MassVoter.com← Walpole Select Board
Walpole Member
James O’Neil
Elected townwide · 9 terms in this record
Jim O’Neil
A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.
Board years
Record at a glance · 2025–2026 Board
How these numbers work
- Counted from the official minutes, for 2025–2026 Board only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
- Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list O’Neil as present or absent at the start.
- Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
- Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
- A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
- “Whole board” combines every member’s record for the same term.
These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.
In the news
No recent stories found that name James O’Neil in the headline or opening.
Stories that name James O’Neil in the headline or opening, newest first, from 25 free news outlets (see the list). Headlines appear as each outlet published them; MassVoter does not write, choose or rate them. Only stories that are free to read are listed.
Disclosure: MassVoter’s founder, Michael Silvia, is the publisher of Fall River Reporter and New Bedford Guide.
Attendance
At the start of 20 of 21 Select Board meetings in 2025–2026 Board.
Missed
- Jan 20, 2026 · Regular: Absent
Every meeting (21)
- May 12, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Apr 28, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Apr 7, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Mar 24, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Mar 10, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Feb 24, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Feb 3, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Jan 20, 2026 · Regular: Absent
- Jan 6, 2026 · Regular: Present
- Dec 16, 2025 · Joint: Present
- Dec 2, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Nov 18, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Nov 4, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Oct 28, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Oct 7, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Sep 23, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Sep 9, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Aug 5, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Jul 15, 2025 · Regular: Present
- Jun 17, 2025 · Regular: Present
- May 21, 2025 · Special: Present
Votes where members disagreed · 2025–2026 Board
Apr 28Recommend favorable action on Article 8Motion: Motion to recommend favorable action on Article 8 was made by…Passed 4–1 · O’Neil: Yes
April 28, 2026: Recommend favorable action on Article 8
Motion to recommend favorable action on Article 8 was made by Clerk Maffei and seconded by Board member Gallivan. The
Voted: Yes
Yes: Barrett, Gallivan, Hamilton, O’NeilNo: Maffei
From the minutes
“Motion to recommend favorable action on Article 8 was made by Clerk Maffei and seconded by Board member Gallivan. The motion carried 4-1-0 Clerk Maffei opposed.” (Motion: Maffei, second: Gallivan)
Mar 10Recommend favorable action on Article 6, FY27 sewer and…Motion: Chair made a motion to recommend favorable action on Article 6,…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · O’Neil: Yes
March 10, 2026: Recommend favorable action on Article 6, FY27 sewer and water budgets
Chair made a motion to recommend favorable action on Article 6, FY27 sewer and water budgets. The motion was seconded by Board member Gallivan
Voted: Yes
The minutes say only that "the Chair" made the motion; Benjamin Barrett was Chair.
From the minutes
“Chair made a motion to recommend favorable action on Article 6, FY27 sewer and water budgets. The motion was seconded by Board member Gallivan and passed 5-0-0.” (Motion: Barrett, second: Gallivan)
Dec 2Approve the request of Friends of Saint Patrick to…Motion: Motion to approve the request of Friends of Saint Patrick to…Passed 4–0 · O’Neil: Abstained
December 2, 2025: Approve the request of Friends of Saint Patrick to hold annual parade on March 13, 2026, beginning at 11:25-11:30 AM and to block a section of Main Street between Stone…
Motion to approve the request of Friends of Saint Patrick to hold annual parade on March 13, 2026, beginning at 11:25-11:30 AM and to block a section of Main Street between Stone and Common Street at the conclusion of the parade for approximately 15 minutes was made by Clerk Maffei, seconded by Board member Gallivan
Voted: Abstained
Yes: Barrett, Gallivan, Hamilton, MaffeiAbstained: O’Neil
From the minutes
“Motion to approve the request of Friends of Saint Patrick to hold annual parade on March 13, 2026, beginning at 11:25-11:30 AM and to block a section of Main Street between Stone and Common Street at the conclusion of the parade for approximately 15 minutes was made by Clerk Maffei, seconded by Board member Gallivan and passed with a 4-0-1 Board member O’Neil abstaining.” (Motion: Maffei, second: Gallivan)
Dec 2Approve the consent items as listed on the December…Motion: Motion to approve the consent items as listed on the December…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · O’Neil: Yes
December 2, 2025: Approve the consent items as listed on the December 2nd agenda
Motion to approve the consent items as listed on the December 2nd agenda was made by Clerk Maffei, seconded by Board member Gallican
Voted: Yes
The minutes name the seconder as “Board member Gallican”; the town confirmed this is a typo for Mark Gallivan (Town of Walpole (Director of Administrative Services Aoife Kelly) email to MassVoter.com, October 6, 2026).
