How the Westford Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. After the May 7, 2019 town election the same five members served. On May 28, 2019 the board chose Elizabeth Almeida as Chairman, Tom Clay as Vice Chairman and Mark Kost as Clerk (each 5-0). From March 2020 the board met remotely, with roll-call votes. Covers 35 meetings, May 28 to May 5, 2020.
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.
In Westford, 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. Any registered voter can take part, and most votes are by voice or show of hands, so there is no list of who voted which way.
Annual Town Meeting · March 28, 2026 33 votes: 28 passed, 1 failed, 2 no action, 2 other
Art. 14Accept local option reducing the residency requirement for disabled veteran property tax exemptions (MGL c. 59, s. 22F)Passed“It was voted and passed by majority:”
Not here yet: All Westford Town Meetings held from January 2024 to October 12, 2026 are here; the 2026 Special Town Meeting is on October 26, 2026.
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: Westford Select Board minutes from January 9, 2018 through July 28, 2026: 262 meetings and 3,234 votes. The town’s document archive holds Select Board and Board of Selectmen minutes back to 1890 (typed, searchable files from 2003); MassVoter loaded January 2018 on. The board was the Board of Selectmen until the Legislature approved the Town Charter change on November 13, 2020; its minutes are headed “Select Board” from December 8, 2020. Most 2018–2019 approved minutes are signed scans, which MassVoter read with text recognition (where the archive also has the typed draft, the approved copy is used). Also loaded: joint meetings with the Finance Committee, School Committee and Town and School Safety Task Force that are filed with the board’s minutes; only the Select Board’s own votes are shown. Not online: the minutes of some meetings with posted agendas, among them March 13 and October 15, 2018; February 12, 2019; May 12 and June 9, 2020; January 14, April 8 and April 22, 2025; and the October 2025 goal-setting retreat. MassVoter is asking the town for them. Not here: executive-session minutes, cancelled meetings, and the votes of the Finance Committee, School Committee and other boards at joint meetings. Minutes after July 28, 2026 are not posted yet (the board approves them before posting, usually about two months later). The town also reposts each agenda the day after a meeting with “ACTION TAKEN” notes under the items; those are not minutes, and MassVoter does not use them. Westford’s minutes name the mover and seconder and give a count, naming any member who votes no, abstains, recuses or is absent (“VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 2 OPPOSED (Hazelton, Kost) TO RECOMMEND Article 11”); a count that equals the members present, with the members voting no or abstaining named, is shown as each member’s vote. Meetings with a member taking part remotely (2018) and the 2020 remote meetings add roll calls by name (“Clay - yes, Kost - no”). Members who arrived late, left, recused or were out of the room are not shown in the votes they missed. Where the count does not fit the members present or does not match the roll call, we show the count only (14 votes); where the minutes say the board voted by roll call but give no count, we show the result only (4 votes). A motion with no recorded outcome is not counted as a vote. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
It was moved by Kost, seconded by Clay and VOTED 3 IN FAVOR (Almeida left the meeting at 7:30pm), TO RECOMMEND Article 11.
Yes: Clay, Hazelton, KostThe minutes say Elizabeth Almeida left the meeting at 7:30; the count (“VOTED 3 IN FAVOR”) matches the 3 other members present, so Elizabeth Almeida is not shown in this vote.
From the minutes
“It was moved by Kost, seconded by Clay and VOTED 3 IN FAVOR (Almeida left the meeting at 7:30pm), TO RECOMMEND Article 11..” (Motion: Kost, second: Clay)
“It was moved by Selectman Kost, seconded by Selectman Peraner-Sweet and VOTED 4 IN FAVOR, 1 ABSTAIN (Hazelton) TO NOT RECOMMEND Article 21..” (Motion: Kost, second: Peraner-Sweet)
Feb 13Recommend transferring $400K from free cash to the schools…Motion: It was moved by Clay (BOS) and Galvin (Finance Committee), seconded…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
February 13, 2020 (Joint meeting): Recommend transferring $400K from free cash to the schools to be used for special education tuitions as specified by the school's recommendation presented tonight. It was voted 5-0 (Board of...
