Mayor Domenic J. Sarno was honored to join with the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission today during their Board Meeting to present long-time dedicated public service professional Attorney Norman Guz with a special proclamation. Attorney Guz is a proud Springfield native and remains a proud resident too. He grew up in the North End graduated from Springfield Technical High School. He went on to American International College and Western New England School of Law.
Attorney Guz has served our Springfield for more than forty years. He was hired to serve as counsel to the City of Springfield Water Department by then-mayor, now Congressman Richard Neal. Congressman Neal also visited the SWSC meeting today to recognize and thank Attorney Guz.
Throughout his career, Norm provided knowledgeable, thoughtful and strategic counsel to citizen commissioners overseeing the city and region’s water supply. Norm advised and counseled the transition from the Springfield Water Department and DPW’s Sewer Division into the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission in 1996, and since then has advised six different commissioners. Over the years, Norm provided strategic counsel to key initiatives and accomplishments of the Commission. This includes the protection of 5,781 acres of watershed land to protect Springfield’s water supply; over $300 million in CSO projects to improve the water quality and environment of the Connecticut River; the development and implementation of some of the region’s largest public infrastructure projects in a generation, including the York Street Pump Station and the new West Parish Water Treatment Plant; and securing the first Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan award from EPA in Massachusetts. As the Commission’s bond counsel for the past thirty years, Norm guided the issuance of $1,265,596,003 in bond/loans to reinvest in Springfield’s world-class water and sewer system.
Mayor Sarno states, “Attorney Norm Guz has passionately and proudly served our Springfield for decades. Always the gentleman, and always sticking up for his hometown, our Springfield. Attorney Guz’s father used to get his hair cut by my father Alfonso ‘Al the Barber’ Sarno, and his mother would get hers done by my cousin Anne Marie. Norm is proud of and never forgets his Springfield roots and his home. He has guided our city and SWSC through key initiatives to preserve and protect our precious water supply. We are truly grateful for Norm’s loyalty and dedication to the citizens of Springfield, and to the public health, quality of life, and prosperity of the entire region. Thank you for your tremendous service, Attorney Guz, ‘Norm,’ and wishing you a very happy and healthy retirement.”
