MassVoter.com← WeymouthMunicipal votes · 2018–2019 Council
Weymouth Town Council
How the Weymouth Town Council voted, from the Town Council’s official minutes. 11 members: 5 elected townwide (at-large) and 6 elected by district. Eleven members. On January 2, 2018 the board chose Michael Smart as President and Arthur Mathews as Vice President (both unanimous). Thomas Lacey (District 2) resigned as of July 1, 2018; on September 17, 2018 the board chose Maureen Kiely for his seat (6-3), and she is on the board from October 1, 2018. Brian McDonald's last meeting was June 17, 2019; the minutes do not say when or why he left, and they call him a former member on December 16, 2019. Covers 41 meetings, January 2 to December 16, 2019.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Town Council do? It is the town’s lawmaking body (this town has no Town Meeting). It passes local laws (bylaws or ordinances), votes on the yearly budget, and approves borrowing and zoning changes.
The mayor runs the town day to day and proposes the budget.
Sources: Mass. General Laws c. 44 § 32 (city budgets)Your Weymouth ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.
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Members
Vice PresidentArthur MathewsVice President · District Four Member · at 41 of 41 meetings
Kenneth DiFazioMember · District Three Member · at 40 of 41 meetingsJane HackettMember · Town Member · at 36 of 41 meetings
Fred HappelMember · Member at-large · at 39 of 41 meetingsEd HarringtonMember · District Five Member · at 35 of 41 meetings
Christopher HeffernanMember · Member at-large · at 41 of 41 meetingsMaureen KielyMember · District Two Member · at 23 of 26 meetings · from Oct 2018Thomas LaceyMember · District Two Member · at 9 of 12 meetings · until Jun 2018Brian McDonaldMember · Town Member · at 27 of 33 meetings · until Jun 2019Michael MolisseMember · Member at-large · at 40 of 41 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: Weymouth Town Council minutes from January 2, 2018 through April 6, 2026, full-board meetings only (the board’s committee meetings are not included). Minutes through September 2025 come from the town’s yearly minutes and agendas archive pages, which go back to 2004 (MassVoter has loaded 2018 on); later minutes come from the town’s Agenda Center. Not here: October 17, 2022 and November 13, 2023 (the posted files hold the minutes of other meetings), April 1, 2024 (the minutes link is broken), February 18, 2025 (the minutes link opens an agenda), October 6, October 27, November 17 and December 15, 2025 (no minutes posted; the November 17 minutes were approved on December 1, 2025), and every meeting after April 6, 2026 (April 21 through October 5, 2026). Four files (August 25, 2020, January 16, 2024, February 3, 2025 and November 10, 2025) are scanned copies, which MassVoter read with text-recognition software. Weymouth’s minutes usually say “UNANIMOUSLY VOTED”; we then show every member present as voting yes, using the clerk’s roll call at the start of the meeting and any arrivals, departures and recusals the minutes record. From 2020 to 2023 most votes were roll calls by name, and we show each vote as recorded. Where the minutes give a count that does not match the members present, a roll call that does not match its count, or no count at all (“VOTED.”), we show the count or the result only, with a note. Votes taken by the Planning Board or the Conservation Commission at joint hearings, and committee votes reported to the board, are not included. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Dec 16Approve measure 19 119 (Utility Petition-NGRID/Verizon-Joint Pole Installation -Washington…Motion: A motion was made by Vice President Mathews to approve measure…Passed 9–0 · see note
December 16, 2019: Approve measure 19 119 (Utility Petition-NGRID/Verizon-Joint Pole Installation -Washington Street)
A motion was made by Vice President Mathews to approve measure 19 119; that the Town of Weymouth grants NGRID/VERIZON, each having locations in certain of the streets of the municipality, permission to locate and erect in said locations poles, wires and fixtures thereto attached, along and across the following public way or ways: Washington St. Install new P13-1 26ft. SW of P13. New pole required to provide electric service to new building @ 143-145 Washington St. The motion was seconded by Councilor Molisse.
