A key highlight of the meeting was the official appointment of Justin Chica as Norton’s first Director of Public Works (DPW). This new role, created following a 2022 charter change, aims to unify the town’s water, wastewater, and highway departments under one leadership. Chica, who previously served as the Deputy Commissioner of Public Infrastructure for New Bedford, expressed his eagerness to address the town’s infrastructure challenges and improve efficiencies across departments. The board members showed unanimous support for Chica’s appointment, emphasizing the importance of addressing water quality as a priority.

Further discussions during the meeting included the success of Norton’s police officers, Don Martinson and Christopher McCarthy, who were featured in an article by William and James College for their work with the town’s POP model, which focuses on crisis intervention for residents with mental health or addiction issues. Additionally, Norton police received recognition from the DOJ for their involvement in a significant drug distribution case that led to the conviction of an individual responsible for distributing fentanyl.

The meeting also addressed a late resignation from Wendy Cochran, Norton’s treasurer, effective December 31st. The assistant treasurer will serve in an interim capacity while the search for a permanent replacement begins.