Recreation Pass System Studied, Theater Alterations Proposed, and Cedar Street Permit Debated-October 15, 1969

Meeting with the Board of Selectmen last night, the Norwood Recreation Advisory Committee announced it is actively exploring the implementation of a recreation pass and fee system for the newly constructed World War II Memorial Center.

Advisory Committee Chairman Charles C. Saraca noted that while he had previously opposed user fees for municipal facilities, the unique demands of managing the new memorial center warranted a fresh approach. Under the proposed system, residents would purchase an admission pass—potentially generating revenue that Saraca suggested could flow into a dedicated revolving fund for ongoing recreation programs.

Recreation Superintendent Kevin Dixon told selectmen he would strongly favor keeping the new facility open on holidays, urging that specific provisions be incorporated into the upcoming municipal budget. Meanwhile, the committee expressed mounting concern over the deteriorating condition of outdoor town playgrounds, pointing to Elliott Field as an extreme example where weed growth and turf neglect left fields resembling the surface of the moon.

Norwood Cinema Twin-Screen Conversion Proposed

Town officials also reviewed a proposal to remodel the Norwood Cinema. Owner Irving A. Cohen presented plans to alter the theater layout to allow two films to be shown simultaneously.

The renovation would remove three or four rows of seats from the main floor and convert the balcony into a self-contained theater space, resulting in a net reduction of approximately 100 seats. Assistant Building Inspector Alfred L. Grover informed the board that no formal building permit will be issued until the architectural plans receive official approval from the State Department of Public Safety. Target completion for the modeled theater is slated for early 1970.

Cedar Street Storage Permit Sparks Controversy

A heated exchange erupted over a proposed special permit for a construction equipment storage building at the end of Cedar Street.

Charles Saraca, speaking on behalf of the appeals board, warned selectmen that facts had been distorted during a public hearing the previous week, asserting that the land area is smaller than claimed and that the facility would create a severe safety hazard. Selectman Joseph F. Curran acknowledged visiting the site and agreeing that the project posed municipal challenges, though board members questioned their legal standing since the public hearing had already closed.

Saraca pressed the issue sharply: “If this permit is granted and anyone is killed on that street, it will be on your head, and I will remind you of it at every opportunity.” Appeals Chairman James J. Drummy had previously inspected the site and noted he saw no legal basis to refuse the special permit request.

In Other Town Business:

• Worm Infestation: Assistant Town Manager John P. McAunne reassured Selectman John F. Lydon that a widespread infestation of small green worms dropping from oak trees would naturally subside with the season’s first hard frost.
• Sewer Line Approval: Selectmen approved definitive plans for a municipal sewer line running through the rear of Father McAleer’s Playground to serve George H. Clark’s apartment complex off Nahatan Street. The agreement stipulates the sewer will be ready by May 1, resolving a long-standing legal dispute that stemmed from a 1967 board refusal.

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