MassVoter.com← WakefieldMunicipal votes · 2017–2018 Board of Selectmen
Wakefield Town Council
How the Wakefield Town Council voted, from the Town Council’s official minutes. 7 members elected townwide for three-year terms. The last Board of Selectmen before the town charter changed: Paul R. DiNocco (Chair), Peter J. May (Vice-Chair), Mehreen N. Butt, Edward F. Dombroski, Brian E. Falvey, Anthony Longo and Ann McGonigle Santos. The new town charter replaced the seven-member Board of Selectmen with a seven-member Town Council after the April 2018 town election. MassVoter has loaded this board’s minutes from January 8, 2018 on; its last meeting was April 23, 2018. The start date is a placeholder. Covers 9 meetings, January 8 to April 23, 2018.
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.
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From the agendas Wakefield posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.
Members
"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: 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.
Apr 23Appoint Chip Tarbell of 23 Morrison Road as a…Motion: Selectman Falvey motioned to appoint Chip Tarbell of 23 Morrison Road…Passed 5–0 · Abstained: Dombroski
April 23, 2018: Appoint Chip Tarbell of 23 Morrison Road as a voting member to the Zoning Board of Appeals with a term expiration date of April 30, 2021
Selectman Falvey motioned to appoint Chip Tarbell of 23 Morrison Road as a voting member to the Zoning Board of Appeals with a term expiration date of April 30, 2021. Selectman May seconded. Selectman Dombroski stated that Mr. Tarbell as well as other applicants did not send in the requested documents that were asked of each applicant even though Sherri Dalton reached out to each person requesting the information. Selectwoman Santos commented that she has known Mr. Tarbell for many years and that he is on a few committees currently. Selectman Falvey also stated that he has known Mr. Tarbell for many years and that he has been on the Zoning Board of Appeals with him. Selectman Dombroski stressed the fact that the Board requested specific information from the applicants and not all complied. Motion passed 5-0-1 with Selectman Dombroski abstaining and stated that he is abstaining because he doesn't have enough information on Mr. Tarbell.
Yes: Butt, DiNocco, Falvey, May, SantosAbstained: Dombroski
From the minutes
“Selectman Falvey motioned to appoint Chip Tarbell of 23 Morrison Road as a voting member to the Zoning Board of Appeals with a term expiration date of April 30, 2021. Selectman May seconded. Selectman Dombroski stated that Mr. Tarbell as well as other applicants did not send in the requested documents that were asked of each applicant even though Sherri Dalton reached out to each person requesting the information. Selectwoman Santos commented that she has known Mr. Tarbell for many years and that he is on a few committees currently. Selectman Falvey also stated that he has known Mr. Tarbell for many years and that he has been on the Zoning Board of Appeals with him. Selectman Dombroski stressed the fact that the Board requested specific information from the applicants and not all complied. Motion passed 5-0-1 with Selectman Dombroski abstaining and stated that he is abstaining because he doesn't have enough information on Mr. Tarbell..” (Motion: Falvey, second: May)
Apr 23Appoint Robert Romano of 12 Brandt Circle to the…Motion: Selectman May motioned to appoint Robert Romano of 12 Brandt Circle…Passed 5–0 · Abstained: Dombroski
April 23, 2018: Appoint Robert Romano of 12 Brandt Circle to the Conservation Commission with a term expiration date of April 30, 2021
Selectman May motioned to appoint Robert Romano of 12 Brandt Circle to the Conservation Commission with a term expiration date of April 30, 2021. Selectwoman Santos seconded. Motion passed 5-0-1. Selectman Dombroski abstained citing that this applicant did not send in the requested information and Mr. Dombroski does not have enough information about Mr. Romano.
Yes: Butt, DiNocco, Falvey, May, SantosAbstained: Dombroski
From the minutes
“Selectman May motioned to appoint Robert Romano of 12 Brandt Circle to the Conservation Commission with a term expiration date of April 30, 2021. Selectwoman Santos seconded. Motion passed 5-0-1. Selectman Dombroski abstained citing that this applicant did not send in the requested information and Mr. Dombroski does not have enough information about Mr. Romano..” (Motion: May, second: Santos)
Apr 23Appoint Christine Gargano of 242 Vernon Street to the…Motion: Selectman Falvey motioned to appoint Christine Gargano of 242 Vernon Street…Passed 5–0 · Abstained: Dombroski
April 23, 2018: Appoint Christine Gargano of 242 Vernon Street to the Recreation Commission with a term expiration date of April 30, 2021
Selectman Falvey motioned to appoint Christine Gargano of 242 Vernon Street to the Recreation Commission with a term expiration date of April 30, 2021. Selectwoman May seconded. Motion passed 5-0-1. Selectman Dombroski abstained citing that this applicant did not send in the requested information and Mr. Dombroski does not have enough information about Ms. Gargano.
Yes: Butt, DiNocco, Falvey, May, SantosAbstained: Dombroski
From the minutes
“Selectman Falvey motioned to appoint Christine Gargano of 242 Vernon Street to the Recreation Commission with a term expiration date of April 30, 2021. Selectwoman May seconded. Motion passed 5-0-1. Selectman Dombroski abstained citing that this applicant did not send in the requested information and Mr. Dombroski does not have enough information about Ms. Gargano..” (Motion: Falvey, second: May)
Apr 9Approve the minutes of March 26, 2018 as presentedMotion: Selectman Falvey motioned to approve the minutes of March 26, 2018…Passed 5–0 · see note
April 9, 2018: Approve the minutes of March 26, 2018 as presented
Selectman Falvey motioned to approve the minutes of March 26, 2018 as presented. Selectman Longo seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0.
