MassVoter.com← WakefieldMunicipal votes · 2020–2021 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. Same seven members. On May 11, 2020 the board chose Ann McGonigle Santos as Chair and Julie Smith-Galvin as Vice-Chair (each 7-0-0 by roll call). Most 2020–2021 meetings were held on Zoom. Covers 22 meetings, May 11 to April 26, 2021.
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 →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
Jonathan P. ChinesMember · At-large · at 22 of 22 meetingsPaul R. DiNoccoMember · At-large · at 21 of 22 meetingsEdward F. DombroskiMember · At-large · at 22 of 22 meetingsPeter J. MayMember · At-large · at 16 of 22 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.
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 12Re-appoint Christopher Tarr for a three-year term to the…Motion: Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. motioned to re-appoint Christopher Tarr for a…Passed 5–0 · see note
April 12, 2021: Re-appoint Christopher Tarr for a three-year term to the Advisory Board of Public Works
Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. motioned to re-appoint Christopher Tarr for a three-year term to the Advisory Board of Public Works. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0 by a roll call vote. Paul R. DiNocco was not present for the vote.
Yes: Butt, Chines, Dombroski, Santos, Smith-GalvinThe minutes say Paul R. DiNocco was not present for the vote, so that member is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. motioned to re-appoint Christopher Tarr for a three-year term to the Advisory Board of Public Works. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0 by a roll call vote. Paul R. DiNocco was not present for the vote..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Apr 12Add a 5th appointment to the Albion Cultural Exchange…Motion: Jonathan P. Chines motioned to add a 5th appointment to the…Passed 4–1 · No: Dombroski
April 12, 2021: Add a 5th appointment to the Albion Cultural Exchange Committee
Jonathan P. Chines motioned to add a 5th appointment to the Albion Cultural Exchange Committee. Julie Smith-Galvin seconded. Motion passed 4-1-0 by a roll call vote with Julie Smith-Galvin, Jonathan P. Chines, Mehreen N. Butt and Ann Santos voting in favor of the motion. Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. voting against the motion.
Yes: Butt, Chines, Santos, Smith-GalvinNo: DombroskiThe roll call does not list Paul R. DiNocco, who was at the meeting, so that member is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Jonathan P. Chines motioned to add a 5th appointment to the Albion Cultural Exchange Committee. Julie Smith-Galvin seconded. Motion passed 4-1-0 by a roll call vote with Julie Smith-Galvin, Jonathan P. Chines, Mehreen N. Butt and Ann Santos voting in favor of the motion. Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. voting against the motion..” (Motion: Chines, second: Smith-Galvin)
Apr 12Appoint Kathy Frey, Christopher Carino, Tracy Shea, AnnMarie Gallivan…Motion: Jonathan P. Chines motioned to appoint Kathy Frey, Christopher Carino, Tracy…Passed 5–0 · see note
April 12, 2021: Appoint Kathy Frey, Christopher Carino, Tracy Shea, AnnMarie Gallivan and Douglas Henning for three-year terms to the Albion Cultural Exchange Committee
Jonathan P. Chines motioned to appoint Kathy Frey, Christopher Carino, Tracy Shea, AnnMarie Gallivan and Douglas Henning for three-year terms to the Albion Cultural Exchange Committee. Mehreen N. Butt seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0 by a roll call vote. Paul R. DiNocco was not present for the vote.
Yes: Butt, Chines, Dombroski, Santos, Smith-GalvinThe minutes say Paul R. DiNocco was not present for the vote, so that member is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“Jonathan P. Chines motioned to appoint Kathy Frey, Christopher Carino, Tracy Shea, AnnMarie Gallivan and Douglas Henning for three-year terms to the Albion Cultural Exchange Committee. Mehreen N. Butt seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0 by a roll call vote. Paul R. DiNocco was not present for the vote..” (Motion: Chines, second: Butt)
Apr 12Approve the request of the Capital Planning Committee to…Motion: Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. motioned to approve the request of the…Passed 5–0 · see note
April 12, 2021: Approve the request of the Capital Planning Committee to add an additional committee member
Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. motioned to approve the request of the Capital Planning Committee to add an additional committee member. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0 by a roll call vote. Paul R. DiNocco was not present for the vote.
