Selectmen Notes: Sex Offender Living Near School, Update on Skating Rink Committee

Resident Voices Concern Over Sex Offender Living Near School

The Board of Selectmen received an e-mail letter from a resident regarding a sex offender living near St. Catherine's School.

Selectman Paul Bishop said that he had spoken with the Police Department, and made a motion to refer the correspondence to the Chief of Police so he can speak to the resident.

Selectman William Plasko added that the town tries to regulate these things as much as possible.

The motion to refer the letter to the Police Chief was passed unanimously.

Board Considers Proposed Upland Woods Development

The Massachusetts Housing Partnership, submitted a request for comments from the Board on a proposed Upland Woods development.

The complex would consist of 296 residential rental units of which 25 percent would be affordable to households at 80 percent of median income.

"Personally, I'm very much opposed to this," Selectman Allan Howard said of the development.

The Board voted unanimously to table the sending of any comments until after the Board of Appeals, Planning Board, Town Planner and Schools have had the ability to give their comments as well.

Concerts on the Common to Offer Winter Series

Members of the Norwood Concerts on the Common Committee came before the Board to announce their new series of winter concerts to be held at the Norwood High School starting Jan. 13.

The summer 2013 season will mark 20 years of the program.

The concerts will be held Sunday afternoons between Jan. 13 and Feb. 3, at 2 p.m. There will be raffles and refreshments.

Board Receives Update on Skating Rink Committee

Town Manager John Carroll updated the Board on the progress of the Skating Rink Committee and gave a timeline for the project.

Currently, he said, there are 10 sites under consideration. At the Committee's next meeting - Jan. 9 - the sites will be ranked by the members.

Carroll said the next steps will be to seek proposals between now and the end of the year for a financial feasibility stuudy which will not be site specific and to look for a consultant for a traffic study, though that study will not be able to be completed until a site is chosen.

The meeting will be open to the public, held in the Willett room of the Civic Center at 5:30 p.m.

Selectman Chair Michael Lyons gave his thanks to Carroll and the committee for their handling of the project, which he noted has been a sensitive issue in town.

"It's been a worthwhile and transparent process," he said.

Letter From Superintendent 'Thoughtful and Kind'

Selectman Helen Abdallah Donohue thanked Superintendent Hayden for his letter issued to Norwood parents in the wake of the Conn. tragedy.

"I thought that that was such a very thoughtful and kind thing to do," she said.