Analysis: Town and Schools
Trust Fund Commission — votes
lunenburgbudgetproject.org — written by the Lunenburg Budget Project, an independent tool for residents. Not affiliated with the Town of Lunenburg, the School Committee or the school district. The data this page is computed from: /data/boards.json
- Town minutes ✓ — source: the town’s own minutes
- from video — source: our reading of the meeting video — may be wrong
- No town minutes yet — the record it should come from isn’t available
82 votes at 27 meetings, 29 October 2019 to 21 October 2026 (FY2020-FY2027). What this covers
FY2027 July 2026 – June 2027
Town minutes read for 2 of 7 meetings
what we have for FY2027
FY2027: 7 meetings on the town's calendar; 2 with the town's minutes read; 4 with only our minutes of the video; 1 with no record we can use. 14 votes below come only from our reading of the video, which may be unreliable.
Accept nine documents as written: risk mitigation and best practices policy, investment policy statement, Select Board quick guide, operational manual, resident guide, trust fund application, scholarship and school trust application, resident checklist, and form TC4 (scholarship and school award presentation)
✓ Passedfrom videoNo town minutes yetdetails
The town hasn't posted minutes for this meeting; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
Moved by the chair.
Outcome as recorded: passed unanimously (voice vote, aye, aye)
Add a small advertisement in the special town meeting flyer/booklet describing available trust funds
✓ Passed unanimouslyfrom videoNo town minutes yetdetails
The town hasn't posted minutes for this meeting; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
Approve the brief summary (section 6) for submission to the town manager
✓ Passed unanimouslyfrom videoNo town minutes yetdetails
The town hasn't posted minutes for this meeting; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
Authorize the chairman to file sections 1 through 11 of the bylaw with the town clerk and send text and summary to the town manager and select board
✓ Passed unanimouslyfrom videoNo town minutes yetdetails
The town hasn't posted minutes for this meeting; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
Update the commission's section-by-section explanation to the September 10th wording and file it with the text
✓ Passed unanimouslyfrom videoNo town minutes yetdetails
The town hasn't posted minutes for this meeting; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
Change meetings from the 2nd and 4th Thursday to the 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 5 p.m.
✓ Passed unanimouslyfrom videoNo town minutes yetdetails
The town hasn't posted minutes for this meeting; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
Approve the rewritten warrant article on continuity of trust fund administration during a vacancy on the board, as amended per the lawyer's comments, for submission to the select board/town meeting warrant
✓ Passedfrom videoNo town minutes yetdetails
The town hasn't posted minutes for this meeting; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
Outcome as recorded: passed unanimously (2-0), roll call: John Bowen aye, Richard Howard aye
27 August 2026
FY2027Town's minutesminutes on the town's siteOur minutes of the videoVideo (whole meeting)Authorize the Chairman of the Commission to prepare an email requesting a joint meeting of the School Committee and the Trust Fund Commission within 30 days regarding scholarships.
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
the vote on the motion was approved unanimously with chairman bowen voting= aye, mr. howard voting =aye.
Moved by Chairman Bowen; seconded by Mr. Howard.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 55:18 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Resubmit the commission's previously submitted oversight bylaw, as written, for the November 17 special town meeting.
Not audiblefrom videoNot in town minutesdetails
The town's minutes don't record this vote as we heard it; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
Moved by the chair.
24 July 2026
FY2027Town's minutesminutes on the town's siteOur minutes of the videoVideo (whole meeting)Motion by the chair to make Richard Howard vice chairman of the commission
✓ Passedfrom videoNot in town minutesdetails
The town's minutes don't record this vote as we heard it; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
Moved by the chair (John Bowen).
Outcome as recorded: passed (roll call: Bowen aye, Howard aye)
Motion to accept, as written, Ernie Sund's clarification of donor intent regarding the American Legion Post 283 trust fund's eligibility terms
✓ Passedfrom videoNot in town minutesdetails
The town's minutes don't record this vote as we heard it; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
Moved by the chair (John Bowen).
Outcome as recorded: passed (Bowen aye, Howard aye/second)
FY2026 July 2025 – June 2026
Town minutes read for 16 of 18 meetings
what we have for FY2026
FY2026: 18 meetings on the town's calendar; 16 with the town's minutes read; 2 with only our minutes of the video. 8 votes below come only from our reading of the video, which may be unreliable.
23 April 2026
FY2026Town's minutesminutes on the town's siteOur minutes of the videoVideo (whole meeting)Approve the Comprehensive Motion and Statement of Findings language as written
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
a motion to approve the language as written was put forth by mr howard, the motion was seconded by chairman bowen. the motion was passed with mr howard voting = aye, chairman bowen voting =aye. the motion passed unanimously.
