Nahant nixes 2nd override by big margin

NAHANT – Voters decisively rejected a $260,000 override for Johnson School in a special election Saturday, concluding almost two months of debate since a previous no vote on the override.Town Clerk Peggy Barile reported the final tally as 979 votes against the override to 590 votes in favor of the override. Of the town’s 2,531 registered voters, 1,569 cast ballots, she said.”Don’t ever treat the people in the Town of Nahant like they are stupid and don’t ever throw away the people’s vote,” said override opponent Pete Rogers after the tally was read Saturday night.Saturday’s election was the third time – and the second election – where voters considered the measure.School officials proposed the $260,000 override to fill a 2012 budget shortfall due to a $113,000 reduction in state and federal funds coupled with a increase in special-education costs.The override had to pass at both the April 30 town election and the April 30 Town Meeting to be enacted. Town Meeting passed the measure 184 to 43. Voters at the election rejected the override by 52 votes, 417 to 365. Citing confusion because both votes occurred on the same day, selectmen set Saturday’s special election to reconsider the override question.Many opponents Saturday said that the selectmen’s decision to call a special election reinforced their opposition to the override. They also argued that the school needed to more efficiently and creatively manage its budget rather than receiving a permanent override, questioning the school’s administrative and out-of-district special-education costs, among several issues.”The people won’t let the school go down,” said override opponent Linda Tanfani on Saturday night. “They want better management for the school, which will be better for the students.”But supporters argued that the override was essential for maintaining a quality education at Johnson School. Without the override, the school department’s 2012 budget eliminates art, music and physical-education programs in order to meet minimum state requirements. Superintendent Philip Devaux said last week that 11 teachers and staff members had been laid off as a result of the override’s failure.”I’m extremely disappointed for the school and the teachers,” said Yes for Nahant co-organizer Pan Manadee after the election. Several school committee and Yes for Nahant members hugged and cried after Barile read the results.”It’s disappointing, but the real message is that the way the state funds special education leads to fights in small towns,” said override supporter Jim Walsh. “(Special education) is a state mandate that should be paid. It’s a state law. I support the state law, but the state should fund it.”The result, which Barile read at approximately 8:15 p.m., ended a long day for politically active Nahanters.A handwritten sign on Town Hall’s door said simply “No campaign anything.” But across the street, people on both sides of the debate held signs throughout the day and called potential voters. Several cars parked along the road also displayed messages to rally voters.When polls opened at 7 a.m., a line of voters waited at the door, reported resident Jennifer Wyse. Last-minute voters ran up the Town Hall steps right until polls closed at 8 p.m.Both override opponents and supporters said they appreciated the opportunity to vote on the issue again.”I hadn’t voted – I thought it would pass,” Lori Nugent said on her way in to cast her ballot Saturday. She said that she planned to vote yes, but regretted that a local override was the solution for solving the special-education issue. “I wish there was another way to do it.”But many voters said that calling the special election more strongly galvanized those who were against the override.”I think that a lot of people were mad when they discarded that vote,” said override opponent Molly Conlin. “I was really surprised at the size of the difference between the yeses and nos. They really said no this time.””I thought (the special election)