USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1954-1956 > Part 4
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ARTICLE 18. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance, or take any action in relation thereto.
Voted: By taxation, $3,000.00
ARTICLE 19. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 90 Highway Construction, or take any action in relation thereto.
Voted: By taxation, $35,000.00 and by transfer from Surplus Revenue, $24,- 000.00, the reimbursement from the State to be restored, upon its receipt, to Surplus Revenue.
ARTICLE 20. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for repairs and improvement of real estate owned by the town, or take any other action in the matter.
Voted: By taxation, $165.00.
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REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
ARTICLE 21. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of providing shelter for veterans of World War II who are residents of the town of Norwood, or take any other action in the matter.
Voted: By taxation, $200.00.
ARTICLE 22. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to lease for a period not exceeding five years a building or parts of building for the purpose of providing suitable headquarters for Norfolk County Marine Corps League of Norwood, subject to regulations to be made by the Selectmen therefor as provided by law, and to raise and appropriate a sum to provide for the purpose of providing suitable headquarters for Norfolk County Marine
Voted: By taxation, $540.00.
ARTICLE 23. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to lease for a period not exceeding five years a building or parts of building for the purpose of providing suitable headquarters for Disabled American Vet- erans, Chapter 90, Norwood, Massachusetts, subject to regulations to be made by the Selectmen therefor as provided by law, and to raise and appropriate a sum to provide for the current year, or take any other action in the matter.
Voted: By taxation, $720.00.
ARTICLE 24. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the expense of the New Industries Committee.
Voted: By taxation, $500.00.
ARTICLE 25. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise by taxation or by transfer from available funds and appropriate for the purpose of meeting expenditures authorized by Section 15 of the Acts of 1950, Chapter 639 entitled "An Act to Provide for the Safety of the Commonwealth During the Existence of an Emergency Resulting From Distaster or From Hostile Action", or take any other action in the matter.
Voted: By taxation, $2,855.00.
ARTICLE 26. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise by taxation and appropriate for the purpose of providing workmen's compen- sation insurance for town employees under the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 152, Section 69, or take any other action in the matter.
Voted: By taxation, $17,049.27.
Voted: That this meeting be dissolved.
Attest: WALTER A. BLASENAK
Town Clerk and Accountant
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
June 30, 1954
On a warrant duly issued by the Selectmen under the date of June 15, 1954, and signed by Harry B. Butters, Alonzo F. Swift, Jr., Daniel E. Callahan, Jr. and Charles L. Rich, Selectmen of Norwood, the meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Francis C. Foley. The proper service of this warrant was duly attested by James E. Quinn, Constable of Norwood.
All the requirements of the statutes and by-laws relating to the calling of the Town Meeting were complied with. The warrant calling the meeting was read by Town Clerk and Accountant, Walter A. Blasenak. The articles contained in the warrant, and the action thereunder being as follows:
ARTICLES 1-9.
Voted: To postpone action on Articles 1 - 9 and act on Article 10.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to make application on behalf of the Town for membership in the Metropolitan Water District in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 92 of the General Laws as amended and enter into and execute on behalf of the Town an agreement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, acting through its Metropolitan District Commission, admitting the Town to membership in accordance with the provisions of said Chapter 92 of the General Laws as amended, said agreement to provide for the payment by the Town of the sum of not more than One Million ($1,000,000) Dollars as its portion of the cost of constructing the water main extending from the existing distribution system of the Metropolitan District Commission to the Norwood-Westwood town line as authorized by Section 1, Chapter 278, Acts of 1954 or take any other action in the matter.
Voted: To so authorize the Board of Selectmen.
Voted: That this meeting be adjourned until Thursday, July 1, 1954 at 7:30 P. M.
Attest: WALTER A. BLASENAK Town Clerk and Accountant
ADJOURNED SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
June 30, 1954 to July 1, 1954
On a notice duly attested by the Town Clerk and Accountant, Walter A. Blasenak, and dated July 1, 1954, the Adjourned Special Town Meeting was called to order by the Moderator Francis C. Foley. The proper service of this notice was duly attested by James E. Quinn, Constable of Norwood.