Yes: Butt, Chines, Dombroski, Santos, Smith-GalvinThe minutes say Paul R. DiNocco was not present for the vote, so that member is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. motioned to approve the request of the Capital Planning Committee to add an additional committee member. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0 by a roll call vote. Paul R. DiNocco was not present for the vote..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Chines)
Mar 22Approve the March 08th, 2021 regular meeting minutes as…Motion: Approval of Minutes: Paul R. DiNocco motioned to approve the March…Passed 6–0 · see note
March 22, 2021: Approve the March 08th, 2021 regular meeting minutes as proposed
Approval of Minutes: Paul R. DiNocco motioned to approve the March 08th, 2021 regular meeting minutes as proposed. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote.
Yes: Butt, Chines, DiNocco, Dombroski, Santos, Smith-GalvinThe minutes say “Peter J. May arrived at 6:55 p.m.”. The count (6-0-0) matches the 6 other members present, so they are shown voting yes and Peter J. May is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Approval of Minutes: Paul R. DiNocco motioned to approve the March 08th, 2021 regular meeting minutes as proposed. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. Motion passed 6-0-0 by a roll call vote..” (Motion: DiNocco, second: Chines)
Mar 22Extend the public comment period for the Lake Boat…Motion: Lake Boat Concession: Jonathan P. Chines motioned to extend the public…Passed 4–3 · No: DiNocco, Dombroski, May
March 22, 2021: Extend the public comment period for the Lake Boat Concession to May 21st, 2021
Lake Boat Concession: Jonathan P. Chines motioned to extend the public comment period for the Lake Boat Concession to May 21st, 2021. Mehreen N. Butt seconded. Motion passed 4-3-0 by a roll call vote with Ann Santos, Julie Smith Galvin, Jonathan P. Chines and Mehreen N. Butt voting in favor motion and Paul N. DiNocco, Peter J. May and Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. voting against the motion.
Yes: Butt, Chines, Santos, Smith-GalvinNo: DiNocco, Dombroski, May
From the minutes
“Lake Boat Concession: Jonathan P. Chines motioned to extend the public comment period for the Lake Boat Concession to May 21st, 2021. Mehreen N. Butt seconded. Motion passed 4-3-0 by a roll call vote with Ann Santos, Julie Smith Galvin, Jonathan P. Chines and Mehreen N. Butt voting in favor motion and Paul N. DiNocco, Peter J. May and Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. voting against the motion..” (Motion: Chines, second: Butt)
Mar 8Approve Refuse/Recycling/Yard Waste Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article Option…Motion: Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. motioned to approve Refuse/Recycling/Yard Waste Annual Town…Failed 2–5 · No: Butt, Chines, DiNocco, Santos, Smith-Galvin
March 8, 2021: Approve Refuse/Recycling/Yard Waste Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article Option A representing a request of $2,284,011.00
Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. motioned to approve Refuse/Recycling/Yard Waste Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article Option A representing a request of $2,284,011.00. Mehreen N. Butt seconded. Motion failed 2-5-0 by a roll call vote with Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. and Peter J. May voting in the affirmative and Julie Smith Galvin, Mehreen N. Butt, Jonathan P. Chines, Paul R. DiNocco and Ann Santos voting against the motion.