Yes: Butt, Dombroski, Falvey, Longo, MayThe minutes say “Selectwoman Santos joined the meeting at 6:46 p.m.”. The count (5-0-0) matches the 5 other members present, so they are shown voting yes and Ann McGonigle Santos is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Selectman Falvey motioned to approve the minutes of March 26, 2018 as presented. Selectman Longo seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0..” (Motion: Falvey, second: Longo)
Apr 9Appoint James DeCola of 6 Roach Circle, North Reading,…Motion: Selectman Longo motioned to appoint James DeCola of 6 Roach Circle,…Passed 5–0 · see note
April 9, 2018: Appoint James DeCola of 6 Roach Circle, North Reading, MA 01864 as the vacation replacement Building Inspector
Selectman Longo motioned to appoint James DeCola of 6 Roach Circle, North Reading, MA 01864 as the vacation replacement Building Inspector. Selectman Falvey seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0.
Yes: Butt, Dombroski, Falvey, Longo, MayThe minutes say “Selectwoman Santos joined the meeting at 6:46 p.m.”. The count (5-0-0) matches the 5 other members present, so they are shown voting yes and Ann McGonigle Santos is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Selectman Longo motioned to appoint James DeCola of 6 Roach Circle, North Reading, MA 01864 as the vacation replacement Building Inspector. Selectman Falvey seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0..” (Motion: Longo, second: Falvey)
Apr 9Appoint Joseph Ellis of 16 Priscilla Road, Lynnfield, MA…Motion: Selectman Longo motioned to appoint Joseph Ellis of 16 Priscilla Road,…Passed 5–0 · see note
April 9, 2018: Appoint Joseph Ellis of 16 Priscilla Road, Lynnfield, MA 01940 as the vacation replacement Plumbing/Gas Inspector
Selectman Longo motioned to appoint Joseph Ellis of 16 Priscilla Road, Lynnfield, MA 01940 as the vacation replacement Plumbing/Gas Inspector. Selectman Falvey seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0.
Yes: Butt, Dombroski, Falvey, Longo, MayThe minutes say “Selectwoman Santos joined the meeting at 6:46 p.m.”. The count (5-0-0) matches the 5 other members present, so they are shown voting yes and Ann McGonigle Santos is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Selectman Longo motioned to appoint Joseph Ellis of 16 Priscilla Road, Lynnfield, MA 01940 as the vacation replacement Plumbing/Gas Inspector. Selectman Falvey seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0..” (Motion: Longo, second: Falvey)
Apr 9Approve the One Day Liquor License request from Amy…Motion: Selectman Dombroski motioned to approve the One Day Liquor License request…Passed 5–0 · see note
April 9, 2018: Approve the One Day Liquor License request from Amy Wall for May 6, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Americal Civic Center
Selectman Dombroski motioned to approve the One Day Liquor License request from Amy Wall for May 6, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Americal Civic Center. Selectman Longo seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0.
Yes: Butt, Dombroski, Falvey, Longo, MayThe minutes say “Selectwoman Santos joined the meeting at 6:46 p.m.”. The count (5-0-0) matches the 5 other members present, so they are shown voting yes and Ann McGonigle Santos is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Selectman Dombroski motioned to approve the One Day Liquor License request from Amy Wall for May 6, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Americal Civic Center. Selectman Longo seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Longo)
Apr 9Approve the Annual Town Election and the Annual Town…Motion: Selectman Falvey motioned to approve the Annual Town Election and the…Passed 5–0 · see note
April 9, 2018: Approve the Annual Town Election and the Annual Town Meeting Warrant and all the Articles as presented
Selectman Falvey motioned to approve the Annual Town Election and the Annual Town Meeting Warrant and all the Articles as presented. Selectman Longo seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0.
Yes: Butt, Dombroski, Falvey, Longo, MayThe minutes say “Selectwoman Santos joined the meeting at 6:46 p.m.”. The count (5-0-0) matches the 5 other members present, so they are shown voting yes and Ann McGonigle Santos is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Selectman Falvey motioned to approve the Annual Town Election and the Annual Town Meeting Warrant and all the Articles as presented. Selectman Longo seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0..” (Motion: Falvey, second: Longo)
Apr 9Approve the high bid of $151,000.00Motion: Selectman Falvey motioned to approve the high bid of $151,000.00. Selectman…Passed 5–0 · see note
April 9, 2018: Approve the high bid of $151,000.00
Selectman Falvey motioned to approve the high bid of $151,000.00. Selectman Longo seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0.
Yes: Butt, Dombroski, Falvey, Longo, MayThe minutes say “Selectwoman Santos joined the meeting at 6:46 p.m.”. The count (5-0-0) matches the 5 other members present, so they are shown voting yes and Ann McGonigle Santos is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Selectman Falvey motioned to approve the high bid of $151,000.00. Selectman Longo seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0..” (Motion: Falvey, second: Longo)
Apr 9Approve the bid of $12,000.00Motion: Selectman Falvey motioned to approve the bid of $12,000.00. Selectman Longo…Passed 5–0 · see note
April 9, 2018: Approve the bid of $12,000.00
Selectman Falvey motioned to approve the bid of $12,000.00. Selectman Longo seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0.
Yes: Butt, Dombroski, Falvey, Longo, MayThe minutes say “Selectwoman Santos joined the meeting at 6:46 p.m.”. The count (5-0-0) matches the 5 other members present, so they are shown voting yes and Ann McGonigle Santos is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Selectman Falvey motioned to approve the bid of $12,000.00. Selectman Longo seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0..” (Motion: Falvey, second: Longo)
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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