The minutes give the count as 9-0, but 10 councilors were present for this vote (Kenneth DiFazio, Jane Hackett, Fred Happel, Ed Harrington, Rebecca Haugh, Christopher Heffernan, Maureen Kiely, Arthur Mathews, Michael Molisse and Michael Smart). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Vice President Mathews to approve measure 19 119; that the Town of Weymouth grants NGRID/VERIZON, each having locations in certain of the streets of the municipality, permission to locate and erect in said locations poles, wires and fixtures thereto attached, along and across the following public way or ways: Washington St. Install new P13-1 26ft. SW of P13. New pole required to provide electric service to new building @ 143-145 Washington St. The motion was seconded by Councilor Molisse. UNANIMOUSLY VOTED. 9/0.” (Motion: Mathews, second: Molisse)
Dec 2Deny the amendment (Amendment to Zoning Ordinance-Billboard Relocation Overlay…Motion: Motion was made by member DiFazio to deny the amendment and…Passed 7–1 · see note
December 2, 2019: Deny the amendment (Amendment to Zoning Ordinance-Billboard Relocation Overlay District- Citizen)
Motion was made by councilor DiFazio to deny the amendment and was seconded by Councilor Mathews.
The minutes give the count (7-1) and name Michael Molisse (voting no), but the names and the count do not match the 9 councilors present. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“On behalf of the Ordinance Committee, a motion was made by councilor DiFazio to deny the amendment and was seconded by Councilor Mathews. President Smart stated that a yes vote supports the action recommended by the Ordinance Committee. Motion passed by a 7-1 vote. (Councilor Molisse- NO).” (Motion: DiFazio, second: Mathews)
Dec 2Draft a letter to the Attorney General (Amendment to…Motion: A motion was made by Member Molisse to draft a letter…Passed 8–1 · No: Hackett
December 2, 2019: Draft a letter to the Attorney General (Amendment to Zoning Ordinance-Billboard Relocation Overlay District- Citizen)
A motion was made by Councilor Molisse to draft a letter to the Attorney General and was seconded by Councilor Harrington.
Yes: DiFazio, Harrington, Haugh, Heffernan, Kiely, Mathews, Molisse, SmartNo: Hackett
From the minutes
“Any individual councilor could request this. Vote passed 8-1; (Councilor Hackett- No).” (Motion: Molisse, second: Harrington)
Oct 21Approve measure 19 104 (Director of Municipal Finance Appointment-James…Motion: Motion was made by Member Molisse to approve measure 19 104;…Passed Unanimous, 7 present · see note
October 21, 2019: Approve measure 19 104 (Director of Municipal Finance Appointment-James Malary)
Motion was made by Councilor Molisse to approve measure 19 104; that the Town of Weymouth, in accordance with section 2-10 of the Town Charter, appoint James Malary to the position of Director of Municipal Finance. The motion was seconded by Councilor DiFazio.
Maureen Kiely had stepped away or left and is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“On behalf of the Budget/Management Committee a motion was made by Councilor Molisse to approve measure 19 104; that the Town of Weymouth, in accordance with section 2-10 of the Town Charter, appoint James Malary to the position of Director of Municipal Finance. The motion was seconded by Councilor DiFazio. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.” (Motion: Molisse, second: DiFazio)
Oct 21Approve measure 19 105 (CPA Funding Request for Lovell…Motion: Motion was made by Member Molisse to approve measure 19 105;…Passed Unanimous, 7 present · see note
October 21, 2019: Approve measure 19 105 (CPA Funding Request for Lovell Field Pedestrian Bridge)
Motion was made by Councilor Molisse to approve measure 19 105; that the Town of Weymouth appropriate the sum of $182,341 from the Unreserved Fund Balance account for the design, permitting and construction of a bridge over the Herring Run to Lovell Field; and was seconded by Councilor DiFazio.
Maureen Kiely had stepped away or left and is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“A public hearing was held on October 21, 2019. On behalf of the Budget/Management Committee a motion was made by Councilor Molisse to approve measure 19 105; that the Town of Weymouth appropriate the sum of $182,341 from the Unreserved Fund Balance account for the design, permitting and construction of a bridge over the Herring Run to Lovell Field; and was seconded by Councilor DiFazio. Councilor Hackett thanked the administration for this proposed solution to the parking issue and for securing the lot two years ago. UNANIMOUSLY VOTED.” (Motion: Molisse, second: DiFazio)
Oct 21Send the draft to the Mayor's office soliciting feedback…Motion: Motion was made by Member DiFazio to send the draft to…Passed Unanimous, 7 present · see note
October 21, 2019: Send the draft to the Mayor's office soliciting feedback (CPA Funding Request for Lovell Field Pedestrian Bridge)
Motion was made by Councilor DiFazio to send the draft to the Mayor's office soliciting feedback and was seconded by Councilor Hackett.
