Norwood town meeting approves $168 million budget, new reserve funds and multiple zoning and spending items

Norwood — Over three nights of meetings that concluded May 12, Norwood town meeting members approved an approximately $168,000,000 town and school operating budget, created new capital and pension reserve funds, and voted on a package of spending, zoning and policy measures, town officials reported.

Town meeting members completed a special town meeting on May 12 that addressed time-sensitive financial matters before the annual meeting. Actions taken at the special meeting included creation of a capital stabilization fund and a pension reserve fund; approval of SchoolTech, a new human-resources integrated hiring system for the school district; and approval of a one-year bridge for three school employees while Medicaid and MassHealth reimbursement processes are completed.

A contested amendment to provide funding for a special-education stabilization fund drew extended debate between the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Selectmen's amendment was approved by town meeting after a close vote, according to the meeting summary; specific vote tallies were not provided.

Separately, members approved increased borrowing for a previously authorized new water tank after the project’s costs rose. Town meeting also approved several stabilization and reserve fund allocations funded with free cash.

Most of the second night was devoted to the annual budget, which town meeting members debated amid questions about long-term structural gaps between projected revenues and operating needs. Town meeting ultimately approved the full budget for the town, the schools and shared costs.

Community Preservation articles were taken up across the second and third nights. Town meeting approved $750,000 in Community Preservation funding for several projects, including construction of an Americans with Disabilities Act ramp at the Ball School to provide access to Elliott Field and Bernie Cooper Park, a study of Guile Pond and a roof replacement at the Washington Heights housing site.

On the final night — the second special town meeting (referred to in the meeting as “special number 2”) — members adopted provisions of the HERO Act to provide additional property-tax exemptions for veterans and approved a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement for the company installing solar panels at the landfill. Former town moderator Dave Hearn presided briefly to oversee an article that increased the moderator’s term from one year to three years; that article passed.

The meeting considered four zoning bylaw amendments that required two-thirds majorities. Town meeting approved updates to the town’s federal flood-overlay districts to preserve residents’ access to federal flood insurance, a change to the use table affecting commercial kennels, and an amendment to reflect a prior town meeting approval related to multifamily housing in the Boston Providence Highway District. A final zoning article, which would have changed the threshold for requiring special permits for nonconforming one- and two-family houses, was defeated by town meeting, 107 against, 48 in favor and 2 abstentions.

The sessions drew broad participation, including 35 newly seated town meeting members, and covered a mix of short- and long-form debate on budget and land-use issues.

Votes at a glance

- Creation of capital stabilization fund — approved (special town meeting, vote tally not specified).

- Creation of pension reserve fund — approved (special town…