MassVoter.com← TownsendMunicipal votes · 2025–2026 Board
Townsend Select Board
How the Townsend Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. Valerie Goodrich joined the board after the April 28, 2025 town election, filling the seat Theresa Morse had left. On April 29, 2025 the board chose Laura Shifrin as Chair, Veronica Kell as Vice-Chair and Valerie Goodrich as Clerk (roll call). Covers 46 meetings, April 29 to April 21, 2026.
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 budgetYour Townsend ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →Board years
Coming up
MassVoter can’t read Townsend’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
What Town Meeting decided
In Townsend, 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 5, 2026 1 votes: 1 passed
Sessions: May 5, 2026 (held during the Annual Town Meeting)
- Art. 1 Transfer $312,817 from free cash to cover the FY2026 snow and ice deficit Passed “VOTED: Passed unanimously.”
Source: Town Clerk: Annual and Special Town Meeting Minutes, May 5, 2026 (PDF) - Special Town Meeting part.
Annual Town Meeting · May 5, 2026 20 votes: 13 passed, 2 passed as amended, 1 indefinitely postponed, 4 no action
- Art. 1 Hear reports of boards, committees and commissions No action “VOTED: No vote taken.”
- Art. 2 Authorize the Select Board to appoint all Town officers not otherwise provided for Passed “VOTED: Passed.”
- Art. 3 Elect three West Townsend residents to the James H. Tucker Trust Fund Committee Passed “elected unanimously to the James H. Tucker Trust Fund Committee by voice vote as declared by the Moderator.”
- Art. 4 FY2027 Community Preservation budget and reserves (amended to $191,000 in estimated revenues) Passed as amended “VOTED: Amendment passed. Amended main motion passed.”
- Art. 5 Add a Police Detail Administrative Fee revolving fund with a $10,000 FY2027 limit Passed “VOTED: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 6 Set FY2027 revolving fund spending limits Passed “VOTED: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 7 Set the Town Clerk salary at $71,795 for FY2027 Passed “VOTED: Passed.”
- Art. 8 Adopt the FY2027 operating budget of $28,644,820 Passed “VOTED – OVERALL BUDGET AND TRANSFERS IN: Passed.”
- Art. 9 Put $648,332.41 in PFAS settlement money into the PFAS Maintenance Fund Passed “VOTED: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 10 Appropriate $2,497,508 from Water Enterprise revenues for the FY2027 Water Department budget Passed “VOTED: Passed.”
- Art. 11 Appropriate $797,237 from Solid Waste Enterprise revenues for the FY2027 Solid Waste budget Passed “VOTED: Passed.”
- Art. 12 Fund the $268,620 FY2027 capital plan (loader lease, police cruiser lease, fire bunker gear) Passed “VOTED: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 13 Transfer $8,000 from free cash for FY2027 assessors’ property inspections Passed “VOTED: Passed.”
- Art. 14 Appropriate $152,844 from PEG access receipts to Townsend Community Access Media Passed “VOTED: Passed.”
- Art. 15 Town Meeting bylaw: Select Board sets warrant posting locations; website posting as a supplement Passed “VOTE ON MAIN MOTION: Passed.”
- Art. 16 Allow the Select Board to sell 264 Dudley Road (West Townsend Reading Room) Indefinitely postponed “VOTE ON MOTION TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY: Passed.”
- Art. 17 Declare town-owned parcels available for sale (excluding 264 Dudley Rd., 276 Main St. and 6 Elm St.) Passed as amended “VOTE ON AMENDED MAIN MOTION: Passed by two-thirds as declared by the moderator.”
- Art. 18 Citizen petition: cut marijuana facility buffer zone from 500 feet to 100 feet No action “VOTE ON MOTION TO TAKE NO ACTION: Passed.”
- Art. 19 Zoning: allow medical marijuana and cultivation uses in the Outlying Commercial district as well as Industrial No action “VOTE ON MOTION TO TAKE NO ACTION: Passed.”
- Art. 20 Citizen petition: drop the indoor-only and not-agricultural rules for marijuana cultivation No action “VOTE ON MOTION TO TAKE NO ACTION: Passed.”
Source: Town Clerk: Annual and Special Town Meeting Minutes, May 5, 2026 (PDF) - Annual Town Meeting part.
