Norton Select Board Advances Personnel Bylaw Article to Town Meeting Over Two Dissenting Votes

NORTON -- May 14, 2026, Norton Select Board votes 3-2 to send contested HR staffing article to May 18 town meeting. The board approved Town Meeting Warrant Article 5, which would add a Human Resources Generalist and Director of Senior Services to the town's non-union compensation schedule, despite a Finance Committee no-action recommendation of six to four and objections from members Kevin O'Neill and Luciano, who said board members had not yet reviewed the new job descriptions. Assistant Town Manager argued the HR generalist role had already delivered savings, citing a negotiated health insurance rate reduction from 13 percent to 7.5 percent through the SMHG. The board also unanimously dissolved the Gold Star Committee, which member Robert Kimball founded in 2012 to establish the Trent Memorial park honoring Afghanistan casualty Gregory Trent; Kimball said the committee's municipal account is depleted and a 501(c)3 nonprofit will carry the park forward. The board approved two special one-day liquor licenses for Smoky Chestnut Farm and began planning for a Bylaw Review Committee, targeting July 1 for appointments.