The Board of Selectmen on March 11 moved a number of procedural and policy items: it approved event permits and use requests, adopted amended Town Common rules and regulations (first reading), accepted the manager’s recommendation to replace the talent bank with a targeted posting process, approved the light department’s annual bad-debt write-off, and approved the town’s FY2026 general government budget. The board tabled a proposal about voluntary vision insurance for town and school employees so staff can provide additional legal and administrative details.

Nut graf: Several items were routine permits or administrative updates, but the FY2026 budget approval and the decision to modernize the talent-bank process were substantive and affect town operations. The town also took a first reading to tighten Town Common regulations and clarified that larger organized games would be allowed only under permits.

Key actions (motions, movers/seconds, tallies, and next steps)

1) Warrant signature and meeting minutes
- Motion: Accept warrant-signature update and approve minutes for 01/28/2025 and 02/25/2025.
- Outcome: Approved; votes recorded as unanimous “Aye.” (procedural)
- Provenance: agenda opening and minutes approval segments.

2) Event permits and use requests (multiple items)
- Baystate Bridal cooperative — annual dog wash, car wash and rabies/microchipping clinic at municipal lot on Sunday, June 2025, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Motion: Approve.
- Outcome: Approved, unanimous vote (5–0).
- Provenance: item 4.1 transcript segment.

- Norwin High School cheer — car wash at municipal lot Saturday, August 2025, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Motion: Approve.
- Outcome: Approved, unanimous vote (5–0).
- Provenance: item 4.2 transcript segment.

- Cheer Advantage Boosters car wash — follow-up discussion about nonprofit status and local membership; applicant provided IRS documentation but board members raised concerns about out-of-town membership.
- Motion: Approve.
- Outcome: Approved, vote recorded as 3–2 in favor; board members discussed modifying application forms to require clearer local-membership information for future permits.
- Notes: Manager and staff will follow up to consider application changes to capture applicants’ local connections.
- Provenance: item 4.3 transcript segment (lengthy discussion).

- Town Common request — Earth Day Community Fair, Sunday 04/27/2025, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., expected 200–300 attendees.
- Motion: Approve.
- Outcome: Approved, unanimous vote (5–0).
- Provenance: item 4.4 transcript segment.

- Morse House request by Judith Howard for March 22 (private luncheon) — approved as a late agenda item.
- Motion: Approve.
- Outcome: Approved, unanimous vote (5–0).
- Provenance: late-item segment at end of meeting.

3) Town Common / Parks rules and regulations (item 4.5)
- Discussion: Town manager summarized housekeeping updates and proposed codifying park rules in a single document. Selectmen suggested clarifying the provision that currently limits “games exceeding three players” and add an exception for permitted events. Manager incorporated suggested language.
- Motion: Accept the changes and update rules and regulations as amended (first reading).
- Outcome: Approved as amended, unanimous (vote recorded “Aye; as amended”).
- Notes: This regulation change is a two-meeting process; the item will return at the board’s March 25 meeting for final approval.
- Provenance: item 4.5 transcript segment.

4) Talent Bank process (item 4.6)
- Discussion: Manager recommended discontinuing the long-standing talent bank and instead posting openings publicly when vacancies occur, using simplified letters of interest and job-description materials for boards/committees. Board members supported the change and suggested multiple publicity channels (website, social media, public access scroll, occasional print ads).
- Motion: Accept the manager’s recommended replacement of the talent bank with targeted posting and letter-of-interest process.
- Outcome: Approved, unanimous (5–0).
- Provenance: item 4.6 transcript segment.

5) Light department bad-debt write-offs (item 4.7)
- Discussion: Manager explained these are accounts at least seven years old that have been through collections and are now uncollectible.
- Motion: Approve write-offs.
- Outcome: Approved, unanimous (5–0).
- Provenance: item 4.7 transcript segment.

