MassVoter.com← WakefieldMunicipal votes · 2026–2027 Council
Wakefield Town Council
How the Wakefield Town Council voted, from the Town Council’s official minutes. 7 members elected townwide for three-year terms. Ami Ruehrwein Wall joined after the April 2026 town election (first meeting May 4, 2026); Mehreen N. Butt left (last meeting April 27, 2026). On May 18, 2026 the board chose Jonathan P. Chines as Chair and Stacey Constas as Vice-Chair (each 7-0 by roll call). Minutes after September 14, 2026 are not posted yet. The end date is a placeholder. Covers 8 meetings so far, May 4 to September 14, 2026.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Town Council 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 Town Council, votes the town budget and town bylaws.
Sources: Massachusetts Select Board Handbook (MMA) · Mass. Division of Local Services: the town budgetYour Wakefield ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →Vote Transparency Score
Wakefield Town Council: 7 out of 10 · Mostly open
How easy Wakefield makes it to see, online, how each member votes. It scores the town’s records, not any official. Checked October 10, 2026.
- Minutes postedMinutes are posted for every meeting more than three months old.Full points: 2/2
- Each vote namedThe minutes name the councilors who vote no or abstain, but usually not every councilor’s vote.Part points: 2/3
- Posted quicklyMinutes are posted for every meeting more than a month old.Full points: 2/2
- Past years onlineTown Council and Board of Selectmen minutes from 2012 to today are online.Full points: 1/1
- Readable textSome recent minutes are scanned images, not text you can search and copy.No points: 0/1
- Member photosThe town’s website lists the councilors’ names but no photos.No points: 0/1
How the town can raise its score
- Each vote named (+1): On any vote that isn’t unanimous, write how each member voted. For example: “Motion passed 3–2. Yes: Smith, Jones, Lee. No: Brown, Silva.” A roll call on split votes is the simplest way to do this.
- Readable text (+1): Save minutes straight from Word or Google Docs as a PDF instead of printing and scanning them. If a scan is needed, turn on the scanner’s “searchable PDF” or text-recognition setting.
- Member photos (+1): Show a photo of each member on the board’s web page, with their name, the date their term ends and how to contact them. A group photo of the members, with everyone named in the caption or on the same page, earns half a point.
How we score · Something wrong, or has the town made a change? Email info@massvoter.com and we’ll re-check.
A monthly email on its votes, starting in November. We'll also tell you if this score changes.
Board years
Coming up
- Wed, Oct 14Council on Aging →
From the agendas Wakefield posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.
Members
ChairJonathan P. ChinesChair · At-large · at 8 of 8 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
Vice-ChairStacey ConstasVice Chair · At-large · at 8 of 8 meetings
Douglas S. ButlerMember · At-large · at 7 of 8 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
John F. CarneyMember · At-large · at 8 of 8 meetings
John CrisleyMember · At-large · at 6 of 8 meetings
Brian FoxMember · At-large · at 8 of 8 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
Ami Ruehrwein WallMember · At-large · at 8 of 8 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.
Attendance
17 full-board meetings so far this year, through September 14. Ties share a rank.
1John F. Carney17 of 17 meetings Every meeting100%1Jonathan P. Chines17 of 17 meetings Every meeting100%1Stacey Constas17 of 17 meetings Every meeting100%1Mehreen N. Butt9 of 9 meetings · served until Apr Every meeting100%1Ami Ruehrwein Wall8 of 8 meetings · served from May Every meeting100%6Brian Fox16 of 17 meetings94%7Douglas S. Butler15 of 17 meetings88%7John Crisley15 of 17 meetings88%28 full-board meetings in 2025. Ties share a rank.
1Mehreen N. Butt28 of 28 meetings Every meeting100%1Michael J. McLane7 of 7 meetings · served until Apr Every meeting100%1Robert E. Vincent7 of 7 meetings · served until Apr Every meeting100%4Douglas S. Butler27 of 28 meetings96%4John F. Carney27 of 28 meetings96%4Jonathan P. Chines27 of 28 meetings96%7Stacey Constas20 of 21 meetings · served from Apr95%8Brian Fox14 of 15 meetings · served from Jul93%9John Crisley19 of 21 meetings · served from Apr90%10Edward F. Dombroski6 of 7 meetings · served until Apr86%23 full-board meetings in 2024. Ties share a rank.
