On Monday, November 2, Town Meeting members voted unanimously to appropriate $27.4 million to the Newman Renovation Project. With this vote, Town Meeting joins the Finance Committee, School Committee, and Board of Selectmen, all of which voted to support the Newman project. The Massachusetts State Building Authority has also endorsed the project and has pledged to reimburse Needham for $8.6 million of the $27.4 million.

The final step in securing funds for Newman is the townwide vote on Tuesday, December 8. While Town Meeting has agreed to appropriate the $27.4 million to Newman, Needham residents will be asked to vote to raise that money through a debt-exclusion override of Proposition 2 ½.

If you need more information before casting your vote, please attend one of these forums:

Monday, November 9 at 7:30 pm
Needham Historical Society
Presentations by School Committee, Board of Selectmen, and Together for Needham Representatives
Hosted by Citizens for Needham Schools

Thursday, November 12 at 7:00 pm
Newman School Auditorium
Q&A with Superintendent Gutekanst

These forums will allow you to ask questions about the scope and budget of the project, understand why each item included is considered to be fiscally prudent, and know how your vote on December 8 will impact all of the other capital improvement projects planned for Needham.

We urge you to attend. It is critical that residents of Needham understand the financial and logistical impact of this ballot question. If the override does not pass, Needham will lose the Massachusetts School Building Authority contribution of roughly $8.6 million toward the Newman project. Needham will then have to fund the entire cost of any Newman repairs. That financial burden will delay or put at risk other capital improvement projects.

You can also find more information at the Needham Public Schools website or the Together for Needham website: www.togetherforneedham.org

What do I need to do to be registered to vote in Needham?

The last day to register for the December 8 election is Wednesday, November 18, 2009. You can register in person at the Town Clerk's Office or mail in voter registration forms. Mail-in forms are available at the Post Office, Library, High School, and Town Hall. You may also call the Town Clerk's Office to have a form sent to your home. Forms must be received by November 18 at 8 pm. The Town Clerk's Office is in Town Hall, 781-455-7510.

You may not register to vote online, but you may request a Massachusetts Voter Registration form online. Complete the requested information and a form will be mailed to you.

If I am unable to get to the polls on December 8, how can I vote absentee?

Any registered voter who will be away from Needham on December 8, 2009 from 6:45am to 8pm is eligible to vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots should not be abused, but are an option for people who will be out of town on election day, or unable to get to the polls during voting hours.

To obtain a ballot, you or a family member may mail or deliver a written and signed request to the Town Clerk's office, 1471 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492. Requests must be received by 12 Noon on Monday, December 7, 2009. The request must state your name, address where registered, and address to which the ballot may be sent. Applications including this information may be picked up at Town Hall. A ballot will be mailed to you, or you may arrange to vote at Town Hall prior to December 8, 2009. You or a family member may return your ballot by hand or by mail. Ballots must be received by the Town Clerk by the close of polls on December 8, 2009.

The Absentee Ballot Application may also be downloaded online from the Secretary of the Commonwealth. You can then mail it to the Town Clerk.