Special Town Meeting · February 25, 2026 9 votes: 4 passed, 2 failed, 3 no action
Sessions: Called for February 25, 2026; recessed for weather and held March 19, 2026
- Art. 1 Transfer $41,599.79 from free cash for ClearGov budgeting software Failed “VOTE: Motion failed.”
- Art. 2 Appropriate $4,750 for an actuarial study of retiree health insurance liability Passed “VOTE ON MAIN MOTION: Motion passed.”
- Art. 3 Create a stabilization fund for Town Counsel legal costs and put $50,000 in it Failed “VOTE: Motion failed.”
- Art. 4 Appropriate $53,500 in ARPA funds for a one-year FY2026 police union contract Passed “VOTE: Motion passed.”
- Art. 5 Appropriate $197,000 for the FY2027 police union contract, contingent on a Proposition 2 1/2 override Passed “VOTE ON MAIN MOTION: Motion passed.”
- Art. 6 50-year lease of Squannacook Meadows open space to Townsend Ashby Youth Soccer Association Passed “VOTE ON MAIN MOTION: Motion passed.”
- Art. 7 Replace the Recycling revolving fund with a Board of Health revolving fund No action “the meeting should dissolve, and the articles could be brought back at a further town meeting.”
- Art. 8 Add a Town Clerk bylaw (new Chapter 38) on the Clerk’s powers and duties No action “the meeting should dissolve, and the articles could be brought back at a further town meeting.”
- Art. 9 Transfer $20,000 from free cash to replenish the election appropriation No action “the meeting should dissolve, and the articles could be brought back at a further town meeting.”
Source: Town Clerk: Special Town Meeting Minutes, February 25, 2026 (held March 19, 2026) (PDF).
Special Town Meeting · September 25, 2025 6 votes: 3 passed, 2 failed, 1 tabled
- Art. 1 Transfer care of 0 Dudley Road from the Select Board to the Conservation Commission Passed “VOTE: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 2 Add a Multi-Family Overlay District on Fitchburg Road (MBTA Communities zoning) and related zoning changes Passed “VOTE: Passed by majority, 77-24 (standing count). · 77-24”
- Art. 3 Also allow single-family homes in the new Multi-Family Overlay District Passed “VOTE: Passed by two thirds as declared by the moderator.”
- Art. 4 Historic Districts bylaw: add enforcement section (Sec. 54-8) Tabled “VOTE TO TABLE: Passed by two thirds, 72-23 (standing count). · 72-23”
- Art. 5 Accept MGL c. 53 s. 18B: mail ballot question information to each household Failed “VOTE: Motion fails.”
- Art. 6 Bar apartment/multifamily buildings on two parcels (Blood Road and West Elm Street) Failed “VOTE: Motion fails.”
Source: Town Clerk: Special Town Meeting Minutes, September 25, 2025 (PDF).
Special Town Meeting · June 18, 2025 5 votes: 3 passed, 1 passed as amended, 1 no action
Sessions: June 18 and June 23, 2025
- Art. 1 Accept MGL c. 44 s. 53F1/2: make trash and recycling an enterprise fund from FY2026 Passed “VOTE: Main motion passed by majority.”
- Art. 2 Fund FY2026 Solid Waste and Recycling Enterprise: $160,000 from General Stabilization and $626,351 raised Passed “VOTE: Main motion passed by two-thirds, declared by the moderator.”
- Art. 3 Appropriate $15,000 from the Sale of Lots Fund for cemetery upkeep Passed “VOTE: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 4 Amend the Charter to make Constables elected officials No action “VOTE: Motion to pass over passed by majority.”
- Art. 5 Appropriate $258,827 for FY2026 wages and benefits, contingent on a Proposition 2 1/2 override Passed as amended “VOTE: Amended main motion passed, 78-42, by standing count. · 78-42”
Special Town Meeting · May 6, 2025 4 votes: 4 passed
Sessions: May 6, 2025 (held during the Annual Town Meeting)
- Art. 1 Hear reports of boards, committees and commissions Passed “VOTE: Passed by majority.”
- Art. 2 Transfer $291,600 from free cash to cover the FY2025 snow and ice deficit Passed “VOTE: Passed by Majority.”
- Art. 3 Move $53,784.74 left in old warrant articles to Memorial Hall exterior repairs Passed “VOTE: Main motion passed by majority.”
