How the Whitman Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. The board reorganized on May 20, 2025, with the same officers. Covers 24 meetings, May 20 to May 4, 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.
Under the state Open Meeting Law, boards post notice at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays.
What Town Meeting decided
In Whitman, 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.
Special Town Meeting · June 11, 2025 3 votes: 1 passed, 2 no action
Art. 2Revised FY2026 town operating budget (Article 2), total $53,332,128Passed“IN THE MAJORITY”
Art. 3Approve the Police Union (MassCOP Local 494) contract, July 2025 – June 2028, funded from free cashNo action“PASSED OVER”
Art. 4Approve the Fire Union (IAFF Local 1769) contract, July 2025 – June 2028, funded from free cashNo action“PASSED OVER”
Art. 10Set FY2025 spending limits for revolving accountsPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 11Transfer $19,842.29 from free cash to the Opioid Settlement FundPassed“UNAMIMOSULY”
Art. 12Appropriate $9,800 from free cash for an Emergency Action Plan for the Harding Pond DamPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 13Appropriate $16,500 from cemetery funds for a new lawn mowing tractorPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 14Appropriate $7,000 from free cash for a chain link fence at the Hobarts Pond DamPassed“UNANIMOSULY”
Art. 15Appropriate $323,087.67 in Chapter 90 state road fundsPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 16Appropriate $123,786 from the ambulance reserve account for Fire Department turnout gearPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 17Appropriate $1,500 from free cash for General Code to update the town bylawsPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 18Appropriate $47,000 from capital stabilization for fire panel replacement at the Police StationPassed as amended“UNANIMOUSLY AS AMENDED”
Art. 19Appropriate $68,140 from capital stabilization for an administrative police cruiserPassed as amended“UNANIMOUSLY AS AMENDED”
Art. 20Appropriate $21,000 from free cash for pool house and pump room upgradesPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 21Appropriate $14,000 from free cash to replace a ground condenser in the server roomPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 22Appropriate $30,303 from capital stabilization for new computers for Town Hall, Library, Police and FirePassed as amended“UNANIMOUSLY AS AMENDED”
Art. 23Appropriate $60,000 from capital stabilization to upgrade town phone systemsPassed as amended“UNANIMOUSLY AS AMENDED”
Art. 24Appropriate $75,000 from capital stabilization for a new Fire Department four-wheel drive vehiclePassed as amended“UNANIMOUSLY AS AMENDED”
Art. 25Appropriate $38,000 from capital stabilization for Town Hall heating circulator pumpsPassed as amended“UNANIMOUSLY AS AMENDED”
Art. 26Appropriate $75,000 from free cash for road repairPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 27Appropriate $75,000 from free cash for sidewalk repair or replacementPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 28Appropriate $58,722.95 from free cash for a chiller compressor at Whitman-Hanson Regional High SchoolNo action“PASSED OVER”
Art. 29Appropriate $86,189.30 from free cash for a fire panel at Whitman-Hanson Regional High SchoolNo action“PASSED OVER”
Art. 30Appropriate $54,188 from free cash to migrate the fire panel at Whitman-Hanson Regional High SchoolNo action“PASSED OVER”
Art. 31Appropriate $8,638.11 from free cash for a core router at Whitman-Hanson Regional High SchoolNo action“PASSED OVER”
Art. 32Appropriate $27,053.45 from free cash for a backup power (UPS) unit at Whitman-Hanson Regional High SchoolNo action“PASSED OVER”
Art. 33Appropriate $17,292.42 from free cash for wireless access points at Whitman-Hanson Regional High SchoolNo action“PASSED OVER”
Art. 34Appropriate $37,408 from free cash for wireless access points at Duval, Conley and Whitman Middle schoolsNo action“PASSED OVER”
Art. 35Appropriate $10,622 from free cash for backup power (UPS) units at Duval, Conley and Whitman Middle schoolsNo action“PASSED OVER”
Art. 36Appropriate $155,900 from free cash for engineering to seek state transportation funds (South Avenue Corridor)Passed as amended“UNANIMOUSLY AS AMENDED”
Art. 37Make the elected Treasurer-Collector an appointed position, subject to a town election votePassed“IN THE MAJORITY”
Art. 38Community Preservation: FY2025 administrative budget ($10,000) and reserves ($29,180 each for historic, housing, open space)Passed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 39Community Preservation: $1,100 for plaques for surveyed historic sitesPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 40Community Preservation: $30,000 for an Open Space and Recreation PlanPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 41Amend the general and zoning bylaws to use gender-neutral wording ("Select Board")Passed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 42Raise the need-based senior property tax exemption (Clause 17D) to $350Passed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 43Raise the asset limit for the Clause 17D senior property tax exemption to $50,000Passed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 44Raise the income limits for the Clause 41D senior property tax exemption to $35,000 single / $50,000 marriedPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 45Raise the asset limits for the Clause 41D senior property tax exemption to $50,000 single / $65,000 marriedPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 46Accept a property tax exemption of up to $500 for home changes that house a person 60 or older (Clause 50)Passed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 47Accept a veteran property tax work-off abatement program (M.G.L. c. 59, s. 5N)Passed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 48Accept Captain Allen Way as a public wayPassed“UNANIMOUSLY”
Art. 49Add $509,212 to the regional school budget, contingent on a Proposition 2½ overrideFailed“ARTICLE DEFEATED”
Art. 50Amend the zoning bylaw to add an MBTA Communities multifamily overlay districtPassed“IN THE MAJORITY”
Art. 51Citizens' petition: create a Whitman Veterans' Discretionary FundPassed as amended“UNANIMOUSLY AS AMENDED”
Art. 52Citizens' petition: fund a Town Clerk salary adjustmentNo action“PASSED OVER”
Not here yet: the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting and any Special Town Meetings after June 11, 2025 (no voted record posted on the Town Clerk's Town Meetings & Reports page yet).
