How the Tewksbury Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. James F. Mackey, III joined the board and Todd R. Johnson returned after the April 2021 town election, succeeding Brian Dick and Mark Kratman. On April 28, 2021 the board unanimously chose Jay Kelly as Chair, Jayne Wellman as Vice Chair and James Mackey as Clerk (roll calls). Anne Marie Stronach’s last meeting was March 29, 2022. In August 2021 the board sent Town Meeting articles to rename the Board of Selectmen the Select Board (see the 2022–2023 note). Covers 27 meetings, April 28 to March 29, 2022.
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.
Under the state Open Meeting Law, boards post notice at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays.
What Town Meeting decided
In Tewksbury, 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.
Special Town Meeting · May 6, 2026 6 votes: 5 passed, 1 failed
Art. 4Adopt the FY2027 operating budget, amended to set Shawsheen Tech at $3,750,000 (general fund total $145,494,765)Passed as amended“Article 4 was Adopted as Amended”
Art. 15Transfer $300,000 from overlay surplus for a school facilities studyPassed“Article 15 was Adopted”
Art. 16Transfer from sewer retained earnings for sewer improvements and a vehicle ($785,000 as amended)Passed as amended“Article 16 was Adopted Unanimously”
Art. 17Transfer from water retained earnings for water improvements, projects and vehicles ($835,000 as amended)Passed as amended“Article 17 was Adopted Unanimously”
Art. 12Home rule petition to let charter appointees live within 50 miles of town (amended from 10 miles)Passed as amended“Article 12 was Adopted as Amended”
Art. 22Appropriate $30,000 in CPA open space funds to remove former pump station structures on town open spacePassed“Article 22 was Adopted Unanimously”
Art. 23Appropriate $200,000 in CPA funds to design upgrades and renovations to the Ella Flemings SchoolPassed“Article 23 was Adopted Unanimously”
Art. 32Home rule petition to change the deed restriction on Chandler Street Little League fields to allow pickleballPassed“Article 32 was Adopted · 84 Yes/25 No”
Art. 33Replace the Conservation Commission wetland protection bylaw (Town Code Chapter 18.04)Passed“Article 33 was Adopted”
Art. 34Citizen petition: require property owners to clear snow from abutting sidewalks ($10 fine)Failed“Article 34 Failed”
Art. 35Citizen petition: authorize the Select Board to accept an easement from East Street Tewksbury, LLCPassed“Article 35 was Adopted Unanimously”
Not here yet: The October 6, 2026 Special Town Meeting is not here yet because the Town Clerk has not posted its minutes.
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: Tewksbury Select Board minutes from January 9, 2018 through July 14, 2026: 214 meetings and 2,477 votes. The town’s Agenda Center holds the board’s minutes back to January 2017; MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. Until 2022 the board was the Board of Selectmen; Town Meeting asked the Legislature to rename it, the board approved the home rule petition’s wording on November 22, 2022, and on January 10, 2023 the Chair reported that the law had passed. The minutes use “Select Board” from then on. Most minutes are typed documents with searchable text; 12 sets from 2019 to 2025 are scanned images, which MassVoter read with text recognition and checked against the page images where the Town Clerk’s stamp covers a roll call. The May 16, 2023 minutes are posted as a Word file. Not here: executive-session minutes (some are posted beside the open-session minutes) and votes the board reported taking in executive session; cancelled meetings; votes of the Planning Board, School Committee, Board of Health and Library Trustees at joint meetings; meetings with an agenda but no posted minutes (among them June 24, 2019 (the file posted there is the July 1, 2019 minutes), September 4, 2019 (joint meeting with the School Committee), October 6, 2020, November 4, 2024, October 7, 2025, May 19, 2026 and June 23, 2026, and several short meetings before Town Meeting); and meetings after July 14, 2026 (the August 11, September 15, September 22, September 29 and October 6, 2026 minutes are not posted yet). Tewksbury’s minutes end each motion with the count, “MOTION CARRIED: 4 – 0 – 0,” and name the members who vote no or abstain (“MOTION CARRIED: 3 – 1 – 0. (Nay – Board Member Mackey)”); older minutes read “the motion unanimously carried 4-0.” When the count matches the members present, every member present is shown voting yes; when it names the no votes or abstentions, the other members present are shown voting yes. Whenever a member takes part remotely the board votes by roll call (“Yea: … Nay: …”), shown by name. Where a count does not match the members present, or a split count names no one, we show the count only, with a note (64 votes); where a failed motion’s count does not show which side had the votes, or members chose between two nominees, we show the result only (3 votes). Members who arrived late or left early are shown only in the votes they were there for. 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.
