Norwell Honors Late Public Servant Ben Margro; Finalizes Town Meeting and 250th Anniversary Plans

NORWELL — The Norwell Select Board convened on April 29 to finalize critical logistics for the upcoming Town Meeting while pausing to offer a solemn tribute to Ben Margro, a dedicated member of the town government whose unexpected passing has left what officials described as a “hole” in the community. Amid the somber reflections, the board moved forward with appointing new leadership to the Assessing and Planning departments and approved a high-profile “Liberty Tree” planting at Jacobs Farmhouse to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.

The Full Story

The meeting opened with a heartfelt moment of silence and personal reflections following the sudden passing of Ben Margro over the preceding weekend. Chair Pete Smellie expressed the board’s deep condolences, describing Margro as extremely knowledgeable and a “super nice guy.” Select Board members Andy Reardon, Brian Greenberg, and Ren Layne shared anecdotes of Margro’s wide-ranging expertise, which often led to long, tangential conversations about technology and town history. Town Administrator Darleen Sullivan thanked town employees for “stepping up” to support one another during a difficult week, noting that Margro was integral to daily operations at Town Hall.

“Ben was just such a part of our town family, and we miss him. We loved him... there’s a hole here.” [03:51-05:54] — Darleen Sullivan, Town Administrator