How the Westport Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 members elected townwide to 3-year terms, 1 or 2 seats each April. Elected April 14, 2026 (Jake McGuigan and Rick Mundy); board reorganized April 27, 2026. Covers 9 meetings so far, April 27 to September 14, 2026.
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.
How easy Westport makes it to see, online, how each member votes. It scores the town’s records, not any official. Checked October 3, 2026.
✓Minutes postedMinutes are posted for nearly every meeting in the past year.Full points: 2/2
~Each vote namedThe minutes name the members who voted no, abstained or were absent, but not each member’s yes vote.Part points: 2/3
✓Posted quicklyMinutes usually go up within about three weeks.Full points: 2/2
✕Past years onlineSelect Board minutes online start in January 2022, under five years.No points: 0/1
✕Readable textThe minutes are scanned images, so you can’t search or copy the text.No points: 0/1
✕Member photosThe Select Board page lists members by name, with no photos.No points: 0/1
How the town can raise its score
Each vote named (+1): On any vote that isn’t unanimous, write how each member voted. For example: “Motion passed 3–2. Yes: Smith, Jones, Lee. No: Brown, Silva.” A roll call on split votes is the simplest way to do this.
Past years online (+1): Keep at least five years of minutes online. When the website changes, move the old files instead of deleting them.
Readable text (+1): Save minutes straight from Word or Google Docs as a PDF instead of printing and scanning them. If a scan is needed, turn on the scanner’s “searchable PDF” or text-recognition setting.
Member photos (+1): Show a photo of each member on the board’s web page, with their name, the date their term ends and how to contact them. A group photo of the members, with everyone named in the caption or on the same page, earns half a point.
In Westport, 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 · May 6, 2025 34 votes: 30 passed, 3 passed as amended, 1 no action
Art. 4FY2026 operating budget, $55,250,298 as moved ($54,454,439 from taxation); Transfer Station line amended to add $21,500 from receiptsPassed as amended“Vote on amended item: Carried, 7:47pm”
Art. 5Capital items totaling $2,271,000 from Free Cash and Assessor Overlay (cemetery, cruisers, fire trucks, school security, generators)Passed“Vote on amended item: Carried, 7:51pm”
Art. 4FY2025 operating budget, $52,836,487 as moved ($51,923,589 from taxation); school, library and debt lines amendedPassed as amended“Vote: Carried Unanimously”
Art. 5Capital items totaling $1,000,000 from Free Cash (firewall, 2 cruisers, brush truck, highway vehicles, school bathrooms, truck)Passed“Vote: Carried Unanimously”
Art. 14Borrow $7,000,000 (contingent on a debt exclusion) for water and sewer on Route 6 from Fall River line to Route 88Failed“Vote: Defeated”
Art. 15Authorize sewer betterment assessments (20% of costs) for the Route 6 sewer project, Fall River line to Route 88Failed“Vote: Defeated”
Art. 16Establish a Sewer Enterprise Fund and create a Sewer CommissionFailed“Vote: Defeated”
Art. 17Accept G.L. c. 59, § 57A: property tax bills of $100 or less payable in one installmentPassed“Vote: Carried”
Art. 18Accept G.L. c. 44, § 54(b) to let Town trust funds be invested under the Prudent Investment RulePassed“Vote: Carried”
Art. 19Rescind unused $211,000 borrowing authorization from 2021 for a conservation restrictionPassed“Vote: Carried”
Art. 20Appropriate $20,000 from Free Cash for the Assessors' revaluation programPassed“Vote: Carried”
Art. 21Article removed from warrant; motion to pass overNo action“Vote: Carried”
Art. 22Amend 2021 Town Meeting vote (Art. 28) by deleting "with qualified nitrogen reducing systems"Passed“Vote: Carried Unanimously”
Art. 23Appropriate $29,000 from Transfer Station Receipts Reserve for two roll-off containers and light equipmentPassed“Vote: Carried”
Art. 24Rescind 2023 transfers of $93,497.85 and $9,175 to Capital StabilizationPassed“Vote: Carried Unanimously”
Art. 25Transfer $93,497.85 (unused middle school remediation funds) to Westport Community Schools for building repairsPassed“Vote: Carried Unanimously”
Art. 26Transfer $9,175 (unused police station mold remediation funds) for Town building repairsPassed“Vote: Carried Unanimously”
Art. 27Transfer $41,605.10 (unused gym floor funds) to Westport Community Schools to pave the Elementary School parking lotPassed“Vote: Carried Unanimously”
Art. 28Transfer $15,000 from the Beach Enterprise Fund to buy land at Cherry & Webb Beach (Map 91, Lots 29 & 30)Passed“Vote: Carried Unanimously”
Art. 29Transfer $49,000 from the Beach Enterprise Fund to replace Cherry & Webb Beach fence and buy a beach vehiclePassed“Vote: Carried Unanimously”
Art. 30Transfer $30,000 from the Municipal Waterways Fund for Marine Services outboard motorsPassed“Vote: Carried Unanimously”
Art. 32Elect a five-member municipal light board (motion to pass over)No action“Vote: Carried”
Art. 33Zoning: add Short-Term Rental (STR) section with registration and rulesFailed“Vote: Defeated”
Art. 34Zoning: revise Science and Technology Overlay District into a Mixed Use overlay and expand its map (motion to pass over)No action“Vote: Carried Unanimously”
Not here yet: the 2026 Annual Town Meeting (the Town Clerk has not posted its minutes yet). No Special Town Meeting records were found for 2024 to 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.
