2008 Annual Town Report Is Dedicated to Colleen F
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NEEDHAM Where Colonial Tradition ... MEETS … 21st Century Innovation T O W N O F N E E D H A M 1711 – 2008 ANNUAL REPORT Needham, Massachusetts Cover Photographs Jonathan Kingsbury House circa 1779, Rosemary Street, Needham, MA (top) Dasani Water Bottling, Coca Cola Plant, Needham, MA (bottom) This 2008 Annual Town Report is Dedicated to Colleen F. Schaller Colleen Schaller and her late husband Frank arrived in Needham in 1963, thinking they would be here only a few years. Born and raised in Connecticut, Colleen is a graduate of the Berkeley School in New York. She met Frank at her first job at Univac, where she was an assistant. They were married in 1961 and Frank’s profession as a mechanical engineer for Univac gave them the opportunity to live in four states in two years before they eventually settled in Needham. Over the next 46 years, Colleen and Frank raised two children and became grandparents four times. Colleen continues to live in this same home today. Colleen is a tireless volunteer and her efforts have benefited a long list of organizations within our community. Senior Center Exploratory Committee, Member Tercentennial Seniors Committee, Needham Board of Selectmen, Member Member/Vice Chair Needham Youth Commission, Member/Chair Needham Council on Aging Board of Directors, Needham School Committee, Member/Chair Member Needham Youth Center, Founding Member Needham Community Council Board of Directors, Member Needham High School Distinguished Career Charles River Center Board of Directors, Member Committee, Member Needham Cares, Inc. Chair Board of Directors, Needham Pop Warner Jr. Cheerleaders Founding Member Coordinator Needham Exchange Club, Needham Camp Fire Girls Coordinator Member (President 1999) Grace Lutheran Church Sunday School Teacher Fire Chief Search Committee, Member Carter Elementary School, PTC Board President Child Abuse Prevention Center Board of Future School Needs Committee Directors, Member/Chair Colleen received the Needham Exchange Club Exchangite Extraordinary Award in 2003 and was honored by the Richard Patton Melick Foundation Award in 2008. When asked what she feels is her greatest accomplishment, Colleen quickly responds that her volunteerism has included many different youth organizations and, although she is currently concentrating her efforts toward a different age group, her greatest sense of satisfaction comes from working with children. As for Needham’s future – Colleen wants to leave the governing of the Town to those who know best. One thing is certain – Colleen Schaller will continue to do what she knows best – staying connected and involved with her community. Table of Contents PAGE Message from Board of Selectmen........................................................................................................1 Community Profile................................................................................................................................2 GENERAL GOVERNMENT Board of Registrars / Town Clerk .........................................................................................................3 Board of Selectmen / Town Manager....................................................................................................9 Commissioner of Trust Funds .............................................................................................................11 Board of Assessors ..............................................................................................................................13 Department of Finance ........................................................................................................................13 Finance Committee..............................................................................................................................19 Legal Department ................................................................................................................................22 Moderator ............................................................................................................................................23 Needham Contributory Retirement System.........................................................................................24 Personnel Board ..................................................................................................................................25 LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT Board of Appeals.................................................................................................................................25 Planning Board....................................................................................................................................26 PUBLIC SAFETY Building Inspector ...............................................................................................................................30 Fire Department...................................................................................................................................32 Police Department ...............................................................................................................................34 EDUCATION Future School Needs Committee.........................................................................................................37 Minuteman Regional High School ......................................................................................................37 Needham Public Schools.....................................................................................................................41 DIVERSIFIED COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES Council on Aging ................................................................................................................................43 Department of Veteran’s Services.......................................................................................................46 Youth Commission..............................................................................................................................46 PUBLIC WORKS Department of Public Works...............................................................................................................54 PUBLIC FACILITIES Public Facilities Department of Operations ........................................................................................57 Permanent Public Building Committee ...............................................................................................60 COMMUNITY SERVICES Commission on Disabilities.................................................................................................................64 Community Preservation Committee ..................................................................................................66 Golf Course Advisory Committee.......................................................................................................67 Historical Commission ........................................................................................................................68 Memorial Park.....................................................................................................................................69 Needham Cultural Council..................................................................................................................70 Needham Free Public Library .............................................................................................................71 Needham Housing Authority...............................................................................................................75 Transportation Committee...................................................................................................................78 Park and Recreation Commission .......................................................................................................79 Public Health ......................................................................................................................................83 Traffic Management Advisory Committee........................................................................................111 OTHER Metropolitan Area Planning Council.................................................................................................112 Norfolk County Commissioners........................................................................................................113 Norfolk County Registry of Deeds....................................................................................................114 Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project........................................................................................115 TOWN OFFICIALS........................................................................................................................117 TOWN MEETING MEMBERS ....................................................................................................123 TOWN OF NEEDHAM RETIREE INFORMATION ................................................................126 APPENDICES Appendix A – General Fund Balance Sheet Appendix B – Statement of Net Assets Appendix C – Statement of Budget Appropriations and Expenditures for the General Fund Appendix D – Statement of Budget Appropriations for RTS Enterprise Fund, Sewer Enterprise Fund, and the Water Enterprise Fund Appendix E – Schedule of Trust Funds Appendix F – Tax Rate Recapitulation 2008 ANNUAL TOWN REPORT ____________________________________________________________