Yes: Dombroski, MayNo: Butt, Chines, DiNocco, Santos, Smith-Galvin
From the minutes
“Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. motioned to approve Refuse/Recycling/Yard Waste Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article Option A representing a request of $2,284,011.00. Mehreen N. Butt seconded. Motion failed 2-5-0 by a roll call vote with Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. and Peter J. May voting in the affirmative and Julie Smith Galvin, Mehreen N. Butt, Jonathan P. Chines, Paul R. DiNocco and Ann Santos voting against the motion..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Butt)
Mar 8Approve Refuse/Recycling/Yard Waste Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article Option…Motion: Julie Smith Galvin motioned to approve Refuse/Recycling/Yard Waste Annual Town Meeting…Passed 5–2 · No: Dombroski, May
March 8, 2021: Approve Refuse/Recycling/Yard Waste Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article Option B request of $2,199,441.00 which represents a budget offset based on a $20.00 bulk item fee
Julie Smith Galvin motioned to approve Refuse/Recycling/Yard Waste Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article Option B request of $2,199,441.00 which represents a budget offset based on a $20.00 bulk item fee. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. Motion passed 5-2-0 by a roll call vote with Julie Smith Galvin, Mehreen N. Butt, Jonathan P. Chines, Paul R. DiNocco and Ann Santos voting in the affirmative and Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. and Peter J. May voting against the motion.
Yes: Butt, Chines, DiNocco, Santos, Smith-GalvinNo: Dombroski, May
From the minutes
“Julie Smith Galvin motioned to approve Refuse/Recycling/Yard Waste Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article Option B request of $2,199,441.00 which represents a budget offset based on a $20.00 bulk item fee. Jonathan P. Chines seconded. Motion passed 5-2-0 by a roll call vote with Julie Smith Galvin, Mehreen N. Butt, Jonathan P. Chines, Paul R. DiNocco and Ann Santos voting in the affirmative and Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. and Peter J. May voting against the motion..” (Motion: Smith-Galvin, second: Chines)
Feb 22Town Election - April 27th, 2021: After discussion regarding…Motion: Town Election - April 27th, 2021: After discussion regarding the placement…Passed 5–2 · No: Butt, Chines
February 22, 2021: Town Election - April 27th, 2021: After discussion regarding the placement of a non-binding public opinion advisory question ("Do you support keeping the Wakefield Warrior Logo with Native...
Town Election - April 27th, 2021: After discussion regarding the placement of a non-binding public opinion advisory question ("Do you support keeping the Wakefield Warrior Logo with Native American Imagery, as Wakefield Memorial High Schools Logo") to be placed on the municipal election ballot of Tuesday, April 27th, 2021, Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. so motioned the approval of the question. Paul R. DiNocco seconded. Motion passed 5-2-0 by a roll call vote with Ann Santos, Julie Smith- Galvin, Edward F. Dombroski, Jr., Paul R. DiNocco and Peter J. May voting in the affirmative. Jonathan P. Chines and Mehreen N. Butt voting against the motion.
Yes: DiNocco, Dombroski, May, Santos, Smith-GalvinNo: Butt, Chines
From the minutes
“Town Election - April 27th, 2021: After discussion regarding the placement of a non-binding public opinion advisory question ("Do you support keeping the Wakefield Warrior Logo with Native American Imagery, as Wakefield Memorial High Schools Logo") to be placed on the municipal election ballot of Tuesday, April 27th, 2021, Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. so motioned the approval of the question. Paul R. DiNocco seconded. Motion passed 5-2-0 by a roll call vote with Ann Santos, Julie Smith- Galvin, Edward F. Dombroski, Jr., Paul R. DiNocco and Peter J. May voting in the affirmative. Jonathan P. Chines and Mehreen N. Butt voting against the motion..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: DiNocco)
Nov 23Go forward with the Albion Street design as presentedMotion: Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. motioned to go forward with the Albion…Passed 5–1 · No: DiNocco
November 23, 2020: Go forward with the Albion Street design as presented
Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. motioned to go forward with the Albion Street design as presented. Julie Smith-Galvin seconded. Motion passed 5-1-0 with Paul R. DiNocco voting against the motion.
Yes: Butt, Chines, Dombroski, Santos, Smith-GalvinNo: DiNocco
From the minutes
“Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. motioned to go forward with the Albion Street design as presented. Julie Smith-Galvin seconded. Motion passed 5-1-0 with Paul R. DiNocco voting against the motion..” (Motion: Dombroski, second: Smith-Galvin)
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.
How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →