MassVoter.com← NorwoodMunicipal votes · 2024–2025 Board
Norwood Board of Selectmen
How the Norwood Board of Selectmen voted, from the Board of Selectmen’s official minutes. 5 Selectmen elected townwide. Same five members after the April 1, 2024 town election (William Plasko re-elected). On April 9, 2024 the board chose Robert Donnelly as Chairman and Amanda Grow as Vice Chairman. Covers 25 meetings, April 9 to March 25, 2025.
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
MassVoter can’t read Norwood’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Members
ChairRobert DonnellyChair · Elected townwide · at 24 of 25 meetings
Vice-ChairAmanda GrowVice Chair · Elected townwide · at 25 of 25 meetings
Matthew LaneMember · Elected townwide · at 23 of 25 meetingsWilliam PlaskoMember · Elected townwide · at 23 of 25 meetings
Michael SaadMember · Elected townwide · at 25 of 25 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 25Deny – PM until 11 PM with approximately 50…Motion: Motion to deny.Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Grow
March 25, 2025: Deny – PM until 11 PM with approximately 50 guests expected.
Motion to deny.
Yes: Donnelly, Lane, Plasko, SaadAbstained: Grow
From the minutes
“Motion to deny. Moved by: William Plasko Seconded by: Michael Saad Aye Matthew Lane, Michael Saad, Robert Donnelly, and William Plasko Abstain Amanda Grow Carried 4-0.” (Motion: Plasko, second: Saad)
Mar 25Deny – One Day Liquor Permit- Hometown ArcadeMotion: Motion to deny.Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Grow
March 25, 2025: Deny – One Day Liquor Permit- Hometown Arcade
Motion to deny.
Yes: Donnelly, Lane, Plasko, SaadAbstained: Grow
From the minutes
“Motion to deny. Moved by: William Plasko Seconded by: Michael Saad Aye Matthew Lane, Michael Saad, Robert Donnelly, and William Plasko Abstain Amanda Grow Carried 4-0.” (Motion: Plasko, second: Saad)
Mar 11Approve – Car Wash - Cheer Advantage BoostersMotion: Motion to approve.Passed 3–2 · No: Plasko, Saad
March 11, 2025: Approve – Car Wash - Cheer Advantage Boosters
Motion to approve.
Yes: Donnelly, Grow, LaneNo: Plasko, Saad
From the minutes
“Motion to approve. Moved by: Matthew Lane Seconded by: Amanda Grow Aye Amanda Grow, Matthew Lane, and Robert Donnelly Nay Michael Saad and William Plasko Carried 3-2.” (Motion: Lane, second: Grow)
Feb 25Approve the use of the alcohol license in this…Motion: Motion to approve the use of the alcohol license in this…Passed 4–1 · No: Plasko
February 25, 2025: Approve the use of the alcohol license in this temporary/ limited capacity, with the contingency that building Inspector Gary Pelletier advise what exact capacity he is limited to
Motion to approve the use of the alcohol license in this temporary/ limited capacity, with the contingency that building Inspector Gary Pelletier advise what exact capacity he is limited to.
Yes: Donnelly, Grow, Lane, SaadNo: Plasko
From the minutes
“Motion to approve the use of the alcohol license in this temporary/ limited capacity, with the contingency that building Inspector Gary Pelletier advise what exact capacity he is limited to. Moved by: Matthew Lane Seconded by: Michael Saad Aye Amanda Grow, Matthew Lane, Michael Saad, and Robert Donnelly Nay William Plasko Carried 4-1.” (Motion: Lane, second: Saad)
Feb 25Approve – Sandwich Board Display - League of Women…Motion: Motion to approve.Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Grow
February 25, 2025: Approve – Sandwich Board Display - League of Women Voters
Motion to approve.
