Talk of the Town-June 6, 1978

Summer Storms at Town Hall

From tense residential property disputes on the south side to severe gridlock over classroom funding in our secondary school auditoriums, municipal boards are facing a community that is deeply invested in drawing hard lines. Whether the issue is infrastructure fulfillment or neighborhood park equity, the message echoing through the square is clear: residents expect full transparency, fiscal prudence, and a strict adherence to local bylaws before the annual gavels drop.

Arena Rezoning Favored by Planning Board

The planning board voted last night to serve formal notice to builder Richard C. Saccone to resume work to complete his Grandview Estates I subdivision roadways or lose $18,000. That is the sum remaining under a tri-party agreement entered into by the builder, the town, and the Norwood Cooperative Bank to ensure subdivision roadways would be built as approved. June 1 was the deadline on Saccone’s Grandview Development Co. to complete Bradford, Pilgrim, and Standish drives, which serve the subdivision of about 25 houselots off Union Street.

Chairman Francis Wisgirda noted that the deadline had been an extension of an earlier one and recommended the board take steps to claim the $18,000 under the tri-party agreement. The money is part of Saccone’s construction loan. He understands the developer has sold or otherwise transferred all lots in Grandview Estates I, so has made his money and should complete his obligations under terms of the agreement, Wisgirda said. According to a review of the latest engineering analysis, the $18,000 should be adequate if the town completes the work Saccone has left undone, Wisgirda said. He described the work as miscellaneous in nature.

However, at the suggestion of board member Thomas A. Riolo, the board agreed not to call in the tri-party agreement until notifying Saccone of the possible action. Only if the developer shows productive steps to fulfill his obligations before next Monday will the board consider a short extension of the deadline, the board decided. If not, then Town Manager John P. Mogan will be authorized to complete the subdivision work. Wisgirda explained Saccone and town officials have been under considerable pressure from residents in the Sumner and Union streets area who have been fearful about the impact of more development. Grandview Estates II plan proposes 126 additional houselots. As to complaints of some residents about conditions in Grandview I, board member Paul J. Donohue said he has never observed unsafe conditions, such as a manhole several residents had publicly mentioned as dangerous, during recent inspections he has made.

In other action, the board voted, 4-1, to favor rezoning of a 21-acre portion of the Park Place (Norwood Arena) industrial park site on Route 1 from business to limited manufacturing designation. Developer James H. Shane said rezoning was needed for warehousing and light or limited manufacturing which are not allowed in a business zone. Approximately 15 acres will remain in the business zone if the rezoning goes through. The park site now is approximately evenly spread between the two zoning designations with the business zone nearer the highway. E. William Bamber remarked that limited manufacturing would be a better use of the land than the shopping center proposal made several years ago at the same location under a business designation. The four members present voted unanimously for the rezoning, but Wisgirda accepted an absentee vote from Thomas F. Cavanaugh in opposition to the rezoning proposal. The rezoning will be acted upon by town meeting members later this month.

In another matter, the board reviewed the plan of Mrs. Patricia Wolley of 768 Neponset St. to divide her property into two lots. Since the present single lot of more than one acre and more than 200 feet street frontage can be halved and still meet the zoning requirements of that district, no formal board approval was required. The property is located near the Ridgewood Drive and Dean Street intersection.

In other action, the board voted, 4-1, to favor rezoning of a 21-acre portion of the Park Place (Norwood Arena) industrial park site on Route 1 from business to limited manufacturing designation. Developer James H. Shane said rezoning was needed for warehousing and light or limited manufacturing which are not allowed in a business zone. Approximately 15 acres will remain in the business zone if the rezoning goes through. The park site now is approximately evenly spread between the two zoning designations with the business zone nearer the highway. E. William Bamber remarked that limited manufacturing would be a better use of the land than the shopping center proposal made several years ago at the same location under a business designation. The four members present voted unanimously for the rezoning, but Wisgirda accepted an absentee vote from Thomas F. Cavanaugh in opposition to the rezoning proposal. The rezoning will be acted upon by town meeting members later this month.