- Art. 4 Move $26,329.20 left in old warrant articles to the Capital Stabilization Account Passed “VOTE: Passed unanimously.”
Annual Town Meeting · May 6, 2025 19 votes: 18 passed, 1 no action
Sessions: May 6, June 18 and June 23, 2025
- Art. 1 Hear reports of boards, committees and commissions Passed “VOTE: Passed by majority.”
- Art. 2 Authorize the Select Board to appoint all Town officers not otherwise provided for Passed “VOTE: Passed by majority.”
- Art. 3 Amend zoning rules for age-restricted development (Sec. 54.1) Passed “VOTE: Main motion passed by two-thirds, declared by the moderator.”
- Art. 4 Replace the Floodplain District zoning section with a new Floodplain Overlay District Passed “VOTE: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 5 Update zoning map reference to the July 8, 2025 flood insurance rate map Passed “VOTE: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 6 Add a Community Preservation Committee bylaw (Chapter 139) Passed “VOTE: Main motion passed by majority.”
- Art. 7 Enlarge the Select Board from three to five members, subject to approval at the Town election Passed “VOTE: Passed by two-thirds, declared by the moderator.”
- Art. 8 Set FY2026 revolving fund spending limits Passed “VOTE: Passed by majority.”
- Art. 9 Add a Town Hall public records revolving fund with a $5,000 FY2026 limit Passed “VOTE: Main motion passed by majority.”
- Art. 10 Raise money outside Proposition 2 1/2 to balance the FY2026 budget No action “VOTE: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 13 Appropriate $2,169,359.62 from Water Enterprise revenues for the FY2026 Water Department budget Passed “VOTE: Passed by majority.”
- Art. 14 Fund $245,620 of the FY2026 capital plan (loader lease, Memorial Hall fire suppression, cruisers, water studies) Passed “VOTE: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 15 Borrow $295,000 for a six-wheel dump truck with plow and sander Passed “VOTE: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 16 Transfer $10,000 from overlay surplus for FY2026 assessors’ property inspections Passed “VOTE: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 17 Appropriate $166,490.67 from PEG access receipts to Townsend Community Access Media Passed “VOTE: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 18 Accept Clause 22I: yearly cost-of-living increase in veterans’ property tax exemptions Passed “VOTE: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 19 Accept Clause 22J: added veterans’ property tax exemption of up to 100% of the personal exemption Passed “VOTE: Passed, 81 to 57, at a standing count. · 81 to 57”
- Art. 12 Set salaries of elected Town officers as appropriated in the warrant Passed “VOTE: Passed by majority.”
- Art. 11 Adopt the FY2026 operating budget without an override: $27,592,926 Passed “VOTE: Main motion passed by majority.”
Special Town Meeting · August 20, 2024 11 votes: 9 passed, 1 failed, 1 no action
- Art. 1 Pay a $656.11 prior-year water meter bill from the Water Enterprise Fund Passed “Voted: Passed by 9/10 vote as declared by Moderator.”
- Art. 2 Amend FY2025 budget: use $800,000 (up $100,000) of ambulance receipts to operate EMS Passed “Voted: Passed Unanimously”
- Art. 3 Amend FY2025 budget: cut $66,300 (Town Administrator salary, auto allowance, MIS, police equipment) Passed “Vote on original motion: Passed by majority”
- Art. 4 Amend FY2025 budget: add $691,475 for North Middlesex schools; $136,000 from General Stabilization Passed “Voted: Passed by 2/3 vote, declared by Moderator”
- Art. 5 Amend FY2025 budget: add $248,209 and $38,929 for Nashoba Valley Tech assessment and exempt debt Passed “Voted: Passed by majority”
- Art. 6 Amend FY2025 budget: add $25,000 for costs of collecting curbside trash fees Failed “Voted: The motion did not pass.”
- Art. 7 Add $13,200 to the Caterpillar loader lease approved in 2021 Passed “Vote: Passed by majority”
- Art. 8 Close out old warrant articles and return balances to the General Fund Passed “Voted: Passed Unanimously, declared by Moderator”
- Art. 9 Accept MGL c. 41 s. 108P: extra pay for certified treasurer or collector Passed “Voted: Passed by Majority”
- Art. 10 Acquire a drainage easement at 94 Fitchburg Road ($4,000 from ARPA funds) Passed “Voted: Passed by Majority”
- Art. 11 Transfer from General Stabilization to balance the budget No action “Voted: Passed by majority.”
