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Norwood Board of Selectmen
How the Norwood Board of Selectmen voted, from the Board of Selectmen’s official minutes. 5 Selectmen elected townwide. Helen Abdallah Donohue and Matthew Lane joined the board after the 2020 town election, which was postponed from April because of COVID-19; Paul Bishop and Allan Howard left. William Plasko served as Chairman and Thomas Maloney as Vice Chairman. The town has not posted minutes from March 24 to September 15, 2020, so this board starts with the first minutes posted after the election. Covers 17 meetings, September 15 to March 30, 2021.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Board of Selectmen do? It is the town’s executive board. It prepares the Town Meeting warrant (the list of articles voters decide), appoints members of many town boards, hires the town’s top staff, signs warrants to pay town bills, and grants licenses and permits.
Town Meeting, not the Board of Selectmen, votes the town budget and town bylaws.
Sources: Massachusetts Select Board Handbook (MMA) · Mass. Division of Local Services: the town budgetBoard years
Coming up
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Members
Matthew LaneMember · Elected townwide · at 16 of 16 meetings"At X of Y meetings" counts the members the minutes list as present at the start of each meeting in this record. Members who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: Board of Selectmen minutes from January 8, 2018 through July 14, 2026 (247 meetings). Some 2020–2026 files are scanned pages, which we read with text recognition. Not here: minutes after July 14, 2026 (August 11, September 8 and September 22, 2026 are not posted yet); no minutes at all from March 24 to September 15, 2020, although the town lists agendas for 17 meetings in that time; February 10, March 3, March 24 (approved April 28, 2026) and June 30, 2026, and December 16, 2025, which have agendas but no minutes; and about a dozen other dates since 2018 with an agenda but no minutes, some of them Town Meeting nights or executive sessions. The March 27, 2018 link opens the February 27, 2018 minutes, so that meeting is missing too. How votes were read: until early 2023 the minutes usually say only who made and seconded a motion and that the board “voted”, with no count; we show those votes as passed with no names, never as unanimous. When the minutes say a vote was unanimous we show every Selectman present as voting yes; when they give a count and name who voted no or abstained, and it adds up to the members present, we show each member’s vote. In early 2023 several minutes say only “Carried”, and we show the result only. From mid-2023 the minutes list each member under Aye, Nay, Abstain or Absent for almost every vote. Where a count does not match the members present, a mover or seconder is missing from the attendance line, or a roll call leaves out a member who was there, we show the count or result only and add a note. Motions written down with no vote after them are not included. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Mar 30Table the issue regarding General Reserve Fund Transfer –…Motion: On Motion of Selectman Donohue, seconded by Selectman Plasko, the Board…Passed · see note
March 30, 2021: Table the issue regarding General Reserve Fund Transfer – Fire Department door vandalism repair
On Motion of Selectman Donohue, seconded by Selectman Plasko, the Board voted to table the issue regarding General Reserve Fund Transfer – Fire Department door vandalism repair.
The minutes say only “voted”, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“On Motion of Selectman Donohue, seconded by Selectman Plasko, the Board voted to table the issue regarding General Reserve Fund Transfer – Fire Department door vandalism repair..” (Motion: Donohue, second: Plasko)
Mar 9Approve conceptually the replacement of various portable toilets within…Motion: On motion of Chairman Plasko, seconded by Selectman Donohue, the Board…Passed 4–1 · see note
March 9, 2021: Approve conceptually the replacement of various portable toilets within the town with compost toilets and placing new compost restrooms throughout the town. 7:30 P.M. Chief George Morrice, Norwood...
On motion of Chairman Plasko, seconded by Selectman Donohue, the Board voted 4-1 (with Vice Chairman Maloney as the sole opposer) to approve conceptually the replacement of various portable toilets within the town with compost toilets and placing new compost restrooms throughout the town. 7:30 P.M. Chief George Morrice, Norwood Fire Department: Chief Morrice submitted a monthly report of department activities.
The minutes give the count (4-1) and name Thomas Maloney, who the attendance line does not show as present. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“On motion of Chairman Plasko, seconded by Selectman Donohue, the Board voted 4-1 (with Vice Chairman Maloney as the sole opposer) to approve conceptually the replacement of various portable toilets within the town with compost toilets and placing new compost restrooms throughout the town. 7:30 P.M. Chief George Morrice, Norwood Fire Department: Chief Morrice submitted a monthly report of department activities..” (Motion: Plasko, second: Donohue)
Mar 9Recommend the plot on Grant Avenue as surplus to…Motion: On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Selectman Lane, the Board…Passed 4–1 · see note
March 9, 2021: Recommend the plot on Grant Avenue as surplus to Town Meeting so it may be prepared to be sold
On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Selectman Lane, the Board voted 4-1 (with Chairman Plasko as the sole opposer) to recommend the plot on Grant Avenue as surplus to Town Meeting so it may be prepared to be sold.
