CPC projects moving along

The Norwood Community Preservation Committee (CPC) met last week and discussed several updates from key projects throughout Town.

Perhaps the biggest update is that the proposed $6 million project – $800,000 of which was CPA (Community Preservation Act) money at 20 Vernon Street – is moving forward. CPC Coordinator Kristen Phelps said the department will be meeting with the project proponent Caritas Communities after the group secured all its state funding for the project. She said they will likely have a more accurate timeline then.

“We reached out to Caritas and there is a tentative call scheduled,” she said.

Also discussed was a $49,500 trail study for University Avenue that was never appropriated after it was approved for fiscal year 2022. The funds were designated for the Norwood Trails Advisory Committee.

“I will continue to pester them about what their plans are for that,” said Phelps.

“As a Selectman I am more than happy to go to one of their meetings and just ask them, if they’re not using the money to please return it, and if they’re going to do a study they can reapply to the CPC,” CPC Member and Board of Selectmen member Cheryl Doyle said. “Because right now they’re so busy working on the crossings, and there is more grant money they’re looking at from other resources, so I don’t think they’re going to be able to do anything.”

CPC member Debbie Holmwood pointed out the money is still gaining interest in the CPA fund, but Doyle said it’s designated and the CPC cannot access it.

“We can’t touch it,” Doyle said.

“It’s been five years since it was approved, I totally agree,” said CPC Chair Catherine Walsh.

Doyle said she would go ask.

Speaking of the great outdoors, Phelps said the Bernie Cooper Memorial Waterfront Park project will soon be closed out. She said the final work of making sure all the trees and planting stick should be finished by next year.

“But the monitoring is ongoing, they’re out there making sure that the trees are surviving and replanting the ones that didn’t, and so that is moving along,” she said.

In other news, Phelps said they are still waiting to hear back from the Norwood Veterans Agent about the Chapel Street Park/Disabled Americans Veterans Park proposal. This has not yet been submitted, but would basically renovate the park and install a memorial.

Doyle, a veteran herself, said the Town and Veterans Agent Derek Wennerstrand are working on breaking up the project into smaller pieces to ease the funding process.

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“Just because of the amount of money involved,” she said.

Phelps also pointed out projects recently approved, like the Old Parish Cemetery renovation that is currently underway.

“The new granite posts are in, they’ve got some more grading to do before they seed, but the last phase is the asphalt and fencing around the cemetery and they’re plugging along and making progress every day,” she said.

Phelps also said that the Guild Pond Dam Feasibility Study has started and work is continuing there.

Lastly, Phelps said her team and the hired contractor are working to address the pedestal issue at the No. 7 Washington Bell display. She said the contractor installed a pedestal that was too small, and will be replacing it soon.

“Hopefully that will be resolved in the next four-to-six weeks,” she said.