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
Not here yet: we have loaded the Select Board’s minutes from January 2018 through September 8, 2026. The town has posted an agenda but no minutes for ten meetings in that time (for example February 5, 2020, February 7, 2024, and August 4, 2026), and minutes after September 8, 2026, are not posted yet. All minutes are typed; one file was a scan that we read with text recognition. Most votes are recorded as a count, such as 5-0 or 3-2 with the members who voted no named, or as a roll call. From May 2024 to May 2025 the minutes usually say only that a motion “carried,” without a count or names; for those 211 votes we show the result but not how each member voted. A few votes where the count does not match the members present, or where members chose between candidates instead of voting yes or no, are shown with a note and without individual votes. Votes by other boards at joint meetings (such as the School Committee, Finance Committee or Hanson Select Board) are not included. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Apr 23Appoint one of the three finalists as Assistant Town…Motion: to appoint one of the three finalists as Assistant Town AdministratorPassed 3–2 · see note
April 23, 2026: Appoint one of the three finalists as Assistant Town Administrator
AppointPassed · 3–2
To appoint one of the three finalists as Assistant Town Administrator
This was a roll-call choice among finalists, not a yes-or-no vote: Laura L. Howe, Daniel L. Salvucci and Shawn M. Kain chose Matt Dyer; Carl F. Kowalski and Justin R. Evans chose Sabrina Chilcott. The minutes record it as 3-2 in favor of Matt Dyer.
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci moved to appoint one of the three finalists as Assistant Town Administrator, seconded by Mr. Evans. The vote was as follows: Ms. Howe - Matt Dyer; Mr. Salvucci - Matt Dyer; Chair Kowalski - Sabrina Chilcott; Mr. Evans - Sabrina Chilcott; and Mr. Kain - Matt Dyer. So voted 3-2 in favor of Matt Dyer..” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
Apr 7Reconsider the Board's prior vote regarding a library overrideMotion: to reconsider the Board's prior vote regarding a library overridePassed · see note
April 7, 2026: Reconsider the Board's prior vote regarding a library override
ApprovePassed · No count or names in the minutes
To reconsider the Board's prior vote regarding a library override
The minutes say only that the motion carried; they do not give a count or say how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci moved to reconsider the Board's prior vote regarding a library override, seconded by Mr. Kain seconded; the motion carried by voice vote.” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Kain)
Mar 24Approve the application of CTS Auto, LLC (Taylor Harrington…Motion: to approve the application of CTS Auto, LLC (Taylor Harrington and…Passed 4–1 · No: Kain
March 24, 2026: Approve the application of CTS Auto, LLC (Taylor Harrington and Danielle Harrington) for a Class II Auto Dealer's License for the premises located at 470 Temple Street, subject to receipt…
ApprovePassed · 4–1
To approve the application of CTS Auto, LLC (Taylor Harrington and Danielle Harrington) for a Class II Auto Dealer's License for the premises located at 470 Temple Street, subject to receipt of satisfactory character references, payment of the license fee, submission of the surety bond required under M.G.L. c. 140, §58, and final inspection and approval by the Building Commissioner; and to rescind the license currently held by Mass Auto World, Inc. for this location, effective upon issuance of the new license to CTS Auto, LLC
Yes: Evans, Howe, Kowalski, SalvucciNo: Kain
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci moved to approve the application of CTS Auto, LLC (Taylor Harrington and Danielle Harrington) for a Class II Auto Dealer's License for the premises located at 470 Temple Street, subject to receipt of satisfactory character references, payment of the license fee, submission of the surety bond required under M.G.L. c. 140, §58, and final inspection and approval by the Building Commissioner; and to rescind the license currently held by Mass Auto World, Inc. for this location, effective upon issuance of the new license to CTS Auto, LLC., seconded by Ms. Howe; the motion carried by voice vote 4-1-0 (Mr. Kain opposed).” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Howe)
Mar 24Put forward an override to cover the proposed public…Motion: to put forward an override to cover the proposed public safety…Failed 2–3 · see note
