MassVoter.com← WestportMunicipal votes · 2023–2024 Board
Westport Select Board
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 11, 2023 (Manuel Soares, Jr. and Steven J. Ouellette); board reorganized April 18, 2023. Covers 26 meetings, April 18 to April 8, 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 budgetYour Westport ballot: 16 quizzes, about a minute each.
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What Town Meeting decided
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. 1 Pay prior-year bills (motion to pass over) No action “Carried Unanimously, 7:25pm”
- Art. 2 Transfer $94,000 between FY2025 budget lines Passed “Carried Unanimously, 7:28pm”
- Art. 3 Fix FY2026 salaries of elected Town officers, total $156,077 Passed “Carried Unanimously, 7:30pm”
- Art. 4 FY2026 operating budget, $55,250,298 as moved ($54,454,439 from taxation); Transfer Station line amended to add $21,500 from receipts Passed as amended “Vote on amended item: Carried, 7:47pm”
- Art. 5 Capital 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. 6 Authorize borrowing in anticipation of FY2026 revenue Passed “Carried Unanimously, 7:57pm”
- Art. 7 Marine Services Enterprise FY2026 budget, $187,701 from user charges Passed “Carried Unanimously, 7:58pm”
- Art. 8 Waterline Enterprise FY2026 budget, $442,500 ($287,500 user charges, $155,000 retained earnings) Passed “Carried Unanimously, 8:00pm”
- Art. 9 Town Beaches Enterprise FY2026 budget, $169,830 from user charges Passed “Carried Unanimously, 8:02pm”
- Art. 10 Community Television FY2026 budget, $233,049 from the Cable Television Special Revenue Fund Passed “Carried Unanimously, 8:04pm”
- Art. 11 Set Fire Department ambulance revolving fund spending limit at $195,000 Passed “Carried Unanimously, 8:05pm”
- Art. 12 Set FY2026 spending limits for the Town's revolving funds Passed “Carried Unanimously, 8:09pm”
- Art. 13 Community Preservation budget: playground $250,000, youth league $150,000, Affordable Housing Trust $300,000, historic grants, reserves Passed “Carried, 8:13pm”
- Art. 14 Raise local room occupancy (hotel) tax from 4% to 6% Passed as amended “Vote to approve motion as amended: Carried, 8:27pm”
- Art. 15 Transfer $27,000 from the Municipal Waterways Fund for Marine Services skiffs Passed “Carried Unanimously, 8:29pm”
- Art. 16 Transfer $60,900 (2021 balance) to the Assessors for software and revaluation Passed “Carried, 8:30pm”
- Art. 17 Borrow $500,000 through the Mass. Clean Water Trust for residential septic system repair loans Passed “Carried with 2/3 Vote, 8:34pm”
- Art. 18 Appropriate $15,000 from Free Cash for household hazardous waste collection Passed “Carried Unanimously, 8:35pm”
- Art. 19 Transfer $25,000 from Transfer Station Receipts Reserve for a roll-off container and light equipment Passed “Carried Unanimously, 8:36pm”
- Art. 20 Amend 2022 vote so Tax Title Collection Revolving Fund money can be spent by the Treasurer/Collector Passed “Carried Unanimously, 8:38pm”
- Art. 21 Set Tax Title Collection Revolving Fund spending limit at $75,000 Passed “Carried Unanimously, 8:39pm”
- Art. 22 Accept deed in lieu of foreclosure for two tax-title parcels off Briggs Road (Map 29, Parcels 6 and 7) Passed “Carried Unanimously, 8:44pm”
- Art. 23 Rescind unused $83,500 borrowing authorization from 2006 for open space land Passed “Carried Unanimously, 8:46pm”
- Art. 24 By-law: no elected officer may serve on the Finance Committee Passed “Vote to approve motion as printed on warrant: Carried, 9:07pm”
- Art. 25 By-law: remove residency requirements, keeping a hiring preference for residents Passed “Carried Unanimously, 9:09pm”
- Art. 26 Zoning: add Short Term Rental section requiring an annual permit Passed “Carried by 2/3 Vote, 9:20pm”
- Art. 27 General by-law: Short Term Rental permit issued annually by the Select Board Passed “Carried, 9:24pm”
- Art. 28 Zoning: replace accessory apartment rules with Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) rules Passed as amended “Vote on Article: Carried, 9:33pm”
- Art. 29 Personnel By-Law: add part-time Production Assistant for Cable Advisory Passed “Carried Unanimously, 9:35pm”
- Art. 30 Accept Granite Post Road as a public way (citizen petition) Passed “Carried Unanimously, 9:38pm”
- Art. 31 Accept Maya Way as a public way (citizen petition) Passed “Carried, 9:40pm”
- Art. 32 Transfer $350,000 from Free Cash to the Stabilization Fund Passed “Carried Unanimously, 9:40pm”
- Art. 33 Transfer $300,000 from Free Cash to the Capital Stabilization Fund Passed “Carried Unanimously, 9:41pm”
- Art. 34 Transfer $175,000 from Free Cash to the Special Education Reserve Fund Passed “Carried, 9:48pm”
Source: Town Clerk's minutes of the May 6, 2025 Annual Town Meeting.