1Mehreen N. Butt23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Jonathan P. Chines23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Robert E. Vincent23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Anne P. Danehy8 of 8 meetings · served until Apr Every meeting100%5Edward F. Dombroski22 of 23 meetings96%5Michael J. McLane22 of 23 meetings96%7John F. Carney14 of 15 meetings · served from May93%8Julie Smith-Galvin7 of 8 meetings · served until Apr88%9Douglas S. Butler13 of 15 meetings · served from May87%25 full-board meetings in 2023. Ties share a rank.
1Jonathan P. Chines25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Edward F. Dombroski25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Robert E. Vincent25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%4Mehreen N. Butt24 of 25 meetings96%4Michael J. McLane24 of 25 meetings96%6Anne P. Danehy22 of 25 meetings88%6Julie Smith-Galvin22 of 25 meetings88%23 full-board meetings in 2022. Ties share a rank.
1Mehreen N. Butt23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Jonathan P. Chines23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Edward F. Dombroski23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Julie Smith-Galvin23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Robert E. Vincent15 of 15 meetings · served from May Every meeting100%1Ann McGonigle Santos8 of 8 meetings · served until Apr Every meeting100%7Anne P. Danehy22 of 23 meetings96%8Michael J. McLane19 of 20 meetings · served from Feb95%25 full-board meetings in 2021. Ties share a rank.
1Mehreen N. Butt25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Jonathan P. Chines25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Edward F. Dombroski25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Ann McGonigle Santos25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Julie Smith-Galvin25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Anne P. Danehy17 of 17 meetings · served from May Every meeting100%7Paul R. DiNocco7 of 8 meetings · served until Apr88%8Peter J. May10 of 18 meetings · served until Sep56%24 full-board meetings in 2020. Ties share a rank.
1Mehreen N. Butt24 of 24 meetings Every meeting100%1Jonathan P. Chines24 of 24 meetings Every meeting100%1Edward F. Dombroski24 of 24 meetings Every meeting100%1Ann McGonigle Santos24 of 24 meetings Every meeting100%1Julie Smith-Galvin24 of 24 meetings Every meeting100%6Paul R. DiNocco21 of 24 meetings88%7Peter J. May17 of 24 meetings71%21 full-board meetings in 2019. Ties share a rank.
1Mehreen N. Butt21 of 21 meetings Every meeting100%1Julie Smith-Galvin21 of 21 meetings Every meeting100%1Jonathan P. Chines13 of 13 meetings · served from May Every meeting100%4Paul R. DiNocco20 of 21 meetings95%4Edward F. Dombroski20 of 21 meetings95%4Ann McGonigle Santos20 of 21 meetings95%7Anthony Longo7 of 8 meetings · served until Apr88%8Peter J. May17 of 21 meetings81%From the official minutes: full-board meetings only (committee meetings are not counted). Members are counted only for meetings held while they served, and arriving late counts as attending. The minutes rarely say why a member was absent. Not shown: 2018, because too many of that year’s meetings are missing from the posted minutes.
