How the Winchester Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. Jacqueline Welch joined the board after the March 27, 2018 annual town election, succeeding James Whitehead. The same election approved renaming the Board of Selectmen the Select Board (Fall 2017 Town Meeting vote); the minutes use “Select Board” from April 23, 2018. Michael Bettencourt (Chairman) and David Errico (Vice Chairman) led the board until mid-May 2018; the minutes from May 18, 2018 on list Lance Grenzeback as Chairman and Mariano Goluboff as Vice Chairman. The reorganization vote is not in the posted minutes. Covers 38 meetings, April 23 to March 18, 2019.
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.
From the agendas Winchester posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.
What Town Meeting decided
In Winchester, 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. Town Meeting members are elected by precinct; counts are from the town’s electronic voting.
Spring Town Meeting · April 27, 2026 38 votes: 32 passed, 3 failed, 2 no action, 1 referred
Sessions: April 27, April 30, May 4 and May 7, 2026
Art. 16 · motion 8Capital: $102,000 for Building Department records managementPassed“Motion Carried Voice Vote”
Art. 16 · motion 9Capital: $150,000 from water and sewer retained earnings for MS4 permit compliancePassed“Motion Carried Voice Vote”
Art. 16 · motion 10Capital: $75,000 from water and sewer retained earnings for water treatment plant computer programmingPassed“Motion Carried Voice Vote”
Art. 2Vacate Town Meeting member seats under Charter Sec. 2.5(c) (consent agenda; motion was to indefinitely postpone)Indefinitely postponed“Motion Carried Voice Vote”
Not here yet: Some Winchester articles are not here because the Town Clerk has not posted their certified votes (including the FY2027 budget articles from the 2026 Spring Town Meeting), and the February 9, 2026 Special Town Meeting has no posted results; the 2026 Fall Town Meeting is on November 5, 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: Winchester Select Board minutes from January 5, 2018 through September 14, 2026: 275 meetings and 3,365 votes. The town posts the board’s minutes in its Agenda Center from 2013, and older Board of Selectmen minutes (2004–2012) in its Document Center; MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. Until April 2018 the board was the Board of Selectmen: the Fall 2017 Town Meeting voted to rename it, the March 27, 2018 town election approved the change, and the minutes use “Select Board” from April 23, 2018. The minutes are typed documents with searchable text (five are Word files posted in the minutes slot). Missing: the minutes of the 13 meetings from November 17, 2025 through May 18, 2026 are not posted (November 17 and December 1, 2025; January 12, January 26, February 12, February 23, March 2, March 16, March 30, April 6, April 13, April 27 and May 18, 2026); the town has posted their agendas only. MassVoter is asking the town for them. Also not here: the October 22, 2018 meeting, whose minutes slot holds the minutes of the October 19, 2018 meeting (loaded under October 19); executive-session minutes; votes of the School Committee, the Planning Board, the Board of Assessors and the Housing Authority at joint meetings (only the Select Board members’ votes are shown); and meetings after September 14, 2026 (the September 28 and October 5, 2026 minutes are not posted yet). Winchester’s minutes give each motion with its mover and seconder (“McGonigle - Bettencourt”) and then the vote. In 2018 and 2019 most votes say “All in favor … VOTED”, shown as every member present voting yes. Roll calls (“Roll Call: Bettencourt, Prior, McGonigle, Brady”), used for every vote at the remote meetings of 2020–2022 and since for executive sessions and some other votes, list the members voting yes and are shown by name; a member present but left out of a roll call is not shown voting, with a note. Split votes list the members on each side (“Yes: Brady, Fallon, McGonigle, Prior … No: Bettencourt”; “In favor: … Not in favor: …”) and abstentions by name; these are shown by name when they fit the count and the attendance. Since in-person meetings resumed in March 2022, most other votes are written only as “Brady - Bettencourt VOTED”, with no names, no count and no “All in favor”; those votes show the result only (1,112 votes in all). 3 votes show the count only, where the count and the names or the attendance do not match. A motion with no recorded vote is not counted as a vote. 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.