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REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
The articles in the warrant and the action thereunder is as follows:
ARTICLE 1. To see if the Town will vote to accept as a town way and authorize the Selectmen to take by eminent domain proceedings an easement for a new way extending generally northerly from Adams Street, a way laid out by the Selectmen and reported as an extension of Adams Street; to raise and appropriate a sum of money to meet the expense of land damages; to determine whether the money shall be provided from available funds in the treasury or otherwise, or take any other action in the matter.
ARTICLE 2. To hear and act on the report of the committee of nine appointed to make a survey with reference to the need and location of additional school buildings.
(Report of Committee of Nine submitted to Town Meeting, April 16, 1953)
REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF NINE
Appointed under Article 7 of Special Town Meeting January 29, 1953 Historical Data
The following articles appeared in the warrant for the Special Town Meeting of January 9, 1953.
ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to acquire by purchase or take by eminent domain for school purposes the following described parcel of land: Beginning at a point in the southerly line of Cross Street at the northeasterly corner of land belonging to Elizabeth McMahon and runs thence southerly 238 feet more or less by land of Elizabeth McMahon, thence westerly 178 feet by lands of Elizabeth McMahon, Julia Folan et als and John B. & Hannah M. Johnson, thence southerly 240 feet by land of Domenic & Barbara E. Pungitore and Shaw Street, thence easterly 135 feet by land of Dante J. & Sarah Ciancarelli, Marie L. Billotta, Joseph M. & Caroline J. loannilli, Joseph N. Giampa, and Vita Denisi to Lenox Avenue, thence easterly 110.27 feet by Lenox Avenue, thence northerly 304 feet by land of Salvatore & Pauline Lamont, thence northwesterly 95 feet by land of the Town of Norwood, thence northerly 252 feet by land of the Town of Norwood, thence easterly 85 feet by land of the Town of Norwood, thence northerly 415 feet by lands of the Town of Norwood and Domenic R. Giampa to Cross Street, thence westerly 257 feet by the southerly line of Cross Street to the point of begin- ning and containing 4.9 acres more or less; to raise and appropriate a sum of money for such purpose; to determine whether the money shall be provided by appropri- ation from available funds in the treasury or otherwise; or take any other action in relation thereto.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Under ARTICLE 6, the following action was taken:
Voted: That the Selectmen be and hereby are authorized to acquire by purchase or take by eminent domain for school purposes the following described parcel of land: Beginning at a point in the southerly line of Cross Street . .. (as completely described in ARTICLE 6 above) ... and containing 4.9 acres more or less; and be it further voted that the sum of $4,300.00 be raised by taxation and appropriated for said purpose.
(On rising vote, voting Yes, 86; voting No, 1.)
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to determine a site or sites for a new school building or school buildings; to appoint a committee to obtain plans and estimates for a suitable building or buildings on such site or sites as the town may determine; to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the use of said com- mittee; to determine whether the money shall be provided by appropriation from available funds in the treasury or otherwise; or take any other action in relation thereto.
A motion was made and seconded to acquire for school purposes a tract of land known as the "Bolster piece" which is located in the area between Walpole Street, Fisher Street, Nichols Street, and the Ellis Pond. After considerable discussion the vote was taken and the motion failed to carry. Under ARTICLE 7, the following action was taken:
Voted: That the Moderator appoint a Committee of Nine, such Committee to consist of a member of the Board of Selectmen, a member of the Finance Com- mission, a member of the School Committee, a member of the Planning Board and five Town Meeting Members to make a survey with reference to the need and loca- tion of additional school buildings, such Committee to report with its recommenda- tions to a Town Meeting to be held on or before April 16, 1953, and further voted, that the sum of $500.00 be raised by taxation for the use of said Committee.
(On voice vote, declared unanimously carried.)
The following article appeared in the warrant for the Special Town Meeting of April 16, 1953:
ARTICLE 1. To hear and act upon the report of the committee appointed under ARTICLE 7 of the Special Town Meeting of January 29, 1953 to make a survey with reference to the need and location of additional school buildings and to see if the Town will vote to determine a site or sites for a new school building or school buildings; to appoint a committee to obtain plans and estimates for a suitable building or buildings on such site or sites as the town may determine; to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the use of said committee; to determine whether the money shall be provided by appropriation from available funds in the treasury or otherwise; or take any other action in relation thereto.