Annual Town Meeting · May 7, 2024 46 votes: 35 passed, 1 passed as amended, 5 failed, 5 no action
- Art. 1 Article removed from warrant; motion to pass over No action “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 2 Transfer $240,571.07 among accounts, including $124,310.29 from Free Cash to the Opioid Settlement Account Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 3 Fix FY2025 salaries of elected Town officers, total $146,501 Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 4 FY2025 operating budget, $52,836,487 as moved ($51,923,589 from taxation); school, library and debt lines amended Passed as amended “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 5 Capital items totaling $1,000,000 from Free Cash (firewall, 2 cruisers, brush truck, highway vehicles, school bathrooms, truck) Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 6 Authorize borrowing in anticipation of FY2025 revenue Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 7 Marine Services Enterprise FY2025 budget, $183,632 from user charges Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 8 Waterline Enterprise FY2025 budget, $288,050 from user charges Passed “Vote: Carried”
- Art. 9 Town Beaches Enterprise FY2025 budget, $143,750 from user charges Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 10 Community Television FY2025 budget, $226,134 from the Cable Television Special Revenue Fund Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 11 Set Fire Department ambulance revolving fund spending limit at $190,000 Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 12 Set FY2025 spending limits for the Town's revolving funds Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 13 Community Preservation budget: $350,000 Bicentennial Park playground, $300,000 Affordable Housing Trust, historic projects, reserves Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 14 Borrow $7,000,000 (contingent on a debt exclusion) for water and sewer on Route 6 from Fall River line to Route 88 Failed “Vote: Defeated”
- Art. 15 Authorize sewer betterment assessments (20% of costs) for the Route 6 sewer project, Fall River line to Route 88 Failed “Vote: Defeated”
- Art. 16 Establish a Sewer Enterprise Fund and create a Sewer Commission Failed “Vote: Defeated”
- Art. 17 Accept G.L. c. 59, § 57A: property tax bills of $100 or less payable in one installment Passed “Vote: Carried”
- Art. 18 Accept G.L. c. 44, § 54(b) to let Town trust funds be invested under the Prudent Investment Rule Passed “Vote: Carried”
- Art. 19 Rescind unused $211,000 borrowing authorization from 2021 for a conservation restriction Passed “Vote: Carried”
- Art. 20 Appropriate $20,000 from Free Cash for the Assessors' revaluation program Passed “Vote: Carried”
- Art. 21 Article removed from warrant; motion to pass over No action “Vote: Carried”
- Art. 22 Amend 2021 Town Meeting vote (Art. 28) by deleting "with qualified nitrogen reducing systems" Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 23 Appropriate $29,000 from Transfer Station Receipts Reserve for two roll-off containers and light equipment Passed “Vote: Carried”
- Art. 24 Rescind 2023 transfers of $93,497.85 and $9,175 to Capital Stabilization Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 25 Transfer $93,497.85 (unused middle school remediation funds) to Westport Community Schools for building repairs Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 26 Transfer $9,175 (unused police station mold remediation funds) for Town building repairs Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 27 Transfer $41,605.10 (unused gym floor funds) to Westport Community Schools to pave the Elementary School parking lot Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 28 Transfer $15,000 from the Beach Enterprise Fund to buy land at Cherry & Webb Beach (Map 91, Lots 29 & 30) Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 29 Transfer $49,000 from the Beach Enterprise Fund to replace Cherry & Webb Beach fence and buy a beach vehicle Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 30 Transfer $30,000 from the Municipal Waterways Fund for Marine Services outboard motors Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 31 Transfer Map 79, Lots 4 and 5 from the Select Board to the Conservation Commission for conservation Passed “Vote: Carried by 2/3 vote per moderator”
- Art. 32 Elect a five-member municipal light board (motion to pass over) No action “Vote: Carried”