In another matter, the board reviewed the plan of Mrs. Patricia Wolley of 768 Neponset St. to divide her property into two lots. Since the present single lot of more than one acre and more than 200 feet street frontage can be halved and still meet the zoning requirements of that district, no formal board approval was required. The property is located near the Ridgewood Drive and Dean Street intersection.

Fiscal Discipline vs. Ball Fields

A move to provide recreation facilities in the one area of town completely lacking them, the Sumner–Union Street neighborhood failed to gain support from the finance commission last night. On a 3-1 vote, with Allan D. Howard in favor, the board turned down a request for $4,000 to be included in the upcoming special town meeting to hire a consultant to advise on the most appropriate site for a baseball field.

Alfred Doherty, chairman of the conservation-recreation master plan committee urged consideration of the request saying his committee had recommended three potential sites for such a facility, which was the first priority in the master plan. “We have a residential site, an industrial site and a swamp area and we need advice as to which is most suitable,” he said. He said the area in question is totally devoid of recreation areas and includes about 4,000 people in Precinct F.

FinCom Member E. Peter Bamber suggested the town has the ability to do the study with its own personnel and member Joseph Adakonis said he wanted more information as to the total cost of the proposal. “It seems you are talking about $20,000 before you do anything” he said. Doherty explained the swamp land in question currently belongs to Ernest Boch and is the same parcel being considered for purchase by the conservation commission. The residential site is on the opposite side of Union Street and is proposed for development by Richard Saccone. The industrial site is behind the old Norwood Arena area being developed for an industrial park.

In other action the board recommended for approval $7,500 for the development of 7.8 miles of bike paths through the center of town. Doherty explained these funds will be 75 percent reimbursed by the state. Also recommended for approval were $17,200 for the operation of the town dump for the balance of the year; $23,000 for extension of the sewer system to six lots on Sumner Street; $750 for mannequins for the cardiopulmonary resuscitation program; $13,500 for fire department salaries; $1,700 to purchase a radar unit for the police department.

The special town meeting is scheduled to open immediately following the annual town meeting which begins Monday. The board turned down a request for a reserve fund transfer from the board of selectmen for $1,000 for a memorial to former town manager Walter Blasenek who died last year and suggested the request be included in the annual town meeting warrant. Also referred back to selectmen was a request for a reserve fund transfer for $7,000 for fuel and electricity bills for the municipal building. Bamber commented the reserve fund is presently down to $14,800 too low to be depleted by the $7,000 request. “Selectmen can take that out of the unpaid bills account” he said. The board did approve a reserve fund request from the building inspector for $157 to pay the assistant building inspector for filling in for the inspector while he was attending a state seminar on changes in the building code.

High-Stakes Budget Game Puts Town Meeting on Ice

The town charter requires that officials go through the formality of opening the meeting even if it is to be postponed. Town Clerk Bartley W. Connolly and members of the school committee and administration were on hand “just in case.” Town meeting member Eugene Doherty attempted to get the meeting rescheduled to Thursday night but he later withdrew that motion when Connolly reminded the group the FinCom must hold a public hearing on the budget that night.

Doherty successfully moved to hold the meeting as scheduled Monday with the provision that it would continue every succeeding night until the business is completed. However, members at Monday’s session might not be so eager to spend every night next week at the Junior High South and could change that provision. The FinCom, meanwhile, continued in session in town hall, apparently confident there would be no quorum.

The displeased town meeting members feel the FinCom is responsible for the numerous delays in town meeting and some have said that board and the school committee have been “playing games” with the school budget. The FinCom recommended that the proposed school budget be cut by $600,000 and is demanding an elementary school be closed in response to the declining student population. FinCom members have threatened to recall the school committee if the proposed budget goes through over the FinCom’s lesser recommendation.

A Disgusted Dissent Over Fire Pension Buy-Backs

The finance commission last night recommended for town meeting approval $13,483 in fire department overtime and pensions as well as sick leave and vacation for retired Fire Chief John L. Coughlin. The request will be included in the special town meeting warrant scheduled for the same time as the annual town meeting which opens Monday.

Former Chief Coughlin took four weeks vacation prior to going on injured leave for hypertension Dec. 12 and is presently owed four weeks which the town will buy back from him if the request is approved. Acting Chief Robert T. Capeless Jr. presented the request to the FinCom last night and the FinCom voted to recommend the appropriation on a 3-1 vote with Allan D. Howard opposed. Capeless said the town will buy back 65 days of sick leave from Coughlin as well as the four weeks vacation. Howard, in voicing his disapproval, said, “This system disgusts me. Out on injured leave for six months and then taking vacation time.”

Capeless explained that Coughlin had not used any of the 165 sick days to which he is entitled. His illness is considered job-related and therefore he was eligible for unlimited injured leave and did not need sick leave. “We had to buy back 65 days of his sick leave which is the maximum permitted for buy-back,” Capeless said. Capeless’s request included $4,967 for overtime and pensions which had been taken from Federal Revenue Sharing funds allocated for salaries. He explained the pension money was taken from revenue sharing for accounting purposes. Also included is $1,664 for the difference in Deputy Chief Robert Stanton’s salary when he covered for Coughlin while Coughlin was on vacation and on injured leave; $2,552 to buy back sick leave from Coughlin and Firefighter James E. Flaherty; $4,300 to buy back 12 weeks of vacation from Coughlin, Flaherty and Firefighter Robert W. Hamlin.