Moved by Mr Howard; seconded by Chairman Bowen.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 1:08:28 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
9 April 2026
FY2026Town's minutesminutes on the town's siteOur minutes of the videoVideo (whole meeting)Submit information as addendum to formal breach notice and submission packet from March 26, 2026
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
chairman bowen put forth a motion to submit all information as written as an addendum to the formal breach notice and submission packet we send march 26 to 26th 2026. the vote on the motion was mr howard 'aye' and chairman bowen 'aye'. the motion passed unanimously.
Moved by Chairman Bowen; seconded by not stated.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 42:27 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Accept letter to Attorney General Public Charities division regarding breach notice addendum and school department obstruction
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
chairman bowen put forth a motion to be able to accept the letter to the office of the attorney general public charities division with regard to our submission or transmittal of the addendum to formal breach notice affirmative municipal refusal to cure and further obstruction by the school department. mr howard seconded the motion. the vote was mr howard 'aye', chairman bowen 'aye'. the motion passes unanimously
Moved by Chairman Bowen; seconded by Mr Howard.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 48:21 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Accept and send letter to Town Manager, Select Board, Superintendent Fortuna, and School Committee regarding scholarships and trust fund oversight
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
chairman bowen put forth a motion to accept and send the letter, as summarized above, to the town manager, select board, supt, fortuna and members of the lunenburg school committee in its entirety as written. mr howard seconded the motion with the correction of october 2024 referenced on page 1 of the document being changed to october 2025.. the motion passed unanimously
Moved by Chairman Bowen; seconded by Mr Howard.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 54:39 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Send letter to Senator Cronin requesting support in addressing breach filing via legislative inquiry and coordination with Attorney General
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓details
From the town's minutes of this meeting.
The minutes, word for word
chairman bowen put forth a motion to send the letter to senator cronin, the motion was seconded by mr howard. the motion passed unanimously with mr howard voting 'aye' and chairman bowen voting 'aye'.
Moved by Chairman Bowen; seconded by Mr Howard.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video (whole meeting) ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Authorize Chairman of Board of Trust Fund Commissioners to write report and submit to Town Moderator or other authorized party
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
chairman bowen put forth a motion to allow the chairman of the board of trust fund commissioners to write a report and submit to the town moderator or other party that ===page 6=== would be privy to that information. the motion was seconded by mr howard. the vote was unanimous with mr howard voting 'aye' and chairman bowen
Moved by Chairman Bowen; seconded by Mr Howard.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 1:27:17 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Motion to send the letter requesting emergency senatorial assistance to Senator John Cronin, with address and date corrections
✓ Passedfrom videoNot in town minutesdetails
The town's minutes don't record this vote as we heard it; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
Moved by John Bowen.
Outcome as recorded: passed, roll call: Richard Howard aye, John Bowen aye
26 March 2026
FY2026Town's minutesminutes on the town's siteOur minutes of the videoVideo (whole meeting)Accept the Letter to the Attorney General's office as written regarding the Towns
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
chairman bowen made a motion to accept the letter to the attorney general's office as written with regard to the towns. the motion was seconded by mr howard. the motion was passed unanimously
Moved by Chairman Bowen; seconded by Mr Howard.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 1:18:16 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Submit the information packet to the Attorney General, the Town Manager and the Select Board forthwith to start the tolling time for the 30-day response window
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
chairman bowen then made a motion to submit the information packet to be submitted to the attorney general, the town manager and the select board, to be submitted forthwith to start the tolling time for the 30 days response window. the motion was seconded by mr howard. the motion passed unanimously
Moved by Chairman Bowen; seconded by Mr Howard.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 1:18:58 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Accept the signature page as written
Not statedTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
chairman bowen put forth a motion to accept the signature page as written, mr howard seconded the motion.
Moved by Chairman Bowen; seconded by Mr Howard.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 1:20:24 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Approve the standard blank signature form
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
chairman bowen made a motion to approve the standard blank signature form. motion passes unanimously
Moved by Chairman Bowen; seconded by not stated.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 1:22:48 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Align the American Legion 283 and American Legion Poor fund eligibility requirements to align with the American Legion constitution within their written operating policy
✓ UnanimousTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
chairman bowen asked for a motion to align the american legion 283 and american legion poor fund eligibility requirement to align with the american legion constitution within their written operating policy motion seconded by mr howard. the vote was unanimous
Moved by Chairman Bowen; seconded by Mr Howard.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 1:27:18 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
12 March 2026
FY2026Town's minutesminutes on the town's siteOur minutes of the videoVideo (whole meeting)to approve the Lunenburg Board of Trust Fund Commissioners policy and verification of US citizenship and municipal residency
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
mr howard made a motion that we approve the lunenburg board of trust fund commissioners policy and verification of us citizenship and municipal residency. chairman bowen seconded the motion. the vote was mr howard = 'aye', chairman bowen= 'aye'. the motion passed unanimously.
