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Municipal votes · 2024–2025 Board

Yarmouth Select Board

How the Yarmouth Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Joyce Flynn and Tracy Post joined the board after the May 21, 2024 town election; Dan Horgan and Peter Smith left. On June 4, 2024 the board kept Michael Stone as Chair (5-0, after Dorcas McGurrin withdrew) and Licensing Chair, and chose Dorcas McGurrin as Vice Chair, Tracy Post as Clerk and Joyce Flynn as Appointments Chair (each 5-0). Michael Stone died in August 2024; Vice Chair McGurrin ran the meetings, and Tracy Post became interim Licensing Chair on September 10, 2024 (4-0). Liz Argo won the December 7, 2024 special election and was sworn in on December 9, 2024. On December 10, 2024 the board chose Dorcas McGurrin as Chair, Tracy Post as Vice Chair and Mark Forest as Clerk (each 5-0). Covers 29 meetings, June 4 to May 13, 2025.

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 budget
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

Your Yarmouth ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.

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Board years

Coming up

No upcoming meeting is posted yet. Check the official calendar →

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 Yarmouth, 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 · November 17, 2025 15 votes: 12 passed, 2 passed as amended, 1 failed

Source: Town Clerk's minutes in the 2025 Annual Town Report.

Annual Town Meeting · April 29, 2025 34 votes: 33 passed, 1 passed as amended

Source: Town Clerk's minutes in the 2025 Annual Town Report.

Special Town Meeting · December 9, 2024 2 votes: 2 passed

Source: Town Clerk's minutes in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

Special Town Meeting · November 19, 2024 14 votes: 14 passed

Source: Town Clerk's minutes in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

Annual Town Meeting · April 30, 2024 33 votes: 32 passed, 1 passed as amended

Source: Town Clerk's minutes in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

Not here yet: the April 28, 2026 Annual Town Meeting and the June 24, 2026 Special Town Meeting (no official results posted yet; they should appear in the 2026 Annual Town Report).

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

Liz ArgoMember · Elected townwide · at 15 of 16 meetings · from Dec 2024Mark ForestClerk (from Dec. 10, 2024) · Elected townwide · at 28 of 29 meetingsTracy PostClerk, then Vice Chair (from Dec. 10, 2024) · Elected townwide · at 27 of 29 meetingsMichael StoneChair and Licensing Chair · Elected townwide · at 4 of 5 meetings · until Aug 2024

"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: Select Board minutes from January 3, 2018 through June 24, 2026. Minutes for 2018 and 2019 come from the town’s Archive Center (its Selectmen Minutes go back to 2005); later minutes come from its online Agenda Center. Not here: executive-session minutes (except four dates, in 2019 and 2020, where they are the only minutes posted), and meetings whose minutes are not online, including most meetings from March 30 to October 19, 2021 (19 meetings), about 20 other agenda-only dates from 2018 to 2025 (many of them executive sessions, workshops or joint meetings), and almost all of 2026: by October 4, 2026 the town had posted minutes for only three 2026 meetings (April 28, May 20 and June 24). Two files are not the minutes of the meeting they are posted under (the August 19, 2023 file is a copy of the November 15, 2022 minutes; the June 27, 2022 file is another committee’s minutes), so those dates are left out. Since 2023 most minutes are scanned copies, which MassVoter read with text-recognition software. Yarmouth’s minutes set out each motion with the mover, the seconder and the vote, such as “Vote: 4 ayes; 1 nay (Mike Stone)” or “Yea 5 Nay 0”, and remote and hybrid meetings record roll calls by name. When the count matches the members present, we show every member present as voting yes, and when the minutes name the members who voted no or abstained, everyone else present as voting yes. Members the minutes say were absent for a vote, left, or had not yet joined are left out of those votes. Where the minutes give only a split count without names, the count does not match the members on the attendance line, or a roll call lists a member the minutes do not show as present, we show the count only and add a note. Votes by other boards at joint meetings are not included. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.

Tuesday, May 13, 2025 · Regular meeting12 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 6 members presentTuesday, May 6, 2025 · Regular meeting9 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 6 members presentTuesday, April 29, 2025 · Special meeting1 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 6 members presentTuesday, April 22, 2025 · Special meeting1 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 6 members presentTuesday, April 15, 2025 · Regular meeting14 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAbsent: Tracy Post

Votes where members disagreed

Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.

