[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6579795,"mediaKeyId","3181208-553b8acbfd545bc356d5ebe84a55b7f5","parentId",3181208,"title","Norwood Finance Commission sees no major concerns in Q3 review; flags building permits and snow-removal overage","audioSeconds",120,"startMs",56000,"endMs",176000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3181208-553b8acbfd545bc356d5ebe84a55b7f5&start=56&end=176","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3181208-553b8acbfd545bc356d5ebe84a55b7f5/thumbnail_56000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6579795/Town-of-Norwood/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Norwood-Finance-Commission-sees-no-major-concerns-in-Q3-review-flags-building-permits-and-snow-removal-overage","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579795-331c70d852fcb1c340300fa3909ee931/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203196&Signature=c-G3vYM58gDDGVwpHB4YcG7rOuKlNj5bb8aSTBVsNsmFcqfd7Y~wC5Sfv-60dcDmy817Dvt9o0yNTvi-p97D5uNZrErVTwgkOLNufsfgLHbFBL-Oa1JE5cqdmW0aytAmV-C2pAszq9aL0WMPDMLa252pOq7laSgxpQBM2kzmUCeraa-i9KcmcGbxcS0ZXHIYmQElMqxwvRZKRf6OXEXILh9lNusSQW6N0PInUHRmNAxpkqX73G4fpW3PdkjXhb6PuOvNrvcyNehKCzlUDvapki~TBhd666C6wxYvpkHj~N8sPrSUSZC1cH6nKu0jSwPUaKgZwqceYxaTSHnsPvR2tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Norwood, MA","date","2025-05-02T00:00:00Z","article","Molly Ahern of the finance office presented the third-quarter financial review at the May 1 Town of Norwood Finance Commission meeting and said the town’s full-year revenues are projected to be slightly higher than expectations.

Revenue highlights: Ahern said investment earnings remain strong. Building-permit revenue is currently below projections, but the building department anticipates a significant permit that would bring the line closer to budget. Transfers in (including override stabilization and indirect charges from enterprise funds) are typically booked late in the fiscal year and are expected to be realized by year end. Auto excise taxes are reported above last year, while meals, rooms and jet-fuel excise taxes are below last year’s amounts.

Expense highlights and issues: Ahern said there were no major concerns on the expense side as of March but called out several items for follow-up: ambulance-billing fees in the treasurer’s department are rising and will track with revenues; elections and registration expenditures are under review to confirm correct charging after the recent town meeting; snow-and-ice removal shows an overage that staff plan to address at the May special town meeting via an internal transfer; and labor costs recorded under traffic-control/fire-alarm will be reviewed for correct allocation.

Reserve fund: Ahern said she was not aware of any issue that would require an allocation from the reserve fund at this point. Commission members asked questions about timing and seasonal effects on department spending and noted that some below‑target reports are caused by payment timing rather than structural underfunding.

Next steps: Staff will continue to reconcile allocations, update the pink sheet and provide any targeted adjustments for the special town meeting. The commission heard no items in the Q3 review that would require immediate reserve-fund action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Norwood: Finance Commission 5.1.25","oneSentenceSummary","Finance office staff told the commission May 1 that full-year revenues are slightly above expectations and investment earnings remain strong; building-permit receipts lag but a large permit is expected. The commission noted an overage in snow-and-ice removal that will be addressed at the special town meeting.","taxTitle","Town of Norwood, Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",52806,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6579801,"Norwood Finance Commission recommends full special-ed stabilization funding, backs Tangent pilot and HERO Act articles",74,624000,698000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3181208-553b8acbfd545bc356d5ebe84a55b7f5&start=624&end=698","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3181208-553b8acbfd545bc356d5ebe84a55b7f5/thumbnail_624000.jpg","/articles/6579801/Town-of-Norwood/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Norwood-Finance-Commission-recommends-full-special-ed-stabilization-funding-backs-Tangent-pilot-and-HERO-Act-articles","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579801-353b9d1655dc9d1c470b1a39feb4029e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203196&Signature=B0ajofQTy3EfL2Erv-TMDr80eQZd94KOEeQg7DWp7MuR~XyGV6ZAMKro9aPIV2tl17rl7Rql~phRwqFP0sb~CH-PPcB52KvST6M0yCKIhpK6UsudKFuU3hAhuPu4deFtlB5iogSFyjknm5WcVHsS~xd5VzHUK~z~nYnRgJ4zbBBP7ZmmQpFVJgnuDw1L6iFvTBF71JcDkrjZE3TxCd2junO2t3BuPedGhSxAmAzK9Mr0JtNXby-bWNyetjBxSDuch0YJkq9Yo2817AQcLCFUzXFmqhy4Zhyu3mju805FB8eKGHYLpXR4NB8FCd78mxZBPkgJk9GrZ0yXfxqYSUPirA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its May 1 meeting the Town of Norwood Finance Commission set its positions for the upcoming special and annual town meetings, recommending funding and policy articles that will appear on the pink sheet.

Special-education stabilization: The commission voted to make the motion at town meeting for a full allocation of $880,959 to the special-education stabilization fund, the amount the commission previously approved. Commission members said the number brings that account to the statutory limit established by the state and cited past volatility in special-education costs—noting net special-education costs rose by about $70,000 this year but have increased by more than $1 million in some recent years. The Board of Selectmen had recommended reducing the appropriation to $300,000; the commission said it will present the full amount and noted the selectmen plan to offer an amendment at town meeting if they wish.