Special Town Meeting · May 7, 2024 17 votes: 13 passed, 1 passed as amended, 3 failed
Sessions: May 7, 2024 (opened during the Annual Town Meeting)
- Art. 1 Hear reports of boards, committees and commissions Passed “VOTED: Passed Unanimously”
- Art. 2 Transfer $12,457 from free cash to the FY2024 general insurance budget Passed “VOTED: Passed Unanimously”
- Art. 3 Transfer $5,000 from free cash for a Board of Health housing protocol for condemned homes Passed “VOTED: Passed by majority”
- Art. 4 Transfer $22,000 from free cash to the Town Clerk election budget Passed “VOTED: Passed Unanimously”
- Art. 5 Transfer $5,000 from free cash for Conservation Commission education, outreach and training Passed “VOTED: Passed by majority”
- Art. 6 Transfer $1,000 from free cash for Historic District Commission training, materials and signs Passed “VOTED: Passed by majority”
- Art. 7 Transfer $5,000 from free cash for workers' compensation and injured-on-duty claims Passed “VOTED: Passed Unanimously”
- Art. 8 Transfer $6,000 from free cash for CDL training for Highway Department staff Passed “VOTED: Passed by majority”
- Art. 9 Transfer $14,500 from free cash for a consultant to assist the Bylaw Review Committee Failed “VOTED: The Motion did not carry”
- Art. 10 Transfer $100,000 from ambulance receipts for Fire Department emergency vehicle equipment (amended from $35,000) Passed as amended “VOTE: Passed by majority”
- Art. 11 Transfer $181,010 from free cash to cover the FY2024 snow and ice deficit Passed “VOTED: Passed by majority”
- Art. 12 Five-year trash and recycling contract with G.W. Shaw and Son, including toters Failed “VOTED: The vote on the main motion on Article 12 did not pass. · Yes: 104. No: 123.”
- Art. 13 Five-year trash and recycling contract with G.W. Shaw and Son, not including toters Failed “VOTED: The vote on the main motion did not pass.”
- Art. 14 Citizen petition: rezone 39 Greenville Road and an adjacent Greenville Road lot from Industrial to Residential Passed “VOTED: Motion passed by 2/3, declared by moderator”
- Art. 15 Lease the Old Harbor Fire Station (65 Main St.) to the Townsend Fire-EMS Relief Association for up to 50 years Passed “VOTED: Passed by majority”
- Art. 16 Lease the Old Central Fire Station (8 Elm St.) to the Townsend Fire-EMS Relief Association for up to 50 years Passed “VOTED: Passed Unanimously”
- Art. 17 Allow the Select Board to sell or convey 182 Warren Road Passed “VOTED: Passed Unanimously”
Annual Town Meeting · May 7, 2024 20 votes: 16 passed, 2 failed, 2 no action
Sessions: May 7 and May 9, 2024
- Art. 1 Authorize the Select Board to appoint all Town officers not otherwise provided for Passed “VOTED: Passed by majority”
- Art. 2 Accept reports of committees, boards and commissions as printed in the Annual Report Passed “VOTED: Passed by majority”
- Art. 3 Set FY2025 revolving fund spending limits Passed “VOTED: Passed Unanimously”
- Art. 4 Adopt the FY2025 operating budget of $26,544,254 Passed “VOTE ON ORIGINAL MOTION: Vote on the original motion passed by majority.”
- Art. 5 Transfer free cash to balance the FY2025 budget No action “VOTED: Passed by Majority”
- Art. 6 Set salaries of elected Town officers as appropriated in the warrant Passed “VOTED: Passed unanimously.”