March 24, 2026: Put forward an override to cover the proposed public safety cuts, the full school assessment, snow and ice deficit, reduce the amount drawn from OPEB for retiree benefits, and to…
ApproveFailed · 2–3
To put forward an override to cover the proposed public safety cuts, the full school assessment, snow and ice deficit, reduce the amount drawn from OPEB for retiree benefits, and to keep the library open; if the override fails, the proposed cuts to public safety would move forward
The minutes give only the count (2-3), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Mr. Evans moved to put forward an override to cover the proposed public safety cuts, the full school assessment, snow and ice deficit, reduce the amount drawn from OPEB for retiree benefits, and to keep the library open; if the override fails, the proposed cuts to public safety would move forward, seconded by Mr. Salvucci; the motion failed by voice vote 2-3-0.” (Motion: Evans, second: Salvucci)
Mar 24Pursue the smallest possible override to preserve library services…Motion: to pursue the smallest possible override to preserve library services and…Failed 2–3 · see note
March 24, 2026: Pursue the smallest possible override to preserve library services and to explore not funding non-mandated busing, with the understanding that if the override failed, the library would close and publi
ApproveFailed · 2–3
To pursue the smallest possible override to preserve library services and to explore not funding non-mandated busing, with the understanding that if the override failed, the library would close and public safety would be preserved under either scenario
The minutes give only the count (2-3), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Mr. Kain moved to pursue the smallest possible override to preserve library services and to explore not funding non-mandated busing, with the understanding that if the override failed, the library would close and public safety would be preserved under either scenario, seconded by Ms. Howe; the motion failed by voice vote 2-3-0.” (Motion: Kain, second: Howe)
Mar 24Pursue an override to keep the library open, with…Motion: to pursue an override to keep the library open, with the…Passed 3–2 · see note
March 24, 2026: Pursue an override to keep the library open, with the understanding that if the override failed, the library would close
ApprovePassed · 3–2
To pursue an override to keep the library open, with the understanding that if the override failed, the library would close
The minutes give only the count (3-2), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Mr. Kain moved to pursue an override to keep the library open, with the understanding that if the override failed, the library would close, seconded by Ms. Howe; the motion carried by voice vote 3-2-0.” (Motion: Kain, second: Howe)
Sep 23Issue a warrant for unlicensed dogs to the Animal…Motion: to issue a warrant for unlicensed dogs to the Animal Control…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Howe
September 23, 2025: Issue a warrant for unlicensed dogs to the Animal Control Officer
ApprovePassed · 4–0
To issue a warrant for unlicensed dogs to the Animal Control Officer
“Mr. Salvucci moved to issue a warrant for unlicensed dogs to the Animal Control Officer. Seconded by Mr. Evans; the motion carried 4-0-1 (Mrs. Howe abstained).” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Evans)
Jul 8Appoint Laura Howe as Animal Control Officer, Field Driver,…Motion: to appoint Laura Howe as Animal Control Officer, Field Driver, and…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
July 8, 2025: Appoint Laura Howe as Animal Control Officer, Field Driver, and Pest Control Inspector, through June 30, 2026
AppointPassed · Unanimous, 3 present
To appoint Laura Howe as Animal Control Officer, Field Driver, and Pest Control Inspector, through June 30, 2026
Laura L. Howe had stepped away from the board for this item and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci moved to appoint Laura Howe as Animal Control Officer, Field Driver, and Pest Control Inspector, through June 30, 2026. Mr. Kain seconded; the motion carried 3-0.” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Kain)
From the Whitman Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town’s Agenda Center. We check every vote against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos of current members: stills from WHCA-TV’s candidate interviews (Daniel Salvucci 2024; Justin Evans and Shawn Kain 2025; Dawn Byers and Christina Gorman 2026). Former members show initials.