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Municipal votes · 2023–2024 Board

Wellesley Select Board

How the Wellesley Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Same five members after the March 7, 2023 town election. On June 12, 2023 the board chose Lise Olney as Chair from July 1, 2023 through the fall Special Town Meeting (3-2), Colette Aufranc as Vice Chair (3-2) and Beth Sullivan Woods as Secretary (5-0). On October 10, 2023 it chose Thomas Ulfelder as Chair until June 30, 2024. Covers 46 meetings, March 13 to February 27, 2024.

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.

Sources: Massachusetts Select Board Handbook (MMA) · Mass. Division of Local Services: the town budget
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Board years

Coming up

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

Source: May 2026 Special Town Meeting motions as voted, with totals from the town’s Electronic Voting Report.

Annual Town Meeting · March 30, 2026 48 votes: 37 passed, 1 passed as amended, 1 failed, 9 no action

Sessions: March 30, 31 and April 6, 7, 2026

Source: Town Clerk's record (minutes) of the 2026 Annual Town Meeting.

Annual Town Meeting · March 25, 2024 66 votes: 50 passed, 2 failed, 14 no action

Sessions: March 25, 26, 27 and April 1, 2, 3, 2024

Source: Town Clerk's record in the 2024 Annual Town Report (July 2023-June 2024).

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).

Members

Ann-Mara LanzaMember · Elected townwide · at 45 of 46 meetingsBeth Sullivan WoodsSecretary · Elected townwide · at 42 of 46 meetingsThomas UlfelderMember · Elected townwide · at 45 of 46 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: 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.

Tuesday, February 27, 2024 · Regular meeting9 recorded votes, 2 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, February 13, 2024 · Regular meeting4 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentFriday, February 2, 2024 · Special meeting1 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, January 30, 2024 · Regular meeting8 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, January 16, 2024 · Regular meeting9 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members present

Votes where members disagreed

Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.

Feb 27Approve the Capital Financing Policy as amendedMotion: To approve the Capital Financing Policy as amendedPassed 3–2 · No: Lanza, Woods

February 27, 2024: Approve the Capital Financing Policy as amended

ApprovePassed · 3–2

To approve the Capital Financing Policy as amended

Yes: Aufranc, Olney, UlfelderNo: Lanza, Woods

From the minutes

“Upon a motion by Ms. Olney and seconded by Ms. Aufranc, the Board was polled and voted (3-2) to approve the Capital Financing Policy as amended. Olney - Aye Sullivan Woods - No Ulfelder - Aye Aufranc - Aye Lanza - No.” (Motion: Olney, second: Aufranc)

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

Feb 27Approve article 31Motion: To approve article 31Passed 3–2 · No: Lanza, Woods

February 27, 2024: Approve article 31

ApprovePassed · 3–2

To approve article 31

Yes: Aufranc, Olney, UlfelderNo: Lanza, Woods

From the minutes

“Upon a motion by Ms. Sullivan Woods and seconded by Ms. Aufranc, the Board was polled and voted (3-2) to approve article 31. Olney - Aye Sullivan Woods -No Ulfelder - Aye Aufranc - Aye Lanza - No.” (Motion: Woods, second: Aufranc)

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

Jan 30Support the schedule proposed by the Moderator for the…Motion: To support the schedule proposed by the Moderator for Annual Town…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Woods

January 30, 2024: Support the schedule proposed by the Moderator for the 2024 Annual Town Meeting

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To support the schedule proposed by the Moderator for Annual Town Meeting as follows: Week One: Monday, March 25th; Tuesday, March 26th; and Wednesday, March 27th Week Two: Monday, April 1st; Tuesday, April 2nd; and Wednesday, April 3rd Week Three: Monday, April 8th; Wednesday, April 10th Week Four: Monday, April 29th; and Tuesday, April 30th

Yes: Aufranc, Lanza, Olney, UlfelderAbstained: Woods

From the minutes

“Upon a motion by Ms. Sullivan Woods, and seconded by Ms. Aufranc, the Board was polled and voted (4-0-1) to support the schedule proposed by the Moderator for Annual Town Meeting as follows: Week One: Monday, March 25th; Tuesday, March 26th; and Wednesday, March 27th Week Two: Monday, April 1st; Tuesday, April 2nd; and Wednesday, April 3rd Week Three: Monday, April 8th; Wednesday, April 10th Week Four: Monday, April 29th; and Tuesday, April 30th. Olney - Aye Sullivan Woods - Abstains citing as the reason that she did not have the information to evaluate the reaction of Town Meeting Members. Ulfelder - Aye Aufranc - Aye Lanza - Aye.” (Motion: Woods, second: Aufranc)

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

Dec 19Approve the Abbreviated Code of Conduct for distribution to…Motion: To approve the Abbreviated Code of Conduct for distribution to appointed…Passed 3–2 · No: Lanza, Woods

December 19, 2023: Approve the Abbreviated Code of Conduct for distribution to appointed boards, committees, and commissions with a request for a code to be adopted by March 2024

AppointPassed · 3–2

To approve the Abbreviated Code of Conduct for distribution to appointed boards, committees, and commissions with a request for a code to be adopted by March 2024

Yes: Aufranc, Olney, UlfelderNo: Lanza, Woods

From the minutes

“Upon a motion by Ms. Sullivan Woods and seconded by Ms. Aufranc, the Board was polled and voted (3-2) to approve the Abbreviated Code of Conduct for distribution to appointed boards, committees, and commissions with a request for a code to be adopted by March 2024. Olney - Aye Sullivan Woods - No Ulfelder - Aye Aufranc - Aye Lanza - No.” (Motion: Woods, second: Aufranc)

