TOWN OF NORWOOD - IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS TOWN OF NORWOOD • OF NORWOOD TOWN Fire: 911 (Emergencies) Police: 911 (Emergencies) Business: (781) 762-0080 Business: (781) 762-6888 For Information on: Animal Control ..................................................................Henry Cerqueira .......................................762-3159 Assessments ....................................................................Assessors .................................................762-1240 Billing (Light & Water) .......................................................Light Department ......................................762-5180 Birth Certificates ...............................................................Town Clerk ...............................................762-1240 Broadband Cable..............................................................Light Department ......................................948-1150 Building Permits................................................................Building Inspector .....................................762-1240 Burial Permits ...................................................................Health Department ...................................762-1240 Cemetery ..........................................................................Cemetery Department ..............................762-1149 Civil Defense ....................................................................Bernard Cooper ........................................762-1240 Commission of Disabilities..................................................................................................................762-1240 Death Certificates .............................................................Town Clerk ...............................................762-1240 Dog Licenses ....................................................................Town Clerk ...............................................762-1240 Dog Officer .......................................................................Henry Cerqueira .......................................762-3159 Drains, Sewers, Streets, Rubbish.....................................Public Works Department ........................762-1413 Elections ...........................................................................Town Clerk ...............................................762-1240 2013 ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL 2013 Entertainment Licenses ....................................................Selectmen ................................................762-1240 Fuel Assistance ................................................................Veterans’ Department ...............................762-1240 Fuel Oil Storage................................................................Fire Department .......................................762-0080 General Manager..............................................................John Carroll ..............................................762-1240 Housing Authority .............................................................William Shyne Circle ................................762-8115 Library...............................................................................Walpole Street ..........................................769-0200 Light Department ..............................................................Light Department ......................................762-3203 Marriage Certificates ........................................................Town Clerk ...............................................762-1240 Milk Inspections ................................................................Health Department ...................................762-1240 Parking Tickets .................................................................Veterans’ Department ...............................762-1240 Planning Board .................................................................Stephen Costello ......................................762-1240 Plumbing Permits .............................................................Building Department .................................762-1240 Purchasing Department ....................................................General Manager .....................................762-1240 Resident Listing ................................................................Town Clerk ...............................................762-1240 2013 Recreation ........................................................................Civic Center ..............................................762-0466 Schools .............................................................................Superintendent .........................................762-6804 ANNUAL TOWN REPORT Senior Citizens’ Center .....................................................Council on Aging ......................................762-1201 Snow Removal .................................................................Public Works Department ........................762-1413 Tax Collections .................................................................Tax Collector ............................................762-1240 Veterans’ Benefits .............................................................Veterans’ Department ...............................762-1240 NORWOOD Voting Registration ...........................................................Town Clerk ...............................................762-1240 Water Service ...................................................................Public Works Department ........................762-1413 MASSACHUSETTS Wiring Permits ..................................................................Building Inspector .....................................762-1240 DEDICATION Greetings to all the residents of Norwood On behalf of the Norwood Board of Selectmen, it is my pleasure to present this 2013 Annual Town Report. This report provides a brief summary of the work performed by our town employees, and many selfless volunteers serving on our town boards and committees. In Norwood we are fortunate to have so many dedicated and capable administrators, employees, and volunteers that provide tremendous services at the lowest cost. Any comparison measurement used results in the local services provided by our town government being among the best in the Commonwealth. This accomplishment is particularly significant when one considers that these high levels of service are maintained during these challenging times of shrinking revenues. This year ended with the Town receiving the good news that our bond rating has been raised from AA to AA+. This will save the town significant cost for borrowing necessary to maintain the town’s facilities and capital projects. We are all thankful for the strong financial planning and leadership we receive from our financial administrators which lead us to this accomplishment. The Board of Selectmen sincerely thanks all those who provide our town with unselfish service. This includes all our citizens who volunteer without constraint or guarantee, giving their time, talents, and energy to assist our neighbors in need, and those who labor to organize community events. Their extraordinary efforts make Norwood more than a town, they transform it into a wonderful community in which to live and raise our families. Be an active participant in our community. Please consider joining these wonderful citizens by offering your service to our town. At the end of this report is a Talent Bank Form. Look it over, see if you can find an area of town government you would be interested in being involved with, or join one of the many local civic organizations and assist them in their good work. Respectfully submitted: William J. Plasko, Chairman Norwood Board of Selectmen 1 COVER ABOUT THE COVER Photo by: Catherine Carney The cover photo is of the Protectors of the American Way Monument located at the intersection of Nahatan and Washington Streets in Norwood Center. It was commissioned in 1988 by Frank Simoni, and it was dedicated in 1991. It was designed and created by Robert Shure of Skylight Studios, Inc., of Woburn, Massachusetts. The statue has three bronze soldiers at the foot of the base which are symbolically protecting the American Family represented by the man, woman, and child above. The stone is inscribed with “The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance.” In the background is the Walter J. Dempsey Memorial Bandstand, dedicated to the Town’s former Selectman. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL GOVERNMENT Board of Selectmen .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Licenses & Permits ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Sealer of Weights & Measures ......................................................................................................................... 7 Airport Commission .......................................................................................................................................... 8 Cable Commission ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Town Clerk ......................................................................................................................................................10 Town Meeting.................................................................................................................................................