MassVoter.com← Townsend Select BoardTownsend Select Board · 2021–2022 Board · Regular meeting
February 2, 2022
1 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
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Note on these minutes: The attendance list does not include Joseph Z. Shank, who is counted absent.
Present: Chaz Sexton-Diranian, Veronica Kell
Absent: Joseph Z. Shank
Every vote, in order
Go into Executive Session to discuss the reputation, character, physical condition, or mental health of an individual, or discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaint or charges against, a...
Motion was made by Chaz Sexton-Diranian and seconded by Veronica Kell to go into Executive Session to discuss the reputation, character, physical condition, or mental health of an individual, or discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaint or charges against, a public officer, per Ch 30A section 21 and not to return to open session. Prior to vote: Robert Hennigan, attorney, made an objection to notice provided and asked that his letter to Mr. Perry and Chairman Kell be made part of the record for today's meeting while noting that the client has elected to go into executive session. Kate Feoderoff, Town Counsel, said that she did receive Mr. Hennigan's letter, and that while the Board cannot post an agenda item as an open session item then go into executive session to discuss, the converse is true, i.e., may post an executive session item then can discuss that item in open session. Attorney Feoderoff called the Division of Open Government today and spoke with Assistant Attorney General Kerry Kilcoyne who concurred with the conclusion that it has been the long-standing position of the DOJ that an agenda item posted in Executive Session can be moved to open session so to the extent that Ms. Smart desires, the discussion can be in open session and the posting was proper. Motion passed to go into executive session with all in favor.
From the minutes
“Motion was made by Chaz Sexton-Diranian and seconded by Veronica Kell to go into Executive Session to discuss the reputation, character, physical condition, or mental health of an individual, or discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaint or charges against, a public officer, per Ch 30A section 21 and not to return to open session. Prior to vote: Robert Hennigan, attorney, made an objection to notice provided and asked that his letter to Mr. Perry and Chairman Kell be made part of the record for today's meeting while noting that the client has elected to go into executive session. Kate Feoderoff, Town Counsel, said that she did receive Mr. Hennigan's letter, and that while the Board cannot post an agenda item as an open session item then go into executive session to discuss, the converse is true, i.e., may post an executive session item then can discuss that item in open session. Attorney Feoderoff called the Division of Open Government today and spoke with Assistant Attorney General Kerry Kilcoyne who concurred with the conclusion that it has been the long-standing position of the DOJ that an agenda item posted in Executive Session can be moved to open session so to the extent that Ms. Smart desires, the discussion can be in open session and the posting was proper. Motion passed to go into executive session with all in favor..” (Motion: Sexton-Diranian, second: Kell)
From the Townsend Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town’s Agendas and Minutes page (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): Town of Townsend Candidates Night video — Valerie Goodrich and Sarah Logan (April 2025); Just Townies — Laura Shifrin (October 2023). Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.
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