Town of Norwood Annual Report.Pmd
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NORWOOD 2003 ANNUAL TOWN REPORT DEDICATION The Norwood Board of Selectmen dedicates this year’s annual report to the many volunteers who without constraint or guarantee, give their services to provide our town its warmth and strong sense of community. We speak of those among us who labor for the causes promoted by the town’s many charitable and civic organizations to assist, and better the lives of our neighbors in need — organizations such as The Circle of Hope, Relay for Life, and the Norwood Scholarship Foundation to name a few. They are joined by those who organize community festivities like the Fourth of July Day Celebration and Parade, the Norwood Day Celebration, Concerts on the Common, and Summerfest. The extraordinary efforts of these citizens, along with those who serve our Town in the many volunteer elected and appointed government positions make Norwood a wonderful community, a community truly worthy of the title, “Crown Jewel of the Commonwealth”. Respectfully submitted, William J. Plasko William J. Plasko, Chairman Gary M. Lee Helen Abdallah Donohue Denis M. Drummey Gerard J. Kelleher Board of Selectmen 1 COVER Howard Style Post Clock installed in December, 2002 as part of Public Works Economic Development Grant Program. Clock is cast out of the original pattern developed by the E. Howard Clock Company – clock manufacturer based in Boston and Waltham in the late 1800’s and its internal time controller is synchronized with GPS satellite. The Howard Post Clock is located on the island at the intersection of Walpole Street and Washington Street. The cover photograph was taken by Wayne Dion (www.dion.com). 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL GOVERNMENT Board of Selectmen .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Liquor Licenses ................................................................................................................................................ 6 Sealer of Weights and Measures ..................................................................................................................... 8 Airport Commission .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Cable Commission ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Town Clerk ...................................................................................................................................................... 11 Town Meetings ................................................................................................................................................ 17 Births ............................................................................................................................................................... 43 Marriages ........................................................................................................................................................ 49 Deaths ............................................................................................................................................................. 54 EDUCATION Norwood Public Schools ................................................................................................................................ 61 Senior High School ......................................................................................................................................... 65 Junior High School ......................................................................................................................................... 67 Balch School ................................................................................................................................................... 70 Callahan School ............................................................................................................................................. 72 Cleveland School ........................................................................................................................................... 74 Oldham School ............................................................................................................................................... 77 Prescott School ............................................................................................................................................... 79 Blue Hills Regional High School .................................................................................................................... 82 PUBLIC SAFETY Police Department ........................................................................................................................................... 84 Animal Control Officer ..................................................................................................................................... 89 Fire Department .............................................................................................................................................. 90 Building Inspection Department ..................................................................................................................... 91 HUMAN SERVICES Board of Health ............................................................................................................................................... 95 Veterans’ Department ..................................................................................................................................... 97 Council on Aging ............................................................................................................................................ 98 Human Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 99 Citizens’ Employee Assistance Program ...................................................................................................... 100 Retirement Board .......................................................................................................................................... 101 CULTURAL AND LEISURE SERVICES Recreation Department ................................................................................................................................ 118 Historical Commission .................................................................................................................................. 119 LIBRARY Morrill Memorial Library ................................................................................................................................ 120 DEVELOPMENT Planning Board ............................................................................................................................................. 123 Conservation Commission ........................................................................................................................... 126 Zoning Board of Appeals .............................................................................................................................. 126 Engineering Department .............................................................................................................................. 127 FINANCE Finance Commission .................................................................................................................................... 129 Budget Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 130 Town Treasurer.............................................................................................................................................. 150 Board of Assessors ....................................................................................................................................... 155 COUNTY Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project ..................................................................................................... 157 REFERENCE Federal and State Representatives .............................................................................................................. 158 Town of Norwood Appointed Officials........................................................................................................... 159 Town of Norwood Elected Officials ............................................................................................................... 160 Talent Bank ................................................................................................................................................... 161 Map of Norwood......................................................................................................................................... Insert 3 BOARD OF SELECTMEN NORWOOD BOARD OF SELECTMEN Seated, Left to Right: Denis M. Drummey; Helen Abdallah Donohue; William J. Plasko, Chairman; Gerard J. Kelleher; Gary Lee Standing, Left to Right: John J. Carroll, General Manager; Julia Liddy, Administration Assistant; Frances Jessoe, Clerk; Bernard S. Cooper, Assistant General Manager 4 BOARD OF SELECTMEN REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN FOR THE YEAR 2003 The Board successfully sponsored a change to the Town Charter making the position of Town Treasurer and Tax Collector William