MassVoter.com← Townsend Select BoardTownsend Select Board · 2025–2026 Board · Regular meeting
January 20, 2026
12 recorded votes, 3 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
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Present: Laura Shifrin, Veronica Kell, Valerie Goodrich
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
3.1 Appoint Cindy King to Agriculture Commission effective
Appoint Cindy King to the Agricultural Commission effective January 20, 2026 until June 30, 2029
Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Cindy King to the Agricultural Commission effective January 20, 2026 until June 30, 2029. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - no, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes.
Yes: Goodrich, ShifrinNo: Kell
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Cindy King to the Agricultural Commission effective January 20, 2026 until June 30, 2029. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - no, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
3.2 Appoint Select Board member to the Audit Committee effective
Appoint Valerie Goodrich as a Select Board member to the Audit Committee
Veronica Kell moved to appoint Valerie Goodrich as a Select Board member to the Audit Committee. Valerie Goodrich seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - abstain, Laura Shifrin - yes.
Yes: Kell, ShifrinAbstained: Goodrich
From the minutes
“Veronica Kell moved to appoint Valerie Goodrich as a Select Board member to the Audit Committee. Valerie Goodrich seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - abstain, Laura Shifrin - yes..” (Motion: Kell, second: Goodrich)
3.3 Appoint Select Board member to Capital Planning Committee effective
Appoint Veronica Kell to the Capital Planning Committee effective January 20, : | 2026 until April 27, 2026
Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Veronica Kell to the Capital Planning Committee effective January 20, : | 2026 until April 27, 2026. Laura Shifrin seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - abstain, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes.
Yes: Goodrich, ShifrinAbstained: Kell
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Veronica Kell to the Capital Planning Committee effective January 20, : | 2026 until April 27, 2026. Laura Shifrin seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - abstain, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Shifrin)
Approve the agreement with Consulting Mentor Town Administrator Jason Silva for the Interim Administrator, effective January 20, 2026, to be signed out of session inserting appropriate details on...
Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the agreement with Consulting Mentor Town Administrator Jason Silva for the Interim Administrator, effective January 20, 2026, to be signed out of session inserting appropriate details on employee and dates. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the agreement with Consulting Mentor Town Administrator Jason Silva for the Interim Administrator, effective January 20, 2026, to be signed out of session inserting appropriate details on employee and dates. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes. Motion passed..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Assign Veronica Kell to the filing organization and digitization project for the
Valerie Goodrich moved to assign Veronica Kell to the filing organization and digitization project for the . Select Board office. Laura Shifrin seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to assign Veronica Kell to the filing organization and digitization project for the . Select Board office. Laura Shifrin seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Shifrin)
4.5 Review of Disclosure from Chief Sartell, Townsend Police Department
Accept the disclosure by Police Chief James Sartell by non-elected municipal employee of financial interest and determination by appointing authority as required by General Law Chapter 268A Section 19
Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the disclosure by Police Chief James Sartell by non-elected municipal employee of financial interest and determination by appointing authority as required by General Law Chapter 268A Section 19. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the disclosure by Police Chief James Sartell by non-elected municipal employee of financial interest and determination by appointing authority as required by General Law Chapter 268A Section 19. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
4.6 Discuss designating a Town Administrator appointed representative for the annual audit
Appoint Melissa Dunnett as the Town Administrator's designated representative for the annual audits
Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Melissa Dunnett as the Town Administrator's designated representative for the annual audits. Veronica Kell seconded the amended motion. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Melissa Dunnett as the Town Administrator's designated representative for the annual audits. Veronica Kell seconded the amended motion. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Approve the agreement for environmental monitoring and reporting of Greenville _ Road Landfill from Weston & Sampson Engineers Inc
Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the agreement for environmental monitoring and reporting of Greenville _ Road Landfill from Weston & Sampson Engineers Inc. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the agreement for environmental monitoring and reporting of Greenville _ Road Landfill from Weston & Sampson Engineers Inc. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Bestow the Boston Post Cane on Louis Dubreuil
Valerie Goodrich moved to bestow the Boston Post Cane on Louis Dubreuil. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll | call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to bestow the Boston Post Cane on Louis Dubreuil. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll | call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
5.7 Update West Townsend Reading Room
Authorize the Interim Town Administrator to request the Seventh Day Adventist Church group to remove items on or before March 15, 2026
Valerie Goodrich moved to authorize the Interim Town Administrator to request the Seventh Day Adventist Church group to remove items on or before March 15, 2026. Any items remaining would be considered surplus or trash. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura _ Shifrin - yes.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to authorize the Interim Town Administrator to request the Seventh Day Adventist Church group to remove items on or before March 15, 2026. Any items remaining would be considered surplus or trash. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura _ Shifrin - yes..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
5.9 Review/Discuss use of ARPA funds available for General Govt salaries Current ARPA balance: $93,955
Use ARPA funds available for general government salaries to make a one-time payment of $1,500 to the Town Treasurer (Melissa Dunnett) for her work as the Town Administrator representative for the...
Valerie Goodrich moved to use ARPA funds available for general government salaries to make a one-time payment of $1,500 to the Town Treasurer (Melissa Dunnett) for her work as the Town Administrator representative for the annual audit, the scope of work to be determined by the Town Administrator. Veronica ~ Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes.
From the minutes
“Valerie Goodrich moved to use ARPA funds available for general government salaries to make a one-time payment of $1,500 to the Town Treasurer (Melissa Dunnett) for her work as the Town Administrator representative for the annual audit, the scope of work to be determined by the Town Administrator. Veronica ~ Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
6.4 Next meeting date and time to be determined Next meeting: February
The board vote to recess the open session and enter an executive session and not return to open session under Mass General Law Chapter 30A Section 21(a)(3) for the purposes of discussing strategy...
Laura Shifrin moved that the board vote to recess the open session and enter an executive session and not return to open session under Mass General Law Chapter 30A Section 21(a)(3) for the purposes of discussing 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 litigating position of the - board and the chair so declares. Valerie Goodrich seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes.
From the minutes
“Laura Shifrin moved that the board vote to recess the open session and enter an executive session and not return to open session under Mass General Law Chapter 30A Section 21(a)(3) for the purposes of discussing 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 litigating position of the - board and the chair so declares. Valerie Goodrich seconded. Roll call vote: Veronica Kell - yes, Valerie Goodrich - yes, Laura Shifrin - yes..” (Motion: Shifrin, second: Goodrich)
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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