Closed for Years, Repaved Section of Bond Street Set to Reopen-September 21, 1983

Motorists will soon be able to travel along Bond Street between Walpole and Washington streets once again. During last night’s meeting, the Board of Selectmen ordered the reopening of the repaved section of the roadway, which has been closed to through traffic for years.

Bond Street Reopening and Traffic Discussions

Town Manager John J. Carroll recommended opening the newly repaved street and noted that the town will give neighbors an opportunity in about a month to provide input on whether Bond Street and nearby Winter Street should remain open to two-way traffic. Among the suggestions mentioned by Carroll is making Winter Street one-way for traffic moving from Walpole Street to Washington Street, though he made no formal commitment to hold a public hearing on that specific change.

Selectman William F. Butters requested that any street alterations respect the intersection’s designation as a memorial square dedicated to World War II soldier Sgt. James O’Leary. Carroll assured the board that he would ensure the soldier’s mother, who lives nearby, is invited to the upcoming hearing.

Other Town Business and Road Upgrades

In other municipal matters, selectmen addressed several key items:

• Intersection Upgrades: Carroll reported progress on proposed improvements for the wide intersection of Dean and Pleasant streets. Selectmen scheduled a public hearing for 8:00 p.m. on October 12 so residents can review engineering plans—currently at the 25 percent completion stage—which involve “tightening up” the intersection and actually increasing grassy areas at the corners without requiring any land takings.
• Town Meeting Warrant Proposals: Selectmen set November 7 for a town meeting review of several proposals, including a $35,228 appropriation for water system alterations tied to the proposed $12 million reconstruction of Route 1 across Norwood, Walpole, and Sharon (with a federal-state grant covering the estimated $125,000 construction cost); a charter amendment proposed by Moderator Robert C. Capasso to extend the petition drive timeline for overturning town meeting votes; creation of a commission for the handicapped; and rezoning an Everett Street parcel adjacent to Brookview Village apartments from general residence to multi-family or business use.
• Barking Dog Complaint: Selectmen held a hearing regarding a barking Doberman pinscher named Duke, owned by Frank DeCosta of 22 Dean St., following complaints from neighbors including Julia A. Lewis of 1000 Washington St. Animal Control Officer Frank Rodak recommended muzzling the dog or removing it from town, but because the DeCosta family arrived late, selectmen directed Rodak to convey the options to the owner and continued the investigation until October 5.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger