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Municipal votes · 2022–2023 Board

Tisbury Select Board

How the Tisbury Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 3 Select Board members elected townwide. John Cahill joined the board in 2022; Jeff Kristal left. Larry Gomez chaired the board until he resigned effective October 1, 2022; Roy Cutrer then chaired. Abbe Burt served from January to May 2023. Covers 35 meetings, June 16 to May 8, 2023.

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 budget
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Board years

Coming up

From the agendas Tisbury posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.

What Town Meeting decided

In Tisbury, 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 · December 17, 2024 7 votes: 5 passed, 1 passed as amended, 1 no action

Source: Town Clerk's record in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

Special Town Meeting · May 28, 2024 9 votes: 9 passed

Source: Town Clerk's record in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

Annual Town Meeting · May 28, 2024 31 votes: 27 passed, 3 passed as amended, 1 no action

Source: Town Clerk's record in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

Not here yet: the 2025 Annual Town Meeting, the September 30, 2025 Special Town Meeting and the 2026 Annual Town Meeting (the 2025 Annual Town Report is not posted yet and the Town Clerk's page posts no Town Meeting 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).

Members

Abbe BurtMember · Elected townwide · at 12 of 13 meetings · from Jan 2023John CahillMember · Elected townwide · at 34 of 35 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: Select Board minutes from January 12, 2021 through September 25, 2025, from the town’s Agenda Center. The town has posted minutes for only about half of its Select Board meetings since 2021 and none since September 2025, so many meetings are missing here. Executive session minutes are not included; scanned minutes were read with text recognition and checked. Votes are roll calls, such as “Roll Call Vote: Gomez – Aye; Cutrer – Aye; Kristal – Aye”, or a count such as “The vote was 3 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstained”, often followed by the names of anyone voting no or abstaining. When the count equals the members present, each is shown voting yes. Counts that don’t match the members present, or that don’t say who voted no or abstained, show the count only. A few motions with no vote recorded are left out. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.

Monday, May 8, 2023 · Regular meeting11 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 4 members presentTuesday, April 25, 2023 · Regular meeting0 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAbsent: Roy Cutrer, John Cahill, Abbe BurtWednesday, April 19, 2023 · Regular meeting3 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 4 members presentWednesday, April 12, 2023 · Regular meeting9 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 4 members presentWednesday, March 29, 2023 · Regular meeting6 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 4 members present

Votes where members disagreed

Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.

Mar 8Approve the relocation of First FridayMotion: approve the relocation of First FridayFailed 1–2 · No: Burt, Cahill

March 8, 2023: Approve the relocation of First Friday

ApproveFailed · 1–2

Approve the relocation of First Friday

Yes: CutrerNo: Burt, Cahill

From the minutes

“Cahill made the motion to approve the relocation of First Friday Roll Call Vote. Cahill Ney, Burt Ney, Cutrer Aye. The vote was 1 in favor, 2 opposed, and 0 abstained. ADMINISTRATIVE SESSION AND POSSIBLE VOTES Gift Acceptance, Douglas Bardwell, Bottom Survey Lake Tashmoo Dinghy .” (Motion: Cahill, second: Cutrer)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Feb 22Burt to serve on the Water resources committee until…Motion: Burt to serve on the Water resources committee until a member…Passed 2–0 · see note

February 22, 2023: Burt to serve on the Water resources committee until a member at large is appointed

AppointPassed · 2–0

Burt to serve on the Water resources committee until a member at large is appointed

The minutes record 2 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstained with 3 members present but do not say who voted which way; individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Cahill nominated Burt to serve on the Water resources committee until a member at large is appointed Roll Call Vote. The vote was 2 in favor, 0 opposed, and 1 abstained. ADMINISTRATIVE SESSION One-Day Alcohol License- Martha's Vineyard Museum, March 10, 2023 Special Events Martha's Vineyard Museum-March 10, 2023, Craft Workshop One-Day Alcohol License- Martha's Vineyard Museum, March 11, 2023 .” (Motion: Cahill, second: Cutrer)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Jan 30Recommeng to the Select Board that the housing committee…Motion: recommeng to the Select Board that the housing committee consists of…Passed 5–0 · see note

January 30, 2023 (Joint meeting): Recommeng to the Select Board that the housing committee consists of 7 members, one from planning board, one from Dukes County Regional Housing Authority and five at large. Ms

ApprovePassed · 5–0

Recommeng to the Select Board that the housing committee consists of 7 members, one from planning board, one from Dukes County Regional Housing Authority and five at large. Ms

The minutes record 5 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 abstained with 3 members present, so one member’s vote is not recorded; individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Burt made the motion to recommeng to the Select Board that the housing committee consists of 7 members, one from planning board, one from Dukes County Regional Housing Authority and five at large. Ms Roll Call Vote. The vote was 5 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstained. 2023 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Articles Mr. Seidman explained that the warrant article is for technical services which is anything but minutes taking. Mr. Cahill asked what is technical services? Mr. Capoccia responded that it.” (Motion: Burt)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Jan 25RE-ORGANIZATION OF BOARD OFFICERS — nominate member Cutrer asMotion: nominate member Cutrer asPassed 2–0 · see note

