Norwood Select Board Approves FY27 Light Budget, Advances Bagel Sculpture Plan

NORWOOD — June 10, 2026 — Norwood Select Board approves FY27 utility budgets and advances bagel sculpture in 3-1 vote. The board voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve Fiscal Year 2027 budgets for Norwood Light and Broadband, accepting a 1.18 percent increase in the electric budget driven by $1.6 million in higher power purchase costs — partly attributed to a drought that cut hydroelectric output to 60 percent of projections — while the broadband budget falls roughly 14.5 percent, from about $8 million to $6.8 million, as the department eliminates cable television programming costs during its fiber-to-the-premises transition. The board also approved a curbside bulk pickup fee increase from $25 to $45 per item effective July 1, when a new Waste Management contract takes effect at $43 per item. In a 3-1 vote, the board cleared the way for a 12-foot bagel sculpture created by artist Hannah Leaden — previously displayed at Battery Park in New York City and owned by Spot Bagels proprietor Perry McCarios — to proceed to Planning Board site review; board member Charlene Doyle dissented, citing safety and precedent concerns. Police Chief Chris Padden reported approximately $100,000 in unspent overtime funds will be returned to the town at year-end, and noted a DEA task force operation involving Norwood detectives seized more than 1,000 grams of fentanyl in Boston.