Roberts)
Feb 12Open the joint meeting with the Finance Committee and…Motion: Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to open the joint meeting with the Finance…Passed 4–0 · see note
February 12, 2024 (Joint meeting): Open the joint meeting with the Finance Committee and Capital Improvement Advisory Committee to review Town Meeting capital articles
Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to open the joint meeting with the Finance Committee and Capital Improvement Advisory Committee to review Town Meeting capital articles. Board Member Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-0; Carty-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye, Roberts-aye, Dretler-aye VOTED: To open the joint meeting with the Finance Committee and Capital Improvement Advisory Committee to review Town Meeting capital articles.
Yes: Carty, Dretler, Kouchakdjian, RobertsCharles G. Russo had not yet joined the meeting (joined at 7:20 PM) and is not in the roll call for this vote.
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Kouchakdjian motioned to open the joint meeting with the Finance Committee and Capital Improvement Advisory Committee to review Town Meeting capital articles. Board Member Roberts seconded the motion. It was on motion 4-0; Carty-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye, Roberts-aye, Dretler-aye VOTED: To open the joint meeting with the Finance Committee and Capital Improvement Advisory Committee to review Town Meeting capital articles..” (Motion: Kouchakdjian, second: Roberts)
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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