Mar 18Approve the Town's contribution of $25,000 from the Hospital…Motion: *Motion That the Select Board approve the Town's contribution of $25,000…Passed 4–1 · No: Goluboff
March 18, 2019: Approve the Town's contribution of $25,000 from the Hospital Fund
ApprovePassed · 4–1
*Motion That the Select Board approve the Town's contribution of $25,000 from the Hospital Fund. Grenzeback - Bettencourt 4-1 VOTED In favor: Bettencourt, Errico, Grenzeback, Welch Opposed: Goluboff
“*Motion That the Select Board approve the Town's contribution of $25,000 from the Hospital Fund. Grenzeback - Bettencourt 4-1 VOTED In favor: Bettencourt, Errico, Grenzeback, Welch Opposed: Goluboff.” (Motion: Grenzeback, second: Bettencourt)
Mar 4Reappoint Joan Grenzeback to the Council on Aging, term…Motion: *Motion That the Select Board reappoint Joan Grenzeback to the Council…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Grenzeback
March 4, 2019: Reappoint Joan Grenzeback to the Council on Aging, term to expire March 31, 2021
AppointPassed · 4–0
*Motion That the Select Board reappoint Joan Grenzeback to the Council on Aging, term to expire March 31, 2021. Goluboff - Welch 4-0 VOTED Abstained: Grenzeback
“*Motion That the Select Board reappoint Joan Grenzeback to the Council on Aging, term to expire March 31, 2021. Goluboff - Welch 4-0 VOTED Abstained: Grenzeback.” (Motion: Goluboff, second: Welch)
Jan 28Authorize Town Management, Town Engineer and DPW pursue the…Motion: *Motion That the Select Board authorize Town Management, Town Engineer and…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
January 28, 2019: Authorize Town Management, Town Engineer and DPW pursue the tiered Option 1 analysis
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
*Motion That the Select Board authorize Town Management, Town Engineer and DPW pursue the tiered Option 1 analysis. Goluboff - Bettencourt All in favor VOTED
Jacqueline Welch had left the meeting before this vote and is not shown.
From the minutes
“*Motion That the Select Board authorize Town Management, Town Engineer and DPW pursue the tiered Option 1 analysis. Goluboff - Bettencourt All in favor VOTED.” (Motion: Goluboff, second: Bettencourt)
Jan 28Authorize Town Manager to enter into an agreement for…Motion: *Motion That the Select Board authorize Town Manager to enter into…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
January 28, 2019: Authorize Town Manager to enter into an agreement for the appraisal report not to exceed $3,000
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
*Motion That the Select Board authorize Town Manager to enter into an agreement for the appraisal report not to exceed $3,000. Goluboff - Bettencourt All in favor VOTED
Jacqueline Welch had left the meeting before this vote and is not shown.
From the minutes
“*Motion That the Select Board authorize Town Manager to enter into an agreement for the appraisal report not to exceed $3,000. Goluboff - Bettencourt All in favor VOTED.” (Motion: Goluboff, second: Bettencourt)
Jan 28Approve One Day Alcoholic Beverage Licenses for - Gail…Motion: *Motion: That the Select Board approve One Day Alcoholic Beverage Licenses…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
January 28, 2019: Approve One Day Alcoholic Beverage Licenses for - Gail Freeman Ockerbloom for Studio on the Common - January 31. 2019
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
*Motion: That the Select Board approve One Day Alcoholic Beverage Licenses for - Gail Freeman Ockerbloom for Studio on the Common - January 31. 2019. Goluboff - Bettencourt All in favor VOTED
Jacqueline Welch had left the meeting before this vote and is not shown.
From the minutes
“*Motion: That the Select Board approve One Day Alcoholic Beverage Licenses for - Gail Freeman Ockerbloom for Studio on the Common - January 31. 2019. Goluboff - Bettencourt All in favor VOTED.” (Motion: Goluboff, second: Bettencourt)
Jan 28Accept the donation, with appreciation, in the amount of…Motion: *Motion: That the Select Board accept the donation, with appreciation, in…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
January 28, 2019: Accept the donation, with appreciation, in the amount of $10,000.00 from the Winchester Mount Vernon House to the Winchester Council on Aging representing a donation gifted to the Council on…
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present
*Motion: That the Select Board accept the donation, with appreciation, in the amount of $10,000.00 from the Winchester Mount Vernon House to the Winchester Council on Aging representing a donation gifted to the Council on Aging towards the purchase of a vehicle. Goluboff - Welch All in favor VOTED
The minutes say earlier that Jacqueline Welch left the meeting (“Selectman Welch left the meeting.”), but they name Jacqueline Welch in this vote, so Jacqueline Welch is counted as back in the meeting.