- Art. 33 Zoning: add Short-Term Rental (STR) section with registration and rules Failed “Vote: Defeated”
- Art. 34 Zoning: revise Science and Technology Overlay District into a Mixed Use overlay and expand its map (motion to pass over) No action “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 35 Zoning: add a definition of "Congregate Living" Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 36 Zoning: eliminate the Unrestricted district and rezone that land to Residential/Agricultural Passed “Vote: Carried by 2/3 vote per moderator”
- Art. 37 Zoning: add a new Westport Gateway District on Route 6 (motion to pass over) No action “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 38 Zoning: raise minimum front yard lot width from 50 to 100 feet Failed “Vote: Defeated”
- Art. 39 Personnel By-Law: add beach, IT and Town Engineer positions; make Recreation Director full-time Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 40 Petition the Legislature for an extra package-store liquor license at 634 American Legion Highway Passed “Vote: Carried”
- Art. 41 Accept gift of land from F. L. Tripp and Sons, Inc. (Map 54, Parcels 33 and 33A) Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 42 Accept Rita Lane Extension as a public way (citizen petition) Passed “Vote: Carried”
- Art. 43 Accept G.L. c. 40, § 13E to create a Special Education Reserve Fund Passed “Vote: Carried”
- Art. 44 Transfer $55,496.42 (unused clock/paging funds) to the Special Education Stabilization Fund Passed “Vote: Carried”
- Art. 45 Transfer $250,000 from Free Cash to the Capital Stabilization Fund Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
- Art. 46 Transfer $100,000 from Free Cash to the Stabilization Fund Passed “Vote: Carried Unanimously”
Source: Town Clerk's minutes of the May 7, 2024 Annual Town Meeting.
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).
Members
ChairRichard W. BrewerChair · Elected townwide · at 26 of 26 meetingsVice-ChairSteven J. OuelletteVice Chair · Elected townwide · at 26 of 26 meetings
Shana TeasSelect Board Member · Elected townwide · at 23 of 26 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
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.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Mar 25Request from Dharma Voyage to purchase four (4) Hix…Motion: to approve the four passes for Dharma VoyagePassed 4–1 · No: Soares
March 25, 2024 · Item c: Request from Dharma Voyage to purchase four (4) Hix Bridge Landing Passes
To approve the four passes for Dharma Voyage
Yes: Boxler, Brewer, Ouellette, TeasNo: Soares
From the minutes
“MOTION by Ms. Shufelt to approve the four passes for Dharma Voyage, seconded by Ms. Boxler. The Board voted 4-1 in favor, with Mr. Soares voting no.” (Motion: Teas, second: Boxler)
Mar 25Request from the Board of Health to approve the…Motion: to approve the contractPassed 4–0 · Abstained: Soares
March 25, 2024 · Item f: Request from the Board of Health to approve the three year Employee Agreement for Board of Health Director, Matt Armendo for the period of July 1
To approve the contract
Yes: Boxler, Brewer, Ouellette, TeasAbstained: Soares
From the minutes
“MOTION by Mr. Ouellette to approve the contract, seconded by Ms. Shufelt, the Board voted 4-0 in favor, with Mr. Soares abstaining.” (Motion: Ouellette, second: Teas)
Mar 11Approve Warrant Articles for Annual Town Meeting MrMotion: to approve the Articles for the Annual Town MeetingPassed 4–1 · No: Soares
March 11, 2024 · Item d: Approve Warrant Articles for Annual Town Meeting Mr
To approve the Articles for the Annual Town Meeting
Yes: Boxler, Brewer, Ouellette, TeasNo: SoaresThe minutes give the count as 4–0 but name Manuel Soares, Jr. as voting against.
From the minutes
“MOTION by Ms. Shufelt to approve the Articles for the Annual Town Meeting, seconded by Mr. Ouellette. The Board voted 4-0 in favor, with Mr. Soares voting against.” (Motion: Teas, second: Ouellette)
Feb 12Request to approve Kleinfelder Change Order to design sewer…Motion: to approve the two positionsPassed 4–1 · No: Teas
February 12, 2024 · Item k: Request to approve Kleinfelder Change Order to design sewer for the Osborn Street Gifford Road loop and approve funding source, $126,000
To approve the two positions
Yes: Boxler, Brewer, Ouellette, SoaresNo: TeasThe minutes give the count as 4–0 but name Shana Teas as voting against.
