MassVoter.com← WakefieldMunicipal votes · 2025–2026 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. Stacey Constas and John Crisley joined after the April 2025 town election; Michael J. McLane and Robert E. Vincent left (last meeting April 14, 2025), and Edward F. Dombroski resigned after being elected Town Treasurer. On April 28, 2025 the six members chose Mehreen N. Butt as Chair and Jonathan P. Chines as Vice-Chair (each 6-0-0). Brian Fox won the June 24, 2025 special election for the open seat and joined on July 14, 2025. Covers 30 meetings, April 28 to April 27, 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 →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
Vice-ChairJonathan P. ChinesVice Chair · At-large · at 29 of 30 meetings
Douglas S. ButlerMember · At-large · at 28 of 30 meetings
John F. CarneyMember · At-large · at 29 of 30 meetings
Stacey ConstasMember · At-large · at 29 of 30 meetings
John CrisleyMember · At-large · at 28 of 30 meetings
Brian FoxMember · At-large · at 22 of 24 meetings · from Jul 2025"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 27Reduce the cut to $30,000, effectively restoring the $20,000…Motion: MOTION: Move to reduce the cut to $30,000, effectively restoring the…Failed 2–5 · No: Butt, Carney, Chines, Constas, Fox
April 27, 2026: Reduce the cut to $30,000, effectively restoring the $20,000 for the Hurd School
MOTION: Move to reduce the cut to $30,000, effectively restoring the $20,000 for the Hurd School. Moved by: Douglas S. Butler Second: John Crisley Vote: 2-5 motion did not pass. Douglas S. Butler and John Crisley in favor. Jonathan P. Chines, John F. Carney, Stacey Constas, Brian Fox, and Mehreen N. Butt voting against the motion.
Yes: Butler, CrisleyNo: Butt, Carney, Chines, Constas, Fox
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to reduce the cut to $30,000, effectively restoring the $20,000 for the Hurd School. Moved by: Douglas S. Butler Second: John Crisley Vote: 2-5 motion did not pass. Douglas S. Butler and John Crisley in favor. Jonathan P. Chines, John F. Carney, Stacey Constas, Brian Fox, and Mehreen N. Butt voting against the motion..” (Motion: Butler, second: Crisley)
Apr 27Reduce the Parking Lots Construction Warrant Article from $350,000…Motion: MOTION: Move to reduce the Parking Lots Construction Warrant Article from…Passed 6–1 · No: Butler
April 27, 2026: Reduce the Parking Lots Construction Warrant Article from $350,000 to $100,000 for fiscal year 2027
MOTION: Move to reduce the Parking Lots Construction Warrant Article from $350,000 to $100,000 for fiscal year 2027. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 6-1 motion passed. Douglas S. Butler voting against the motion.
Yes: Butt, Carney, Chines, Constas, Crisley, FoxNo: Butler
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to reduce the Parking Lots Construction Warrant Article from $350,000 to $100,000 for fiscal year 2027. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 6-1 motion passed. Douglas S. Butler voting against the motion..” (Motion: Chines, second: Carney)
Apr 27Rescind approval of the Building Space and Capital Needs…Motion: MOTION: Move to rescind approval of the Building Space and Capital…Passed 6–1 · No: Crisley
April 27, 2026: Rescind approval of the Building Space and Capital Needs Assessment Warrant Article in the amount of $150,000 for fiscal year 2027
MOTION: Move to rescind approval of the Building Space and Capital Needs Assessment Warrant Article in the amount of $150,000 for fiscal year 2027. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 6-1 motion passes. John Crisley voting against the motion.
Yes: Butler, Butt, Carney, Chines, Constas, FoxNo: Crisley
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to rescind approval of the Building Space and Capital Needs Assessment Warrant Article in the amount of $150,000 for fiscal year 2027. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 6-1 motion passes. John Crisley voting against the motion..” (Motion: Chines, second: Carney)
Apr 27Approve the April 13, 2026, Town Council meeting minutes…Motion: MOTION: Move to approve the April 13, 2026, Town Council meeting…Passed 6–0 · Abstained: Fox
April 27, 2026: Approve the April 13, 2026, Town Council meeting minutes as presented
MOTION: Move to approve the April 13, 2026, Town Council meeting minutes as presented. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 6-0-1 motion passed. Brian Fox abstained.
