The planning director may soon have economic development duties added to the job.
Should Town Meeting approve the move, the planner's title would change to community economic development director. The Planning Board, which will oversee the position, and the Board of Selectmen have endorsed the idea. It now hinges on a request for $2,400 from Town Meeting.
Annual Town Meeting, which convened Monday, continues tonight at 7:30 at Coakley Middle School.
The money will supplement the salary of Town Planner Steve Costello, who would take over the new duties, which would include overseeing the town's tax increment financing deals and working with Norwood's Economic Development Committee to attract new business.
The idea for the new post comes after years of study, dating back to 2004 when Denis Drummey, a selectman at the time, suggested a full-time economic development officer.
Surrounding towns, including Walpole, Westwood and Dedham, have similar positions.
In 2004, the newly formed Human Resources Department and the Personnel Board developed a job description and proposed a pay scale for the post, which was never filled.
Selectman and Economic Development Committee member Bill Plasko said yesterday the committee over the years discussed the position and whether to fill it full- or part-time, or hire a consultant.
After much discussion, officials considered whether the duties could be rolled into those of the town planner.
"I think this is better than going for a part-timer, because we'll have somebody who is there all the time if somebody calls or has questions, and (Costello) can definitely handle the job," said Plasko.
The only sticking point was the chain of command, said Plasko, since tax increment finance deals are under the selectmen's purview and the town planner is under the jurisdiction of the Planning Board.
Plasko said cooperation will be the key.
"He'll still work under the Planning Board, but will work in close consort with the general manager, selectmen and the Economic Development Committee," said Plasko.
The hope is the position will more than pay for itself by brining in or expanding the town's business base, which can lighten residents' tax burden as well as bring money directly into the town's economic development fund.
The fund was established a few years ago and collects money from businesses that are granted tax increment finance deals as part of the state's Economic Development Incentive program.
Under the state program, the town is allowed to designate economic target areas, within which it can grant businesses property tax exemptions, called TIF (for tax increment finance) deals, on new value added to the property, in exchange for jobs and added commercial tax base.
These deals have multiple parts as companies pledge to add jobs and investment capital in exchange for local and state tax breaks.
The town has approved a handful of tax deals since being accepted into the state program in 2002, and is now taking steps to have a full-time staffer oversee those deals and potentially attract new ones.
Daily News staff writer Brian Falla can be reached at 781-433-8339 or bfalla@cnc.com.
