How the Wellesley Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. The Board of Selectmen: Chair Ellen Gibbs, Marjorie Freiman, Thomas Ulfelder, Beth Sullivan Woods and Jack Morgan. MassVoter has loaded this board’s minutes from January 8, 2018 on; the minutes loaded here do not name the Vice Chair or Secretary. Covers 9 meetings, January 8 to February 26, 2018.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Select Board 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 Select Board, votes the town budget and town bylaws.
From the agendas Wellesley posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.
What Town Meeting decided
In Wellesley, Town Meeting — not the Select Board — votes the town budget, bylaws and zoning. Here is what it did with each article, in the Town Clerk’s own words. Town Meeting members are elected by precinct; counts are from the town’s electronic voting.
Special Town Meeting · May 11, 2026 3 votes: 1 passed, 1 no action, 1 advisory
Art. 1No motion was made under this article.No action“NO MOTION”
Art. 15 · motion 2Community Preservation: up to $750,000 (or 50% of cost) to dredge the Duck Pond and Reeds PondPassed“Passed unanimously by voice vote”
Art. 15 · motion 3Community Preservation: $450,000 for playgrounds at Sprague School, Hunnewell Field Tot Lot and Perrin ParkPassed“Passed unanimously by voice vote”
Art. 16Transfer $500,000 from Free Cash for Wellesley High School and Hunnewell Fields irrigation systemPassed“Passed unanimously by voice vote”
Art. 17Playground Reconstruction (title from the Town's scorecard; no motion made)No action“no motions”
Art. 18Great Plain Avenue Road Construction (title from the Town's scorecard; no motion made)No action“no motions”
Art. 6Set Town Clerk annual salary at $113,625 effective July 1, 2024Passed“Passed by voice vote”
Art. 7 · motion 1Appropriate $400,000 from Free Cash for FY24 snow and ice removalPassed“Passed by voice vote”
Art. 7 · motion 2Transfer $2,500 from the Graves Officer stipend to the Celebrations CommitteePassed“Passed by voice vote”
Art. 7 · motion 3Transfer $190,000 from Town Hall interior design funds to the Town Hall interior construction contingencyPassed“Passed by voice vote”
Art. 8 · motion 1Appropriate $1,000,000 paid by the Municipal Light Plant to the Board of Assessors to reduce the FY25 tax ratePassed“Passed by voice vote”
Art. 17 · motion 1Community Preservation: $100,000 for CPC administration and FY24 reserves for historic resources and community housingPassed“Passed by voice vote”
Art. 32Accept M.G.L. c.44 s.53F3/4 to create a PEG Access and Cable Related FundPassed“Passed by voice vote”
Art. 33No motion was made under this article.No action“no motions”
Art. 34No motion was made under this article.No action“no motions”
Art. 35No motion was made under this article.No action“no motions”
Art. 36Amend General Bylaw 29.5 so the Board of Public Works can set stormwater utility rates and policiesPassed“Passed by voice vote”
Art. 37 · motion 1Amend General Bylaw 39.5 to set a term limit for the Veterans' Grave Officer and fix a statutory referencePassed“Passed by voice vote”
Not here yet: the October 2024 Special Town Meeting and the 2025 Annual Town Meeting (the Town Clerk's records for these are scanned pages in the 2024–2025 Annual Town Report), and the November 2025 Special Town Meeting. The May 2026 Special Town Meeting results come from the motions as voted and the electronic voting report, not the Town Clerk's minutes.
Titles are short descriptions of each article from the official record; the quoted words are the Town Clerk’s. A vote at Town Meeting is not the final word on everything: some articles also need a ballot vote (such as a tax override) or the Attorney General’s approval (bylaws).
