Norwell Voters Approve Tech School Funding, Reject Town Budget Override
South Shore Regional Vocational Technical School District debt exclusion passes, while $3.7 million override for town expenses fails in closely watched election
NORWELL - May 17 - Norwell residents have made their voices heard in Saturday's town election, rejecting a $3.7 million override but giving the green light to fund a new regional vocational high school.
The override, aimed at supporting schools, public safety, public works, and general government expenses, didn't make the cut with 1701 votes in favor and 1835 against.
On the flip side, voters approved a debt exclusion for Norwell's share of a new South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School building. This measure squeaked by with 2074 votes in favor and 1319 opposed.
In the hotly contested Select Board race, John McGrath and Lorinda Lane came out on top for the two open seats. McGrath pulled in 1892 votes, Lane secured 1853, while Mark Cleveland trailed with 1548 votes.
At a recent candidates forum, McGrath shared his motivation: "I'm running because I care about the families working hard to build their lives here and the seniors who want to stay in their homes."
Lane highlighted her strategic planning and problem-solving chops, emphasizing the need to tackle budget challenges and improve cooperation between town boards head-on.
In other election news, Sean Joyce came up short against incumbent Mary Granville for a spot on the Board of Assessors, with Joyce racking up 1,278 votes to Granville's 1,536.
Danielle Shepard ran unopposed for town clerk, earning 2,728 votes. Shepard stated, "I'm running to improve customer service and make it easier for Norwell residents to take care of their business with the town."