- Art. 7 Appropriate $2,062,174 from Water Enterprise revenues for the FY2025 Water Department budget Passed “VOTED: Passed Unanimously”
- Art. 8 Borrow $472,700 for the FY2025 capital plan (police records system, energy retrofit, two plow trucks) Passed “VOTED: Motion passed, declared 2/3 by Moderator”
- Art. 9 Accept MGL c. 44 s. 54(b) so Town trust funds may be invested under the Prudent Investor Rule Passed “VOTED: Passed Unanimously”
- Art. 10 Appropriate $130,140 from PEG access receipts to Townsend Community Access Media Passed “VOTED: Passed by majority”
- Art. 11 Transfer $5,000 from free cash for planning the Town's 300th anniversary in 2032 Passed “VOTED: Passed unanimously”
- Art. 12 Transfer $8,000 from free cash for FY2025 assessors’ property inspections Passed “VOTED: Passed Unanimously”
- Art. 13 Change Council on Aging terms of office from four years to three years Passed “VOTED: Passed Unanimously”
- Art. 14 Scenic Roads bylaw: set application fee by Planning Board fee schedule Passed “VOTED: Passed Unanimously”
- Art. 15 Add a Noise Control bylaw with fines Failed “VOTED: Motion did not pass”
- Art. 16 Replace the Public Lighting bylaw with an Outdoor Lighting bylaw with fines Failed “VOTED: Motion did not pass. Vote was counted: · Yes: 39. No: 61.”
- Art. 17 Correct statute and section references in the Affordable Housing Trust bylaw Passed “VOTED: Passed by majority”
- Art. 18 Amend zoning rules for accessory apartments in residential districts (Sec. 145-36) Passed “VOTED: Motion passed by 2/3 vote declared by Moderator.”
- Art. 19 Set large-scale solar permit fee by Planning Board fee schedule (zoning Sec. 145-86) Passed “VOTED: Motion passed by 2/3 declared by Moderator”
- Art. 20 Delete the Outdoor Lighting section (145-52) from the zoning bylaw No action “VOTED: Passed by majority.”
Special Town Meeting · March 19, 2024 4 votes: 4 passed
- Art. 1 Hear a presentation on the Nashoba Valley Technical High School budget Passed “VOTED: Passed by majority.”
- Art. 2 Appropriate $287,138 for FY2025 Nashoba Valley Tech assessments, contingent on a Proposition 2 1/2 override Passed “VOTED: Article 2 passed by majority.”
- Art. 3 Hear a presentation on the North Middlesex Regional School District budget Passed “VOTED: Article 3 passed by majority.”
- Art. 4 Appropriate $1,461,294 for FY2025 North Middlesex Regional School District assessments, contingent on an override Passed “VOTED: Article 4 passed by majority.”
Not here yet: A Special Town Meeting held January 28, 2025 is not here because its minutes are not posted; no Town Meeting after May 5, 2026 is posted yet.
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
ChairLaura ShifrinChair · At-large · at 42 of 46 meetingsVice-ChairVeronica KellVice-Chair · At-large · at 46 of 46 meetings
Valerie GoodrichClerk · At-large · at 46 of 46 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: Townsend Select Board minutes from January 16, 2018 through July 22, 2026: 305 meetings and 3,183 votes. The board had three members until 2026. Article 7 of the May 6, 2025 Annual Town Meeting (a citizens’ petition) enlarged it to five members, and voters ratified the change as Question 1 at the April 27, 2026 town election (884 to 380). The special election for the two new seats (terms to April 2028 and April 2029) was set for October 6, 2026 and then postponed by court order to December 8, 2026, so as of October 12, 2026 three members serve and two seats are vacant. The town’s Agendas and Minutes page holds the board’s minutes back to 2010 (2017 has few files); MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. The minutes call the board the Board of Selectmen until spring 2023; from May 2023 they use “Selectboard” or “Select Board,” mixed with the old name until late 2024. Nearly all minutes files are scanned images (signed, Town Clerk-stamped copies), which MassVoter read with text recognition and checked where names or counts were unclear; the March 20, 2018 and March 5, 2019 minutes are Word files, and a few files (among them April 7 to May 7, 2026) have searchable text. Not here: executive-session minutes (the June 9 and June 23, 2020 meetings, which have only executive-session minutes, are loaded from those released minutes); cancelled meetings; votes of the Housing Authority, Water Commissioners, Planning Board, Finance Committee and other boards at joint meetings; meetings with an agenda but no posted minutes, among them February 1 and 2, 2021, April 27 to June 15, 2021 (including the 2021 reorganization), and several dates in 2018, 2020, late 2021 and February 2022; dates where the file posted is the wrong one or incomplete (the March 10, 2020 file repeats the August 4, 2020 minutes and is loaded once; the July 30, 2020 file is the June 30, 2020 minutes, with page 2 missing; the March 6, 2020 agenda is a March 6, 2021 budget work session); and meetings after July 22, 2026 (the August 5 to October 6, 2026 minutes are not posted yet). Townsend’s minutes have used several forms: in 2018 and 2019 “Unanimous vote” or a count after the mover and seconder’s initials; from 2020 to 2022 