The Committee of Nine submitted the following report:
The Committee appointed by the Moderator pursuant to action taken under ARTICLE 7 of the Special Town Meeting held on January 29, 1953, herein sub- mits its initial report:
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REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
The assignment to this Committee was "To make a survey with reference to the need and location of additional school buildings, and to report with its recom- mendations to a Town Meeting to be held on or before April 16, 1953."
Prior to arriving at its decisions, the Committee considered information and statistics presented by Monsignor Minihan and Father Carroll with respect to St. Catherine's Parochial School, and by Mr. Lynch, Superintendent of Schools, with respect to the Norwood Public Schools. The Committee also collected and con- sidered information and statistics from outside sources. Statistics on births to Norwood residents since 1921 and Norwood population figures since 1920 were pro- vided by the office of the Town Clerk and Accountant. The Building Inspector furnished statistics on building permits issued. The Town Engineer provided information on undeveloped areas in the Town.
Under the guidance of Mr. Lynch, Superintendent of Schools, the Committee visited and observed every room in every public school building in the Town.
Giving due weight to all factors, available statistics and forecasts, and based on the present educational set-up, the Committee makes the following recommenda- tions:
1. That a four-room addition be constructed at the Callahan School, to be ready for occupancy at the opening of the school year in September, 1954; and that the Moderator appoint a Building Committee at this time to secure the services of an architect for the preparation of plans and estimates of costs.
2. That a six-room, three-story and basement addition be constructed at the Junior High School, to be ready for occupancy at the opening of the school year in September, 1955; and that the Moderator appoint a separate Building Committee at this time to secure the services of an architect for the preparation of plans and estimates of costs. The six rooms to be provided under this recommendation are to be used for elementary school purposes during the present heavy demand for elementary school facilities.
3. That it is the judgment of the Committee that the present capacity of the Junior High School will be adequate for Junior High School purposes exclusively until September, 1960.
4. That it is the judgment of the Committee that the present capacity of the Senior High School will be adequate for Senior High School purposes exclusively until September, 1958.
5. It is the opinion and recommendation of the Committee that another Committee be appointed by the Moderator in 1956 to make a report of conditions as they may then exist.
In connection with the desirability, advisability and necessity of acquiring additional sites for future school buildings, the Committee reports as follows:
1. The Committee has already met with Mr. Francis Willett with reference to the so-called Bolster parcel in the proximity of Fisher Street; and
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
2. Has visited and examined the so-called Hennessey parcel, off Pleasant Street; but
3. Has not had sufficient time to consider other sites or to arrive at any de- cision in connection therewith.
Your Committee therefore asks that it be authorized to continue its study with respect to this feature and report back at a later Town Meeting. With this in mind the Committee requests that this be considered an interim report or report of progress.
Mr. Kiley wishes it noted that in signing this report he has in no way changed his opinion with regard to the decision reached by the School Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM C. KENDRICK, Chairman JAMES J. HAWLEY, Secretary JAMES J. DRUMMEY WALTER J. GOTOVICH HARRY F. HOWARD JOHN F. KILEY, JR.
CHARLES L. RICH
JOSEPH E. RILEY ROBERT W. WILLIAMSON
Under ARTICLE 1, the following action was taken:
Voted: That a committee of seven be appointed by the Moderator to obtain plans and estimates for an addition to the Callahan School and that the sum of Fourteen Thousand ($14,000) Dollars be raised by taxation and appropriated for the use of said committee in engaging the services of an architect in connection therewith.
(On voice vote, declared unanimously carried.)
Voted: That a committee of seven be appointed by the Moderator to obtain plans and estimates for an addition to the Junior High School and that the sum of Eighteen Thousand ($18,000) Dollars be raised by taxation and appropriated for use of the committee in engaging the services of an architect in connection therewith.
(On voice vote, declared unanimously carried.)
Voted: That the committee appointed under ARTICLE 7 of the warrant for the special town meeting held January 29, 1953 in connection with a survey as to the need and location of additional school buildings be authorized to continue its study and report to a later town meeting.