"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: Select Board minutes (called the Board of Selectmen until November 2020) from January 8, 2018 through August 17, 2026, from the town’s online Agenda Center, which holds minutes back to 2014 (MassVoter has loaded 2018 on). Retreats, budget summits, short meetings held to go into executive session, and joint meetings with other boards are included; at joint meetings only the Select Board’s own votes are shown. Not here: the minutes of the board’s Policy Subcommittee and of the Bylaw Review Committee; the closed executive-session minutes themselves; 25 other meeting dates listed in the Agenda Center with an agenda but no minutes (mostly executive-session-only meetings, retreats, budget summits and workshops, sessions the board attended at another board’s meeting, and a few meetings in 2018, 2019 and 2021); and every meeting after August 17, 2026. The minutes are typed PDFs. Wellesley’s minutes give the mover and seconder and a count for almost every vote, such as “the Board voted (5-0)”. Split votes usually name the members who voted no or abstained (“(4-1; Sullivan Woods opposed)”), and from 2020 on polled votes, and since 2025 most votes, list each member’s vote by name (“Aufranc - Aye Freiman - Aye Largess - No”). When the count matches the members present, or the minutes say the vote was unanimous, we show every member present as voting yes; when the minutes name the members who voted no or abstained and the count adds up, everyone else present as voting yes. Where the minutes give only a split count without names, a roll call leaves out a member who was there or names one the attendance list does not show, or the count does not match the members present, we show the count only and add a note. At joint meetings the minutes often give one count for both boards (“the Boards voted (10-0)”); unless the Select Board members are listed by name, those votes show the result only. Votes with no count written down are shown with the result only. Members who stepped aside (recused), had not yet arrived or had left are left out of that vote. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
The minutes say "Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to promote Sergeant Scott Showstead to Lieutenant.", but 4 members were present for this vote (Ellen Gibbs, Marjorie Freiman, Beth Sullivan Woods and Jack Morgan). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to promote Sergeant Scott Showstead to Lieutenant..” (Motion: Freiman, second: Morgan)
The minutes say "Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to promote Officer Mark Carrasquillo to Sergeant.", but 4 members were present for this vote (Ellen Gibbs, Marjorie Freiman, Beth Sullivan Woods and Jack Morgan). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to promote Officer Mark Carrasquillo to Sergeant..” (Motion: Freiman, second: Morgan)
Feb 26Change the Manager of Record for Roche Brothers Supermarkets…Motion: To change the Manager of Record for Roche Brothers Supermarkets from…Passed 5–0 · see note
February 26, 2018: Change the Manager of Record for Roche Brothers Supermarkets from Sean Connor to Stephen Hohmann
ApprovePassed · 5–0
To change the Manager of Record for Roche Brothers Supermarkets from Sean Connor to Stephen Hohmann
The minutes say "Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to change the Manager of Record for Roche Brothers Supermarkets from Sean Connor to Stephen Hohmann.", but 4 members were present for this vote (Ellen Gibbs, Marjorie Freiman, Beth Sullivan Woods and Jack Morgan). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to change the Manager of Record for Roche Brothers Supermarkets from Sean Connor to Stephen Hohmann..” (Motion: Freiman, second: Morgan)
Feb 26Support a motion under article 37 regarding a citizen's…Motion: To support a motion under article 37 regarding a citizen's petition…Passed 5–0 · see note
February 26, 2018: Support a motion under article 37 regarding a citizen's petition to form a committee to study electronic voting at town meetings
ApprovePassed · 5–0
To support a motion under article 37 regarding a citizen's petition to form a committee to study electronic voting at town meetings
The minutes say "Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to support a motion under article 37 regarding a citizen's petition to form a committee to study electronic voting at town meetings.", but 4 members were present for this vote (Ellen Gibbs, Marjorie Freiman, Beth Sullivan Woods and Jack Morgan). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to support a motion under article 37 regarding a citizen's petition to form a committee to study electronic voting at town meetings..” (Motion: Freiman, second: Morgan)
Feb 26Approve the FY19 budget as amended to include an…Motion: To approve the FY19 budget as amended to include an additional…Passed 5–0 · see note
February 26, 2018: Approve the FY19 budget as amended to include an additional $10,000 for the Board of Health for mental health services
ApprovePassed · 5–0
To approve the FY19 budget as amended to include an additional $10,000 for the Board of Health for mental health services
The minutes say "Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to approve the FY19 budget as amended to include an additional $10,000 for the Board of Health for mental health services.", but 4 members were present for this vote (Ellen Gibbs, Marjorie Freiman, Beth Sullivan Woods and Jack Morgan). Showing the count only. The minutes name Marjorie Freiman as both the mover and the seconder, so no seconder is shown.
From the minutes
“Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to approve the FY19 budget as amended to include an additional $10,000 for the Board of Health for mental health services..” (Motion: Freiman)
Feb 26Approve allowing Wellesley Housing Development Corp., to expend $650,000;…Motion: To approve allowing Wellesley Housing Development Corp., to expend $650,000; $640,000…Passed 5–0 · see note
February 26, 2018: Approve allowing Wellesley Housing Development Corp., to expend $650,000; $640,000 sale price and $10,000 for closing costs and legal fees; of CPC funds appropriated to the Wellesley Housing...
ApprovePassed · 5–0
To approve allowing Wellesley Housing Development Corp., to expend $650,000; $640,000 sale price and $10,000 for closing costs and legal fees; of CPC funds appropriated to the Wellesley Housing Development Corporation for affordable housing purposes to buy down 2 market rate 2-bedroom rental units at 978 Worcester Street from Wellesley Place LLC, and to designate those units as affordable units in perpetuity
The minutes say "Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to approve allowing Wellesley Housing Development Corp., to expend $650,000; $640,000 sale price and $10,000 for closing costs and legal fees; of CPC funds appropriated to the Wellesley Housing Development Corporation for affordable housing purposes to buy down 2 market rate 2-bedroom rental units at 978 Worcester Street from Wellesley Place LLC, and to designate those units as affordable units in perpetuity.", but 4 members were present for this vote (Ellen Gibbs, Marjorie Freiman, Beth Sullivan Woods and Jack Morgan). Showing the count only. The minutes name Marjorie Freiman as both the mover and the seconder, so no seconder is shown.