The minutes give the count (4-1) and name William Plasko as voting no, but the names and count do not match the 4 members present. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Selectman Lane, the Board voted 4-1 (with Chairman Plasko as the sole opposer) to recommend the plot on Grant Avenue as surplus to Town Meeting so it may be prepared to be sold..” (Motion: Hajjar, second: Lane)
Mar 9Move forward with the plans to create a Pocket…Motion: On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Selectman Lane, the Board…Passed 4–1 · see note
March 9, 2021: Move forward with the plans to create a Pocket Park on the corner of Elliot and Stearns Drive
On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Selectman Lane, the Board voted 4-1 (with Vice Chairman Maloney as the only opposer) to move forward with the plans to create a Pocket Park on the corner of Elliot and Stearns Drive.
The minutes give the count (4-1) and name Thomas Maloney, who the attendance line does not show as present. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Selectman Lane, the Board voted 4-1 (with Vice Chairman Maloney as the only opposer) to move forward with the plans to create a Pocket Park on the corner of Elliot and Stearns Drive..” (Motion: Hajjar, second: Lane)
Feb 94 to to forward the letter to Norwood Light…Motion: On motion of Selectman Lane, seconded by Selectman Maloney, the Board…Passed · see note
February 9, 2021: 4 to to forward the letter to Norwood Light Broadband as a courtesy to Mr. Sangalang
On motion of Selectman Lane, seconded by Selectman Maloney, the Board voted 4 to to forward the letter to Norwood Light Broadband as a courtesy to Mr. Sangalang.
The minutes say only “voted”, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“On motion of Selectman Lane, seconded by Selectman Maloney, the Board voted 4 to to forward the letter to Norwood Light Broadband as a courtesy to Mr. Sangalang..” (Motion: Lane, second: Maloney)
Feb 94 to (with an abstention from Selectman Donohue) to…Motion: On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Selectman Lane, the Board…Passed · see note
February 9, 2021: 4 to (with an abstention from Selectman Donohue) to adopt and approve the new version of the liquor rules and regulations
On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Selectman Lane, the Board voted 4 to (with an abstention from Selectman Donohue) to adopt and approve the new version of the liquor rules and regulations.
The minutes say “voted” and name Helen Abdallah Donohue as abstaining, but give no count. Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Selectman Lane, the Board voted 4 to (with an abstention from Selectman Donohue) to adopt and approve the new version of the liquor rules and regulations..” (Motion: Hajjar, second: Lane)
Jan 26With Selectman Donohue opposed, to approve reducing the Quorum…Motion: On motion of Selectman Lane, seconded by Selecman Maloney, the board…Passed 4–1 · No: Donohue
January 26, 2021: With Selectman Donohue opposed, to approve reducing the Quorum to 45
On motion of Selectman Lane, seconded by Selecman Maloney, the board voted 4 to 1, with Selectman Donohue opposed, to approve reducing the Quorum to 45.
Yes: Hajjar, Lane, Maloney, PlaskoNo: Donohue
From the minutes
“On motion of Selectman Lane, seconded by Selecman Maloney, the board voted 4 to 1, with Selectman Donohue opposed, to approve reducing the Quorum to 45..” (Motion: Lane, second: Maloney)
Jan 26File this information – To address filing a vacancy…Motion: On motion of Vice Chairman Maloney, seconded by Selectman Lane, the…Passed 4–1 · see note
January 26, 2021: File this information – To address filing a vacancy on the board of trustees
On motion of Vice Chairman Maloney, seconded by Selectman Lane, the Board voted 4 to 1(with an abstention from Selectman donohue) to file this information.
The minutes give the count (4-1) and name Helen Abdallah Donohue as abstaining, but the names and count do not match the 5 members present. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“On motion of Vice Chairman Maloney, seconded by Selectman Lane, the Board voted 4 to 1(with an abstention from Selectman donohue) to file this information..” (Motion: Maloney, second: Lane)
Jan 26With Selectman Donohue opposed to approve the request, pending…Motion: On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Vice Chairman Maloney, the…Passed 4–1 · No: Donohue
January 26, 2021: With Selectman Donohue opposed to approve the request, pending revival of the plans for the park
On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Vice Chairman Maloney, the Board voted 4 to 1, with Selectman Donohue opposed to approve the request, pending revival of the plans for the park.
Yes: Hajjar, Lane, Maloney, PlaskoNo: Donohue
From the minutes
“On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Vice Chairman Maloney, the Board voted 4 to 1, with Selectman Donohue opposed to approve the request, pending revival of the plans for the park..” (Motion: Hajjar, second: Maloney)
Jan 5Approve the request – new individuals have been hired…Motion: On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Selectman Lane, the Board…Passed 4–1 · see note
January 5, 2021: Approve the request – new individuals have been hired to become Firefighters within the department, due to some of
On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Selectman Lane, the Board voted 4 to 1 (with an abstention from Selectman Donohue) to approve the request.
The minutes give the count (4-1) and name Helen Abdallah Donohue as abstaining, but the names and count do not match the 5 members present. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“On motion of Selectman Hajjar, seconded by Selectman Lane, the Board voted 4 to 1 (with an abstention from Selectman Donohue) to approve the request..” (Motion: Hajjar, second: Lane)
From the Norwood Board of Selectmen’s official minutes, posted on the town’s Board of Selectmen minutes page. We check every vote against the Selectmen present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: campaign websites (Robert Donnelly, Amanda Grow); The Norwood Record (Cheryl Doyle; Michael Saad, photo by Jeff Sullivan); Norwood Community Media (Matthew Lane, from “Fast Facts with Matt Lane”).
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