In Norwell, roughly 250 voters gathered at the field outside the Middle School for the Special and Annual Town Meeting.
Town officials took note of town meetings held in Hingham, Scituate, and other surrounding towns and worked out a plan to ensure social distancing.
Two years after the purchase of the Carleton Property, voters approved putting 115 acres into conservation. Voters turned down giving 8.3 acres to the Community Housing Trust for potential affordable housing.
The $57 million budget includes about $700,000 in reductions for both the schools and on the town-side. But Town Administrator Peter Morin says layoffs are not included.
“The Unions pitched in and took cost of living increase freezes, all management employees are doing that as well. This is really a shared sacrifice budget that had the input of many department heads,” said Morin. “The finance department did an outstanding job. Everybody’s committed to doing the best they can with the resources that we have. I think we’ll be alright.”
With uncertainty for the future after the COVID-19 pandemic, reserve funds were not used for this budget.
Voters approved a change of use for Elevated Access, to allow for recreational marijuana cultivation at Cordwainer Drive, though retail stores are still not allowed.
Selectmen Chair Ellen Allen says zoning amendments for the Accord Pond Park Economic Development District will promote for more economic development.
“It’s rewarding to see that finally something got through, and at least some of the people on the distantly abutting area came around on it,” said Allen. “I’m pleased that we’re finally going to have somewhere that we might get some relief on the residential tax bill going forward.”
A citizen’s petition at Special Town Meeting for an Assisted Living Overlay District Failed, as it did not get the 2/3’s majority vote.
The Special and Annual Town Meeting concluded in about three hours.