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
It was moved by Clay (BOS) and Galvin (Finance Committee), seconded by Kost (BOS) and Cunningham (Finance Committee), to recommend transferring $400K from free cash to the schools to be used for special education tuitions as specified by the school's recommendation presented tonight. It was voted 5-0 (Board of Selectman) and 8--0 (Finance Committee).
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“It was moved by Clay (BOS) and Galvin (Finance Committee), seconded by Kost (BOS) and Cunningham (Finance Committee), to recommend transferring $400K from free cash to the schools to be used for special education tuitions as specified by the school's recommendation presented tonight. It was voted 5-0 (Board of Selectman) and 8--0 (Finance Committee)..”
It was moved by Selectman Peraner-Sweet, seconded by Selectman Clay and VOTED 4 IN FAVOR, 1 ABSTAIN (Kost) BY ROLL CALL TO RECOMMEND Article 20. Peraner-Sweet - yes, Kost - abstain, Clay - yes, Hazelton - yes, Almeida - yes.
“It was moved by Selectman Peraner-Sweet, seconded by Selectman Clay and VOTED 4 IN FAVOR, 1 ABSTAIN (Kost) BY ROLL CALL TO RECOMMEND Article 20. Peraner-Sweet - yes, Kost - abstain, Clay - yes, Hazelton - yes, Almeida - yes..” (Motion: Peraner-Sweet, second: Clay)
Nov 12Approve minimum wage increases for municipalMotion: It was moved by Selectman Peraner-Sweet, seconded by Selectman Clay and…Passed 4–1 · No: Kost
It was moved by Selectman Peraner-Sweet, seconded by Selectman Clay and VOTED 4 IN FAVOR, 1 OPPOSED (Kost) TO APPROVE minimum wage increases for municipal
“It was moved by Selectman Peraner-Sweet, seconded by Selectman Clay and VOTED 4 IN FAVOR, 1 OPPOSED (Kost) TO APPROVE minimum wage increases for municipal.” (Motion: Peraner-Sweet, second: Clay)
Oct 15Their INTENT to move forward with the stormwater fee…Motion: It was moved by Selectman Clay, seconded by Selectman Kost and…Passed 3–1 · No: Hazelton
October 15, 2019: Their INTENT to move forward with the stormwater fee in the event that town meeting does not support Articles 6 and 7
ApprovePassed · 3–1
It was moved by Selectman Clay, seconded by Selectman Kost and VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 1 OPPOSED (Hazelton) 1 ABSENT (Peraner-Sweet) THEIR INTENT to move forward with the stormwater fee in the event that town meeting does not support Articles 6 and 7.
Yes: Almeida, Clay, KostNo: Hazelton
From the minutes
“It was moved by Selectman Clay, seconded by Selectman Kost and VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 1 OPPOSED (Hazelton) 1 ABSENT (Peraner-Sweet) THEIR INTENT to move forward with the stormwater fee in the event that town meeting does not support Articles 6 and 7..” (Motion: Clay, second: Kost)
Oct 15Accept the donation from the Westford Charitable Foundation, Inc.…Motion: It was moved by Selectman Clay, seconded by Selectman Kost and…Passed 3–0 · see note
October 15, 2019: Accept the donation from the Westford Charitable Foundation, Inc. in the amount of $3,000 for the purpose of funding the Westford Senior Dental Program
ApprovePassed · 3–0
It was moved by Selectman Clay, seconded by Selectman Kost and VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 2 ABSENT (Peraner-Sweet, Almeida) TO ACCEPT the donation from the Westford Charitable Foundation, Inc. in the amount of $3,000 for the purpose of funding the Westford Senior Dental Program.
