Select Board sets July 13 special election, adds tax and fire‑department questions

The Norton Select Board voted on June 6 to hold a special election on Saturday, July 13, 2024, and to place two tax‑override questions and a question about removing the Norton Fire Department from civil‑service coverage on the ballot.

The action followed a discussion of scheduling, ballot language and voter outreach. Chair (speaker 1) said July 13 avoids the Fourth of July weekend and that absentee ballots and town‑hall ballot pickup would be available to voters who cannot attend in person. ‘‘I think July 13 is a good date,’’ the Chair said when the board moved and approved the date.

Why it matters: the ballot will include two separate dollar‑amount override questions and an additional yes/no question about whether to remove the fire department from state civil‑service protection. Board members and counsel warned the town must explain how the two dollar‑amount questions interact — under state law the higher approved amount controls if multiple override questions both pass — and they discussed how to communicate that to voters.

Fire‑department and union representatives told the board they support placing the civil‑service verification question on the special election ballot now rather than waiting until spring because of timing with a promotional exam the department must administer. A fire‑department representative said the town and the union negotiated an 18‑page memorandum of agreement covering hiring and promotion processes and that members remain covered in their current ranks until promoted. ‘‘We’re here this evening just to ask the board to consider putting verification of civil service on the ballot again in the special election,’’ the representative said.

Town attorney Lauren cautioned that explanatory language is typically not permitted on the ballot itself but that the board can provide summaries and informational materials via the town website and in informational sessions. ‘‘Explanatory language of any kind is not allowed [on the ballot],’’ Lauren said, and recommended the town prepare outreach materials and a session residents can view on cable or the town website.

Board members debated holding the vote on a Saturday to maximize turnout versus a weekday, and discussed early‑voting logistics. Staff indicated voters may pick up and return ballots at the town clerk’s office once ballots are available, and that in‑person early voting requires opting in and is subject to statutory deadlines; counsel noted a 45‑day deadline to act if the board wanted to opt out of in‑person early voting.

Outcome: The board voted to set the special election for July 13 and to place the tax question(s) and the civil‑service question on that ballot. The board directed staff and counsel to finalize ballot wording, order ballots and prepare outreach materials explaining the questions and the effect of a higher approved dollar‑amount when multiple override questions appear on the ballot.

The board’s next procedural step is for staff and counsel to finalize the official question wording and for the town to publish available informational materials for voters ahead of the 35‑day window required for the election.