From the minutes
“Motion to approve the consent items as listed on the December 2nd agenda was made by Clerk Maffei, seconded by Board member Gallican and passed with a 5-0-0.” (Motion: Maffei, second: Gallivan)
Nov 18Adopt a shift of 1.3 with a residential factor…Motion: Motion to adopt a shift of 1.3 with a residential factor…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · O’Neil: Yes
November 18, 2025: Adopt a shift of 1.3 with a residential factor of 0.9630 for fiscal year
Motion to adopt a shift of 1.3 with a residential factor of 0.9630 for fiscal year was made by Clerk Maffei, seconded Board member Gallivan,
Voted: Yes
The motion says “for fiscal year” without naming the year; the town confirmed it is fiscal year 2026 (Town of Walpole (Director of Administrative Services Aoife Kelly) email to MassVoter.com, October 6, 2026).
From the minutes
“Motion to adopt a shift of 1.3 with a residential factor of 0.9630 for fiscal year was made by Clerk Maffei, seconded Board member Gallivan, and passed 4-0-0.” (Motion: Maffei, second: Gallivan)
Jul 15Ratify the appointment of Lauren Gordon as Recreation DirectorMotion: Clerk Maffei made a motion to ratify the appointment of Lauren…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · O’Neil: Yes
July 15, 2025: Ratify the appointment of Lauren Gordon as Recreation Director
Clerk Maffei made a motion to ratify the appointment of Lauren Gordon as Recreation Director. Board member O’Neil seconded the motion. The
Voted: Yes
Mark Gallivan arrived at 6:14pm; the count (4-0-0) matches the four members there before he arrived.
From the minutes
“Clerk Maffei made a motion to ratify the appointment of Lauren Gordon as Recreation Director. Board member O’Neil seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 4-0-0.” (Motion: Maffei, second: O’Neil)
Jul 15Approve the request of the Walpole Veterans Service Committee…Motion: Clerk Maffei made a motion to approve the request of the…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · O’Neil: Yes
July 15, 2025: Approve the request of the Walpole Veterans Service Committee to expand the Hometown Hero Banner program to all three commons as well as the flagpoles on the Memorial Pond Bridge
Clerk Maffei made a motion to approve the request of the Walpole Veterans Service Committee to expand the Hometown Hero Banner program to all three commons as well as the flagpoles on the Memorial Pond Bridge. Board member O’Neil seconded the motion. The
Voted: Yes
Mark Gallivan arrived at 6:14pm; the count (4-0-0) matches the four members there before he arrived.
From the minutes
“Clerk Maffei made a motion to approve the request of the Walpole Veterans Service Committee to expand the Hometown Hero Banner program to all three commons as well as the flagpoles on the Memorial Pond Bridge. Board member O’Neil seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 4-0-0.” (Motion: Maffei, second: O’Neil)
Jul 15Add the flag policy to the Select Board policies…Motion: Clerk Maffei made a motion to add the flag policy to…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · O’Neil: Yes
July 15, 2025: Add the flag policy to the Select Board policies and procedures
Clerk Maffei made a motion to add the flag policy to the Select Board policies and procedures. Board member O’Neil seconded the motion. The
Voted: Yes
Mark Gallivan arrived at 6:14pm; the count (4-0-0) matches the four members there before he arrived.
From the minutes
“Clerk Maffei made a motion to add the flag policy to the Select Board policies and procedures. Board member O’Neil seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 4-0-0.” (Motion: Maffei, second: O’Neil)
Jul 15Award bid contract 2025-11 to PJ Hayes IncMotion: Clerk Maffei made a motion to award bid contract 2025-11 to…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · O’Neil: Yes
July 15, 2025: Award bid contract 2025-11 to PJ Hayes Inc
Clerk Maffei made a motion to award bid contract 2025-11 to PJ Hayes Inc. Board member O’Neil seconded the motion. The
Voted: Yes
Mark Gallivan arrived at 6:14pm; the count (4-0-0) matches the four members there before he arrived.
From the minutes
“Clerk Maffei made a motion to award bid contract 2025-11 to PJ Hayes Inc. Board member O’Neil seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 4-0-0.” (Motion: Maffei, second: O’Neil)
Votes with no disagreement (143)
From the Walpole Select Board’s official minutes: 2018 to 2024 from the town’s Document Center (Agendas & Minutes, Select Board), and 2025 on from its Agenda Center. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: the members’ own campaign Facebook pages (Allyson Hamilton, Glenn Maffei, Benjamin Barrett, James O’Neil); Walpole Media Corp (Mark Gallivan, “Mark Gallivan Candidate Special,” June 2020); the Town of Walpole’s Annual Town Reports (Nancy Mackenzie, 2019 report, board photo with name card; David Salvatore, 2020 report, board photo); Hometown Weekly (Ann Ragosta, “An Outside View,” November 2018). No photo found for Eric Kraus.
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