Maureen Kiely had stepped away or left and is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“On behalf of the Ordinance Committee, a motion was made by Councilor DiFazio to send the draft to the Mayor's office soliciting feedback and was seconded by Councilor Hackett. UNANIMOUSLY VOTED.” (Motion: DiFazio, second: Hackett)
Oct 21Approve measure 19 106 (Town Clerk-Call of Town General…Motion: A motion was made by Member Molisse to approve measure 19…Passed Unanimous, 7 present · see note
October 21, 2019: Approve measure 19 106 (Town Clerk-Call of Town General Election)
A motion was made by Councilor Molisse to approve measure 19 106 and was seconded by Councilor DiFazio; In the name of the Commonwealth, the Town of Weymouth is hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town, who are qualified to vote in the Town General Election to vote on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.
Maureen Kiely had stepped away or left and is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“A motion was made by Councilor Molisse to approve measure 19 106 and was seconded by Councilor DiFazio; In the name of the Commonwealth, the Town of Weymouth is hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town, who are qualified to vote in the Town General Election to vote on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. UNANIMOUSLY VOTED.” (Motion: Molisse, second: DiFazio)
Oct 7Proclaim October 10, 2019 as World Mental Health Day…Motion: Now therefore: We, the Weymouth Town Council, do hereby proclaim Thursday,…Passed Unanimous, 8 present · see note
October 7, 2019: Proclaim October 10, 2019 as World Mental Health Day in Weymouth
Now therefore: We, the Weymouth Town Council, do hereby proclaim Thursday, October 10th , 2019 as World Mental Health Day in the Town of Weymouth and urge all residents of this community to join us in raising awareness of Mental Health issues. The proclamation was read into the record in the form of a motion that was seconded by Councilor Hackett.
The minutes say "The proclamation was read into the record in the form of a motion that was seconded by Councilor Hackett" but do not say who made the motion. The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Now therefore: We, the Weymouth Town Council, do hereby proclaim Thursday, October 10th , 2019 as World Mental Health Day in the Town of Weymouth and urge all residents of this community to join us in raising awareness of Mental Health issues. The proclamation was read into the record in the form of a motion that was seconded by Councilor Hackett. UNANIMOUSLY VOTED.” (second: Hackett)
Jun 17Approve measure 19 051 L in the amount of…Motion: Motion was made by Member Molisse to approve measure 19 051…Passed Unanimous, 9 present · see note
June 17, 2019: Approve measure 19 051 L in the amount of $13,425,763 (Police Department)
Motion was made by Councilor Molisse to approve measure 19 051 L in the amount of $13,425,763, and was seconded by Vice President Mathews.
Michael Molisse stepped aside (recused) and is not shown as voting. Jane Hackett had stepped away or left and is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“On behalf of the Budget/Management Committee a motion was made by Councilor Molisse to approve measure 19 051 L in the amount of $13,425,763, and was seconded by Vice President Mathews. VOTED. 9-0 (Councilor Molisse recused).” (Motion: Molisse, second: Mathews)
Jun 17Approve measure 19 051 M in the amount of…Motion: Motion was made by Member Molisse to approve measure 19 051…Passed Unanimous, 10 present · see note
June 17, 2019: Approve measure 19 051 M in the amount of $9,387,092 (Fire Department)
Motion was made by Councilor Molisse to approve measure 19 051 M in the amount of $9,387,092, and was seconded by Vice President Mathews.
Jane Hackett had stepped away or left and is not shown as voting.
From the minutes
“On behalf of the Budget/Management Committee a motion was made by Councilor Molisse to approve measure 19 051 M in the amount of $9,387,092, and was seconded by Vice President Mathews. UNANIMOUSLY VOTED, 10-0.” (Motion: Molisse, second: Mathews)
From the Weymouth Town Council’s official minutes, posted on the town’s minutes and agendas archive and in its Agenda Center. We check every vote against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Town of Weymouth (Members page).
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