Councilperson Steve Thornbury says, “Thank you, Norwood.”

Steve Thornbury is going to post the following “thank you” on his Norwood Ward 2 website (see links on the right hand side) on “The Gist” page, but he’s given us an advance copy to share with our readers.

Thank You, Norwood.

I would like to thank my fellow members of Norwood City Council for their decision to continue funding the Norwood Health Department. In their deliberations, they demonstrated an ability to take an objective look at various arguments for and against either outsourcing services or reassigning them to other City departments. They also continue to show that they are serious about keeping a close eye on our city’s expenditures in an effort to inoculate us against the continuing cycle of budget deficits that have plagued our city for the last forty years.

As we turn to face the possible impact of the economic downturn, it is my hope that we can continue to improve the level of openness and cooperation so that Council and the Administration can react quickly and decisively when important matters need to be addressed.

I’d like to thank the members of the Norwood Board of Health and all the employees of the Health Department for their clear, even-handed presentation of the services offered by the Department. I’d especially like to thank the former Health Commissioner Donna Laake for one of the most impressive, concise and effective presentations I’ve ever witnessed in my twenty years of attending public meetings in Norwood. Her services will be sorely missed.

And, finally, I’d like to thank the individuals who worked so hard to help us on Council hear what the citizens thought about the value of the Norwood Health Department. Their efforts in maintaining a civil tone to the public discussion and focusing our attention on the facts and experiences of Norwood citizens helped direct this effort to a successful conclusion. I hope their example will be a guide to others who feel the need to organize public opinion in support of a cause or institution.

As we enter the Holiday Season, I hope we all are able to take stock of the tremendous advantages and opportunities we have here in the great city of Norwood. I look forward to serving you in the coming year.

-Steve Thornbury
Norwood City Council, Ward 2