Moved by Mr Howard; seconded by Chairman Bowen.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 1:08:19 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
to express no confidence that the trust fund commission or the select board has any ability to make a determination of any matters with regard to the trust funds without proper professional investigation
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
mr howard made a motion of no confidence that the trust fund commission or the select board has any ability to make a determination of any matters with regard to the trust funds without proper professional investigation. the motion was seconded by chairman bowen. the vote on the motion was mr howard = 'aye', chairman bowen = 'aye'.
Moved by Mr Howard; seconded by Chairman Bowen.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 1:29:50 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
12 February 2026
FY2026Town's minutesminutes on the town's siteOur minutes of the videoVideo (whole meeting)Approve the Trust Fund disbursement eligibility instruction manual for Veteran's Trust Funds
✓ Passed 2-0Town minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
chairman bowen made a motion to approve the trust fund disbursement eligibility instruction manual for veteran's trust funds that the town may come in control, that if the fund does not specifically state that these circumstances are not a disqualifier then they shall be applied to all veteran trust funds given or bequeathed in the benefit of the town and its residents. mr howard seconded the motion as worded. motion was passed with chairman bowen voting 'aye' and mr howard voting 'aye'
Moved by Chairman Bowen; seconded by Mr Howard.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 30:51 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Adopt the policy for the management and distribution of donated Trust Funds with the exception of section 14
✓ Passed 2-0Town minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
chairman bowen made a motion to adopt the policy for the management and distribution of donated trust funds, written by the board of trust fund commissioners with the exception of section 14 unless and until it is ratified at annual town meeting. if ratified at town meeting, it shall be incorporated into this document by order and di
Moved by Chairman Bowen; seconded by Mr Howard.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 1:21:07 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Adopt the trust fund disbursement eligibility instruction manual based on income for any fund for which the town holds funds where income is the basis for eligibility determination
✓ Passed 2-0Town minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
a motion was put forth by chairman bowen to adopt the trust fund disbursement eligibility instruction manual based on income for any fund for which the town holds of which income is the basis for the trust fund to utilize this particular format for determining eligibility. motion was second by mr howard. mr howard vote = aye, chairman bowen =aye.
Moved by Chairman Bowen; seconded by Mr Howard.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 54:39 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
29 January 2026
FY2026Town's minutesminutes on the town's siteOur minutes of the videoVideo (whole meeting)Approve warrant article for appropriation of $14,252.39 from General Fund for legal expenses related to cy pres proceedings for certain trust funds, with removal of the word 'municipal' from the first paragraph
✓ Passed 2-0Town minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
mr howard made a motion to approve the warrant article for appropriation for legal expenses related to trust fund cy pres proceedings with the aforementioned removal of the word municipal from the first paragraph. the motion was seconded by chairman bowen. vote on the motion was mr howard = aye, chairman bowen = aye.
Moved by Mr Howard; seconded by Chairman Bowen.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 31:38 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Approve warrant article for Distribution of Trust Funds in the Absence of a Quorum bylaw amendment
✓ Passed 2-0Town minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
mr howard made a motion to approve the distribution of trust funds in the absence of a quorum warrant. the motion was seconded by chairman bowen. the vote on the motion was mr howard = aye, chairman bowen = aye.
Moved by Mr Howard; seconded by Chairman Bowen.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 1:02:31 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
9 October 2025
FY2026Town's minutesminutes on the town's siteOur minutes of the videoVideo (whole meeting)Accept the proposed version of the distribution request application as designed, pending review by Town Counsel.
✓ PassedTown minutes ✓details
From the town's minutes of this meeting.
The minutes, word for word
mr howard made a motion to accept the proposed version as designed (pending review by town counsel), chairman bowen seconded.
Moved by Mr Howard; seconded by Chairman Bowen.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video (whole meeting) ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Allow Chairman Bowen to continue investigative research and contact the appropriate State agencies without a Commission vote authorizing each activity.
✓ PassedTown minutes ✓details
From the town's minutes of this meeting.
The minutes, word for word
mr howard made a motion to allow chairman bowen to continue investigative research and contact the appropriate state agencies without a vote
Moved by Mr Howard; seconded by Chairman Bowen.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video (whole meeting) ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Engage the town HR Department to establish a relationship for intern work through local colleges to assist in investigative research regarding the Trust Funds commission.
