MassVoter.com← Townsend Select BoardTownsend Select Board · 2025–2026 Board · Regular meeting
December 2, 2025
12 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
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Present: Veronica Kell, Valerie Goodrich, Laura Shifrin
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Approve the meeting minutes of 11/25/2025
Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the meeting minutes of 11/25/2025. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the meeting minutes of 11/25/2025. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Accept the percentage of local tax levy to a shift factor of 1 and sign the classification tax allocation form for fiscal year 2026 out of session with signature stamp
Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the percentage of local tax levy to a shift factor of 1 and sign the classification tax allocation form for fiscal year 2026 out of session with signature stamp. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the percentage of local tax levy to a shift factor of 1 and sign the classification tax allocation form for fiscal year 2026 out of session with signature stamp. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
(the minutes do not state the motion)
The public hearing was adjourned at 6:19 PM by Valerie Goodrich and seconded by Veronica Kell. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“The public hearing was adjourned at 6:19 PM by Valerie Goodrich and seconded by Veronica Kell. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
3.1 Appoint Jessica Demeo as Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police
Appoint Jessica Demeo as Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police with an effective start date 12/08/2025, contingent upon successful completion of all employment requirements
Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Jessica Demeo as Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police with an effective start date 12/08/2025, contingent upon successful completion of all employment requirements. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Jessica Demeo as Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police with an effective start date 12/08/2025, contingent upon successful completion of all employment requirements. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Appoint Lance McNally as Planning Board Representative to the Community Preservation Committee from December 2, 2025, until June 30, 2027
Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Lance McNally as Planning Board Representative to the Community Preservation Committee from December 2, 2025, until June 30, 2027. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Lance McNally as Planning Board Representative to the Community Preservation Committee from December 2, 2025, until June 30, 2027. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Allow the Town Administrator to sign a municipal energy aggregation contract for 3 years through Good Energy with the selection of NextEra Energy having the lowest rate for those 3 years
Valerie Goodrich moved to allow the Town Administrator to sign a municipal energy aggregation contract for 3 years through Good Energy with the selection of NextEra Energy having the lowest rate for those 3 years. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to allow the Town Administrator to sign a municipal energy aggregation contract for 3 years through Good Energy with the selection of NextEra Energy having the lowest rate for those 3 years. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Approve the budget memo to the department heads as presented at the 12/02/2025 meeting with elimination of last bullet on trash hauling and explanation of details needed in descriptions
Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the budget memo to the department heads as presented at the 12/02/2025 meeting with elimination of last bullet on trash hauling and explanation of details needed in descriptions. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the budget memo to the department heads as presented at the 12/02/2025 meeting with elimination of last bullet on trash hauling and explanation of details needed in descriptions. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Approve the alcoholic beverage licensing policy and sign out of session
Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the alcoholic beverage licensing policy and sign out of session. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the alcoholic beverage licensing policy and sign out of session. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Direct town counsel to stop reviewing the Emergency Assistance Funds Policy; to pause until revisited posting for vacancy for the Abraham S. French Fund Committee; to pause until revisited any...
Valerie Goodrich moved to direct town counsel to stop reviewing the Emergency Assistance Funds Policy; to pause until revisited posting for vacancy for the Abraham S. French Fund Committee; to pause until revisited any distributions of funds for emergency assistance with no applications processed until further notice; and to direct the Town Administrator to let potential applicants know about the halt and post to the Select Board portion of the website. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to direct town counsel to stop reviewing the Emergency Assistance Funds Policy; to pause until revisited posting for vacancy for the Abraham S. French Fund Committee; to pause until revisited any distributions of funds for emergency assistance with no applications processed until further notice; and to direct the Town Administrator to let potential applicants know about the halt and post to the Select Board portion of the website. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Accept the recommendations of the VBCC regarding the handbook
Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the recommendations of the VBCC regarding the handbook. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shiftin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the recommendations of the VBCC regarding the handbook. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shiftin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
6.5 Review and Sign Payroll and Bills Payable Warrants Out of Session
Sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session
Valerie Goodrich moved to sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
7.4 Executive Session pursuant to Open Meeting Law (Chapter
At 6:37PM to enter into all 4 executive sessions and adjourn from executive sessions
Laura Shifrin moved at 6:37PM to enter into all 4 executive sessions and adjourn from executive sessions. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Laura Shifrin moved at 6:37PM to enter into all 4 executive sessions and adjourn from executive sessions. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (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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