(On voice vote, declared unanimously carried.)
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REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
Meetings
The Committee of Nine met on the following dates:
February 8, 15, 22, 27.
March 4, 8, 11, 19, 25.
April 1, 5, 10.
In addition to the above meetings of the full committee, a number of meetings were held by sub-committees of the committee and many of the members were assigned projects and interviews which later were reported to and made part of the records of the full committee.
PRESENTATION FROM THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BY LINCOLN D. LYNCH
February 16, 1953
Proposal
Herewith is an outlined presentation, prepared in response to a request by the Members of the Committee of Nine, recently appointed by the Moderator, for the purpose of determining the location of new school housing facilities.
As I understand this request, it is to present such facts and considerations as were weighed by the School Committee in its decision to recommend the erection of a school house in that section of the Westover area lying between Walpole and Nichols Street and between Fisher Street and Ellis Pond.
PART I
Basic Assumptions
The following statements as related to school locations and to growth of school enrollments are based upon the assumptions that:
A. The Neponset Valley will not be drained in the foreseeable future,
B. Norwood will be affected by the outward population growth of the Metro- politan area,
C. Norwood's zoning regulations and community policy concerning better- ment costs with respect to real estate development will be modified in such manner as to encourage growth,
D. An economical elementary school housing facility should be planned to have, ultimately, at least 13 classrooms, as well as other features designed to offer a complete school service, e. g. assembly hall, office, etc.,
1. small schools may be justified in housing very small children in neigh- borhoods made small by barriers which may isolate the neighborhood, e. g. town boundaries, mnain routes, etc.,
2. portable housing and/or transportation may be necessary to meet temporary enrollment demands.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
PART II
Areas
A. Neponset (Plains),
1. Area will develop slowly, comparatively,
a. guessing-approximately 25 houses per year.
b. a few owners control most of the available building areas,
c. location has less appeal for many.
1. distance from school, church, and shopping centers,
2. isolated (so-to-speak) by, Route #1 and Neponset lowlands,
3. small area has no potential for self-containment - churches, schools, shopping centers, etc.
2. Area will need school housing facilities,
a. When enrollments are high enough to require housing (school) because of excessive transportation costs, and
b. when there is, or will be, enough enrollment potential to justify a building which will provide a complete and economical school service.
3. Area should be provided a school-housing service planned for peak and low enrollment periods,
a. portable housing supplement is one answer, transportation another,
4. until housing is required, children in this area will be a "floating" group, transported to available housing.
B. Ellis Gardens,
1. separated from Forbes estate by railroad and Upland Road,
2. may be brought closer for foot travel to Callahan School by road con- struction,
a. in 1952-85 of 123 children are being transported to Callahan School (residence more than 1 1/4 miles by travelled, plowed roads),
3. is now, and has been isolated by Town Bounds, Upland Road, Route #1, and lowlands-and could be further isolated by a east-west (major) highway,
4. appears to have nearly reached maximum housing development,
5. location has less appeal for many for reasons similar to those given for Neponset (see Part II, Sec. A-1-c, 1, 2, 3),
6. small school housing may be justified (see Part I, Sec. D, 1, 2).
C. Union and Summer Streets,
1. enrollment potential in foreseeable future is not enough to cause concern ..
D. Forbes Estate.
1. close to Shattuck district.
2. future plans for its development are not known.
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REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
E. Holmwood-Wilson Streets,
1. location has appeal for many for reasons similar to those given for Neponset and Ellis Garden Areas (see Part II, Sec. A-1-c, 1, 2, 3),
2. location of a nearby Playground on Wilson Street is a factor,
a. small school on adjacent land may sometime be justified. Problem is in some respects similar to that of Ellis Gardens (see Part I, Sec. D, 1, 2),
3. contiguous to Westover area-taken together-a growth potential of considerable size,
4. it is distant from Winslow School, but, if space is made available, pupils could be transported from outer limits,
5. accessible school in Westover is a solution.
F. Westover,
1. considered with Holmwood, has a very considerable growth potential -room for at least 1,000 large house lots,
2. lies between two school neighborhoods-Shattuck and Winslow-both filled to capacity,
3. no area is yet set aside for school site-to service this area,
4. if and when fully developed, it will require elementary and Junior iHgh School services. Proximity to Senior High School makes it somewhat more desirable, for many, as a residence area.
