Record Five-Hour Town Meeting slashes $500,000 in Capital Requests to Curb Random Spending
Heading warnings of mounting financial burdens, a special town meeting last night spent only $14,090 of a possible $508,957
The body decisively killed warrant articles seeking about $230,000 for a high school addition and an additional $210,000 to rebuild the Pleasant Street bridge. The five-hour session completed action on all 25 warrant articles and adjourned at 1:14 a.m. Many present considered it the longest town meeting in Norwood‘s history.
The strict warnings to curb municipal spending came mostly from George T. Mahoney, chairman of the Finance Commission, who told the 130 members present: “We have no bright future… we cannot go on spending at this random rate.” George T. Mahoney also noted that Tuesday’s setting of the tax rate effectively prevented major capital expenditures, including advanced school planning lines. The Finance Commission had recommended total expenditures of $13,090. The meeting added just $1,000 to that baseline and strictly followed 16 of 17 financial board recommendations.
The single departure from the commission’s conservative ledger was a $1,000 compromise appropriation for drain construction to allow access to a proposed League field located next to Endean Park. The original article, which was not supported by the finance board, sought $17,000 to construct a full roadway and a dedicated water-line to the athletic field; that larger measure lost on the floor by an 80 to 50 margin. Another recreation item killed during the fiscal purge was a $3,500 request to bankroll preliminary plans and specifications for a municipally owned ice skating rink, which failed on a swift voice vote.
Furthermore, the town meeting refused to restore $21,800 that had been cut from the school administrators’ salaries back in March. However, the members completely reversed a 1968 zoning decision, voting to rezone 4.5 acres of land at Route 1, Neponset Street, and Nahatan Street to grant Carl A. Johnson a brand new commercial location for his Norwood Cadillac Co. dealership.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More…
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Gridlock Over $6-Million Junior High Rebuilding Plan and Norwood Arena Noise-This Day in Norwood History-June 27, 1971
A dual crisis hits Norwood in 1971 as a $6-million junior high deficit triggers political warfare and state experts condemn racetrack noise.
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Officials Weighing School Repair Cost-March 6, 1971
Selectmen last night favored start on work to secure walls of the fire-gutted third story of Norwood Junior High School South which are still standing after a section of the rear wall collapsed Thursday. Architect’s Proposal The local architectural firm of Korslund, LeNormand and Quann, Inc., which directed the construction of the temporary roof damaged…
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Independent School Survey Recommends $21.8 Million Building Program, Terming Norwood Schools ‘Critically Overcrowded’-September 17, 1970
An independent master plan by Arthur D. Little recommends a $21.8 million building program to combat critical overcrowding across all Norwood school levels.
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Work Under Way At Junior High North-May 29, 1970
In 1970, Norwood Junior High North saw new fencing, repaving, and drainage improvements while a major school facilities survey moved toward completion, shaping long‑term planning.
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Norwood Junior High School to Institute Double Sessions This Fall-August 20, 1969
Citing equipment and installation delays that will keep Junior High School North closed until November, the Norwood school board voted to implement double sessions at the old facility.
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Norwood Kills Funds For School Addition-June 26, 1969
Voters approve a $1,000 Endean Park drainage compromise and reverse a zoning rule to relocate Carl A. Johnson’s Norwood Cadillac Co. along Route 1.
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Permanent Building Committee Unveils High School Addition Cost Estimates-June 13, 1969
Finance Commission Reviews Extensive School Expansion Proposals Ahead of Critical Monday Town Meeting Warrant Meeting late last night with the Finance Commission (FinCom), the Permanent Building Construction Committee formally quoted detailed cost estimates regarding the highly anticipated Norwood High School addition project. The comprehensive structural estimates are being prepared for immediate presentation to town representatives,…
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Willett School Wiring Dispute Adds $9,000 to Construction Costs Ahead of September Opening-July 28, 1968
⠀ The Norwood Permanent Building Construction Committee last night voted to approve the installation of additional circuit breaker panels so that the Willett School can open on schedule in September. The cost of the electrical installation is estimated at approximately $9,000. William J. Kates, supervisor of the Municipal Light Department and inspector of wires, advised…
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Permanent Building Committee Warns of Cost Overruns for New Junior High School as Subcontract Bids Exceed Estimates-October 27, 1967
Subcontract bids for Norwood’s new 117,110-sq-ft junior high school totaled $1.14M, prompting building committee members to warn of necessary town meeting budget increases.
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Ground Broken for $1.23 Million George F. Willett Elementary School-August 11, 1967
Following a $1.04 million contract award and emergency state borrowing approval, Rocheford Construction Co. broke ground on the 16-classroom George F. Willett Elementary School.
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