Selectmen Ready To Talk Override

NORWOOD, MA — The selectmen are ready to talk about a possible override but need some data before getting behind the idea.

The selectmen briefly address the topic at the end of their meeting Tuesday. Chairman Thomas Maloney said he thinks there is interest in town in an override but the board needs to know two things - how much money will be requested and what will the money be used for.

"It's not just at town meetings but in a lot of corners of town we're hearing conversation partially about the school department budget, that the school department does not have sufficient funding year to year and the budget is tremendously strained," Maloney said.

Selectman Paul Bishop agreed that the override has to be defined but wanted to hear from those who may be against the tax hike.

"There are many people in favor of this but on the other side there are a whole bunch of people we haven't heard from," Bishop said.

Selectman Helen Abdallah Donohue was concerned that talks of a budget override could damage the prospects of a debt service override which would be needed for a new middle school.

"I'm wondering how we should handle the question of an operational override and how are we going to educate everyone in town? I don't want to hurt the chances of a junior high school. That's the type of override we've experienced before. That need is not questionable," she said.

The school budget has been a point of topic when it comes to a proposed override due what some say is a lack of sufficient funds. While presenting the budget during an April school committee meeting, Superintendent Dave Thomson said, "We're expenses cutting everything to a bare minimum."

An operational override vote would not take place until the spring at the earliest and would require the selectmen to call for a town-wide vote. If it passes, it would be the first operational override in the history of Norwood.

Image: File Photo