Attendance
16 full-board meetings so far this year, through September 14. Ties share a rank.
From the official minutes: full-board meetings only (committee meetings are not counted). Members are counted only for meetings held while they served, and arriving late counts as attending. The minutes rarely say why a member was absent. Not shown: 2025, because too many of that year’s meetings are missing from the posted minutes.
A monthly email on its votes and who was there, starting in November.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Not here yet: the town has posted minutes online only from January 2022. Its Select Board page has no minutes for the April 22, 2024 meeting (when the board is believed to have reorganized), for May through mid-August 2025 (June 16, 2025 has an agenda only), or for February 23 and September 28, 2026. The minutes are scanned images; we read them with text recognition and checked the counts by hand. A few motions were made and seconded but no vote is recorded, or the motion was withdrawn; those are left out, as are votes by other boards (such as the Housing Authority) at joint meetings. Where a count doesn’t match the members listed as present, the vote is noted; we will ask the town to confirm.
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Sep 14Consideration and Possible Vote to Revoke Town Wharfage Privileges…Motion: to place the vessel owner on notice, that he is subject…Passed 3–1 · No: Mundy · Abstained: Dutra
September 14, 2026 · Item a: Consideration and Possible Vote to Revoke Town Wharfage Privileges for the Vessel Hard Labor, Owned by Mr
ApprovePassed · 3–1
To place the vessel owner on notice, that he is subject to a one-year probationary period beginning September 14, 2026, with any further violation of the applicable wharfage rules and regula
“ACTION: After a motion was made by Mr. Brewer and seconded by Mr. McGuigan, it was voted in favor 3-1-1 (Mr. Mundy opposed & Mr. Dutra abstained) to place the vessel owner on notice, that he is subject to a one-year probationary period beginning September 14, 2026, with any further violation of the applicable wharfage rules and regula.” (Motion: Brewer, second: McGuigan)
Sep 14Consideration and Possible Vote to Revoke Town Wharfage Privileges…Motion: to approve the Common Victualler License for Baker's BeachPassed 4–0 · Abstained: McGuigan
September 14, 2026 · Item a: Consideration and Possible Vote to Revoke Town Wharfage Privileges for the Vessel Hard Labor, Owned by Mr
ApprovePassed · 4–0
To approve the Common Victualler License for Baker's Beach
“ACTION: After a motion was made by Mr. Mundy and seconded by Mr. Brewer, it was voted in favor 4-0-1 (Mr. McGuigan abstained) to approve the Common Victualler License for Baker's Beach.” (Motion: Mundy, second: Brewer)
Sep 14Consideration and Possible Vote to Revoke Town Wharfage Privileges…Motion: to approve the Seasonal All-Alcohol License for Bay Breeze Inc dba…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Dutra
September 14, 2026 · Item a: Consideration and Possible Vote to Revoke Town Wharfage Privileges for the Vessel Hard Labor, Owned by Mr
ApprovePassed · 4–0
To approve the Seasonal All-Alcohol License for Bay Breeze Inc dba Westport Sea Farms
“ACTION: After a motion was made by Mr. McGuigan and seconded by Mr. Brewer, it was voted in favor 4-0-1 (Mr. Dutra abstained) to approve the Seasonal All-Alcohol License for Bay Breeze Inc dba Westport Sea Farms.” (Motion: McGuigan, second: Brewer)
Sep 14Old High School Property Master Plan Update and Potential…Motion: to direct Brewster Thornton Group Architects to proceed with cost estimating…Passed 4–1 · No: Dutra
September 14, 2026 · Item f: Old High School Property Master Plan Update and Potential Action on Next Steps
ApprovePassed · 4–1
To direct Brewster Thornton Group Architects to proceed with cost estimating of the revised concept plan, removing affordable housing from the current concept while including well and septic evaluation based on t
Yes: Brewer, McGuigan, Mundy, TeasNo: Dutra
From the minutes
“ACTION: After a motion was made by Ms. Teas and seconded by McGuigan, it was voted in favor 4-1-0 (Mr. Dutra opposed) to direct Brewster Thornton Group Architects to proceed with cost estimating of the revised concept plan, removing affordable housing from the current concept while including well and septic evaluation based on t.” (Motion: Teas, second: McGuigan)
