MassVoter.com← Sudbury Select BoardSudbury Select Board · 2025–2026 Board · Regular meeting
December 2, 2025
9 recorded votes, 2 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Lisa V. Kouchakdjian, Janie W. Dretler, Daniel E. Carty, Charles G. Russo, Radha R. Gargeya
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
1.Annual Tax Classification hearing - In accordance with General Laws Ch. 40, sec. 56, as
Open the Annual Tax Classification hearing - In accordance with General Laws Ch. 40, sec. 56, as amended, to determine the percentage of local tax levy which will be borne by each class of real...
Vice-Chair Dretler motioned to open the Annual Tax Classification hearing - In accordance with General Laws Ch. 40, sec. 56, as amended, to determine the percentage of local tax levy which will be borne by each class of real and personal property, relative to setting the Fiscal Year 2026 tax rate. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, Gargeya-aye, Russo-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye VOTED: To open the Annual Tax Classification hearing - In accordance with General Laws Ch. 40, sec. 56, as amended, to determine the percentage of local tax levy which will be borne by each class of real and personal property, relative to setting the Fiscal Year 2026 tax rate.
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Dretler motioned to open the Annual Tax Classification hearing - In accordance with General Laws Ch. 40, sec. 56, as amended, to determine the percentage of local tax levy which will be borne by each class of real and personal property, relative to setting the Fiscal Year 2026 tax rate. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, Gargeya-aye, Russo-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye VOTED: To open the Annual Tax Classification hearing - In accordance with General Laws Ch. 40, sec. 56, as amended, to determine the percentage of local tax levy which will be borne by each class of real and personal property, relative to setting the Fiscal Year 2026 tax rate..” (Motion: Dretler, second: Carty)
Close the evidentiary portion of the Annual Tax Classification hearing
Vice-Chair Dretler motioned to close the evidentiary portion of the Annual Tax Classification hearing. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, Gargeya-aye, Russo-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye VOTED: To close the evidentiary portion of the Annual Tax Classification hearing.
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Dretler motioned to close the evidentiary portion of the Annual Tax Classification hearing. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, Gargeya-aye, Russo-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye VOTED: To close the evidentiary portion of the Annual Tax Classification hearing..” (Motion: Dretler, second: Carty)
Adopt a Residential Exemption for Fiscal Year 2026 for eligible residential properties, which will shift the tax burden within the Residential Class
Vice-Chair Dretler motioned [To] adopt a Residential Exemption for Fiscal Year 2026 for eligible residential properties, which will shift the tax burden within the Residential Class. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion: 0-5; Dretler-no, Carty-no, Gargeya-no, Russo-no, Kouchakdjian-no VOTED: To not adopt a Residential Exemption for Fiscal Year 2026 for eligible residential properties, which will shift the tax burden within the Residential Class.
No: Carty, Dretler, Gargeya, Kouchakdjian, RussoThe minutes record the decision as “To not adopt a Residential Exemption for Fiscal Year 2026 for eligible residential properties, which will shif…”; this page shows the motion as made, which failed.
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Dretler motioned [To] adopt a Residential Exemption for Fiscal Year 2026 for eligible residential properties, which will shift the tax burden within the Residential Class. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion: 0-5; Dretler-no, Carty-no, Gargeya-no, Russo-no, Kouchakdjian-no VOTED: To not adopt a Residential Exemption for Fiscal Year 2026 for eligible residential properties, which will shift the tax burden within the Residential Class..” (Motion: Dretler, second: Carty)
Adopt the Small Commercial Exemption for Fiscal Year 2026 for eligible commercial properties, which will shift the tax burden within the Commercial & Industrial Classes
Vice-Chair Dretler motioned [To] adopt the Small Commercial Exemption for Fiscal Year 2026 for eligible commercial properties, which will shift the tax burden within the Commercial & Industrial Classes. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion: 0-5; Dretler-no, Carty-no, Gargeya-no, Russo-no, Kouchakdjian-no VOTED: To not adopt the Small Commercial Exemption for Fiscal Year 2026 for eligible commercial properties, which will shift the tax burden within the Commercial & Industrial Classes.
No: Carty, Dretler, Gargeya, Kouchakdjian, RussoThe minutes record the decision as “To not adopt the Small Commercial Exemption for Fiscal Year 2026 for eligible commercial properties, which wil…”; this page shows the motion as made, which failed.
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Dretler motioned [To] adopt the Small Commercial Exemption for Fiscal Year 2026 for eligible commercial properties, which will shift the tax burden within the Commercial & Industrial Classes. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion: 0-5; Dretler-no, Carty-no, Gargeya-no, Russo-no, Kouchakdjian-no VOTED: To not adopt the Small Commercial Exemption for Fiscal Year 2026 for eligible commercial properties, which will shift the tax burden within the Commercial & Industrial Classes..” (Motion: Dretler, second: Carty)
Adopt in accordance with M.G.L., Ch. 40, Sec. 56, as amended, the percentage of local tax levy which will be borne by each class of real and personal property, relative to setting the Fiscal Year...
Vice-Chair Dretler motioned [To] adopt in accordance with M.G.L., Ch. 40, Sec. 56, as amended, the percentage of local tax levy which will be borne by each class of real and personal property, relative to setting the Fiscal Year 2026 tax rate, and sets the Residential Factor at 0.9640, (or other selected Factor) with a corresponding CIP shift of 1.46. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion: 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, Gargeya-aye, Russo-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye VOTED: To adopt in accordance with M.G.L., Ch. 40, Sec. 56, as amended, the percentage of local tax levy which will be borne by each class of real and personal property, relative to setting the Fiscal Year 2026 tax rate, and sets the Residential Factor at 0.9640, (or other selected Factor) with a corresponding CIP shift of 1.46.
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Dretler motioned [To] adopt in accordance with M.G.L., Ch. 40, Sec. 56, as amended, the percentage of local tax levy which will be borne by each class of real and personal property, relative to setting the Fiscal Year 2026 tax rate, and sets the Residential Factor at 0.9640, (or other selected Factor) with a corresponding CIP shift of 1.46. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion: 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, Gargeya-aye, Russo-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye VOTED: To adopt in accordance with M.G.L., Ch. 40, Sec. 56, as amended, the percentage of local tax levy which will be borne by each class of real and personal property, relative to setting the Fiscal Year 2026 tax rate, and sets the Residential Factor at 0.9640, (or other selected Factor) with a corresponding CIP shift of 1.46..” (Motion: Dretler, second: Carty)
Vote in accordance with Chapter 169 of the Acts of 2012, the total FY2026 cap on the exemptions granted by the Means Tested Senior Tax Exemption shall be .5% (half of one percent) of the...
Vice-Chair Dretler motioned to Vote in accordance with Chapter 169 of the Acts of 2012, the total FY2026 cap on the exemptions granted by the Means Tested Senior Tax Exemption shall be .5% (half of one percent) of the residential property tax levy. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion: 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, Gargeya-aye, Russo-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye VOTED: To Vote in accordance with Chapter 169 of the Acts of 2012, the total FY2026 cap on the exemptions granted by the Means Tested Senior Tax Exemption shall be .5% (half of one percent) of the residential property tax levy.
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Dretler motioned to Vote in accordance with Chapter 169 of the Acts of 2012, the total FY2026 cap on the exemptions granted by the Means Tested Senior Tax Exemption shall be .5% (half of one percent) of the residential property tax levy. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion: 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, Gargeya-aye, Russo-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye VOTED: To Vote in accordance with Chapter 169 of the Acts of 2012, the total FY2026 cap on the exemptions granted by the Means Tested Senior Tax Exemption shall be .5% (half of one percent) of the residential property tax levy..” (Motion: Dretler, second: Carty)
Close the Annual Tax Classification hearing - In accordance with General Laws Ch. 40, sec. 56, as amended
Vice-Chair Dretler motioned to close the Annual Tax Classification hearing - In accordance with General Laws Ch. 40, sec. 56, as amended. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion: 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, Gargeya-aye, Russo-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye VOTED: To close the Annual Tax Classification hearing - In accordance with General Laws Ch. 40, sec. 56, as amended.
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Dretler motioned to close the Annual Tax Classification hearing - In accordance with General Laws Ch. 40, sec. 56, as amended. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion: 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, Gargeya-aye, Russo-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye VOTED: To close the Annual Tax Classification hearing - In accordance with General Laws Ch. 40, sec. 56, as amended..” (Motion: Dretler, second: Carty)
2. Open Annual Town Meeting warrant and announce Annual Town Meeting will commence
Open Annual Town Meeting warrant and conduct Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Auditorium, with Town Meeting articles due at the Select...
Vice-Chair Dretler motioned to open Annual Town Meeting warrant and conduct Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Auditorium, with Town Meeting articles due at the Select Board/Town Manager's office by 12:00 Noon, Friday, January 30, 2026. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion: 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, Gargeya-aye, Russo-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye VOTED: To open Annual Town Meeting warrant and conduct Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Auditorium, with Town Meeting articles due at the Select Board/Town Manager's office by 12:00 Noon, Friday, January 30, 2026.
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Dretler motioned to open Annual Town Meeting warrant and conduct Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Auditorium, with Town Meeting articles due at the Select Board/Town Manager's office by 12:00 Noon, Friday, January 30, 2026. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion: 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, Gargeya-aye, Russo-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye VOTED: To open Annual Town Meeting warrant and conduct Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Auditorium, with Town Meeting articles due at the Select Board/Town Manager's office by 12:00 Noon, Friday, January 30, 2026..” (Motion: Dretler, second: Carty)
8. Review and approve meeting minutes
Close Open Session and go into Executive Session
Vice-Chair Dretler motioned to close Open Session and go into Executive Session: pursuant to General Laws chapter 30A, §21(a)(2), to conduct strategy session in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel and/or to conduct contract negotiations with nonunion personnel, namely the Town Manager, (Purpose 2); and pursuant to G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a)(7) to review and approve executive session meeting minutes "to comply with, or act under the authority of, any general or special law or federal grant-in-aid requirements" (Purpose 7); and not return to Open Session. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, Gargeya-aye, Russo-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye VOTED: To close Open Session and go into Executive Session:
From the minutes
“Vice-Chair Dretler motioned to close Open Session and go into Executive Session: pursuant to General Laws chapter 30A, §21(a)(2), to conduct strategy session in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel and/or to conduct contract negotiations with nonunion personnel, namely the Town Manager, (Purpose 2); and pursuant to G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a)(7) to review and approve executive session meeting minutes "to comply with, or act under the authority of, any general or special law or federal grant-in-aid requirements" (Purpose 7); and not return to Open Session. Board Member Carty seconded the motion. It was on motion 5-0; Dretler-aye, Carty-aye, Gargeya-aye, Russo-aye, Kouchakdjian-aye VOTED: To close Open Session and go into Executive Session:.” (Motion: Dretler, second: Carty)
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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