MassVoter.com← Townsend Select BoardTownsend Select Board · 2025–2026 Board · Regular meeting
October 21, 2025
12 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
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Present: Veronica Kell, Valerie Goodrich, Laura Shifrin
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
1.5 Review/Approve the meeting minutes for
Approve the meeting minutes for October 7, 2025
Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the meeting minutes for October 7, 2025. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the meeting minutes for October 7, 2025. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
4.1 Approve and sign out of session all
Approve and sign out of session all 2026 renewals for Entertainment Licenses contingent upon receipt of required documentation and payment
Valerie Goodrich moved to approve and sign out of session all 2026 renewals for Entertainment Licenses contingent upon receipt of required documentation and payment. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to approve and sign out of session all 2026 renewals for Entertainment Licenses contingent upon receipt of required documentation and payment. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
4.2 Approve and sign out of session all
Approve and sign out of session all 2026 renewals for Class I, II, HI licenses contingent upon receipt of required documentation and payment
Valerie Goodrich moved to approve and sign out of session all 2026 renewals for Class I, II, HI licenses contingent upon receipt of required documentation and payment. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to approve and sign out of session all 2026 renewals for Class I, II, HI licenses contingent upon receipt of required documentation and payment. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
4.3 Review/Approve Christmas Tree License to sell Christmas trees at the Town Common by Lions Club
Approve the Christmas Tree License to sell Christmas trees at the Town Common by Lions Club 2025 for November 21, 2025 to December 21, 2025
Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the Christmas Tree License to sell Christmas trees at the Town Common by Lions Club 2025 for November 21, 2025 to December 21, 2025. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the Christmas Tree License to sell Christmas trees at the Town Common by Lions Club 2025 for November 21, 2025 to December 21, 2025. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Accept the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)between Townsend and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees for the Supervisors Union effective upon signing
Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)between Townsend and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees for the Supervisors Union effective upon signing. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)between Townsend and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees for the Supervisors Union effective upon signing. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Accept the Memorandum of Agreement between Townsend and the Confederation of State Council and Municipal Employees for the Highway Water Department effective immediately
Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the Memorandum of Agreement between Townsend and the Confederation of State Council and Municipal Employees for the Highway Water Department effective immediately. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the Memorandum of Agreement between Townsend and the Confederation of State Council and Municipal Employees for the Highway Water Department effective immediately. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
4.11 Mosaic Municipal Matching grants for opioid response efforts
Approve the letter of support as read into record for the Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership
Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the letter of support as read into record for the Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership. Veronica Kell seconded. The letter expressed the Selectboard's support for the Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership and intent to participate in its municipal grant program. The initiative aligns with Townsend's commitment to community health, prevention, harm reduction, and recovery support. The town anticipates using Mosaic resources to support outreach, naloxone (Narcan) distribution and training, and enhanced referral pathways to recovery services. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the letter of support as read into record for the Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership. Veronica Kell seconded. The letter expressed the Selectboard's support for the Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership and intent to participate in its municipal grant program. The initiative aligns with Townsend's commitment to community health, prevention, harm reduction, and recovery support. The town anticipates using Mosaic resources to support outreach, naloxone (Narcan) distribution and training, and enhanced referral pathways to recovery services. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
4.14 Setting of Trick or Treating time
Set the trick-or-treating time for Townsend, Massachusetts to October 31, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Valerie Goodrich moved to set the trick-or-treating time for Townsend, Massachusetts to October 31, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to set the trick-or-treating time for Townsend, Massachusetts to October 31, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Everything available on the public records portal be private until the Selectboard develops a policy
Veronica Kell moved that everything available on the public records portal be private until the Selectboard develops a policy. Valerie Goodrich seconded. Harrison Mayotte noted that a motion directing the Town Clerk's office to take certain actions is non-binding but stated he would take the Board's concerns into consideration and apply the private marking liberally to potentially concerning requests. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - no, Laura Shifrin - no. Motion failed 1-2.
Yes: KellNo: Goodrich, Shifrin
From the minutes
“Veronica Kell moved that everything available on the public records portal be private until the Selectboard develops a policy. Valerie Goodrich seconded. Harrison Mayotte noted that a motion directing the Town Clerk's office to take certain actions is non-binding but stated he would take the Board's concerns into consideration and apply the private marking liberally to potentially concerning requests. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - no, Laura Shifrin - no. Motion failed 1-2..” (Motion: Kell, second: Goodrich)
4.16 Review/Approve contract for surveying work with Dillis & Roy funded by grant
Approve the contract for surveying work with Dillis & Roy funded by grant to be signed out of session
Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the contract for surveying work with Dillis & Roy funded by grant to be signed out of session. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the contract for surveying work with Dillis & Roy funded by grant to be signed out of session. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
5.4 Next meeting
Review and sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session
Valerie Goodrich moved to review and sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shiftin - yes. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to review and sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shiftin - yes. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
6.1 Executive Session pursuant to Open Meeting Law (Chapter
Enter into executive session at 5:10 PM pursuant to Open Meeting Law Chapter 30A Section 21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to litigation, namely RFS Corp. v
Laura Shifrin moved to enter into executive session at 5:10 PM pursuant to Open Meeting Law Chapter 30A Section 21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to litigation, namely RFS Corp. v. Town of Townsend, Middlesex Superior Court Docket No. 2581CV02381, where an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigation position of the Board and the Chair so declares. Laura Shifrin so declared. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shiftin - yes. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Laura Shifrin moved to enter into executive session at 5:10 PM pursuant to Open Meeting Law Chapter 30A Section 21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to litigation, namely RFS Corp. v. Town of Townsend, Middlesex Superior Court Docket No. 2581CV02381, where an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigation position of the Board and the Chair so declares. Laura Shifrin so declared. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shiftin - yes. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Shifrin, 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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