A monthly email on its votes and who was there, starting in November.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: Wakefield Town Council minutes from January 8, 2018 through September 14, 2026: 199 meetings and 2,587 votes. Wakefield’s new town charter replaced the seven-member Board of Selectmen with the seven-member Town Council after the April 2018 town election; the January–April 2018 meetings are the Board of Selectmen’s and are shown as the 2017–2018 board. The town’s Agenda Center holds minutes back to 2012; MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. Not here: ten 2018 meetings (May 14, June 11, June 25, July 16, August 16, September 10, September 27, October 15, October 29 and November 15, 2018), where the file posted as the minutes is a copy of the agenda; a few other meetings with an agenda but no minutes online (among them the October 2, 2019 council retreat, the October 17, 2019 and October 21, 2020 Tri-Board meetings and the May 5, 2020 regional summit); meetings of council subcommittees (the 40A Subcommittee and the Town Administrator Contract Subcommittee); executive-session minutes; informal office hours and coffee hours; and meetings after September 14, 2026 (the September 28, 2026 minutes are not posted yet). Nine sets of minutes are scanned images or have an unreadable text layer (April 24 and May 8, 2023; August 11, 12, 14, 18 and 26 and December 8, 2025); MassVoter read them with text recognition, so quoted words may keep small reading errors. Wakefield’s minutes give the mover, the seconder and a count (“Motion passed 7-0-0,” “Vote: Unanimous (7-0)”). When the count equals the members present, each is shown voting yes; when the minutes name the members who voted no or abstained, or list how each voted, they are shown by name. When the minutes say a member arrived late, left early or stepped out and the count matches the others present, that member is left out of the vote, with a note. Where a count does not match the members present, we show the count only (9 votes); where the minutes give no count or names, including motions that “passed by acclamation” (mostly adjournments), we show the result only (42 votes). Joint meetings with the School Committee, Board of Health, Library Trustees, Gas & Light Commissioners and the Tri-Board meetings are included, but only the members’ votes are shown. Three sets of minutes leave a member off the attendance list who moved, seconded or voted (February 22 and March 8, 2021; June 24, 2024); that member is counted present, with a note. 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.
Sep 14Approve the guidance for "Alternate One" (no bike lanes)…Motion: MOTION: Move to approve the guidance for "Alternate One" (no bike…Passed 5–2 · No: Carney, Crisley
September 14, 2026: Approve the guidance for "Alternate One" (no bike lanes) for the Main and Water Street intersection
MOTION: Move to approve the guidance for "Alternate One" (no bike lanes) for the Main and Water Street intersection. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: Ami Ruehrwein Wall Vote: 5-2-0. John F. Carney and John Crisley voting against the motion.
Yes: Butler, Chines, Constas, Fox, WallNo: Carney, Crisley
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to approve the guidance for "Alternate One" (no bike lanes) for the Main and Water Street intersection. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: Ami Ruehrwein Wall Vote: 5-2-0. John F. Carney and John Crisley voting against the motion..” (Motion: Constas, second: Wall)
Sep 14Proceed with the current 25% design layout for the…Motion: MOTION: Move to proceed with the current 25% design layout for…Passed 5–2 · No: Butler, Crisley
September 14, 2026: Proceed with the current 25% design layout for the Nahant/Main/North intersection
MOTION: Move to proceed with the current 25% design layout for the Nahant/Main/North intersection. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: Ami Ruehrwein Wall Vote: 5-2-0. Douglas S. Butler and John Crisley voting against the motion.
Yes: Carney, Chines, Constas, Fox, WallNo: Butler, Crisley
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to proceed with the current 25% design layout for the Nahant/Main/North intersection. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: Ami Ruehrwein Wall Vote: 5-2-0. Douglas S. Butler and John Crisley voting against the motion..” (Motion: Constas, second: Wall)
Jul 20Approve the change of hours for Life Love Cheese,…Motion: MOTION: Move to approve the change of hours for Life Love…Passed 6–0 · see note
July 20, 2026: Approve the change of hours for Life Love Cheese, LLC at 184 Water Street as proposed
MOTION: Move to approve the change of hours for Life Love Cheese, LLC at 184 Water Street as proposed. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: John F. Carney Vote: Unanimous (6-0)
Yes: Butler, Carney, Chines, Constas, Crisley, FoxThe minutes say “Ami Ruehrwein Wall joined at 7:40 p.m.”. The count (6-0) matches the 6 other members present, so they are shown voting yes and Ami Ruehrwein Wall is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to approve the change of hours for Life Love Cheese, LLC at 184 Water Street as proposed. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: John F. Carney Vote: Unanimous (6-0).” (Motion: Constas, second: Carney)
Jul 20Approve the Regional Health and Human Services Department three-year…Motion: MOTION: Move to approve the Regional Health and Human Services Department…Passed 6–1 · No: Butler
July 20, 2026: Approve the Regional Health and Human Services Department three-year Intermunicipal Agreement, July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2029 as presented
MOTION: Move to approve the Regional Health and Human Services Department three-year Intermunicipal Agreement, July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2029 as presented. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: John F. Carney Vote: 6-1-0 by roll call. Stacey Constas: Yes; John F. Carney: Yes; John Crisley: Yes; Brian Fox: Yes; Ami Ruehrwein Wall: Yes; Jonathan P. Chines: Yes; Douglas S. Butler: No.