roll calls by initials or name (“CSD (NO) VK (YES)”) or “Motion was passed with all in favor”; and since 2023 a roll call by name on nearly every vote (“Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - aye, Valerie Goodrich - aye, Laura Shifrin - aye”). A count equal to the members present, or unanimous wording, is shown as every member present voting yes. On a three-member board, when the minutes name one member voting no, the other two are shown voting yes. Where the count and the names in the minutes disagree we show the count only (1 vote), and where the minutes give no count or names we show the result only (55 votes, most of them the board’s positions on 2018 and 2019 Town Meeting articles). Members who recused themselves, abstained or were out of the room are shown that way or left out of that vote, with a note; 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.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Apr 21Accept the meeting minutes of April 7, 2026Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the meeting minutes of April 7,…Passed 1–0 · see note
April 21, 2026 (Joint meeting): Accept the meeting minutes of April 7, 2026
Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the meeting minutes of April 7, 2026. Veronica Kell seconded the motion. Veronica Kell provided several corrections: OPEB study contract amount should be $4,750, not $47,500, for the social media policy vote, the minutes incorrectly showed her abstaining and Valerie Goodrich voting yes
Yes: GoodrichThe roll call lists Valerie Goodrich but not Laura Shifrin and Veronica Kell, who are recorded at the meeting; they are not shown voting.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the meeting minutes of April 7, 2026. Veronica Kell seconded the motion. Veronica Kell provided several corrections: OPEB study contract amount should be $4,750, not $47,500, for the social media policy vote, the minutes incorrectly showed her abstaining and Valerie Goodrich voting yes.” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Apr 21Accept the meeting minutes of February 4, 2025 of…Motion: Motion: To accept the meeting minutes of February 4, 2025 of…Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Goodrich
April 21, 2026 (Joint meeting): Accept the meeting minutes of February 4, 2025 of the Appointing Committee of the Nashoba Valley Technical School District Committee
Motion: To accept the meeting minutes of February 4, 2025 of the Appointing Committee of the Nashoba Valley Technical School District Committee Moved by: Valerie Goodrich Seconded by: Veronica Kell Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - Aye, Valerie Goodrich - Abstain, Laura Shifrin - Aye
Yes: Kell, ShifrinAbstained: Goodrich
From the minutes
“Motion: To accept the meeting minutes of February 4, 2025 of the Appointing Committee of the Nashoba Valley Technical School District Committee Moved by: Valerie Goodrich Seconded by: Veronica Kell Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - Aye, Valerie Goodrich - Abstain, Laura Shifrin - Aye.” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Apr 7Appoint Natalie Call to the Commission on Disability for…Motion: Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Natalie Call to the Commission…Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Kell
April 7, 2026: Appoint Natalie Call to the Commission on Disability for a term to expire June 30, 2029
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Natalie Call to the Commission on Disability for a term to expire June 30, 2029. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell abstained, Valerie Goodrich aye, Laura Shifrin aye.
Yes: Goodrich, ShifrinAbstained: Kell
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Natalie Call to the Commission on Disability for a term to expire June 30, 2029. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell abstained, Valerie Goodrich aye, Laura Shifrin aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Apr 7Approve the social media policy as presentedMotion: Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the social media policy as…Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Goodrich
April 7, 2026: Approve the social media policy as presented
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the social media policy as presented. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich abstained, Laura Shifrin aye.
Yes: Kell, ShifrinAbstained: Goodrich
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the social media policy as presented. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich abstained, Laura Shifrin aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Mar 17Approve the meeting minutes of March 10, 2026Motion: Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the meeting minutes of March…Passed 2–0 · see note
March 17, 2026 (Joint meeting): Approve the meeting minutes of March 10, 2026
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the meeting minutes of March 10, 2026. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Valerie Goodrich aye, Veronica Kell aye 5.