✓ PassedTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
chairman bowne made the motion to "engage the town hr department to establish a relationship for intern work through local colleges
Moved by Chairman Bowne; seconded by Mr Howard.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 1:17:42 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Allow Chairman Bowen to engage in discussions with the American Legion about the disposition of the funds held within the Trust.
✓ PassedTown minutes ✓details
From the town's minutes of this meeting.
The minutes, word for word
mr howard made a motion that chairman bowen can engage in discussions with the american legion to discuss the disposition of the funds held
Moved by Mr Howard; seconded by Chairman Bowern.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video (whole meeting) ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Accept the trust fund distribution application as written, pending legal counsel confirmation on privacy/HIPAA requirements.
✓ Passed unanimouslyfrom videoNot in town minutesdetails
The town's minutes don't record this vote as we heard it; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
Moved by the chair.
Assign the chairman authority to represent the commission's interests for investigative purposes with any agency regarding trust fund administration.
✓ Passed unanimouslyfrom videoNot in town minutesdetails
The town's minutes don't record this vote as we heard it; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
Moved by the chair.
Allow the chairman to discuss the American Legion funds with the public charities office to change the declaration language, in alignment with donor intent.
✓ Passed unanimouslyfrom videoNot in town minutesdetails
The town's minutes don't record this vote as we heard it; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
Moved by the chair.
24 July 2025
FY2026Town's minutesminutes on the town's siteOur minutes of the videoVideo (whole meeting)Adopt (ratify and sign) the Risk Mitigation and Best Practices Policy compiled by Chairman Bowen.
✓ Passed 2-0Town minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
the motion to adopt was raised by richard howard and seconded by john bowen the vote resulted in the following richard howard-aye, john bowen-aye, vote was unanimous
Moved by Richard Howard; seconded by John Bowen.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 1:28:50 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
10 July 2025
FY2026Town's minutesminutes on the town's siteOur minutes of the videoVideo (whole meeting)Send the letter addressing the open Commission vacancy as written, signed electronically by both commissioners, by roll call vote.
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
chairman bowen made the motion, by roll call vote, to send the letter as written, signed electronically using /s/ after the names of the commissioners
Moved by Chairman Bowen.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 1:20:46 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
FY2025 July 2024 – June 2025
Town minutes read for 1 of 1 meetings
what we have for FY2025
FY2025: 1 meeting on the town's calendar; 1 with the town's minutes read. 1 vote below come only from our reading of the video, which may be unreliable.
26 June 2025
FY2025Town's minutesminutes on the town's siteOur minutes of the videoVideo (whole meeting)Nominate John Bowen as Chairman of the Trust Fund Commission.
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
mr. howard made a motion to nominate mr. bowen as chairman of the trust fund commission.
Moved by Richard Howard.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 2:47 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Nominate Richard Howard as Vice-Chairman of the Trust Fund Commission.
✓ Passed unanimouslyTown minutes ✓Also on videodetails
From the town's minutes of this meeting; matched to the same vote in the video.
The minutes, word for word
mr. bowen made a motion to nominate mr. howard as vice-chairman of the trust fund commission.
Moved by John Bowen.
Town's minutes ↗on the town's site ↗Video at 5:35 ↗Our minutes of the video ↗
Set the commission's regular meeting time to 5:00-6:30 PM
✓ Passedfrom videoNot in town minutesdetails
The town's minutes don't record this vote as we heard it; this result is from our reading of the meeting video and may be wrong.
What this covers
- 82 votes at 27 meetings, 29 October 2019 to 21 October 2026 (FY2020-FY2027).
- 59 from the board's own minutes (24 of the 24 sets the town posted have been read), 47 of them matched to the recording; 23 from our minutes of a recording only.
- A meeting with neither minutes read nor a recording we have written up has no votes here, which is not the same as no votes taken. Each fiscal year says how many such meetings the register knows of.
Where each result comes from
- The town’s minutes, matched to the video (47): the board's own minutes, matched to the same vote in the video.
- The town’s minutes (12): the board's own minutes, as the town posted them — the official record.
- From our reading of the meeting video (23): our reading of the meeting video, from a machine transcript — not an official record, and may be unreliable.
Fiscal years run 1 July to 30 June; a meeting is filed under the fiscal year it was held in.
A quote is the minutes' own words, checked verbatim when they were read. A vote from the recording only is a motion as heard by a language model from captions, never a quote.
One row per motion voted. Procedural votes (minutes, adjournment) are hidden unless asked for.
Every row, as data: /data/votes/trust-fund-commission.json. What the record cannot answer is on what we cannot answer.
As of 2026-10-24. All boards.