From the minutes
“MOTION by Mr. Ouellette to approve the two positions, seconded by Mr. Soares. The Board voted 4-0 in favor, with Ms. Shufelt against.” (Motion: Ouellette, second: Soares)
Nov 20Request to approve job description for Information Technology Director…Motion: to approve the Job Description and Employment Contract for Keith NovoPassed 3–1 · No: Soares
November 20, 2023 · Item a: Request to approve job description for Information Technology Director and employment agreement for Keith Novo
To approve the Job Description and Employment Contract for Keith Novo
Yes: Boxler, Brewer, OuelletteNo: SoaresAbsent: Teas
From the minutes
“MOTION by Mr. Ouellette to approve the Job Description and Employment Contract for Keith Novo, seconded by Ms. Boxler. The Board voted 3-1 in favor, with Mr. Soares voting against.” (Motion: Ouellette, second: Boxler)
Nov 6Request for the Transfer of Liquor License from ADV…Motion: to approve the license transferPassed 4–0 · see note
November 6, 2023 · Item b: Request for the Transfer of Liquor License from ADV Sanford Corp
To approve the license transfer
The minutes record this vote as 4–0 but list 5 members as present, so we can’t say who voted.
From the minutes
“MOTION by Mr. Ouellette to approve the license transfer, seconded by Ms. Shufelt. The Board voted 4-0 in favor.” (Motion: Ouellette, second: Teas)
Nov 6Request from Kathy Lanier to be appointed to the…Motion: to appoint Ms. Lanier to the Internet Advisory CommitteePassed 4–0 · see note
November 6, 2023 · Item a: Request from Kathy Lanier to be appointed to the Internet Advisory Committee
To appoint Ms. Lanier to the Internet Advisory Committee
The minutes record this vote as 4–0 but list 5 members as present, so we can’t say who voted.
From the minutes
“MOTION by Mr. Ouellette to appoint Ms. Lanier to the Internet Advisory Committee, seconded by Ms. Shufelt. The Board voted 4-0 in favor.” (Motion: Ouellette, second: Teas)
Nov 6Request from the Planning Board for Board of Selectmen…Motion: to send the Planning Board Comments regarding Zoning, Usage, Safety and…Passed 4–0 · see note
November 6, 2023 · Item a: Request from the Planning Board for Board of Selectmen Comments and Recommendations regarding a Site Plan Approval application for property located at 435 Old Harbor Road with a proposed use…
To send the Planning Board Comments regarding Zoning, Usage, Safety and Community Impact
The minutes record this vote as 4–0 but list 5 members as present, so we can’t say who voted.
From the minutes
“MOTION by Mr. Ouellette to send the Planning Board Comments regarding Zoning, Usage, Safety and Community Impact, seconded by Ms. Shufelt. The Board voted 4-0 in favor.” (Motion: Ouellette, second: Teas)
Nov 6Request from the Planning Board for Board of Selectmen…Motion: to amend the previous motion to include the presentation of the…Passed 4–0 · see note
November 6, 2023 · Item a: Request from the Planning Board for Board of Selectmen Comments and Recommendations regarding a Site Plan Approval application for property located at 435 Old Harbor Road with a proposed use…
To amend the previous motion to include the presentation of the Building Department Letter that's circulating
The minutes record this vote as 4–0 but list 5 members as present, so we can’t say who voted.
From the minutes
“MOTION by Mr. Ouellette to amend the previous motion to include the presentation of the Building Department Letter that's circulating, seconded by Ms. Shufelt. The Board voted 4-0 in favor.” (Motion: Ouellette, second: Teas)
Nov 6Request to approve Pare Corporation Contract for design work…Motion: to approve the Pare Corporation ContractPassed 4–0 · see note
November 6, 2023 · Item c: Request to approve Pare Corporation Contract for design work for the intersection of Gifford Road and Route 177
To approve the Pare Corporation Contract
The minutes record this vote as 4–0 but list 5 members as present, so we can’t say who voted.
From the minutes
“MOTION by Mr. Ouellette to approve the Pare Corporation Contract, seconded by Ms. Shufelt. The Board voted 4-0 in favor.” (Motion: Ouellette, 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).
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