By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Spring Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved on Tuesday, April 29 sending the $4.65 million Proposition 2 ½ override to a townwide ballot vote scheduled for Wednesday, June 4.
Due to the 1,200 voters in attendance, Spring Town Meeting was held in the Lynnfield Middle School auditorium, cafeteria and gym. Spring Town Meeting was also delayed by 40 minutes from the 7 p.m. start time due the large number of voters in attendance.
“We probably have a record turnout,” said Town Moderator Steve Walsh.
Voters approved two separate operating budgets for fiscal year 2026 at Spring Town Meeting. The $73,075,332 balanced budget, which would include a number of budget cuts, was passed on a voice vote.
Spring Town Meeting also approved sending the $4.65 million override to a Special Town Election on Wednesday, June 4, on a voice vote. The proposed override budget, totaling $77,725,332, seeks to address the town’s $4 million budget deficit and $650,000 for school technology upgrades and replacements in FY26.
If voters reject the proposed override during the Special Town Election on June 4, the School Department will have to lay off 56 employees, the Lynnfield Public library will have to lay off 15 employees and the Lynnfield Senior Center will lay off employees. The library would also lose its certification if the override fails.
In addition to the proposed FY26 operating budget and $4.65 million override, Spring Town Meeting approved three articles related to the Lynnfield Rail Trail after a 90-minute debate.
Spring Town Meeting approved Article 6, which authorized the Select Board to enter into easement agreements for Phase 1 of the Lynnfield Rail Trail, by a 783-324 vote.
Voters also approved Article 7, which accepted a portion of Ford Avenue that has not been accepted as a public way as a public way, by a 595-475 vote.
Spring Town approved Article 8, which will dedicate an unused portion of land on Lynnfield Middle School property adjacent to the athletic fields in order to allow people to access the rail trail, by a 563-487 vote.
Walsh announced to the legislative body that Articles 14-21 would be postponed to a future Town Meeting.
“We have made a decision to move all articles after Article 13 to a subsequent Town Meeting because they don’t need to be voted on tonight,” said Walsh.
Spring Town Meeting approved all 13 articles.
The Villager will have comprehensive Spring Town Meeting coverage in the May 7 issue.