Yes: Carney, Chines, Constas, Crisley, Fox, WallNo: Butler
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to approve the Regional Health and Human Services Department three-year Intermunicipal Agreement, July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2029 as presented. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: John F. Carney Vote: 6-1-0 by roll call. Stacey Constas: Yes; John F. Carney: Yes; John Crisley: Yes; Brian Fox: Yes; Ami Ruehrwein Wall: Yes; Jonathan P. Chines: Yes; Douglas S. Butler: No..” (Motion: Constas, second: Carney)
Jul 20Appoint Emilly Aiolff, Ella Bachman, Katalina Chea, Nathaniel Chines,…Motion: MOTION: Move to appoint Emilly Aiolff, Ella Bachman, Katalina Chea, Nathaniel…Passed 6–0 · Abstained: Chines
July 20, 2026: Appoint Emilly Aiolff, Ella Bachman, Katalina Chea, Nathaniel Chines, Parker Hamlin, Morgan MacRobbie, Nicolas Moody, and Mia Russo to the Youth Council with terms expiring June 30, 2027
MOTION: Move to appoint Emilly Aiolff, Ella Bachman, Katalina Chea, Nathaniel Chines, Parker Hamlin, Morgan MacRobbie, Nicolas Moody, and Mia Russo to the Youth Council with terms expiring June 30, 2027. Moved by: John F. Carney Second: Brian Fox Vote: 6-0-1. Douglas Butler: Yes; John F. Carney: Yes; John Crisley: Yes; Stacey Constas: Yes; Brian Fox: Yes; Ami Ruehrwein Wall: Yes; Jonathan P. Chines: Abstained
Yes: Butler, Carney, Constas, Crisley, Fox, WallAbstained: Chines
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to appoint Emilly Aiolff, Ella Bachman, Katalina Chea, Nathaniel Chines, Parker Hamlin, Morgan MacRobbie, Nicolas Moody, and Mia Russo to the Youth Council with terms expiring June 30, 2027. Moved by: John F. Carney Second: Brian Fox Vote: 6-0-1. Douglas Butler: Yes; John F. Carney: Yes; John Crisley: Yes; Stacey Constas: Yes; Brian Fox: Yes; Ami Ruehrwein Wall: Yes; Jonathan P. Chines: Abstained.” (Motion: Carney, second: Fox)
Jun 24The Board of Health be authorized to put temporary…Motion: MOTION: Move that the Board of Health be authorized to put…Passed 5–1 · No: Butler
June 24, 2026: The Board of Health be authorized to put temporary signage up in the event an algae bloom creates a health issue
MOTION: Move that the Board of Health be authorized to put temporary signage up in the event an algae bloom creates a health issue. Moved by: John F. Carney Second: Ami Ruehrwein Wall Vote: 5-1-0 by roll call. Stacey Constas: Yes; Ami Ruehrwein Wall: Yes; Brian Fox: Yes; John F. Carney: Yes; Jonathan P. Chines: Yes; Douglas S. Butler: No
Yes: Carney, Chines, Constas, Fox, WallNo: Butler
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move that the Board of Health be authorized to put temporary signage up in the event an algae bloom creates a health issue. Moved by: John F. Carney Second: Ami Ruehrwein Wall Vote: 5-1-0 by roll call. Stacey Constas: Yes; Ami Ruehrwein Wall: Yes; Brian Fox: Yes; John F. Carney: Yes; Jonathan P. Chines: Yes; Douglas S. Butler: No.” (Motion: Carney, second: Wall)
Jun 8Accept the Affordable Housing Trust report as presentedMotion: MOTION: Move to accept the Affordable Housing Trust report as presented.…Passed 6–0 · see note
June 8, 2026: Accept the Affordable Housing Trust report as presented
MOTION: Move to accept the Affordable Housing Trust report as presented. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: John F. Carney Vote: 6-0. Ami Ruehrwein was not available for the vote.