G. Cleveland Park (Lenox Ave.),
1. bounded-northerly by Nahatan Street-southerly by Dean Street- easterly by Route #1-westerly by railroad tracks,
a. less restrictive zoning regulations, announced plans of builders- lead to belief that it will be nearly fully developed in near future,
b. centrality of neighborhood suggests availability to relieve enrollment pressures from several neighborhoods on its periphery.
PART III
Enrollments 1952-53
A. Callahan School,
1. fastest growing-crowded beyond capacity now,
2. relief may be effected by,
a. addition,
b. withdrawal of enrollees from Ellis Gardens,
c. new schoolhouse construction in Cleveland Park-Lenox Avenue Area (or elsewhere).
B. Balch School,
1. large enough to meet needs of its neighborhood, as well as (temporarily). a large group of children transported from Neponset Plain area,
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
2. can accommodate (temporarily) some Cleveland Park residents,
3. if relief is needed it can be provided by,
a. schoolhouse in Cleveland Park Area,
b. schoolhouse in Neponset Area,
c. schoolhouse in Westover-freeing space in Winslow School (1/3 mile from Balch) for some Balch enrollees.
C. Winslow School-filled to capacity-now,
1. additions-impractical.
D. Shattuck School-same as Winslow.
E. West School-same as Shattuck and Winslow.
PART IV
Practical Alternatives
A. Build School in Cleveland Park-Lenox Avenue Area,
1. the school will be midway between Balch and Callahan Schools,
2. it will relieve Callahan enrollment pressure by housing children who live between Nahatan and Dean Streets and West of Route #1,
3. it will free space in Balch for growing Neponset Plain, Union Street groups as well as for growth in Balch neighborhood,
4. it will free more space in Junior High School building for surpluses from Winslow & Shattuck districts (until the Junior High School is filled with 7th, 8th, and 9th grade enrollees). Later, surplus enrollees from the eastern edges of the Winslow and Shattuck districts may attend by way of approaches at the Plimpton Press and Nahatan Street Bridges,
5. it will place a schoolhouse where the children live, and in the center of an area which will probably provide enrollees, numerous enough to fill it.
B. Build School in Westover Area,
1. the school will be between Shattuck and Winslow, relieving enrollment pressures on both,
2. it will free space in Junior High School for future needs of grades 7, 8, and 9,
3. it will accommodate children from Ellis Gardens section, most of whom are now transported to Callahan, thus relieving Callahan (temporarily) of enrollment pressures,
4. it will place a school house near the center of Norwood's largest poten- tial residential area, Holmwood-Wilson Street-Westover.
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REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
C. Add to Callahan School,
1. while providing seating capacity for surplus enrollments, it will,
a. house children from other districts at unnecessary transportation expenses,
b. not provide school facilities where they are needed-near the homes of children who attend,
c. or could be, if an east-west super-highway were built nearby, on the edge of a district.
PART V
Conclusion
A. For purposes of calculation, it may be assumed that there are, in each of the areas-Ellis Gardens-Neponset-Cleveland Park-and Winslow-Shat- tuck, 120 pupils who are or may be affected by whatever decision is made in the matter of new school location,
B. while there is overcrowding of elementary schools in each of 3 of the 4 school districts, there is not enough surplus in any one district to fill a seven room school. Expedients must be planned for. principally by trans- portation of "floating" (so-called) groups.
LINCOLN D. LYNCH
Superintendent of Schools
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
DATE OF OPENING OF PRESENT SCHOOLS AND ADDITIONS
Balch School
1913
Addition (8 rooms)
1920
Callahan School
1930
Shattuck School
1903
Winslow School
1908
West School
1891
Junior High School
1919
Addition
1930
Senior High School
1926
Addition
1931
Peabody School
1942
ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY:
West School
1891
Shattuck School
1903
Winslow School
1908
Balch School
1913
Junior High School
1919
Balch School Addition
1920
Senior High School
1926
Junior High School Addition
1930
Callahan School
1930
Senior High School Addition
1931
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