Yes: Goodrich, KellThe roll call lists Valerie Goodrich and Veronica Kell but not Laura Shifrin, who is recorded at the meeting; that member is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the meeting minutes of March 10, 2026. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Valerie Goodrich aye, Veronica Kell aye 5..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Mar 17Approve the use of Memorial Hall for ethics training…Motion: Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the use of Memorial Hall…Passed Unanimous, 2 present · see note
March 17, 2026 (Joint meeting): Approve the use of Memorial Hall for ethics training on April 21, 2026
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the use of Memorial Hall for ethics training on April 21, 2026. Veronica Kell seconded. Vote: Approved unanimously by roll call vote.
Laura Shifrin had left the meeting before this vote and is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the use of Memorial Hall for ethics training on April 21, 2026. Veronica Kell seconded. Vote: Approved unanimously by roll call vote..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Mar 17Appoint David Lan and Cindy Bounty as members of…Motion: Motion: Veronica Kell moved to appoint David Lan and Cindy Bounty…Passed Unanimous, 2 present · see note
March 17, 2026 (Joint meeting): Appoint David Lan and Cindy Bounty as members of the ad hoc committee on housing and economic development until completion of the committee's work
Motion: Veronica Kell moved to appoint David Lan and Cindy Bounty as members of the ad hoc committee on housing and economic development until completion of the committee's work. Valerie Goodrich seconded. Vote: Approved unanimously by roll call vote.
Laura Shifrin had left the meeting before this vote and is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“Motion: Veronica Kell moved to appoint David Lan and Cindy Bounty as members of the ad hoc committee on housing and economic development until completion of the committee's work. Valerie Goodrich seconded. Vote: Approved unanimously by roll call vote..” (Motion: Kell, second: Goodrich)
Mar 10Add Affordable Housing Trust trustees as special municipal employeesMotion: Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to add Affordable Housing Trust trustees as…Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Kell
March 10, 2026: Add Affordable Housing Trust trustees as special municipal employees
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to add Affordable Housing Trust trustees as special municipal employees. Veronica Kell seconded. Veronica Kell abstained from voting as she serves on the Affordable Housing Trust Board. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - Abstained, Valerie Goodrich - Aye, Laura Shifrin - Aye.
Yes: Goodrich, ShifrinAbstained: Kell
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to add Affordable Housing Trust trustees as special municipal employees. Veronica Kell seconded. Veronica Kell abstained from voting as she serves on the Affordable Housing Trust Board. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - Abstained, Valerie Goodrich - Aye, Laura Shifrin - Aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Mar 10Approve the conservation restriction concept for Squannacook Meadows as…Motion: Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the conservation restriction concept for…Passed 2–0 · Abstained: Kell
March 10, 2026: Approve the conservation restriction concept for Squannacook Meadows as presented
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the conservation restriction concept for Squannacook Meadows as presented. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Veronica Kell abstained as she was a member of the Conservation - Restriction Committee, Laura Shifrin aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
Yes: Goodrich, ShifrinAbstained: Kell
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the conservation restriction concept for Squannacook Meadows as presented. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Veronica Kell abstained as she was a member of the Conservation - Restriction Committee, Laura Shifrin aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Mar 3Approve the special municipal employee list with all supporting…Motion: Motion: Laura Shifrin moved to approve the special municipal employee list…Passed Unanimous, 2 present · see note
March 3, 2026: Approve the special municipal employee list with all supporting documents from SharePoint to be posted with a cover letter agreed upon by the Town Administrator and Veronica Kell, signed out…
Motion: Laura Shifrin moved to approve the special municipal employee list with all supporting documents from SharePoint to be posted with a cover letter agreed upon by the Town Administrator and Veronica Kell, signed out of session once agreed. Veronica Kell seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Veronica Kell - aye; Laura Shifrin - aye. (Note: * Valerie Goodrich was not present for this Roll Call Vote)
Valerie Goodrich did not take part in this vote (“(Note: * Valerie Goodrich was not present for this Roll Call Vote)”) and is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“Motion: Laura Shifrin moved to approve the special municipal employee list with all supporting documents from SharePoint to be posted with a cover letter agreed upon by the Town Administrator and Veronica Kell, signed out of session once agreed. Veronica Kell seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Veronica Kell - aye; Laura Shifrin - aye. (Note: * Valerie Goodrich was not present for this Roll Call Vote).” (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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