Yes: Butler, Carney, Chines, Constas, Crisley, FoxThe minutes say Ami Ruehrwein Wall was not present for the vote, so that member is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to accept the Affordable Housing Trust report as presented. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: John F. Carney Vote: 6-0. Ami Ruehrwein was not available for the vote..” (Motion: Constas, second: Carney)
Jun 8Appoint Willy Chung to the Environmental Sustainability Committee with…Motion: MOTION: Move to appoint Willy Chung to the Environmental Sustainability Committee…Passed 6–0 · see note
June 8, 2026: Appoint Willy Chung to the Environmental Sustainability Committee with a term ending April 30, 2029
MOTION: Move to appoint Willy Chung to the Environmental Sustainability Committee with a term ending April 30, 2029. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: John F. Carney Vote: Unanimous (6-0)
Yes: Butler, Carney, Chines, Constas, Crisley, FoxThe minutes say “Ami Ruehrwein Wall joined at 7:23 p.m.”; “Ami Ruehrwein Wall left the meeting at 8:50 p.m.”. The count (6-0) matches the 6 other members present, so they are shown voting yes and Ami Ruehrwein Wall is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to appoint Willy Chung to the Environmental Sustainability Committee with a term ending April 30, 2029. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: John F. Carney Vote: Unanimous (6-0).” (Motion: Constas, second: Carney)
Jun 8Appoint Jillian Arcari and Laila Atoui as the student…Motion: MOTION: Move to appoint Jillian Arcari and Laila Atoui as the…Passed 6–0 · see note
June 8, 2026: Appoint Jillian Arcari and Laila Atoui as the student members to the Human Rights Commission with a term ending June 30, 2027
MOTION: Move to appoint Jillian Arcari and Laila Atoui as the student members to the Human Rights Commission with a term ending June 30, 2027. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: John F. Carney Vote: Unanimous (6-0)
Yes: Butler, Carney, Chines, Constas, Crisley, FoxThe minutes say “Ami Ruehrwein Wall joined at 7:23 p.m.”; “Ami Ruehrwein Wall left the meeting at 8:50 p.m.”. The count (6-0) matches the 6 other members present, so they are shown voting yes and Ami Ruehrwein Wall is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to appoint Jillian Arcari and Laila Atoui as the student members to the Human Rights Commission with a term ending June 30, 2027. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: John F. Carney Vote: Unanimous (6-0).” (Motion: Constas, second: Carney)
Jun 8Appoint Isabella Melo and Marlene Veldwisch to the Human…Motion: MOTION: Move to appoint Isabella Melo and Marlene Veldwisch to the…Passed 6–0 · see note
June 8, 2026: Appoint Isabella Melo and Marlene Veldwisch to the Human Rights Commission with terms ending April 30, 2029
MOTION: Move to appoint Isabella Melo and Marlene Veldwisch to the Human Rights Commission with terms ending April 30, 2029. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: John F. Carney Vote: Unanimous (6-0)
Yes: Butler, Carney, Chines, Constas, Crisley, FoxThe minutes say “Ami Ruehrwein Wall joined at 7:23 p.m.”; “Ami Ruehrwein Wall left the meeting at 8:50 p.m.”. The count (6-0) matches the 6 other members present, so they are shown voting yes and Ami Ruehrwein Wall is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to appoint Isabella Melo and Marlene Veldwisch to the Human Rights Commission with terms ending April 30, 2029. Moved by: Stacey Constas Second: John F. Carney Vote: Unanimous (6-0).” (Motion: Constas, second: Carney)
From the Wakefield Town Council’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center (Town Council). We check every vote against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos (the town’s website has no member photos): Jonathan Chines from his own Wakefield Patch posts (2026); Stacey Constas (2025), John Crisley (2025, captioned group photo) and Ami Ruehrwein Wall (April 2026 WCAT candidate forum screenshot) from the Wakefield Daily Item; Douglas Butler and John Carney from WCAT’s 2024 candidate interview photos (Barbara Worley); Brian Fox from WCAT’s board page (2021). All cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.
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