South Norwood Project Goes Through With Closest Possible Margin
With one third of the vote as margin, the proposed South Norwood highway passed the Norwood adjourned town meeting on Tuesday night as a Qhaptcr 90 project for the coming year. 93 voters having voted "yes" on the motion, and 46 having voted "no," the motion was carried by the two-thirds majority necessary with just one third of a vote to spare.
For a time, it looked as though the -motion might not get before the house which assembled lit nine o'clock daylight time to act on the motion held over from the adjourned meeting of two weeks ago. Moderator-Judge James A. Halloran ruled that someone who had previously voted in the negative must make the motion seconded by another negative voter. Thoma's Riley eventually volunteered to move for reconsideration, and two members of the finance committee finally seconded it.
Willett Opposes
Opened for discussion, George F. Willett was the first to take the floor speaking in opposition to the motion. Mr. Willett as at the previous town meeting, declared that he felt that the proposed street did not meet the conditions for relief which South Norwood was seeking, would not help Bird and Sons sufficiently, nor meet the conditions of a circumferential highway. He also stated that the town could not afford the highway, and that every additional dollar to the tax rate hurt every working man, since it effected every industry unfavorably, and hindered employment through building programs. The motion ho said was unwise action for South Norwood, for the town, and for the state who already hod two uncompleted Chapter 00 projects in the town.
Frederick Howard, president of the South Norwood Improvement Association, speaking for the motion called the voters attention to the fact that one-fourth of the 'ation of the town lived in Norwood, and to the congested traffic conditions in the section. Mr. Pennington also spoke for the highway and for the improvement for South Norwood as did John Abdullah.
Robert Reimer laid the blame for "a foolish thing like this" on the planning board and selectmen, and cited the road as a dead-end affair winding up at the railroad tracks. To questions from Mr. Folan with respect to the proposal, Chairman Sture Nelson of the selectmen replied and read a letter from Mr. Conrad of Bird and Sons which defined their position. The company, the letter said, was opposed to any major expenditures effecting the tax rate, and if money was to be spent, would welcome work on the Neponsct River drainage and work on Water Street. The motion put to a vote was carried by the closest possible margin, 92 and two-thirds votes being necessary and 93 voting in the affirmative.
Tax Rate To Mount
Preliminary to discussion on the article. Fracis Foley, chairman of the Finance Commission read a statement prepared by the selectmen and finance commission discussing the proposed highway, and calling the voters attention to the fact that the storm emergency funds which must be added to the tax rate next year and an increase in the state tax next year would cause an increase in the tax rate in 1939 of more than $2.00 per thousand. The statement also discussed a proposal for the extension of the trunk line sewer from Pleasant Street to a point northerly of Lenox avenue, work which the selectmen and finance committee consider necessary and which would provide considerable employment for the public works department.
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)
No comments:
Post a Comment