Feb 25Approve the fees as presentedMotion: To approve the fees as presented.Passed 6–0 · see note

February 25, 2025: Approve the fees as presented

ApprovePassed · 6–0

To approve the fees as presented.

The minutes give the count as 6 in favor and none opposed, but 5 members were present for this vote (Dorcas McGurrin, Tracy Post, Mark Forest, Joyce Flynn and Liz Argo). Showing the count only.

From the minutes

“MOTION: To approve the fees as presented. Motion by: Tracy Post Seconded by: Liz Argo Vote: 6 ayes; 0 nays. The motion carried unanimously..” (Motion: Post, second: Argo)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Feb 4Reconsider the name of the parkMotion: To reconsider the name of the park.Passed 3–2 · No: Forest, Post

February 4, 2025: Reconsider the name of the park

ApprovePassed · 3–2

To reconsider the name of the park.

Yes: Argo, Flynn, McGurrinNo: Forest, Post

From the minutes

“MOTION: To reconsider the name of the park. Motion by: Joyce Flynn Seconded by: Liz Argo Discussion: The Board continued the discussion on whether to change the name of the former drive-in site to Parkers River Landing. Amended Motion: To change the name to Parkers River Landing. Motion by: Joyce Flynn Seconded by: Liz Argo Discussion: Members noted that while some community outreach had been done via sociai media, there were no documented positive responses supporting the current name, Parkers River Boardwalk Park. Select Board members debated whether the motion was for a formal name change or to initiate a reconsideration process with additional public input. Time constraints were noted, as the park signage needed to be finalized by February. Further discussion and a vote could be scheduled for the next meeting to allow proper consideration, however, since it appeared the vote would be in compliance with what was on the agenda and met open meeting requirements, it was decided to take up the vote on the motion. Roll Call Vote: Liz Argo, aye; Mark Forest, nay; Tracy Post, nay; Joyce Flynn, aye; Dorcas McGurrin, aye. Vote: 3 ayes and 2 nays. The motion carried..” (Motion: Flynn, second: Argo)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Feb 4Accept Liz Argo's resignation from the Old Kings Highway…Motion: To accept Liz Argo's resignation from the Old Kings Highway Historic…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note

February 4, 2025: Accept Liz Argo's resignation from the Old Kings Highway Historic District Committee

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present

To accept Liz Argo's resignation from the Old Kings Highway Historic District Committee.

Liz Argo stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.

From the minutes

“MOTION: To accept Liz Argo's resignation from the Old Kings Highway Historic District Committee. Motion by: Joyce Flynn Seconded by: Mark Forest Vote: 4 ayes; 0 nays; 1 recusal (Liz Argo). The motion carried..” (Motion: Flynn, second: Forest)

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

Dec 10Approve agenda item B on the Consent AgendaMotion: To approve agenda item B on the Consent Agenda.Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Post

December 10, 2024: Approve agenda item B on the Consent Agenda

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To approve agenda item B on the Consent Agenda.

Yes: Argo, Flynn, Forest, McGurrinAbstained: Post

From the minutes

“MOTION: To approve agenda item B on the Consent Agenda. Motion by: Mark Forest Seconded by: Liz Argo Vote: 4 ayes; 0 nays; 1 abstention (Tracy Post). The motion carried..” (Motion: Forest, second: Argo)

Read it in the official minutes, page 9 (PDF)

Nov 12For the Town Administrator to create a Plastic Reduction…Motion: For the Town Administrator to create a Plastic Reduction Task Force,…Passed 3–0 · Abstained: Flynn

November 12, 2024: For the Town Administrator to create a Plastic Reduction Task Force, which will develop a Town Meeting Article to substitute a Board of Health Regulation for the Plastic Reduction Bylaw

ApprovePassed · 3–0

For the Town Administrator to create a Plastic Reduction Task Force, which will develop a Town Meeting Article to substitute a Board of Health Regulation for the Plastic Reduction Bylaw. An article will be placed on the December Special Town Meeting Warrant to postpone the January 1, 2025 enforcement date of the Plastic Reduction Bylaw.