Yes: Donnelly, Lane, Plasko, SaadAbstained: Grow
From the minutes
“Motion to approve. Moved by: Amanda Grow Seconded by: Matthew Lane Aye Matthew Lane, Michael Saad, Robert Donnelly, and William Plasko. Abstain Amanda Grow Carried 4-0.” (Motion: Grow, second: Lane)
Feb 11Approve – One Day Liquor Permit - Hometown ArcadeMotion: Motion to Approve.Passed 4–1 · No: Plasko
February 11, 2025: Approve – One Day Liquor Permit - Hometown Arcade
Motion to Approve.
Yes: Donnelly, Grow, Lane, SaadNo: Plasko
From the minutes
“Motion to Approve. Moved by: Matthew Lane Seconded by: Amanda Grow Aye Amanda Grow, Matthew Lane, Michael Saad, and Robert Donnelly. Nay William Plasko. Carried 4-1.” (Motion: Lane, second: Grow)
Feb 11Sign – Verizon Grant of EasementMotion: Motion to Sign.Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Saad
February 11, 2025: Sign – Verizon Grant of Easement
Motion to Sign.
Yes: Donnelly, Grow, Lane, PlaskoAbstained: Saad
From the minutes
“Motion to Sign. Moved by: Matthew Lane Seconded by: Amanda Grow Aye Amanda Grow, Matthew Lane, Robert Donnelly, and William Plasko. Abstain Michael Saad. Carried 4-0.” (Motion: Lane, second: Grow)
Jan 28Motion to approve a letter of support for the…Motion: motion to approve a letter of support for the project with…Passed 3–2 · No: Lane, Saad
January 28, 2025: Motion to approve a letter of support for the project with the conditions that the exterior facade be in accordance with the plans stated 12325 by winslow architects that the…
Motion to approve a letter of support for the project with the conditions that the exterior facade be in accordance with the plans stated 12325 by winslow architects that the exterior as shown on the plans be brick white accents, that no more than 26 units will be developed in the project, and no more than 6 of those be 3 bedroom, with 25% affordability, EOHLC compliance, and perpetuity will be required.
Yes: Donnelly, Grow, PlaskoNo: Lane, Saad
From the minutes
“motion to approve a letter of support for the project with the conditions that the exterior facade be in accordance with the plans stated 12325 by winslow architects that the exterior as shown on the plans be brick white accents, that no more than 26 units will be developed in the project, and no more than 6 of those be 3 bedroom, with 25% affordability, EOHLC compliance, and perpetuity will be required. Moved by: William Plasko Seconded by: Amanda Grow Aye Amanda Grow, Robert Donnelly, and William Plasko Nay Matthew Lane and Michael Saad Carried 3-2.” (Motion: Plasko, second: Grow)
Jan 14Propose Option 3, an increase effective March 1, 2025,…Motion: Motion to Propose Option 3, an increase effective March 1, 2025,…Failed 2–3 · No: Donnelly, Plasko, Saad
January 14, 2025: Propose Option 3, an increase effective March 1, 2025, of 7% for both water and sewer charges
Motion to Propose Option 3, an increase effective March 1, 2025, of 7% for both water and sewer charges.
Yes: Grow, LaneNo: Donnelly, Plasko, Saad
From the minutes
“Motion to Propose Option 3, an increase effective March 1, 2025, of 7% for both water and sewer charges. Moved by: Matthew Lane Seconded by: Amanda Grow Aye Amanda Grow, Matthew Lane, Nay Michael Saad, Robert Donnelly, and William Plasko Denied 2-3.” (Motion: Lane, second: Grow)
Dec 17Approve – Municipal Parking Lot RequestMotion: Motion to Approve.Failed 2–3 · No: Donnelly, Plasko, Saad
December 17, 2024: Approve – Municipal Parking Lot Request
Motion to Approve.
Yes: Grow, LaneNo: Donnelly, Plasko, Saad
From the minutes
“Motion to Approve. Moved by: Matthew Lane Seconded by: Amanda Grow Aye Amanda Grow and Matthew Lane Nay Michael Saad, Robert Donnelly, and William Plasko Denied 2-3.” (Motion: Lane, second: Grow)
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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