From the minutes
“Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to approve allowing Wellesley Housing Development Corp., to expend $650,000; $640,000 sale price and $10,000 for closing costs and legal fees; of CPC funds appropriated to the Wellesley Housing Development Corporation for affordable housing purposes to buy down 2 market rate 2-bedroom rental units at 978 Worcester Street from Wellesley Place LLC, and to designate those units as affordable units in perpetuity..” (Motion: Freiman)
Feb 26Approve the Town-wide Financial Plan as amended with updates…Motion: To approve the Town-wide Financial Plan as amended with updates from…Passed 5–0 · see note
February 26, 2018: Approve the Town-wide Financial Plan as amended with updates from this meeting
ApprovePassed · 5–0
To approve the Town-wide Financial Plan as amended with updates from this meeting
The minutes say "Upon motion by Ms. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to approve the Town-wide Financial Plan as amended with updates from this meeting.", but 4 members were present for this vote (Ellen Gibbs, Marjorie Freiman, Beth Sullivan Woods and Jack Morgan). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Upon motion by Ms. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to approve the Town-wide Financial Plan as amended with updates from this meeting..” (Motion: Freiman, second: Morgan)
Feb 26Call a Special Town Meeting and set the following…Motion: To call a Special Town Meeting and set the following dates:…Passed 5–0 · see note
February 26, 2018: Call a Special Town Meeting and set the following dates: Open the Warrant - February 26, 2018 Close the Warrant - Friday, March 2, 2018, 5:00pm Motions due to the…
ApprovePassed · 5–0
To call a Special Town Meeting and set the following dates: Open the Warrant - February 26, 2018 Close the Warrant - Friday, March 2, 2018, 5:00pm Motions due to the Selectmen's Office - Friday, March 23, 2018, 5:00pm Start of Annual Town Meeting - Monday, April 9, 2018, 7:00 pm, at the Wellesley Middle School 9
The minutes say "Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to call a Special Town Meeting and set the following dates: Open the Warrant - February 26, 2018 Close the Warrant - Friday, March 2, 2018, 5:00pm Motions due to the Selectmen's Office - Friday, March 23, 2018, 5:00pm Start of Annual Town Meeting - Monday, April 9, 2018, 7:00 pm, at the Wellesley Middle School 9.", but 4 members were present for this vote (Ellen Gibbs, Marjorie Freiman, Beth Sullivan Woods and Jack Morgan). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Upon a motion by MS. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to call a Special Town Meeting and set the following dates: Open the Warrant - February 26, 2018 Close the Warrant - Friday, March 2, 2018, 5:00pm Motions due to the Selectmen's Office - Friday, March 23, 2018, 5:00pm Start of Annual Town Meeting - Monday, April 9, 2018, 7:00 pm, at the Wellesley Middle School 9..” (second: Morgan)
Feb 26Approve a one-day license to Citizen's Bank on March…Motion: To approve a one-day license to Citizen's Bank on March 7th,…Passed 5–0 · see note
February 26, 2018: Approve a one-day license to Citizen's Bank on March 7th, 2018 at the Bank's branch at 390 Washington Street to hold a reception for the Julie Fund
ApprovePassed · 5–0
To approve a one-day license to Citizen's Bank on March 7th, 2018 at the Bank's branch at 390 Washington Street to hold a reception for the Julie Fund
The minutes say "Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to approve a one-day license to Citizen's Bank on March 7th, 2018 at the Bank's branch at 390 Washington Street to hold a reception for the Julie Fund.", but 4 members were present for this vote (Ellen Gibbs, Marjorie Freiman, Beth Sullivan Woods and Jack Morgan). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to approve a one-day license to Citizen's Bank on March 7th, 2018 at the Bank's branch at 390 Washington Street to hold a reception for the Julie Fund..” (Motion: Freiman, second: Morgan)
Feb 26Accept a gift of $1,290 from the Wellesley High…Motion: To accept a gift of $1,290 from the Wellesley High School…Passed 5–0 · see note
February 26, 2018: Accept a gift of $1,290 from the Wellesley High School 2017 Cross Country Team for the installation of a bench on the path between Rice Street and the practice football…
ApprovePassed · 5–0
To accept a gift of $1,290 from the Wellesley High School 2017 Cross Country Team for the installation of a bench on the path between Rice Street and the practice football field
The minutes say "Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to accept a gift of $1,290 from the Wellesley High School 2017 Cross Country Team for the installation of a bench on the path between Rice Street and the practice football field.", but 4 members were present for this vote (Ellen Gibbs, Marjorie Freiman, Beth Sullivan Woods and Jack Morgan). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Upon a motion by Ms. Freiman and seconded by Mr. Morgan, the Board voted (5-0) to accept a gift of $1,290 from the Wellesley High School 2017 Cross Country Team for the installation of a bench on the path between Rice Street and the practice football field..” (Motion: Freiman, second: Morgan)
From the Wellesley Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Town of Wellesley (the Select Board page on wellesleyma.gov).