East Bridgewater Sets November 15 Special Election on Central Elementary School Debt Exclusion
EAST BRIDGEWATER - September 29 - The Select Board voted unanimously Monday night to place a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion question on the ballot for a special town election on November 15, seeking voter approval to exempt borrowing costs for the new Central Elementary School project from the town’s tax levy limits.
The Full Story
The Select Board’s September 29 meeting focused heavily on procedural matters related to upcoming votes and regulatory compliance, with the most significant action being the formal authorization of a ballot question that will determine whether the town can move forward with financing its new elementary school project.
The board voted to hold a special town election on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the Gordon W. Mitchell Middle School, located at 435 Central Street, with polls open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The election will feature a single question asking voters whether the town should be allowed to exempt from Proposition 2½ provisions “the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to pay costs of designing, constructing, originally equipping, and furnishing a new central elementary school to be located at 107 Central Street, East Bridgewater, and for the payment of all other costs incidental and related thereto.”
Town Administrator Charlie Seelig noted that while the board had been planning the November election and ballot question, it had not formally voted to place the question on the ballot or officially authorize the election itself. The votes taken Monday formalized both actions. Town Clerk Katie Cavanagh confirmed that her office has already sent out postcards to households notifying residents of the upcoming election, noting cost savings by sending one per household rather than one to every registered voter.
The special election will follow a special town meeting scheduled for Monday, November 10, at the Junior-Senior High School, where residents will have the opportunity to discuss the school project before voting on the debt exclusion five days later.
Board member Katherine Mullen expressed the significance of the upcoming vote, stating, “Getting this, you know, having this election, it’s up to the town to decide whether or not they want this project done. So looking forward to see what the vote is.”
In other business, the board addressed the status of accessory dwelling unit regulations, a topic that has generated significant interest among residents. Town Counsel explained that the Attorney General’s office had returned its decision on zoning bylaw changes adopted at the May 2025 annual town meeting regarding accessory dwelling units (ADUs). While the AG largely approved the bylaw, the office requested some minor changes and deletions to specific provisions.
Roy Gardner, representing the East Bridgewater Planning Board, attended the meeting to clarify the timeline for implementing the required changes. He explained that the planning board needs at least five to six weeks advance notice to properly review language, vote to forward recommendations, and post required legal advertisements for public hearings. “We need at least five or six weeks ahead of time because we have to have the language ready for our meeting. We have to review the language at our meeting, then vote to forward it to you as well as post the dates for a public hearing. That requires minimum, for the enterprise legal ads, that requires minimum three week time period,” Gardner told the board.
This timeline made it impossible to include the ADU bylaw amendments on the October 27 special town meeting warrant, as had been initially considered. Gardner also made clear that the planning board did not want any planning-related articles on the November town meeting, as that session is dedicated exclusively to the school project.
Importantly, Gardner clarified that the current ADU bylaw remains in effect, minus the specific provisions the Attorney General flagged for removal. “The way the state law works, the building inspector is required to issue permits,” he explained, noting that at least two and possibly more residents are already moving forward with ADU projects under the current regulations. This reassured board members who were concerned about potential impacts on residents with pending projects.
The ADU situation reflects broader challenges municipalities are facing statewide. Gardner noted that when the town adopted its local bylaw, the state had not yet issued associated rules and regulations, leaving towns without clear guidance. Subsequently, when the state’s rules and regulations were released, many legislators said the regulations did not reflect their original intent, leading to 18 pending amendments currently under consideration by the state legislature. “Most of them, my opinion, is that they try and change the rules and regulations that were promulgated by MassHousing back to what the original five or six sentences that the legislature adopted said,” Gardner observed, highlighting the disconnect between the brief legislative language and the now 13-page regulatory document.
The board agreed to defer the ADU bylaw amendments to a future town meeting, likely the annual town meeting, to allow adequate time for town counsel to draft appropriate language, the planning board to review it and hold required public hearings, and ensure all procedural requirements are met. Gardner noted the planning board would need to time its public hearing and recommendation carefully to ensure the recommendation remains valid under state law timelines when town meeting occurs.
The meeting also addressed preparations for an upcoming groundbreaking ceremony for a water infrastructure project. Seelig mentioned the ceremony will take place Wednesday at 11 a.m., with the actual groundbreaking occurring in a right-of-way just north of the Miraval Ballroom (formerly the Mockingbird) along Route 18, followed by breakfast treats at the Miraval itself.
The meeting was notably brief, lasting approximately 14 minutes, with no public comment and no items brought forward during the open forum period. Select Board Chair Peter Spagone acknowledged at the meeting’s opening that he was “a little tired today” after staying up late to watch a football game that went until 12:05 a.m., setting an informal tone for the procedural session.
Why It Matters
The November 15 ballot question represents a critical decision point for East Bridgewater taxpayers. Approval of the debt exclusion would allow the town to borrow funds for the Central Elementary School project without those costs counting against the Proposition 2½ tax levy limit, meaning property taxes would increase beyond the normal annual cap to pay for the school bonds. Rejection would force town leaders to either substantially scale back the project or consider what renovations might need to be made to the existing building and how to fund that. The outcome will determine not only the future of the town’s elementary education facilities but also impact property tax bills for years to come as bonds are repaid. With the Town Clerk’s office having already notified households and the special town meeting scheduled five days before the election, residents will have ample opportunity to understand the proposal before casting their votes.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To hold a special town election on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the Gordon W. Mitchell Middle School at 435 Central Street, East Bridgewater, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 11:59)
Motion: To place a ballot question on the November 15, 2025 special town election asking whether the town should be allowed to exempt from Proposition 2½ the amounts required to pay for bonds issued for designing, constructing, equipping, and furnishing a new Central Elementary School at 107 Central Street and related costs. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 12:07)
Motion: To adjourn the meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 14:17)
Public Comment
No public comments were made during the meeting.
What’s Next
A groundbreaking ceremony for a water infrastructure project will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the right-of-way north of the Miraval Ballroom on Route 18, followed by refreshments at the Miraval. A special town meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 10, 2025, at the Junior-Senior High School to discuss the Central Elementary School project. The special town election will be held Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the Gordon W. Mitchell Middle School from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.