Norwood Speial Town Meeting To Be Held March 14

NORWOOD, MA - General Manager Tony Mazzucco announced that the Special Town Meeting will be held on Monday, March 14 at the last Board of Selectmen's meeting.

The major article on the warrant is for a new building for the Coakley Middle School, which would become a school from grades 5 through 8. The $150 million project received approval from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The new building project has been discussed for more than a year by both the School Committee and the Middle School Building Committee (MSBC).

"The middle school will be the main question," Mazzucco said, "but there will be a number of zoning and other questions on the ballot."

He added that the MSBC is expected to weigh in on whether the Coakley would be a more appropriate site than Norwood High School so that Town Meeting members can fully understand the deteriorating condition of the current building.

"It could be quite possibly the last chance to have Town Meeting in there," Mazzucco explained. However, there will be a poorer sound quality.

When Chair Tom Maloney asked about the condition of the Coakley's auditorium, Mazzucco replied, "Fair." This drew laughter from the board.

Selectman Allan Howard pointed out that this may be the last chance for many people to see the building before the vote. Selectman Matt Lane agreed but suggested that tours be arranged beforehand for those interested.

"The idea is that you're in the auditorium making this very critical decision to send to the taxpayers a $150 million capital project in the capital project that's being replaced," Mazzucco said, added that the MSBC is going to be arranging tours.

The warrant for the Special Town Meeting will close on Feb. 1. and be voted upon that night.

The town website indicated that, due to redistricting, 33 members are needed for each of the nine districts in Norwood. The total number of Town Meeting numbers currently is 297. Town Meeting members must constitute 1 1/2 percent of the town's population. The town charter states that the number is not to exceed 300.

One point that came up is that currently, write-in candidates can be elected with only one vote in an uncontested election, whereas candidates on the ballot for a major office must submit 50 signatures. New Town Meeting members need 10 signatures.

Maloney suggested that the number for write-in candidates be set at 10, which Mazzucco said has been a wish of Town Clerk MaryLou Folan. He noted that some write-in members tend not to show up. This could affect the ability to obtain a quorum.

The last day to submit nomination papers to the Board of Registrars is Feb. 14 at 5 p.m.

At the next meeting on Feb. 1, the board will discuss the formation of a committee to determine the number consider the required number of Town Meeting members and related issues.

The town election will be held on April 4. In addition to Town Meeting members, several elected offices are on the ballot. There are two Selectman seats up for grabs, as well as two three-year positions and one two-year seat on the Finance Commission, a School Committee seat, and the Town Moderator.