Meeting Notes: Board of Selectmen

The Norwood Board of Selectmen resumed their weekly meetings this week, after cancelling last week's meeting because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

First on the agenda for the Selectmen on Tuesday night was a monthly report from Superintendent Mark Ryan. Ryan said that two major town projects - the Morse St. bridge construction project and the construction at the intersection of Morse St. and Pleasant St. - are finally nearing completion.

"We're nearing the finish line on both projects," he told the board.

Ryan said they hope for the opening of the Morse St. bridge to happen in mid-December, though some work will have to be done on the roadway in the Spring. The intersection project was paved last week and the road signals should arrive the first or second week of December, Ryan said. The DPW hopes to have that work completed by the third week of this month.

The Superintendent reported on the installation of Christmas lights in town, as well as the preparation for new playground equipment at Doherty Field with work starting on that project this Saturday.

Ryan went on to congratulate the people who worked on the two beneath Route 1.

"Can't say enough about those people who work in the Water Department," said Ryan, also citing the highway department, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for their hard work.

Board Chairman Gerard Kelleher joked that there should be a ceremony for the long-awaited bridge opening.

"The ribbon-cutting on the Morse St. bridge, after 100 years," he said.

The board unanimously approved an application to open New England Central Bakery on Washington St., at the site which used to be the Brothers Bakery in South Norwood. That business is set to open Dec. 7.

The board also heard a summary of articles for the town meeting from Town Manager John Carroll. Carroll suggested that with the New England Patriots playing the New York Jets that Monday night it may be difficult to get the quorum necessary to vote. The board voted unanimously then to write a letter urging the Town Meeting members to adjourn the meeting to Thursday, December 9.