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For the Year Ending June 30, 2020

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For the Year Ending June 30, 2020 The 309th Annual Report of the Town of Norton For the Year Ending June 30, 2020 THE COVER: NORTON SELECT BOARD Seated from left: Michael C. Flaherty and Bradford K. Bramwell Standing from left: John M. Conway, Mary T. Steele, and Renee L. Deley Cover Photograph: Photography by Golota The 309th ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TOWN OF NORTON RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES AND REPORTS OF THE TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2020 TOWN OF NORTON Founded in 1710 Bristol County Land Area: 29.4 Square Miles Population: 19,031 Government: Open Town Meeting with a five member Board of Selectmen and appointed Town Manager. Town meetings are held in the spring (April - June) and the fall (September - November). The Annual Election is the last Tuesday in April. FY 2020 Tax Rate: $14.63 per $1,000.00 Political: Total Registered Voters: 12641 Republicans 1693 Democrats 2522 Unenrolled 8197 Political Designations 229 Legislators: United States Senators Elizabeth A. Warren Edward J. Markey United States Representative 4th Congressional District Jake Auchincloss State Senators Paul Feeney – State Senator Elizabeth Warren – Senior Senator for Massachusetts Edward Markey – Junior Senator for Massachusetts State Representatives 1st Bristol District (P3,4,5) -- F. Jay Barrows 4th Bristol District (P1&2) -- Steven S. Howitt TABLE OF CONTENTS ELECTIONS: Presidential Primary – March 3, 2020 ...................................................... 91 Annual Town Election – June 20, 2020 .................................................... 96 TOWN MEETINGS: Special Town Meeting – August 26, 2019................................................ 17 Annual Town Meeting – October 21, 2019 .............................................. 19 Special Town Meeting – October 21, 2019 .............................................. 24 Annual Town Meeting – June 27, 2020 .................................................... 34 REPORTS: Assessors ................................................................................................. 166 Board of Health ....................................................................................... 204 Bristol County Mosquito Control Project .............................................. 293 Cemetery Department ............................................................................ 214 Communications .................................................................................... 179 Conservation .......................................................................................... 288 Council on Aging ................................................................................... 216 Cultural Council ...................................................................................... 285 Dedication .................................................................................................. 1 Dog Officer ............................................................................................ 210 Emergency Management Agency ........................................................... 200 Finance Committee ................................................................................ 101 Fire/Rescue Department ......................................................................... 181 Gold Star Committee ............................................................................. 275 In Memoriam ............................................................................................. 6 Information Technology ......................................................................... 197 Inspection Department ........................................................................... 211 Inspector of Animals .............................................................................. 210 Library .................................................................................................... 276 Moderator Appointments ......................................................................... 16 Norton Cable Access .............................................................................. 243 Norton Housing Authority ..................................................................... 229 Permanent Building Committee .............................................................. 215 Planning Board ....................................................................................... 232 Police Department .................................................................................. 169 Public Health Nurse ............................................................................... 208 Public Works .......................................................................................... 213 Recreation Department .......................................................................... 256 Select Board ............................................................................................. 99 Select Board Appointments ...................................................................... 12 Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District ... 237 Southeastern Regional Services Group .................................................. 241 Tax Collector - Treasurer ....................................................................... 163 Town Accountant .................................................................................... 104 Town Clerk ................................................................................................ 8 Town Common Revitalization Committee ............................................ 247 Town Manager Appointments ................................................................. 10 Town Officers ............................................................................................ 9 Veterans’ Benefits and Services ............................................................ 261 Vital Statistics ............................................................................................ 8 Water and Sewer Department ................................................................ 252 Water Bodies Committee ....................................................................... 291 Zoning Board of Appeals ....................................................................... 235 SCHOOLS: Bristol County Agricultural High School ............................................. 296 Henri A. Yelle Elementary School ....................................................... 323 Joseph C. Solmonese Elementary School ............................................... 328 L. G. Nourse Elementary School ............................................................ 326 Norton High School .............................................................................. 315 Norton High School - Graduating High School Class ............................ 374 Norton Public Schools Staff.................................................................... 331 Norton Middle School .......................................................................... 321 Norton School Committee ...................................................................... 308 Norton Superintendent of Schools .......................................................... 310 Southeastern Regional Vocational-Technical School ............................. 298 DEDICATION OF TOWN REPORT Mary T. Steele It is with honor and gratitude that we dedicate this year’s Town Report to Mary Steele. Mary was the longest serving female member of the Select Board (f/k/a Board of Selectmen), serving the community for 15 years. While only the third female to sit on the Board, Mary’s beginning and ending as a Board member is one of the most unique and interesting of any member in the Town’s history. Mary never intended to get involved with town politics. In fact, Mary’s first-ever political election was as a write-in candidate. In April 2005, just three weeks before the election, frustration was voiced during a Parent 1 Teacher Board meeting over the lack of financial support for Norton Public Schools. As an active member of the Parent Teacher Board, Mary was determined to find a solution and understood the only way to influence change and make a difference was to have fair representation of the schools’ needs on the Board of Selectmen. Mary was supported by organized school groups across the town who helped coordinate a “sticker campaign.” Greg, Mary’s husband, recalls he and Mary being approached by supporters they had never met and being asked to “vote for Mary Steele”! At the polls, their efforts proved successful, and Mary took the town by storm when she won the election. Mary, a Massachusetts native, moved to Norton with her family in 1999. Greg and their four children, Nathan, Andrew, Zachary, and Ella supported her throughout her tenure on the Board and her volunteerism on other committees and boards. They learned about the importance of public service by watching their mother offer her time, build relationships, commit to doing what was right for her constituents, and making the community a better place to live and raise a family. The desire to help did not stop there. The Steeles were also a foster family for several years; with three young children of their own, they fostered eleven children and were blessed with their twelfth foster child whom they adopted. Mary and Greg have always wanted to help as many children in need as possible. The 2 entire family was involved and, ultimately through these life experiences, her own children learned about compassion and empathy.
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