WALPOLE — Norwood civil engineer and prominent civic leader John P. Mogan has been unanimously appointed as the new town administrator of Walpole, stepping into the position left vacant by the July resignation of Richard Gleeson.

Unanimous Appointment and Professional Background

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the appointment of the 44-year-old Norwood resident, setting his annual salary at $11,490. The formal appointment motion was amended by Mrs. Eleanor Johnson to stipulate that Mr. Mogan must establish permanent residency in Walpole within one year of accepting the post. He will officially assume his administrative duties on October 1, though he planned to begin familiarizing himself with municipal operations starting Monday. As part of his responsibilities, Mr. Mogan will also serve as the town’s purchasing agent, with selectmen authorizing him to utilize the town administrator’s vehicle for municipal business and house it on his property.

Mr. Mogan brings an extensive background in engineering, general contracting, and municipal service to Walpole:

  • Civic Leadership: He served as chairman of the Norwood Finance Commission, chairman of the Norwood Planning Board (1960), vice chairman of the Norwood Industrial Commission, and as a member of the permanent building committee, capital outlay committee, and school housing needs study committee.
  • Professional Career: A registered professional engineer, Mogan is the co-founder and partner of Mogan-Walker Co., a Norwood general contracting firm specializing in administrative, purchasing, and engineering operations. He has also worked as a field engineer and superintendent for Landers and Griffin Co. of Portsmouth, N.H.
  • Military Service: A lifelong resident of Norwood who attended Norwood High School and St. Catherine’s School before earning a B.S. in civil engineering from Northeastern University in 1953, Mogan served as a U.S. Air Force combat pilot in the South Pacific from 1942 to 1945 during World War II. He was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters.

Mr. Mogan, who resides at 65 Juniper Drive with his wife and child, expressed profound gratitude to the Walpole selectmen for their unanimous confidence.

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

More Town Government Stories

  • Senate budget gives towns $2.4M in aid-June 23, 1981

    A bipartisan legislative front forms to secure critical financial relief for regional town treasuries facing immediate cutbacks.

  • Referendum Drive Seen Well Underway-June 23, 1981

    A rapid grassroots signature campaign aims to stall a major town development project through a public ballot referendum.

  • Police Overtime Pay Causes Flap-June 17, 1981

    Selectmen Spar Over Fat Paychecks Following Around-The-Clock Housebreak Investigation One policeman got $536 in overtime pay last week. Another got $337. And two selectmen say that’s too much. “It’s not right for one man to work 35 hours overtime,” Selectman Walter J Dempsey said last night, adding, “536 bucks for my money is too much…

  • Civic Center Future Up For Vote-June 15, 1981

    A high-stakes special town meeting agenda features a multi-million dollar Civic Center relocation choice and the $325,250 sale of Winslow School.

  • Housing Authority Candidate Screening Halted-June 16, 1978

    League Watchdogs and District Attorney Block Closed Maintenance Interviews A sweeping attempt to accelerate administrative appointments inside the local municipal infrastructure collapsed under legal scrutiny last night. The Norwood Housing Authority was forced to completely abort a scheduled slate of 20 confidential candidate interviews for its vacant maintenance supervisor role after legal monitors formally warned…

  • Selectmen Outraged by FinCom Veto of Youth Summer Job Program Funding-June 26, 1974

    Runaway teenage unemployment sparks a fierce municipal funding war as watchdogs lock horns over emergency summer public works spending.

    Woman presenting budget report to town meeting in historic chamber
  • Norwood FinCom’s Elias Refuses To Resign Amid Recall Threats-June 22, 1974

    | A political standoff gridlocks the Finance Commission as a newly elected official breaks rank and drops out of municipal sessions

  • Dog Officer Row Unsettled-June 19, 1974

    A breakdown in communication and transport leaves Norwood’s animal control duties in limbo during a fierce political standoff.

  • Delayed Computer Billing Receipts Spark Optimistic Tax Forecasts-June 18, 1974

    Selectmen and assessors leverage delayed electric receipts and cherry sheet funds to keep tax rates at 39.

  • Meeting Ignores School Pleas, Cuts Budget By $126,558-June 15, 1971

    A fierce debate over encumbered funds and municipal parity dominates a marathon Norwood Town Meeting session over the town budget.


Discover more from Norwood Historical Society

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.