Yes: Forest, McGurrin, PostAbstained: Flynn

From the minutes

“MOTION: For the Town Administrator to create a Plastic Reduction Task Force, which will develop a Town Meeting Article to substitute a Board of Health Regulation for the Plastic Reduction Bylaw. An article will be placed on the December Special Town Meeting Warrant to postpone the January 1, 2025 enforcement date of the Plastic Reduction Bylaw. Motion by: Mark Forest Seconded by: Tracy Post Vote: 3 ayes; 0 nays; 1 abstention (Joyce Flynn). The motion carried..” (Motion: Forest, second: Post)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Oct 22Recommend Article 7Motion: To recommend Article 7.Passed 3–0 · Abstained: Flynn

October 22, 2024: Recommend Article 7

ApprovePassed · 3–0

To recommend Article 7.

Yes: Forest, McGurrin, PostAbstained: Flynn

From the minutes

“MOTION: To recommend Article 7. Motion by: Mark Forest Seconded by: Tracy Post Vote: 3 ayes; 0 nays; 1 abstention (Joyce Flynn). The motion carried..” (Motion: Forest, second: Post)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Oct 22Recommend Article 11Motion: To recommend Article 11.Passed 3–0 · Abstained: Post

October 22, 2024: Recommend Article 11

ApprovePassed · 3–0

To recommend Article 11.

Yes: Flynn, Forest, McGurrinAbstained: Post

From the minutes

“MOTION: To recommend Article 11. Motion by: Mark Forest Seconded by: Joyce Flynn Discussion: Select Board Member Post asked why the Finance Committee recommendation was a split 3-3 vote. Assistant Town Administrator Scott said he believed the Finance Committee were concerned about a revenue plan. Finance Director Jennifer Mullen said they were concerned about a maintenance plan and did not want to vote until they saw a maintenance plan for the park. A discussion then took place on the bathrooms, boardwalk, grass/plants and irrigation system. Vote: 3 ayes; 0 nays; 1 abstention (Tracy Post) The motion carried..” (Motion: Forest, second: Flynn)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Oct 1Approve the award of the Contract 1 to C.H.…Motion: Motion to approve the award of the Contract 1 to C.H.…Passed 3–0 · Abstained: Post

October 1, 2024: Approve the award of the Contract 1 to C.H. Nickerson for the amount of $97,550,151

ApprovePassed · 3–0

Motion to approve the award of the Contract 1 to C.H. Nickerson for the amount of $97,550,151.

Yes: Flynn, Forest, McGurrinAbstained: Post

From the minutes

“MOTION: Motion to approve the award of the Contract 1 to C.H. Nickerson for the amount of $97,550,151. Motion by: Mark Forest Seconded by: Joyce Flynn Vote: 3 ayes; 0 nays; 1 abstention (Tracy Post). The motion carried unanimously..” (Motion: Forest, second: Flynn)

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

Oct 1Approve Contract 4Motion: Motion to approve Contract 4,Passed 3–0 · Abstained: Post

October 1, 2024: Approve Contract 4

ApprovePassed · 3–0

Motion to approve Contract 4,

Yes: Flynn, Forest, McGurrinAbstained: Post

From the minutes

“MOTION: Motion to approve Contract 4, Motion by: Joyce Flynn Seconded by: Mark Forest. Vote: 3 ayes; 0 nays; 1 abstention (Tracy Post). The motion carried unanimously..” (Motion: Flynn, second: Forest)

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

Oct 1Approve Contract 5Motion: Motion to approve Contract 5.Passed 3–0 · see note

October 1, 2024: Approve Contract 5

ApprovePassed · 3–0

Motion to approve Contract 5.

The minutes give only the count (3 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstaining), not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“MOTION: Motion to approve Contract 5. Motion by: Joyce Fiynn Seconded by: Mark Forest. Vote: 3 ayes; 0 nays; 1 abstention.” (Motion: Flynn, second: Forest)

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

From the Yarmouth Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center and its Archive Center (2018 and 2019). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Town of Yarmouth (Tracy Post, Liz Argo); The Provincetown Independent, courtesy Mark Forest (Mark Forest); Cape Cod Times (Joyce Flynn); AARP (Dorcas McGurrin)

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