Capital stabilization fund: The commission discussed a proposed article to create a special capital stabilization fund (capital stabilization) that the Board of Selectmen voted to include. Commissioners said the article would establish the fund now but that any funding would be considered at a future (fall) town meeting. The commission recommended the creation of the fund and said it would work with the selectmen and capital outlay policy to clarify what counts as a capital item before funding it.

Tangent Development pilot agreement: The commission voted to support Article 2, a pilot payment agreement with Tangent Development LLC. The proposed pilot term cited in the yellow sheet totals $481,008 over 25 years. The commission recorded support and recommended that the pink-sheet letter note the commission’s endorsement.

HERO Act articles (veterans exemptions): Commissioners recommended Articles 3 and 4, which would adopt exemptions from property taxes tied to the HERO Act; the commission noted the articles do not require new appropriations but could modestly reduce local property-tax revenue and be offset by the overlay account. One commissioner abstained from the vote, a point the commission recorded; the motion nonetheless passed with a recommendation to vote in favor at town meeting.

Contracts and housekeeping items: The commission recommended allowing contracts up to five years (rather than a strict three-year limit) to give the town flexibility for software and other subscription services; that recommendation passed unanimously. The commission also supported accepting direct deposit (described as a housekeeping item) and said it would flag any articles where the commission’s number and the selectmen’s yellow sheet differ in the pink-sheet letter.

Votes at a glance: the commission recorded the following recommendations to appear at town meeting: the special-education allocation (recommend $880,959; commission motion to present full amount), Tangent pilot (support; $481,008 over 25 years), HERO Act Articles 3 and 4 (support; 1 abstention on the recommendation), contracts up to five years (support), and creation of the capital stabilization fund (support; funding deferred to fall). The commission also noted an estimated post‑special‑town‑meeting free-cash balance of roughly $18,000,000 and a rough order-of-magnitude of $5,000,000 in anticipated capital requests in the fall (a preliminary estimate). The commission flagged a potential high-cost vehicle purchase (a ladder truck) for future discussion; members cited a prior ladder truck purchase at about $1,300,000 12–13 years ago and a current potential cost as high as $3,000,000.

Next steps: Commission staff will update the pink sheet and the pink-sheet letter to reflect the commission’s positions and to note when the commission’s recommendation differs from the selectmen’s yellow sheet.","The commission voted May 1 to recommend multiple special-town-meeting articles: proposing $880,959 to the special-education stabilization fund (despite the selectmen's $300,000 recommendation), supporting a 25‑year pilot agreement with Tangent Development, and recommending HERO Act property-tax exemptions and up-to-five-year contract terms.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6579806,"Norwood finance commission backs $3.7 million borrowing for water-tank replacement",284,292000,576000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3181208-553b8acbfd545bc356d5ebe84a55b7f5&start=292&end=576","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3181208-553b8acbfd545bc356d5ebe84a55b7f5/thumbnail_292000.jpg","/articles/6579806/Town-of-Norwood/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Norwood-finance-commission-backs-37-million-borrowing-for-water-tank-replacement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579806-7598dce3360d21e6b776ce36976fbe5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203196&Signature=FcQbhSw1JuLBxFWAHI7syuuoUvJ1ruylC6gTAfgTglzcKlNZxow4O9ffvafC45T53Rt6xTMU-zTchpGDhTqogII9QhD66N5bFWEp1eao6-4e13RIV~GYVCnmCdjCb3MRyDuj~G5JccpjHbjd4myluf-1e0LGnZrdxPuOhjKJjMyfztDA7Ccy3goU8d73icbievhjj43JxT7ecYf5NS2euesrmMmP-h~eYqrRN12B~QAlwIAelmfu~Jo9z8cwAdSJ7KZg9qZ6G~USQFRjGZUHjm0tlLO~XLzxozQpENNT3ezrBTwfAZnUGDxC2yMkxDnMMz414vQ7ylOd6IMo6rKNvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Norwood Finance Commission voted unanimously May 1 to recommend borrowing $3,700,000 to replace the town’s aging water tanks.

Finance Commission members were told by commission leadership that Jeff O'Neil had emailed that the town risks losing state reimbursement if it does not enter a contract by June. Commission members said the warrant article is numbered 07 on the special/annual meeting documents and that the earlier placeholder estimate of $3.5 million has been updated to $3.7 million.

Why it matters: commission members said the existing tanks are “well past their useful life,” and that failing to authorize borrowing before the June contract deadline could jeopardize state funding tied to the project. The commission discussed procurement requirements for large public works contracts; members noted the town will take the lowest responsible bidder and referenced the state procurement/approval processes commonly used for projects of this size.

Details and procedure: Commission members confirmed that the borrowing would be authorized now but the actual bond issuance would occur later—likely in 2027—when funds are needed. Members also confirmed that the town cannot sign a construction contract without available funds and that bidders must meet state-required qualifications and responsibility standards. The commission discussed that some procurement oversight or state program rules (referred to in the meeting as DCAM and state reimbursement processes) may apply to the contract and to eligibility for the state funds.

Next steps: The commission’s recommendation will be reflected on the pink sheet for town meeting. The commission voted to approve the borrowing recommendation and will present that motion at special town meeting as part of the capital articles.

","At its May 1 meeting the Town of Norwood Finance Commission unanimously approved recommending $3.7 million in borrowing for a water-tank replacement project, citing the tanks' age and a state reimbursement deadline.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Norwood Finance Commission sees no major concerns in Q3 review; flags building permits and snow-removal overage

Norwood Finance Commission recommends full special-ed stabilization funding, backs Tangent pilot and HERO Act articles

Norwood finance commission backs $3.7 million borrowing for water-tank replacement