January 25, 2023: RE-ORGANIZATION OF BOARD OFFICERS — nominate member Cutrer as

AppointPassed · 2–0

Nominate member Cutrer as

The minutes record 2 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstained with 3 members present but do not say who voted which way; individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Cahill made a motion to nominate member Cutrer as Chair Roll Call Vote. The vote was 2 in favor, 0 opposed, and 1 abstained. .” (Motion: Cahill, second: Burt)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Jan 25RE-ORGANIZATION OF BOARD OFFICERS — nominate member Cahill asMotion: nominate member Cahill asPassed 2–0 · see note

January 25, 2023: RE-ORGANIZATION OF BOARD OFFICERS — nominate member Cahill as

AppointPassed · 2–0

Nominate member Cahill as

The minutes record 2 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstained with 3 members present but do not say who voted which way; individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Burt made a motion nominate member Cahill as Vice-Chair Roll Call Vote. The vote was 2 in favor, 0 opposed, and 1 abstained. .” (Motion: Burt, second: Cutrer)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Jan 25Nominate member Burt as ClerkMotion: nominate member Burt as ClerkPassed 2–0 · see note

January 25, 2023: Nominate member Burt as Clerk

AppointPassed · 2–0

Nominate member Burt as Clerk

The minutes record 2 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstained with 3 members present but do not say who voted which way; individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Cahill made a motion to nominate member Burt as Clerk Roll Call Vote. The vote was 2 in favor, 0 opposed, and 1 abstained. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES December 7, 2022 .” (Motion: Cahill, second: Cutrer)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Sep 28Not exercise the towns option to purchase the property…Motion: not exercise the towns option to purchase the property under Chapter…Passed 2–0 · see note

September 28, 2022: Not exercise the towns option to purchase the property under Chapter 61B section 9

ApprovePassed · 2–0

Not exercise the towns option to purchase the property under Chapter 61B section 9

The minutes record 2 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 abstained with 3 members present, so one member’s vote is not recorded; individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Member Cahill made a motion to not exercise the towns option to purchase the property under Chapter 61B section 9. Vice- Roll Call Vote. The vote was 2 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstained. Vineyard Power Letter of Support Mr. Deon Alley explained he is working on moving the community toward energy efficiency programs. The letter is in support of Vineyard Power to join a program with Mass Save a Community First Part.” (Motion: Cahill, second: Cutrer)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Sep 28For a letter of support for Vineyard Power as…Motion: for a letter of support for Vineyard Power as presented in…Passed 2–0 · see note

September 28, 2022: For a letter of support for Vineyard Power as presented in the packet

ApprovePassed · 2–0

For a letter of support for Vineyard Power as presented in the packet

The minutes record 2 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 abstained with 3 members present, so one member’s vote is not recorded; individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Member Cahill made a motion for a letter of support for Vineyard Power as presented in the packet. Vice- Roll Call Vote. The vote was 2 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstained. Special Event Application-Martha's Vineyard Museum- New Exhibit Celebration- October 28, 2022 One Day Alcohol License-Martha's Vineyard Museum October 28, 2022 .” (Motion: Cahill, second: Cutrer)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Sep 28Approve Special Event and One-day Alcohol LicenseMotion: approve Special Event and One-day Alcohol LicensePassed 2–0 · see note

September 28, 2022: Approve Special Event and One-day Alcohol License

ApprovePassed · 2–0

Approve Special Event and One-day Alcohol License

The minutes record 2 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 abstained with 3 members present, so one member’s vote is not recorded; individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Member Cahill made a motion to approve Special Event and One-day Alcohol License. Vice- Roll Call Vote. The vote was 2 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstained. Common Victualler License- West Chop Club, 162 Iroquois Ave Common Victualler License-Wolf Gang Inc, 45 Beach Road .” (Motion: Cahill, second: Cutrer)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Sep 28Approve Common Victualler Licenses for West Chop Club and…Motion: approve Common Victualler Licenses for West Chop Club and Wolf Gang…Passed 2–0 · see note

September 28, 2022: Approve Common Victualler Licenses for West Chop Club and Wolf Gang Inc

ApprovePassed · 2–0

Approve Common Victualler Licenses for West Chop Club and Wolf Gang Inc

The minutes record 2 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 abstained with 3 members present, so one member’s vote is not recorded; individual votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Member Cahill made a motion to approve Common Victualler Licenses for West Chop Club and Wolf Gang Inc. Vice- Roll Call Vote. The vote was 2 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstained. Beach Road Restaurant request for early closing Mr. Grande explained the closure is due to needed repairs and staffing issues. The notification is required by Tisbury Alcohol regulations and the dates need to be stated. Ms. Mary .” (Motion: Cahill, second: Cutrer)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

From the Tisbury Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center. We check every vote against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: The Martha’s Vineyard Times: Roy Cutrer and James Rogers (2021); John Cahill (2020, from the meeting video); Christina Colarusso (courtesy of Ms. Colarusso, 2026).

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