To the owner's premises, confined indoors, confined outdoors in accordance wi
Yes: Brewer, Dutra, McGuigan, TeasNo: Mundy
From the minutes
“ACTION: After a motion was made by Mr. McGuigan and seconded by Mr. Dutra it was voted in favor 4-1-0 (Mr. Mundy opposed) for the following remedial orders per Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 157(c) on both Raina and Tally: (ii) Be confined to the owner's premises, confined indoors, confined outdoors in accordance wi.” (Motion: McGuigan, second: Dutra)
To add the following remedial order on both Raina and Tally: (v) Lifetime dog identification information through a microchip
Yes: Brewer, Dutra, McGuigan, TeasNo: Mundy
From the minutes
“ACTION: After a motion was made by Mr. McGuigan and seconded by Mr. Dutra it was voted in favor 4-1-0 (Mr. Mundy opposed) to add the following remedial order on both Raina and Tally: (v) Lifetime dog identification information through a microchip.” (Motion: McGuigan, second: Dutra)
To add the statedcompliance deadlines on both Raina and Tally
Yes: Brewer, Dutra, McGuigan, TeasNo: Mundy
From the minutes
“ACTION: After a motion was made by Mr. McGuigan and seconded by Mr. Dutra it was voted in favor 4-1-0 (Mr. Mundy opposed) to add the statedcompliance deadlines on both Raina and Tally.” (Motion: McGuigan, second: Dutra)
Jul 6Request to approve and execute the order of taking…Motion: to approve and execute the order of taking to complete the…Passed 4–1 · No: McGuigan
July 6, 2026 · Item b: Request to approve and execute the order of taking to complete the acceptance of Stacy Lane as a Public Way
Adopt orderPassed · 4–1
To approve and execute the order of taking to complete the acceptance of Stacy Lane as a public way
Yes: Brewer, Dutra, Mundy, TeasNo: McGuigan
From the minutes
“ACTION: After a motion was made by Mr. Mundy and seconded by Mr. Brewer it was voted in favor 4-1-0 (Mr. McGuigan opposed) to approve and execute the order of taking to complete the acceptance of Stacy Lane as a public way.” (Motion: Mundy, second: Brewer)
Jun 22Request to approve the Lease Extension Agreement with Patricia…Motion: to approve the Lease Extension Agreement with Patricia Souza, present tenant…Passed 3–1 · No: Mundy
June 22, 2026 · Item f: Request to approve the Lease Extension Agreement with Patricia Souza, present tenant for the Town Farm North Apartment
ApprovePassed · 3–1
To approve the Lease Extension Agreement with Patricia Souza, present tenant for the Town Farm North Apartment contingent upon receiving proof of insurance and disclosure forms
Yes: Brewer, McGuigan, TeasNo: MundyAbsent: Dutra
From the minutes
“ACTION: After a motion was made by Mr. Brewer and seconded by Mr. McGuigan it was voted in favor 3-1-0 (Mr. Dutra absent & Mr. Mundy opposed) to approve the Lease Extension Agreement with Patricia Souza, present tenant for the Town Farm North Apartment contingent upon receiving proof of insurance and disclosure forms.” (Motion: Brewer, second: McGuigan)
Jun 22Planning Board - High School Reuse and HousingMotion: to support the Planning Board to pursue funding for a water/wastewater…Passed 3–1 · No: McGuigan
June 22, 2026 · Item b: Planning Board - High School Reuse and Housing
ApprovePassed · 3–1
To support the Planning Board to pursue funding for a water/wastewater capacity study and seek grant funding to prepare an RFP for potential redevelopment opportunities
Yes: Brewer, Mundy, TeasNo: McGuiganAbsent: Dutra
From the minutes
“ACTION: After a motion was made by Mr. Brewer and seconded by Ms. Teas it was voted in favor 3-1-0 (Mr. Dutra absent & Mr. McGuigan opposed) to support the Planning Board to pursue funding for a water/wastewater capacity study and seek grant funding to prepare an RFP for potential redevelopment opportunities.” (Motion: Brewer, second: Teas)
From the Westport Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town’s website. Every vote in these minutes has a count, and the minutes name anyone who voted no, abstained or was absent. We check every count against the members named and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades officials; votes and attendance are shown exactly as the minutes record them. Member photos: Westport Shorelines (EastBayRI). Craig Dutra from a video titled with his name (Coastal Healing channel, about 2021).