Yes: Butler, Butt, Carney, Chines, Constas, CrisleyAbstained: Fox
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to approve the April 13, 2026, Town Council meeting minutes as presented. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 6-0-1 motion passed. Brian Fox abstained..” (Motion: Chines, second: Carney)
Apr 27Approve the April 15, 2026, Tri-Board meeting minutes as…Motion: MOTION: Move to approve the April 15, 2026, Tri-Board meeting minutes…Passed 5–0 · Abstained: Crisley, Fox
April 27, 2026: Approve the April 15, 2026, Tri-Board meeting minutes as presented
MOTION: Move to approve the April 15, 2026, Tri-Board meeting minutes as presented. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 5-0-2 motion passed. Brian Fox and John Crisley abstaining.
Yes: Butler, Butt, Carney, Chines, ConstasAbstained: Crisley, Fox
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to approve the April 15, 2026, Tri-Board meeting minutes as presented. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 5-0-2 motion passed. Brian Fox and John Crisley abstaining..” (Motion: Chines, second: Carney)
Apr 13Approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026 Annual…Motion: MOTION: Move to approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026…Passed 5–0 · Abstained: Crisley
April 13, 2026: Approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026 Annual Town Meeting
MOTION: Move to approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026 Annual Town Meeting. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 5-0-1 with John Crisley abstaining.
Yes: Butler, Butt, Carney, Chines, ConstasAbstained: Crisley
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026 Annual Town Meeting. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 5-0-1 with John Crisley abstaining..” (Motion: Chines, second: Carney)
Apr 13Approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026 Annual…Motion: MOTION: Move to approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026…Passed 5–0 · see note
April 13, 2026: Approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026 Annual Town Meeting
MOTION: Move to approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026 Annual Town Meeting. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: Unanimous (5-0). John Crisley was not present for the vote.
Yes: Butler, Butt, Carney, Chines, ConstasThe minutes say John Crisley was not present for the vote, so that member is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026 Annual Town Meeting. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: Unanimous (5-0). John Crisley was not present for the vote..” (Motion: Chines, second: Carney)
Apr 13Approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026, Annual…Motion: MOTION: Move to approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026,…Passed 5–1 · No: Butler
April 13, 2026: Approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026, Annual Town Meeting
MOTION: Move to approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026, Annual Town Meeting. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 5-1-0. Douglas S. Butler voted against the motion
Yes: Butt, Carney, Chines, Constas, CrisleyNo: Butler
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to approve for presentation at the May 4, 2026, Annual Town Meeting. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 5-1-0. Douglas S. Butler voted against the motion.” (Motion: Chines, second: Carney)
Mar 23Approve the Fortune Teller license for Dvora Intuitive for…Motion: MOTION: Move to approve the Fortune Teller license for Dvora Intuitive…Passed 6–0 · Abstained: Butler
March 23, 2026: Approve the Fortune Teller license for Dvora Intuitive for a mobile license only
MOTION: Move to approve the Fortune Teller license for Dvora Intuitive for a mobile license only. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 6-0-1 with Douglas S. Butler abstaining
Yes: Butt, Carney, Chines, Constas, Crisley, FoxAbstained: Butler
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to approve the Fortune Teller license for Dvora Intuitive for a mobile license only. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 6-0-1 with Douglas S. Butler abstaining.” (Motion: Chines, second: Carney)
Mar 23Approve the Town Council meeting minutes from March 9,…Motion: MOTION: Move to approve the Town Council meeting minutes from March…Passed 6–0 · Abstained: Butler
March 23, 2026: Approve the Town Council meeting minutes from March 9, 2026
MOTION: Move to approve the Town Council meeting minutes from March 9, 2026. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 6-0-1 with Douglas S. Butler abstaining
Yes: Butt, Carney, Chines, Constas, Crisley, FoxAbstained: Butler
From the minutes
“MOTION: Move to approve the Town Council meeting minutes from March 9, 2026. Moved by: Jonathan P. Chines Second: John F. Carney Vote: 6-0-1 with Douglas S. Butler abstaining.” (Motion: Chines, 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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