Feb 15Approve pole petition #30503221 from National GridMotion: MOTION: Board Member Johnson made a motion to approve pole petition…Passed 3–2 · No: Mackey, Stronach
February 15, 2022: Approve pole petition #30503221 from National Grid
ApprovePassed · 3–2
MOTION: Board Member Johnson made a motion to approve pole petition #30503221 from National Grid. Board Member Wellman seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED 3 - 2 - 0. (Nay - Board Member Stronach & Board Member Mackey)
Yes: Johnson, Kelly, WellmanNo: Mackey, Stronach
From the minutes
“MOTION: Board Member Johnson made a motion to approve pole petition #30503221 from National Grid. Board Member Wellman seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED 3 - 2 - 0. (Nay - Board Member Stronach & Board Member Mackey).” (Motion: Johnson, second: Wellman)
Feb 15Approve the signature page for the Annual Town Election…Motion: MOTION: Board Member Stronach made a motion to approve the signature…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
February 15, 2022: Approve the signature page for the Annual Town Election Warrant as presented
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
MOTION: Board Member Stronach made a motion to approve the signature page for the Annual Town Election Warrant as presented. Board Member Stronach seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED 5 - 0 - 0.
The minutes name Anne Marie Stronach as both the mover and the seconder, so no seconder is shown.
From the minutes
“MOTION: Board Member Stronach made a motion to approve the signature page for the Annual Town Election Warrant as presented. Board Member Stronach seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED 5 - 0 - 0..” (Motion: Stronach)
Jan 19Appoint him to the Commission effective immediatelyMotion: Mr. Steven Gove was interviewed for a vacancy on the Conservation…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
Mr. Steven Gove was interviewed for a vacancy on the Conservation Commission. The Board voted unanimously to appoint him to the Commission effective immediately.
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Mr. Steven Gove was interviewed for a vacancy on the Conservation Commission. The Board voted unanimously to appoint him to the Commission effective immediately..”
Jan 11Approve the continuance of the liquor license for Deli…Motion: MOTION: Board Member Stronach made a motion to approve the continuance…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
January 11, 2022: Approve the continuance of the liquor license for Deli King, and Crystals, as presented, pending the transfer that had already been approved
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
MOTION: Board Member Stronach made a motion to approve the continuance of the liquor license for Deli King, and Crystals, as presented, pending the transfer that had already been approved. Board Member Stronach seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken, which resulted as follows: Yea: Mr. Johnson, Mr. Mackey, Ms. Stronach, 5 Ms. Wellman, & Mr. Kelly Nay: 0 MOTION CARRIED 5 - 0 - 0.
The minutes name Anne Marie Stronach as both the mover and the seconder, so no seconder is shown.
From the minutes
“MOTION: Board Member Stronach made a motion to approve the continuance of the liquor license for Deli King, and Crystals, as presented, pending the transfer that had already been approved. Board Member Stronach seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken, which resulted as follows: Yea: Mr. Johnson, Mr. Mackey, Ms. Stronach, 5 Ms. Wellman, & Mr. Kelly Nay: 0 MOTION CARRIED 5 - 0 - 0..” (Motion: Stronach)
Nov 30Approve the minimum residential factor of 0.8870 or a…Motion: MOTION: Board Member Wellman made a motion to approve the minimum…Passed 4–1 · No: Kelly
MOTION: Board Member Wellman made a motion to approve the minimum residential factor of 0.8870 or a 1.59% CIP shift. Board Member Johnson seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken which resulted as follows: Yea: Board Member Wellman, Board Member Mackey, 4 Board Member Johnson, and Board Member Stronach, Nay: Chair Kelly 1 MOTION CARRIED: 4 - 1 - 0.
Yes: Johnson, Mackey, Stronach, WellmanNo: Kelly
From the minutes
“MOTION: Board Member Wellman made a motion to approve the minimum residential factor of 0.8870 or a 1.59% CIP shift. Board Member Johnson seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken which resulted as follows: Yea: Board Member Wellman, Board Member Mackey, 4 Board Member Johnson, and Board Member Stronach, Nay: Chair Kelly 1 MOTION CARRIED: 4 - 1 - 0..” (Motion: Wellman, second: Johnson)
Oct 19Approve the change in hours pertaining to liquor service…Motion: MOTION: Board Member Johnson made a motion to approve the change…Passed 4–1 · No: Stronach
October 19, 2021: Approve the change in hours pertaining to liquor service to Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sunday
ApprovePassed · 4–1
MOTION: Board Member Johnson made a motion to approve the change in hours pertaining to liquor service to Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sunday. Board Member Wellman seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED: 4 - 1 - 0. (Nay - Board Member Stronach)
Yes: Johnson, Kelly, Mackey, WellmanNo: Stronach
From the minutes
“MOTION: Board Member Johnson made a motion to approve the change in hours pertaining to liquor service to Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sunday. Board Member Wellman seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED: 4 - 1 - 0. (Nay - Board Member Stronach).” (Motion: Johnson, second: Wellman)
Sep 28Waive the reading of the public hearing notice into…Motion: MOTION: Board Member Wellman made a motion to waive the reading…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
September 28, 2021: Waive the reading of the public hearing notice into the record
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
MOTION: Board Member Wellman made a motion to waive the reading of the public hearing notice into the record. Board Member Johnson seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED: 4 - 0 - 0.
The minutes name Todd R. Johnson as the seconder, but Todd R. Johnson is not on the attendance list, so no seconder is shown.
From the minutes
“MOTION: Board Member Wellman made a motion to waive the reading of the public hearing notice into the record. Board Member Johnson seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED: 4 - 0 - 0..” (Motion: Wellman)
Sep 28Recommend to Town Meeting the adoption of Article 1Motion: MOTION: Board Member Wellman made a motion to recommend to Town…Passed 3–1 · No: Kelly
MOTION: Board Member Wellman made a motion to recommend to Town Meeting the adoption of Article 1. Board Member Stronach seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED: 3 - 1 - 0. (Nay - Chair Kelly)
Yes: Mackey, Stronach, WellmanNo: Kelly
From the minutes
“MOTION: Board Member Wellman made a motion to recommend to Town Meeting the adoption of Article 1. Board Member Stronach seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED: 3 - 1 - 0. (Nay - Chair Kelly).” (Motion: Wellman, second: Stronach)
Sep 14Waive reading the public hearing notice into the recordMotion: MOTION: Vice-Chair Wellman made a motion to waive reading the public…Passed 4–0 · see note
September 14, 2021: Waive reading the public hearing notice into the record
ApprovePassed · 4–0
MOTION: Vice-Chair Wellman made a motion to waive reading the public hearing notice into the record. Board Member Johnson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED: 4-0-0.
Yes: Johnson, Kelly, Mackey, WellmanThe attendance list says Anne Marie Stronach arrived late (7:08 p.m.); the count (4-0-0) matches the 4 other members present, so Anne Marie Stronach is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“MOTION: Vice-Chair Wellman made a motion to waive reading the public hearing notice into the record. Board Member Johnson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED: 4-0-0..” (Motion: Wellman, second: Johnson)
Sep 14Approve the minutes from March 23, 2021, as presentedMotion: MOTION: Board Member Stronach made a motion to approve the minutes…Passed 3–0 · Abstained: Johnson, Mackey
September 14, 2021: Approve the minutes from March 23, 2021, as presented
Approve minutesPassed · 3–0
MOTION: Board Member Stronach made a motion to approve the minutes from March 23, 2021, as presented. Vice-Chair Wellman seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED 3-0-2. (Abstained - Board Member Johnson & Board Member Mackey)
“MOTION: Board Member Stronach made a motion to approve the minutes from March 23, 2021, as presented. Vice-Chair Wellman seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED 3-0-2. (Abstained - Board Member Johnson & Board Member Mackey).” (Motion: Stronach, second: Wellman)
From the Tewksbury Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center (Select Board). 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): The Lowell Sun — John Lombardo (Peter Currier, April 2026), Richard Russo Jr. (Aaron Curtis, April 2025), Eric Ryder (courtesy photo, April 2024); Tewksbury Town Crier courtesy photos — Mark Kratman (March 2025) and James F. Mackey III (March 2024). Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.