Read it in the official minutes, page 6 (PDF)

Oct 17Support Article 10Motion: To support Article 10Failed 2–3 · No: Aufranc, Olney, Ulfelder

October 17, 2023: Support Article 10

ApproveFailed · 2–3

To support Article 10

Yes: Lanza, WoodsNo: Aufranc, Olney, Ulfelder

From the minutes

“Upon a motion by Ms. Sullivan Woods and seconded by Ms. Lanza the Board was polled and voted (2-3) to support Article 10. The motion failed with Mr. Ulfelder, Ms. Aufranc, and Ms. Olney voting no. Olney - No Sullivan Woods - Aye Ulfelder - No Aufranc - No Lanza - Aye.” (Motion: Woods, second: Lanza)

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

Oct 10Appoint Mr. Ulfelder as Chair until June 30, 2024Motion: To appoint Mr. Ulfelder as Chair until June 30, 2024Passed 3–2 · No: Lanza, Woods

October 10, 2023 (Special meeting): Appoint Mr. Ulfelder as Chair until June 30, 2024

AppointPassed · 3–2

To appoint Mr. Ulfelder as Chair until June 30, 2024

Yes: Aufranc, Olney, UlfelderNo: Lanza, Woods

From the minutes

“Upon a motion by Ms. Olney and seconded by Ms. Aufranc the Board was polled and voted (3-2 Lanza and Sullivan Woods opposed) to appoint Mr. Ulfelder as Chair until June 30, 2024..” (Motion: Olney, second: Aufranc)

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

Sep 19Approve the one-day license for Babson College for their…Motion: To approve the one-day license for Babson College for their Campaign…Passed 5–0 · see note

September 19, 2023: Approve the one-day license for Babson College for their Campaign Kick Off Event to be held on October 19, 2023, at the BRAC (Babson Recreation and Athletic Complex) gym

ApprovePassed · 5–0

To approve the one-day license for Babson College for their Campaign Kick Off Event to be held on October 19, 2023, at the BRAC (Babson Recreation and Athletic Complex) gym

The minutes give the result as "Upon a motion by Ms. Sullivan Woods and seconded by Ms. Lanza, the Board was polled and voted (5-0) to approve the one-day license for Babson College for their Campaign Kick Off Event to be held on October 19, 2023, at the BRAC (Babson Recreation and Athletic Complex) gym.", but the roll call reads: Lise Olney yes, Beth Sullivan Woods yes, Thomas Ulfelder yes, Ann-Mara Lanza yes. Showing the count only. Colette Aufranc had not yet arrived.

From the minutes

“Upon a motion by Ms. Sullivan Woods and seconded by Ms. Lanza, the Board was polled and voted (5-0) to approve the one-day license for Babson College for their Campaign Kick Off Event to be held on October 19, 2023, at the BRAC (Babson Recreation and Athletic Complex) gym. Olney - Aye Sullivan Woods - Aye Ulfelder - Aye Lanza - Aye.” (Motion: Woods, second: Lanza)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Jul 24Approve the edits proposed to the Memorandum of Agreement…Motion: To approve the edits proposed to the Memorandum of Agreement between…Failed 2–3 · No: Aufranc, Olney, Ulfelder

July 24, 2023: Approve the edits proposed to the Memorandum of Agreement between the HR Board and the Select Board

ApproveFailed · 2–3

To approve the edits proposed to the Memorandum of Agreement between the HR Board and the Select Board

Yes: Lanza, WoodsNo: Aufranc, Olney, Ulfelder

From the minutes

“Upon a motion by Ms. Sullivan Woods and seconded by Ms. Lanza, the Board was polled and voted (2-3) to approve the edits proposed to the Memorandum of Agreement between the HR Board and the Select Board. Olney - No Sullivan Woods - Aye Ulfelder - No Aufranc - No Lanza - Aye.” (Motion: Woods, second: Lanza)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Jul 24Approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the HR Board…Motion: To approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the HR Board and…Passed 3–1 · No: Woods · Abstained: Lanza

July 24, 2023: Approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the HR Board and Select Board to designate the Executive Director as Supervisor to the Human Resources Board

ApprovePassed · 3–1

To approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the HR Board and Select Board to designate the Executive Director as Supervisor to the Human Resources Board

Yes: Aufranc, Olney, UlfelderNo: WoodsAbstained: Lanza

From the minutes

“Upon a motion by Ms. Aufranc and seconded by Mr. Ulfelder, the Board was polled and voted (3-1- 1) to approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the HR Board and Select Board to designate the Executive Director as Supervisor to the Human Resources Board. Olney - Aye Sullivan Woods - No Ulfelder - Aye Aufranc - Aye Lanza - Abstained.” (Motion: Aufranc, second: Ulfelder)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Jul 24Approve the Select Board Priorities and Departmental Work Plan…Motion: To approve the Select Board Priorities and Departmental Work Plan for…Passed 4–1 · No: Lanza

July 24, 2023: Approve the Select Board Priorities and Departmental Work Plan for FY24 in the document provided

ApprovePassed · 4–1

To approve the Select Board Priorities and Departmental Work Plan for FY24 in the document provided

Yes: Aufranc, Olney, Ulfelder, WoodsNo: Lanza

From the minutes

“Upon a motion by Ms. Sullivan Woods and seconded by Ms. Aufranc, the Board was polled and voted (4-1) to approve the Select Board Priorities and Departmental Work Plan for FY24 in the document provided. Olney - Aye Sullivan Woods - Aye Ulfelder - Aye Aufranc - Aye Lanza - No.” (Motion: Woods, second: Aufranc)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

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).

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