MassVoter.com← Townsend Select BoardTownsend Select Board · 2025–2026 Board · Joint meeting
February 10, 2026
9 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
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Present: Veronica Kell, Valerie Goodrich, Laura Shifrin
Absent: None
During the meeting:
- Valerie Goodrich left before the meeting ended.
Every vote, in order
1.5 Review/Approve the meeting minutes for
Approve the meeting minutes of January 20, 2026, and February 3, 2026
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the meeting minutes of January 20, 2026, and February 3, 2026. Second: Veronica Kell. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the meeting minutes of January 20, 2026, and February 3, 2026. Second: Veronica Kell. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Accept the recommendation for a hiring freeze from the Finance Committee and the Town Administrator, with the Town Administrator to review any future requests to bring forward as necessary
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the recommendation for a hiring freeze from the Finance Committee and the Town Administrator, with the Town Administrator to review any future requests to bring forward as necessary. Second: Veronica Kell Vote: Unanimous approval by Select Board Action Item Assigned: Kieran Meehan will notify all departments via email of the hiring freeze policy and pull down any current job postings except those approved as exceptions.
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to accept the recommendation for a hiring freeze from the Finance Committee and the Town Administrator, with the Town Administrator to review any future requests to bring forward as necessary. Second: Veronica Kell Vote: Unanimous approval by Select Board Action Item Assigned: Kieran Meehan will notify all departments via email of the hiring freeze policy and pull down any current job postings except those approved as exceptions..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
3.1 Appoint Donald Hayes as the Finance Committee Representative to the Audit Committee effective
Appoint Donald Hayes as the Finance Committee representative to the Audit Committee effective February 10, 2026, until December 31, 2026
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Donald Hayes as the Finance Committee representative to the Audit Committee effective February 10, 2026, until December 31, 2026. Second: Veronica Kell Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to appoint Donald Hayes as the Finance Committee representative to the Audit Committee effective February 10, 2026, until December 31, 2026. Second: Veronica Kell Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
For the Select Board Chair to research creating a housing and economic growth ad hoc committee
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved for the Select Board Chair to research creating a housing and economic growth ad hoc committee. Second: Veronica Kell Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved for the Select Board Chair to research creating a housing and economic growth ad hoc committee. Second: Veronica Kell Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Approve the website content policy from November 2025 as presented and discussed and to sign with signature stamps out of session
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the website content policy from November 2025 as presented and discussed and to sign with signature stamps out of session. Second: Veronica Kell Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the website content policy from November 2025 as presented and discussed and to sign with signature stamps out of session. Second: Veronica Kell Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
5.2 Review/Approve re-assignment of Select Board liaison assignments
Approve the Select Board liaison assignments list of February 10, 2026, as . presented
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the Select Board liaison assignments list of February 10, 2026, as . presented. Second: Veronica Kell Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to approve the Select Board liaison assignments list of February 10, 2026, as . presented. Second: Veronica Kell Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Take this list of special municipal employees and add it to letterhead for disbursement to all department heads and to all volunteers via the volunteer handbook
Motion: Veronica Kell moved to take this list of special municipal employees and add it to letterhead for disbursement to all department heads and to all volunteers via the volunteer handbook. Second: Laura Shifrin Rollcall vote: Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye
Valerie Goodrich had left the meeting before this vote and is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“Motion: Veronica Kell moved to take this list of special municipal employees and add it to letterhead for disbursement to all department heads and to all volunteers via the volunteer handbook. Second: Laura Shifrin Rollcall vote: Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye.” (Motion: Kell, second: Shifrin)
6.5 Review and sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session
Review and sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to review and sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session. Second: Veronica Kell Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to review and sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session. Second: Veronica Kell Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
7.3 Executive Session pursuant to Open Meeting Law (Chapter
(the minutes do not state the motion)
Laura Shifrin made three separate motions to enter executive session and adjourn from Executive Session: Motion 1: To go into executive session pursuant to Open Meeting Law Chapter 30A Section 21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body, and the Chair so declares - Laura Shifrin so declared (AFSCME Local 93 - Clerical Union, Supervisors Union, Highway/Water Unions) Moton 2: To go into executive session pursuant to Open Meeting Law Chapter 30A Section 21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body, and the Chair so declares - Laura Shifrin so declared (Fire Union) Motion 3: To go into executive session pursuant to Open Meeting Law Chapter 30A Section 21 (a)(2) to conduct strategy . Sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel (Police Chief) Second: Veronica Kell (for all three motions) Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Laura Shifrin made three separate motions to enter executive session and adjourn from Executive Session: Motion 1: To go into executive session pursuant to Open Meeting Law Chapter 30A Section 21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body, and the Chair so declares - Laura Shifrin so declared (AFSCME Local 93 - Clerical Union, Supervisors Union, Highway/Water Unions) Moton 2: To go into executive session pursuant to Open Meeting Law Chapter 30A Section 21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body, and the Chair so declares - Laura Shifrin so declared (Fire Union) Motion 3: To go into executive session pursuant to Open Meeting Law Chapter 30A Section 21 (a)(2) to conduct strategy . Sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel (Police Chief) Second: Veronica Kell (for all three motions) 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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