MassVoter.com← Townsend Select BoardTownsend Select Board · 2025–2026 Board · Joint meeting
March 17, 2026
9 recorded votes, 4 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
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Present: Veronica Kell, Laura Shifrin, Valerie Goodrich
Absent: None
During the meeting:
- Laura Shifrin left before the meeting ended.
Every vote, in order
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)
Adjourn
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to adjourn the Select Board portion of the joint meeting at 9:01 PM. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to adjourn the Select Board portion of the joint meeting at 9:01 PM. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote: Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
5.4 Review/Discuss/Approve Annual Town Meeting
The interim Town Administrator vet the ballot questions with town counsel after Thursday's meeting (Special Town Meeting) and submitted them for placement on the ballot
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved that the interim Town Administrator vet the ballot questions with town counsel after Thursday's meeting (Special Town Meeting) and submitted them for placement on the ballot. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved that the interim Town Administrator vet the ballot questions with town counsel after Thursday's meeting (Special Town Meeting) and submitted them for placement on the ballot. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
Place on the annual town election ballot with the question to change the Townsend Select Board from three to five members and also to place a 2.5% override question for police union salaries
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to place on the annual town election ballot with the question to change the Townsend Select Board from three to five members and also to place a 2.5% override question for police union salaries. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Valerie Goodrich yes, Veronica Kell yes, Laura Shifrin yes.
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to place on the annual town election ballot with the question to change the Townsend Select Board from three to five members and also to place a 2.5% override question for police union salaries. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Valerie Goodrich yes, Veronica Kell yes, Laura Shifrin yes..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
5.7 Memorial Hall Rental Request - Ethics Training Town Hall
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)
5.8 Appoint Ad Hoc Committee on Housing and Economic Development
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)
5.19 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. Veronica Kell seconded. 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. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll Call Vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Goodrich, second: Kell)
6.3 Executive Session pursuant to Open Meeting Law (Chapter
Enter executive session at 5:24 PM and return to open session pursuant to Open Meeting Law (Chapter 30A Section 21 (a)(2)) - To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with...
Motion: Laura Shifrin moved to enter executive session at 5:24 PM and return to open 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), 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 (Non-union personnel) 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. (AFSCME 6 Local 93 - Clerical Union, Supervisors Union, Highway/Water Union). Laura Shifrin as the Chair so declared. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veroncia Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.
From the minutes
“Motion: Laura Shifrin moved to enter executive session at 5:24 PM and return to open 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), 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 (Non-union personnel) 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. (AFSCME 6 Local 93 - Clerical Union, Supervisors Union, Highway/Water Union). Laura Shifrin as the Chair so declared. Veronica Kell seconded. Roll call vote Laura Shifrin aye, Veroncia Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye..” (Motion: Shifrin, second: Kell)
Adjourn
Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to adjourn the Select Board meeting at 9:03PM. Veronica Kell seconded. Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye
Laura Shifrin had left the meeting before this vote and is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“Motion: Valerie Goodrich moved to adjourn the Select Board meeting at 9:03PM. Veronica Kell seconded. Veronica Kell aye, Valerie Goodrich aye.” (Motion: Goodrich, 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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