Norwood Board of Health Denies Public Access to Restaurant Inspection Records-July 26, 1977

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The Norwood Board of Health voted last night not to comply with a request from The Patriot Ledger that the board’s records of inspections of food service establishments be made public. The action came on the recommendation of Town Counsel Justin C. Barton, who said that in his opinion such records are not public since they were not prepared to serve a public purpose but were for the use of the board.

He recommended the board also take the position that the records are exempt from public record designation since they are investigatory material compiled out of public view, disclosure of which could have a detrimental effect. He cited Chapter 4, Section 7 of the General Laws. However, he said it was not up to him or the board to decide whether the records were public, and the board should not comply unless a court decided the question. If you release inspection reports citing conditions that may have existed but perhaps do not any longer, it could have serious effects, he said.

The newspaper requested in writing on July 19 access to the records from January 1975 to date for use in a proposed story on the state of health conditions in Norwood restaurants and other food establishments. The request in writing was made after a Patriot Ledger reporter was denied access to the records by Health Director Bartley J. King. The request came as a result of allegations by two board of health members, Kenneth E. Webber and Henry T. McAuliffe, that the restaurants were not being inspected on a regular basis.

Bartley J. King denies any neglect of the food establishments, and says the issue is a false one arising from a personality conflict between the board members and himself. He cites the fact the board removed money to pay the salary of the town’s part-time inspector, Leonard Curran, from this year’s budget. Leonard Curran resigned on May 31 after being harassed out of office, according to Bartley J. King. Kenneth E. Webber, who is the board chairman, was absent last night but members Clare Swift and Henry T. McAuliffe voted to go along with Justin C. Barton‘s recommendation.

In other action, the board approved a permit to Mr. and Mrs. David Freedman to operate a retail bakery in Building 1934 providing certain improvements set down by Bartley J. King were made. They also approved a permit for a food service establishment with no sewer connection at 445 Walpole St., in a building owned by E. Peter Bamber, to Leonard Fabiano providing the building would be hooked up to the sewer if the existing cesspool on the property proved insufficient. Furthermore, the board agreed to seek a reserve fund transfer of $640 to buy four scales for the public health nurses for use in their Keep Well Clinics.

The controversial decision highlights ongoing political and administrative debates within the town of Norwood regarding municipal transparency, public record accessibility, and regulatory oversight of commercial food establishments across the community.

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