Norton Town Meeting Rejects $11.4 Million Middle School Roof Borrowing

Town Meeting · Meeting of May 18, 2026

Norton Town Meeting rejected a $11,443,631 borrowing authorization for a Norton Middle School roof replacement, with voters defeating the measure 237 to 167, well short of the required two-thirds supermajority. Superintendent Jennifer O'Neill told the meeting the Massachusetts School Building Authority had committed a 55.63 percent reimbursement, which would have reduced the town's share to roughly $5.1 million, with the average homeowner paying $65.46 per year over 20 years on a home valued at $565,000. Town Manager Mark Gould noted the town carries $3.6 million per year in debt principal and $2.2 million in interest across all obligations and warned that a future replacement would require returning to town meeting regardless, potentially without state support.

Roofing contractor Lucas Ray, who inspected the roof twice, argued the project's scope was inflated and the work could be done for $4 million to $5 million, calling the $11.4 million figure an example of "bad planning." A subsequent motion to reconsider also failed. Voters did approve $860,247.73 in Chapter 90 road funds and two zoning bylaw amendments limiting building height to 45 feet and adding definitions to close loopholes in MBTA-adjacent zoning language.

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Source: the Town Meeting meeting of May 18, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.