Quick Notes Around the Square

• Morrill Memorial Library: The 16 full-time library employees have agreed to a five percent pay increase for the upcoming fiscal year for a total of $9,618. Library board Chairman Theodore A. Curtin said the library staff association agreed to the increase yesterday in order to have a signed agreement before Monday’s town meeting. The trustees signed the original agreement with the employees with the provision that each year the employees would accept whatever other town employees received. “The police are the only employees who have a signed contract and that was for five percent,” Curtin told the finance commission. The FinCom voted to recommend town meeting approval of the $9,618 on a 3-1 vote with Allan D. Howard opposed. Howard expressed reservations about what he said was an unusually sharp increase in the salary of the library director over a short period of time. Although the agreement with the library employees has not been ratified, Curtin said he had been assured it would be approved.
• William Pezwick Park: A 3.1-acre conservation area on Sumner Street, which borders on Traphole Brook, will be dedicated at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in memory of William Pezwick who died at the age of 17 in 1976. William, who died accidentally from electrical shock Sept. 5, 1976, was “very much concerned over the environment and pollution in the brook,” said conservation commission Chairman Bettina S. Cottrell. William’s older brother, Paul, is an associate member of the commission. The dedication ceremony will be conducted by the chairman of the board of selectmen, Martin Lydon. An eight-foot by six-foot sign will be erected on the site identifying the area, situated across from the Pezwick home at 329 Sumner St., as the “William Pezwick Park.” William Pezwick was just starting his junior year at Norwood High School when he died.
• St. Catherine’s Awards Night: St. Catherine of Siena School recently held its annual award ceremony for students who have received recognition in art, athletics, and English. The following students received ribbons and trophies for their work in art on the local and diocesan level. First Prize: Grade 8: Robert Hughes, John Rodgers; Grade 7: Rita Curley; Grade 6: Maryellen Nally; Grade 5: Paul Feigin; Grade 4: Michael McGough; Grade 3: Richard Lovell, Paul Lynch, Julie Naughten; Grade 2: Eileen Curley, Maura Hudson, William Callahan; Grade 1: Karen Bligh, Anne Olsson. Second Prize: Grade 8: James Madden, Robert Spadoni, Ellen Michienzi, Gerard Wynne, Mary Fallon, James Williams, Michael Sullivan; Grade 7: Keith McColgan, John Sullivan, Maureen Broe, Emily Flanagan, John Mason, John Bonvouloir, Janet Hawley; Grade 6: Michael McShea, Paul Feeney; Grade 5: Michael Benedetti, John Naughten; Grade 4: Cheryl Cormier; Grade 3: Mark Sinacola, Renee Waitekus; Grade 2: James Greatorex, Barbara Devine, Colleen McCarthy, Dawn Steeves, Brian Sweeney, Paul Quartarone, Gina Montesano, Peter Folan, Laura Fazio; Grade 1: Anne Marie Curtis, Joseph Guglietta, Susanne Nally, Susan Sweeney, Kelly Comerford, Gene Forgit, Susan Tomasello, Barry Darling, Michelle Floyd. Honorable Mention: Grade 8: Paul Weiss, James Curley, Christine McColgan, Michael Fighive, Mary McNamara; Grade 7: James Adams, Stephen Remondi, Robert Compagnone, Mary Kenney, David Hopenny; Grade 6: Eileen Wynne; Grade 4: Maureen Eager; Grade 3: Patricia Matthies, Sheryl Steeves, Joseph Medio; Grade 1: Nicole Gillard. The winners of the annual essay contest were Kerin Mawn in Grade 8 and John Mason in Grade 7. Certificates were presented to all the boys and girls who participated in the intramural basketball program. Trophies were presented to each member of the championship teams. Boys Championship Team the Bucks: George Sullivan, coach; Michael Cotter, Michael MacDonnell, Stephen Malley, Joseph Roche, Robert Murray, Robert Shannon, Jeremy Sheehan, Paul Sullivan, Daniel Kenefic. Girls Championship Team the Eagles: Joseph McCartney, coach; Kathy Shannon, assistant coach; Maureen Broe; Paula Goggin; Margaret Hansen; Patti Kelter; Mary Kenney; Noreen O’Toole; Kathleen Croke; Stephanie Sanuik; Norma Waitekus; Karen Hargedon. Winners of the intramural basketball sportsmanship awards were Patrick McDonagh and Carol Mealey. School patches were presented to each member of the school basketball team and to each of the cheerleaders. School team: Dan Carroll, coach; Stephen Carroll; John Fullerton; Christopher Henry; Michael Matthies; Robert Molloy; Thomas O’Rourke; Eugene Osborne; John Rogers; Joseph Kates; Michael Sullivan; James Phelan; John Kelliher; Stephen Boyle. Cheerleaders: James D’Espinosa, coach; Margaret Hansen; Ellen Osborne; Linda Sacco; Janet Hawley; Karen Hargedon; Michelle Guidoboni; Gail McLaughlin; Janine Joseph; Kathleen Croke; Diane Boyle; Paula Goggin; Carol Mealey; Patricia Jordano.
• Pops Night ’78: “Pops Night 78” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday by the music department in the Junior High North gymnasium. The concert will feature the Balch School Elementary Band the combined junior high glee clubs, orchestras and stage bands; the combined junior high eighth and ninth grade concert bands; the high school madrigal singers, the high school jazz choir and the high school jazz ensemble. There will be an admission fee and seats will be on a first come first served basis.
• Catholic Woman’s Club: New officers of the Norwood Catholic Woman’s Club met recently at the home of president Carmen Barbato to discuss plans for the coming year. Other new officers who participated were Mrs. Daniel Griffin, vice president; Mrs. William Scanlon, treasurer; Mrs. Thomas Judge, secretary; Mrs. Anthony Mastandrea hospitality board member, Mrs. John Humsey, publicity; Mrs. Paul Troiano, ways and means; Mrs. James D’Espinosa, membership; Mrs. Harry Brylinsky, sunshine; Mrs. William Holzman special events, and Mrs. Bruce McElwee, ad book directory.
• Endean Park Walk: The Norwood Conservation Commission will sponsor a nature walk at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Endean Park. Cynthia Thomas, director of the Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Stony Brook Nature Center, will conduct the walk. The group will meet in the parking area of Junior High South. The walk is open to the public.

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

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