From the minutes
“*Motion: That the Select Board accept the donation, with appreciation, in the amount of $10,000.00 from the Winchester Mount Vernon House to the Winchester Council on Aging representing a donation gifted to the Council on Aging towards the purchase of a vehicle. Goluboff - Welch All in favor VOTED.” (Motion: Goluboff, second: Welch)
Oct 19Recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 3 in…Motion: *Motion: That the Select Board recommend favorable Town Meeting action on…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
October 19, 2018: Recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 3 in the Fall 2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
*Motion: That the Select Board recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 3 in the Fall 2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Goluboff - Welch 4-0-1 VOTED Bettencourt absent
Michael Bettencourt arrived after this vote (“Selectman Bettencourt arrived”, after Article 6) and is not shown. The vote lists Michael Bettencourt as absent. The count (4-0-1) gives Michael Bettencourt, who was not in the meeting for this vote, as its third number.
From the minutes
“*Motion: That the Select Board recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 3 in the Fall 2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Goluboff - Welch 4-0-1 VOTED Bettencourt absent.” (Motion: Goluboff, second: Welch)
Oct 19Recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 5 in…Motion: *Motion: That the Select Board recommend favorable Town Meeting action on…Passed 4–1 · see note
October 19, 2018: Recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 5 in the Fall 2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
ApprovePassed · 4–1
*Motion: That the Select Board recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 5 in the Fall 2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Goluboff - Welch 4-1 VOTED Errico no
Michael Bettencourt arrived after this vote (“Selectman Bettencourt arrived”, after Article 6) and is not shown. The minutes record the vote as 4-1 and name David Errico voting no, but Lance Grenzeback, Mariano Goluboff, Jacqueline Welch and David Errico were in the meeting for this vote; the count and the attendance do not match, so the count only is shown.
From the minutes
“*Motion: That the Select Board recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 5 in the Fall 2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Goluboff - Welch 4-1 VOTED Errico no.” (Motion: Goluboff, second: Welch)
Oct 19Recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 6 in…Motion: *Motion: That the Select Board recommend favorable Town Meeting action on…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
October 19, 2018: Recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 6 in the Fall 2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
*Motion: That the Select Board recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 6 in the Fall 2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Goluboff - Welch 4-0-1 VOTED Bettencourt absent
Michael Bettencourt arrived after this vote (“Selectman Bettencourt arrived”, after Article 6) and is not shown. The vote lists Michael Bettencourt as absent. The count (4-0-1) gives Michael Bettencourt, who was not in the meeting for this vote, as its third number.
From the minutes
“*Motion: That the Select Board recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 6 in the Fall 2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Goluboff - Welch 4-0-1 VOTED Bettencourt absent.” (Motion: Goluboff, second: Welch)
Oct 19Recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 11 in…Motion: *Motion: That the Select Board recommend favorable Town Meeting action on…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Errico
October 19, 2018: Recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 11 in the Fall 2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
ApprovePassed · 4–0
*Motion: That the Select Board recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 11 in the Fall 2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Goluboff - Bettencourt 4-0-1 VOTED Errico abstained till the Town Meeting
“*Motion: That the Select Board recommend favorable Town Meeting action on Article 11 in the Fall 2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Goluboff - Bettencourt 4-0-1 VOTED Errico abstained till the Town Meeting.” (Motion: Goluboff, second: Bettencourt)
From the Winchester Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center (Select Board). 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 no Select Board photos): Winchester News candidate profiles — Michelle Prior and Michael Bettencourt (2026), Anthea Brady and William McGonigle (2025), courtesy of the candidates. Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.