Norwell Select Board Reorganizes, Approves Film Policy and Historic Renovation
New chair elected, regulations set for movie productions, and Jacobs Farmhouse contract approved
NORWELL, MA - June 12 - The Norwell Select Board held its annual reorganization meeting Wednesday, electing new leadership and addressing several key town issues.
Jason Brown was unanimously elected as the new chair of the Select Board for the 2024-2025 term. Brown, entering his final year on the board, accepted the nomination from outgoing Chair Peter Smellie.
"I'm a big believer in traditions," Smellie said, nominating Brown for the position.
Andrew Reardon was reappointed as vice chair, while Brian Greenberg will continue to serve as clerk.
The board approved a new policy regulating film and movie production within the town. The policy, which applies to both public and private property, requires production companies to obtain permits and potentially hire emergency service details.
Town Administrator Darlene Sullivan explained the motivation behind the policy: "We realized, as we were chatting, Kim and I, that we should see if there's some policy out there and licensing. We found some really good ones that aligned very well with Norwell and with some of the concerns that we would have, pyrotechnics and noise and all that stuff."
The policy aims to address potential impacts on neighbors and ensure proper safety measures are in place. Board members discussed the need to clarify requirements for smaller productions versus large-scale movie shoots.
In a significant financial decision, the board approved a $347,000 contract with Cape Cod Builders for renovations to the historic Jacobs Farmhouse. The contract includes the base bid and first alternate, with a 12% contingency under the Community Preservation Committee allotment.
Ted Nichols, facilities manager for the town, explained the bidding process: "We bid this out twice. The first time was over budget, just as the base bid. We only had a couple alternates. So I created five ad alternates so that we could have some flexibility into how much work we would take on."
Board members expressed concern about the high cost of the project compared to initial estimates. Discussions revealed that prevailing wage requirements, insurance costs, and historic preservation restrictions contributed to the elevated price tag.
"We have oversight by Mass Historic Commission, Historic New England on every single specification," Nichols added. "They actually are going through all the financials. They're looking at all the submittals for the materials. There's a lot of administration built into it."
The board ultimately approved the contract, acknowledging the unique challenges of renovating a historic property under municipal regulations.