2026 Special and Annual Town Meeting Warrant can be found here: https://cms2.revize.com/revize/norwell/Documents/Government/Town%20Meeting/2026/2026_Special_Annual_Town_Meeting_Warrant.pdf?t=202604121412210&t=202604121412210
Town meeting has been called to order. Rev. Leanne Walt said the benediction with a moment of silence for Ben Margro who recently and unexpectedly passed away.
Moderator Matthew Greene explains the procedures and processes that govern town meeting.
Town meeting is suspended. Special town meeting is opened.
PASSED: Article 1: Unpaid bills from prior fiscal years.
PASSED: Article 2: Rescind remaining authorized unissued debt for $850,000.
On Article 3: Request authorization to use PFAS settlement funds for the previously approved water treatment facility design and engineering. Carl Swanson recommends tightening the language of the article, proposes amendment and brings written amendment to Moderator.
Motion to table Article 3 passes so the work of special town meeting can continue while the proposed amendment is under review.
PASSED: Article 4: Use of overlay surplus to fund town share of payroll costs of senior work program.
PASSED: Article 5: Snow and ice deficit.
PASSED: Article 6: Maintenance of artificial turf fields.
PASSED: Article 7: Community Housing Trust.
PASSED: Article 8: Electrical rehab- Town Common Project.
PASSED: Article 9: East boardwalk restoration capital improvement phase III.
Returning to Article 3: Carl Swanson reads proposed amendment. Swanson says proposed language removes ambiguity. Darleen Sullivan, Town Administrator, says the difference is semantics and won't change the substance of the article. Motion to amend passes.
Article 3 passes, as amended.
Special town meeting is dissolved.
Article 27 is removed from the consent agenda- Fogg Forest Feasibility: Parking Design/Engineering.
Consent agenda passes.
Article 2: Operating budget. Town Administrator Darleen Sullivan presents the FY27 budget. "Reflects a balanced and fiscally responsible plan." Represents a 2.75% increase over last year. Not seeking an operational override this year.
Scott Dyke, School Committee member, presents on the operating budget. The proposed budget includes a 4% increase that represents a level-service budget. After the failed override last year, Dyke says positions and courses were eliminated and that this budget does not restore them. He says it contains needed investments in technology and addresses higher than expected inflation and energy costs.
Peter Smellie, Select Board chair, presents on the operating budget. Begins with thanks to many departments for collaborations and appreciation for outgoing town administrator Darleen Sullivan.
No discussion on operating budget.
Article 2 operating budget passes.
PASSED: Article 3: Reappropriate unspent article funds. Carl Swanson proposes amendment to the article and then withdraws amendment after comment from town administrator.
PASSED: Article 4: Capital budget.
PASSED: Article 8: Transfer to OPEB Trust Fund. Lorenda Layne, Select Board Clerk, presents on OPEB Trust Fund explaining the acronyms. Kara Vautor speaks in favor of the article due to its "careful financial planning".
PASSED: Article 14: Emergency Tree Removal.
PASSED: Article 15: Recycling Revolving Fund.
PASSED: Article 16: Trash and Recycling Service Contracts.
PASSED: Article 17: Amend South Shore Regional Vocational School District Agreement. Allows Pembroke to join the district.
PASSED: Article 19: Acceptance of Mass General Law Chapter 138 section 12D.
PASSED: Article 20: School mapping for emergency response.
Article 21: School technology. Jeff Gordon, speaks against this article, filed legislation to ban cell phones from schools. "I challenge parents- if you want to give heroin to children, it's better than this," he says while holding up his cellphone. "Take a year to stop the madness."
Article 21: Patrick Reed, speaking on the potential damage to students of putting things like this in articles. "This is bad financial planning...this is politicizing educational needs for our students."
Article 21: Christopher Greeley, says he teaches children coding and technology in afterschool programs. Recommends introducing laptops in lieu of iPads. Advocates against open source technology.
Article 21: Superintendent Matthew Keegan speaks saying that no iPads at the elementary school level go home. iPads are one tool among many. The iPads need to be replaced because of outdated operating systems that are not keeping pace with state requirements.
Article 21: Matt Niblack, speaking as a parent, in favor of the article. Says Norwell still provides many other opportunities for learning outside of the iPad. Brings up AI and the presence of information technology-they need this technology for the future.
Article 21: Bob Curtain asks about the wording of the article. "There's no limit on this." The words "Any other sum" has been removed.
Article 21: Katie Crawford, licensed independent clinical social worker with extensive work in education, speaking in favor of the article. "Technology is here, it's here to stay, and our teachers need this."
Article 21: Kyle Fabrizio says this should be added to the operating budget if it's a priority. Demands overview of priorities and asks for thoughtful budgeting.
Article 21: Liz Bersell, school nurse at Woodward School in Quincy. "We are asking for updated technology so that our kids can use the approved applications through DESE to further their education." Says they are monitoring screen time for efficacy at Cole School.
Article 21: Sharon B., mother and PTO member at Vinal. "We want to invest in our children...come volunteer at the library because we have no librarian because the override failed."
Article 21: Motion to end debate passed.
Article 21 passes.
PASSED: Article 22: Adopt local veterans exemption.
PASSED: Article 23: Bylaw amendment regulating cryptocurrency automated teller machines. Chief Lee speaks in favor of this article. "These machines are overwhelmingly associated with fraudulent activity rather than legitimate financial transactions."
Article 27: Fogg Forest Feasibility Study. Will Saunders, Norwell Conservation Agent, goal is to come up with a simple design, not pave or create large parking lot, but to make it safer for residents to access the property.
PASSED: Article 27: Richard Merritt says there was no provision for parking in the original deed from the Fogg family. Would prefer that parking be elsewhere.
Article 28: Clipper Community Complex Bathrooms. Kristen Cardone, President of Norwell High School Boosters, presents on this topic. CCC opened in 2014 but because of cost limitations it opened without bathrooms. Proposed project is ADA compliant and meets state requirements.
Article 28: Katy Neefus, volunteer cheer coach for Norwell youth cheer speaks in favor of this article. "Grandparents don't go to games because there are no facilities to use." "This is about dignity, pride, and doing what's right by our kids."
Article 28: Malcolm Bartley, graduating high school senior. "This is about whether we have pride in what we represent as a community."
Article 28: Robert Curtain Jr. asks why bathrooms are a priority during a high school feasibility study. Superintendent Keegan clarifies that the new high school would not be in this area.
Article 28: James Bass, resident under 18, town meeting approves his speaking. Asks residents to vote yes.
Article 28 passes.
Article 29: Amendment to zoning bylaws. Brian Greenberg, Select Board Vice Chair presents.