Yes: Clay, Hazelton, KostThe minutes list Elizabeth Almeida as absent for this vote (“VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 2 ABSENT (Peraner-Sweet, Almeida)”), so Elizabeth Almeida is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“It was moved by Selectman Clay, seconded by Selectman Kost and VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 2 ABSENT (Peraner-Sweet, Almeida) TO ACCEPT the donation from the Westford Charitable Foundation, Inc. in the amount of $3,000 for the purpose of funding the Westford Senior Dental Program..” (Motion: Clay, second: Kost)
Oct 15Dissolve The Roudenbush Community Center, Inc./Mill Works/Recreation Department Task…Motion: It was moved by Selectman Hazelton, seconded by Selectman Kost and…Passed 3–0 · see note
October 15, 2019: Dissolve The Roudenbush Community Center, Inc./Mill Works/Recreation Department Task Force
ApprovePassed · 3–0
It was moved by Selectman Hazelton, seconded by Selectman Kost and VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 2 ABSENT (Peraner-Sweet, Almeida) TO DISSOLVE The Roudenbush Community Center, Inc./Mill Works/Recreation Department Task Force.
Yes: Clay, Hazelton, KostThe minutes list Elizabeth Almeida as absent for this vote (“VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 2 ABSENT (Peraner-Sweet, Almeida)”), so Elizabeth Almeida is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“It was moved by Selectman Hazelton, seconded by Selectman Kost and VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 2 ABSENT (Peraner-Sweet, Almeida) TO DISSOLVE The Roudenbush Community Center, Inc./Mill Works/Recreation Department Task Force..” (Motion: Hazelton, second: Kost)
Oct 15Reappoint Ryan Donovan to the Tax Possession Sales Committee…Motion: It was moved by Selectman Kost, seconded by Selectman Hazelton and…Passed 3–0 · see note
October 15, 2019: Reappoint Ryan Donovan to the Tax Possession Sales Committee for a term expiring June 30, 2022
AppointPassed · 3–0
It was moved by Selectman Kost, seconded by Selectman Hazelton and VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 2 ABSENT (Peraner-Sweet, Almeida) TO REAPPOINT Ryan Donovan to the Tax Possession Sales Committee for a term expiring June 30, 2022.
Yes: Clay, Hazelton, KostThe minutes list Elizabeth Almeida as absent for this vote (“VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 2 ABSENT (Peraner-Sweet, Almeida)”), so Elizabeth Almeida is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“It was moved by Selectman Kost, seconded by Selectman Hazelton and VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 2 ABSENT (Peraner-Sweet, Almeida) TO REAPPOINT Ryan Donovan to the Tax Possession Sales Committee for a term expiring June 30, 2022..” (Motion: Kost, second: Hazelton)
Oct 15Appoint Anita Tonakarn-Nguyen to the Commission on Disability as…Motion: It was moved by Selectman Kost, seconded by Selectman Hazelton and…Passed 3–0 · see note
October 15, 2019: Appoint Anita Tonakarn-Nguyen to the Commission on Disability as a Resident at Large for a term expiring on June 30, 2022
AppointPassed · 3–0
It was moved by Selectman Kost, seconded by Selectman Hazelton and VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 2 ABSENT (Peraner-Sweet, Almeida) TO APPOINT Anita Tonakarn-Nguyen to the Commission on Disability as a Resident at Large for a term expiring on June 30, 2022.
Yes: Clay, Hazelton, KostThe minutes list Elizabeth Almeida as absent for this vote (“VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 2 ABSENT (Peraner-Sweet, Almeida)”), so Elizabeth Almeida is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“It was moved by Selectman Kost, seconded by Selectman Hazelton and VOTED 3 IN FAVOR, 2 ABSENT (Peraner-Sweet, Almeida) TO APPOINT Anita Tonakarn-Nguyen to the Commission on Disability as a Resident at Large for a term expiring on June 30, 2022..” (Motion: Kost, second: Hazelton)
From the Westford Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s document archive (“View all meeting minutes” on the Select Board page) and, for recent meetings, 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 town’s website has only an unnamed group photo): League of Women Voters of Westford Voters’ Guides — Chris Barrett, Tom Clay and Elizabeth Sawyer (2026); Sean Kelly and Noëlle Donovan (2025). Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.