Select Board votes to hold Old Colony school ballot and town debt-exclusion on same day

The Lakeville Select Board voted Sept. 16 to hold the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School district ballot question and a town debt-exclusion question on the same day, Nov. 18, 2025, with voting scheduled from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Ted Williams Camp.

Town Administrator Andrew said the district called the special election for Nov. 18 and described the town’s share of the roughly $39 million to $40 million project as about 25 percent; the town administrator and the town clerk had advised the board about timing and logistics for pairing the district ballot with a local debt-exclusion ballot.

The board discussed trade-offs: the town clerk had recommended delaying the debt-exclusion vote to the April town election because running separate ballots and separate elections is logistically simpler, but several board members said holding both votes on the Nov. 18 special election would preserve the ability to re‑vote sooner if needed and could increase turnout. Board members also warned the town will need to conduct strong outreach so voters understand separate questions on the same day.

Resident Rich LaCameron spoke during public comment and urged the board not to delay the debt-exclusion vote. "This is the biggest thing the town is ever gonna vote on," LaCameron said. He told the board that the district’s borrowing and early design work could proceed regardless of Lakeville’s local vote and warned of immediate budget pressure if design costs are borrowed before the town raises operating funds. "If it gets passed, no matter whether we pass the override or not ... we have to pay it no matter what," he said, arguing the town should not wait until April to hold its debt-exclusion question.

Town Administrator Andrew told the board he had contacted the other member communities about coordinating dates; at the meeting he reported that Rochester appeared likely to hold the debt-exclusion vote on the same day, while other partners were undecided. Board members asked staff to work with the town clerk and Old Colony on public information and color-coded ballot materials as part of an outreach plan.

After discussion the Select Board made a provisional motion and voted by roll call to hold Lakeville’s debt-exclusion question on the same day as the Old Colony special election, Nov. 18, 2025, with the board directing staff to return with formal ballot language and logistics for final adoption.

The motion passed by roll call vote with the Select Board members present voting in the affirmative.

What happens next: staff will prepare ballot language and logistics for a final administrative vote and will coordinate outreach with Old Colony and the town clerk to explain the separate district and local questions to voters ahead of the Nov. 18 election.