Norwell Officials Discuss Potential Override, $4.3 Million in CPC Projects
Select Board weighs first tax override in 12 years as expenses outpace revenues; boardwalk replacement among major funding requests
NORWELL - February 26 - The Norwell Select Board is considering a potential override vote to address a structural deficit in the town's budget, with officials noting that expenses continue to outpace revenues. During their Feb. 26 meeting, board members discussed the financial challenges facing the town and the possibility of more frequent, smaller overrides in the future.
"We have a structural deficit built in," said Select Board Chair Jason Brown. "The expenses are outpacing the revenue. We pass an override. Guess what? There's another one coming a few years later. That's reality."
The board recently held a joint meeting with the School Committee to discuss budget challenges, which Select Board Vice Chair Andy Reardon described as "open and frank."
"I'm hearing a lot from the community that they need to know more," Reardon said. "I'm seeing that nobody's told us any of these problems and we should have known about these problems a long time ago."
Brown suggests that smaller, more frequent overrides might give residents "a greater sense of fiscal reality about living within our means rather than these long, expansive 10 and 12 year stretches for overrides."
The town hasn't had an override in 12 years, which board member Brian Greenberg described as creating a situation where "we're at a five alarm fire."
Town Administrator Darleen Sullivan plans to present information about overrides at next week's meeting, when the board may vote on a dollar amount.
"I'd like to do a presentation on what is an override at a very high level, but for the residents who are watching," Sullivan said. "We'll put it on the website as well."
The town assessor will also attend to address questions about the recent property revaluation, which some residents have mistaken for a tax increase.
"A lot of people's taxes went up, but it's not a levy increase," Greenberg explained. "That person's taxes went up $1,300, but we don't get any additional money. It's basically just been shifted."
In other business, the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) approved approximately $4.3 million in project funding. Brendan Sullivan from the Planning Board presented the results of the CPC's votes on various applications.
Among the approved projects:
- First Parish Cemetery gravestone restoration phase four: $20,410
- Main Street stonewall refurbishment phase two: $40,000
- Cold School soccer goals: $7,912
- Signage improvements for open space and recreation: $28,000
- Jacob's Pond aquatic weed treatment: $60,000
- Washington Street Cemetery phase two: $100,000
- Cushing Center fire alarm: $159,000
- Cushing Center heating and cooling: $47,000
- Capital boardwalk improvement restoration: $2.7 million
- Community housing trust affordable housing: $150,000
- Woodworth infrastructure improvement project: $945,000
The boardwalk restoration project, which accounts for the largest portion of the funding at $2.7 million, generated significant discussion. Highway Director Glenn Ferguson addressed concerns about the project's durability, as the original boardwalk lasted only about 12 years instead of the expected 20.
"I can assure this board with me involved and GEI involved, you'll get a first-class product," Ferguson said, referring to the engineering firm hired for the project. "Most of the wood that was used on the first boardwalk was a residential type quality, which didn't meet any of the codes."
The new boardwalk will use different materials, including IPE decking and commercial-grade products. Ferguson hopes the project will come in under $2 million and expects it to last "30 years or more."
Select Board member Reardon expressed concerns about investing such a large sum without guarantees of durability.
"I'm looking for the guarantee, or as close to what we can find as guarantee, that investing $2-plus million into something isn't going to be a fly-by-night, oh, look what happened, and now we have more excuses," Reardon said.
Ferguson noted that the town could potentially hire a third-party engineer to oversee the project if additional funds remain after bidding.
The CPC currently has about $4.7 million in undesignated funds and expects to receive an additional $1.6 million. After administrative costs and mandatory allocations to open space and recreation, historic resources, and affordable housing, the committee will have approximately $5.7 million available. An additional $800,000 will be reclaimed from past projects that have been closed out or not started.
Other items discussed at the meeting included:
- The board appointed Rebecca Freed and Chad Foreman to the Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee
- Plymouth County Treasurer Tom O'Brien presented information about the Plymouth County Retirement Association funding schedule
- The board discussed the importance of scheduled inspections for the boardwalk project to ensure accountability
- Members noted challenges in communicating with residents due to the lack of local news coverage *editor’s note: please subscribe at SouthShore.news
The Select Board will meet again on March 5 at 6 p.m. to continue budget discussions and potentially vote on an override amount.