Last modified: Friday, May 2, 2008 1:01 AM EDT Norton seniors blasting cutbacks BY MICHAEL GELBWASSER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF NORTON - A citizen petition signed by 260 citizens was presented to selectmen Thursday night, continuing a campaign to save the Norton Senior Center's full services from the budget ax. The council on aging also is weighing in on the issue, with a letter to Town Manager James Purcell, protesting his plan to reassign Human Services Executive Director James Dinsel to veterans agent on July 1. Selectmen Chairman Robert Kimball said Thursday night his board is sympathetic. However, the move is unavoidable given Norton's financial constraints. "I think every one of us on this board is heartbroken that we are not able to help," Kimball said. "If for any reason between now and October we can find some golden pot somewhere, we'll be back and address some of those issues." Resident Jim Ruddy presented the petition. Ruddy and resident Tino Mendieta last month formed a Committee to Save Norton Seniors after learning of Purcell's plan. "You gathered here are the elected representatives of the townspeople of Norton," Ruddy said, reading from a statement. "Do you want to be seen by the whole town, come Election Day, as supporting such a tiny percentage over the large and heartfelt voice of the majority?" Ruddy questioned Purcell's plan in light of selectmen granting the town manager a $19,000 raise over the next three years, including a $9,000 one this year that the water department will fund. "During his entire five years of serving as town manager, Jim Purcell has only come one single time to visit the Norton Senior Center in order to officially socialize with the seniors at the Center and make them feel that his office is an office that truly cares for them," Ruddy said. The local council on agin has also taken issue with theplan. "We cannot help but feel that, once again, the Town of Norton is throwing its senior citizens under the bus, as there is talk about the closing of the senior center as well," he council told Purcell in a three-page letter dated April 21. "Over the last few years, the senior center and its essential coverages have been sliced and diced, so that only Mr. Dinsel has been left standing." After Thursdaya's meeting Ruddy said he and Mendieta planned to continue their campaign at the May 12 annual town meeting, when voters will decide the budget.