6) FY2026 General Government Budget (item 4.8)
- Discussion: Selectmen thanked the budget balancing committee and school leadership for collaboration. The manager summarized projections and warned of structural pressures; board members discussed forming a task group to address long-term structural deficits after town meeting.
- Motion: Approve the FY2026 general government budget as presented.
- Outcome: Approved, unanimous (5–0). The shared-cost and utility budgets (light, water/sewer) will be presented to the board at its March 25 meeting.
- Provenance: item 4.8 transcript segment.

7) Town election warrant (item 4.9)
- Motion: Approve and sign the town election warrant.
- Outcome: Approved, unanimous (5–0).
- Provenance: item 4.9 transcript segment.

8) Voluntary vision insurance under M.G.L. c.32B, §15 (item 4.10)
- Discussion: Manager proposed permitting employees to enroll in voluntary, employee-paid vision insurance at no town cost; manager said labor counsel reviewed PEC (health-insurance) language and did not oppose adding a voluntary, employee-paid vision option.
- Motion: Table pending additional legal/administrative detail and clarification of any administrative costs to the town (staff to confirm plan costs and any enrollment/administration fees).
- Outcome: Motion to table carried (5–0). Staff will return with more information.
- Provenance: item 4.10 transcript segment.

9) Cemetery deeds (item 4.11)
- Motion: Approve cemetery deeds for signature.
- Outcome: Approved, unanimous (5–0).
- Provenance: item 4.11 transcript segment.

Procedural notes, next steps and clarifications
- Town Common rules: Because the board uses a two-meeting adoption process for bylaw- or regulation-style changes, the amended Town Common rules will return at the March 25 meeting for a second vote.
- Booster car wash discussions prompted a manager action to review and update the municipal event application to request clearer information about local membership or residency among organizers.
- Vision insurance: labor counsel reviewed draft language in the PEC (health insurance) agreement; board requested a follow-up memo describing any administrative costs, the recommended vendor/plan and confirmation that the town would not assume costs absent future bargaining.

Speakers and attribution (selection of participants recorded in transcript)
- Mr. Mazuko, Town Manager (presenter on multiple items)
- Selectman Plasco, Selectman (voting member)
- Selectman Satt, Selectman (voting member)
- Selectman Lane, Selectman (voting member)
- Selectwoman Grove, Selectwoman (voting member)
- Selectwoman Delaney, Selectwoman (voting member)
- Ms. Woodward, Town staff (contact who followed up on booster applicant)

Proper names and authorities referenced
- Town Common / Parks rules and regulations (municipal policy) — referenced in item 4.5
- MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey (referenced in Impact Norwood presentation)
- PEC agreement (townwide health-insurance collective bargaining arrangement) — referenced in connection with the voluntary vision-insurance discussion
- Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 32B, Section 15 — statute cited when discussing voluntary vision insurance

Clarifying details extracted from discussion
- Application changes: Manager will follow up to consider modifying the municipal-event application to capture applicants’ local connections and membership details for booster and similar groups.
- Town Common amendment: Language was added to permit larger games if part of an approved event (board-approved permit). The change will return for a second vote on March 25.
- Vision insurance: Labor counsel reviewed draft PEC language and agreed to language allowing voluntary, employee-paid enrollment; the board asked staff to confirm whether any minimal administrative charge or enrollment fee would apply and to provide plan options.

Provenance (high-level): selected transcript segments supporting actions listed above
- Town Common rules (topicintro): transcript_block_2613.0398_2652.61 (manager summary)
- Town Common rules (topfinish): transcript_block_2820.6802_2822.52 (approval as amended)
- Talent Bank (topicintro): transcript_block_2857.6748_2883.165 (manager introduction)
- Talent Bank (topfinish): transcript_block_3641.075_3645.015 (motion, vote)
- FY2026 budget (topicintro): transcript_block_3789.105_3821.625 (budget remarks)
- FY2026 budget (topfinish): transcript_block_4889.0596_4896.42 (vote)

Ending

The board completed a number of routine approvals and several operational changes. The most consequential items for town operations are the FY2026 budget approval and the manager’s administrative changes (Talent Bank replacement and updated event-application requirements). Staff will return with additional information on the vision-insurance proposal and the Town Common rule changes at the next meeting (March 25).